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the final day of Spring Break

Saturday we woke up to cold and rainy outside our window. Which pretty much ruined our day.

Except it didn't.

At 9 am, we were in our van and waiting outside the Grand Country Fun Spot, a short block from our hotel (but it was raining, thus the van).

It's an arcade where you purchase a preloaded card, swipe it, and play some games. This is my family watching Brady play Deal or No Deal, my favorite game. He'd just hit No Deal, and Mykiah did not approve.

You win tickets here, and then you use the tickets to buy prizes. So we spent $40 that morning ($10 each for the kids, $5 each for me and Dan), and walked out with a basketball, a stuffed animal, and a bag full of different sizes of balls. And had great fun earning it.

After our fun, we drove out to Branson Hills and wandered Books-A-Million for a good half hour and only bought one book -- Different Seasons by Stephen King. Brady had been looking for it the whole trip, and the very fun used bookstore next to our hotel didn't have it (which did not stop us from walking out with a bag of books and leaving the shop owner happy to know that it was our teens there to find books). Quick trip to Target to get a new collar for Hayden (since we hadn't brought him with us, we needed to get him a treat), and then lunch with friends at Freddy's Frozen Custard. Love Freddy's. The fries always get me.

After lunch, it was back to the hotel to let the kids swimming on a cold, rainy, dreary afternoon. They loved it. Actually, as we were leaving the restaurant, little Zach said to me, "Isn't it a little cold to go swimming?" So I had to explain to him it was an indoor pool and I promised it was warm. He ended up staying in the longest. The girls were ready to get out long before Zach, who had to be told to get out and then put his clothes on his wet body.

We weren't quite ready to say goodbye , so we all went back over to the Fun Spot and played more games.

This time we gave the tickets to our friends and let them go home with a bag of assorted junk. Said our goodbyes, which were sad, and made our way to the Landing to meet another friend for dinner.

Old Chicago. Sharing meals, pomegranate lemonade, good conversation. Great place for dinner.

After another quick goodbye, my family jumped in the van, and I took off for Cantina Laredo for another goodbye. Met a friend, and we both needed this one. We definitely enjoy our Cantina nights. I think it should be a requirement for every trip.

We had some nachos and a brownie, along with drinks and conversation. It was nice to sit down, just the two of us, and talk and listen, listen and talk. And make sure I'm no longer on his "Haygoodie" contact list on his phone. Seriously. Still rolling my eyes over that one.

Got dropped back at the hotel, while the family was still off seeing their movie. Took a nice hot bath and then decided that I should refresh the ice in our cooler. Note that I did not decide I should pack up our stuff for our departure the next day, but that I should get some ice. I had on shorts and a t-shirt (my PJs) and grabbed the ice bucket and a room key and took off for the ice machine, which was at the other end of the motel. It's cold, and raining, and I'm trucking along in my PJs when I hear wheels rolling. I look behind me, and there's a guy pushing a trash can on wheels (probably a member of housekeeping or maintenance) and of course, I decide he's chasing me. So I sprint down, dash into the vending room, and get my ice. Don't come out until I hear that the dude is in the elevator (next to the vending room) and I know I'm safe. Obviously, he was thwarted by my quick dash into vending, and the loud noise of ice dumping into my bucket. I have skillz.

Still, I'm galloping back to the safety of my room when I look up to see a van pulling in. Since the movie had only been going about a half hour, I did not expect to see my family. The double take I did must have been comical. About twenty minutes into the movie, Brady had a panic attack, brought on by the anti-nausea medication he'd been taking (and that he continued to insist he needed for days afterwards... I think it was addictive).

OK, we give. Off to bed for us. Next morning, we're up, packing and loading the van, eating the free breakfast, then beginning the long drive home.

It's always longer to drive home than it is to drive to Branson. And this trip was really hard. I was emotional, and I did not want to come home. The trip had been much too short. I didn't want to say goodbye (even though I already had).

So I wallowed in my grief for the end of our trip, and I counted the number of days until we'd be back. Eighty-eight days. Eighty-four by the time you read this. Next time, we're staying at the Notch, my very happy place. It will be warm, and I can lay by the pool and read, while watching my children play. We can see shows, and see friends. We can really unpack and relax. 10 wonderful nights. I thought I needed Spring Break, and now I know I need summer.

We'll see you soon, friends.

spring break, my favorite day

So Friday we woke up and Brady was still sick. Clearly not motion sickness, as he hadn't been in a car for 18 hours. The dizziness was overwhelming and the biggest part of his unwellness.

