So we’re at the hotel.
I’m sleeping. Let me repeat that part – I am sleeping. For those of you who are following my blog you’ll understand what a monumental thing that is.
I’m awakened by the absence of the weight that lay across me all night and the sudden difference in temperature. Rick has gotten out of bed.
A one-eyed scan of the room reveals that it’s still night. The alarm clock says 0430 and since the times went back at midnight it’s really 0330. I expect him to come back to bed. I expected wrong…
Instead my husband is turning on the lights and packing his bag. When he’s done with his he starts on mine. I pretend to still be asleep for the first 10 minutes of his rummaging but I’m a curious person by nature and I can’t resist asking him what the heck he’s doing at such a godforsaken hour of the morning.
“I’m going to see the kids,” is the response I receive.
“Umm, Honey, it’s 3:30 in the morning. The kids won’t be up for a few more hours.”
We argue about the time change for a few minutes and he sullenly flops onto the couch and turns on the TV.
I manage to nap. But by 0530 he’s back to rummaging in my stuff and banging around loud enough to wake Rip Van Winkle himself.
“Get up. I need to see my kids.” All the patience is gone out of his voice.
And with that our romantic night is officially over.
I manage to drag my feet getting ready. Manage to get another bath in the Jacuzzi tub. And convince him to stop at Timmies for a morning coffee. But by 0700 we’re pulling into our own driveway.
He can hardly contain himself.
Bags are left in the car and he doesn’t even wait for me to get the video camera adjusted. He’s up the stone steps like a shot.
The lights are on in the kitchen, so hopefully the kids are up.
I’m about 10 feet behind him, trying to provide some voiceover information for the camera as we burst into the house.
Kate is there. She stops like a deer caught in the headlights. Eyes wide she looks at Rick. You can see the disbelief in her eyes. She takes a step towards him and then backs up.
He speaks to her. She moves forward again only to back up and dance. On the third attempt she manages to touch him. He’s real! You can see the words practically dance across her face and she squeals in delight. She grabs him by the arm, drags him into the living room, pushes him down on the couch and flops on top of him. Mandatory cuddle time apparently.
I call Liam up from the family room where he’s playing with his friends. We’re expecting a big reaction. I tell him to come with me there’s something in the living room I want him to see. He spies his dad.
We’ve been talking about how Liam will lose his mind when he sees his daddy. Thinking we’re going to get a big reaction out of him I’m all positioned with the video camera. My friend and her children are watching from the dining room when my son walks up to his father and says “Oh, hi Daddy.”
No tears, no drama. Just a hug for his dad and a “hi Daddy” – talk about anticlimactic.
Just before noon. Rick wants me to go get the older two kids. Their mom and I have worked out a story to get the kids out for the night on a Sunday. We’re supposed to be making cookies.
As I pick them up, they’re less than enthusiastic about staying the night. Holden has even given his mom a hard time about it.
As we approach our street I call the house to ask if anyone needs anything from the corner store. It’s our signal for Rick to get into place.
T-Lynn is on the camera inside the house. And I’m biting my lip trying to herd them both into the house while getting a front row seat for their reactions while trying my best not to giggle.
Holden spies his Dad peeking out around the refrigerator first. He’s gob smacked. Mouth open, eyes wide, grinning type of gob smacked.
Dani is greeting our Shih Tzu, Scrunchon, who is dancing at her feet. She hasn’t even looked into the kitchen yet.
“Dan”, I say, “what do you think about this?” and she looks in our direction. Her immediate reaction is tear-filled joy.
Rick encloses both kids in a bear hug and closes his eyes.
Now he’s home. Day 72
I’m sleeping. Let me repeat that part – I am sleeping. For those of you who are following my blog you’ll understand what a monumental thing that is.
I’m awakened by the absence of the weight that lay across me all night and the sudden difference in temperature. Rick has gotten out of bed.
A one-eyed scan of the room reveals that it’s still night. The alarm clock says 0430 and since the times went back at midnight it’s really 0330. I expect him to come back to bed. I expected wrong…
Instead my husband is turning on the lights and packing his bag. When he’s done with his he starts on mine. I pretend to still be asleep for the first 10 minutes of his rummaging but I’m a curious person by nature and I can’t resist asking him what the heck he’s doing at such a godforsaken hour of the morning.
“I’m going to see the kids,” is the response I receive.
“Umm, Honey, it’s 3:30 in the morning. The kids won’t be up for a few more hours.”
We argue about the time change for a few minutes and he sullenly flops onto the couch and turns on the TV.
I manage to nap. But by 0530 he’s back to rummaging in my stuff and banging around loud enough to wake Rip Van Winkle himself.
“Get up. I need to see my kids.” All the patience is gone out of his voice.
And with that our romantic night is officially over.
I manage to drag my feet getting ready. Manage to get another bath in the Jacuzzi tub. And convince him to stop at Timmies for a morning coffee. But by 0700 we’re pulling into our own driveway.
He can hardly contain himself.
Bags are left in the car and he doesn’t even wait for me to get the video camera adjusted. He’s up the stone steps like a shot.
The lights are on in the kitchen, so hopefully the kids are up.
I’m about 10 feet behind him, trying to provide some voiceover information for the camera as we burst into the house.
Kate is there. She stops like a deer caught in the headlights. Eyes wide she looks at Rick. You can see the disbelief in her eyes. She takes a step towards him and then backs up.
He speaks to her. She moves forward again only to back up and dance. On the third attempt she manages to touch him. He’s real! You can see the words practically dance across her face and she squeals in delight. She grabs him by the arm, drags him into the living room, pushes him down on the couch and flops on top of him. Mandatory cuddle time apparently.
I call Liam up from the family room where he’s playing with his friends. We’re expecting a big reaction. I tell him to come with me there’s something in the living room I want him to see. He spies his dad.
We’ve been talking about how Liam will lose his mind when he sees his daddy. Thinking we’re going to get a big reaction out of him I’m all positioned with the video camera. My friend and her children are watching from the dining room when my son walks up to his father and says “Oh, hi Daddy.”
No tears, no drama. Just a hug for his dad and a “hi Daddy” – talk about anticlimactic.
Just before noon. Rick wants me to go get the older two kids. Their mom and I have worked out a story to get the kids out for the night on a Sunday. We’re supposed to be making cookies.
As I pick them up, they’re less than enthusiastic about staying the night. Holden has even given his mom a hard time about it.
As we approach our street I call the house to ask if anyone needs anything from the corner store. It’s our signal for Rick to get into place.
T-Lynn is on the camera inside the house. And I’m biting my lip trying to herd them both into the house while getting a front row seat for their reactions while trying my best not to giggle.
Holden spies his Dad peeking out around the refrigerator first. He’s gob smacked. Mouth open, eyes wide, grinning type of gob smacked.
Dani is greeting our Shih Tzu, Scrunchon, who is dancing at her feet. She hasn’t even looked into the kitchen yet.
“Dan”, I say, “what do you think about this?” and she looks in our direction. Her immediate reaction is tear-filled joy.
Rick encloses both kids in a bear hug and closes his eyes.
Now he’s home. Day 72
1 comment:
Best one yet!!! I love happy!! Happy kids, happy wife, happy husband!! I love it!! Now, I'm happy!!
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