Thursday, April 23, 2009

Just what I needed

We're still at the Findlay's in Utah and the twins are getting a bit restless for their beds in Guatemala, I think (despite some really great accommodations).

Anyway, Lucy had ants in her pants tonight. The little lady would not go to sleep. For some reason, I didn't mind that 50 minutes had passed by while I tried to get this kid to sleep. Actually, there is a reason: She was grabbing my face with both hands, kissing me, rubbing noses with me, rubbing her cheeks against mine, holding my hands within her chubby soft little hands, and giggling and being so sweet and funny.

I started getting a bit sentimental there next to her. I started thinking about her growing up and Linda growing up, and how lucky I am to have these girls in my life and to have them be ours. Then she said, "Mommy, I love so much." I looked at her with tears in my eyes (and running down my cheeks) and said to her, "Why do you love me so much, Lucy?"-- because really, I wanted to know. I was just thinking today about how little quality time I feel I get to spend with them considering how busy our lives are with the business, and the fact that there have always been 2 of them, and her saying that, just really struck a chord.

Do you know what she said? I wish I had it recorded. In her classic, Lucy raspy-mischievously sweet voice she said:

Because I am not afraid of slippery snakes, or spiders, or monsters, or ghosts. Because you are here. That's why I love you.

Anyone have a tissue?

Friday, April 10, 2009

Another one for the books

We made it out to DC to visit the Riches (again-- first trip post still pending). I had to upload these pics and post right away to avoid a repeat.

Needless to say, the trip was fantastic.

Here is just a glimpse of what we got to see and do while there:

1. We arrived just at the peak of the Cherry Blossom season. We all enjoyed it together for a picnic during a stroll of the FDR Memorial, and then Megan and I got to go again for a long run one morning while the men watched the kiddies.

2. Air and Space Museum (would have been great if twins had lasted more than 20 minutes).

3. Went to Great Fall park and saw a lovely waterfall. Oh and yes, this is where Lucy learned at the ripe age of 3 to not touch things that are brown on the side of a path.

4. Went to Philadelphia! Wow! Saw the birthplace of our nation, the Liberty Bell, saw money being printed at the US Mint, visited U Penn (with Cookie Monster's "C is for Cookie" blasting out of our opened windows), ate some Philly Cheese-Steaks, ate some authentic Polish food served by a disgruntled Eastern Blocker whom I bravely went up to and asked for extra plates, visited a beautiful Rodin Collection, witnessed Dave and Mike climbing Rocky's Stairs, and almost went to a baseball game.

5. Went to the National Gallery of Art (wow-- and for free!! I love DC!) and played "I Spy" with the twins. They are now officially lovers of Degas, and Dave was also delighted to see his favorite painting, "The Death of the Torreador." The twins especially enjoyed the look on my face every time they walked up to a priceless piece of art and exclaimed they were "just pretending" to touch them.

6. Ate THE BEST burger in the WORLD at Ray's Burgers-- the place is so good they don't even have a sign in the front of the building.

7. Watched Mike work tirelessly to entertain the children.

8. Listened to Linda say "Oh Henry" and "you little rascal" to her new love, Henry Rich. And really in general, thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to the kids all play so nicely together.

9. Enjoyed one great Easter Egg Hunt and watched the children run around the house half a dozen times until they were ready to go to bed at 6:30pm.

10. Played cards and reminisced about the old days when we all lived in San Diego just a block away from each other in what can only be explained as a surreal existence of doing anything and everything we wanted, whenever we wanted. Those were the days...

But here we are now, 6 years later, with our 4 kids and loving life and making the best of our time together. We are so lucky to have such great friends.