There's a front desk a few doors away, so I walked down and asked directions to urgent care (and arranged to have our room cleaned while we were there).

My friend Rose works at the hospital where the urgent care is located. So while I can say I saw her every day of the trip, the only reason I saw her Friday was because I was texting her about urgent cares, and she took her break and popped down to give us her work number while we were in the hospital, just in case we needed anything.

Thankfully, we didn't.

Diagnosis? Seasonal allergies, that probably lead to fluid on the ear causing the dizziness. He was given an antibiotic to help with the fluid and phergan to help with the nausea. We dropped him at the hotel, got his prescriptions, he went to sleep and Dan, the girls and I went about our day.

Which sounds kind of rude in writing, but really, he's almost 17 and perfectly capable of sleeping unattended in a hotel room. And he told us to go on.

So we did.

Met a friend at Clay Cooper theater, and saw us some Buckets N Boards.

I seriously love this show, and these guys. They are funny and it's infectious. The show is a great way to spend a few hours. If you're going to Branson, you should see it. Buckets N Boards. Very affordable for a family ($55 for a family pass) and a show I always recommend for families. 2 PM shows this year. We all enjoy it. Been there, seen it thrice, and have the t-shirts to prove it. Thrice of them.

Dinner was a walk down the strip to Fuddruckers, followed by ice cream (yum!) at Cold Stone Creamery. Then we walked it off coming back up the hill to the hotel.

That night, Mykiah and I had our silly little girl dreams come true.

Front row, baby. The Haygoods.

I've had quite the relationship with the Haygoods over the years, but the thing I can't deny is that the show is stinking fun. I can't sit there and not bounce, not clap, and not want to jump up on that stage and sing along with them. (They won't let me. I've asked.)

So it's Mykiah's birthday gift to sit on the front row so that she can see the Aaron well, and I'm not at all minding because hey, I can take the good pictures. It's our little girl dream, and well, much more appropriate for Mykiah than me, but let's humor me.

and here's the boy that Mykiah wanted to see:

He and Mykiah share a birthday (he's 3 years older than her). She'd like to believe it's fate.

I like to believe these shirts are fate:

Seriously, they just ditched the dorky suits and here come the sparkly shirts. Thank you, costuming gods. I needed a new punch line.

I told Mykiah my goal for the evening was to take a decent picture of Dominic. I really like this guy on stage. He has amazing charisma, and I wanted to see if I could get it in a picture.

Nah. Can't.

I did get this action shot, which is pretty fun.

I love the tap. Not my favorite part of the show any longer, but I sure don't mind watching those boys break out in a sweat while tap dancing.

So after the show, we waited in line for a good half hour for this:

Worth it all. The money I spent on the front row, the waiting in line... she's a happy girl with this picture. Because apparently high school boys are immature and stupid, but Aaron Haygood... he's the next Justin Bieber and absolute perfection.

Happy to make that one little dream come true.

Friday = best day of Spring Break. Excellent entertainment. Getting to see friends. Getting Brady on the road back to health. I could relive that day every day of vacation (well, it would be better without that whole urgent care thing). And was sad to crawl into bed that night, knowing we had only one day left. (My bottom lip still involuntarily goes into a pout when I think of it...)

spring break, day deux

After a minor annoyance with our hotel room, which required us to move rooms (and I will go in more detail about our hotel later), we were all ready to get out to Silver Dollar City for our first visit of 2011. I chugged my first Five Hour Energy, and off we went.

To back up a little, I had checked the weather forecast before we left. It was supposed to be 70 or something-ish while we were there.

And we woke up to 30s.

We had to buy Brady a jacket at Silver Dollar City.

It took everything I had to get him to wear jeans.

I was thankful that I had packed shoes after all. I wanted to just take flip flops.

My sister, after a detour to the scenic Hillbilly Inn, joined us at Silver Dollar City. I discovered my camera battery was dead, and I hadn't even thought to bring a spare. This resulted in few pictures, but I did have to dig out my camera to take a photo of Emery's first ride on a grown-up ride.

She looks like she's having fun. Olivia = not having fun. Dan and Mykiah were riding, too, but they were at the other end of the boat in the very back. It's more thrilling there. Apparently. I have never set foot on that ride, and never shall.

During our morning at SDC, I discovered that I really don't enjoy the place a) when it's cold and b) when I can't take pictures. Just sitting and shivering and watching... not fun.

We left SDC about noon because it was getting crowded and we don't do crowded. We were starving, and nothing at the City sounded good.

