Catch Up Before We are Gone!

We are readying ourselves for a trip to Oceanside, California. We are so very grateful that we get to take a vacation this summer while so many families are not with the current economy. If it weren't for a vacation rental exchange, we would be home this summer along with so many other American families. Not only are we getting ready for a fun trip to the beach, we have a day of ALONE time, just me and J, before we ever leave! Nana and Papa were so kind and offered to take them starting last night. The kids will be with Nana and Papa until Tuesday morning and then for the second part of the trip, Nana and Papa will drive them to us in California so the second part of our trip will be a family trip. Celia was less than thrilled about us going to CA before them as she always hates being "left", but all the tots think Nana and Papa are super fun (so does Celia, she just doesn't like to be away from us). So last night we had our options of what to do while we were kid free.

First, we went to dinner at our new favorite Mexican food restaurant. It is called Crazy Carlos and is located by Safeway at the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Lake Pleasant Pkwy. It is cheaper and better than Macayos so it is a win, win. Afterwards, house empty, we decided to come home. Jason took off his jeans and sat in his underwear, just because he could! We sat on the couch and watched a movie we had rented weeks ago from Netflix and just hadn't gotten to due to the R rating and the limited time we have without children around! Tired, I crawled into bed at 10 and J stayed up to watch another movie.

Today I got up early, mowed the lawn. I am washing all the beds so they are clean when we get home and straightening up the house. I will be filling the kids car back packs and delivering them to them. For those of you who don't know what these are, let me explain. When driving 6 hours in a car with 2 four year olds, one 3 year old, and an over anxious 12 year old, it is best to have new and entertaining things for them to do in the car. Not for their sake, but for the sake of the drivers. In this case, Nana and Papa will greatly appreciate the back packs! So I will go by the 99 Cent Store and pick up some snacks and coloring boards and such and for the first 2 hours or so, the kids will be thuroughly entertained. THen it will be about time for them to stop for lunch. After that, they will likely play for another hour or so with their new items (somehow junk seems to entertain a while in the car, unlike at home!) and finally doze off. Celia refuses to sleep in the car stating it is just to uncomfortable and Lexi struggles to sleep in the car because of the stimulation of all she is passing by... after naps, the unsettleness of the situation sets in but by then, there is only about an hour left so singing and games can usually pass the time for the last stretch. Really, it is a fine science on driving that far and if California were any further, we likely wouldn't go much!

So this isn't the most poetic post but we have been so busy so wanted to just catch you up on where we are and what is happening. It has been SUPER busy around here settling into summer. I will have to post of my thoughts as a mother of four with summer break another time! YIKES! Love to you all.