Reboot

Well, now I finally understand why computers like to be rebooted.

I just do not transition on my own unless kickstarted.  By a retreat, not by constant lack of sleep.

Soooo... ENGLAND!!! (insert Shakespere speech here)

Since the kids did not join us, the only difficult thing about the trip was leaving the kids.   Jack missed us the most right from the beginning, but Gramma just kept on keeping on and they all moved in and out of missing us throughout the week.  We left a couple videos - in particular we read the boys bedtime book via video on our first morning in Salisbury, which I hear was a hit.

I started texting them every night messages that were low on sentiment and high on silly.  Abby lost ANOTHER tooth while we were gone.

Homecoming is always the best however and Finn was SOOOOO cute - he grinned from ear to ear and  bent over because he was so excited.

We were forewarned by some parents that had JUST made a trip like ours and by the nursery school teachers that the kids would be totally fine while we were gone but that we would be punished dearly by them in neediness and general reaction from the whole thing.

BUT NO consequences.  If anything they are easier to keep in routine because Gramma's house has a better meal routine than Mommy's house.  I think that Gramma & Gramma's house are such second home/mommy that they were more comfortable than I could have ever prayed for away from us.

Gramma also took Ryley for one night while we were way.  Yes, Gramma deserves wings... and medals and sainthood.  But apparently all went quite well except for the whole concept of CERTAIN kids staying quiet while certain babies were being put down to bed.  I think we need to build a soundproof panic room into the regular playroom at Gramma's house.

But more on the reboot.  I think... not going to commit totally to this, but I think that when something is hard, I get it in my head that it is going to take massive effort to change it, and therefore the stress of the change triples.  But when I reboot the extenuating stress gets cleared out and I just come home and go "Oh, I don't like how we're doing this - let's change it."  End.  Print.  Roll credits.

SO more on England... soon.