Based on the bookmarks in the previous automated post, can you guess what I was all about today?
That’s right – vacation planning and Valentine’s Day party planning! You win a prize!!!
(no actual prizes to be awarded)
We’re back July 21, 2008
Busy as all hell catching up at work, though, so maybe more later.
Short version: Much fun was had by all. A few pics on Flickr.
Traveling is F.U.N. July 11, 2008
Actually, it wasn’t that bad. The kids were great in the van, and it helped that we borrowed my parents’ vehicle so that we weren’t all squished in. And there were movies to watch. But they were really great.
It was really a pleasant trip right up until we hit Chicago. See, we got to Gary, IN, and the kids were starting to get hungry. But there was really nowhere to stop for supper that we saw – very industrial. Then we hit Chicago. At rush hour. In the rain. With hungry and tired children.
And sat for 3 hours.
Yeah, that really wasn’t the best part of the trip.
We finally got to the hotel a little after 9 (EDT, what our bodies were used to). Fortunately, I had brought snacks and drinks in the van, so the kids weren’t totally starving. We ordered pizza, Sam went on to bed. Called my folks to let them know we arrived safely. The dog, apparently, misses us and is moping around a little and staring at the door. But she’s eating and drinking, so she’s ok. The cat is probably glad to have some peace and quiet at the house.
Now, they’re all still asleep, and I’m up. I have a splitting headache, but I didn’t pack any OTC meds. I’ve gotten coffee from the lobby, so I’m caffeinated, at least. I might wander down to see if they have any advil type stuff down there. Plus, I need more coffee.
I have no idea what we’re going to do today. That feels like a vacation to me!
I may check in later, or I may not. So there!
Lots of good ideas here June 27, 2008
Not just for car rides either. Some of these would be great during dinner. I especially liked “Would you rather . . . ” from the comments. Lauren would like that, I think. Basically, you take turns asking questions in that format that require a difficult choice. The example given is “Would you rather be poor and smart, or rich and not so smart?”
Road trip car games to pass the time on long drives | Parent Hacks
Huh June 19, 2008
Well, that’s kind of useful. I like listening to NPR, and this will come in handy during our drive to Chicago next month.
This page will find NPR stations along your driving route if you enter your starting address and destination address. Cool.
Ideal for the hyper-organized, like me! August 22, 2007
This service, TripIt, looks incredibly useful for travel planning. Now I’m the kind of person who likes to keep all this stuff organized to the nth degree. For our vacation earlier this summer, I kind of drove Mark nuts, I think. It’s not that I want to plan out every hour of every day, but I want to have options, and I want them right at my fingertips. I ended up with a big envelope stuffed with directions and activities and lodging info and all that. I hate paper.
Since I live online, having it all in one spot on the web would have worked so much better for me.
I found this on DemoGirl (which is a great site to add to your RSS feeds, btw), and she was kind enough to give me one of her 5 invitations. Now I have 5 to share with you. Both of you, since I have so few people who visit here. 
But in any case, if this looks interesting to you for your travels, let me know in comments and I’ll send you an invite.
Finally, an update June 18, 2007
An update was promised, so an update it shall be.
We. Did. Everything.
What? That’s not enough of an update for you? Ungrateful wretches.
We did Ripley’s, we played in the creek, we went horseback riding (twice!), we swam in the pool, we went up in the Space Needle (a bit scary), we hiked (twice!), we ate too much, we did mini-golf, we did the Jurassic Jungle Boat Ride – well actually Mark and Lauren did that but it was kind of cheesy I think, we went to the aquarium, we played at the playground, we went to the zoo, we went to Wonder Works, we rode the Sky Lift, we took the tram up to Ober Gatlinburg (where we looked at the bears, rode the pirate ship ride but I can’t find a picture/link, a water slide, and the Alpine Slide, plus ice skating), and every other single thing we could find to do in Gatlinburg.
And in honor of LL, we ate at the Pancake Pantry. Yes, that’s right. Twice.
When we got back Thursday evening, we didn’t even unpack. Mark took the kids to the lake Friday morning, and I worked on staining the concrete floor of the craft room downstairs. It’s still not done, unfortunately. If you ever decide to do this sort of a project, get the solid stain rather than the semi-transparent. Just a tip. Saturday morning, I headed to the lake myself, and we stayed there until Sunday evening.
This morning, Sam went back to day care and we went back to work. Lauren went to a new summer program starting today, and it was tough for her this morning. But she ended up having a fun day and is looking forward to going back tomorrow.
This evening, I managed to break off the top of one of my front bottom teeth, which is quite painful. And puzzling – I didn’t bite down on anything hard, it just broke off for no apparent reason. I called my dentist’s office to leave a message, hoping I can get squeezed in tomorrow. The voice mail message tells me that they are on vacation all this week! Love that timing. So tomorrow I’ll try to find another dentist to fit me in, I guess. I’m not waiting until Monday, that’s for sure. I look like a fracking hillbilly, and I talk funny too.
Today was crazy busy at work, trying to catch up. Mark is extremely happy with me, since he got a (very hard to find – I want serious points for this) Nintendo Wii for Father’s Day, plus mushy cards from me and from the kids.
So there, that’s an update.
Home. Tired. June 14, 2007
And a great time was had by all. Updates tomorrow, maybe; I’m tired. Glad to be sleeping in my own bed.
Sing along with me June 7, 2007
We’re going on vacation, we’re going on vacation . . .
So, it’s crazy hectic at work for me today. And I’m behind on some personal stuff too (yes, class reunion website and email inbox – I see you looking at me, and I will get to you tonight, promise). My lovely daughter would say they are “eyeballing me all crookedwise”; don’t ask me. My girl is now officially a 2nd grader – yesterday was the last day of school. And my darling son won’t sleep through the night at the moment, darn toddler, although he’s still happy and chipper and sweet beyond belief. It’s good he’s so cute, or we’d have to kill him after getting up with him every night for half an hour or more, once or twice a night at least. Every freaking night. He’s also saying more words every day – I’m trying to teach him to say Love You!, and he’s getting close. I left our camera in my mom’s purse last night, so I can’t download the pics and video I took of Lauren’s recital, which was too cute for words. While we’re away, the kids will have a blast with all the activities in Gatlinburg. Mark and I, meanwhile, may actually die without internet access for a week.
But still.
All I can do is sing in my head:
We’re going on vacation, we’re going on vacation . . .
See you in a week or so.
