A day in the life...dinner and mammograms

How ironic that while Maeve made post it notes for the table tonight w/ our names she made an additional note that said "family dinners are joyful". Yea right. Here is how many of our family dinners go....
I either lazily make crap or energetically make something good.
We either have constant arguing, name calling, back and forth bullshit or we have a civilized meal.
Rob and I either reprimand and control or we laugh at our hilarious loving children.
Guess what kind of dinner we had tonight? Well I can say this much....it WAS NOT JOYFUL.
I kept thinking "did Mrs. Ingalls ever go through this?". Seriously Mary, Laura and Carrie wouldn't have EVER argued about who talks first or who looked at who. They would, with respect and reverence, thank their Ma and Pa for working so hard for providing a meal. Now I realize that Little House on the Prarie was a TV show and maybe not a fair depiction of reality. But I know for sure that if Ma or Pa even had to raise their voice, those kids listened.
I can same the same for Mrs. Huxtable, Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Walton and so on.
Point being is I am tired. Tired of making dinner. Tired of cleaning dinner. But it's all palpable IF at least the audience is kind and thoughtful and at the least, pleasant.

Onto something else....
I had a mammogram today - totally routine. And before I go any further, just to alleviate any stress at all, it was normal. Anyway - I am always quite proud of my ability to handle medical stress. I never jump to conclusions and I feel totally capable of handling anything...(well except for the time Peter was sick last August). Anyway...I marched in there today, so strong and friendly and making sure I sent the message that "this mammogram thing is not going to stress me out!". Even as I sat in my gown flipping through magazines, I made sure my vibe was "easy peasy". So she called me in and was so sweet and kind and my attitude was "no problem". So she said I could go sit and wait for the results. It took a bit longer and I was done w/ a few magazines and then I started thinking..."a - hah! There WILL be a problem -something to try to crack me....but I will just respond with the same attitude - no problem". Then I started thinking..."of course, there's a problem, you are too confident, not nervous enough....poster child for anyone can get breast cancer - even you! program" Then she called me back to say they needed a re -take. "Of course, no problem". Re -takes don't bother me. I had to do re-takes last year. I am tough against re-takes. I am a PRO at re-takes. Some people might be nervous now, but not me...I am easy peasy with the re-takes. Back in the waiting area, I am now convinced there is a problem. Of course, there is. I just read The Middle Place, I have done the Avon Walk, I am far too cocky and frankly, feel like shit every day so YES I probably do have breast cancer. I can imagine her words...She will be kind and try to cushion the blow...I will respond with confidence...that even if she finds something, I will still NOT jump to conclusions. Because I am not really strong in many areas of life...I cry a lot, I am wimpy at athletics, I quit projects when they get too tough....but I have always thought that I am definitely TOUGH at medical stuff...and this damn annual mammogram is NOT going to get to me.
At last, she calls me back to say I am in the clear for another year.
I knew it. No problem.

Life

Well Rob is at KU for the weekend. It's odd - but when he's not here, I can kick it into high gear. I really can. It must be this thing when you know it's on you - you just dig deeper than when you know you share the load. So, we worked w/ fun and efficiency this afternoon and evening. Friends, food, clean up and bed. House clean, dishwasher running, laundry in full swing. Complete efficiency. No meltdowns from children or the adult. Victory.

Our basement is about 1/2 way done. It's coming along. We have excellent people on this job.

Remember a few months ago when I needed a big real estate break...remember when I couldn't take on any more work? Well, I have had about 3 weeks of rest. Still have some work but not the mad rush as before. So now I am in panic mode. It's always a Realtors nightmare that you may never sell another house. My last closing was less than a month ago and I am already wondering...So if you want to become an insane human and function in an industry of feast or famine, I have the job for you. The pros - semi flexible schedule, not a 9-5er, can make some good cash, meet some wonderful people and in the end the biggest pro is that you find someone the house of their dreams. The con - you can become an insane human.

Tough getting back into another good book after reading an amazing book. For me, The Middle Place spoiled me for other books for a while.

