Vacation- or as I found out- a "trip with the kids"

We just went away to Lake Michigan for a few days for "Vacation". It's in parenthesis because it was anything but relaxing. Traveling with a toddler is hard. Traveling with OUR toddler, this particular toddler is excruciating. I am exhausted. It's going to take a few days to recover. The last day of our trip we went to Michigan's Adventure and it was crowded, COLD, rainy. Never again on a Saturday, y'all. It started rainy right after we got there and I just wanted to turn around and leave. The (older) boys had a blast, though. I may have cried a little at the end, because I felt so stressed and overwhelmed by my youngest.

Still, we got to bond with my Sister's family, and that was FUN. Watching Matthew discover Lake Michigan was FUN. Even the rainy day with all the card playing was fun, even if not so much for the children. (Thank goodness we had a do-over day planned for an upcoming weekend.)

And this:

Makes it all worth it. Until next year, Pentwater.

What We Have

It's Spring Break around here.

A lot of D and J's friends are going places. One of his friends told me nonchalantly "we are going to Disneyworld, I think."

The Bees are staying home. My not working, a new baby, and a desperate need for a new roof kept us there.

Sometimes I worry because we are in an affluent suburb that they will feel the sting of being on the lower end of the "normal" income spectrum. It's hard for me to watch as they see their friends going places and doing things we just can't afford.

Then again...

I told the boys we are going to the local Zoo. They are over the moon thrilled. They are excited to all be home as a family.

Never once did they complain about not going on a trip. Never once do they take a fun outing for granted. I can guarantee that my children will never say they are going to Disneyworld nonchalantly.

 J told me that we "don't have a lot of money". This is my fault naturally, as when they want to do something this is tooridiculous/tooexpensive/toomuchsomething, I flat out tell them it's too expensive (along with other reasons). Sometimes this is true, sometimes it's a little bit of a fib, but it stops the begging. "No," I corrected him. "We have just the right amount."

And it's true. Look at all we have.

That being said, we could still really use a vacation. Just keeping it real.

Jumbly goo

I so want to write a post about how awesome my child free trip was, and it was awesome. Reallllllly good food and beverage, ridiculous hard, completely uphill 5k, and great talks with my sis.... oh and these pics which you have all seen if you are friends with me on Facebook, (I am all into recycling):

Before 5k-Yes I know my # is on upside down, I fixed it.

All uphill and steep! This pic doesn't even capture it.

Me in my favorite.dress.ever. at my favorite winery.

Love my sis!

If you ever get a chance to go to Traverse City, do it. It's absolutely gorgeous, the food and wine is amazing, and it's just a chill spot for adults. If you like wine or food or golf or pretty things you won't be disappointed. For dining, I would recommend:

Trattoria Stella
Jolly Pumpkin
Poppycocks
Peninsula Grill
Scotts Harbor Grill

I don't think there is a way you can go wrong at any local place as long as you order fish and local wine/beer. Seriously, if you go there and eat at a Subway, you should just walk your ass back home. Just sayin'.

Anyway... I would write more but I am in the midst of closing out a chapter in my life and moving on to the next. I officially got my walking papers- my organization is caput on October 1st. This is the first time I have ever been laid off. It's sad, yet freeing in a way- I know my life is going to get so much less stressful The good news is that my office is flexible enough that they were okay with me bringing my 3 year old son to work for the next 3 weeks so that I can have him in part time preschool and save a little money.

Of course, this has made my life really hectic and tiring. I mean obviously. The boy has the attention span of a gnat.

Also, totally unrelated, but it has been so cold and we still are stubbornly refusing to turn on the heat yet! It's only September dammit! It was 60 in our house this morning. I was frozen and am just starting to thaw now.

Happy Friday everyone! If you live in the Midwest I must ask: Is your heat on yet? Also- when are you going to visit Traverse City? (Fall Foliage= beautiful!) I would go back this weekend if I had a babysitter and was less fiscally responsible. Man, sometimes it sucks to be a grownup.

