Vacation All I Ever Wanted

I do apologize for my blogging hiatus but an immense amount of fun was busy being had. In addition, the computer resides in the room that my toddler was sleeping in. We took a plethora of pictures but, as it would probably bore you to see them all, I have included one that sums up my child's feelings on the week spent in the south of California. Yep. That's pretty much the biggest smile I have maybe ever seen. It definitely has something to do with the fact that the guy in the picture with him is probably his best friend on earth. When Grandpa is around, everyone else--and I mean everyone--is chopped liver. When my dad came to get us at the airport, he was still twenty feet away when my son spotted him. This kid nearly killed himself trying to get to him as he broke into a smile a lot like the one he's wearing in that picture. It borderlines on being a tragedy that they no longer live in the same town. On Saturday night, my father went to bed at 7:55 because that's the time their campout started. It's true. My dad pitched a tent in the office and Garrett had his first ever experience of sleeping the whole night through with someone right next to him. We never wanted a child in bed with us and endeavored, right from the start, to keep him sleeping in his own crib. But my dad asked nicely and I figured that, at 18 months, we could give it a shot. The sight of him sound asleep curled up next to my dad in a tent was just about the cutest thing in the world. And the next night he slept perfectly by himself so no new "I have to sleep with my Grandpa in a tent" habits were forged.

We had a jammed week that included the carousel at Parkway Plaza, a wonderful Superbowl party with my extended family, visiting my mom's parents, seeing my students show, visiting my dad at work, Sea World, dinner with a dear friend and fellow pastor's wife (J'Lene, if you're reading this, I am so glad that we had time to catch up. I miss you tons!), time spent with Garrett's cousins, and lunch with my mom at La Cocina, the best hole-in-the-wall Mexican food you will find north of the border.

The sun came out on Tuesday and Wednesday and I was able to soak in the warmth. Of course, my mom informed me that it had only been a mere 59 degrees. What has happened to my inner thermometer? I think it's broken. In any case, I am back in the land of the cold and snow. I've given my parents up for Lent* but will see them just after Easter when they visit for a few days. Maybe my dad will pitch our tent in Garrett's play room. We'll see.

*This blog writer, Lori Doozleberry, realizes that the point of Lent is not to give up something that you will already be doing or something that has an ulterior motive. On the contrary, if you choose to practice Lent, you should give up something that will be incredibly difficult, something that, when you think about it multiple times a day, causes you to pause and pray that the Lord will be with you through the sacrifice. Time with God should replace time spent with that which you have given up.