Farewell, Babyhood.

It's Kiki's third birthday today. Like all good birthday posts, let's throw in a couple of the actual birth day. This is actually just before- these are my cousins McCall and Jamie, and we all had babies within weeks of each other, and all girls.

January 30, 2007. She was born just after 1:00 p.m., and weighed 8lbs 4oz. The best thing about Kiki's infancy was that she started sleeping though the night at 5 weeks. Thank you, Babywise.

The third year has historically been the hardest for me. At 2 years old, you still have a baby, but at 3, you've got yourself a little girl. Kiki is 3 years old today, so I guess babyhood, I bid you good-bye. I'm a little sad, but Kiki is thrilled because she has figured out that 3 is when you can start dance, gymnastics, and pre-school. Also, in a sweet little moment, she informed me that I needed to help her make a friend. My heart hurt a little because I have been telling myself that I am enough for her, but I'm not. She is ready to see more of the world.

Here she is this morning:

All she wanted for her birthday was dinosaurs and a Spongebob cake. I tried to girl things up with a purple velvet birthday dress. When Kiki opened it she turned to Bruce and said, "Daddy, this must be for you." Secret's out.

We took her to McDonald's for breakfast. It's her favorite. Usually she can polish off a "Big Breakfast" (3 pancakes, 1 hashbrown, a sausage patty, a biscuit, and eggs) by herself but we made her share with Kate.

Then we went swimming at the Lehi Legacy Center with her friend Alexis.
It was a good time.

Tonight we partied with Jack and Kay, George and Merrilee, and Uncle Dan.
Grandma Ellie gave her cowboy pants so that she can go with George to feed the cows.

Aunt Angie made the cake. Kiki has had it picked out for weeks.

I frequently post about all the sassy and disobedient things that Kiki does and says, so I want to take a moment and talk about what a sweet kid she can be. She always says "Please" and "Thanks." She loves to cuckle (that's cuddle), and she always tells us she loves us. Yesterday Bruce had surgery for carpal tunnel, and she told him, "Daddy, I'm worried about you." She loves cheese, buttered noodles, and eggs. (Note to self: schedule cholesterol screening ASAP.) She loves to watch Diego on TV, she thinks that secrets should be whispered in the recipients mouth, and she loves to go swimming. All in all, I love her, even if she has completely defied me by continuing to age.

Freud Would Be Having a Heyday

Someday, when my little Kiki is grown, and prefers to be called "Margaret," and has a job on CNN or in DC, and is married to a guy named "Howard Something the 3rd," she's going to start to wonder why her sphincter tightens every time she opens Google (which will totally still be around). And, several years into therapy, she will finally realize that her mother's prolific blogging regarding her toilet training has impacted her in permanent and lasting ways that until that day she had repressed. And I mean pushed WAAAAAAAY down.

But, hey, that's the future and it won't hold me back now.

The potty training is going like this:
Bruce (calling as he leaves work): Did Kiki go potty today? If she did, I will pick her up a treat.
Becca: Does taking a crap in the tub count?

Also, I need my carpets shampooed.

Also, no incentive seems to work. I have bribed her with treats, the promise of a pet fish, and special privileges, and she just says, "I will wear a pull-up because I don't really want a (insert incentive here)." She would rather continue to fill her diapers than pick out a fish, eat a ding dong, see a movie, or choose a toy. And she will be 3 tomorrow. Ugh.

Grandma Ellie tried to tell her, "Kiki, 3 year olds don't take naps. And 3 year olds don't wear diapers." Kiki said, "Grandma Ellie, I will just turn 4 then."

Hi, Grandma! We're just here to pee and bleed.

I had some chairs to drop off to my mom. We were in a hurry because she was going to the Jazz game with George. As Kate jumped out, she jarred her loose tooth just enough to knock it out. It was a bleeder. She flipped. Seriously flipped. I grabbed Kiki out of the back seat, which peeved her because she wanted to climb through and get out my door, and we charged in to my mom's house with one child crying and bleeding profusely out of the mouth and the other screaming bloody murder. Some greeting, especially when the excitement got to Kiki and she peed. (How's the potty training going, you ask? Not well. We go in fits and starts and I have violated all parenting rules by bribing her with a pet fish if she will wear panties. And we're still not there.) Merrilee, who's had some experience with being rushed by bloody and urine-soaked children, set out to put things straight while I hauled in the chairs, and in just a few minutes I was sent home with two clean children, one holding her front tooth in a plastic bag.
"I was fine," Kate said, "until my mom elbowed me in the face."

