A girl's getaway...

As many of you know, I took a long-anticipated trip to California last week and arrived home late this past Tuesday evening. My sister and I took off for a little girl time and traveled to Mountain View, CA, which is very near San Francisco. My sister's former roommate is doing some travel nursing there so we had free accommodations which was great and very economical (especially considering the price of everything out there). We flew out of OKC last Thursday morning and arrived home late Tuesday evening. Despite all our anxieties regarding the air travel, it went exceptionally well. KK (my kids name for my sis) prefers to keep one foot on the ground at all times and although I used to enjoy flying (before kids) this was the first time I have flown in almost 10 yrs which was prior to children and all the security changes since 9-11. We really couldn't have asked for better, except maybe 1st class seats, as all our planes were on time and we had smooth takeoff, flight, and landing each time. We covered some serious ground during our 4 full days in Cali. Pictured above are some of the sights we took in, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the ocean, the Harley Davidson shop (for my hubby of course), and many others including Muir Woods, Union Square, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, China Town, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Park, Lombard Street, Ghirardelly Square, and Alcatraz to name the highlights. We also drove the coast on Scenic Highway 1 with stops in Santa Cruz and Monteray. This was my 2nd trip to California as Mark and I flew there for a wedding many yrs ago. I think it was probably the most touristy place I've even been at least as far as the international draw of people. As Caucausian females we were definitely in the minority. I heard far more languages than I did English it seemed. All in all we had a great time but boy was I ready to come home. Seeing all that certainly provided me with one great appreciation for the way it is here. San Francisco was the most crowded and claustrophobic place I've ever been (I haven't traveled many places). I could have kissed the ground to be back amongst the wide-open spaces.

So I'm sure you're all dying to hear the continuation of the home saga and how my family fared while I was away. Well despite a few frantic phone calls, ok nervous calls, things went smoothly as far as I was aware. All my hard work and preparation paid off and although I have been assured I was missed, the day-to-day functions were accomplished. Once again I have to brag on my husband who did for the most part remember even the least important details that make the most important influence on a child's day. Addi and Garrett were certainly aware that I was gone but it was my oldest with the best concept of time that really felt the lengthiness of my time away and was the most clingly when I came back. As I've said before distance does bring a fresh appreciation for what we take for granted everyday.

Many thanks and kuddos to the grandparents who stepped in in my abscence to ease the burden of caring for a busy household and braving the rigors of the elementary school drop off and pick up and on and on. I certainly appreciate the help and the peace of mind I had while I was gone knowing that the only people who love my children as much as I do were in their midst and providing for their needs.

It is now Thursay afternoon and after a little over 24hrs since arriving home I almost have my home back in order. I return to work tomorrow and for the 1st time in almost 3 weeks since Mark and I's travels began we will try to regain some semblance of routine. Although I valued my time away it was hard for me to relax for one important reason and that is that my place is at home. It was fun to hang with the single girls but nothing can change the fact that I am a wife and mother first and foremost. Before I get too sentimental I should go as the work of my identity is calling... the ironing awaits and the school pickup routine starts in <1>

Single parenting....

Take a deep breath.... This has been my mantra for the past 4 days as I have been floundering in the the midst of life as a single parent. As some of you know, Mark left last Tuesday evening for his annual fall foliage tour (aka men-only-motorcycle-mania) to Colorado and the surrouding areas wherever the road takes them. He, his dad, and some guy friends have been touring on their motorcycles and camping in and around Durango, Ouray, and I lost track of the others. Meanwhile back at the ranch in Piedmont the kids and I have been holding down the fort and learning to appreciate what it means to have a good dad or lack thereof. My workload hasn't changed so much as I am the CEO of the day to day busy work, ie laundry, dishes, cooking, diapers, groceries, boo-boo fixer, housework, chauffeur, etc BUT what we have lacked is the easy-going flexibility that holds us all together. It has become painfully evident that the thing that I sometimes criticize my sweet hubby for is the very thing that we miss the most when he's gone. Daddy is the go to guy who just takes everything we dish out and loves us anyway. He is far more patient than I and is as most dads are, "the fun one." I've always worried what would happen to the children if something were to happen to me, thinking in my vain way that that would be the worst possible scenario. However, this week I've been thinking about what would happen to my kids without their father. This house would smell, the kids would be dirty, there would never be clean underwear, they would know paper plates as dishes or the McDonald's playland as family dinner, but they would know, patience, humility, kindness, gentleness, and most of all unconditional love. I don't say this to say that they couldn't learn that from me but to acknowledge that maybe I could do better to focus on the big picture and let the little stuff go. A little reflection on what's important in life.

