This two and a half week hiatus from blogging I’ve been on can be blamed on several things.
First, it has been an exhausting summer. I did not sign the kids up for any camps or activities because I THOUGHT we would have moved to North Carolina before summer was over. Turns out that is not what happened. You know the old saying about the best laid plans? Well, that applies here. So the kids and I spent a boring uneventful summer at home. A lot. Together. Can you say shoot me please because I cannot stand another minute of this bickering and complaining another minute longer? I was so there.
This summer was unofficially dubbed by me The Nicktoon Summer, since that was what the kids spent most of the summer doing really…watching Nicktoons…so we made a last ditch effort to salvage what was left and went here. Why Nicktoons you may ask? Well, apparently this is where we can actually reach a happy TV medium in our house. Turn on Hannah Montana, Allison is happy and Trent is not. Turn on Power Rangers, Trent is happy and Allison is not. But turn on Spongebob Squarepants and let me tell you, all is right with the world. In fact, we got to know Spongebob, Timmy Turner and Jimmy Neutron quite intimately and the hours moments spent with them (Ouch, I know I have been a bad mom) were some of the few truly blissful ones we had around here all summer.
The trip was great. We spent a day at Sea World first, which the kids loved, and then went back for another day since they enjoyed it so much. (read: they stamp your ticket and you can come back absolutely FREE for another day! YAY!) Sea World is very “show oriented” so it made for a good place to be on a hot day, since you are either sitting or in the shade for most performances and many activities are indoors. Allison liked feeding the dolphins, which was way cool since they literally come right up to your hand to be fed. And Trent liked the Shamu Express kid size rollercoaster. Brett must have, too, because he rode on it with him every time!
The hotel was great though. Really perfect for our age kids. It is just like a hotel built around a waterpark and we were thoroughly entertained the whole time we were there. Sitting poolside with a margarita (in moderation!) in hand while the kids played on the waterslides was just what we needed. The best part was the room, though. They are all suites and the kids have their own room fully decorated like one of the Nicktoons they love. A little commercial, I know, but who cares? Some of the rooms even have bunk beds! All in all, it was a nice reprieve and we will definitely go back.
Then, just as we returned school began. Just like that. In the midst of getting uniforms, buying school supplies, and having parent teacher conferences there was just no time or energy to even think of writing a post. The start of school was really good for both of them and it is the first time that they are at the same school together, which is so nice. The really awkward part was that since I gave up my teaching post since we thought we were moving, I was no longer on the teacher side, just the mom side. And it was wierd, sad, and yet a relief all at the same time. Brett took a couple of days off so we could have some couple time and that was a bonus.
After that it was just me. For the first time I can remember in a really long time I have spent time in my house with just me. All. By. Myself. After being here all summer with two kids, it was refreshing. So I found myself soaking up the moments of quiet and independence, until the phone rang. And now I am on the sub list at school. So I will be subbing for a few days, but I am feeling more like writing and I am back at the keyboard.
And I can’t wait to catch up!
