Things we miss about mom

Hugs and kisses.

Her cooking.

Her cuddles.

Her happy smiles.

Her level head and sober judgement.

How she helps clean our rooms.

How she reads to us.

How she doesn't mention Miranda's thumb.

How she knows when it's time to throw out leftovers (Dad doesn't want to talk about it. Lucy either.)

Her absolute Franksyness (she practically defines the word.)

Day 4--It's official, we're half-way there!

Try to ignore the vacant looks and unkempt hair (their hair's a mess because they had showers, I swear). They look alright, don't they. I have to admit that the more time I spend with my kids around other kids I grow increasingly grateful that my children are not obnoxious. They're not perfect, but they're not obnoxious either.

Yes, they can work together if they know someone's going to take a picture and post it on the world wide web.

Lucy, Lucy and Miranda at Heritage Farms.

What do I watch when I don't have to accommodate someone else's taste?

What's the matter with me? 

After I put the kids to bed, I can watch whatever I want. I don't have to run anything by my wife. If I want to see it, then I insert it into the DVD player and press play. That's all there is to it. It's really the perfect time to get reacquainted with Live Free or Die Hard guilt free. I mean that's what alone time is all about. So, what do I watch by myself when she's away?

A story about a father who finds out that his wife has died in combat. He's so overcome with grief that he can't bear to tell his daughters what's happened, and so he chooses to take a vacation from responsibility and take a his kids to some Disneyland wannabe.  Let me tell you, it's not exactly the best movie to watch away from your wife having to fend for yourself and your children.

So, the question is, how do I follow this up?

I follow it up with the story of two people hopelessly in love, separated by an in-traversable gulf in time (much like the three hour time difference that separates me from my soul mate).  The thing with the Lake House is that I've seen it before, so I knew what I was in for, but I watched it anyway.

This is how I choose to torture myself while waiting for my love to call me. There has got to be an easier way.

Day three and counting, and counting, and counting...

We're doing fine. Couldn't be better. In fact I could come up with a whole host of adjectives to describe our current state of momlessness: peachy, hunky dory, great, alright, perfectly adequate, marginally sane. That's right, we're all subsisting at acceptable levels. Nothing to worry about here. However, for some reason I got a call from the Relief Society President asking me how I was doing. Did I need any food, any help with the kids. 

Why would she think that?

"No, I told her. We're just fine. Compassionately serve someone who actually needs it," I said.

I though she believed me until she showed up with a tin of Lasagna. How's my wife going to know that I can actually take care of my family on my own if all these people keep  foisting their help on me. It's not that I don't appreciate it what people are doing, but I just know my wife's going to come back and say, "You really don't know what it's like." 

And the the truth is, she'll be right.

Day 2 without Mom...and holding

We're still hanging in there. I'd have to admit that I would have done a better job of making it through the day if I had heard from my wife a little before 1:00 am, but what can you do?

Proof they're not starving.

"Mmmm. This is how I savor waffles."

Lunch with Grandpa at his favorite place.

And bowling too.

Day 1 Without Mom

We think we're going to make it, but just barely. I practically had to throw the kids in the pool as you can see.

The name of the game is distraction. As long as we keep busy, we can keep going.