Ok, maybe NOT ready for the relentless Texas heat that is associated with summer, but ready for the slower pace and less commitments summer brings. The kids finished scouts for this year and do not go back until after labor day. Volleyball is over and basketball doesn't start for two more weeks. We have some library activities, VBS, and baseball camp planned for this summer, but that is about it. We are even planning to take off from gymnastics for a couple of months. I look forward to the slow relaxing pace.....I give it a week before the kids are so bored they start fighting constantly and ruin my serene vision of a laid back summer.
I have decided, to a somewhat reluctant audience, that we will plan another month long trip in the next 18 months. Why torture everyone after the expressly voiced reluctance of ever traveling that long again? There were three main reasons: 1.) It has been almost two years since the month trip out west and the horribleness of all that driving and closeness is harder to remember, 2.) We always talk about and bring things up from that trip, usually while laughing so hard it hurts, and most importantly 3.) My eldest daughter leaves for college in three years and we want one last hurrah before she goes. Even if she goes to school nearby, we know from our eldest son that she will become busy with school and work, basically just starting her life, that this will not be possible again. We are going to hit the East coast this time. I have so many many places I want to see that narrowing it down to a month will be hard, but I think I can. I am really excited, but also it feels a little daunting. It took A LOT of planning for the last trip and this one will require a bit more so it will definitely be a process. I hope we have upgraded to a travel trailer by then so that we can boondock at some of the national parks, but if not I know our little faithful pop up will serve us well again....at the KOA. We have no tanks in the pop up so boon docking is out. I know some people do it without tanks and even in tents and love it, but I am not a mountain man so the rv park will be fine.
I am still recovering from ear surgery, but I am feeling great. My ears still feel a little full, but I am becoming use to how I hear things now. In fact, sometimes I even forget they bother me. I no longer feel the oil in them that can now drain properly. That was the hardest thing to get use too. I still have to cover my ears at all times. I CANNOT stand ANY air movement. In the house, I wear ear muffs, but because that would look weird outside in Texas in the summer, I switch to a wide headband that can cover them when I go out. I no longer have dizzy spells, which I use to think were allergies, but it turns out was the fluid on my ears. I can lay down and get up quickly without needing a minute to recover. It is fantastic to get up in the morning and NOT have it take a minute to adjust to standing. I never even realized how much I had become use to it being a part of my life.
We went to visit the North Texas Highland games on Mother's Day. Not necessarily because that was what I wanted most for Mothers Day, but because that was when it was here and we could go. It was so much fun, but a little hot, ok really hot. They had several booths with Scottish vendors and everything was so interesting. My great great grandfather on my mother's side sailed over from Scotland and as we all know my great paternal grandmother was already here (she was Cherokee). D wants to try to find some claim to Scottish heritage so he can enter the athletic competitions next year. We had a great time watching the caber toss, hammer throw, and some thing where they had to toss a 20 lb bag of straw 3 stories over a bar with a pitchfork. They also had Scottish bands, authentic food (no haggis for us, but the shortbread was to die for), and a kids zone which was sadly too little for my crew, but those with young children would have loved it. It was a fun way to connect to our heritage. I know we seem to spend time getting in touch with my (and the kids) heritage, but we are going to a big family reunion on D's side soon. We will meet German relatives we never even knew existed. I fully plan on getting Kolaches while we are there!
Note the headband covering the ears.
Watching the athletes compete.
She is so happy to throw out this year's papers.
Already trying to relax for summer.
I have decided, to a somewhat reluctant audience, that we will plan another month long trip in the next 18 months. Why torture everyone after the expressly voiced reluctance of ever traveling that long again? There were three main reasons: 1.) It has been almost two years since the month trip out west and the horribleness of all that driving and closeness is harder to remember, 2.) We always talk about and bring things up from that trip, usually while laughing so hard it hurts, and most importantly 3.) My eldest daughter leaves for college in three years and we want one last hurrah before she goes. Even if she goes to school nearby, we know from our eldest son that she will become busy with school and work, basically just starting her life, that this will not be possible again. We are going to hit the East coast this time. I have so many many places I want to see that narrowing it down to a month will be hard, but I think I can. I am really excited, but also it feels a little daunting. It took A LOT of planning for the last trip and this one will require a bit more so it will definitely be a process. I hope we have upgraded to a travel trailer by then so that we can boondock at some of the national parks, but if not I know our little faithful pop up will serve us well again....at the KOA. We have no tanks in the pop up so boon docking is out. I know some people do it without tanks and even in tents and love it, but I am not a mountain man so the rv park will be fine.
I am still recovering from ear surgery, but I am feeling great. My ears still feel a little full, but I am becoming use to how I hear things now. In fact, sometimes I even forget they bother me. I no longer feel the oil in them that can now drain properly. That was the hardest thing to get use too. I still have to cover my ears at all times. I CANNOT stand ANY air movement. In the house, I wear ear muffs, but because that would look weird outside in Texas in the summer, I switch to a wide headband that can cover them when I go out. I no longer have dizzy spells, which I use to think were allergies, but it turns out was the fluid on my ears. I can lay down and get up quickly without needing a minute to recover. It is fantastic to get up in the morning and NOT have it take a minute to adjust to standing. I never even realized how much I had become use to it being a part of my life.
We went to visit the North Texas Highland games on Mother's Day. Not necessarily because that was what I wanted most for Mothers Day, but because that was when it was here and we could go. It was so much fun, but a little hot, ok really hot. They had several booths with Scottish vendors and everything was so interesting. My great great grandfather on my mother's side sailed over from Scotland and as we all know my great paternal grandmother was already here (she was Cherokee). D wants to try to find some claim to Scottish heritage so he can enter the athletic competitions next year. We had a great time watching the caber toss, hammer throw, and some thing where they had to toss a 20 lb bag of straw 3 stories over a bar with a pitchfork. They also had Scottish bands, authentic food (no haggis for us, but the shortbread was to die for), and a kids zone which was sadly too little for my crew, but those with young children would have loved it. It was a fun way to connect to our heritage. I know we seem to spend time getting in touch with my (and the kids) heritage, but we are going to a big family reunion on D's side soon. We will meet German relatives we never even knew existed. I fully plan on getting Kolaches while we are there!
My kids are so sweet
Note the headband covering the ears.
North Texas Highlander Games
D being silly.
All smiles for sugary donut stop.
Absolutely beautiful unique crafts.
More vendors
The straw with pitchfork thing
Sunny and warm
2 of the last 3 people on earth who haven't taken a selfie, take a selfie
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