Wrap It Up

Inspirational song: Indiana Jones Theme (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

It's our last night. We have to get up early to clear our AirBNB before the next renters show up later tomorrow. We have all been having a fabulous time, but I think those little children need to be back in their familiar surroundings. We keep bonking things, scraping things, and worst of all, breaking things. I think they need their kid-safe living room and back yard. There is pent-up energy, and a lack of equilibrium, which are both contributing to the mishaps, I'm sure.

I hate to be leaving so soon after I finally got settled myself. I'm getting in a pattern, and it had just started working for me. The trip home will be long, but hopefully not quite as arduous as the one to get here. We didn't arrive at our final destination until after 2 am. We are heading back two time zones, so we ought to be home before midnight. I am ready to see my animals, so that's a bonus.

We made a special dinner tonight for my parents' anniversary. I made one of my specialties, a glazed pork roast recipe from a cookbook I got as a wedding present. It seemed fitting. 

I'm writing from the screened patio at our AirBNB. It's quarter to 11 as I write, and the air is lovely. There is barely a soft breeze, and the humidity is like an old friend. Winter just arrived back home, but it sure doesn't feel like it here. I'm not sure I could handle a Florida summer, but I wouldn't mind coming back here as a snowbird a few times. I wonder whether my folks would mind.

Southern Christmas

Inspirational song: Here We Come A-Wassailing (Traditional)

Sure, there are philosophical reasons you would think I shouldn't groove with Senior Disneyworld as much as I do, but not kidding, I really like it here. We were contemplating why that might be. I was thinking it was how good the signage is on the streets and shopping centers, for example, clearly labeled and laid out in such a way that even people with poor eyesight or other limitations can figure out where they are. My stepmother suggested maybe it was from how clean and well maintained everywhere is. I'm sure that's part of it too. Most of this place is as clean as the Disney park I compare it to. It reduces my stress, compared to the never-ending project where I live. I also felt such joy getting to return to a Publix again. I loved shopping there in South Carolina. King Soopers is great and all, but I did form an attachment during those SC years.

We did our limited gift exchange tonight. I brought small gifts for my older daughter and parents, and am saving the little kids' stuff until actual Christmas. Those three had gifts for us as well. My daughter made me a cool beaded brooch (in the shape of the CU buffalo), and my parents had family mementos and souvenirs from a recent trip to Israel for us. I was so excited to give my daughter the Christmas sweater I acquired last weekend when I ran up to see some friends in Loveland last weekend. (The husband is in a band my daughter likes and they had sweaters made with the band logo, which was super cool.) 

My older daughter has been talking about getting back to proficient in violin again, enough to get involved in a community orchestra like she is with her trumpet in community band. My dad had bought a violin a few years ago, but never really picked it up as well as he had hoped, so he offered it to her instead. She was thrilled, and immediately went out to tune it up and try a few notes.

The kids showed us how they are totally ready for gift exchanges next week. Last year Val barely showed interest in tearing packages open. This year she was into it, and Dmitri demonstrated an advanced skill at paper-tearing. That one is gonna be a terror. I think I'm glad I haven't wrapped their presents back home yet. He would destroy them. He has been knowingly sneaky this week. He's going to be the kid who slices the tape open to peek in the future, isn't he?

Showing Off

Inspirational song: Trepak (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)

This was a little more like it. The kids are now used to the concept of vacation, and are acting a bit more like themselves. Of course that means lots of running and shrieking, bumping and crying, but they are being their authentic selves, so there's that.

We had a lot of long talks today, some serious, some less so. Believe it or not, there are still some things I don't explain here, so that's all you get on that topic.

I was wiped out by the time they all were ready to take the golf carts to the village square. I think I had a minor glutening. I'm trying to be careful, but it happens when I'm out of my safety zone. I expected it. So I dealt with the consequences of that while everyone else went for a short tour. I asked for photos of the whole group, but really only got the kids again. They sure are cute kids, though.

All in the Family

Inspirational song: Happy Holiday (Andy Williams)

It took a fair bit, but I think we have all settled down after our taxing day of travel. We are staying in an AirBNB across from my parents house, and all of us on this side of the street slept until our bodies said it was regular wake up time. As we live in a time zone that is two hours different than here, that meant we weren't showered and dressed and across the street until around 10:30. Honestly, I was impressed we got organized that quickly.

This week is supposed to be low key. We are hanging out at the house for most of it. Might do a golf cart tour of this particular Village, might do a special dinner on Friday. (By special, I mean it was suggested that maybe we could cook instead of my stepmom, and my older daughter and I got enthusiastic about the idea.)

Several of us needed long naps this afternoon. I conked out for at least an hour and a half (with some restlessness once I finally let my body lie down). While I was out, the babies got to go on a nature walk, where they got to see an alligator, or at least the top of one's head. By the time I went back over, Valerie was out cold on the couch, and Dmitri soon followed. They had to be jostled awake to have dinner. We spent the next few hours just sitting and chatting, the whole family, interspersed with things on TV for the kids and for us. (Naturally, we showed some of our favorite Bluey episodes to the rest who hadn't seen it yet.)

Now that we are adjusted, we might be a bit more active tomorrow, but even if we aren't, we are here just to be together. We don't need outside entertainment. Just each other.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Inspirational song: Leaving on a Jet Plane (John Denver)

This has to be short. I'm lying in a strange bed in a strange house, and I need to be asleep asap. I'm pooped. Just suffice it to say that little girl got all of her transportation fantasies fulfilled in one epic journey. I'll cover it more later.

We made it, all in our respective one pieces. Vacation has begun.

Pack Tomorrow

Inspirational song: Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms)

I have not packed a single thing yet. We have to leave the house early afternoon to get to the airport in time to get long term parking and give Valerie plenty of time to marvel over the different forms of transportation she will encounter (shuttle bus, underground tram, moving sidewalk, airplanes). I know roughly what I need to bring, but I have yet to set out a stack of clothes or to squeeze some shampoo and stuff into travel bottles. 

I didn't waste time today. I was truly busy until I was ready to drop. All of my plants are set for at least a week. Most of the house is tidy, even if it's not deep cleaned. I have acquired all the gifts that I am able to give this week. I had all that to do before I could focus on counting out enough pairs of underwear for a week. 

None of the pictures from today are really relevant or shareworthy, except one. I had to use this crappy, cheap, base model sewing machine tonight, because I loaned mine out and haven't gotten it back yet. Am I going to say why it's relevant? Nope.

Not Ready

Inspirational song: Silly Girl (Descendents)

There are so many little tasks that have to be done ahead of a vacation, and even more when it's in the lead-up to a major gift giving event. I wanted to use today to get totally caught up before we fly, but I let myself get even farther behind. Not my finest hour.

I ran an important errand out of town, which turned into a very pleasant visit and the making of a new friend. Okay, the friend was a gorgeous yellow lab who was made of snuggles, and now I want to steal her so I can have two big cuddle girls, but that's not the point. I still have to pack and prep the house, and I'm now tired from my drive. Too bad energy drinks have the opposite effect on me. I could use a boost right about now.

One of my important tasks before I go is to inspect and water all of my plants, so that they are in the best possible shape to survive a week without me. Our dog sitter told me straight up that she is clueless with plants, so I can't assume she would notice if one were crisping up. I started by carrying each plant to the sink, spraying off dust from the leaves, and watering thoroughly. I only made it through the three shelves on the Ikea unit and two of the four stand plants behind the couch that way. I'll have to water in place for the rest of them, to have a hope of getting everyone set for a week. Leaving is harder when you have over a hundred voiceless babies to be away from.