Yes, It Was 83 and Sunny . . . .

and we had to leave it yesterday to come back to 28 and snowy. Florida was refreshing, beautiful, relaxing, idyllic, lazy, and the perfect getaway from a Michigan February. I can't believe it's over already!

Things We Ate: fish tacos, crab and lobster cakes, grilled mahi-mahi, sushi (twice), a huge shared appetizer plate of Latin food - empanadas, skewers of grilled meat, potato fritters, yuca - giant breakfasts by the ocean every morning, and ice cream every day.

Things We Drank: pina coladas, margaritas, and beer by the pool; some good Belgian beer and lambic at a fancy wine store; several mojitos, including our favorite, the coconut mojito at the Latin restaurant where they loved us; coffee and orange juice every morning after our workouts.

Things We Did: ran on the beach every morning, used the hotel weight room, staked out chairs by the pool by 10:00 a.m. every day, walked along the ocean and picked up shells for Annie, read, talked, listened to the iPod in peace, walked to town two nights for dinner, watched the Superbowl at an Irish pub overlooking the ocean, hung out in the hot tub at night, napped, got tan.

Things We Didn't Do: watch Cinderella, ask anybody if they had to go potty, wake up because someone was crying in the middle of the night, wrestle with snowpants and carseats, referee fights over toys, swear under our breath, know what time it was at any given moment, cook and serve several meals a day, read the same books over and over aloud, listen to Laurie Berkner music.

Jason and I hadn't been away together, even for one night, since well before Jemma was born, so we were due. It was so good to reconnect, laugh, talk, and just be together without being interrupted by kids or daily tasks. The first couple of days, we were like, "Kids? What kids?" But then, by the last day, we were really missing the girls and wanting to have them with us. So much so, in fact, that we're pondering if it could be fun to take them with us next year when we make our February escape. Can't decide if it would be really fun, or if they're still a bit too young to really enjoy and appreciate the warmth and change in scenery. Perhaps we'll try to bring a set of grandparents along to assist . . .

In any case, we're back to reality and all the snowiness and daily drudgery that it entails. I have to say, though, that just a few days away really makes you treasure the everyday moments so much more: soaping up Jemma's little shoulders in the tub last night, getting a big, hard hug from Annie before bed, having breakfast all together this morning. I'm so grateful for the "normal" that is my regular life - and for the chance to get away from it every so often, too.