Sunday, August 14, 2005

There's No Place Like Home

We are back from Florida! We had a fabulous time and I cannot believe how quickly the vacation week went by. Yes, I'm sorry that our 2005 family vacation has come to an end. Having said all of this, I am so very happy to be back home and to have a home to come back to.

After the very longest drive home (19.5 hours) we pulled into our driveway at approximately 2:30 this morning. I swear the kids must have had to use the bathroom 7 or 8 times and then Jordyn got sick so we had to stop off at a Walmart in Kentucky to get her something to make her feel better. We had to fill up the gas tank four times (averaging $40 each time). I can't believe I spent nearly $30 at Arby's for our dinner. As much as I hated driving, I took over the wheel close to midnight to give Dave a break. I actually drove three different times on the trip home and discovered that I don't like driving over very high bridges in the mountains. When we go to Disney again, I'll drive in Michigan, Ohio and Florida - that's it. The Explorer is trashed. The kids argued much of the time. Etc. etc. etc. Typical 1200-mile road trip! I'm so glad it's over. I'm so happy to be home.

I took at ton of pictures - just like last year. The only difference is that this time I don't have 17 rolls of film to develop. I only have two rolls and five cds with probably more than 700 pictures and two rolls of cam-corder tape. Yep, we've basically gone totally digital. I can't wait to get scrapping. i just need to buy some albums. Still debating if I want to scrap in 8 1/2 x 11 or 11 x 8 1/2. I'm thinking, "maybe not." I still want to try that size but I don't think I want to do the vacation pics in the smaller format.

Well, I just wanted to "check in." I'll write more soon.

ttfn

Friday, August 05, 2005

Countdown to Disney

Well the countdown is officially on. We're leaving for Disney in approximately 15 hours. The plan is to leave at 4 AM. Let's see if things work out that way. Honestly, I think we'll be lucky if we leave by 5 but that sure beats leaving after 8:00 like we did last year.

I can't believe it but I did get the entire house cleaned. The only room that could stand some improvement is the family room but that's because that's where the suitcases and everything else that we're taking is. Despite having cleaned the whole house and packed for me and the kids, I still have ton of work to do. I still have to cut the boys hair and do Jordyn's. I have to bathe the two younger kids. I have make the sandwiches and pack all the roadtrip snacks and drinks. I have to do all of this and be in bed by 8:00 with hopes of being sleep by 9:30. I deliberately stayed up until after 1:00 last night and was back up at 4:00 so that I will be really tired early. Let's see if that strategy works.

The kids are so excited and I guess I am too. The 1200-mile roadtrip will be less than thrilling I'm sure but it will give the kids something to talk about 20 years from now. Plus this year we are NOT driving down to Ft. Lauderdale. We're doing Daytona instead so once we finally leave for home it won't take forever and a day to get out of Florida.

I know one thing, Justin had better not be on the same "I'm sweaty" kick he was on last year. What a pain in the butt he was. And another thing - I don't plan on renting a double stroller for he and Jordyn this year either. If anything they should rent one to push me around in ...

I bought four scrapbooking magazines to read on the road. I am also taking Harry Potter #5 to try and finish reading and I'm bringing the Lemony Snicket book to read to the kids. Terry McMillan had a book signing last week and I started to go and buy her book and the new Harry Potter to take, but I haven't officially kicked back into "reading mode" so I didn't want to potentially waste my money although I will definitely be getting the new HP soon.

Earlier this week I finished school shopping all of the kids. The boys, who really didn't need any new clothes each got four new outfits. Jordyn got eleven. Why does she outgrow her things so much faster than the boys??

Oh well. I probably won't have another blog entry until after we get back. We recovered the laptop's hard drive so that Dave could once again try to install the software that will allow us to get free wireless internet at the hotel. He'll try to load it tonight, so if it works then maybe I'll do an entry from Florida.

Oh yeah, I DID NOT lose the ten pounds I started trying to lose back in June by the time vacation was here. Nope. Sure didn't.

ttfn