So, um, yeah. It's been a while. Summer is over and it was great. Remarkably not that hot by Dallas standards, meaning we only had like two weeks over 100 with a little bit of rain here and there. After taking a trip in the spring, we were here most of the summer until August where we had a bit of an extravaganza of a trip. I had work in the DC area so the kids and I visited family and then headed up to the beach in New Jersey with old friends (speaking of old, it was Realtor Viv's birthday. Yay, Viv.)
Then back down the east coast collecting Geocaches from New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware before spending another night with family in Virginia before heading for a couple days in Colorado to visit my sister and meet up with Bjorn. After that, we landed back in Texas in time to start school the following day.
I had my trip so well planned except I didn't realize we would be missing the Friday where the kids get to meet their teachers. Next year.
I must say, the New Jersey beach was really phenomenal. Granted, we were at the end of a small private island but it was really tasteful, not very crowded, friendly and clean. The only thing particularly weird was everything on Long Beach Island was cash only. It would be great for money laundering, not that I've been binge-watching Breaking Bad or anything.
Colorado was also lovely. It was great seeing my sister in her new place, meeting her coworkers and loving on her litter of foster kittens. I need to look into that fostering business. Sure, it's a crapton of work, but on the plus side, KITTENS. I'd just have to make sure we had a strict no keeping them policy. Otherwise, I could easily end up as that lady.
In Virginia, we also got to visit with Jennifer and Fafa. So good to see them even if it wasn't for very long. It was a good trip -- the conference to start it off was really very good, too.
The kids were troopers. I bought Kindle Fires for each before we left and those proved to be worth their weight in gold. They played them responsibly and, most importantly, didn't fight in the car or the airplane (too much). They have also gotten good at toting their old car booster seats. I enjoyed it. We have a wedding in Missouri next month that we're planning to drive to and I hope they're as well behaved on the road. My car as been in the shop since July, that's right, two months ago. Hopefully it will be back by the time we take this trip.
I'm off later this week for a brief trip for work. This work business is tricky - I always look forward to going and seeing everyone and doing the work but I get nervous on my way out the door, making sure I have everything for the trip and also trying to make sure the house doesn't burn down while I'm gone. The kids fortunately are at an age where they love it when either of us leaves or we go to dinner. That means pizza and candy and all the Kindle time they can stomach. Still, I miss them. Mostly. I will enjoy that Westin Heavenly Bed all to myself if only to remind myself how much I like it better when everyone is in ours.
Desperate for a good night's sleep since 2005.
