Weekend of nothingness

Well maybe not complete nothingness. This weekend was mostly errands to prepare for our trip to the 'Tah next week. I am at least finding some sanity in the fact that we aren't going to the wilderness and that if I forget something I can go to the local Target and pick it up. We did end up at one of my top 5 fun gift places in the Puget Sound area, Molbaks. I love that it just SCREAMS Christmas this time of year. They have a sea of poinsettias, tons of ornaments and lots of cute little knicky knack things.All the sensory overload created a little boy that looked like this...
Soder looked a little glazed over too because of all the crazy women snatching up all sorts of trinkets from candles, to bird ornaments, to anything holiday related. I love to visit places like this and they both played along wonderfully. Thanks, guys for putting up with my craziness.


For my trip, I have a mental list in my head that will be worked on for the next few days until we leave. I have stressed out more about my poor puppys being boarded in at the 'Pet Hilton'. (it really isn't the pet hilton, but it might as well be considering that we are paying an arm and a leg for them to stay.) I feel so much guilt that i haven 't even been able to talk about it with them. (yes, I am one of those crazies that talks to her pets. And yes, they do know what I am saying.) I know my little Thing One will take it the hardest and that just breaks my heart. She will think that she did something to be left with the crazily happy Thing Two. (I swear Thing one is a reincarnated Catholic because she has so much guilt.)
I had to laugh when Soder tried to help me organize by asking what I was going to be bringing to 'entertain' myself on the plane. Um.... I think the Baby is all I will be paying attention too, but thanks for thinking that maybe I should pick up a People Magazine because I might get bored. Haha, he tries so hard! He gets an A for effort and an A for putting up with me and my mental state. Now, I know why people don't do 'vacations' very often and most times it isn't the mother that is thinking travelling will be a great idea. Sorry for the disjointed blog post.... I might be more mentally organized once I get some packing done. Yeah, that will help the situation, right?

Goodbye old friend

(Not a picture of ours, but it looked like this)

Last week my father decided to sell their 1988 motor home. This had been the motor home we have taken all of our 'family' vacations in for the last 22 years. I remember all the trips we took in it:
Montana about a million times
Bear Lake about a billion times
St. George every Easter for about 5 years
California (Redwood Forest and a different time to Disneyland/Seaworld)
Oregon Coast
Washington
Idaho
South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore
And everywhere in between.
It has been a great member of the family and will be missed, but it was time to let someone else have the fun in it. Since we have all grown up, my parents only used it once every year so it was more of a money pit than a savings like before.
I always remember the gas fill ups where my mom and me would go and raid the ice cream section of the convenient store. She would always buy my dad a cup of ice and pull the Nilla wafers out of the cupboard to help him stay awake for the rest of the rides. During my mom's shift, which usually included the straightest part of the road trip, we would sing oldies and make each other laugh while my dad would take a rest. (He would nap until either we would wake him up with our laughter or the rumble strips on the side of the road would jostle him awake.) All my happy road trip memories were in that motor home. Thanks for all the good time, old friend, you will be missed.

Big Dreams

I don't know if many of you have missed vacations lately. It makes for a very long, long summer. With me being on 'maternity' leave (permanently), and Trav just starting his job a few months ago, we are short on funds and vacation leave. All cabin fever and no vacation makes Molly a sad girl. We have been trying to explore the area up here, but it gets harder and harder to find things that are free or very cheap. Plus with two dogs and a small car which doesn't accommodate our ENTIRE family anymore, we can only be gone for no more than 4 or 5 hours.(dogs have to be let out since they can't come.) (Pity party for me, right?!)
This is just a limbo week for us because we are waiting to hear about a part time job for me then we will be in a better situation financially. And hopefully, if I get it, I will start planning our first real family vacation soon after that.
So the question is do you think Japan or Greece is more child-friendly?

Seattle: Day One!

Seattle Day One

This morning we played Rock Band, before we went to University Village to do a little shopping at my favorite store, Crate and Barrel.  A few comic book stores for Travis was next and then we headed into down town for lunch.  We ate at a really delish place called Serious Pie.  After lunch we walked to Pike's Market.  It is always the best there. It is so diverse. It is my all time favorite place to go in Seattle. After the long day we headed back to my sister's house in Sammamish.  We relaxed for a few hours and played their Rock Band for the Wii. It is so much fun.  Tonight we are going to dinner with some friends. Tomorrow, we are off to Ferndale for my Niece's Basketball Tournament.  I hear Ferndale is the hip-happening place to be! ;) We will see.  

Seattle here we come!!!!!

We are going up to visit my Sis and her family (as well as visiting our favorite couple!)  I will post pictures when I get some time.  Have a great weekend!   

Scotland!

My Dad has decided to send my Mother, Amy, Megan and me to Scotland as a retirement present to my mom.  We are hopefully going to go in June for about 14 days (maybe 16).  So exciting, but kinda sad because husbands aren't going. It is like a girls vacation for us. It is really far and will be a long time to be gone, but it is so exciting and generous for my dad to do that for us. :) I can't wait. My Aunt, Mari has been over there a few times and has helped us plan a route we might go on.  My mom and me have already gotten books and have looked up some of the sights.  I hope I can meet up with my friend Christine. She lives in Germany (right now she lives in India, but that is a whole other story)  and hopefully she will be able to meet up with us in London or something.   I hope this will all work and we don't kill each other. :) You know how siblings can get!  No it will be an awesome experience and great memories. Thanks, Dad! 

Seattle, here we come!!!!!!

I just booked Travis and me a vacation to visit my sister and her family in Seattle. Can't wait. It has been too long since I have visited the Fitzgerald clan! It has been at least 3 years. I wish I could see Kaity more too. She is 14 already. I can still remember the day she was born. Eric has gotten huge too. I can't believe how fast they all grow up. Wow, times flies. I am so happy to be going up there. I don't know if you have ever found a place where you feel like you are completely at home, but that is my place. I have my best friend living up there and one of my sisters up there too. I love it there. I love everything about it. When Travis graduated I was secretly praying that he would get a job there. Unfortunately, there was a different path for us than that. :) Anyways, I now am counting down the days until we go. I can't wait! It is going to be a long three months!!!!!