First Trip Away

First time for mommy to leave her kiddos at home for more than 24 hours for any reason other than having another kiddo at a hospital.

Goal: 3 nights and 4 days of no cell phones, no computers and quiet. Just mommy and daddy in San Juan, PR.

Day one: My mommy brain struggled to shut down. I NEEDED to know the time. But alas, no watch, no cell phone and my NEEDED slowly dwindled to curiosity and the curiosity dwindled into a distant thought. We landed in San Juan and walked out the doors and it was a warm 85* F with a slight breeze and the air was thick with humidity. My perfect hair was quickly flipping out into a mess of chaos and all I could do was GO WITH IT! The taxi ride was a quick trip to our hotel (OK, that is not even fair to call it that, how about RESORT, AKA: Waldorf Astoria- El San Juan). The highlights of that day: Taco LocoDoco for supper. We were the ONLY gringos (tourists) around. We walked and walked and walked until that was the case to find the PERFECT tacos. It was worth it! Moonlight walk on the beach, night swimming. Yep. Great first day. Oh, and that NEED to know the time. GONE!

Day two: Time? Um, yeah not even a worry, thought or curiosity at this point. Children? We have those? Just kidding! We sent an e-mail home that morning to let them know we were doing well (cost us $5, but so worth it). Highlights of the day? A 75 cent bus fair that took us into Ol' San Juan (a 30 minute ride) that took us through local neighborhoods that were by far what I think would be REAL SAN JUAN. Not what they WANT us to see, but so cool to see, as long as I have my man there to protect me. Got my drift? Walking the streets of the Ol' Town and seeing all the different architecture. REAL Seafood Papaya in a little hole in the wall restaurant while I swear a mafia meeting was taking place. Just saying. The 50 cent ferry ride over to the other side of the bay to the Bacardi tour. Beautiful ride and views. Oh, and our taxi ride home... you know when your taxi driver informs you that his cab is having troubles on the FREEWAY, takes an exit and then RUNS OUT OF GAS in a little alley way type street in the DARK. Yeah, that is fun. But don't worry... he keeps gas in the trunk just in case. Of course those are just the highlights... there are so many more things!

Day Three: Bliss. What I have been waiting for. What I have been craving, needing, wanting, longing for. Are those too strong of words? BEACH DAY! Two lounge chairs, beach umbrella, sunscreen, magazines, drinks, grilled kabobs served to us on real plates. A couples massage on the beach. Chad went Jet Skiing. Our "Anniversary Supper" at a nice restaurant where we had to go get all "dolled" up for the evening. That is what I call, BLISS.

Day Four: Heading home. Time... had to be thought of a little. There was a suitcase to pack, a taxi to catch and a plane to board, but not before a relaxing cup of coffee on the pool deck over looking the tropical landscape of the RESORT to end our getaway.

We rolled in late so Saturday morning I woke before everyone and had a cup of coffee before the girls were awake, and those first hugs and smiles I got when they saw I was home... BLISS TIMES TEN!

Chad and I agree. Three nights away from our girls was plenty. The quiet time away was great and needed, but you start to miss the kiddos... their demands and all!