Day 26 - June 26, 2010

June 26

After we stayed up till midnight (again) talking about the early days…meeting Mike…and the small little things that happen to put people in your life that lead you down the path…to your children…yes, we can get deep, in the midnight hours….Rich promised me he wouldn’t crack the whip in the morning.

He was true to his word.  But he felt that the late hour, 10 a.m., when we were packed and loaded….necessitated our skipping breakfast in favor of a sit down lunch…somewhere in the middle of Kentucky.  I agreed, with a concession for coffee…although the troops were not to happy, so I negotiated breakfast bars for them.

The Blue Grass Parkway, in Central Kentucky, is beautiful.  Even I, not much of a nature lover (unless it involves a coastline) marveled at it.  When you look long enough, it really does look like the grass is blue!  We stopped in Danville, KY for lunch at O’Charley’s.  With the exception of Hunter literally running into a waitress, sending one of her food-filled plates flying…it was a peaceful lunch.

                                                                                           

I read on the way, finished The One That I Want, by Allison Winn Scotch.  Loved it.  It really made me think.  I love books that make me think. 

So, before I knew it, we were trudging up the pebble road to Rich’s parents’ house, “Smithberry Farm”.

They had a blow up pool already for Bear and the rest of us just exhaled.  Dinks, dinner, chill.  Nice.

After dinner we, we took a ride around the property and had so much fun.  Even me!  I can’t quite explain it, but the pictures sure do.  After our ride, we had Birthday Cake for Daddy.  Good day!

Miles traveled:  E-town, Ky to Rose Hill, VA    201miles/4 hours

Lodging:  SmithBerry Farm

Silly Band Award:  Barrett

Quote of the Day:  Audrey, “I’m going to write a book someday, all about my brother…it’ll be about fighting. “  Swear. To. God.  History Repeats Itself….

Day 25 - June 25, 2010

June 25^th

We’re getting lazy.  I’m okay with thatJ.  By the time I finally opened my eyes…at 9 a.m., Rich was gone (with the car) so we were kinda stuck.  The continental breakfast would have to do.  We arrived so late, that we had the whole “café” to ourselves.  Hunter and I watched ESPN together (and the thrilling recap of the Red Sox/Rockies overtime game).  A nice, lazy morning.

We got back to the room and I read while the kids watched TV…in no time, Rich knocked on the door, to take us to lunch, at 11…uh-oh.  Lunch?  We went with him, but none of us really ate.

After we dropped him off at work, I took the car for an oil change, followed by a trip to Funtopia Park.  It was hot.  There were only a few other kids there.  We didn’t even last an hour, before their four sweaty heads and red faces asked to go back to the Hotel.  I was planning on showers and then another Barnes & Noble trip, but Rich had given me a cable for internet access (my wireless hasn’t been working) and once I plugged in…I lost track of time.  How sad is that?  I really hadn’t had serious internet time all trip. I felt really bad, but the kids weren’t really complaining either….because they got some serious TV time.  Junkies.

We picked up Rich from the office and headed to Mike and Dana’s for dinner.  Mike and Dana are (were) the owners of the company Rich works for.   Years ago, back in Lauderdale, Mike was a client for ORIS technologies (where Rich and I met).  Eventually, Mike hired Rich away…and moved us to Atlanta.  He was our first Georgia friend and we spent a lot of time together as a threesome in our pre-married days.  Mike was a groomsman in our wedding and met us in Tampa, when we had the big TTTS surgery during my pregnancy with the twins.  He’s a very good friend.  Family.

Early in our marriage there was another new company, which purchased a Kentucky company, owned by Dana.  Mike and Dana fell in love…and the rest is history.  They’ve been very busy growing their company over the years (and Mike moved to Kentucky when they married), so we don’t see them near enough.  They’ve been extremely good to Rich over the years and spending time with them is always fun.

Their home, “Bowerberry Farm” is gorgeous.  The house could easily be featured in any number of design magazines.  Dana has excellent taste.  They also have pool…so the kids, after storming their house and barely saying hello, jumped right in.  They were occupied, so the adults were able to visit.  It was so relaxing…the kids were really good, too.  Mike took them all for ride on “Henry” – his macked-out golf cart – even let them drive.  They were in heaven.

