Catching Up After a Holiday

My holiday is officially over today because Doug is back in school. No more collaborative efforts to get the kids ready in the morning. No more collaborative efforts to get the kids in the car, bathed, into a store, out of mischief. I am Senorita Solo-Caretaker during daylight hours again, leaving my two-year-old in a quandary over "Where's Daddy?" It was kind of sad to say Daddy was at school this morning, but I'll deal:).

The blow was softened this morning by a wonderful visit with my "West Virginians." I took the kids to Mapleton to play with buddies we'd met and loved in West Virginia. I got to see two sweet babies, Wesley and Madeleine, who were born after I left West Virginia. What a treat for me. I can't believe it has been almost 9 months since I left West Virginia, almost 100% sure that I'd be back again in the fall. Life is full of surprises, not the least of which was Doug's acceptance to BYU for his last year of law school. I'm just grateful that so many of my West Virginians have reasons to visit Utah!

And here's the travel-log to catch my blog up on life events (this'll be quick because Isaac just woke up from his nap and is talking in his crib):

We hung out with Sheide cousins on Christmas eve. I was in charge of the Luke 2 reading and acting, and it ended up that "there was no room in the..." manger:). Baby Jesus (alias Cabell Buechner) didn't get to lie down in the manger during the reading because my two-year-old climbed in first. And then another two-year-old. Then a four-year-old. Jesus needs to be a little more quick about it. Isaac loved Christmas morning at the Sheide house as well. Thanks, Mom, for the lovely train and car mat.

The day after Christmas, we began a journey toward sunshine and Grandma Kayla in Sun City, Arizona. Doesn't the picture below strike fear of sleep deprivation in your heart? It worked out with Isaac sleeping in the porcelain palace, but we were feeling pretty brave to subject ourselves to the obvious risks of bringing two little ones to a hotel. We love and recommend Falcon Ridge hotel in Mesquite, by the way.

And here's a picture of Isaac and a penguin. I worked so hard for this shot, so it has to be in here. We went to the priciest zoo we've ever been to (even with a buy 1 get 1 free coupon) and lucked out because we were only charged $2.50 for it on our credit card. As a Mormon side note, yes, we did call the zoo to explain that we had been undercharged and we were praised and told not to worry about it:).
So here we are again in Utah, just me and the kids, and my husband at the law school:). With vacation over, I'll hopefully be able to read, write, and answer my phone once more:).