Summer fun & lessons (includes family road trip tips)....

It's a little hard to define the feeling of the summer ending and the kids going back to school.  Last year I was so anxious to have them gone a few hours a day that I knew exactly how I felt.  This year is different.  We had tons of fun this summer, but I felt a little stagnant by the end, like I couldn't come up with anything new to do.  But boys & did I learn a lot this summer. I never thought I'd get to enjoy cooking so very much. Even the challenge of  finding meals that the boys would eat and that I could add/subtract items for Billy and I to enjoy.  The kitchen became a great place for all kinds of lessons for the boys too, math didn't seem so boring when it involved measuring and the science of cooking was exciting too.  I'm proud to say that we all came out of the summer having added to our talents and abilities.  We also really built great memories, when I think back on my childhood all the very best, happiest adventures are tied to summer.  Whether it was just hanging around the house with my brother, working on my Uncle's ranch or amusement parks with Daddy it was all just happy.  Cody & I never got along better than those summer weeks on the ranch when we worked, explored, made up games, huddled in the middle of the bunk house in the middle of the night listening to wild life outside the window, or just climbed the hill it was always an adventure.  We took the boys back there over Labor Day weekend to celebrate my Mom's birthday & our official one year as a family.  While the boys still aren't quite as intrepid as Cody & I were they still had few adventures.

There are always great lessons learned out there too, my cousin Kendra taught them about her chickens and her garden while Uncle Johnny hauled 'em around in the back of the pick up for hours showing them how the land is recovering from the awful wildfires this summer.  We went back to the Star Party at the Observatory and enjoyed learning and looking at the moon.  Such fun! And it was kinda nice to need a jacket for a couple days. My aunt even made a couple of dishes that both boys loved & I brought home to put in the meal rotation.  They also really bonded with my cousin's sweet baby Graham.  Isn't he adorable?!? They are remarkably good with little kids.  The trip reminded me to try to squeeze in some great experiences even when summer is over. It also reminded me how remarkable my family is. The people and the land in that part of the country are amazing.  I wish I could tell you the stories I heard of people helping each other during the harrowing wildfire season there.  I encouraged my Aunt to record the stories, it's inspiring and terrifying, not to mention very eye-opening.  I'll keep trying to get her to do it, but I just can't see her sitting down indoors for the time it would take to do that.


Family Road Trip Tips:
Boy did I learn a lot about family travel this summer! I've always considered myself a bit of a travel expert after 20+ years in the industry & numerous long road trips, but I'm not sure I ever quite understood what it was like to haul kids around the country.  Preparation for the road trip was key. I picked up every $5 movie I came across for weeks before the trip & squirlled them away so they would be "new" for the 4 10 hour+ days on the road to Florida and back, so every time they went through the collection they found a new movie to watch.  I also bought several little games to play & would bring a new one out each day.  Bingo & the state trivia games were the winners.  I bought a bunch of their favorite chips in the little bags that I gave for prizes.  That way the weren't eating junk all day and looked forward to participating in the games.  But the more surprises for them the better.  Each seat got clean wipes and a hand towel to clean up messes + a place to put books & electronics to keep them from getting lost.  I learned I needed to announce a stop a few minutes in advance so they would put it all away to keep it from getting lost in the seats or knocked out of the van, otherwise every stop was followed by a search for the remote control.  The road trip food was more popular with both kids and parents than the food we got on stops.  I had a powered ice chest that we used for drinks and I had a large thermal bag for most of the snacks that I kept chilled with frozen water bottles as much as I could, or changing out cold bottles from the ice chest.  I tried to pack as much easy "real" food as I could to keep everyone entertained and fed with as few stops as possible. I included Apple slices, small peanut butter pkgs, sausage, crackers, grapes, tomatoes (the Delicious little Champagne ones from HEB) ,  cheese and the chips and cookies for treats.  Contrary to the way I would normally do business, I did NOT book hotel in advance for the overnights during the drive.  Billy just wanted to get as far as he could without having to be anywhere in particular for the night. But I managed to get great "walk in" deals (I still remember how to talk to a Night Auditor!)  We made it to Mobile on the first day despite a nice long stop in Lafayette to visit with Billy's cousin.  The boys tried gator bites and loved 'em! Crazy...  We got up early and visited the USS Alabama, which is right up these kids alley.  They love war stuff.  After that we drove straight through to Orlando. 

USS Alabama

I love Disney World, this love affair started way back in the 70's when Daddy took me to Disneyland and continued while Billy & I were living in SoCal and had season passes.  I love everything about it and was so very excited to take the boys.  They were excited too, they gave up big birthday parties and the normal onslaught of gifts in order to help us afford the trip.  I'll do a post about Disney World soon, tips and tricks I've discovered over the years and how to handle it with two 11 year olds. It was magical. 

The drive back was so uneventful that Billy drove us straight through to Texas, we were ready to be home! I'll continue the summer post soon, but now I have to prepare for a phone interview with Expedia.  I've always wanted to try my skills on their side of the business and now I have the opportunity.  Expedia is the leader in OTA's and I've always admired the people I've worked with as a Dir of Revenue.  Couldn't come at a better time, the kids are settling in nicely to 5th & 6th grade and Billy is ready to get me out of the house (not to mention he's ready for the paycheck!).  Truthfully, as much as I'd miss being here when the boys get home from school, I'm really looking forward to getting back out there! Wish me luck....