I think we probably overstayed our welcome!  I looked down at my watch, while Camden was sleeping in my lap - and it was 11 p.m.  Time flies when you’re having fun.   We found Mike on his front porch, scratching a sleeping Audrey’s back, holding Barrett on his lap, showing Hunter the stars.  Family.

Silly Band Award:  All four….Miss Dana gave each of the kids their own BAG of silly bands.

Quote of the day:  Camden, “No, I want to stay home, mum.” – when I told him it was time to go to the Bower’s.  Poor guy is thinking of hotel rooms as home.

Camden, “On Monday mum…no, no, on Tuesday.”  - when Miss Dana asked him when he was going to be potty trained.

Day 24 - June 24, 2010

June 24^th

Okay, so I woke up with the worst headache!  I don’t know if it was the birthday drinking, or the intense stress I felt just being in that “condo”.  I dragged myself out of bed….got the kids up and dressed and took Rich to work.  He told me to have a good day, but looked at me with such pity, knowing my day would probably be spent…there.

Oh no it wouldn’t!

I couldn’t take it.  I drove to McDonalds for coffee and food for the kids.  It was close to I65, where all the hotels were:  The Fairfield Inn & Suites, Baymont Inn & Suites, The Ramada Inn, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta, Best Western, Days Inn…hell, even Motel 6 was looking good.  I felt like I was looking at mirage in a desert.  I had to find away…but I didn’t want to just show up, unshowered, looking for a room.

Back in Hell…I couldn’t bring myself to get in the disgusting shower, in order to “clean-up” for my hotel search.  Of course we didn’t have any internet access…no phone book, either.  So I called my brother for help - if this doesn’t show desperation…I don’t know what does!  He went on-line and couldn’t find any rooms, so he started calling hotels for me.  On the third try, he found a hotel that has ONE room available.  It took two seconds for me to say, “Hell Yeah!”  We’d make it work.  The Ramada Inn it was.

It was time to start packing, which took a while.  I managed to make everything fit in our already crowded car…including my cleaning supplies and the seven pillows we’d bought the night before.  I wasn’t leaving them behind.  The Ramada didn’t want us till 3 o’clock, but I wanted to go check it out.  Once bitten, twice shy. 

But first…I was going to get our money back.  Truthfully, I was a little nervous.  Rich had described the “innkeeper”, Gary, as a Boss Hog type.  I also wasn’t sure if he had any kind of agreement with Rich’s company…so a scene might prove to be trouble down the line.  But….we were also talking about a property that should be condemned…and our money, dammit!  On principle alone, I was gonna fight, if I had to.  I really didn’t want to…but I was ready, if need be.

Rich wasn’t off in his description of Gary.  I placed my key on the counter and told him that we’d be checking out early.  He looked at me, like, “whatever.”  Then he looked at the room key and pulled our registration card from his little box , studied it…and then stared back at me.  I took a deep breath (maybe puffed my chest out a little) and stared right back.  It was about a 10 second stare down when he said, “I guess I owe you some money.”  I replied, “I think you do.”  He credited my card….and I left.

The kids and I did our high fives in the car, at this point they’d totally bought into the “dump theory” and Audrey told me that, “So far, Kentucky was the suckiest place we’d been.”  I told her not to give up hope…times were a changing.

At the Ramada (to hear Hunter’s pronunciation…you’d think we were going to a city in the Middle East!).  I pleaded my case to the Front Desk Manager and she had mercy on us - gave us TWO rooms, connecting, at a $79 rate.  I felt like I hit the Jack Pot!  Almost…we couldn’t check in till 3:00p.m.

So we went to the park, Barnes and noble and Subway….and then it rained, so we parked at the hotel and waited.  But eventually….we got everything in and the rooms were more than adequate.  It really felt like the Ritz….perspective!  We all took longs baths and showers and felt reborn!

We picked up Rich and told him our surprise.  He was shocked, but relieved and couldn’t believe that I’d handled all the luggage, on my own.  What does he think I did over the last three weeks? I am woman, dude.  Then I told him I got our money back…now that really surprised himJ - happily!  I was going to tell him an exaggerated tale of how I did that, but thought better of it.

