A few people thought us brave; most people thought us stupid. Some called every five minutes to check if we were still going, others showed up at the last minute bearing gifts cleverly disguised as supplies. (Thats our Fairy Godmother for you. A playboy chair and a set of glo in the dark bracelets. Ok OK, and the world's coolest, easiest to set up 4 person tent ever.)
The first leg of the journey was fine. Left 3 hours later than planned, but really that is pretty much on schedule for us. We managed a fairly uneventful first leg of the trip and stopped in Kearney. There we found every state trooper in the state in nearly every hotel room in Kearney. OOPS. But luck was with us as the Country Inn and Suites just had to give us a full suite for a regular room price. Awesome. It was midnight, all 3 small ones were asleep. All 3 small ones woke up in time to rejoice in the new room. No one slept till 2.
Day two was tougher. Tail light went out on the trailer, therefore we didnt leave Kearney till nearly 10. Child #2 admitted she was feeling pretty sick and was pretty sick by the time we got to Ogallala. I took her to the local clinic and Dad took the crew to a park for lunch and planned to come back for us in 40 minutes. About 45 minutes later I heard a terrible grating noise. Then I saw the Honda, the trailer, and the open cooler being dragged behind it. Here is where I must admit 2 things: A) my first thought was the beer and wine had to be shattered on the road way and B) relief because at the last minute I chose to put in a cheap bottle of white and leave the good white from FG at home. Whew. After those thoughts I realized that all the premade meals were scattered down mainstreet Ogalala. What a mess!
I went to Safeway to get the prescription and replacements. My dear man went back to retrace his route and find our food. Lo and Behold! He did! All but the beer and wine. Curses those glass bottles!
We didnt arrive in Estes and RMNP till very late and set up involved rain and very crabby kids.
But the morning dawned clear and all the remaining mornings did too. We didn't do our usual 5-8 miles a day followed by a late lunch, reading in the hammock, late dinner and chatting around the fire.
No long hikes, but no sitting either. We were up and running early and besides nap time, there was little rest. The hikes weren't challenging in their usual way, but escorting 5 kids for a mile at a time is a challenge in its own right.
The last night came and while I feared we would all be relieved to go home, I was wrong. It was the same bitter sweet feeling as always. I could have stayed quite a bit longer and turns out so could everyone else. Except Mr Man who desperately wanted to get home to watch 'Tangled' in the basement. Poor guy.
We changed the seating arrangement for the return trip and it worked. Made it all the way to Gothenberg with just two stops. More rejoicing in another hotel and down to bed for everyone.
The return home was met with wonder and joy and talks of our next trip.
Monday night I settled in on the couch next to my dear man to watch an episode of MadMen. We clinked our glasses and toasted ourselves for the grand accomplishment of doing something so well when even we half expected to fail.
We just may be learning to be the parents of 5.
attached the garden. #1 attached the back hedge and a little corner I think she hopes will become a quiet reading hideout. I took on the front hedge. We all met up in the front to fix up the front flower beds. My girls worked sooo hard and I was proud of them. Pride in your kids feels a lot like love and I am sure some of that love was transplanted just like the hosta from the Calhoun yard. The before and after photos show that there was a lot of labor. The love is harder to see, but we are starting to feel it at Grant St.
the year. Did so well in math she was offered a chance to skip a year. Played basketball, high jumped,stage managed and won the first ever Technical Theater award for middle school.
