At some point, they'll have to come home

With summer in full swing and the days until school starts dwindling, it's been a busy couple of weeks around Cow Town.

In the last two weeks, I have spent precious few nights in my own bed. Two weeks ago, we took the kids to Hill Billy Central for vacation. At least that's what I call it - you might know it better as Branson. The kids had a great time at the amusement park, water park, and corresponding activities. It's not that I didn't have a good time, it's just this time it was about the kids. We headed home on a Friday to regroup, do laundry, and re-pack. A week ago today, I made the three and a half hour trip to my parents. The Suburban loaded with three excited children, I was taking them for their week-long odyssey of fun at their grandparents. I spent the night and headed home Tuesday.

Fortunately, the laundry was done as I started packing again. This time - for me. Hubs and I took off early Wednesday morning headed West.

What is it that seems almost magical about heading West?

As the miles clicked by, I tried to rest, to recapture some of the lost sleep from the week before, but I found myself staring out the window watching the scenery slowly change. Yes, slowly, as Kansas seems to stretch forever. Once we entered Colorado, the corn and bean fields made way for grazing fields. Less tilled and slightly more wild, I kept scanning the horizon for the mountains. As long a Kansas seemed, Colorado that much more as the anticipation grew. At some point, I did fall asleep. It wasn't more than 30 minutes (though my husband claims much longer), but it was enough. As I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, my husband motioned forward and told me to look ahead. Finally. The Rocky Mountains. We kept driving. Though Denver, along I-70, twisting and turning, up the side of the mountains until we reached our final destination: Vail.

Yesterday it took ten and a half hours to make it home. I didn't drive a mile. Though I don't mind driving, we make much better time when my husband does.

At some point this week, the kids will come home. Though I miss them, I do enjoy the time today to get caught back up with things before they storm the castle.

...

With the days of summer winding down, what are you most looking forward to about Fall?

Before I take off on my next adventure...

I'd better write about my last one.

Two weeks ago I was afforded the opportunity to fly to Detroit courtesy of GM. They wanted to know if I'd "take a look at" some of their 2008 models and would I like to participate in an Advanced Driving Techniques course?

Um. Yes. Please.

Day one was The Advanced Driving Techniques. It was very, very interesting. The broke us into groups of two drivers per one instructor.


We learned about skidding - how to stay in control and 'drive through.' To accomplish this...



Enter The Skid Monster. It is created to simulate a skid. If you do it 'wrong' you end up doing donuts - just ask my partner. (Hi Gloria!)

We learned about avoiding obstacles at high speeds. Meaning get the car to around 50 as fast as you can, then try and not hit a set of cones while staying inside others.

We learned about braking and swerving. Brake first, then try to steer.

We learned how to do a serpentine "S" - going backward. Imagine five cones, set along a slightly curving line, right to one, left to the next, right, repeat. Backward. Using only the mirrors. Also, another station was just reversing. No, you don't always have to fiddle with the wheel if you just want to go straight.

It was very informative.

What I found most enjoyable, was riding with the professional drivers.



Here I am getting a StabiliTrak demonstration. Very cool. Especially after you get done braking from a high speed, tell the instruction, "Wow. Can we do that again?" and he does. While everone else watches.

Day two brought the 2008 vehicle driving. We had a closed course. And oodles of cars to drive. I was particularly surprised by the drive of the Saab 9-7x. Very nice.

And a few sporty cars. At one point, I overestimated my ability to drive a five-speed. It had been between 10 and 12 years since I've driven that one. In that amount of time, I forgot that the clutch is on the left - not the middle. Shortly after getting out of the gate, I got out, threw my hands up, and said, "I'm clearly out of my league." They brought someone out to bring me in. As he got there, he asked I wanted him to drive. Yes. Please.

A short while later, one of the hosts asked me if I'd like a trip around the track in the new Corvette. Sure.

Thirty seconds into the ride I realized that the clutch is on the left. Not the middle. Doh! I mentioned this to my driver, and he offered to let me drive. Um. Yea. After shifting from first to second using the clutch it came rushing back. Just like riding a bike.

If you ever get the chance to drive a Corvette, or any car for that matter, on a closed course - Do it.

The course was set up to stimulate 'real' world driving conditions set over the course of five miles. Highway, two lane, country, city... I think they covered it all. The strangest thing about driving there is the lack of advertising. Buildings, trees, roads... and no advertising.

