Staycation

Nate took this last week of work off, and we enjoyed a vacation at home, or a "stay-cation" as Nate called it. :) Not long ago we were reading "The Millionaire Next Door" together, and one of the questions this author said all self-made millionaires answer alike is -- Who is more frugal, you or your spouse? (The millionaire answer is that the millionaire husband can't get his wife to spend money) Nate's immediate response was, "Well, we know the answer to that one in this house." What?! He thinks I'm not as frugal as he is?! Well, we laughed about it, but I'm still out to prove him wrong. We had been planning a trip to Asheville for a couple of days for our anniversary, but when he had the idea to just stay home and do things locally for our vacation I went right along -- I was not about to suggest we spend more money than he was suggesting. :) All kidding aside, we had a great week. There was a trip to the zoo, Marbles (a really cool kids museum here in Raleigh that we just hadn't been to yet), swimming, snoballs, the girls took their money to Claire's at the mall and each picked something out, and of course the library. And, Nate was such a hero and actually took the kids on all of these adventures while I got time at home to get some things done without little ones pulling me three different ways. Wow, his mama sure did a good job with him!

Then, we sent the kids to my brother's for the last couple of days of the week and enjoyed being just the two of us for a while. We went to the cannery and restocked some of our food storage. I had never been, and it was a really fun experience. We went to the Melting Pot for dessert -- delish! The temple. Redbox. Shopping. A matinee that cost more than movies in the evening used to cost (it's been a long time since I've been to the theater). Friday night high school football game (final score was 3-0, but it was still fun anyway). It was just a quiet, relaxing couple of days. Thanks, Mike and Sherrie for the great babysitting service! And thatnks, Nate, for the great company!

When we were getting ready for bed last night, Nate commented on how when the kids are gone for a couple of days, you really remember why you have them. It was strange coming home to a quiet, dark home. I really missed those bedtime hugs and kisses! It was great sending them away, and it's great having them home again.