5pm: A sweet send-off. I give hugs and kisses and say farewell.
5-6pm: De-clutter every horizontal space in the house, shake all the rugs, sweep the kitchen and laundry room floors, vacuum all the carpets and rugs, empty and load the dishwasher, wipe all horizontal surfaces.
6-6:30pm: Order and pick up Olive Garden take-out (Parmesan Crusted Bisteca!).
6:30-7pm: Watch Seinfeld sitting on the living room floor with my delicious goods spread all around me. Ahh, life before children.
7-8pm: Sewing project - an extra hem onto a maternity dress. (How on earth did I wear this dress when I was pregnant before? I guess I do far more bending now with a toddler and as a Primary teacher, but seriously.)
(This picture will also serve any and all purposes to document my belly at 22 1/2 weeks.)
8-9pm: Realize I have a few more minutes and scrub spots out of the living room carpet and wipe spots on the kitchen floor.
9-10pm: Lay on the couch watching Flashpoint at a ridiculously loud volume, just because I can.
10pm: Bedtime just for me. No other responsibilities but my own teeth and my own prayers. Bliss.
8:30am: Thinking the boys would be home soon, I hurry and eat my bowl of oatmeal while reading the Ensign. Peace and quiet.
8:45-9am: With still no sign of their arrival, I clean Collin's bathroom to a sparkle.10pm: Bedtime just for me. No other responsibilities but my own teeth and my own prayers. Bliss.
8:30am: Thinking the boys would be home soon, I hurry and eat my bowl of oatmeal while reading the Ensign. Peace and quiet.
9am-9:30am: Still no boys! I decide to start in on our Master Bath, which hasn't seen a real scrub-down since nausea began 16 weeks ago. It needed some serious attention.
9:30am: With a few things left to scrub in our bathroom, Ryan sneaks in quietly and puts Collin in his bed. A nap at 9:30? Must have been an interesting night...
SUMMARY: Sweet Heaven! When can we do it again? And how long can they keep my house clean?
Dad's Perspective
5pm: Lindsey's already got the car packed. Sweet. She's eager to get us out of here. She's practically pushing us out the door!
5:30pm: I'll just let Collin wander around the weeds with his hot dog, munching on the ends. The bugs and dirt are good for him.
6pm: It's not too bad having a little helper set up the tent, but it sure would be nice to have another set of adult hands to help with the poles.
7pm: Maybe he's not going to be such a weenie after all. At least he likes sticks and rocks.
8pm: Good times with my son around the campfire. I'm glad he's not that interested in trying to touch it. It's kinda nice that he's a little shy.
9pm: Shouldn't this little guy be getting tired? But he seems so chipper. I'll try to put him to bed.
9:30pm: Oh well, this is a special occasion. He can stay up a little longer.
11pm: I can't take it! I'm even tired. He has got to start winding down soon.
11:01pm: Oh, that was easy.
5am: Oh, right. That's why we hung a blackout curtain in his room - He wakes with the sun! Maybe I can take him for a walk?
6am: Finally, breakfast. Can't beat warm bacon and eggs on a cold Fall morning.
9am: Yikes! It's gonna rain. We better get home.
9:30am: What the ---? The Little Man fell asleep on the 10-minute drive home! Must have worn the poor guy out.
SUMMARY: I love being a dad. Father-Son Campouts are definitely better with a son.
Collin's Perspective
5pm: This is kinda weird. Where is my mom, and why isn't she coming with us?
5:30pm: Hot dogs, sweet. And I don't even have to sit in my chair? Where's my bib? I can just wander and gnaw at the ends? This is the life. Not missing Mom's rules, that's for sure.
6pm: Hm, a strange contraption. Fun, yes. But what is it for? I'd better rescue my blanket.
7pm: This is awesome! It's just me and my Daddy. And he doesn't wipe my face every 5 minutes.
7-9pm: Throwing rocks into the woods, finding lots of sticks, learning "bumps" from the young men, chocolate, marshmallows, cookies... Why doesn't Mom ever give me these things?9pm: Daddy tries to put me in the tent with Blankie, but I plead, "More! MORE! Please MOOOORE!"
9-11pm: More campfire, more chocolate, more marshmallows, more... AWESOMENESS.
11pm: Daddy decides he's too tired for any "more," and we both lay down on our mats in the tent. I'm out before Dad gets the lantern off.
5am: Up with the sun.
5:30am: An early morning walk and a snack of pears and grapes.
6am: Bacon and eggs for breakfast. I'm liking this.
9am: Clouds coming in. Dad decides to get us in the car with all our stuff. Naptime for me!
SUMMARY: More, more.
Two weeks ago we would have been disappointed with not having a girl, but I started feeling really good about two boys a bit ago. I thought I wanted a girl (so I could be "done"), but in all honesty I think it was the nausea talking, and two just doesn't seem like enough now. I guess we'll see if I still think that when I've got a newborn and a two-year old! 