Although the weather was a bit threatening, and did infact rain, I still had a great time driving the cars.





This is what I was most interested in seeing and driving - a Hybrid Tahoe (pictured) and Hybrid Yukon. Though it would be nice if we could all drive compacts, it just isn't in the cards for me. Three kids. Two booster seats.



A big thank you to GM for arranging this and paying my way. Accoring to them, I'm not a "Mommy Blogger," I'm a "Lifestyle Blogger." Thanks also to my driving buddy Gloria for sharing her pictures. I was too busy oogling cars to take but two.

Home again, Home again.

We left home last Friday. Today is Thursday. I'm ready to be home.

And the rocket's red glare...
Monday I attended opening day at the ballpark. There's something about the electricty in the air. The stands were full. The weather, and margaritas, delicious. The giant flag unfurled mid-field by the men and women in fatigues. The flyover by a stealth bomber... Just gave me goosebumps. Plus, the home team won handily.

Oy, my aching tummy...
Yesterday included lunch with one of my good pals. We met and had Indian. Yes, twice in a week. When we got there at 11:30, there were four or so tables with people. By the time we left, it was standing room only. Dinner was my favorite barbecue. The "Super Crispy" better known as a burnt end sandwich on a french roll smothered in sauce, served with a side of pit-style beans, fries, and pickles. Heaven in a bun.

Back to normal...
Today we're driving home. Back to the 'grind.' Saturday is bowling, Sunday is Easter, and the kids have Monday off - even after a whole week for spring break, they have the Monday after Easter. We'll probably spend the day 'spring cleaning.' If anything, we'll try and get through the closets. It's probably safe to put away the snow gear. But I'll keep it handy just in case.

Everybody dies

Today in the car we talked about death. The kids were very interested, and asked a lot of questions.

Can you see God?

-Not when you're alive, but you can when you're dead.

Why?

-That's just how it works.

Does everybody die?

-Yes.

Why?

-That's how it works.

How do you die?

-Um... There are a lot of ways. That is a very good question.

Like you're hunting and somebody thinks you're a deer and they shoot you?

-That's one way.

Or you drowned? That's why we're taking swimming lessons, so we don't drown.

-That's another way, and certainly one reason to take swimming lessons.

I don't want to die.

-I don't want you to die either. But it's something that you don't have to worry about for a very long time. One way to live a long time is to make good choices. Like eating healthy.

And not smoking.

-Right, not smoking. Exercising and drinking plenty of water. Eating lots of fruit and veggies.

I don't want you to die.

-I don't want to die either, not for a very long time.

Good. Because what would we do without a mom?

-That is a very good question.

It's moments like these, that I'm not sure I'm prepared for parenting. There's no manual for this. It's not like you sit down and talk about death, it just comes up after lunch on the way home to get ready for preschool. It just pops up. Unannounced.

On a slightly less dire note. My MILF-y weigh in. Still stuck at 205. Could be worse. Could be my highest non-pregnant weight of 235. Or it could be my highest pregnant weight or 249ish. Just some emotional things weighing me down, right now. I'll get there.

Jolly Old Saint Nick...

Having just finished Christmas three of three, I've now poured myself a drink and finally turned on the computer.

Friday we celebrated our family of five Christmas. Kids opened things from us, and the Husband and I exchanged a couple things as well. Saturday we tidied up best we could, had the Rot0-Rooter man out to fix the sink drain (could you imagine the smell if we'd let it go a week?), and drove to my parents. Celebrated Christmas Eve as I always remember - one present, chili and oyster chowder. Woke up Christmas morning to Santa! Kids loved it. The after the kids were in bed, the adults adjourned to the hot tub with a glass of their favorite drink (or three). Today (Tuesday?) we headed to the inlaws, and waited for Husband's Brother for dinner then gifts. I do enjoy my brother-in-law. I really do. He's snarky and funny and seems to get the joke. We'll be here for the next couple days, then plan to head back to my parents on Friday, and to the homestead on Saturday. One more day away from home than I'd like, but...

By Christmas3, I had a plan. Went to WalMart and purchased four stacking blue bins - they don't have lids, but remind me of the totes UPS uses to deliver bulk mail.

Can you guess where I'm going with this?

