Driving back home from our family dinner in town it suddenly dawned on me that our 7-year anniversary had passed unnoticed. It was last Monday, and if I remember correctly, John was sick as a dog (pneumonia) and Tuomas was home sick with fever. So not exactly a festive day.

This is not to say we had not planned to do something special, like elope away for a romantic night or two. But when summer vacation ended, work, study and daycare routines started and other priorities took over.

However, I am happy to say there is a little trip coming up. John and I are going to Paris for three days and two nights to finish off the list that did not quite get completed on our last visit in March ;-) (John is quite fond of making lists.)

Looking back at the last seven years, we realized they have been incredibly busy. It all started getting hectic in 2000 when we went to South Africa in January, New Orleans in March, all over Egypt in July, Palm Springs in October (I did live in San Diego for a month also) and Dublin in December. All this on top of our numerous business trips. We had also bought our 1920's farmhouse in August and started the remodeling project. Oh, and we were trying to get pregnant.

In 2001 the travel continued as we toured New Mexico, Arizona and parts of Colorado in March but quieted down when we needed to spend more time following up on the remodeling progress.. Well, and we did get pregnant. In August there was one last desperate run to Barcelona before Laura was born in November.

The following year there was the move to Dallas but that's another story. I guess the point was to say we love travel.. and continue to travel despite the fact that we are not quite the suave globetrotters we used to be. Nowadays we arrive at the check-in counter with three noisy kids in tow, dragging about 8 pieces of luggage and looking like we would rather already have arrived at the destination. Let me tell you, sinking alone (or with the significant other) into the airplane seat with a book and a drink in hand is quite different from trying to find your seat toggling cranky twins, multiple carry-on bags, stuffed toys and the firstborn's shoes.

But here we are, seven years. No itch. Only amazement about how much we have achieved already. We'll raise un verre du vin to that in Paris.