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We made it home. I thought I had made it through the season avoiding the nasty colds the boys got over Christmas, but lucky me, it hit right before we had to fly home. So now I'm here, a little overwhelmed at remembering how to take care of my kids and my life all by myself again in a house that is in post-trip disaster mode and feeling terrible. And remembering that my husband shut the tv off months ago when all I want to do is sit and watch cartoons all day with the kids.

But other than that, I came home to 5 large paper bags full of oranges from our friend whose parents have an orange grove! I love freshly squeezed orange juice - it's the highlight of winter for me, so it was a nice surprise - especially since he even got us a juicer! But this morning I realized 5 bags may be a bit too much (since there's no room for them but on the kitchen table) when I heard an excited, "Ball!" thud, thud. "Ball!" thud, thud, repeated over and over and came out to find oranges rolled into every nook and cranny. I already have enough problems finding rotten bottles months later without adding moldy oranges to the mix. :)

And I have to thank my friend James who did a fantastic job taking Ashton on the flight! Even with a four hour layover. Did I mention I wasn't on the same flight? Yeah, I guess even Ryan didn't realize that. When I asked James if he'd bring a baby home for me, I meant he was rolling solo. Not even the same airline, same layover, nothing. He had a friend leaving on a flight near the same time he did so she was sitting at the gate with him. When he started boarding and she went the other way, a man in line behind him said "Oh, I see how it is - wife sticks you with the baby while she takes off somewhere else, huh?!" To which James said, "Oh, she's not my wife." And after another thought, "And this isn't my baby." After some confused/concerned looks, he just said, "Yeah, we don't have time to get into it." Then people on the plane would ask, "Were you that blond as a baby?" And he would say, "Well, yes, I was." Then later when they would ask if this was his only child it was a bit confusing when he'd say, "Oh, this isn't mine." I guess taking someone else's baby on the plane for them isn't that common a request, huh? Better watch out if you're a friend of mine. :)

It was funny to hear his first comment off the plane though - "Yeah, note to self, when you have kids don't take a lot of carry-ons." He even endured a few tantrums. He said, "You know that kind where they go really stiff and are super hard to carry?" Oh yes, all too well. Unfortunately he had to make it down to his gate trying to carry Ashton like that while he was screaming the whole way, dragging the stroller and all his luggage at the same time. He said, "I know it's the dead of winter, but you'd think I just stepped out of a sauna." But other than the few moments I think it went pretty well!

At least I gave him the baby that will wear shoes so he also didn't have to deal with all the "Where are that baby's shoes!?!" comments. I'll admit, it grosses me out too to see Phoenix running barefoot all over the airport, but what can I do when he just screams and throws a tantrum until he gets them off again? And then there was Cash, who happened to be coughing as we were boarding the plane and a few passengers start loudly saying, "Oh GREAT. Why don't you just cough all over the whole plane and infect all of us on your way back?" Seriously, why can't people just keep their thoughts to themselves?

One issue I have now is that my kids have developed a serious affinity for being naked over Christmas for some reason. I don't know how that came about while we were staying in below-freezing temperatures, but all they want to do is run around naked. (And pee on the couches. Um, sorry, mom.) So if I thought getting three boys out the door in the morning was hard before, it's disastrous now. They just scream and throw fits and do their worst to not let me get them dressed, ripping everything off as I'm putting it on and screaming for 10 minutes after. UGH.

And while I'm just trailing on with random thoughts I could mention that I attempted to do something to my hair and turned my roots orange the night before I left. Then a bluish/purple. Why, oh why do I think things like this are a good idea the night before I leave on a trip when I should be packing? It just looks like my hair is growing out bruised now. Ok, it's not so terrible and I'll probably fix it before anyone notices.

And in the way of firsts - we actually turned on the heat in our apartment last night! And set off the smoke alarms. :) But I can't believe it! We've never turned on the heat in a year and a half. I was just miffed that a cold spell in Miami dared start without me here! I hate to miss it! Weird though since it was 80s and still sweaty when I left. I guess it's been down in the 40s and 50s. Love it. Although I guess it will be almost back up to the 80s by the end of next week.

And yet I still managed to wake up with serious bedhead this morning. What is it about Utah that I just wake up with perfect hair every morning? (Not really perfect, just meaning it looks like it did when I went to sleep.) I'll miss you nice hair. And family. And not having cooked a meal for the last three weeks. Or cleaning. Or doing laundry. Wow, this is not helping to realize all that!