Change in Plans... Already.

O.K.  Some of you may have received a letter from me telling you of our latest plans, and in that letter I mentioned that we were headed west...well, change of plans!  My dad went ahead and got spinal meningitis. So we are headed up north to MA to help with his recovery (and I need to see that he is healthy if I am to travel this road without a heavy heart.)  He was released from a near week stay in the hospital two days ago, and is still weak, but will make a full recovery.
     The journey thus far has been pretty exhausting, but mixed with little bits of fun.  Fiona and Ethan are doing such a great job with the long stays in the truck (one day we did 9 hours straight).  Scott and I have had to explain that this is NOT the way it will be once we head out on our cross country adventure.  When will that start?  Not sure.  I need to see that dad is somewhat back to normal, and we need to have some quality visits with our New England friends and family.  We also need to do some minor repairs on the trailer when we arrive.  We are still in the "pre-joy" stage of this chapter of life.  Our trip north is the "shake down tour".  Learning all the improvements we can and should make before heading into uncharted territory.  Gammy and Gampy's driveway is just the place to work on these improvements.

We tried our hand at upholstering...

The hours all rolled into one as I sewed each curtain and valance.

Ethan and Joel each signed a baseball for each other.

Kitty even came back (after a few weeks) to say farewell.

Here is our master bedroom.

Living room.

Bye. Bye. Big house.

Fiona/Ethan heart

Scott and Ethan playing catch our first night away.

First cooked meal in trailer.  Mmmmm......

Ethan's cricket named Jeremy.

Tennessee?

Memphis.

Oops, you silly trailer breaks.  You need fixing.

State park sight in TN.

So proud of our home.

Look at them!  Ahhhh.  So awesome.

"See you later you independent big kids"!

Every time I look in the mirror, I see this face staring back at me.

Tonights campground in Kentucky.  Old School.

Yay, a catch! Boo for fish.  I think I ripped its face off trying to remove the hook.

Always busy.

Waahhhhh!  I miss these kids so much already!

Jason/Duty selfie!

I Introduce..."Rolling Thunder"!

Oh boy!  Only four days and counting until take-off!  We are so exhausted.  Physically and mentally.  As I write it is 10 pm, and Scott is out tinkering with the truck and trailer...kids are still up, and I am updating the blog.  These are my first few moments to write, although it may not be too clear.  There are so many "to do" lists running through my head, and then those lists are listed according to priority, and then the priorities keep changing, and then I forget to write some of the lists down, then I forget to check things off the lists...well, you get it.  Soooo....... my guess is that the next time I update this it will be from somewhere in northern hill country Texas.

We were lucky to have the Goodwins still here to celebrate the new truck!

Scott heaved me over the threshold of our new home!

The previous owners left us a sweet gift basket.  I will miss the kindness of true Texans.

Lovely sign at the repair shop. (Don't worry, we just got new tires.)

King bed/Master bedroom

Kitchen

The kids bunkhouse.

Last riding lesson ended with their favorite...a trail ride.

The Goodwins Came, They Went, They Came Back, Then They went...again.

Oh My Gosh!  We missed them sooo much!  Those Goodwins!  The afternoon they arrived was also the FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP game to determine the little league's supreme team.  After an amazing game, Ethan's team won the championship 16-12!!  So happy that our friends were there for the victory.   Riding lesson was another highlight of the visit.  The kids enjoyed sharing their equestrian knowledge, and Mimi, Jessie, Heather and Jason loved snuggling the animals.  A group date to "The Guardians of The Galaxy" did not disappoint, and whoever got to watch as 8 people tried to find just the right seat got double the show!  Most of the time last week was spent with the kids in the pool and the adults relaxing in the shade.  Mixed with some serious parent playing and water volleyball.  Then it was time to say goodbye.  Such tight, sad hugs.  Tears, promises to see each other again soon, and a final farewell.
THEN.........
Their flight got canceled, and the soonest available leaves this Friday at 6:30!  So, back they came...after being traumatized at the airport!  Three more nights!  AND we got an additional guest.  Heather's mother had been staying with her brother, and decided it would be more fun to stay here.  She was right!!!!!  So, now we go through the goodbyes again tomorrow, except I think this time we may be more prepared.
Big happenings!  We got our truck yesterday!  Now we need to get the perfect trailer and we are ready to rock!

I've been waiting!

At the Championship Game.

The winners with their new rings!!

During Ethan's end of season party we bowled a few strings.

We will miss Coach Ben.

"Donkey; Heather, Heather; donkey"

Love at first sight.

Horse selfie!

Love at first sight...again.

Photo Bomb!

Tried to pick up the "n", but couldn't hold on to it.

Mimi

Jessie

Ethan

Mud mask time!

Look at these tiny cuties!

First sleepover in 2011.