Still battling the bulge. Hmmmm.....I am reading Skinny Bitch which my cousin Jeananne recommended. It's good - it's tough - it's full of data. But they lost me at "no coffee".
I do have to read on. I know that. I know that mostly at night when I reflect on the day of poor decisions regarding what enters my body. I also know it in the morning when I look at my clothes and then when I look at those clothes on my body. I know it when I make frozen pizza pretending only the kids will eat it. And I know it when I am secretly looking forward to a kid's birthday party tomorrow morning b/c they said they will have donuts and coffee. To the world of good health I just want to say this...LET ME BE. But I know that is the big baby route so I will soon be the grown up that I am and get focused. Take responsibility. Be strong. Be honest.
After tomorrow.

Check in with the Nicoll kids!

Today I gave Peter a HUGE gift. I brought him to the Village Play Place in Arlington Heights. He LOVES this place. It makes him SO happy to go there. We haven't been since Spring and he asks all of the time. He ran in the door, bellied up for his hand stamp and booked in to the fake grocery store. I love seeing anyone this happy. He had strawberry milk and fruit snacks for snack. He LOVED it. He made friends. He lights up a room for sure. I won big mama points today.

Maeve is off to a great start w/ her viola. She is taking it very seriously. And yesterday even made up a song. She brought the music stand into the kitchen to play for me. She named is "My sister lily" and the notes were "hi, medium and low". How funny. When I tried to make up words to go along w/ the tune, she shook me off quickly. This was her gig.

Lily is a master at many things...one thing is getting stuff done. She comes in - mostly unhappy about something that happened on the way home but then gets to business. She cranks out the homework and chores (w/ some complaining for sure) all in the name of 2 things - a show and the chance to roller blade.

So each day we have tears at some point. For one reason or another, each Nicoll sans Rob, cries every day. But I would say we make out okay on the other end. Just an emotional bunch I suppose.

Sad news..

I started writing this blog b/c a friend of mine's sister wrote a blog I faithfully followed. My friend Dana's sister Cari had breast and then brain cancer. She passed away today. Her blog was always positive and thankful and gracious. She was always hopeful with great perspective. If you want to read her story you can at www.undomestic.blogspot.com
This last month or so has been very difficult for her family. So I am hoping they feel a bit more at peace tonight. Her children are the same ages as mine. I hope that Dana's flight to MN is easy and restful and gets her to her family soon as being together is always better than being far away during times like this.

Chronicles of 9/22

6:20 a.m. - Oh shit - I am already 20 minutes late in the game. I have been waking up at 6:00. Today is a big day - Picture Day, Preschool, water off for the basement all day. Our basement guys come at 7:00 so there is no time for sitting around. I am up. Off to make my coffee when I see a smudge of diarrhea on the carpet by my computer. Harper has been sick so I bet this is from her. I look over to the living room and see about 8 or 9 big spots of diarrhea on our cream colored carpet. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.
I get out the cleaning supplies and get to work. Rob gets out of the shower to report the basement guys are here. It's 6:30. I look up and Peter is standing about a foot from one of the spots. Rob takes Pete and I get to work scrubbing - knowing that our already tired and worn carpeting is going. I don't care if I have to pay some highschool kid $100bucks - this must be pulled up.
7:20 - I wake up Maeve. PICTURE DAY!!
7:45 - She is still not down -stairs. She must be getting really dolled up. I go upstairs where I find her walking aimlessly around her room in her pajamas.
Me - What have you been doing?
Maeve - Reading.
Me - Why - you should be getting ready. We have to take Peter to preschool at 8:30 and it's picture day.
Maeve - You always tell me to read.
Thoughts - WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP.
Me - Zip it and get ready.
8:30 - We are all ready and out the door with time to spare.
10:00 - Off to bring Harper to vet as she seems worse. Call from St. Marks - Peter had a potty accident and needs new shoes.
10:45 - Pick up Nora and Peter and take them to McDonalds. I observe the crowd - mostly high school boys w/ pants too big, bad acne and smirks that I KNOW are b/c they are making fun of everyone around them. Also an older couple w/ pants too high - not only not speaking to each other but reading their own individual books during lunch - AT McDonalds. And a few high school girls w/ pants too tight. WHEN will these girls figure out that is NOT a good look.
And we are off - to the library and then the vet. The good news - Harper has a virus and nothing worse.
1:20 - Time for Pete's nap. I lay down w/ him. Work in the basement is in high gear. We both drift into a nice peaceful state of mind. Soon, a drill is drilling something that is so intense that Peter's bed is vibrating 2 floors up. He SLEEPS through it....and I spring out of his bed just convinced something exploded. But it's nothing...just the work being done.
Any minute the girls will walk in the door. I don't need to wait for them to arrive to finish this Chronicle. It will go like this.
3:45 - BURSTS into the door. Lily is pissed b/c Maeve walked in front of her. Maeve is pissed b/c lily pushed her b/c Maeve walked in front of her. Lily will deny this to loudly and so passionately that she is now in tears over this crazy accusation. They both have a million things to tell and it's not fair that the other one goes first. Why don't we have lemonade. Why did you give me a cheese stick in my lunch.
Finally around 8:30 tonight, I will sit down and know the day is behind me. I will probably watch some DVRd show I like - Oprah, Daily Show, The Actors Studio.
And I will wake up tomorrow and do it again. But hopefully without the diarrhea.

