MEANWHILE, back at the Camp

I would be remiss not to dedicate a post or seven (but I'll stick with one) to Simon and his super dad skills this past weekend. I was gone for four days and three nights and he handled the four kids with what appeared to be the greatest ease. While I was enjoying minute after minute, hour after hour of childless gluttonous freedom filled with uninterrupted conversation, fine wining and dining, and a nice long dip in opposite-of-my-life land ... Simon was swimming through the treacherous waters of all-the-kids-all-the-time-for-a-LONG-time and he rocked it. When we realized that I wouldn't be back in time on Sunday to go to Mass with him he took it in stride said it would be fine which is exactly the opposite reaction I would've conjured. I think I would've fallen to my knees and begged, "please change your flight?!" on rapid fire machine gun repeat until he agreed.

Here's a sampling of the photos he threw my way over the course of his stint as, "make Grace's job look REALLY easy ... "

Just a little trip to a Costco ...

in the pouring rain with two carts.
Never would I ever.

He not only purchased provisions for the week but also the Lego movie for the kids ...

... for a little movie night on our palatial futon.

He wrote, "I hesitate to send you this ... "

because Theo's shirt but I was impressed he got her hair into a ponytail and that he found both of Julia's prized leopard shoes to go with her athletic shorts.

He kept everyone well fed ...

He sent this snap with the caption, "#hundredwidowers"

I know I've asked you this before but ketchup on mac and cheese? NO. But Simon and his refined palate can't be stopped.

He shot this photo my way ...

with, "RIP in 3.1 days"

And plenty of kids pix ...

"1/4 of what's going on around here."

He called this, "one hundred pounds ...

... by Joules" (because she's wearing a Joules dress .... GET IT?)

And a little checkup for Phoebe before church ...

naturally.

When I asked how Mass went and steeled myself for a whole bevy of scary answers he said that they were ....

"perfect"

of course they were, those mother-hating little angels.

And then on Sunday when he started shooting me shots like this ...

complete with super sweet videos just as my flight home kept getting pushed back and back and back I came thisclose to losing my cool but I didn't and I made it back to reality. (And thank you Colleen for saying hello!!!)

Simon had all the kids dressed in coordinated outfits (someone asked if I had those laid out for him ... so many laughs ... that kind of foresight + Grace are not exactly familiar friends ... or even acquaintances) and waiting at security when I landed.

Julia - RAN up and gave me a huge hug and proceeded to perform all of her dance routines throughout the airport.

Sebastian - greeted me with a furrowed brow, "when me go on airplane?!"

Theo - totally gave me the silent treatment ... complete with a look away. He warmed up eventually and then couldn't be pried from my hip but ... he is GOOD at pulling off the cold shoulder. Future romantic interests, be warned.

Phoebe - happy, happy, joy, joy. And then fell right to sleep.

Simon's conclusive takeaway from the weekend was this, "you have to budget four hours to get ready to get out the door or you will never leave the house."

True that forever and ever, amen.