Hi in the Middle

 Ohio was everything I hoped it would be! There was ice cream. There were so many outdoor activities because the weather was not suffocating. Sometimes it was even downright cool! Like in the freaking 60s! Miracle. There was soft, super green everything and lightning bugs.

I missed Honey and Brother like crazy the first two weeks. Once Brother got there, I couldn't wait for my husband to show. The first week was crazy busy and then the kids got sick. The second week was a lot of recuperation and a good bit of resting. The third week I was going a bit nuts and trying to get Honey to change his plane ticket, but he couldn't change his vacation week. And the fourth week was like a dream, like a real vacation. Man, I like my husband. 

There was oodles of family. Just the nicest people. I told my cousins that they were so kind and positive, they were like Disney princesses and where the heck are the charmed birds and squirrels? Well, I got the laugh I wanted and they subsequently all argued about which princess they would be. A kerfuffle ensued over who got to be Mulan.

I always worry around them that I am going to say something boneheaded and have to deal with the shame of my faux pas forever. They are a high standard to reach, you know? I think I said something incredibly stupid at least four times. That averages to only once a week. So, not bad. I think I might be a bit more forgiving of myself then I have been in the past.

 Claire had her first ice cream cone! On account that they had dairy free soy ice cream. The boys were terribly jealous because her ice cream had cookie bits in it, but I only allowed them to get "twist" soft serve cones, which is chocolate and vanilla mixed. Peanut allergies, man. Ice cream is a major hazard for us. In a move of solidarity, I only got "safe" ice cream, too. But I do kind of regret not being about to get a really great sundae even once. Oh well!

 We also had lots of impromptu parties and attended a family reunion. Ohio pizza, y'all! It wasn't actually as good as I remembered, but it is pretty different from the chain stuff we have around here. It was fun to eat what I ate as a kid.

We attended so many events, like family movie nights and drive in shows. We went and saw fireworks quite a few times.  We also saw the waterfalls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which was a huge highlight of our trip. Creeks to play in! And rocks! There is such a dearth of rocks to play with where we live. We drove one day to meet my darling SaLy and see the kids at Lake Erie! It was startling to see internet folks in person. They looked just like their pictures, except you could see their cute freckles more clearly and the babies eyed me with deep mistrust. (Quit freaking the kids out, Misty!) (Sorry.)

We also went to Amish Country and checked that out a bit.  Also, while we were on our way to a park, we stopped at a Dollar Store and an Amish family came in. The kids were a bit stunned, I think. I liked being about to describe a bit about the people and why they lived the way they did. I also had fun showing the kids the Amish 'car' at the hitching post in the back of the store.

 I have thoughts on the whole Amish interest movement. There were billboards that advertised plays based on Wanda Brunstetter's books? I wonder that this might not be cultural appropriation? Aren't these folks financially profiting from co-opting another culture? It is interesting to think about. I think the basic stance of Amish-type faiths is to basically ignore what us crazy English do.

Coming home was great, too! We rented a house which was easily twice as big as ours, but I really like my home best. I don't know exactly why because there are certainly things wrong in my house, but I think those are things I have made my peace with. I had not made peace with the broken oven in the rental or the lack of a vaccuum!

I am so glad I did this. I am so glad we made it happen. I feel like the kids will remember it forever. The month flew by but I really hope the kids made a connection with their extended family, seeing as it is just us and my parents Down South. There was much talk of moving, but I think they would not like the winter so well! School starts soon here, so I have been scrambling to get ready for that. Gymnastics and piano and new high school activities! Life is full. Life is good.

Trips Anywhere You Can Trip To!

This morning I sat down with all sorts of things to tell you! And then:

• I got an email saying they cancelled one of my highest limit credit cards. 
• Scooter knocked over a bookshelf
• And then bit Jelly on the arm so hard it bruised.
• All while I was on the phone with the credit card company to find out what the ever loving hell they were thinking. (I hadn't used it in over two years. Policy. Blah blah. Use your cards!)

So! I am going to try to get my good mood mojo back.

We scheduled our fancy vacaaaationnnnnn!!!! Praise be to all high deities who may or may not exist for granting me such a selfless mother. I shall heap thanks upon her and buy her a nice souvenir. We are flying to New York and going on a New England/Canadian cruise. I can't wait to see stuff! And relax. I find cruises very relaxing and I feel like we really need that almost-forced down time. This is why we decided against just a straight New York vacation. And hotel prices in the city. Jebus. So! Leaves! Statue of Liberty! Mountains! We almost always vacation at the sunny, warm beach. I am proud of us for branching out...temperature wise, at least.

We leave soon for our month in Ohio! So excited to catch fireflies and eat ice cream and feel the soft, soft grass. And cousins! The most lovely cousins you would ever wish to meet. They are completely happy and fun and pleasant all the time. Like angels who laugh a lot and tell naughty jokes on occasion. I would think that was too good to be true, except I have known them my whole life. They have aspirational temperaments.

So, because of these two things, we are practically hemorrhaging money. Heh. I know, this is the not-fun part. And I did save, really. But these are the things I want to spend my money on. I don't want to wait for retirement to travel. I want to give my kids experiences in the years they still live in my home. They don't need inheritances, they need memories! Right? Well, this is my philosophy. We will catch up. We always do. I am careful with grocery money and our housing is below what we could potentially afford. Then there is back to school and then the holidays. Meh...it will be ok. Positive thoughts! And cruises!

I am nervous about leaving my husband for three weeks. I really like him, you know. And my children are hellions quite a bit. And no breaks. But cousins, right? And fireflies? And Skype.

Tidbits

• Yesterday we went to the Capitol to go to a couple of museums and have lunch. It was kind of neat. We went to places we had never been to before. There was art, science, battleships, and pizza. Pretty cool!
• I had massive panic attacks over heights though and felt like an ass. Shaky and terrified the kids would fall. Clearly, it is a good thing I live in a flat place. If there were mountains about, I might keel over.
• Our summer camp plans got upended. It is a difficult setback as I had nothing planned for those three weeks and now we are completely without plans. So, we will go to the library events offered. Piano lessons have started again. I will try to keep the kids from screaming with boredom and not sulk about how things never seem to go the way that I planned.
• Speaking of the library, I think I checked out just about all of the new picture books they had set out.  Sorry everyone else! Greedy. We will return them promptly, though. Usually before the week is up.  I am worried about how we will function when we have no library to go to in July because we will be in Ohio. I doubt Ohio libraries will lend us books. Maybe I should ask though? Policies are different everywhere.
•  Honey and I are trying to go on a anniversary vacation, but there are these children, see? And they require care and watching and feeding and such. Because I am home right now, we don't have daytime care for the baby. So, this would require someone (my mother) to actually take a week off of work so we can go on a trip. This feels so incredibly inconsiderate and also sad. We really want to go. We could and might just take a weekend trip, but it is kind of a big anniversary. It is so disappointing to settle.