A Weekend in Their Desert

We left Thursday after work, packed up the truck and headed to their desert. even though we have made the trip a handful of times, the beautiful landscape never ceases to amaze us.



We arrived after 9, well after a little boy's bedtime. So we settled on the couch with the guys and enjoyed catching up. McQueen’s rustling in his crib from the other room signaled that we were having a little too much fun laughing and chatting. Before heading to bed, Papa sneaked me in to his room to take a quick peek. Knees tucked under his tummy with his tush high in the air, he was balled up in the corner of his crib. I hadn't seen him in a few months so I anticipated a big boy. He had definitely grown some, but he still looked like a sweet little man to me.

The next morning we got up and enjoyed some play time before heading out to do some shopping. Our usual trip to IKEA of course, where we bought Doodle a bed and dresser and a few other odds and ends.





When we returned from IKEA we relieved the nanny, had some lunch and lounged around. When McQueen woke from his nap we fed him a bottle and played some more before Daddy and Papa came home. We decided to go to another one of our usual spots. We enjoyed some Mediterranean food while a table next to us looked at us strangely. As if two gay couples, a baby and a pregnant chick was an oddity to see in public together. Maybe we are just the cool kids.. and McQueen’s shirt sums it up.





After dinner, these cool kids made a trip to a new grocery store near the guys home that would put any other grocery store to shame. This not-so-ordinary store had a full florist, cooking class (having a wine tasting), gorgeous bathrooms, and a lounge complete with a flat screen TV, chairs and a fireplace. Not to mention the produce, cakes, goodies and huge refrigerated isle filled with ice cream. We left with about 6 bags of groceries and headed to the house to relax and watch some TV.

The next morning we slept in and lazed around the house before taking a dip in the pool. Daddy had an errand to run while McQueen and Papa joined us for a swim. It was so nice to relax in the shade with my camera and enjoy this view..









Papa and Bear were teaching McQueen how to splash and he caught on pretty quickly.





After the pool, we showered and joined the guys at a birthday party for their friends' twins. There were a lot of gay dads at the party who knew Papa and Daddy. I was introduced as their surrogate and instantly there were hands touching my belly and excited daddies congratulating the guys. It was awesome to be a part of their world for a moment and see so many gay daddies sharing their families with each other.

After the party we stopped for dinner at PF Chang's, another usual spot for us. Even though there is a steady trend in the places we go and the things we do in their desert, I wouldn't change any of it. We have so much fun just hanging out with the guys.

This is how it feels when your friends become so close they feel like family.

We headed back to their house for another round of after dinner treats and TV. Unfortunately, while we were catching up on an episode of top model, the air conditioning started making a horrible noise. So they turned the motor off and called the emergency repair line. Papa was told it wasn't something that could be fixed that night so we had to wait and call first thing the next morning. just our luck that the next day was a blazing high of 110.









The air conditioning wasn't repaired by the time we came back from lunch. It was getting a little too hot for us to be in the house, so we decided to cool ourselves by the pool again.











Tiber decided to keep me company in the shade.



And this sweet baby was dancing around in my tummy. Both Daddy and Papa were able to feel their little boy kick this trip.

I now realize this looks like a butt, but I can assure you it's my pregnant tummy.

The time came when we had to stop procrastinating and get our things together to leave. It was hard to motivate ourselves for a 6 hour drive, especially since we were having such a great time. Never the less, we be-grudgingly said our final goodbyes and made our way home.. until next time.



As we left their desert the sun was settling behind the mountains.



For miles Bear and I held hands, drinking in the beauty of a tangerine stained sky. Another amazing mini-vacation and another spectacular desert-sky sunset.