Getting to Emerald Isle 2012

We’re traveling for a few weeks this summer. Unlike last summer, we’ll only be in NC.  The rough itinerary is:

6/21 – Durham

6/22 – Hubert

6/23-6/30 – Emerald Isle

                Karl to Sound to Sea Camp

                Lindsay & Katie (niece) to Cottonwood Stables Camp

7/1-7/7 – Winston Salem

                Karl to Sawtooth Art Camp

                Lindsay, Billy, Katie (niece), & Bradley (nephew) to Camp Oonie Koonie Cha (music)

7/8 – 7/16 – Emerald Isle

7/17 – Durham

Fortunately, we are able to be away from home for 3+ weeks without too much impact to our regular lives. Unfortunately, plane tickets were more expensive this year. Fortunately, we had an awesome house sitter lined up for the week Gerry planned to be with us. Unfortunately, Gerry is not attending this summer’s excursion because during the confusing planning phase there was some miscommunication over the dates and unfortunately, Gerry put the wrong week in the work calendar. Fortunately, this allows him vacation time for Webelo Week in the Woods in July and Disney in December. Unfortunately, he has many house projects lined up. Fortunately he’ll have time to get a good start on them. Unfortunately, I’ll have all 3 kids for 3+ weeks with little help. Fortunately, they are seasoned travelers. Unfortunately, flying to the east coast with 3 kids is the equivalent to taking them all shopping for 6 hours to Costco. Fortunately, I have a good friend who will put up with us for the night so that we don’t have to drive an additional 3 hours as soon as we land. Fortunately, my mother will pick us up from the airport and help me herd cats. Fortunately, my family already loves me. Fortunately, God made wine. 

3 day recap

Packing for a trip this size takes a full 2 days of gathering and arranging. When the children are around, this kind of packing is not recommended for the weak of spirit. 

Billy: [10 minutes after lunch] I’m THIRSTY!

Karl: [10 minutes later] Can I play Little Big Planet?

Lindsay: [10 minutes later] Where’s the glitter?

Billy: [10 minutes later] Can I have some gum?

Karl: [10 minutes later] Have you seen my pocket knife?

Lindsay: [10 minutes later] Can I get out my sewing machine?

Billy: [10 minutes later] When is it my turn on the computer?

Karl: [10 minutes later] When is it my turn on the computer?

Lindsay: [10 minutes later] When is it my turn on the computer?

Me: ARRRRGGG! I NEED TO PACK!

There were lots of arrow prayers along the lines of, “OK, God, I know you have this.  Please help.”

Wednesday, 6/20 3:30 pm – Fire in the Corrales Bosque. It was about 5 miles from the house so all packing was halted in order to watch the news and answer phone calls. By the time we left on Thursday, we couldn’t see any smoke. I know the firefighters worked hard to get it under control.

Wednesday, 6/20 7:30 pm – Just after I resigned myself and Lindsay to the fact that her hair would not be professionally braided, Tasha called. We zoomed over there and left, happy and braided, at 9:30 pm. Fastest braiding ever. Looks amazing regardless of speed. Very tired girl.

Thursday, 6/21, 5:23 am – Alarm. Snooze.

Thursday, 6/21, 5:30 am – Alarm. Must leave house at 7:00 am with fully dressed and fed children. Where is the coffee?

Thursday, 6/21, 8:30 am – Security Checkpoint. Miraculously there was no line. Miraculously, we were shepherded thru the non-full body scanner. Miraculously the very kind TSA agent suggested Billy must have a medical condition to need this half-full bottle of water. Miraculously, everyone could get on their own shoes.  Miraculously the plane was on time.

    

Thusday, 6/21, 1:00 pm – Midway.  Billy was a complete crab. The combination of early rising plus too much salt water taffy plus sitting next to Lindsay (“You’re not in charge of me, Lindsay!”) equaled too much for him. When he’s like this, he can’t follow directions from anyone.  And Midway was packed with travelers. I had to throw him over my shoulder and march him to the bathroom where I threatened to throw away all his Matchbox cars if he didn’t pee. 

