Happy Valentine's Day

I thought I'd take this moment to establish what true love is. A parent's job is never done. And I've found that this rings true not so much in my case but with Ricardo's parents. Granted, their job is done. They've done it very well by raising wonderful boys to become great husbands and fathers. And they just keep on giving.

We got a call a few weeks ago that Ricardo's dad, who we refer to as Bean (no one knows why, but I have my speculations) he had some time off from work. So, can the kids come stay for a week?

Uh, hold on, let me think about this...KIDSPACKYOURBAGS! YES!

Ricardo's parents are firm believers that parents with young kids need time alone. Time for each other. They take our nephews on summer vacations each year. They've watched the kids before while we took our first trip away from the kids. The twins were young, about a year old, and Ricardo and I didn't know what to do in a beautiful hotel room with no responsibilities nor obligations. Hmmm...what does one do in a beautiful hotel room with one's spouse? Hmmm? I would like to report that we had wild passionate crazy never-ending sex. However, none of you with kids would believe me, and I cannot tell a lie. We slept. We slept like we've never slept before. On occasion, we'd wake up and agree that all that sleeping, maybe we should eat to sustain our energy for more sleep. And we'd go eat. Eating at a restaurant, with no kids is a vacation in itself. We ate and we slept and we missed the heck out of the kids.

We called and checked on the kids, probably too much. We actually held back as much as we could. It's not that we don't trust Ricardo's parents. It's that we love them. And although our children are beautiful and sweet and at the time, still babies. They are ours. We were used to the schedule they had us on. But to do that to someone else. People we dearly love. It's a complete upheaval and total cluster of no sleep when diaper changing soon morphs into an art. Life with twin babies is simply physically exhausting. I can say that in hindsight. At the time, I had no idea because Ricardo and I just did it. We loved every minute of it. We still do. I'm just saying, it's our gig. We did this to ourselves. And I always feel guilty shlepping our gig off on someone else. But not too guilty to go on the trip.

Gramma and Bean love it though. It's a great fit. So, when I call to check in, I'm checking on the well-being of Ricardo's parents, not so much the kids. The kids, I know are fine, if not in better hands than with us.

A little more than a year ago, Gramma and Bean stepped in to help out again while Ricardo and I took a trip out to Belize. Again, we needed some time to ourselves, but we were more on a mission for me to get some closure on my dad's death. It worked. I cannot thank them enough for that gift to help us to go all that way for just one moment in time. A mere minutes to physically and emotionally let it go. It was an immediate wash of relief. The kids were three at the time, a little easier (no diapers) and yet on a whole new level of exhausting. I was happy to report back to Ricardo's parents that their exhaustion and time with the kids was completely warranted by my renewed lease on life...and death.

A year later, while I'm still fulfilled from the last trip to Belize, we get the call from Ricardo's parents that they'd like to watch the kids. Now they are four. They are easier. I'm not much of a baby person. So, I like them now at this age because they can interact with me and tell me how great Mommy is while mixing me a mean vodka tonic. Ofcourse, they can tell me how, er, ungreat I am, yet still, even with their unhappiness, it's such a joy that they can explain it IN DETAIL and we can work the problem out. I don't have to translate a cry. They just tell it to me. It's a Godsend.

Still, the thought of a little vacation sounds nice. It's an awkward feeling. I planned for this life with kids. I miss them. And yet, I'm embracing the idea of a break. I don't need it. I haven't hit rock bottom...YET. But I guess that's why, because I get these moments to myself and alone time with Ricardo.

Today I went to the mall and searched endlessly for an item of which I never found. I probably looked like a lost child. As I searched, I noticed all the kid toys and fun Valentine's the kids would probably love. I just enjoy being a parent, a mom. I think it's taken this time away to really understand that. Either the Eagles or Don Henley said it solo, "You don't know what you've got til it's gone."

Oh, no pity here. I stayed up late last night scrapbooking. I've slept in. And I've brought a coffee tray down to the computer. I'm seizing the opportunity to do things around the house that don't always get done with little ones around.

We considered taking a trip this time. But instead, we opted to seek adventure in the house. Without further ado, here is the to-do list while the kids are gone:
1. Paint and redecorate bathroom.
2. Clean pile in file cabinet and actually access the files for use.
3. Grocery shop at leisure.
4. Watch as many movies as we can.
5. Watch the news. (I don't watch the news much with the kids around since Lucy asked me one time, "Mommy, what's a suicide bomber?")
6. Talk to, gaze at and love on Ricardo.
7. Pet the dog and maybe, if we're all lucky, wash the dog.
8. Scrapbook
9. Take long showers.
10. Cook spicy food.
11. Girls night in! Holla to all my girlzzzzzz!

That's it folks. I just like life with my kids and my family. But for this week, I'm a kept woman. It's the greatest Valentine's gift ever.

That's how I roll.

***A side note, if you will. I'm not kissing my in-law's butts. I simply speak the truth. These people are golden good people. Trust me on this.