We had dinner at Michael & Janelle’s house.  I finally got to meet their son, cute little Payton.  He’s three months younger than Cammy.  They, surprisingly, got along well.  I thought for sure, Cammy would pout and give ‘tude…but don’t ever underestimate the power of Tom & Jerry.  Janelle and I caught up over drinks while Michael & Rich played pool in the basement.  I was so proud of Barrett…he was so good (even though he pooped there…twice!...really stunk the place up).  But when he started to fall asleep in my arms around 10:00…I called No Joy.

Quote of the day:  Audrey, “Except for all the Colts stuff, it’s a really cool basement.” – reporting on Michael T’s man cave.

Silly Band Award:  Barrett

Lodging:  The Elizabethtown Ramada….heaven!

Day 23 - June 23, 2010

June 23^rd

Richie’s birthday!!!!  I magnanimously let him sleep in while I packed and loaded the car.  How sweet am I?  Also, I really have my own system after 23 days and I didn’t want him messing with it.

Ed was asleep when we left, so coffee and breakfast on the road.  We had a bit of a drive ahead of us, but our last long one.  We stopped for lunch somewhere north of Dayton and south of Cincinnati, I took over driving so that Rich could work.  We rolled into Elizabethtown, KY about 4 o’clock (8 hours).

We made reservations at Pine Valley Golf Resort…a condo where Rich had “lived” in 2003, while working on site at his company.  We’ve stayed there many times over the years.  In fact, the last time I was in E-town, for Rich’s 40^th, I stayed there with the kids.  Well let me tell you, the place is now a DUMP. Oh. My.   God…Disgusting!

Smelled. 

Various walls & doors had holes

Cracked door frame

1/4 inch of scum in the tubs

 Toilets not cleaned

Questionable yellow, streaked stains on the walls (beer, urine?)

Questionable brown stains on the bathroom door

Thick dust on most surfaces, or surfaces not wiped

Sheets that had not been washed.

As I write this, I cannot for the life of me figure out why we didn’t run.  To be honest, we didn’t immediately notice everything.  We had to unload all our stuff, which is a lot.  And the kids were so excited, thought they were at Buckingham Palace ….it’s all about perspective.  Then we started looking around.  We’d booked the condo because of the space: 2 bedrooms, living/dining, a full kitchen and a washer & dryer.  And it was only a $100 a night…trying to save money.  The Fairfield Inn, would have been over $700 for two rooms for three nights (shocking) and they couldn’t guarantee connecting rooms…they were almost sold out (and I again have to ask, like in Columbus, why was this town such a Hot Spot?).

In retrospect, all of the above in no way justifies our snap decision to stick it out, other than the fact we’d had to PREPAY for the room.  Hello?  Red Flag!  I know Richie really didn’t want to load up and then unload again…and it was his birthday, so I wasn’t going to argue.  What we needed was vodka (check) and bleach.  I was off to the store.  I spent $70 on cleaning supplies, laundry stuff and various disinfectants.  When I got back, Rich had already started a load of sheets…and said we were definitely going to have to buy pillows…he shuddered as he told me that.

We spent the next hour scrubbing and washing, but I couldn’t shake the hibbie jibbies.  All the while, the kids are running around lake maniacs….rolling on the floor, chasing each other, laughing…while mommy did her best not to throw up.

We went out for a lackluster Birthday dinner.  I felt so bad for Rich.  He kept asking me if I was okay…I said it would build character.  We got home and put the kids to bad.  Camden was the only one who was truly safe, in a pack and play.  Rich & I then drank some wine…trying to fortify ourselves, neither one actually wanting to lie down and sleep.  We reminisced about when we used to stay here and how little the boys were and how scared we were about the future and what would happen….never envisioning then, that we’d be okay and that Pine Valley would become a dump in seven short years. 

Miles traveled:  Detroit, MI to Elizabethtown, KY  434miles/8 hours

Silly Band Award:  Cammy & Bear

Quote of the day:  Aud, to Cammy – “You want a booger?  Cause I got a booger factory up my nose.”  As a mother, there are no words.
 Cammy – “Ahh…I ripped my diaper.” – nonchalantly, after Hunter sang the Sponge Bob song.

