I am such a sunset junkie that I can't even pick which part I like best -- the part with a full sun, small son, or just the post set reflections. My husband doesn't get it so much, but he indulges me enough to peek at a few photos. I just eat it up. I love the sky painted with colors. I come by it honestly; my mom was a sunset junkie too.

I am back home from Up North now. It is SO good to be home with the family again! I absolutely craved their company. Wonder Boy woke me this morning with an emphatic shout of "MOM!!!!!!" He then climbed onto my bed and gave me great big hugs. I could have done without the yell, but the hugs were awesome. What a way to wake! At this age he has gotten stingy with the hugs... I lived it up while I could today and grabbed every hug I could get.

I was thrilled to have been missed. He told me I was gone too long. "A week is way too long to be gone Mom!" Monkey Girl said she was glad I was back too -- she had missed me as well. She said it wasn't so bad for her though, because she could remember when I used to have to go away for a week long meeting every summer. She said she had gotten used to it and didn't worry so much since she knew I was coming back. I LOVE how she is so even tempered and happy go lucky. I loved being missed by them. They are horrible about talking on the phone so I hadn't spoken to them all week.

What a joy to return to a family who missed me. I missed them as well. I missed out long beach days and our driving adventures. Books on tape are nice, but I will take the happy chatter of my kids over them any day!