5 = the number of hours I will be away from my family in the next two and a half weeks. From 8 am – noon tomorrow I’m at work and then we’ll be attached at the hip until January 4th. I can hardly wait!

Except of course when I’m getting my brows waxed and my hair cut – that’s my “me” time, but the kids will be with Daddy & Grandma so that doesn’t count.

Are y’all ready for Christmas? I’m one of those annoying people who starts shopping on Boxing Day and is done by November, but I gave the Big Guy a list of a couple of DVD’s and a couple of gift certificates and am STILL waiting for those. Tomorrow, he says. Grrrr.

I have a little reunion drink/food-fest with the crowd I grew up with next week which I’m totally excited for. Growing up on a military base, it’s pretty rare to have a group who stay in touch (thanks Facebook!) and knew each other for more than a few years. The base was just a few minutes away from a small town so the kids from there came to our base school and, of course, didn’t have to deal with short postings so they were with us all the way through. Many of our fathers took long-term postings to the base so many, like me, were there from Kindergarten though our grade 9 grad. Anyhoo, I’m excited to drink with people who’ve known me since I was wee.

I’m excited to skate with Primo on weekdays.

I’m excited to teach the Big Guy to skate.

I’m excited to buy Bella her first skates & hockey helmet. (The Big Guy and I need to buy helmets too.)

I’m excited to go on dated with my husband whenever I feel like it.

I’m excited to hang out with my mom doing nothing.

I’m excited to see all of my parents’ friends, most of whom I’ve also known my whole life.

I’m excited to sleep in occasionally.

I’m excited to work out.

I’m excited to get the hell outta dodge.

I’s excited to worry about nobody other than my own family for a week. No prep. No parent phone calls. No emails from complaining concerned parents. No worrying about feeding the child who came without breakfast. No worrying about whether someone is going to read with them at night.

Just us. Just me.

Aaaaahhhh.