
Needless to say... the grammar polic will love this entry.
Traveling with kids is always a challenge - traveling with kids and someone who didn't raise them is challenging in a different way.
I'm sure it's the same for any single parent in my shoes. When you *have* children with someone, you kind of 'grow up' together. In the begining you're too tired trying to figure out how to breast feed, change diapers (and really - which ones are better - Huggies or Pampers? and then by kids #2, you're all "Sweet these Target knock offs are half the price!) ..... and clean your house and go back to work....... you kind of just fall into a way of doing things that probably isn't the best way - but it's the way that works just enough to make life sane.
When you add a new person to the mix, it's a bit of a shock to the parenting system. I knew it would be - both as a Mom dealing with another woman in my role in thier Dad's house - and having someone knew in my life. Even still - questions like.... "Why do you do XXXXXX......." - though just innocently asked - make you stop and wonder - why *do* I do that? lol
To be honest.... sometimes the answer is well thought out and based on either experience or something I read in a Dr. Sears book.... and to be frank, sometimes the answer is: "F*ck if I know.". lolol
(BTW.... one "new" blog reader commented that I must be angry because I curse all the time and say f*ck a lot..... no sh*t, lady. lololol. I'm not mad... I'm fairly well-read and well-educated, and *happy* - but this Mommy has a potty mouth.... that is all.)
Anyhow -Carhartt is doing great with the kids. Luke, of course is a HUGE hit. The kids have run that dog into a nap more than once..... this morning I asked Carhartt what we should do today and their reply was, "I don't know, but where ever we go - let's make the kids run behind the car the whole way there." lol
I thought to myself, but didn't dare say it outloud (don't want to go running anyone off) - 'wait until we hit their sullen, angry teenage years - we'll be missing this joyful and careful free time with them.'
The house belongs to a client of mine - it sleeps ten people with rooms for everyone (yes... everyone has their own room..... hahaha). The view is gorgeous, only a short walk to the beach and there is a park and playstructure in the community. The kids are in heaven.
Yesterday the kids and I went down to the beach with our sand toys, umbrella, blanket and beach bag complete with a packed brunch - we I just sat and watched them run in the waves and chase each other around.
It's hard to believe how much life has changed in one year. Sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my brain around everything we've been through and where we are at now. I'm incredibly grateful that the kids are doing so well inspite of it all.....
Of course, like any well-planned event, the wind kicked up super strong just about the time that we were unwrapping our sandwhiches and suddenly we were all eating a little bit of the Oregon Coast with our PB&J. I waited for the kids to reject their now gritty sandwiches when The Boy said, "Oh..... wow - there sand in my 'sand'which.... Mom!!!!" They broke out into giggles thinking this was hilarious and to my surprise, they both finished their sandy lunches without complaining. (Which was a good thing too, because in my Martha Stewart mind - I was doing to be a freakin' pissed if my heart felt like went the way of the sea gulls because of some wind! lol)
But.... there we sat, sunscreen to the hilt, sandy sandwhiches in our bellies and the kids running in the waves and I felt very very grateful that while I know there will still be hard days ahead for each of us - there will be sunny ones, too......