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[#1]

I haven't been away from my little people for six whole days since they were babies. I had to travel to Bali for work when Georgia was 11 months and Grace 16 months. I was still breastfeeding and as a result, raw with hormones when I boarded the plane.   I cried most of the trip, in between pumping milk and posing for the camera while scuba diving. I never took a job like that again and when I held my babies that night I got home I accepted that I wouldn't be one of those moms that was able to spend a week away in glamorous job assignments and be stronger for it.

Four years later my girls aren't dependent on me for nourishment but they are still very much attached to me and I to them. I knew taking them to "camp grandma & grandpa" in Florida would be a wonderful experience for them and for my in-laws who enjoy and cherish the girls more than any grandparent I've ever encountered. 

The girls are head over heels for Gigi & Dude and my husband’s parents spoil them in the best possible way. 

Yet in all the joy and excitement I knew I'd be sad. I'm not a mom who counts the days for summer break to be over or laments the lack of things to do with the kids when they aren't in school. I love every second of our extended togetherness during the summer. I thrive in the summer and me and my two mini-me's dance through each hot and sticky day with eager excitement over the next adventure.

The week we chose was over Fourth of July when my husband, Dan & I were working extended hours and knew we wouldn't have a whole lot of time to celebrate the holiday with 5 year olds like we should. 

I flew down to Florida, got them settled and then flew home alone. Grace woke up when I was leaving early in the morning and her crying nearly melted my resolve. I assured her she would have so much fun and though she had tears streaming down her pretty brown cheeks I could tell, as she snuggled against Gigi's night gowned shoulder, that she knew she would too. 

On the plane I made it my commitment to not be sad but to see this week as a time to live for me. It was a chance to remember Kerstin - the vibrant young woman, and take a break from Kerstin - the always slightly tired and dirty mom. 

I rented the movie Magic Mike on the plane, and watched it all the way through without distraction (I HIGHLY recommend this ladies, if Channing Tatum can't cheer you up no one can.) 

I've flown over 35 round trip flights in the past 6 years with the girls, always constantly moving to keep the kids happy and quiet. I forgot what it was like to just sit.

That first day home I got a massage for the first time in over a year and went to a yoga class instead of doing yoga at home at 5am always slightly distracted by the fact that one of my girls could wake up any minute and no amount of ujjayi breathing would get me back to Zen.

I worked that night (and each of the 6 days they were gone, like I said it was a big week at the Q) and came home to a house full of my (happily) snoring husband and dog.

More than anything I wanted this week to be a time to spoil my third child... Dan. 

Reconnect, be kids again and have an uninterrupted conversation. We have always been good about getting a date night about once a month and we usually get a weekend or three days away alone once a year. But we hadn't had 6 nights alone since before our babies were born. 

We went to the street fair and had hot wings and beer at happy hour, not food the girls would have appreciated

We strolled hand in hand and didn't get pulled to the balloons and toys and candy at every booth.  We had sushi for dinner one night and watched anything we wanted on the only TV in the house, without worrying if it was appropriate for little eyes. 

I even convinced Dan to do a micro delivery peel with me.

We ended each night miraculously sleeping alone in our Cal-King bed.

After a morning shift at the Q I went stand up paddle boarding at my new favorite place on the water.  I worked hard against the current then laid down in the sun and drifted back listening to Matt Nathanson on my Bose and feeling my body completely relax.

I didn't even feel guilty later as I rested my sun warmed body on the shore and thought "this is the best day."

I face timed on the iPad with the girls every morning and night and I got teary when they did but they were having more fun than should be legal for kiddos. The beach, pool, water park, boat, time with cousins and eating anything they wanted. They were also, unapologetically having the best day.

Dan and I went to a black tie event for work and I didn't fret over how much the baby sitter would cost and how late we were. 

We danced late and hit the photo booth giggling.

The next day we had planned on yet another night of dinner out but after a long four hours on Saturday Morning Q, I fell asleep in my husband’s lap while we waited out the fourth of July rain. That afternoon we mixed cocktails at home and had a dance party in our dining room. Dan made tacos (so patriotic) and we blissfully fell asleep early.

Our last day without kids, I got off of work early and I hung with Dan at his office for a while then lounged outside at home treating myself to more yoga and a late afternoon cocktail in my bliss chair. The house was cleaner than it has ever been; I wasn't constantly moving, picking up and organizing like I'm so used to. This stillness was actually a little hard to get used to, but I could.

We ended the night out on the golf course under the most amazing fireworks. Neither of us has ever been that close. 

I flew back down to Florida the next morning. The reunion with my sun kissed kids was magic. They seemed to have missed me as much as I missed them and the constant snuggling for the next 48 hours was just what we needed. But we all also had a great vacation from one another. It was the right trip and right time and they were the right age. Dan and I got some much needed time together to remember why we fell in love 14 years ago and we got some much needed sleep after six years of very little. And the girls got to make lasting memories with their amazing grandparents (who I am sure will now sleep for the next week.) 

The best part is we still have lots of summer ahead of us!

Hope your summer has been great! Love from my family to yours.

Kerstin

Be sure to see our summer adventures in real time by following me at www.facebook.com/kerstinlindqyistqvc