A week without kids

When the van pulled away with the three little hellions, er, children, en route to Virginia Beach for a week the emotions present were strange.  For one, none of the kids seemed to mind. Even little Ollie went with the flow and was high-fiving cousins Illiana and Jose in his car seat and waving to Mom and Dad like he would be back for dinner.  He even wanted to take a stab at driving.

Ollie and Aunt Sally right before
 the beach trip.

For me it was only a matter of how much Jamie would cry, not if, once her babies went to Aunt Sally and Uncle Jose's house for a full week.  But she seemed to go as Ollie went, and the tear ducts stayed dry.  We didn't exactly knock anything off our bucket lists while they were gone, but we were able to do what most adults our age do -- you know, normal stuff.  We saw a movie, outside of the living room, went to dinner with other adults, who did not throw any food on the floor by the way, and laughed a little -- a lot -- at co-worker James' West End Comedy improv show.

When the child-less week was over last Saturday we were ready for the house to be filled with stomps, screams and scraps between the older two.  Why, you ask? Maybe because we're crazy or maybe because we miss the crazy.  It's cliche, but as nice as it was to be alone (and we thank you Sally and Jose) we wouldn't have it any other way than the five of us under one roof -- even if that means we witness the kids at times acting stranger than a talking teddy bear with a 35-year-old best bud.

Anyone with children knows they like routines, and the Norris clan has not been on one for a few weeks after visits from some Kansas cousins after the beach trip.  Strangely though, they haven't acted as crazy as they usually do. I mean there was the occasional naked kid running through the house, Ollie walking around trying to put everyone's shoes on for them and not taking kindly to anyone who refused his offer and a certain almost seven-year-old who kept singing Cher Lloyd's, "Want U Back" over and over again.  But like I said, nothing too crazy!

A visit from Jordan, Jacob and Luke. Oh, and Aunt Brenda too!