P.S. I didn't. Just for the record.

The Pulitzer Project Continues...

I continue to slug my way through the fiction Pulitzers. My recent reads have been "March," "The Caine Mutiny," and "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao." I'll begin with "The Brief Won...." Hmmm, I've just lost interest in typing the title. It doesn't bode will for the book. Here is my review of TBWLoOW in one sentence: I can not figure out why this book won the Pulitzer. Don't bother, seriously. (The "don't bother" part wasn't part of my review, just well meant advice.)

"The Caine Mutiny" sucked me in so much so that I neglected laundry and the DVR to finish it, and it's several hundred pages. Who knew the story of a Navy boy could be so captivating? I recommend it to anyone who has a few spare months on their hands.

Last, my favorite- "March." It is the flip side of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott; the story of Mr. March as he is away at war. "Little Women" was my first chapter book, and I have read it probably 20 times in my life, so to say it is a perennial favorite for me is probably a massive understatement. I thoroughly enjoyed the additional perspective offered by "March." If you are a fan of "Little Women" then give "March" a try. That totally sounded like the last sound bite thrown out at the end of every "Reading Rainbow" episode.

What's next for me? I have 10 down, 46 to go. I'll be visiting the library for my next picks. Try to sleep tonight even though the excitement must be killing you.

Date Night (I expand my horizons...)

I told Bruce if he rounded up the sitter I'd go wherever he wanted on our next date. He was true to his word, so I was true to mine, which is how we wound up at the gun range last night.

I've shot guns before, but I have been on a loooooong hiatus. Above is my target from my first attempt. Not bad, eh? Now, I'm no Rose J.M., but I think I could make an intruder think twice about raiding the place. If I could find the gun. If I could remember how to take the safety off. If I could remember how to load the clip. Ah, hell. I'm just going to stay paranoid about locking the doors.

The range was very crowded. There was a woman there with a terrible perm and a tank top teaching her son how to shoot. My first problem was that whenever the son did something that the mom thought was wrong she would reach right out in front of him and snatch the gun out of his hands. Second, her son (bless his little heart) had shaky, shaky hands. His constitution is probably better for scrambling eggs than handling any sort of firearm. That's why I'm nervous around guns- because lots of weirdos have them, and not enough normal people have them.

Let's pretend that anyone cares about my domestic purasuits.

I cook. I really like it and I think I'm pretty good at it. I collect recipes from magazines and actually make them later. I read cookbooks like regular books- every line. My recipe collection, while always loosely organized, has recently become cumbersome- a file folder for each category, each file folder wearing extremely thin at the bottom and an explosion of paper when opened. It was time for something to be done.

I took advantage of a sale at Roberts' and purchased a heavy duty binder and a couple hundred sheet protectors and I organized those recipes into a beautiful and useful and functional recipe book. My unearthing of long-forgotten recipes has been an inspiration to my daily cooking. In the last 10 days or so, I have made a delicious chili recipe (a top-secret one), a butternut squash soup that was so tasty (of course my children refused it), and unlocked the secret to fluffy buttermilk biscuits. I've made these biscuits 3 different times in the last 7 days with no leftovers yet. I'm a nerd, a really big nerd, but you all should be jockeying for a dinner invite to my house.

Of course, Kate and Kiki are less than impressed. They totally refused my beef stew last night. Bruce came to my defense and lectured my ungrateful offspring about how lucky they were to have a mom who cooked at all, let alone as good as I do. Kiki, as you might guess, was not affected. Kate, however, came to me and said in a very apologetic tone, "I'll eat your dinner, Mama, even if I think it is gross."

Firsts for Kate

Kate received her first report card a few days ago. Kindergartners here get numbers, not letters, 1 through 4, 4 is the best. Kate earned mostly 4's. Math is her strong point, which is not shocking at all considering her genetic make-up. She received no 1's, and only one 2- in penmanship. I don't know about that. I've volunteered in her class quite a bit, and while I am not asserting that her handwriting is awesome, there isn't anyone in the class better than her, either.

