There's a better-than-good chance that in January I'll be leaving my little ones for a week of R&R with D and the adults in his family. There will be a plane ride to Florida, and then a week long cruise.

When I try to picture it in my head, all I see is a big blank. Let me explain...

We've flown with the kids many, many times. My "listing" starts months in advance. The collecting of toys, snacks, games, books, etc. begins weeks in advance. The packing starts days in advance, and by the day of the trip I am one of the most prepared mothers you've ever seen. Prepared for the kids, I mean. Usually I throw a book or my Kindle into the travel bag as an afterthought, just in case both kids are napping and I get a chance to read on the plane (hahahahahahah...*wipes away tears*). Vacations with the kids are "working vacations". No rest for the weary.

Now I'm faced with the chance to have between 6-9 hours on a plane to myself. I could watch a movie. I could READ! I could nap. I could flip through SkyMall without having to point out every picture of a doggy! After nearly 6 years of flying with kids, flying with one big kid (just kidding, D) is going to be a big change.

And then there's the rest of the week.
The thought of waking up when my body has had enough sleep, and not when a tiny voice whispers "Mom, are you awake?" 
To laze around in bed without icy toes in my belly and whispy hair going up my nose? 
To go to a beach and not be worried about sunscreen, snacks, sandcastles, potty emergencies?
To head out to dinner at night without co-opting a family member into babysitting?
To stay out as late as we want without feeling guilty?
Ordering a meal without cursing the feeble kids' menu?

Ridiculous. Unfathomable. Heady. Awesome.

But who am I kidding? I know I'm going to think about them and miss them every second of every day. It may take me a day or two to remember who I am without the kids, and I fully intend to enjoy myself, but there'll always be that little part of me that thinks: Oh, the kids would love this! and Oh, I should take that home for them! and Oh, where's my camera, I'll have to show them this!

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Pumpkin is LOVING Kindergarten. And I mean loving it! Last week we were all feeling a little sick, but he didn't want to stay home. He begged for some cold/cough stuff and happily went to school.

I get to volunteer in his class once a week, which I love, too. I get to meet the kids in his class, get to see how he interacts with them, and I get to see the teacher's style and methods. She's amazing and the kids really enjoy her class. She keeps things moving well, keeps them fun and diverse. My only complaint so far? When reading a story about dinosaurs she kept calling the Tyrannosaurus Rex a Tri-anno-saurus Rex. Now all the kids in the class think it starts with Tri- instead of Ty. We had to straighten Pumpkin out when he got home.

The most impressive part of this class, in my opinion, is how much this teacher emphasizes writing. They have a writing journal where they write sentences and illustrate them almost every night. They are learning many sight words (so far: I, like, a, see, am, can), these are common words they're supposed to recognize on sight. The rest they're supposed to sound out phonetically.

Pumpkin is really getting into the spirit of things. Today I found this note on my dresser while he was supposed to be having quiet time in his room. I'll translate for those without kindergartners:

"DER MOM I HAV BET THE
GAM AV MREO CRT."
Means:
Dear Mom, I have beat the
game of Mario Cart.

Isn't this amazing?? Before school started 2 months ago he could write his name, Princess's name, Mom, Dad - and that was it. Now he's spelling out words and leaving notes around the house

I love it!! Soon when Princess wants a story read to her while I'm elbow-deep in dishes I can tell her to go find her brother and ask him to read to her. YAY!!!