We're almost there...

Nick will be home TOMORROW! Hooray! While we have missed him an incredible amount, these past nine days have not been near as bad as I anticipated them to be. We have an army of family and friends to thank for that (Gigi, Pawpaw, Nana, Jaja, Amber, Michael, Ryan & Leslie, to name a few). There have been a few rough moments but nothing that wouldn't have happened anyway. After all, my two year old doesn't plan his tantrums in accordance with his father's presence (unfortunately) and the storm that blew down our fence wouldn't have simply passed us over had Nick been home. All-in-all, it's been a great week, but we are definitely looking forward to getting our daddy back.

In honor of surviving these last nine days solo, I have complied a list, in no particular order, of things I have realized:

• My house stays 95% cleaner when it is just me and the kids.
• Watching the Rangers west coast games from start to finish is a whole lot easier when your husband isn't asking you to turn off the tv so he can go to bed.
• It's much nicer to nudge someone to get up and let the dogs out at 4 am instead of doing it yourself.
• The laundry basket still isn't full yet.
  
• We have true friends who will drop everything to come help you find your two dogs that escaped when the fence blew down.
• That same friend will then completely rebuild your fence in the rain, even if he is wearing his nice shoes, and even if you can only pay him with a batch of spaghetti.
  
• Having selfless parents who live close and love their grandchildren (and their daughter), makes for one great high school reunion and birthday celebration.
• Having generous in-laws (who don't live SO close) makes for one awesome day at the circus in the life of a two year old and his best friend, complete with memories of a porcupine that they're still talking about one week later.
• I cannot blame Nick for being late to work everyday.
• Carter can sleepover at a friend's house without a hitch.
• Dropping off and picking up two children from daycare is much simpler with four hands instead of two.
• But most of all, I've realized that our family is better off when Nick and I are in it together, even if that does mean more laundry and cooking. I wouldn't have it any other way.