On the road again!

This weekend was the Kandray family reunion out at Uncle Bob's campground. We love it there and got to stay in a really great cabin with the Bush's. I was not looking forward to the traveling and the being-away-from-home part, but was very excited to see everyone. Getting away is great, but traveling week after week after week with two small children and a pregnant crazy woman (who is myself) is not always restful! All week I could not bring myself to start packing again. Monday I got us unpacked and back into routine including school, , Tuesday started the laundry and the cleaning and continued and as the week went on we got closer to Friday and no feeling of urge to pack came! Friday morning I could put it off no longer so i went crazy making lists and assembling stuff. I tried the pregnancy sit for 15 minutes work for a while, sit again- that is a LIE! It did not help at all!! I was exhausted on Friday as if we'd already left but had to pull things together anyways. We left a bit late and grabbed some fast food on the way. It's almost 3 hours to the campground and I forgot to tell Gary that the one bag was all car activities/toys. About an hour into our trip he pulled over to retrieve it because even me climbing into the back with the kids did not bring me close enough to get it myself. I purchased a dry erase board a few weeks ago to be used for our school sessions- something new for Tyler to practice his writing with other than boring pen and pencil. I'd brought it since he loves his reading lessons which have writing in them (the part he hates and wants to skip). You know, just in case... so I gave him that, well about an hour and a half into the trip I turned around to see Grace coloring her window with her crayon. I also noticed faint blue marks on her face and began freaking out. I then turned to Tyler and he had written on his door, his face, and the headrest of the seat of the car with his dry erase marker. I. was. livid. Gary and I had a miscomunication on how to discipline and when which probably turned otu to be a good thing. My emotional state was very on edge when we arrived to the campground. We got settled in the cabin and went over to where everyone was congregated. After giving a "really good, thanks!" to everyone's "How are you feeling?" was ever so thankful to be able to just sit by the fire. The kids got to play on the new playground with Grandma and Pops. After smores and a few of Tyler's little bursts of "personality" we decided to head back to the cabin. It was a a little after 9 and the first test of my descision to not stress about them not sleeping. I knew they wouldn't. I'd just resigned myself to it and tried to make peace with it before we left. I forgot, however, to make peace with the RESULT of them not sleeping. After jammies and a show we got them into beds, Gary and I relaxed in the hot tub for about 20 minutes (yes! This is camping! TV/DVD player, beds, hot tub!! YES!!!) and visited with the Bush's and went to bed. I was sick that evening and did not get much sleep. I was awake enough to konw Tyler did not fall asleep till after midnight, Grace shortly after 11 and I know they both woke before 7 AM. We had breakfast and got ready amid questions of "WHEN CAN WE GO TO THE PLAYGROUND!?!?!". Gary and Steph went with most of the rest of the family to another reunion down in the Pittsburgh area. We'd already decided not to go and while it would have been nice to meet some extended family of Grandma's, I was very thankful Gary was ok with missing it. We did play on the playground and played basketball and soccer. Gary and I got to have rare converstaions with each other and both of the kids, we enjoyed an easy lunch or sandwiches and then played in the huge yard in front of the cabin. We took them in for naps at the normal time and it took them awhile to calm down but eventually they did go back to sleep. We had grand plans of gettign them up, letting them play more and wearing them out before bed that night too, but rain came. The 25% chance for rain turned into green in the radar from where we were back west through Ohio. It rained starting around 3 until early this morning. For all I know it's still raining there! Gary and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon watching DVD's and reading and resting. I remembered why I so badly want to live in the country someday. We had the windows open and a cool breeze came through, we could hear the rain on the roof, and nothing else. No bass thumping and rattling the windows as cars went by, no fire alarms, no ambulance alarms, no police alarms, no women screaming across the neighborhood at thier kids, no toddlers riding their bikes in front of our house screaming back, no teenagers down the road playing basketball and yelling to each other... just quiet. Nature. Leaves rustling, rain, distant traffic, birds, crickets... quiet. It was wonderful! We got the kids up and dinner assembled shortly before the Buhs' returned. We gathered with the rest of the family at the pavilioin for Pap's Bacon Roast and dinner and a birthday cake for Pap. It was crowded and sad because of the rain but wonderful to just be with family and do what we do best. Talk and eat. I made the kids stay out of the rain much to their dismay but my wonderful husband chose to entertain them most of the evening and so they were content. Not happy mind you- they wanted that playground!! They didn't sleep much again last night but it was fine. Today we were all pretty tired and crabby but we got up, got packed and got on the road. We didn't rush but we did leave an hour earlier than we thought. There was just no sense sticking around with the kids acting the way they were. I was quite embarassed to be honest since the Bush's got to see us in all our sinful glory. The car ride home went better than expected and without major incicdent. We got home and unpacked and all napped and now, it's time to think about dinner. The kids are outside right now playing in the sunshine and Gary is on the porch watching them and reading. We had a great time, but I think our travels are over for the year. We still have plans most every weekend through till the baby comes but i'm going to really try to make them all day trips. We've had another summer of travel but i've reached my limit. So have the kids in many ways. :) We've met most of our obligations, seen a lot of people and had a great summer and I'm ever so thankful for the opportunities. I wish we could do more and be more places but time has run out on us. Pray for Gary as school starts up again here soon in full swing. Classes don't begin until September but he's already got staff and teachers returning wanting a piece of him and his time. He's worked so hard this summer and put in SO many volunteer hours (as has Ben) but a lot of what he does is unseen. He will need some supernatural energy to deal with school getting more crazy, and me getting more crazy as the baby gets closer. :)

Pray also for Sue as she continues her journey with Lukemia. http://gccofalliance.org/index.php?page=family-updates

Continuing to pray for the many other needs of those we love!!