"Go Pee!"

Thursday, 6/21, 1:10 pm – Midway.Text from Southwest saying our 3:30 flight would be 2 hours delayed. I nearly cried. So I slog through the crowds to the gate, at a minimum hoping for a plug for the DVD player and maximum hoping for a play area along the way, and notice they are boarding an earlier RDU flight.  Miraculously there was no line. Miraculously they had seats for us. Miraculously they held up the B’s to let us board. Our luggage didn’t make it, but who cares?  I picked it up later! Also, I got my wits about me and separated the big kids and the little kid.

Thursday, 6/21, 4:00 pm – Duke University Campus. We walked through the chapel and along the quad. There were many camps in session. It was really fun to watch the kids in their groups. Lindsay & Billy took the opportunity to chase the slow, dumb squirrels. We simply don’t have them in New Mexico. They all climbed their first magnolia tree and quickly came down due to fear of non-familiar bugs.

Thursday, 6/21, 10:00 pm – Gaca Home. Kids in bed, finally. Took the opportunity to catch up with my college roommate, Ana. I love having friends with whom you can pick right up where you left off. Her kids are great fun, her yard if full of amphibians and reptiles, and no one wanted to leave in the morning. Asleep at 12:30.

Duke Gardens, 93 degrees/90% humidity

Friday, 6/22, 5:45 am – Gaca Home. I can no longer take any more from Billy. After a night full of ‘scratchy’ back and legs, and complaints about not being able to brush his teeth with his finger like Lindsay (long story – she wouldn’t use the toothbrush I brought), I just got him dressed and took him to the kitchen. This child completely lacks the capacity to be quiet. His Talking Time is first thing in the morning. Am praying for lots of grace today.

Friday 6/22 10:00 am – CC, the kids, and I go to the Duke Garden.  You could not hear the bird chatter in the lovely Blomquist forest due to the loud complaints from 4/5 of us about the humidity. It has been 1 year since sweat ran down my back like that. This weather makes me very happy I live in the Southwest permanently. I bribe the kids with a smoothie from Costco and trick them into eating a hot dog before stocking up for the beach. It took longer than anticipated because I couldn’t find anything.

Lindsay:  There are lots of Brown people in Costco today.

Me:  More Brown people live here than at home.

Lindsay: [thinking about this for a while]

Lindsay:  I like this Costco. It’s backwards.

Sadly, we decided to leave Durham and head straight for CC’s instead of going to the pool for a swim.  Billy was beyond tired.

Friday, 6/22, 1:30 pm – I-40

Billy:  Zzzzzzzzzz

Me:  (hurray!)

My nephew, Bradley

Friday, 6/22, 3:45 pm – Hubert. Arrived at CC’s where Jamie promptly showed up with loaded fishing poles. Those were three happy kids. They caught 30+ fish including one very large blue crab from the dock. (For all you eye-rollers, the answer is yes. It could have been the same fish over and over.) I took the opportunity to charge my laptop, unpack/repack, and cook dinner. Ahhhhh!

 

Saturday, 6/23, 12:00 pm – Emerald Isle.  After a very nice visit with Patsy, we suited up and headed for the beach. It’s gorgeous here. Truly. We unloaded, ate lunch, then headed to Fort Macon for the cannon shooting exhibition.  The Fort never disappoints.  See last summer’s blog entries for details. We then hit the beach for a rough swim. Thunder storm. Dinner. Bed. All delightful.

General Summary:  I am very glad to be here.  I am very glad to see so many distant, yet beloved friends and family.  I am exhausted already from parenting by myself. A tired Raban child is a disobedient and sassy one.  I must remember to do the opposite of what I want to do – hug instead of yell, speak gently instead of fuss, pay more attention, and stick to the bedtime.