Memory Lane

I can remember waking up at this hour…

it was this morning! But setting an alarm? And hoofing it?

That could only mean one thing… America bound!

But not before a mammoth day/night covid certified, blowout fortified, travel bonanza.

I thought for sure my oxygen mask would drop from the ceiling. It’s never a good time for diarrhea, but there is such thing as a bad time. Lived it.

The girls piled into their chariot transport headed from Miami to Ft. Myers. And the well-worn phrase, “They lived happily ever after…” just about sums it up.

Ken and I would shoulder the lost luggage, jet lag,

culture shock, teething,

Christmas hustle, supersizes, infant sleep regression, DMV shenanigans…

and a return flight waiting for us like the grim reaper.

At least we didn’t know at that point we would be two weeks in base imposed Omicron quarantine. And to think, we took so many precautions! Not really. You just can’t believe what kids dig up to pass the time waiting for traffic lights to change.

Kids.

The girls spent the majority of their time at Nana and Papa’s house, save for a few trips to search out Florida’s famous wildlife.

The alligator count kept the kids interested…

while the color printout could not make up for the lack of manatees,

and glaring December sun.

It was time to herd them back inside.

Lucy: “What’s this creature? It looks like an adult… and yet its face is wide-eyed and animated! What a rare species!”

They were perfectly content at the pandemic compound where they loved to tea party,

fish????

Truly!

sew,

manicure,

Barbie,

swim,

and…

It was important to keep a low-ish profile, we were saving our immune systems for a final Florida HURRAH!

Santa (ahem, or Papa)

would hardly approve of all of the pre-and post-Christmas antics.

In fact, as Christmas morning got underway…

the girls looked over and cast off the teasers like they were handed lumps of coal.

They could not understand why the man who supposedly knows all… would gift them Mickey Mouse themed trifles?! Did he lose our letters? Is he deranged? Where are the presents?!

It looked like they would actually find more pleasure in giving than receiving this year.

With the sleigh sinking we thought a fun puzzle would lighten the mood.

A gift that’s not even here? No thanks you two! Hisses and heckles were moments away.

It was time for Santa to intervene…

with a trip to the Magic Kingdom!

Wake up, Lucy! We are going to Disney World!!

And the surprises would just keep coming. Uncles and cousins gathered for a family-filled home for Christmas moment.

Kid life… segueing from one Happiest Place on Earth, to the next.

The crowds were REAL, the lines were long, the girls were… ENCHANTED!!!

From beginning

to end.

They gave everything they had,

and it was exactly the wish upon a star kind of day we hoped to give the girls.

Just after Disney we said our last goodbyes

even slipping in an extra special visit enroute to the airport.

My our kids have grown! Only love and longing for our cherished PR friends.

The bond is stronger than the long distance and what tremendous encouragement to hug my kindred mom in the parenting trenches,

pouring it out day after day for her amazing kiddos. What we wouldn’t trade to be neighbors again! These two shed the awkwardness within minutes and were ready to pick up where they left off six years ago.

But the life we are called to, was calling us home.

Where we were greeted by three recently career-inspired kids, recognizable only by their unremitting energy. Who else would be amped to role play the minute we got home from 24 hours of travel? Must be ours.