Back from vacation

We are back after 2 weeks of holiday fun with family. I didn't blog much, especially in the 2nd week when we were in DC because the computer I used the most was the iMac, my mom's iMac, where I didn't want any autofill fields or internet history that I forgot to erase leading her back to my blog. I'm not quite as open with my mom as t or as Dooce, both of whose moms (and dads?) read their blogs. In a way I wish I could have blogged while we were away, to preserve some of those memories made while together with family. I have notes jotted down but it's not quite the same. Anyway...

We had a great time and for the most part, the kids were great travelers. They were stellar on the flight out, champs in the car rides to/from Pittsburgh and rolled with the lack of routine and nap schedule. Only at the end did we have a rather horrible flight with Eli. On our flight out to the east coast, there was this one kid on the red eye that woke up the whole cabin with his crying and screaming. I could only imagine how the parents felt. On the way back, that kid was Eli and imagine no longer. Aside from that, our trip was much to be expected: Changs are Changs and Lihs are Lihs. We went from rural, healthy, back woods, slow paced living to suburban epicurean fast-paced metropolitan living. Pros and cons of each of course but in the end, both places were fun.

I guess the measure of whether vacation "worked" is in the returning home. Coming back, I feel a little more energized to engage with the kids (I said the same after returning from Boston in October only to end up in yelling tantrums again -- needless to say I hope it doesn't end up there again). And as I tidy up around the house after Eli's waking up at 7:20AM on the dot (darn garbage trucks), I see clues of my state of mind before the trip. I saw rubber stamps and stickers from our last minute project to send off Ms. Jasmine with a class card -- the weeks leading up to our trip were mysteriously busy at school. But I had forgotten all of that over vacation. I turned on the CD player to find our church's "Joy in the House" CD -- and music always "brings me back". But I had forgotten about rehearsals and performing for that choir concert over vacation. We still have a couple of gifts unopened under the tree and of course the boys had a fun time rediscovering all their toys after coming home -- I just wished they hadn't done that at 2AM Pacific time (felt like 5AM to us!).

In all the hubbub before leaving, I had the presence of mind to buy ultra-pasteurized milk so that I'd have fresh cartons to open when we came back. We were stocked with eggs, cheese and bread and the toys were tidied, at least before the boys got to them. So far so good coming back -- Eli is morning napping and Tobey has yet to wake up which means, I'm taking my nap too!