Lodging:  Hell

Day 22 - June 22, 2010

June 22^nd

When we woke up, it was raining (the storm woke me during the night), which scrapped our plans to go to a water park.  So the morning turned lazy and I caught up on writing, downloading pictures and paying bills.  But, sometime during my second cup of coffee, Barrett and Uncle Eggie had a “disagreement.”  Barrett thought that Uncle shouldn’t be using his computer (Ed works from home) because Bear had plans for surfing the net.  When we successfully got Bear away from the computer…he made sure to be loud enough, that Eggie couldn’t talk to clients on the phone.

It was time for Plan B.  Showers and the mall.  Fortunately, Rich took mercy on me and said we could leave Bear behind with him (which ultimately cost him and Eggie quite a bit of work time).  On the way to the Mall, the sun came out…so we tried to keep our visit short.  Then Kelly & I stumbled upon a sale at Lord and Taylor, so we stayed longer than anticipated.   To compound our savings we were hitting up fellow customers for coupons, which made me feel a little juvenile.  (Saved some money, but still. ) In the meantime, the natives made us pay for it, too...with atrocious behavior.  We probably scored coupons because fellow our shoppers wanted us out of the store. 

Once we got home, the kids all hit the hot tub, while the grown-ups had cocktails and appetizers.  Edmund made another fabulous dinner…shrimp on the grill, crab cakes, salmon, grilled vegetables and tomato salad.  Delicious.

It was a quiet day, a quite night.  It was what we all needed after a couple crazy days.  It was nice to end our visit on a peaceful note.  Tomorrow we are Kentucky bound.

Silly Band Award:  Cammy…so sweet today.

Quote of the Day:  Hunter - “I’d like to have a reasonable amount of coke.” – after mommy poured him what was, apparently, not a reasonable amount.

Quote of the Day 2:  Hunter, to Kelly, after she asked him if he was ready for 4^th grade. “I’ve had my challenges in third grade, but I am a master at arithmetic.  I think I’m ready.”

Day 21 - June 21, 2010

June 21^st

Well, everyone seemed to be in a much better place when we all got up this morning.  Thank God.  Typical family drama….just sweep it under the carpet (where it will fester for yearsJ). 

I love my sister-in-law. She absolutely Rocks!  I am so blessed to have Kelly in my life.  Kelly is the most patient, honest & caring person I know.  She is truly nice.  How it is that she didn’t turn and run for the hills when she met all of us, I will never know.

Kelly and I took the kids to the Detroit Zoo.  They were so excited when we got there - told every person whose path they crossed that this was “their first time at the zoo.”  I’m such a bad mom.  I’m just not an animal person. 

The Zoo was cool, but the animals were not cooperating.  It seemed as if every exhibit we went to the animals were passed out asleep or totally OUT OF VIEW.  Audrey was totally bummed because there weren’t any Elephants (apparently the Zoo couldn’t afford to take care of them anymore) and the Lion exhibit was under renovation.

 We ate lunch at the Zoo’s outdoor cafeteria where, surprisingly, peacocks were roaming free.  They actually came up to us at the tables, begging for food.  It was unsettling for me (I’m not a bird person either).

Oh, I did forget to mention that the chimpanzees were cool.  They were in mating season and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.  It was sweet.  But the kids were much more impressed by the fact that they chimps peed and pooped for them.

After we put in 3 hours, we rode the zoo train and left.  Quick stop for ice-cream and the a few errands.  By the time we got home, Ed and Rich were in excellent moods…yeah!  We hung out on the deck, Kelly and I indulged in some champagne while the kids all played in the yard.  We grilled lobster tails and watch Kid Rock on the CMTs (dvr-ed).  It was all good.

Quote of the day:  “OMG, Gross! – Aud, after the peacocks solicited our table.

Silly Band Award – Four way tie.

