shh, don't tell the kids...

...but last week Jonny and I took off to California without them. And, yes, we had a wonderful time lounging on the beach, walking around unencumbered by a stroller, carrying a purse free of diapers and sippy cups, eating at restaurants without even glancing at a kids menu, actually reading during the flight, waking up in the morning at our leisure, soaking in the hot tub late at night, eating ice cream at least once a day, and even playing at Disneyland and California Adventure.

But before we had been gone even 24 hours, something I really hadn't expected happened. I missed Julia and Gabe dreadfully. I knew I'd miss them, sure, they're my babies. But I really missed them. We both did. Maybe it's because we knew we wouldn't see them for two and a half more days. Maybe it's because we felt a little guilty being on such a great vacation without them. Or maybe it's because we were surrounded by thousands of other darling kids at "the happiest place on earth."

Whatever the cause, luckily we managed to have an incredible time that day and the remainder of the trip. (The next day it wasn't so bad, I knew I'd see them after one more night.) I knew Julia and Gabe were having the time of their lives staying with grandma and cousins. (Thanks again Mom, Cami, and Amber!) And I truly was having the time of my life on what felt like a second honeymoon. It was quite blissful.

Anyway, I learned something on our little get-a-way. Alone time is very important for Jonny and me. I always look forward to our evenings after the kids are in bed and date nights on the weekend. A little extended time away from the kids is luxurious, but to be taken in small doses for us! As it turns out, we need these little friends of ours just as much as they need us. (Maybe even more, judging by how upset Julia was when we tried to bring her home from her cousins' house! Gabe, on the other hand, was hugging and kissing me like crazy.) Sure, they fuss and cry and fight and throw tantrums. (They welcomed me home with a couple of those this morning while Jonny was at an early meeting.) But they also make me laugh and smile countless times every single day. I marvel at their growing minds and understanding. I cry bitter-sweet tears when I realize that they really won't be my babies for very much longer. And I love it. I love being their mommy. It's the most exciting and difficult thing I've ever done. And I'm only four years into it! So here's to many more, with perhaps a few occasional escapades for Jonny and me to catch our breath and remember that we're still young too. Then straight back home to our peeps, because, as Julia often says, "We are a flamily."

Of course I can't leave this post without putting a few photo highlights of our weekend in sunny California. Because we really did have a blast. Just don't show these pictures to Julia...

 Jonny took me on a little tour of the sketchy neighborhood where we spent the night on our honeymoon before our cruise ship sailed. We remember buying fruit and water at El Super. And eating fried chicken in the parking lot.

We tried kissing during the picture of the Tower of Terror drop. It was tricky!

 Jonny makes fun that I have the same face on most rides. And he thinks it is crazy that I scream.

I can't help it, honestly.

 

"Hey look! It's dork and dork jr!"

(Sorry, Jonny, I couldn't resist a movie quote.) 

 

Jonny daintily eating a salad: 

Me ravenously eating a corn dog: 

 Matt, Cortnie, and Jack were in D-land a few days before us. They left a note and pirate garb for us in a secret spot. It was so exciting to find it where they left it! (It was hidden in a decorative treasure chest on a high window ledge in an obscure corner of a gift shop. Sneaky.)

 Jonny did put the arrow back in the correct direction, after we toyed with the idea of setting the loose arrow another way. We just didn't have the heart, I guess. (Those of you who were involved in the stealing of a loose ski lift sign with me in earlier days can see that I have changed my tune. Hey, where is that infamous sign anyway?)

 

Again, don't tell Julia:

Here I am, excited to ride California Screamin' for the third time. (I wonder if I will grow up to be one of those moms who doesn't ride roller coasters. ???) But my favorite, of course, is Soarin' Over California. That is the closet I've ever felt to flying. We'll just have to go sky diving and change that, huh Jonny?

I could have stayed at Newport Beach all evening. But it was pretty chilly. Some clam chowder in a local restaurant warmed me up, but I was sad to leave the ocean view.

 We spent our last hour at a lovely park near the airport, watching birds and turtles in a pond. Within a few hours we were back in gloomy Utah. Blah. But I was happy to be back home in our mountain state. I do love it.

 

P.S. This was by no means the first time we've left the kids. I've been to MD a couple times without them, as well as Girls Camp. But those times Jonny has been home. We did, however, both leave them for five days while we went on a youth pioneer trek last summer. Maybe this was harder because we were partying the whole time. But then, like I said, so were they. Julia has been telling us all about her incredible weekend with cousins and Nana. Surely she'll be begging us to go on another "shrip" very soon.