Dissertation rush

Wow, we haven't posted anything since 2006! But well, it's never too late to restart a blog. Everything is crazy around here because Stephanie is trying to finish her dissertation like a mad woman. This morning she had the formatting blues as anyone who has written one knows, the formatting of the dissertation is the final form of hazing that graduate schools make people go through before they can be called "doctors." Stephanie's taxi will pick her up at 4:30 am tomorrow morning as she heads out to San Diego. We'll catch up with her on Saturday. I have to think of ways to keep the kids entertained while she's away. Ixchel already said that she won't let her mom leave without her. Fortunately, she'll be asleep at that time. Last time Stephanie went on a trip by herself, Ixchel blocked the door trying to physically stop her from leaving, and then begged her on her knees to take her with her. I didn't elicit such a reaction when I went on a trip, but of course, her mom is her mom. Anyway, Stephanie defends the day after tomorrow and after that we'll be living in paradise (at least for some time).