Each kid had a bin, plus one extra for good measure. I put their names on them. As they opened a present, they thanked the giver, gave me the paper, and put their gift in their bin. If it was clothes, they went back into the gift bag minus the tissue paper. I was on standby with two trash bags for the paper. Nothing got buried in the shuffle. The room wasn't a complete disaster when they finished. And I can use the bins when I clean out my craft room in the coming weeks. As we proceeded, the fourth bin was designated "shared" toys.

Next year, I'll be doing the same thing. Somehow, the kids were a little more careful with their gifts. Rather than throwing them on the floor and wondering what to open next, they looked a it just a little longer.

Soon enough I'll be plotting my New Year's Resolutions. Can you tell one of mine is more order in the house?

Hump Day

It's not if, it's when...
Received a very sad email yesterday. My friend's husband died in a plane crash. She was so wonderful and welcoming when I joined the Monday Morning Book Club and the Wednesday Playgroup/Babysitting co-op. I'm really struggling with this. Somehow death seems more "fair" when you're 98 - not when you're 31 expecting your fifth child in January. It sounds like the viewing is Friday and the funeral Saturday. My heart aches for her.

Going to my parents...
Due to the above, the kids and I will take off tomorrow for my parents' house. We were planning on going Friday night when my husband got back into town, but now I'll be taking off in the afternoon.

From the Throne of Mother of the Year...
Today, on her own, my precious Toddler got on the toilet. Hollered, "All done Mamma!" I rushed in to see what she'd done. Oh. My. God. The toilet was full of poo and she was scratching her butt. Grabbed her hand and started wiping, brown stuff coming off. Looked at her face, brown stuff there as well. Smelled her hand. It was then I realized that she and her brother had gotten into the chocolate chips. Unlike M&M's, chocolate chips do melt in your hands.

Mole

Went with our friends S and M tonight to a fantastic hole-in-the wall Mexican place. The mole sauce was fantastic. So was the pitcher of margaritas three of us shared. M is, well, ripe. Two weeks until delivering girl #2. They close on their new house on Thursday, and have to be out of the old by the 30th. No pressure there. Hoping the bambina stays in place...

Went to Mitzi's house for her boy's birthday this afternoon. (I'll add her link later.) Got to meet the whole family. Plus Curious George cupcakes. Happy fifth Birthday Bob. Some day I hope you know what a fantastic mom you have. M- it was great to see you again, and I'll let you know next time we come to town...

Tomorrow's the drive home. Here's hoping for an uneventful 6 to 6 1/2 hours in the car with three kids. At least I still have snacks.

Made it

Left last night around 7. Drove to my parents (194 miles). Arrived shortly after 10. Had a drink, talked. Finally got the kid to bed. Got up, headed out around 9:30. My parents had already left the scene. My mom was taking her class on a field trip and needed to be at school early, and my dad went to my uncle's to help with the corn harvest.

It's weird being at my parents' without them there. So much of that house is them. Still, I know where most everything goes. I'm sure I do a better job cleaning up after myself than I ever did in high school.

178 miles later visited my Husband's granny. She broke her hip a couple weeks back. She's recouperating in a nursing home until she's well enough to go home. Doing as well as can be expected. She loves it when we visit - really enjoys watching the kids be kids. She is a dear woman. Truly salt of the earth. Stayed about 40 minutes, then took off. She was starting to look pretty worn out.

92 miles later arrived at our final destination. My mother in law and husband took the kids to the park. Fan-freaking-tastic. Really. My husband was gone Monday through Wednesday. It was a long couple days with him gone. The kids have reached the highest ever nag factor. Mom this and Mom that. A few minutes of quiet time is much appreciated.

Kids did as well as can be expected for a 464 (give or take) mile journey. The oldest packed a tote of coloring books, markers, and assorted other things to keep them busy. I packed the DVD player, but we only used it to watch "The Wild" and about half of "Finding Nemo." Pretty good considering the amount of time we spent in the car. Also, we managed not to eat the whole bag of snacks I brought. I won't have to go to the store before our return trip on Sunday.

As far as the weekend... I know my husband is playing golf tomorrow - perhaps twice. Saturday we have a birthday party. Saturday night we're bowling with some friends. Should be a hoot. Sunday we head home. The return trip is closer to 400 miles. Monday I'll be back to posting about laundry. Maybe. Maybe not. If I can keep up and do a couple loads while were here, it should be a breeze packing for Orlando on Tuesday.

At least we're flying the 1570 miles.