Well I didn't intend to do my journaling on my blog but now you know what's on my heart. The kids are doing great and the week has really been uneventful, thank you Lord. Logan had his first cubscout meeting last Tuesday which went very well and he is already reading ahead in his guide on how to be a stellar scout! Garrett played his 1st soccer game today and was done about halfway through the game but he stuck it out. Now they don't officially keep score at this age but my team coparents are I are proud to say we came out on top 9-7. Garrett is still working on scoring his 1st goal. He is one of the youngest players on the team and there are 2 girls that are each a year older that are really good. But we're all about having fun... Addi as usual was along for the ride and keeping things interesting along the way. She had a meltdown at the soccer field as I was carrying her, the soccer ball, snacks, chairs, and dragging the ice chest for the team about 1/2 mile across a tall grassy field to the farthest field which is where the littlest guys play, go figure?? I actually set her down so I wouldn't drop her when I passed out as I was a little overdressed due to the fact that it had been cloudy and cool all morning but the sun decided to come out just in time for our high noon game and make it unpleasantly warm. Such was the highlight of my Saturday unless you count cleaning the shower which is yet to come tonight.

We have been enjoying the cooler weather these past few days and it is really starting to feel like fall. School is in full swing with spelling tests, bookorders, show and tell, homework, fundraisers, etc. Oh to be the parent of preschoolers again! Each stage is exhausting just with a different set of struggles. I think it was actually easier just enduring the sleepless nights and diapers. I don't have any pics this week as my camera is in Colorado with Mark. I haven't let him take my good digital camera in the past but he begged this time as it takes much better pics than dispoables so I agreed with the understanding that if anything happened to it I could get a new one. The travelers will be making their way home sometime tomorrow just in time to start another busy week. I will be leaving for my trip to California with my sister on Thursday so everyone can pray for my children and my hubby. They will do fine, I have no doubt, as we have both grandmothers lined up for shifts starting the night before I leave until the night I come home. Who knows, maybe they'll still get a small taste of life without mom and realize what goes on behind the scenes...

Labor Day Weekend 2007

It has long been a standing tradition in my family to spend Labor Day weekend at the lake to celebrate my birthday. The past few years have proven to be challenging with that regard as the family was forced to sell the place at Lake Texoma where we had always gone. We have recently started going to Ft. Cobb lake which isn't Texoma by any means but is still the lake. It is also closer which is great when traveling with a camper and 3 small children. We were blessed to recently inherit our very own camper which Mark has now mastered pulling with the addition of new tires, special mirrors, etc to his truck. My parents took their new used 5th wheel camper to the lake early last week to save our waterfront spots and we took our camper down last Wednesday evening. By Friday afternoon we were all present and accounted for including my grandparents in their camper. We had a great weekend swimming, eating, skiing, eating, riding waverunners, eating, and eating some more. As you can see the kids were little waterdogs and even Addi warmed up to her life jacket by the last day. We had one last hoorah Monday morning before we spent the rest of the day packing, driving home, cleaning and unpacking. It is now Tuesday evening and thank goodness I had the day off because I am just now wrapping up the weekend cleanup and laundry over 24 hrs later. The end of this weekend really signals the end of summer for me so I am now ready to get on with the school year and the fall weather. Even though the warmer weather will likely be around a few more weeks it seems I always lose track of this time of year and look back wondering where the days went. Soccer and cubscouts start officially next week which will fill up our already busy schedule. Mark has a trip planned to Colorado with his dad which has turned into a somewhat annual occurence. I am having the good fortune to go on a little trip of my own this fall which is my biggest birthday present from my hubby. He got to go to San Francisco some years back when I was largely pregnant with one of our children and couldn't attend. So it is payback time and I have the perfect opportunity to travel to California with my sister. Her former roommate is living there so we can stay for free. It will be the longest time I've ever been away from the kids so say some prayers for Mark. I'm not to worried about the kids but Mark is definitely in for a long 5 days. I will of course have prepared all meals, provided plenty of clean clothes (in sets labeled with each day I'll be gone), and have every hour of the day covered with assistant childcare in the form of friends and family but he will still need your prayers!! Tune in next week to see how we are faring without Mark. I of course will be going it alone as we moms just suck it up and do. I have to admit that I will be glad for his safe return as when he is gone I do realize how much he really does help. There's nothing like time away to make us appreciate what we have is there?