Another first: Her first dance recital! She was so nervous before the dress rehearsal- I had to seriously talk her down, but after the dress rehearsal she was so excited! That kid always pulls through when it counts.I think her favorite part may have been that she got to wear make-up. "I need lipstick for my hen outfit, and a different color lipstick for my piano player outfit."

Kate as a hen.

She was thrilled to get flowers after. She did such a good job!

She was in two performances- one Friday night, and one Saturday night. Friday night she wasn't nervous at all. She said, "I'm as excited as the whole world!" Saturday night she got a case of the nerves and fell apart a little right before, but once the recital started she was fine. Jack, Kay, and Merrilee all came to see her, and she basked in the glow of admiration.

And another first, but this one is mine: one of Kate's school classmates was in the recital, and when she hollered, "Mrs. Hatch! HI, Mrs. Hatch!" I immediately knew she was talking about me instead of looking around for my mother-in-law. Only took a decade...

Proud Owner of a Depreciating Asset

After months and months of searching, we have finally upgraded our vehicle. Unfortunately, my understanding of basic economics has tempered my joy somewhat in that I fully recognize this new addition to the garage as the expense that it is. However- I am so grateful to have something a little bit bigger, totally within our budget, and newly detailed. I'm really happy with the purchase. Bruce looks slightly exasperated because he is still driving the car we went on our first date in.

Bruce and I walk a fine line on major purchases- we like nice things, but we also know that with 2 kids, something terrible will eventually happen to everything we own, so it is important to not spend TOO much. The Sequoia meets all of our needs (well, except one. It has a cloth interior. I haven't owned a car with a cloth interior in this century. I'm not a snob, I just think leather cleans up so much easier.) and was priced right.

Now I have to sell the 4-runner. I think I will run the following ad:

2000 Toyota 4-runner limited. 160K miles- 90% of which were accrued within the county limits on surface streets. Vehicle can find own way to local schools, Targets, and Taco Amigo. Interior smells of dog, goldfish crackers, dirty diapers, and diet coke. Dog hair in cargo area is permanent. Good tires, bad brakes. Radio backlight does not turn on, windshield wiper alert light does not turn off. First $100 takes.

I'm generally a fan of self-esteem sizing in my clothes (you know, when the clothing manufacturers put size 6 labels in clothes that are size 8. Don't pretend like you didn't realize this was happening.). Yesterday, having grown tired of a morning routine that involves the following phrases: "Where in the **** are my black yoga pants? The ones WITHOUT the hole in the crotch." and "Hmmm, it's not totally gross to wear the same gym shirt two days in a row, is it?" I hit my local Target for some new gym clothes. I'm size medium. I accept it. I bought all of my workout clothes in a size small, and the "fitted" t-shirts still have ample breathing room. Now, how am I supposed to get all motivated to work out if my workout clothes are constantly reminding me how "small" I am? I need those suckers to say "XXL" so I really feel like taking a run.

Let's Have A Semi-civilized Discussion on Health Care Reform.

Let's start the discussion with the following disclaimers:
I am neither Democrat nor Republican.
This is a complicated topic.
I do not completely, or even semi-completely, understand the topic.
But, failure to understand a complicated topic has never stopped me from spouting off at the mouth (keyboard?) before.

When I was pregnant with Kate, I was sick. Morning, noon, night, you name it, I was puking. I actually kept a big glass of water next to the toilet because it was easier to chug some water and have something to vomit up versus leaning over the toilet dry heaving. At about 10 weeks along, I finally realized that this was probably not normal, and went to my doctor who diagnosed me with hyperemesis gravidarum and, after trying a couple of drugs that didn't do much for me, put me on a little pill called Zofran.

Zofran was almost completely effective for me. It is also terrible expensive- somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 per pill (twice daily dosage). I was fortunate that my health insurance at the time covered the entire cost except for my monthly prescription co-pay. I was back at work within a few days. When I delivered Kate, I paid $250 up-front to the hospital, and though I received the itemized statements from my doctor, the hospital, the nursery, I didn't owe much more. So, with my insurance plan, I had a difficult pregnancy and delivery with an out of pocket expense of less than $500.

