Just Me!!

      We are back home and the car is unpacked, mail is sorted and filed away, and Mark worked for a bit this afternoon. Sometimes I would feel like we never went away because it is so quick and life's stresses and plans return like I've never been gone. It's not true this time. Sure I was knee deep in the mail but everyone was doing great.  The house is clean (thanks to our wonderful teens who did laundry and dishes while we were gone), the mail was already sorted by ads and bills, and the kitties were safe and well fed! We were able to watch Ethan's soccer home game and he even scored a goal!!!!!!!! Awesome. Now it's time for one more day off and then back to the daily grind. Pretty sure I'm in a good place for it.     Update*** Wednesday we took Valerie to TCC and Pierce so she could make some decisions. She likes TCC but also is leaning more towards Pierce because it is a newer facility, closer to home, and her bestie might join her. I am so proud ...

           We got here just fine on Sunday. The drive is always fun, and unlike Charlie believes, void of arguing about my driving once we got out of town. She had told us the day before that she Knows what we are going to do in the car ride to Packwood ..."Dad and you are going to argue about how you drive!" She listens and notes everything. These kids are too smart. Charlie you were wrong though, there wasn't any fighting, just two hours of listening to a book on tape together! I've been trying to finish the same book for two years...since I'm so close to the end Mark downloaded it for me so I could finish it on the car. I'm listening to it now by the fireplace. Mark is online teaching at the same time. The fireplace is on and my blanket is within reach. Life is good. We've hot tubbed twice, ate a salad at Cruisers, watched a movie, enjoyed meat, cheese and crackers, took a walk into town together, enjoyed morning coffee at The Mountain Goat in a adorand...

Our cabin in the woods was a blast this year because we took our three beautiful children to our quiet place! We decided since there wasn't too much ado about Halloween that we would spend some time away with the children. We spent a lot of time in the hot tub, playing games, and of course eating! Valerie drew a picture of the Elk that were wondering around town, In the visitor's journal (which I've written In for the past four years). By night we were all exhausted and spent the last few minutes looking at the stars in the sky from the hot tub. Ethan had a blast learning how to create different knots, Valerie won Monopoly, and Charlie loved being able to sleep with her sissy and eating every last gummy snack I had brought. Love those kids...love my husband MORE for willingly sharing this special place with our children!!!!