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SUNNY DAZE IN ANCHORAGE
This crazy-fun vacation weather we're having is incredible. For the past couple of weeks or so every moment has been spent outside with the kids. Dirty faces, mosquito bites, late nights, hot dogs, dirty toes, pool time, popsicles, bug spray, . . . endless backyard fun.

I feel lucky to be me.

Sunny weather is, without question, high on the "Top 10 Stay-at-Home-Mom Perks" list. These long, hot, carefree days make me reminisce about our latest trip to Mexico. Just recently I was picturing our arrival after traveling all day (4 airports later . . . or was it 3?) with 4 toddlers and 4 tired adults salivating over the thought of our first vay-cay / we-survived-the-flights celebratory cocktail. Luckily, I still had some goodies stashed in my bag so the girls were able to partake in the airport while the boys worked on getting us our stylin' mini van. We packed into the rig beautifully. 4 kids, 2 car seats, 4 adults, 4 obsessively decorated Trunki's, plenty o luggage, toys, books, snacks, hippo, bluey, cozy night-nights, pacifiers and blankies (thank the Lawd we hadn't lost one along the way). First stop: beer and food. Mission accomplished. Second stop: Casa La Paloma. I was delightfully crammed in the front seat between Tadd and Casey while Amy, acting liaison between the kids and adults (and much too far away), was practicing her newly acquired yoga moves just inches behind us. The kids--surprisingly cooperative -- were packed in the back and just as excited as we were to find our new pad for the next 10 days. The adventure had only just begun but for some reason the cozy, comfortable and safe feeling I felt in that minivan during that evening ride from the airport sticks out in my mind with utmost vividness.

Magical anticipation at its finest, perhaps.
But unequivocally much more . . .

It was just getting dark.
The moon was spectacular.
We had survived the flights.
We had the car.
We had food.
We were together.
And we had each other.
Beer had never tasted so good.
Friends had never meant so much.