By my second pregnancy, things had changed. I was no longer working full-time, so instead of my health insurance through Victoria's Secret, we were insured through Bruce's work. We had three mediocre plans to choose from, all of which cost upwards of $500 per month. Here's how my pregnancy with Maggie went down. Similar level of sickness. Same diagnosis, although made earlier in the pregnancy. Insurance initially refused to cover Zofran. Doctor made personal phone call to insurance, who agreed to cover 12 pills per month, with one exception (to be discussed in a moment). I was taking 2 pills a day. The exception was that if I exceeded a 24 hour period without keeping down any liquids, or if I lost more than 1 pound, I could receive hydration therapy (that's an IV) with Zofran in it, followed by another 12 pills. So, I would survive 6 days. On the 7th, I would puke my guts out and lose 2 pounds. (At my low weight, I weighed 20 pounds less than I do right now, and I still remember my 24 week check-up when the nurse said, "Good job! You are finally back to where you started!" meaning that at 24 weeks pregnant I weighed what I did BEFORE I was pregnant.) On the 8th day I would visit the hydration lab, or if it happened to be a weekend, pay my $150 co-pay for the emergency room and get an IV there. Or, we would pay for Zofran out of pocket: shall we do the math? $30 per pill, times twice a day= $420 a week, times the roughly 15 weeks we paid out of pocket instead of me having to go through the misery of a hospitalization= $6300. Plus the co-pays for the 12 pills my insurance would occasionally cover, the hydration lab visits, and the ER. Even after our co-pays, we still had to cover 20% of the costs. Kiki was born in January, meaning our deductible had started over (like that even mattered, since our insurance had so many exceptions and conditions that even after spending almost $10k during the pregnancy we still hadn't met our 2006 out of pocket cap.) so we spent a couple thousand bucks on the delivery. That's right- we spent over $10,000 out of pocket for a single child born vaginally.

The Bruce makes a good living- many would have been bankrupted by $10,000 in medical bills (in fact, over 60% of bankruptcies are due to medical bills), and I count us lucky that we had the disposable income to deal with this hurdle. I'm infuriated, however, that some nobody in a cubicle had more of a say about my medical care than my own doctor did. I firmly believe that the main reason my insurance company refused to cover Zofran was because of its cost, never mind that the consequence was that I spent 24 weeks in hell. (P.S. I haven't even mentioned my dental, but just imagine what 6 months of puking does to your teeth. My dental bills were almost 5 figures as well.) I didn't want a handout, but I sure as heck believe that we deserved some different choices. I would have given anything to be back on the plan that I had during my first pregnancy.

Here's some facts:
-The mixed public-private health care system in the US is the most expensive in the world.
-Health care costs are rising faster than wages or inflation.
-46 million Americans have no insurance at all (Although some studies have placed this figure as high as 86.7 million).
-Despite larger health care spending, the US ranks 38th in the world in life expectancy, lagging Japan, France, Germany, the UK, Chile, and Cuba, among others.
-Government health care spending in the US is consistently greater than in Canada, the UK, and Japan (countries with predominantly public health care).
-In a 2007 comparison, health care in the US ranked behind Germany, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada on measures of quality, access, efficiency, equity, and outcomes.


We definitely have a problem. We pay more for health care than anyone in the industrialized world and have no better health.

Here's what a Republican thinks about it:

"The answer is more market competition...giving consumers more choices, more information, and more control...Creating a nationwide health insurance market where any individual or group can shop for less expensive coverage from another state would provide more choices, forcing private plans to create better products, improve services, and lower prices." Newt Gingrich

N. Gingrich argues that the reform plans supported by Obama expand the control of government over health care decisions, which he refers to as "health care rationing." Obama argues that health care is already rationed, based on income, employment, and pre-existing conditions. Most Republicans and Democrats agree that reform is necessary, but Republicans have focused on open-market competition (some argue that private insurance distorts typical free market behavior), while Democrats have called for Universal Health Care. Mayo Clinic CEO Denis Cortese argues that health care reform should 1)focus on value, 2)align incentives with value, 3) cover everyone, and 4) Establish mechanisms for improving the health care service delivery system over the long-term. I think the guy who actually WORKS in medicine might be on to something.

I also want to address a few rampant rumors: first, that health care reform would cause us to subsidize health care. News Flash: YOU ALREADY DO. The U.S. System has huge public components: Medicare covers nearly 45 million people, Medicaid covers the poor, CHIP covers children, Native Americans are covered both on and off the reservation, and merchant seaman, retired railway workers, and military veterans are ALL covered by the government. It's been that way since 1965. Obama's not pulling a fast one on you here (Lyndon Johnson did it. What a jerk.).