Order and peace and this body of mine!

Today I have big plans. I have already began the plan - I slept in a little bit. Made my coffee and toast and am blogging. Next I will light my candles, make a To Do list, and get to work. One thing on my To Do list is to REfocus on this body of mine.
March-July, I lived a healthy life of great diet, taking my vitamins and drinking loads of water. I even took it to the next level by tryng things like Dandelion Tea. AND I stretched and tried to exercise. ( I DESPISE exercise). Then after 7/4 I completely stopped...I don't know why...but I did. So I am back to where I was. And that place goes like this...
Pants too tight....even underwear seems to be a burden...eating horrible foods..puffy face...not enough water....guilt, shame, exhaustion. Well, a girl can bitch or a girl can work. So, I am BACK in the game as of today.
Another thing on my To Do list is to gut/clean/purge. I do this about 3 times a year...and back to school is definitely one of them. I start to feel like if I can't get my physical space in order, I can't get ANYTHING in order. There are a million of things I wish I COULD do that would definitely help but I can't....like pulling up the carper in the living room b/c of horrible stains I can't keep my eyes off. Or knocking down walls in the mud room to make a more efficient space. Even the mis-matched desk to book shelf is making me insane. I am not OCD - for the most part, I really am not. But every once in a while, I can take it no longer. And I am here.
I will also look at the calender, schedules, lists, groceries.
I WILL be organized. I WILL start tomorrow focused and energized.
I WILL love every moment of the Bears game and The Emmy's.
THIS will be a great day!

He WILL leave me..someday

23 years ago my parents dropped me off at Hanover College. After a couple hours of unpacking and a little tour around, they finally said good-bye. This moment will forever be plastered in my memory as a life changing moment. I didn't know it then, but this experience made me SOME of who I am now. And as outgoing as I was, I was also an insecure 18 year old . When they walked away, I couldn't watch. I knew I as alone. Truly alone. Knew not a soul. 5 hours away from home. Didn't have a roommate b/c they put me with an RA so I just really knew no one. I felt a pit of loneliness and fear that was foreign to me up to that point in my life. I felt awkward, embarrassed, weird. I wondered who will I eat with - who will I talk with and who will I become. But one thing is for sure, I never ever thought about how my mom felt leaving me, her baby, alone and far away. Until yesterday.
Yesterday I dropped Peter off to preschool for the first day. I KNEW it I would be teary b/c I get choked up by State Farm commercials. But a complete emotional collapse was not what I envisioned. I was sobbing in the car. And I had to explain to Lily, who was with me, that this was a natural emotion that all mommy's feel as it's a reminder of their babies growing up. Then I said "imagine how Grandma Mary felt when she brought me to college far away from home". Then it hit me...I never had imagined that before. And I don't think she ever told me how she felt. Maybe she felt relieved b/c to be honest, I was kind of a bitch that summer. But it was a big full circle moment for me.
It's not tough - it's IMPOSSIBLE - to understand parenting until you do it. What a wretched way to go about life. Wouldn't it be so much more fulfilling and EASIER if only we all KNEW. But we don't.
I do know this...I sobbed "he will leave me someday" in my car like a psychopath. The more I talked, the more I cried. I wanted to go back for one more hug, one more kiss. I didn't want him to forget me for a moment. I understand now how Rob's mom must feel about him and how my mom must feel about me.....or even more, my brother...(because let's face it, he IS her favorite for sure!).
I am better today and I know I will be okay when I bring him next week. But I will admit - just to seal our deal of LOVE and devotion, I slept with him in his bed. He often requests it and I often deny it only b/c it's not "appropriate". But last night I could care less about appropriate. I snuggled in and staked my claim with my boy.