Luigi's pizza... yum.

I need to digress here and tell you that Brady has serious motion sickness. I keep a supply of ginger handy when we travel. It's not unusual for us to have to stop so he can get some fresh air... or vomit.

Silver Dollar City is not in Branson. It is out in the middle of a bunch of hills, and to return to Branson to get food, you must traverse those motion sickness inducing hills.

So we finally got out of the hills and parked at Luigi's and by this time, Brady is having a meltdown because he's starving and not feeling well at the same time. Luigi's was nice and busy and our food, of course, took a while to get to us.  He stood outside and paced most of the time, then devoured all the meat at the table in the vain hope that eating protein would get him feeling better.

We had yet to make our regular Branson K-Mart run, so we walked over there, picked up a few things (including Cadbury Mini Eggs, the nectar of the gods of Easter) and returned to the hotel. Brady crashed, and the girls and I went shopping. Actually, I'm not sure when we went shopping, so let's pretend I spent that afternoon slopping around the Amish Store (buying marshmallows for my students) and Target and TJ Maxx, where Mykiah tried on way too many clothes. It was at Target that Mykiah bought a swimsuit. It's a scary swimsuit. I'm whittling the stick I will use to beat off boys. Her gramps would have a heart attack. Note to self: do not allow Mykiah to wear the yellow swimsuit when we're at my parents.

Dinner was Applebee's with friends, but it was clear halfway through dinner that Brady was not going to be himself any time soon. He went back to the hotel early, and it wasn't much longer that Dan, the girls and I were following him. It was an early night, but we needed it after not being able to sleep before. In the past, I would have thought the trip was a failure if we didn't see a show every single night of our trip. This trip, I let time with friends be more important than seeing shows, and it made me whole again.

So we went to Branson for Spring Break, day 1

It has been eight very long months since we were last in Branson. I love that place. As we drive into town, I can feel my worries slipping away. Real life fades, and life becomes being relaxed and being entertained. Life is pretty easy when your biggest worry is what you shall do to entertain yourself.

We left at o'dark-thirty on Wednesday. Our goal = lunch with my friends. One friend knew we were coming, the other didn't. It was a big ole surprisearooni.

Due to Dan's lead foot, and not at all to Brady's need to stop 3 times on the way, we arrived in Branson about an hour early. Met my sister, who was also Spring Breaking it, to pick up show tickets for that night, then beat it to the Landing.

As we were driving, I thought this thought out loud. "I have this new haircut, and it's a little on the butch side. OK, a lot butch. I was thinking maybe I should get my ears pierced again to add a little feminine touch." You know, when I'm not wearing a bow. I don't always do the bow. Sometimes I'm tired.

I knew I was walking down the right road when Dan says, "That would be good." Jeez. Kick me, why don't you?

So we went to Claires and some young chick pierced my ears.

I used to pierce ears. Wal-mart jewelry department. 3 years. So it's not like the process is a mystery to me. So 10 minutes of my time, $40 (when I pierced it was $8-$12) and I've got 14K gold fake diamond earrings. I will change to hoops as soon as possible.

About the time we're taking that picture, I see J walking up, so we went on in the restaurant to get some yummy lunch. Surprised Rose, and caught up on 8 months worth of not seeing each other. Brady ordered an onion loaf appetizer and a side of baked beans. We were all sleeping in one hotel room. I was not happy.

After lunch, it was off to the hotel to check in. Soon after I had to show off the blue sucker I got with my ear piercing.

I tucked it in my purse for the perfect moment when there was a child who needed a little cheering up. Happy to say after 4 days in Branson, it's still in my bag. Everything was shiny and happy.

Dinner was some carry out McDonalds (oatmeal for Mykiah... cuz she don't eat burgers) eaten in the hotel room. Then, my friends, it was time to get ready. I was going to a show.

I stinking love going to shows. I love dressing up, fixing my hair, putting on makeup. I love sitting there as the first notes ring out through the theater. I love to hear Mykiah scream, and laugh. I love Brady's chortle. Chesney curling up in a chair and falling asleep.

Did I mention getting dressed up?

Mykiah enjoys the process too.

I look at that photo, and something in my heart hurts. My girl. My baby girl.

That night we saw SIX. I wanted to take my sister to a show we really love. I think this was the 4th show we've seen together, and I was hoping they'd like this one. I think they did. At least judging from the laughter coming from Emery.

We love the Jak at our house. We've seen the show so often that the kids just "do" Jak randomly all the time. It used to be for a few days, but now we just do it all the time...

sibling rivalry

My girls fight.

