This year my wife Patricia and I celebrated 23 years marriage on Dec.23, and rather than buying ourselves expensive presents we splurged (?) on two train tickets and a long weekend at the Officers' Club (cheapest place there is pricewise) in Venice.
No, not Venice, NY, rather Venice, IT !
Everybody deserves a 2nd honeymoon, especially when it ISN'T the right anniversary
... yet ...
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As for the kids, too many, not many enough, kids are like happiness, you only realize how much they're worth when they aren't around... anymore...
In order to allow ourselves that one long weekend, we accepted my siste-in-law's invitation (my wife's sister) and flew our son to Belgium for him to enjoy XMas with his cousins.
Else, he would have been alone (albeit with us) and no firnds/mates/siblings with whom to spend the Holidays - he's an only child.
By the time we returned home and unpacked, my wife and I looked at each other and agreed the house was sooo silent without him around...
We enjoyed our three days so much, but now we can't wait for him to return !