Under New Management

Well as the effects of the Valium and Nitrous have worn off, I find myself fighitng a bad sore throat and vicious PMS. Can't I still take the Valium?
Here is my dilemma. I melted today under the pressure of management. Right when I think I am at the top of my game, the descent begins. I have everyone scheduled appropriately. Everyone has a new system of telling them exactly what is expected of them each day - chores, extras, homework. They know how much TV they can watch. We are all on the same page.....right? But despite my best attempt to alleviate any chaos or doubt of expectations, I am STILL managing each little emotional and psychological rise and fall of each day. So let me be clear - anything they did today to make me insane isn't different than any other day. Every single day Maeve argues about the slightest request. Every single day Lily falls to the floor and moans when asked to do her chore. It's just THIS day I can take it no longer. And I know it's because my estrogen is dropping to the floor lovingly preparing my body to shed it's uterine lining. And even though I know this to be true, I don't know how I am going to get through it. Even though my brain says "this is temporary, this is just PMS", I have no idea how I will parent effectively again. I can no longer manage these peopl e- their nutrition, their brains, their souls and their hearts.
And I am constantly reminded when I find myself sucked dry - that no one is managing me - including myself.
And even though I WISH they could just play and be free, they can not. It's life. School has started and so has my descent into stress and agitation. I am falling - free falling. Pretty soon there will be sign above our front door looking for new management.

Good drugs and Real Estate

I had the pleasure to have a little Nitrous Oxide today and I have to say - it kicked ass. I felt so calm and relaxed but also happy. And I had wonderful thoughts traveling through my head - like how much I loved Dr. Kakos. How I wondered how he lived - like did he just come home, eat dinner and hang out. Was he just as sweet and funny with his wife as he was with me. And then he said the words "you are doing great. I am proud of you". I wanted to say " i am proud of you too. I love you so much".
I am still feeling the effects of the Valium and Nitrous and loving every minute of it....soon I will go to bed and I can't wait.
Onward -
Here is a question I have for sellers. Are you trying to drive me out of this business? Are you tring to make me crazy? I have a new approach. I am no longer psychologically managing my buyers and sellers. I am now "just the facts". After spending the summer talking clients and other realtors off the ledge, I am done. So when a seller wants to sabotage selling his home, I will no longer go into the multitude of reasons he should rethink his position. I will no longer spend time presenting factual reasoning for the decisions that hsould be made. I will no longer pretend I understand or even care about their f'd up perspective. Mama is done.
Do you want to buy a house? Did you find the one you want and you can afford. Then buy it. Don't try to outguess or out maneuver the seller. Don't try to "win" some ridiculous battle of negotiations b/c you read online that is this market a seller should be happy to even get an offer. Don't reference something you recently learned on HGTV. Just listen to your Realtor and buy that damn house.
You want to sell? Do what I say and we will sell. If you would rather sabotage the success of your transaction, than by all means sabotage away b/c in 6 months when you still haven't sold and you want to know why - I will more than happy to point out that 6 months ago you didn't listen to me and I will go to bed w/ a clear mind and you will go to bed wondering how the F to sell your house!
Lesson #45 in Real Estate - Get the hell out of your own way and don't mess with me while medicated.

One more thing....

Listen and enjoy. Even though you will be brought to tears, you wil be happy. Happy that someone out there can verballize the very emotion that you feel too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNY8KL_YSlc

See how Peter and feel about the boat ride - that is how i feel about the dentist..

Coherant

I am writing this moment after I took a Valium. I took it b/c I have a big dentist appt in teh moring...I am supposed to take another one tomorrow morning. Fine by me. I am not even sure what they are doing tomorrow as I have instructed my dentist I am on a "need to know basis" with my dental care. And by "need to know", I basically mean I "don't need know". I need to arrive, FEEL drugged enough to not care, have headphones on, warm neck roll and then go home. The actual dental work can remain a mystery to me. The other day I saw an Endondonstis to discuss Retreatment of an existing root canal. He starts in on the root, pictures, infectoins, bone, etc. I stopped him and said - seriously I don't care. The details make me want to puke. so no thanks I mean unless they have to remove all 8 front teeth - I am good.

I might ahe started feeling the Valium. I think that b/c I can't really type. Or see much anymoe either. So I better sign off and focus on our morning activities.

