What I did this winter ...

Outside of our close family, many of you may not know what I did this past winter.  As the Texas days are getting up into the 90's and our air conditioner is already running almost full time, I figured it was a good time to reflect on a cooler and a little more exciting moment in my recent past.  Here goes.

Through the Air Force and with his beloved C-130, Adam was sent to the Caribbean for January, February and half of March this past year.  He flew his missions, followed crew rest, worked in the office, and did a lot of good for our country and others (and we will leave it at that).  But while he was not busy with that job, and papers for two Master's classes, he snorkeled, jumped off cliffs, sunbathed, took naps on the beach, became scuba certified, ate great food all of the time and did what anyone else would do while being forced to live in paradise for two and a half months--made the most of it.

In the meantime, the boys and I spent January and February in the cold and snow.  We visited family in Utah and stayed with my sister in Idaho for a month and a half.  I posted quite a few pictures of the boys playing in the snow, talking to chickens and torturing dogs--all things we do not have at our house in Texas.  In the middle to end of January, I got an email from the wife of the navigator on Adam's crew asking if I wanted to go with her to visit our big boys in the Caribbean.  My fist instinct was, "I can't leave my babies."  That lasted for only a few days--until the plane tickets were bought, arrangements for the boys were made, and new sandals were in the mail.  (Good thing I had my passport with me and Jan had summer clothes for me to borrow).

So in the middle of February, I left Brigham and Calvin with Adam's family (tear tear), boarded a plane in a rocky mountain snow storm (burr burr), and landed in a tropical, and very hot, paradise (sweat sweat).  Happy Valentine's Day to us--yes it was February 14th when I landed.  Adam flew only once the entire week I was down there.  Other than that we snorkeled in gorgeous blue water, hiked through interesting and unique vegetation, ventured around the island via our crappy car with damaged gas gage, ate some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten, and spent most of the time just hanging out--talking mainly about our boys.  It was wonderful.

Brigham and Calvin had a great time with their wonderful Gandma Toosie, lots of crazy cousins and patient and loving aunts and uncles.  Thanks again for taking such good care of our boys and making this trip possible.  I was sad to leave Adam but so excited to get back to see my two little boys again. What I really wanted the whole time was to mesh these two worlds--bring my little boys to paradise or my big boy back home.  Fortunately, Adam was not too far behind us in coming back to Texas.

Now I really don't think I will ever be invited to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, or any of the other crazy places Adam will be deployed in the future and I am okay with that.  This was one of those once in a lifetime adventures and it was amazing--both Adam and I agree that our second honeymoon--four and a half years and two kids later--was much better than our first.  I highly recommend it for anyone and know of some great places to eat.