We sure had a good ole time in Tennessee. After being up here for a week and hearing all that twang, I can’t help but mock it when I get the chance. We started our drive home four hours ago and we have 400 miles left…ugh. We are going to stop at 300 for the night though. I hope there is a pool where we stop so the kids can get rid of some energy. Although I have been sitting on my ass this whole time, I don’t feel like entertaining tonight.
Our week in paradise went by way to fast. I really enjoyed all the quality family time. Our cabin didn’t have internet so the boys got LOTS of daddy time. Between Marc, Ryan, and my mom I don’t feel like I got to spend very much time with them. I know I will get to make up for it in the Bahamas after Christmas. They only get to spend a few short weeks with my mom each year…I might as well let her enjoy them. On the other hand, I can’t wait to have next semester off…I plan on trying to be very stress free in the afternoons and just enjoying my precious boys.
We spent the day up in Gatlinburg yesterday…it is such a quaint little town. I picked up a couple of souvenirs for some peeps and I can’t wait to distribute them. I could have gone nuts on Trish while I was there ;). Marc and I took the kids through the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. I think the boys are the perfect age for it but Aspen enjoyed it too. Their favorite part appeared to be an ongoing video of people doing weird things like swallowing light bulbs and putting nails in their nose…I sure hope none of them try it at home. 
A different kind of family portrait.
Marc, Grandma, and the boys took off after that. I stayed with Mom and Ryan…we had to stay back for a couple hours to wait for the boys airbrush shirts to be finished. We decided that the best way to kill time would be to drink at a bar…I remembered I had a $50 gift card in my purse…bonding at Fridays over sangria and beer it was. I am actually really glad I got to spend that “quality” time with them. I don’t get to see either of them very much in a situation where I get to be me, Heather, and not Mommy.
Speaking of Mom, my relationship with my mom just gets weirder and weirder. When I say that, I mean with each passing year she seems to be less and less of a mom. Is that the norm? Is it just that way because I’m a mom myself? Is it because she is newly single and aspiring to be part of this “in” crowd? Is it because she has surrounded herself with new friends whom I’ve never met AND whom are younger than me??? I DO love her and honestly that is all I know as a daughter. I DO try to be a totally different mom myself though…I NEVER want my kids to think they aren’t the most important things in my life. And my kids adore her…that is what matters to me the most. I just wish my mom would focus on what’s “really” important in life. 
2 ½ hours later – make that 200 miles. I am pissy and ready to get out of this darn car. Sometimes Marc just pushes the limit. He focuses too much on “destination” and not “availability”. For example, earlier in the drive he decided, “I’m going to stop in Lexington for dinner”...BUT we also agreed that Pizza Hut sounded FANTASTIC. Well, we passed at least two (probably within 30 miles) before Lexington BUT they weren’t IN "Lexington" so we didn’t stop :(. Once we got to Lexington there were no signs showing a Pizza Hut was near. We settled for Applebee’s and I did a really great job not being pissy or stating my irritation...“You know, sometimes when you see what you want it makes more since just to STOP”.
But now I am experiencing those feelings of irritation again. I just want to STOP. He called Marriott to see where the nearest one was but it wasn’t the right “destination”. It put us at mile mark 277 NOT 270. Really??? So now I don’t know where we’re heading OR how long we will be heading there. All I know is that by the time we actually stop a pool and in room movie won’t really matter because the pool will probably be closed and we’ll all just go to bed.
Marc, Grandma, and the boys took off after that. I stayed with Mom and Ryan…we had to stay back for a couple hours to wait for the boys airbrush shirts to be finished. We decided that the best way to kill time would be to drink at a bar…I remembered I had a $50 gift card in my purse…bonding at Fridays over sangria and beer it was. I am actually really glad I got to spend that “quality” time with them. I don’t get to see either of them very much in a situation where I get to be me, Heather, and not Mommy.
Speaking of Mom, my relationship with my mom just gets weirder and weirder. When I say that, I mean with each passing year she seems to be less and less of a mom. Is that the norm? Is it just that way because I’m a mom myself? Is it because she is newly single and aspiring to be part of this “in” crowd? Is it because she has surrounded herself with new friends whom I’ve never met AND whom are younger than me??? I DO love her and honestly that is all I know as a daughter. I DO try to be a totally different mom myself though…I NEVER want my kids to think they aren’t the most important things in my life. And my kids adore her…that is what matters to me the most. I just wish my mom would focus on what’s “really” important in life. 2 ½ hours later – make that 200 miles. I am pissy and ready to get out of this darn car. Sometimes Marc just pushes the limit. He focuses too much on “destination” and not “availability”. For example, earlier in the drive he decided, “I’m going to stop in Lexington for dinner”...BUT we also agreed that Pizza Hut sounded FANTASTIC. Well, we passed at least two (probably within 30 miles) before Lexington BUT they weren’t IN "Lexington" so we didn’t stop :(. Once we got to Lexington there were no signs showing a Pizza Hut was near. We settled for Applebee’s and I did a really great job not being pissy or stating my irritation...“You know, sometimes when you see what you want it makes more since just to STOP”.But now I am experiencing those feelings of irritation again. I just want to STOP. He called Marriott to see where the nearest one was but it wasn’t the right “destination”. It put us at mile mark 277 NOT 270. Really??? So now I don’t know where we’re heading OR how long we will be heading there. All I know is that by the time we actually stop a pool and in room movie won’t really matter because the pool will probably be closed and we’ll all just go to bed.
You are very cute pair.
ReplyDeleteGood luck you!!!