Before I sign off - just wanted to send a message out to all those sellers. Stop drivng me crazy.
Okay - i am pracitallly sleeping now...this shit kicks in fast...
later peeps

Survived

Well yesterday was quite a day. The good news is that I am pretty much over it. It was just one of those days when you want to just run into the house to get something but you forgot you locked the door. Then you can't find the keys. Or you JUST want to enjoy a beer outside but the bees are swarming....I could hear "you get 10,000 spoons when all you need is a fork" in my head all day.
It was also one of those days where there was very little room for error...a tight schedule in which all participants MUST be on their game or we could all go down. So take the schedule and set it to the tune of "Isn't it Ironic" and you get a pretty f'd up day.
However - we survived.
We survived the fact that I held on to a living room full of crap to give to Amvets on 9/11 for about 3 weeks and then they drove by my house and didn't pick up.
We survived a 1:20 eye appt. where the DR didn't see us until 2:58 (believe me, I know the minute she walked in b/c I was planning my dramatic exit for exactly 3:00)
We survived an eye appt that resulted in NO answer as to what we are going to do to fix this eye issue Lily has.
We survived Harper's dental cleaning in which they were supposed to call me with updates throughout the day to let me know how she was doing but they never did. We survived the ongoing thoughts in my head that they weren't calling b/c they were trying to figure out how to tell me she passed away during the anesthesia.
We survived the burning desire I had to tell the Vet's receptionist that her English accent was clearly fake and that I could do a better accent.
We survived (or I should say Maeve survived) the fact that even though maeve knows to walk directly home after school, she "chatted" for a few minutes which caused her to be late home and caused me visions of seeing myself running down the street hysterical with the Heinekin that was in my hand (yep, at 3:50).
All in all, we made it. I could just hear my Dad's voice "it's not easy jules. Poor old Mamma".

Great life

Last night I attended the Orchestra Parent and Kids meeting at Lincoln w/ maeve. She was SO excited. I had zero expectations but I did anticipate chaos and too much information. However, to my delight, I left there an emotional mess overwhelmed w/ joy for the opportunities my kids have. Here they have this wonderfully gifted woman who is so passionate about music in their lives through school. SCHOOL is giving this to them. I mean, w/ some cash, but for the most part our SCHOOL is doing this. I guess I am amazed b/c I realize that our district does a lot of great things and my girls have been happy as clams there. But I never dreamt that they would have the opportunity to learn the viola. Or even to be taught what a viola is truthfully. So it's beyond my wildest expectations that Maeve will get group and individual Viola lessons from Mrs. Fry - someone who has her masters in music w/ a specialty in strings.
What a gift! Mrs. Fry didn't want to tell the kids the instrument that won her heart when she was is in 4th grade b/c she didn't want to sway the kids when the pick. But our group had already picked the instruments so after a student asked, she said "viola". I looked over at Maeve and she was beaming - smiling so wide and so excited b/c Maeve also chose the Viola. You could tell she thought that was something pretty fabulous. I drove home feeling so excited. And I said to Maeve "well you have a pretty darn good life" and she said "yepperdoodle".

Now, I realize that my sentimental journey into life and opportunity will probably come to a screeching halt when I am begging Maeve to practice and reminding her of the commitment she made and......Well, I am just going to hold onto my sweet thoughts until that moment comes. Because it will come soon enough.

Lovey

Here is one of my favorite pictures of the year...Super Man.
There is a new feature on my posts for all you blog readers...you can click a box at the end to express how you feel about it. Cheers -

Tell me what to do..

Well, Lily has sty eye again. It's tough b/c these are the times when I wish someone would just tell me what to do....
Take her to the DR tomorrow and demand they drain the eye. Okay!
It's fine, let it make it's way, it's not serious. Okay!
Tell the DR no more antibiotics b/c those are good to be taking for so long and clearly ineffective. Okay!
And I dont' want the DR to look at me with options - "well you could try..... or we could do....." JUST TELL ME. I can't be the decider all of the time..it's just too much.

There are times I will walk in my room and see all the clean clothes that need to be put away and I just WISH my mom would put them away for me.

Same with my social life - so much wish that Rob would come home one Friday and say - "we are going out tomorrow night- all set up". Really? All set up? KICK ASS.

Basically I am yearning for guidance - to not lead - to not drive. I have been struggling with this emotion all summer. I talked about it with my dear wise friend Kristi and so now when she checks in with me she will say "found a driver yet?".

