back to reality.

tonight, we become parents again.

well, i suppose we never stopped being parents. we've just been kid-free since the evening of june 19th. for the last {nearly} two weeks, our kiddos have been traveling in the northeast with my parents. 

the kids challenged my parents to games on the wii.

the kids helped my sister move {from fenway to jamaica plain}.

the kids attended a lacrosse game {my brother-in-law, james, is an awesome lax coach}.

the kids got to hang with their {2nd, my 1st} cousins, pat & mei.

the kids were spoiled by their auntie monica.

the kids got to see my mom's auntie...in toronto, canada.

the kids viewed the beauty & the exhilaration of standing near niagara falls.

i'm certain the kids have also whined, complained, cried & driven my parents crazy.

but, i'm certainly glad that my parents are able to spend time like this with their grandkids. and, i'm especially glad that my kids love going & making these memories with their grandparents.  

going kid-free is not an uncommon occurrence in our home. my kids are always with my parents. last summer {and the summer before that and the summer before that...you get the picture}, they were with my parents for a good portion of the summer.  this summer is different.  i'm not working.  i'm not in summer school. 

and, while i love how quiet & clean the house has been, i miss my kids. i can't wait to have them home. it's been too quiet & i do believe that my sanity feeds off of the dramatic chaos that seems to come along with a ten year old & an eight year old.

of course, ask me again next week, when i'm sure i'll be sick of the arguing, the pre-tween angst & the mess.

 {aidan & malia being goofy in an exhibit at aquarium of the bay, san francisco, may 2011}