Today is my first day back in the office after 10 days of vacation (weekends thrown in there too) and much as I was dreading returning and bemoaning the end of my vacation, the truth is...I'm glad to be back.

Things make sense here. There's routine & order here. There's less whining, crying, begging, hair-pulling and pouting here (most of the time anyway). I eat like a normal person here -- as opposed the vacation-mentality gorging that's been going on.

And, it's so quiet.

Of course, here they frown on the bathing suit-and-cutoff attire I wore all last week. And, here I cannot enjoy an afternoon kids-are-down-for-a-nap cocktail while I kick back & watch the Oprah show. Here, I have to work on more cerebral things than picking up the pool toys and mediating sister fights.

It may have just been a little too much together time for me & the girls. We spent every single one of those 10 days together -- sometimes doing fun things, sometimes doing things they DON'T find fun -- like grocery shopping and organizing the kitchen pantry.

Yesterday, even THEY wanted me to go back to work. We were at Wal-Mart when I chastised Daughter #1 for doing something (slap, kick, bite, grab...who knows?) to make Daughter #2 cry and she said "You need to go back to work. I want to go to Grandma's house. I don't like you anymore."

I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn't offended. I sort of felt the same way. And, DD #1 (who's almost 5) is just learning the power of words (like telling people she doesn't like them or doesn't want to be their friend or that they're NOT nice).

Ask me in a week and I'll tell you how much I can't wait to go on vacation and get away from this place.

But, for now, I'll enjoy the quiet office environment.