The Zone

Hallelujah, Amen, Praise the Lord - I have survived 13 days with no husband and 3 kids!!! He just called and he is driving home from the airport RIGHT NOW! It's been so hard not complaining about how hard it's been, but for obvious reasons, I didn't think it would be smart to broadcast it from here.

We miss him when he's gone, it's just not the same without him. And the kids have come to appreciate that, well, mommy just does better with some breaks.

While he was flying home, we spent our last hours without him at a lovely birthday party at The Zone. As we were walking into the party, Hunter asked why they called it The Zone. I didn't have an answer for him then. But 2.5 hours later as we exited "The Zone", leaving behind at least 500 screaming, sugar coated children, I had an answer for him. (In my head) Hunter, my dear, they call it The Zone because it is the HELL ZONE, The Zone from Hell, that's why it's called The Zone.

And after we settled the issue of whether I would allow Hunter and Ella to eat their treats from their goodie bags on the way home (can you guess?), Ella (who had her 5 year old bday party 3 weeks ago) says, "After I turn 6 and have my dress up party, then for my 7 year old birthday party, I'm going to have it at THE ZONE!!!"

In my head I reply, "That's funny, because I AM NEVER STEPPING FOOT IN THE ZONE AGAIN FOR AS LONG AS I SHALL LIVE."

The noise, the NOISE, the tokens, the tickets, the lights, THE NOISE, the sugar coated children, twitching from the lights, feverishly trying to "win" tickets, MORE tickets, so we can stand in line to feed the tickets, ONE by ONE, into tiny little slot, to get a receipt, to take to the counter to "win", what?, a green plastic twirling thingy, perfect for hitting your sister in the head with as she plans her party after her next party at THE ZONE.

I think I might need a little break about right now.