May 26th, a little drive

Today is Memorial Day. While most people are celebrating and barbecuing, we are readying for our journey. The girls are bundles of energy, excited and nervous. They're packing toys for play and baby blankets are enlisted as security-items to comfort them while their parents are away. Mommy and Daddy are busy making sure nothing important is forgotten -- lots of documents, maps, boarding passes, etc. One big duffel bag for us and another for Gavin's car-seat & diapers. The girls each have a small suitcase and numerous other cachets for their toys and dolls.

Ten minutes into Gabrielle's drive home, we realize we've forgotten our books for the flight. Do we buy new copies at an airport newsstand or do the responsible thing and turn around? One twenty-minute U-turn later and we're back on the road to Gabrielle's. Our little Honda Fit is filled to the gills; Misty and the girls have bags under their feet while the rear cargo area is a Tetris-like arrangement of luggage -- rendering the rearview mirror useless.

At Gabrielle's house, I help her unload -- never a fun moment. I share a rib-crushing hug with her and we're back on the road headed North. The air in the car is always a little melancholy after Gabrielle leaves -- two weeks til we see her again. The rest of the drive to Colora is pretty uneventful. We have our electronic EZ-Pass so tolls pass more smoothly than usual. With gas prices nudging $4/gallon, I'm driving at 65 but it's not easy as people fly past like you're driving the double nickel. People hate the price of gas but it seems too hard to slow down.

It's almost six o'clock and we're at Aunt Erin's. Everyone's tired but we're glad to see family. Jenna and Mason have grown unbelievably since we last saw them.

The girls are having a ball playing with her while Mason poses for pictures between bites of dinner. Uncle Rusty arrives shortly; we spend a few brief hours catching up and it's time for bed. Mason took some tentative steps between Erin and Rusty tonight. How awesome to be there for a milestone!