Spring Break!!

It's Spring Break!!!

I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Spring Break arrive. We all needed a break from our school/activity schedule.  I think especially me.

Dan's Mom asked to have the kids for a while over the break.  So we planned a trip for them.  Saturday morning, Mom arrived into town with a couple of her friends.  They are on their way to South Carolina & Savannah.  From the texts I'm getting (not from mom ~ she doesn't text, but mom's friend does), it's safe to say they are having fun.

Both of her friends have lost their husbands too, so they travel and have fun together.



I'm so glad she has friends to do these things with and they are all so funny together!  Nana got to see the kids very briefly...



and then Dan was off with the kids to go meet Grammie & Grandpa in the Gorge, and I was off with Mom and her friends to take them to a store they wanted to go to and then drop them off at the airport.

I have been really looking forward to this break.  I've really needed it.  I didn't really feel like I needed a break from the kids as much as I needed a break from life with kids.  The meal preparation, the constant driving here/there, picking up 5,490 little things off the floor every day, dishes ~ the things that we all do as mothers.  I love my life, truly I do.  I just needed a break.  I needed to put something away and have it stay there.  I needed my house to stay clean for a little while without so much effort.  I needed to sit and own some uninterrupted thoughts and not have to talk to anyone, answer any questions, or give orders.  (I haven't even talked to friends on the phone).   The last time Dan and I had time alone in the house overnight was before Matthew was born...nearly 9 years ago.  And honestly, it has been wonderful.

One of the things that has surprised me that I've enjoyed is not keeping track of time.  I didn't realize how much I look at the clock, back off time and figure out what we need to be doing when to get somewhere on time, or to bed on time, or get homework done before bed, etc.  The constant anticipating, planning, time management of life.  Life has not been ruled by the clock and it has been so nice.

On to the fun stuff.  What does one do when their kids go out of town?  Dan and I honestly just wanted a low key, do whatever we want sort of weekend.  We went downtown to Pottery Barn on NW 23rd.  I bought the last panel of drapes that I needed for my living room with a gift card from my birthday ~ which Dan approved even though I gave up shopping for Lent because no money changed hands.  I'm not sure it was totally keeping my sacrifice, but I've been SO good and have resisted a LOT.  It's been hard.  But good.



Then we went to the Pearl District and enjoyed walking around before dinner.  I loved this path leading to the courtyard beyond....



Most of all, I love that the trees are blooming and it's starting to look like Spring!



Dan has lost quite a bit of weight and he's looking so good!



We went to Piazza Italia for dinner, which is a great Italian restaurant that Michelle and I went to before The Nutcracker and I knew Dan would enjoy. He did. Then we went to see "The Hunger Games." It was such a great day.

On Sunday we got up early and went to the 8am church service. Then we went to a restaurant called the "Screen Door."



We arrived right after they opened and the waiting room was full and there was a line out the door! We had to wait 45mintues for a table, but it wasn't bad at all. Just a funny little side story. I dropped Dan off at the restaurant to get in line and went to find a parking spot. He took my phone and purse when he got out of the car and I had to park a ways away. When I was walking (and walking) I got nervous because I don't have a good sense of direction and I started thinking...I hope I don't lose the car. Will I be able to find it again? Will I be able to find the restaurant? I did find the restaurant, but I did end up walking 2 extra blocks because I got confused. When Dan saw which direction I was coming from he laughed and said he had been concerned because he realized he had my cell phone and there was no way for me to call him if I got lost. He said that he too was worried about me getting lost or losing the car! It's terrible! When we got our van I told him I didn't need the GPS, it was more expensive and I didn't think it was necessary. He looked at me and said, "Yes, you do." He was completely right! I use it all the time to get my bearings.



The restaurant serves southern food. I ordered the Vanilla Bean French toast and we put together Dan's plate of things we wanted to try...Biscuits & gravy, cheese grits, praline bacon and he ordered an egg.  Everything was SO good, but if you go the bacon is a must.  It was crazy good. 

We just did whatever we felt like on Sunday, one of the things we did was stop at the Vancouver Farmer's Market.  It was cold and rainy....



We're having record rainfall this month and I've about had it.  We had Thai take out for dinner and watched a movie at home.  It was so relaxing! 

We both have been wanting to update our filing system and thought we'd do that when the kids were gone, but we have just been lazy and it has been SO nice!  I've been working on Kaitlin's baby scrapbook and I watched the entire A&E 6 hour Pride & Prejudice today (my favorite movie ever).  What a treat! 

Oh!  Another funny thing, on Sunday after brunch Dan said to me, "I forgot how fun you are."  I said, "Thanks, I think!" :)  I understood what he was trying to say (and he clarified), it just came out funny and I had to tease him about it.  But the wonderful thing about having time together without kids is that it definitely reminds us of who we are beyond being parents.  Sometimes it's hard (I think especially for me being home and in the "mom" role all day) to step out and see myself as something outside of that.  It has been really nice to be "Kathy" for a while.  I am so grateful for this time....knowing that the kids are happy and having a ball just frees me to enjoy this time.  It's really one of the best gifts I've received.  (THANK YOU Winnie & Carl!!!!!!!!!)