"Yea dadda's home!" - (Anna 26 months old)

What a fun day.

Paul has been gone since Monday in New Zealand, and probably because it's been so long since he's been traveling the kids have really missed him, each in their own way.

Grayson took the melancholy route, prone to moments of quiet and brooding, but was fantastic at expressing that he was "not mad at any of us just missing Daddy".

Eme took to carrying around a male Polly Pocket size figurine, aptly named Daddy. Daddy went off on many adventures most involved the matchbox airplane with Daddy sitting on top going to "Na Zealand".

Anna woke each morning made eye contact and would ask "dadda come back?", to which I would reply how many more nigh nighs before he would actually be returning. Her answer "oh, all right".

All in all the week went rather quickly and smoothly, much of which can be attributed to a generous visit by Great Aunt Jill on the week of her birthday, and an overnighter from Grandma that netted a surprise trip to Bonfante Gardens (local theme park for those not from this area).

Today was the big day that Daddy came home. After Grayson's TaeKwonDo this morning (and Eme's third time in a row expressing how she wants to start doing TKD again!) we got a Jamba Juice and then headed up to the airport, and amazingly Anna fell asleep. I decided it would be fun for the kids and Paul (and myself too) to meet Paul outside customs rather than just wait at the curb.

We got their a little early, I transferred the sleeping Anna into the stroller and Grayson Eme and I headed in. Luckily Paul's flight got in a little early as well. We had enough time for a little snack where we were able to watch the monitors showing the people coming out from customs (a nice feature with all the chaos of all the different international flights coming in).

While sitting there I had a moment to reflect on a time maybe 3 years ago when I tried to do a similar thing with the kids when Paul was getting back from an international business trip. Anna wasn't part of the group then, Eme was just walking, and Grayson wasn't really talking yet. I remember feeling really overwhelmed and stressed. Today with Anna asleep in the stroller and Grayson and Eme thrilled by both the adventure and daddy's impending arrival (not to mention a "special snack of potato chips and apple juice") it was actually quite relaxing. I can't help but think with even #4 on the way and three under 6 how much I have matured into my role as mother.

I was telling the kids to watch the monitor for daddy and more than likely we would notice his bright green duffel bag (as the resolution isn't the best). And sure enough we did. We immediately got up and ran over to the customs exit Grayson leading the way, seeing daddy, overwhelmed by the distance through the crowd he was from us, yet eager to make contact. Paul saw me then looked down to see Grayson and a quickly trailing Eme. The look on their faces was unforgettable. One of those "Kodak moments" that will be with Paul and I for a long time to come. It was very emotional for me to watch this poignant reunion (I would love to blame it on the hormones, but I think regardless of the pregnancy they would have been there)

The amazing thing was Grayson. He has been maturing so quickly over this summer, and we are starting to get glimpses into the future of the man he will become. Grayson was clearly fighting back tears, yet confused and maybe embarrassed that he wanted to cry when this was a joyous occasion. Several times quietly he said he really missed daddy, and it clicked for me that he might be worried that Paul would mistake his joy for sadness. I took a moment among all the airport commotion to acknowledge his emotions and express how normal it is to feel emotional and feel like crying even when you are so happy. This seem to give him great comfort and he was able quickly move on.

Eme was is pure joy to have her daddy home, you could see her wiggling and smiling as only Eme can do. Had she been walking (by now Paul had put both G & E on the luggage trolley and was pushing theme) she would have had her trademark run skip that she does when she is happy. In these moments with her it is absolutely amazing to be a part of the innocence of her joy without boundaries.

Anna was blissfully asleep. But when we made it back to the car, after Eme announced to daddy that we were parked on level 2, and guided Paul in the direction of the elevator and then the car, I took a chance and woke Anna up telling her "dadda's back". Anna is rather like me in that she generally prefers to wake slowly, so in her groggy way she sleepily smiled upon my words and when I lifted her to show her daddy, she reached over to Paul and gave him a hug and gently said "dadda".

The whole thing felt so Norman Rockwell and I will cherish the memory for a long time to come. I am truly blessed in so many ways.