Day 23, June 20, 2012

Day 20 – June 20, 2012

Pittsburgh, PA

Wow – 93 degrees in the Steel City.  Finally…nice, hot (I’m crazy, remember), summer weather.  Patty’s kids all had swim lessons/meets in the a.m…so I hung with the kids at the house and continued my laundry.  Then we packed lunches and headed to the pool (In Pittsburgh you don’t have neighborhood pools, you “join” a pool). 

Well, this pool was huge and had a diving board.  The kids were in hea-ven.  But of course there are lots of rules, which Bear didn’t like to follow.  So there was a learning curve, but we got into the groove.  It was a great “beachy” afternoon.   In Pittsburgh, people!

It gets betterJ.  We went home for an early dinner and then took all the kids into the city. What a pleasant surprise.  Pittsburgh is a very pretty cityJ…seriously…see the pictures below.  We took the kids on an incline train up Mt. Washington, which offers a great view of the city.  Beautiful. 

Then we went to Station Square, which gave us the ground view of the city.  We fed the kids ice cream and then walked along “the fountains”….and eventually, the kids were soaked.  Oh Well.  Everyone was happy.

Not a lot of juice to share today - just a good day.  I was, sadly, reminded today that life is precious.  So I didn’t much care when Barrett didn’t follow the pool rules, or if they got ice-cream all over their clothes, or got soaked in the fountains.  I’m going to enjoy the chaos.  I am very lucky.

Thank you Patty and Family.  We had a wonderful visit!  Back to Ohio tomorrow (and a visit to West VA) & Auntie Kiristen.

Playing Headbandz

Playing Wii

Bear getting ready to dive

The Steel City

Allie & Patty - with our 7 kids!  NO WAY we imagined this in 1993!!!!

My 3 sons:)

Waterfalls gone wild

Soaked!

Day 20 - June 20, 2010

June 20^th

Father’s Day!  Although, momma slept in - big time.  By the time I got up around 9 a.m., most everyone was on the back porch cocktailing…I kid you not.  Oh boy!

The guys were supposed to tee off at 7:15, but they overslept and missed their time.  They next available one was at 11:30…which meant “the women” were basically on duty, all day.  It was Father’s Day.  Kelly wanted to plan an excursion, but Jan wanted to stay put.  I was on the fence, but the thought of entertaining 7, at home, all day….daunting.  Later events, however, forced us to stay put.

I was making beds and folding laundry, when I asked one of the kids, “Where was Barrett?”  They told me he was outside with his dad.  I went out….garage door was open… the dads were gone.  Damn.  Here we go again. 

I ran through the neighborhood yelling for Barrett (at one point, I could hear him yelling his name back).  Jan & the girls covered the golf course and Kelly alerted the neighbors.  I was scared, obviously, but mad….because the guys had left the garage door open when they left for golf.  I had secured the front and back doors, so I thought we were good.  Once we found Bear, I’d also find out that they actually sent him inside to tell mommy to take his sweat shirt off, before pulling away (and not closing the garage door).  I have no idea what they were thinking.

Fair nor not…I was mad…at everyone.  And scared.

Ed & Rich returned to help in the search and I got predictably hysterical….all the houses had open garage doors, so I was terrified.  Twenty days on the road, twelve states, most of the time…on my own, and I never lost him.  Two days at my brother’s (most of the time…TENSE), six adults – and he’s gone. 

We found him….Jeff did.  He’d made it across the fairway to the clubhouse where Jeff was.  Son of a…

My day was shot.  You can’t help but feel everyone’s pity and god-knows-what-else-they’re thinking.  It took me well over an hour to come out of my room.  Bear was laughing at me (I wouldn’t let him leave my side) and that really ticked me off, as well as broke my heart.

The rest of the day was a blur of screaming kids, wet towels, meal prep and frozen cocktails.  Kinda sucked.  When the guys came back, Rich – inexplicably - was not talking to me.  Oh-so-much fun.  He seemed to get over it by the end of the day and Ed’s attitude started to thaw as well.  I’m not sure if it had everything to do with the alcohol or with true forgiveness?  Whatever...

The Cochrans left after dinner and I went to bed soon after.

Quote of the day:   Bear, while in the hot tub, after I asked him if he was having fun.  “What?  Are you crazy?”  I hear ya!

Silly Band Award:  Cammy-Bo-Bammy