I don't know about anyone else...

but I can't WAIT for school to start!
My kids currently stay up way too late.
Then sleep in until noon.
or later.
They wake up about the time I get home from work.
because I MAKE THEM.
They are bored.
Summer entertainment is expensive.
We had a really cool FREE splash pad open right behind our house.
But they "are too old for that".
We are going to Lagoon next week.
One final Hoorah before the madness resumes.
Then it's back to school shopping.
and haircuts.
The struggle to get everyone up and going in the morning.
Am I ready?
no.
but I guess it will be here before I know it!

Has anyone seen my brain laying around?

We decided to drive out to see my mom for the weekend.
A bunch of my other family was going to be there so
we thought it would be fun.
Just me and the kids.
It's a long drive.
About 14 hours.
I've done it before.
But it's brutal.
I got the car all trip checked, gassed up
and packed the night before.
Ariana had a dentist appointment so we were planning to
leave right after that.
We go out to the car and I have a flat.
Nail in the tire.
Reschedule dental appointment.
Dave comes home from work and and helps me take
the tire in to get it fixed.
So we finally set out on our road trip around noon.
Top down.
Radio blasted.
Wind in our hair.
Care free.
About 30 miles from Wendover I reach for my purse
to get some lip gloss and realize I didn't have it.
I pulled over and checked the trunk and searched the car.
Nothing.
No credit cards.
No license.
No money.
I was coming up to a turnoff anyway so I turn the car
around and head back home.
What else could I do?
I had exactly 1/2 a tank of gas left.
Just enough to get us back home.
On top of that we all got too much sun
and I have a tan/burn line from the seat belt.
Attractive.
I'm thinking Someone is telling me this trip wasn't
such a great idea after all!

Easy living

According to my social security statement
I've been working since I was 15 years old.
I've had many jobs in my lifetime.
Hundreds.
Literally.
I've kind of always been a company man.
Figuratively speaking.
I didn't really have jobs like most people did
growing up like mowing lawns, babysitting, etc.
My problem is I get bored too easily.
Maybe I even have A.D.D.
If I'm not feeling challenged or entertained
I move on to something else.
It's a dilemma I've had my entire working life.
Why can't I just be content?
I don't know.
Right now I have the summer off with the kids
and I don't know what to do with myself.
I should be enjoying it.
Easy living.
But I'm bored. And feel disconnected.
I always say I wonder what I'm going to be when I grow up.
I'm there.
Now what?
Maybe I should go back to school.
And what kind of fun, cheap things are there
to do with the kids in this valley?

Orlando Trip

This was our first official family vacation.
We usually use our vacation time to go visit
relatives in California.
It was also Dawson's first plane ride!
Orlando was about 90 degrees every day.
And 90% humidity.
Give Kids the World (where we stayed)
had a nice big pool we swam in every night,
which I think was Dawson's favorite part of the whole trip.
They had an ice cream parlor with all-you-can-eat ice cream
from 9am to 9pm.
There was a 7-hole miniature golf course, an arcade,
talking trashcans, a snoring tree,
and planned activities every night.
Dawson got to pie his dad in the face one night.
We were about 10 miles from the resorts.
Our Villa was perfect in every way.
Complete with full kitchen, washer & dryer,
and jacuzzi tub.
We ate breakfast and dinner at the on-site restaurants
and lunches at whichever park we were visiting for the day.
We made it to every park but certainly didn't get to do everything.
The day we went to Animal Kingdom there was a huge rainstorm
so we only stayed 1/2 day because they closed down all the rides.
It's just RAIN people!
Some highlights:
We got to the front of the ride lines with Dawson's golden ticket.
Dave got to be a star in the "Disaster" ride,
and was hamming it up in another attraction too.
Ariana got chased by Darth Maul.
Dave got his panties in a bunch because they wouldn't let us
to the front of the line to take pictures with Chewbacca.
We got to eat at the Hard Rock cafe and get a souvenir cup.
We took the Ferryboat and ate at little Germany in Epcot.
It was a trip of a lifetime!
I want to give a special shout out to the Make-A-Wish foundation
and Give Kids the World for making it all possible.

What's new with me?

Our trip to Florida was fabulous.
If I can figure out how I will post pictures.
I took a lot with my new camera I bought
especially for the trip.
Most importantly Dawson had fun.
We all did.
It was a trip of a lifetime!
That will be a whole other post.
I quit my job at Wescor.
I lasted 3 years.
It was a good job.
Not great. Just good.
I'm not sure what the breaking point was for me.
My nervous breakdown or the job itself.
I went back from my sabbatical part time and loved it.
For a week.
Then I realized I needed out of that environment.
So I got a new job at GBS benefits.
I'm official. I have a title.
"Account Coordinator"
So far it's amazing.
The gals I work with are fun, kind and generous.
We get along great and have a lot in common.
Shouldn't all work environments be like this??
I feel unworthy.
I hope I can live up to their expectations.
I'm an old dog and it's hard to learn new tricks.
Wish me luck!