Perspective

The other day I was driving through downtown Portland with both kids in the back seat.  We had just return a mike stand all the way across town, which was an adventure with two little ones.  As we passed people strolling down sidewalks, I had a flash back to the years when Zach and I first got married.  We spent almost all of our days downtown, since we were students at PSU.  After classes we found little holes in the wall to eat at, walked places, hung out at book stores, window shopped boutiques, and sipped hot chocolate not-at-Starbuck's.  It was a fun two years of late nights and care free schedules.

Last Thursday, Zach and I had a night out on the town together to celebrate his birthday.  We had dinner at Veritable Quandry downtown, which was a gift from my sister (thank you thank you!).  The food was so incredibly delicious.  We were too full to have dessert right then, so we checked into the hotel, The Nines (thank you Intel discount).  Then, upon recommendation for a friend, headed to Cacao for chocolate dessert.  Sadly, when we got there it was closed.  We then walked to four or five non-starbuck's coffee shops for some hot chocolate, but they were all closed or no longer in business.  We walked around some more, took the street car to 23rd to get some sweets at Papa Hayden's.  By the time we got there, it too was closed.  So we wondered back, taking the last street car downtown.  Through all that wondering, I almost forgot we had kids.  It felt so much like those PSU years.

But as we waited for that street car and thought about the fact that thigns are different, that we have kids -- I felt like the freedom was kind of pointless now.  Having kids really adds meaning and purpose to your life that you might not even think you need.  I definitely felt like my life was plenty meaningful before kids... but it's so different now.  I'm sure all you parents out there can relate.

We enjoyed our full night of sleep (first time in over 8 months), had a fantastic breakfast at Mother's, and headed home to pick up our kids.  It's a lot easier to come home from "vacation" when you have two cute ones waiting for you.

I am so happy we had this little get-away.  We had a great time.  I enjoyed it tremendously and hope to do it yearly from now on.  But it also helped me put things into perspective, something every parent needs... Gosh, I really love my kids!