We are HOME

Okay due to a lost power cord for the laptop (how did it end up in the bottom of Tyler's bag???) I have been completely out of internet range for the past 10 days and completely unable to post! SO SORRY! Good news is we made it home safe and while I want to throughly write about the whole experience right NOW. I cannot because there is laundry to do and kids to get showered before back to school tomorrow. Believe me though I have so much to share. We have traveled over 3500 miles and spent roughly $1600 in gas. All worth it and all of it we would do again. In a nutshell it was awesome. Clint and I sitting here as we speak smiling about the memories made with our children and marveling (once again) at what unique individuals they are. We have spent 2 nights sleeping in parking lots (wow what a experience!) and have been to three campgrounds and stayed in a beautiful home in Naples.

We have expereinced the sunset on the road and on the beach...

I have been called a Yankee- thank you Nashville!

Have seen dolphins so close to us we could reach out and touch them...

And experienced the complete joy the boys experinced while deep sea fishing and actually snagging a baby hammerhead shark...

We have met princesses....5 of them! And talked to each of them about what kingdom we hail from and how much we liked our ride to Disney World in our "carriage".

All in a week!

So I have time to post just a couple favorite pics and will share more once things settle down. But we are happy to be back and are so excited to share all of the experinces we have had! And for Clint and I....well we are both a little teary eyed to know it went by so fast and as we pulled in he looked at me and with a wink said "start planning the next one Laura..." Okay honey.....DONE!

So close I could have touched it...when swimming in the gulf they got even closer...

Some moments of boredom in 46 hours of travel!

Totally enamored  meeting one of the five princesses she had breakfast with

an early birthday with Grandpa and Grandma

Baby hammerhead shark

Our fishing guide, Hunter holding my big catch- a Snook

Sunset at Bonita beach

You cannot see this flying over states. This was entering Alabama.....what a beautiful country we live in

We are ready!!

Well... a quick note is all I have time for. BUT we are ready to go. Bags packed...RV loaded and route planned. Aside from fragmented sleep from dreams of accidents and getting lost and missed deadlines and broken down rigs I am not stressed at all. I realize that this is all crazy thinking so I blame lack of sleep. Thank goodness for AAA.

Many times I have wondered why we are leaving the beautiful warm temps of the midwest to head so many hours south to more beautiful warm temps a mere 14 degrees warmer. We have been asked too- why not fly? Why drive so far? Do you realize what gas prices are? But then I realize the real reason we are doing this. The reason Clint and I have discussed over and over again...... time together as a family is priceless. In this day and age a true gift and we are both feeling very blessed to have the ability to take our children on such a great adventure. We encourage them to watch the world go by through their windows, enjoy the great country we live in and appreciate the time to stop and admire what a great big and beautiful world we are lucky enough to inhabit. Watch the people, watch the scenery, watch the cultures change and enjoy the time spent together.

In all the hustle and bustle of sports and activities and work and life we have failed to see that in the past 5 years Nate has grown into a teen (sniff sniff) Tyler has grown into a sensitive and competitive young athlete and our baby....well...she is not our baby anymore but a precocious and stubborn girl. All unique in their attitudes and personalities and all fantastic people. But we feel...life is passing us by and to be quite honest---we are running out of that precious time with our children. Once it is gone, well people... it is gone.

So here is to a great adventure. The months of planning, stress, worry and excitement have been well worth it. Are there going to be arguments? Yes. Are there going to be laughs? Yes. Will I panic once we hit traffic and assume we will hit every one in our path? Yep. To those of you we plan to see on our journey we look forward to spending time with you! To our children we say sit back, relax, enjoy the time we are spending together because we realize it is going by way WAY to fast and we hope you will enjoy the next week together as much as we do. Are memories being made? You bet. Our only hope is that at the end of the trip our kids can look at us, smile, thank us both and say "when can we go again? " :)

Till my next post on the road when wifi is available!!

The countdown is on!

Well.. the countdown is on- 7 days to go till the next adventure. I have not had time to post as it has been SO BUSY, How is it that when you plan a family get away you always seem to pick the one week when everything is going on? After a mad scramble this week to reschedule conferences for Ty, get in a concert excuse for Nate, and of course cram in Addie's conferences and get Nate's solo contest for band scheduled I think I have everything covered.... I think.....

I KNOW this is how life goes. And I know I have bumped up every appointment Clint and I go to together up so he can attend with me (remember April is spring and then I become a single parent while he is being an agronomist) ....so life just seems well... hectic this time of year even without throwing in a family vacation. But we are looking forward to it, all of it... even the 10 days together with not a single break from one another.

The housesitter has been briefed, the bags are being packed, the notes have gone to school, the home work has been assigned, the grocery list has been made, the reservations have been reserved, and after a year of anticipation, it is real! We are headed out in just 7 days. Cannot wait!

Look what is just a start of what needs to be packed when a family of 5 heads out on a major road trip!

...and that is just the start... there are no groceries in here and no games or things for the kids to do. Ipods, DSI's and kindles are being charged...believe me! Did I mention Nate washed his Ipod last weekend? Yes... in the clothes washer so after Clint and I discussed whether it should be replaced (I won- c'mon who would be the one keeping him occupied for 20 some odd hours across the US?) Nate shelled out his own money and replaced it. Minor crisis averted. He now has an Ipod again and I am at peace knowing he will be lost in his music rather than asking me over and over how long till we are there.

So that is where we are at in a nutshell. This weekend will be devoted to getting ready to leave, packing up and planning routes. I start to get excited when we see the extended forcast and it includes the date we leave (ahem...70's here, 80's in Florida). How can I complain? I will leave with a picture I saw hanging in the back hallway today when I left for work. Leave it to Tyler to always make me smile.... you cannot tell he is excited....can you? 

My beautiful daughter

I forgot...in all the excitement of the snow and basketball.... to post a great shot of my beautiful daughter as she was on the computer beside me. In her infinite wisdom she reminded me of my mistake. So this one is for you sweetie.... and let me remind you of how beautiful and smart and capable you are now and always will be... I love you! Mom

Basketball and a world of white

Well...good news and bad... Tyler has completed his basketball season and came out as the number one team in his devision. YEAH! But as we all knew would happen the snow has begun to fall making travel dangerous so we will be missing the awards ceremony today. He is not broken up about it. In fact his comment was "I am ready for a day at home mom...."

So we made it to mass today.. stopped for groceries and are now enjoying an afternoon at home to pack and prepare for our cross country trip in a mere 12 days! (Maybe I should be working on that and not on this?)

I am posting a couple of shots of Ty's last game yesterday. They won by 10 points and Ty scored double rebounds in the first half on offense and defense both. What a guy! Playing his heart out....

3 on 1...is that fair?

and a few of the world of white we are now living in...peaceful and so QUIET out.....but I hate to shovel the stuff.

Even  Cowboy wants to say hello....

So I have my soup in the crock pot and Clint is settled in to watch his race. All are ready to hit the road for warmer temps in the coming weeks. We say good bye to a great basketball season and get ready for a much needed reprieve before soccer starts in a few short weeks. I think we all are okay with one snow day but with 50's predicted the rest of the week.... I think in our house we are all thinking spring!

An oldie but goodie.....

I came across this today while clearing old videos from the computer. My absolute FAVORITE video of Addie.. I believe she was maybe 2 when this was taken. Enjoy! (for some reason I cannot POST it...but have to share the link.....)

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/8f261e58aafebf9c3f61c5bcd404d5f7/video/134353641