Second, regarding health care rationing. It's been talked about a lot. Former Secretary of Commerce Peter G. Peterson argued that some form of rationing is inevitable and desirable considering the state of U.S. finances. He estimated that 25-33% of health care services are provided to those in the last months or year of life and advocated restrictions where quality of life cannot be improved. Know what else? HE'S A REPUBLICAN. Do you seriously think a "bleeding heart liberal" would deny health coverage to anyone? The Democrats give money away like it grows on trees.

I don't have a lot of answers, I suppose. I don't know if throwing more money at this issue is going to fix anything. I just know that the system failed me in a big way, and I'm neither a millionaire nor on welfare. I'm an average citizen who contributes to society and I got screwed in a big way. It's not right. But, I'll do my part to avoid any future "Death Panels" by not having any more kids.

Good Friends Are Like a Good Mattress

Eighth grade was a terrible year for me. I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say that when ninth grade started, I had no friends. Imagine my joy, then, when I was granted reprieve from my loner status by Rachel. She was (and is) one of those all around good people, and every time in my life I have looked back and thought about the friendship, I have felt completely grateful that she befriended me. We had so much fun together.

(I don't know why my pictures have these stupid white borders. Ignore the technical difficulties and focus on the content.)

I don't know how to say this without sounding totally corny, but we laughed together, we cried together, she knew everything about me. I think Mr. Peterson wanted us dead in math class because we passed so many notes back and forth (always folded in a crazy origami shape). I felt like I was kicked in the guts the day she told me that she was moving our senior year (and now, dear friend, I've posted a picture of moving day 20 years later. I guess I've exacted my revenge. Except if I was really vengeful I would have not cropped your leggings out. The craziness of my "H-Bomb Truck Routes" t-shirt pales in comparison.)

With distance and time, we had drifted apart, but I always had such happy memories of the friendship. Then, thanks to Facebook we were reunited, and then thanks to real life human contact we had the most wonderful catch-up conversation yesterday afternoon, and when she left I just felt so blessed that such a wonderful person had been in my life.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the friendships that I have and I have definitely been blessed in that capacity far beyond what I am deserving of. Although Rachel was the first, there are multiple circumstances where I met a friend who was exactly what I needed at that time in my life, or where the bond was instantaneous, or the person taught me something that I now couldn't do without. My friends have been there for me through thick and thin- they have grieved with me when I have grieved, they have been more proud of my accomplishments than I have been, and they've dealt it to me straight when I needed them to. Some people have tried to tell me that a good friendship requires 100% acceptance, but for me it doesn't. My friends are like a good mattress- soft, but firm. They love me, for sure, but there are certain things that they are not okay with, and that's what I need in my life. Little did I know when I met Rachel that she was starting me down a path full of amazing friends, but I'm always grateful that she did.

Holiday Weight Gain: A Full Accounting

3.5 cursed pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Here is specifically what caused it.

.5 lbs came from Peanut Butter M&M's.
.3 from that evil pesto dip from Costco.
.3 from Judd stuffing.
.25 from Angie's homemade Almond Joys.
.25 from Angie's toffee (Hey Angie! How about giving protein powder next year? Thanks.)
.2 from my conflicted relationship with chocolate covered sunflower seeds (Are they good? Are they gross? I'm not sure...I better eat some more.)
.5 from assorted cheeseballs.
.3 from mashed potatoes and gravy.
.3 from chocolate cookies with candy canes in them.
.25 from homemade rolls.
.25 from pie.
.1 from real whipping cream on my pie.

Thankfully, between Mexico (nothing bad happened, I just ate right) and my renewed dedication to running, it is gone already. But, I remember you fondly, 3.5 pounds of pure fat. It WAS a Merry Christmas.

Hurtin' at the Yurt

Within hours of our arrival home from Mexico, Bruce was off again for a testosterone charged night in a yurt. I'm pretty sure that Cancun to skiing in less than 24 hours can cause some sort of total systemic shock, but that Bruce is a risk taker. He and Jeff and other assorted men (heretofore referred to as "The Sausage Party") skied a few miles into Logan Canyon where they ate meat, banged their chests, and wrote their name in urine in the snow.

In all seriousness, I think he had a really fun time. He wondered why Rose and I don't ever go along on these adventures. For the record, we were NOT invited.