Get Away

Today I leave for a much deserved vacation with my sister, away from the family, from the "Hey Mommy" and following-nose-up-my-butt dog, the job concerns, the curriculum and cub scouts and are-we-signing -up-for-enough-things-for-him and do-we-have-enough-childcare-for-other-him worry-- and going to wine tasting and food sampling. Also hopefully some loud-music-blaring-really-bad-singing, eating-lots-of-bread-and-cheese-and-wine good time.
Oh yeah, and a pesky little 5k that I didn't train for. Through vineyards (yay!) that are hilly (boo!)

This is what we will look like after the race and after the third vineyard.

I'm spending time with my sister that I have never spent more than an hour child free with for over 6 years. (No, I am not counting our day after Thanksgiving shopping, because I was without sleep and half-zombie.) We might be sharing a bed. I promised to cut my toenails and wear PJ's, so she is in for a treat.

I am hoping... hoping to forget my worries for 3 days... wish me luck!

Also: Mr. B had a splitting headache today... pretty sure it's from freaking out that I am leaving for 3 days for the first time in 2 years. He went to sleep at 8:30pm last night to cope. He is very stressed out about all the new and different pickups for the kids today- wish him luck too!

Giving life the finger

While on our vacation we encountered some of the worst traffic and drivers ever. This fact, combined with our Garmin deciding to go all "rogue" on us and taking us through the lovely city of Canton, MI, no matter where we were supposed to be heading, made us a little loopy.

At this point, we started to tell the children to give everyone [bad drivers, people acting stupid, or any signs of construction or traffic, which was everyone, really] the finger. This consisted of the children pointing very strongly in random directions with their index finger. It was hilarious on our vacation, however,

I hope Drew didn't tell his kid-camp mates to do the same on all of their field trips.  His teachers might not understand the hilarity.

Anyway, being gone this long, and not reading any of your blogs is like giving all of you readers the finger. It's really not intentional, life is just getting in the way. Can I give life the finger?

Thanks, Jacob!

Staycation

What is a family to do with a week of unemployment and no funds to go anywhere, and no obligations? They buy a pool! Here are the things we Bees have been doing on our Staycation:
We surprised the little Bees with the sprinkler....
Put the Bees to work (that grass isn't going to sweep itself, you know)...

Gave love to an alligator...

Learned how to use a squirt gun....

Had tantrums in the privacy of our home....
Swung....
Spotted airplanes...
Looked cute...
Lounged by the pool with Peach Iced Tea (that would be me)....
Splashed Mommy's camera....
Drank hose water....
Ahem, drank lots of hose water....
Wore goggles indoors...
.... and cuddled.

Some of the indulgent things I did that I did NOT take pictures of:

Painted my toenails....

Watched Copious amounts of True Blood, Season one....

Took a bath in the afternoon...

Took a nap....

Ran with a friend and gossiped about True Blood....

and many more things....

It was the most relaxing vacation I have had in 6 years.

Staycations are way underrated.

I have two days left... and I can't wait!

Not Me! Monday! Vacation Edition!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


We were on Vacation this weekend, which of course with the two little Bees and their two cousins who are 4 and under. This means that our vacation was anything but relaxing! However I can give you a rundown of things we did NOT do on Vacation, you know the things we would NEVER do- because we are such model parents, hahaha!

We did NOT make Jacob go on three boat rides, even though he was scared, just because he cuddled so close during the scary pontoon boat rides.

We did NOT take the kids out on a sunny day without sunglasses. That would be silly with their light blue eyes.

I did NOT get incredibly nervous when my daredevil child went on the Jetski for the 3rd year in a row!
We did NOT feed our kids junk like hot dogs and Popsicles all weekend because they liked it! Consequently they were NOT crazy all weekend!
Drew was NOT up until 11pm the night this was taken. We would NEVER let our son stay up THAT late to watch fireworks!
Drew did NOT catch a fish. Oh wait, that is true. Drew did NOT NOT catch a fish.
We did NOT almost run into shore a few times with Captain Drew and his wandering eyes.
This little guy is NOT the cutest "baby in the family" ever.

The cousins did NOT enjoy their time together at all!

Our family is NOT blessed, to get to spend this time together no NOT at all! I love my extended Bee clan.

I hope you all had a Great 4th of July with many Not Me!'s!