Constantly.

I threaten.

If you don't stop fighting, you're staying with Grandma and not going on Spring Break.

Can't you just keep your mouth shut and not respond?

A behavior noticed is a behavior reinforced. So don't notice her.

If you don't stop fighting, I'm going to call the police.

And sometimes I think... did I fight with my sister like that?

And then I laugh, because of course I did. We famously fought with a cast iron skillet and an ax once. (No one was harmed. Obviously.)

Then I went to pull photos for this little blog post and realized I don't have any photos of just me and my sister. Except like... decades ago. We'll fix that soon for ya. I swear we don't fight like that anymore.

Because we don't live together anymore.

Solves that problem, doesn't it? Gosh, only 4 more years until Mykiah starts college... (and yes, I know then both Chesney and I will be crying that she's gone.)

Hayden's favorite snack

Like most dogs, Hayden likes a good Milk Bone. The puppy size. Although he's a fully grown, almost elderly dog, he likes the puppy size. They're most appropriate for his tiny little doggie mouth.

He also likes peanuts, popcorn, cheetos. His favorite?

That's right. Peanut butter on a saltine. Sometimes he just gets peanut butter... if we're shoving a fish oil pill in it to help with his digestion. He really likes it on a saltine, though.

Sometimes he has a little trouble with the peanut butter. It sticks to the roof of his mouth. Then we all sit and laugh at him until he figures out how to get it off.

In defense of the family dinner

If you're my friend on Facebook (and you really should be), you probably know that Mykiah has been kicking some butt in her oration that she does at forensics tournament. She and I kind of came up with her topic together... the importance of family dinners.

I'm firmly convinced that many of the world's problems could be solved by simply having everyone sit down to a family dinner at least 5 of 7 times a week.

Mykiah can quote some impressive statistics. Families who have dinner together most of the week find that their children's language development is better. When the children get to be teens, they are less likely to turn to drugs and alcohol. More likely to go on to college.

I'd guess if you looked enough, you'd find lower instances of divorce. Higher instances of happiness and satisfaction.

My husband works until 7 or 8 PM 4-5 nights a week. My kids and I, we still sit down to a family dinner. Mykiah has been an enormous help in keeping this up. Without her help in dinner prep this year, we might not have made it as often. Or we might have been eating more fast food. She's been a life saver.

So the kids and I sit, and we eat and we talk. How was your day? Let me tell you this funny story. What are we doing this weekend?

We turn off the TV (my no negotations rule). No phones, no electronics. Sometimes I try to sneak in a magazine. That's a bad thing on my part. I'm trying to do better.

It's the 4 of us. Even if we're all eating different things (which, unfortunately, happens more often than not... someone is bound to not like something), we all sit. Even if it's Subway, we all sit. It's as important to the kids as it is to me.

I'd like to encourage you to make it a priority in your life, too. It's working for us.

I'm your kingpin, honey

We went bowling Saturday for Kiah's birthday.

By "we" I mean everyone except me. I don't play games. I'm a sore loser, so I've learned not to play unless I'm going to win.

Trust me, I'm not going to win when bowling.

Dan's pretty darn good, though.

 
The kids could use a little more practice and training. It was entertaining, though.

Pretty fun stuff.

Don't they look like they're having the time of their lives?

happy birthday to my girl

Today my oldest daughter, Mykiah, turns 15. It's a big one for her. She had all kinds of rules about what we could and couldn't do. This is the first time in years that we haven't been in Branson for her birthday. Instead, we're home.

First, we went to celebrate with both sets of grandparents.

I broke out the decorations...

The plan had been to have a patio party, but it was rainy and dreary so we stayed inside. We ate brisket sandwiches, and chips, and potato salad, and coleslaw, and...

That's right, no cake for my girl. Nope, we had decorated sugar cookies. And darned if they weren't better than cake anyway.

For her gift, Kiah got 4 packs of gum (the supply from her Christmas stocking was finally running low) and a new cell phone.

I think she had a pretty good day.

Today I'm going to the doctor, and then it's off for Diva Day! Haircuts, and maybe a manicure or pedicure. We haven't decided yet. We do know that much fun will be had by all!

Happy Birthday Mykiah!!

new release Friday: Live It Up

Probably the last of my Disney inspired kits for awhile. These colors make me happy, but I think I've done and done and done them some more, so look for a new look after Spring Break (which starts today!).

live it up is available here

Some layouts from my girlies:

by Sharon

by Lynett

by Miranda

Always on sale for the weekend of release!