For Christmas, Santa brought tattoo pens for the girls. It's your classic symbiotic relationship: Kate loves to draw, Kiki loves to be drawn upon.

Kate will never profit as a professional tattoo artist: "Mom!!!! I spelled zebra Z-B-R-U. Is that right?"

Kiki is a biker chick.

P.S. I need to do some bonding with my children. Kiki tells me, "My name is Kiki Hunter."

2009: Sum-up and Run-down

Places We Went:
-Zion's Nat'l Park
-Oregon Coast (quite possibly the best vacation we've ever had)
-Washington, DC
-Sea World
-Phoenix and Pocatello to run and visit family
-Cancun
-Merrilee's house almost every Sunday for dinner (We are mooches...)
-Fun places close to home- the canyon, the pool, the aquarium, Grandpa's tree house...
...and never once to bed on time.

Things We Said:
-"Sure, I'll be the Primary President."
-"If you girls don't stop fighting I swear on all that is holy I will make you pay!" (repeated on an hourly basis.)
-"Bite me." (during sacrament meeting.)
-"I don't want to be like daddy- hair on your back ITCHES."
-"We don't start out as babies; we start out as mermaids."
-"Look! Bum!" (Also during church. It's a wonder we are still active.)
-"I wish I had a step-dad."

What We Learned:
-That when we play the Powerball our basement floods. Guaranteed.
-Also, if we knew how bad basement floods #2 and #3 were going to be, we probably would not have complained so much about flood #1. (Yes. All in 2009.)
-That kindergarten was a much bigger adjustment for me than for Kate.
-That Kiki had a lot of deep thoughts inside just waiting to get out. Thanks for finally talking, Mags. Now will you at least consider potty-training?

Favorite Moments:
-Bruce: The Oregon trip
-Kate: "My favorite things was at Christmas when I got the Barbie Camper."
-Kiki: "Well, Mother, I'd have to say it was when Charlie beaned me on the head while you were in Washington, DC, and I had to get stitches but it conveniently erased the karmic debt you incurred when you whacked Liza in the head with a Strawberry Shortcake lunch box back in 1981."
-Becca: I'm obviously the homebody here, but my favorite moments have been around my own kitchen table laughing and enjoying the many great people in our lives. That, and the day I had my hair cut short. Oh, and half marathon day. And my birthday. Oh man, there has been a lot of fun this year...

The Great Miracle of 2009: Last year about this time, Bruce and I set some goals for the family for the year. We wanted to travel more, save more for retirement, pay down our mortgage, and exercise more. And we did every single one of those things. And THAT is a miracle.

As for resolutions, I really don't believe in them. However, for the last couple of years I've had themes instead of resolutions. For example, 2008 was "Unfinished Business" as I focused on projects I had let fall by the wayside, and 2009 was "The Run." I think that the theme for 2010 might be "Branching Out" and it will be the year I try new things and hobbies. What do you think?

Home at Last

Our last days in Cancun were spent laying around. Bruce received enough UV exposure to put nails in his coffin, I hid in the shade and read furiously. Two and a half books in 6 days- not bad. The flight home was not terrible- we took a bump from Continental that resulted in a $400 credit and an arrival one hour earlier in SLC, so we were pulling in at home when the New Year arrived. I'm not sure what a $400 credit from Continental is actually worth...based on past experience, I think we could probably drive to the airport, sit on a plane for a few minutes, then turn around and go home.
Yesterday morning, we picked up Kiki from Grandma Ellie's house. We were headed to Logan where Bruce was going hiking and spending the night in a yurt. Bruce wanted to make an earlier start, which is what he always says before pulling out the frying pan and starting a batch of bacon. I dropped him in Jeff's capable hands, then Rose and I and our assorted children grabbed some lunch before Kiki and I braved the snow for Pocatello to get Kate. I was so happy to see her. It has felt like so long. We spent the night in Pocatello- the Banagrams got vicious, but we are all still speaking- then I retraced my footsteps back to Logan to get Bruce, and finally, HOME.
Our vacation was fun, but I must admit that I was terribly homesick the whole time. It was so hard to be away from the girls during the holidays. Usually when we leave they don't even miss us, but this time was hard on them too. So, a little note for the future: Holiday vacations should be family vacations. Don't get me wrong- I love to get away as a couple, but next time it will happen at a different time of the year.