Michigan

We’re headed back to Missouri from our week in Michigan today. We’re on hour twelve and still at least four hours out.

The van, packed to the gills with ten people and two dogs and the luggage for all and camera equipment for the photo shoot Blaine had to do while we were there, is a less than pleasant place at the moment. Stellan is over it, Beckett clearly ate something she shouldn’t have and is making us all suffer with the stench of its after effects, one of the dogs shredded an entire roll of paper towel all over the floor, Stellan’s water cup is missing, Elliot needs the bathroom every thirty minutes, and everyone is cranky.

One day, vacations will be restful and pleasurable and enjoyable. Today is not that day.

Memories. I’m not sure they are all good, but we’re making memories. I’m doing my best to remain positive so their memory isn’t of me being a crank. Stellan has the position filled, anyhow.

The kids had a blast with their cousins. I got a much needed week with my sister in law, encouraging as it is to visit with someone else walking this mothering-and-homeschooling-many road that I’m walking. It was good. Chaos, but good.

We stopped at Lake Michigan on the way home. Stellan was unimpressed with all of life. The others enjoyed it.

Wednesday we got to go boating with friends of my in laws. The kids had a blast. Elliot was told to smile. She’s a clown. But she bravely climbed on a tube too. She loved it.

There was an air show at an air base near my in laws last weekend. Very, very cool.

Stellan thought so too. He slept through much of it.

Monday, we begin school again. Tuesday begins co-op. Blaine travels for work Sunday- Thursday and will be gone. So… here we go again. Life. School. Children.