Absence makes the heart . . .

So we have been out of town for the last 5 days, visiting my brother in Chapel Hill, NC. (And yes, I did witness a game in the Dean Dome, more on that later.) Because we are not masochists, and because we wanted to be able to enjoy at least some of the weekend, we left Isaac here with his grandparents, and just toted Vivian along for our cross-country trek. 5 days, 4 nights--the longest we have ever spent apart from him.

And, on many levels, I missed him. It would have been fun to "show him off" to the assorted family members and friends we saw while there. It would have been fun to see how he reacted to his first visit to God's country*. But I must confess that for most of the time we were there, when I thought of him, I was thinking, "Thank God Isaac isn't here". I'm sure that sounds terrible-- but having a hyperactive 2 year old along for not only the plane travel (layover in Dallas, 12 hours total each way, including driving time), but also for a weekend which included 3 straight evenings at restaurants ending after 10:30pm, jam-packed days with no time for the daily 2 hour nap, and a 3 hour time change (just to mention a few obstacles), is nothing to take lightly. He would have been miserable, and so would we. And honestly, a few days without him was kind of nice for me. Not having to be on constant watch for 4 days was really relaxing, so much so that on the way home from the airport I felt a sort of dread at the thought of our next days together.

But then.

Lance went to pick him up at his grandparents' house and when they came home, he actually tripped over himself in an effort to get to me as quickly as humanly possible. He just flung his arms around me, giggling hysterically, and I couldn't pick him up fast enough. I planted his face with kisses and felt like my whole body was going to explode I was so happy to see him. I guess I did miss him after all.

Oh, and he is talking so much more! Really! In five days. I swear! I do think I forgot just exactly how sweet he is as we spent the next 5 minutes in a dog pile on the floor, tackling each other for kisses. Lance joined in, and for a while we were like lunatics, climbing over each other, kissing and hugging and grabbing at each other. I suppose, if you were sick in the head, it could have been a little perverted.

Then, just to break my heart a little more, Isaac suddenly looked up and said, "Vivian?"

So we had to quickly wake her up and let her join in the kiss fest on the floor of the family room.

My family, in the family room. My god, what did I do with myself before this??


*If you don't know, then you haven't been there. Chapel Hill is God's country, because it is the most beautiful place on earth--and of course you've heard the saying, "If God isn't a Tarheel, why is the sky Carolina blue?"