What is more interesting is to wonder why I am thinking of all this now...what has triggered such a strong need NOT to lead/decide/control??? I guess with all things it's balance - you just naturally need balance and I am a tad out of balance. I realize that w/ my personality (as rob would say to me -"you say you don't want to lead but you do") that it may appear that I want to lead - but to be honest, sometimes I don't. Can we have it both ways - does it have to be one or the other? Lead or don't lead. Can't a girl have a night off?

Home sweet home..

Home from camping....Wow - I have to say, as w/ everything in life, it was a learning experience.

We, as suburbanites or even city slickers, have had nature SO pulled out from around us that we will go to strange lengths to get back to it. As we worked setting up the tent and our chairs and getting ready, I thought about "then what". So we come all the way out here and do so much work for.....what? Well, just to observe and live with nature. Which I really love. The smells, the sounds...all reminds me so much of being AT camp as a kid or being at my Grandma's which I desperately miss. I love to breathe the air, have the kids run free and listen to the birds.

But what this suburbanite didn't quite realize was my great love for city water. It's crisp and clean and comes hot OR cold. I also LOVE the smell of city water - pure and fresh. So I guess my point is that well water just aint my thing...I am a city girl in that way. I love you Lake Michigan water!

I also underestimated my love for my own bathroom - a place where only about 4 or 5 people come to visit all of whom I know and love.

I guess I also didn't really consider the company. I mean, I will admit as much as I love to meet new people, I tend to gravitate to people who are like me. In some way, like me. I didn't really know that campsites are so communal - so close, like cozy neighbors. It's pretty unlikely that anyone in my circle of friends would ever have a call to 911 dialed up on them. It's true, that on Friday night, our first night amongst the nature, I reached for my cell phone to make the big 911 call when I heard sirens from afar but coming our way. Thank goodness b/c about 5 campsites down, at 3:30 in the moring, some drunk woman wanted her drunk looser boyfriend to give her back her "fucking cell phone" so she could call the "fucking cops". She screamed this, amongst other things, about 20 times which echoed through the trees and I am quite confident woke up every human there. Now that is just not why I came to camp. It brought back those old Child Welfare days and I am sure some suppressed PTSD. Ahhhh....nature.

Then, after about 30 minutes of on an off sleep (and I am NOT exaggerating) Peter woke up to tell me "it's morning". Yes it was and frankly I was happy b/c who was sleeping anyway. I took my little Bear into the not so thriving town of Dundee to get a coffee at the BP. Half the reason I wanted to take a drive was to warm up in the car since it was about 40 degrees that night. On the way back from getting my coffee, right when I thought things might be looking up, Peter threw up. He continued to throw up intermittently until about noon. It wasn't horrible but nonetheless, puke. He would rally then puke. And as bummed as I was for HIM, there was a secret little part of me that was optimistic that this was my ticket out of there. However, we made a deal that if he wasn't better by a certain point, we would go home. Well, he was totally healed by noon. So my PMA had to kick in and I had to rally.

I did and we had a very nice evening, a much better nights sleep and a good day today. We saw some beautiful things and I think the kids had the time of their life. And although I am a bit worse for the wear, I am not giving up on camping. I have learned some things on this trip I can implement next time. Bring more socks, a clothes line, flip flops for the bathroom, winter coats for sleeping, and the list goes on.

I camped. I did it and I am tough. I slept on the ground. I ate like crap. I hiked up a tower to see beautiful things. And I even have Peter randomly telling people "I'm a Hoosier". So I am thinking the trip might be worth it all after all.

Camping we will go..

Today we are leaving to go camping at Kettle Morraine State Park in WI. I don't know much about it - so that is exciting. I am not the "driver" or this trip and I must say for that I am SO thankful. It's fun to be the passenger - just sit back and enjoy and not bear the weight of any responsibility regarding the successes of the trip. Feels great. I am "along for the ride" and loving it. The kids are pumped and so the adventure will begin in 2 hours.
I LOVE traveling w/ the family. I really love our little trips we take. Away from phones, work (for the most part), household chores, etc.
I haven't camped in a long time -and truth be told - I have never really camped. Well - I have slept in tents but they were put up for me...so that doesn't count right? I did go to camp for about 8 years straight growing up...so I am the queen the campfire song or game.
So my biggest concern re. the trip is how I will have my morning coffee. Oh...and my hips hurting on the ground - Mama has some bad hips. And the bees.