A Vacation for Five

Yesterday was our first full day of vacation. The boys are loving it, as are mommy and daddy mushroom. Friday was a driving day, and as far as such things go it was excellent. We had the truck rigged up so that we could power the iBook, and the boys could watch movies (mostly they slept). We had a leisurely stop for lunch, and I chased the boys around the rest area. I think one of the best parts of having children is the excuse to act foolish in public. So we arrived, 12 hours later, in relatively good spirits. Yesterday we went to the local park, and rode the mini train... twice. We played on the playgrounds (there are several, separated into age-appropriate play areas for toddlers, preschoolers, 6-9 year olds and so on, up to teens). We checked out the local pool, and promised to return. We went to a street fest in glorious downtown.
Today we had breakfast and playtime at an old friends' parents house, and then spent hours at the new pool where we lamented the lack of similar entertainment in Memphis. We had also been lamenting the way that Memphis is dying downtown, and you can't walk anywhere. Here downtown is thriving, being renovated and renewed. If you live in the older sections of town, you can walk to the parks, to the library, to the stores. What you can't easily walk to, the bus line take care of suitably well. Yes, I miss small town living. But now the boys are fast asleep after a hard day at play. Last night they didn't fall asleep until 1 am, and they woke up happy as can be by 8 am. Nice long naps after lots of play, fun with mom and dad, life doesn't get much better. All vacations should be so nice. Mom and Dad pick the place, the boys set the schedule. Why not? Really, who likes spending hours in museums so that in the end you can feel cultured? Tommorrow we are off to the lake. It's up in the air, literally, how long we'll get to stay. It may be too hot, too rainy... never know. But we've got high hopes. Daddy is envisioning nights by the fire, Mommy just wants to laze about on the beach. Some of the campsites have wireless... could be another update tommorrow.

Remembering to Breathe

Tomorrow is my interview with the admissions committee for my continuing adventure in education. I must say that going to school the second time (or now the third time) has been a much more fulfilling experience. I'm able to concentrate entirely on classes, and not on the parties planned for the weekend, or who's sleeping around with who. Maybe it's not as much fun... but definitely a more educational experience. Not that my social calander is empty, mind you. I've got playdates and doctor's appointments, upset tummies and school socials. Being a mother, if nothing else, teaches one amazing time management and organization skills. No longer is one allowed to be flighty or forgetful.

But I've gotten distracted... my point was that tommorrow decides my fate. I'm just trying to remember to breathe...

Couch Mushrooms

Today's post will be short, because I am very tired. Here are my darling couch mushrooms. We start them young... Actually, I try not to let them watch much TV, but it's so ungodly hot here that even when they want to play outside it's about two minutes before they are back inside, asking for water and saying it's too hot. Obviously I don't even think about taking the baby out.

We did some hot gardening work today. Kaj is really trying to be as helpful as possible. I wish I'd taken a picture of the boys when they were done helping with the mulching. They were like the 101 dalmations who rolled in the soot to look like labradors... black mulch dust from head to toe. But I was in too much of a hurry to get them in the tub... Here's a nice picture of one of the few Gazanias to survive my pitiful attempts at gardening.