Kidcation

This past weekend Andy and I headed south for a 60 hour long kidcation. We headed to Durham, North Carolina to see our BFF Christie and her fiancee Michael. The impetus for our get-a-way was, of course, UNC basketball. The gents went to the UNC v. NC State game and Chris and I headed off for some pampering. We had our toes and fingers painted and rubbed. We chatted all things wedding, all things girly and enjoyed just being together.
On an un-girly note, UNC won. XU won. LU won. Visitation 5th grade basketball won - it was essentially Andy's best basketball day ever.

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Christie moved to Durham shortly after Andy and I fled to Cincinnati.

Prior to our moves, for the better part of nine years, we were inseparable. Chris and I worked together in a residential program for "at-risk youth". Imagine that - we were considered role models and mentors.

After leaving the program, our apartments were never more than two miles away from each other. We had weekly breakfasts and girl dates. We shared the same awesome circle of friends and a love of fruity drinks.

She cheered me on through grad school, stood with me when I got married and was at the hospital when Addie was born.

I cheered her through grad school, assured her that one day the right man would come along and watched jealously as she lived the wonderful life of a singleton in the big city.

Over many, frequent phone calls we've supported each other through the transition to new cities. We've listened to each other cry with frustration, mourning the circle of friends we left behind. We've encouraged each other and cheered each other on and celebrated each other's successes - professionally, personally, and endlessly.

She's going to marry Michael in seven months.

I plan to stand with her. To make sure the dress is flawless, the hair is in place and she is enjoying her moment. We'll toast and laugh and I'll get to say "See, I told you so".

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So for a day and a half we frolicked and laughed and misbehaved. I didn't have to worry about running a two year old to a potty. I wasn't woken up at 6:30 with a request for cartoons. There was no negotiations around meals or nap times.

Instead there were conversations that included complete sentences. There was uninterrupted watching of smutty TV and sipping of Sparkeltinis. And cosmos. And Jack Daniels. And beer. And Bloody Marys. Hmmmm. And Old Fashions. Er, and a jager bomb. And, above all else, our new favorite beverage - The Hollywood Night.

What is a Hollywood Night, you ask? Well, a la TKW, here is a recipe worth your time:

• 1.5 oz of vodka (yum. vodka.)
• 1 oz of triple sec
• 1.5 oz of chambord (yum. chambord.)
• A splash of Rose's Lime Juice
• Shake over ice and strain into a martini glass.

Okay, so those are the directions, but we had them shaken over ice and then served on the rocks in, what else, a rocks glass.

It was fruity. It was frothy. It was heavenly. And better than everything - it was purple!

It, and all it's companions, resulted in a helluva a headache and a few drunken photos. But, on a kidcation, a headache and silly photos are okay.

It also helps that Addie was in the wonderful care of Grandma Patty. She played, she shopped, she didn't have any accidents and she was the center of attention. It was her own Parentcation.

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As I wrote this, my kidcation officially said Screw you. You're back on duty.

Addie is refusing to nap. She stood in the hallway and peed her pants, her undies and all over the hardwood floor and subsequently melted down.

Did I mention that it's been snowing ALL DAY here?

What I would give for a Hollywood Night.