Back to Reality

The return from the winter holiday is one that is always faced with trepidation!  The truth is that I missed my kids like crazy but life went on while I was gone with a few little kerfluffle's along the way!  We all survived! Some of us learned our sunscreen lesson well (didn't even look like I had gone anywhere warm!) and some of us just love sporting the red lobster/zebra stripes!

The week flew by while we were gone with many beautiful (and some not so beautiful, think mankini's, well-endowed topless ladies with questionable bottoms) sights!  Some unique ones?!

Iberostar Resorts are known for their Activity Leaders but this guy took the cake!  Introducing Lenny the Chicken who one day paraded around the beach dressed as a chicken, complete with standing on top of one of the Palapas!  We also saw him dressed as Rambo, the Terminator, a Southern Belle and Darth Vader!  Always a good laugh when Lenny was around!

We went on 2 wonderful excursions, one to Santo Domingo (bucket list item) to see where Christopher Columbus' remains are and a trip to a National Park complete with a boat ride through the Mangroves and a visit to a cave!  Each day was a long one and ended with a fabulous beverage at the Lobby Bar.

During the week I managed to read 2 of the book Club books on my list, one trashy romance (Danielle Steele is a vacation must) and started to read what I thought was a book club book only to find out it wasn't! Oh well!  What do I have to show for this - an extremely sore butt!  My butt is not used to being stationary for long periods of time!  Once my aching butt and ADHD got together I spent time wandering through the resort grounds.  In the middle there was a duck pond (for lack of a better word) with turtles, flamingos, ducks and a "killer" swan.  Any time you stopped and looked at the pond it would swim back and forth in front of you.  Reminded me of the swans at Lilac Resort that used to chase the kids down the road!

You can see it in his eyes!  Killer -  I swear!

Towel art is always a pleasant surprise when you are staying in all-inclusive and I have to say this resort was no different!  My sock monkey had to photo bomb this one, but its still my favorite!

On the Monday before our return I received a cryptic Facebook message from our 16 year old stating, "K may have cut Z's hair".  May have cut her hair? Didn't think there was any room for maneuvering in that one! You either have a haircut or you don't!  Of course knowing our scissors are kept up high and out of reach, I asked the obvious question, "Where did she get the scissors?" to which the answer was, "I think school".  Oh boy!  Just a small little blip to deal with when we get home!  The best of the week was still to come!

The last full day that we were in the Dominican we spent some time at the beach, dreaming of the next beach vacation.  

That night we took a stroll down there to get a sunset picture but of course were moving on Paul time so instead we got a lovely shot of the moon!

As we left for the airport our bus followed a large truck filled to the top with pineapples!!  We were sad to leave but excited to get home and back to routine.

Upon arrival at the airport our oldest daughter met us to give us a ride home in the swirling snow.  When I asked how bad the haircut was she replied, "It could have been worse!" and then asked if I had heard about our oldest sons antics!  Ummm, no!  What would that be?  Of course he took the opportunity of having the house to himself to invite his new girl over, who wouldn't?!  Well he is now grounded until he is 30 so he probably won't be doing that again!  And yes the haircut was THAT bad!!!

As we sadly put away all our summer wear for a few more months we are thankful for the opportunity and ability to travel, to have some lovely people to have watched kids for us and the return of a happy digestive system.

Welcome back to reality!

Roller Coaster and The Panic Sets In

The last two weeks have been a roller coaster of teenage drama that most days makes me want to climb into a blanket fort and not come out EVER!!  I remember all the drama that I caused my parents growing up (love you mom!)  but it sure doesn't make it any easier when you are in the midst of being called foul names, told that you've never done anything worthwhile for them and that they don't consider you their mother.  BREATHE and THIS TOO SHALL PASS (painfully but it will pass) has been the mantra for the last two weeks!  My mom tells me that it will get better but I tell you some days I'm not sure!  I love my children dearly and I'm sure she will grow up to be an intelligent, strong woman but like I said some days that blanket fort is calling my name!  New semester, new start next week so here's hoping it all goes uphill from here!

In three more sleeps we are leaving on our first ever warm holiday without my best friend, Stacy and her husband Hermann which makes me sad, but last week our reservation for summer camping came which makes me happy!  As we rush around making the "master schedule" for all the respite providers that are making this possible for us (thanks Marge, Rachel, Michael, Sylvia, Savannah, Lori, Annie and anyone else I may have forgotten), making sure that I have everything I need to be gone for a week (and that it weighs under 40 lbs!), groceries bought etc etc etc I begin to think of our past vacations.  Cuba last year where I was sick for most of it (then came home to puking kids), the family trip to the Dominican (where some things happened that no mom really needs to know about!) and our very first one to Cancun many years ago.  I decided that I would write about that one just to remind myself about some of the lessons I've learned along the way!

We started our trip to Cancun in the wee hours of the morning, having to be at the airport at 4 am.  Maybe drinking at the social the night before until 2 am wasn't the best idea but it was fun!  We managed to sit with our partners on the plane but not all 4 of us together!  My friend Stacy didn't realize that it wasn't me sitting in the seat in front of her but that was part of the fun!

After our otherwise uneventful flight we arrive in Cancun and wanted to hit the beach first thing.  The bottle of sunscreen says "Apply generously before sun exposure".  Of course I did exactly that!  My significant other laughed at me.  He had no idea that I would have the last laugh!  There we are sitting on the beach with a tropical bevy in hand, sun in the sky - what more could we ask for?!  All was good until he stood up and I just about peed my pants or swimsuit in this case (really wish digital was in for that trip!).  As he stood up the rolls on his tummy straightened up and he looked like a cross between a lobster and a zebra!  Bright white lines where his rolls were!

What the bottle doesn't say is "Apply generously and evenly!"  A lesson that I apparently need to learn! Check out that nice white spot!  Lesson learned!

I'm off to do some more packing!  Here's hoping that it all fits in the suitcase!