Planning our "first" Vacation!!! WHOOP

I have been wanting, dreaming, researching, planning our first trip to LEAF (Lake Eden Art Festival) in the mountains of NC for almost 2 years. They have a bi annual festival full of music, art, families of hippies and a vast array of family activiites from workshops, yoga, art classes, boating, kids only activities, you name it....they nailed it. One of them, in May and one in October (the same weekend as the annual Illinois color drive.) So this year, WE ARE GOING!!!!! I could not be more excited about anything, ever, possibly, no way. Origionally my intent was to fly as tickets are fairly cheap and the festival is Thursday-Sunday....but then along came Mr Wonderful and he has his sister and brother and law and nephew just on the other side of the mountain in TN. So, we've decided to make it a long trip. We'll be going for 11 days, stopping to see my grandma in Illinios along the way and making our way south through Nashville and then on to Knoxville to see his sister before the trip.

We are attempting to make this a very cost effective trip. We are driving all 15 hours both ways, with a 5 year old, camping stuff and regular stuff. (We have to camp all 4 days of the festival). Vaughn has never been in a car for more than 7 hours. So I need all the tips I can get on packing light, creating a FUN memorable road trip with as little hiccups as possible. how do you entertain a 5 year old for 15 hours in the car? Granted, we'll be stopping and doing things along the way but thats a whole heck of a lot of driving!!! Any and all tips would be amazing! 

Here is where we are going....imagine...breathe...ahhhhhh.......cant wait!

Wow, its been so long!!!

Its been 8 months since I have blogged. 8.months. Yipes! I needed the break and now, I can try my best to keep it up again. Try. I am already forgetting things and I hate that. Vaughn, I am so sorry I have not kept this up. So many great things have happened over the last 8 months. I wont go back and try to write about them all, but some of the greatness we have had is.... You started your second and final year of preschool. My heart is so thrilled and sad at the same time to see you getting older. You are such a beautiful soul. You take changes in stride and deal with them inside. I have done all I know to be the best momma and teach you well. You love preschool Love. It. You love your friends, the teachers and the routine. You are so routine loving. I am not. So this is a challenge but you really do best under a strict routine. You ask me a hundred times a day "whats next, how many more days until..., what do we do tomorrow, when is...., whats next, after snack then what, after art time then what, after nap then what!? I transitioned from working in a corporate suite in Des Moines to working from home. This has been bittersweet. It was my goal to be able to do this. I LOVE being at home, working from my bed, making my own hours and enjoying being able to eat lunch with Vaughn and run errands and do those things. I sometimes feel she is shorted as I am still home with her but cannot spend the needed time with her becuase I am working. I am constantly setting up projects for her, giving her something to do and then retreating back to finish a job. I feel awful, so guilty and not like a very good mom. Most of the time after she goes to bed I am working for another 2-3 hours and trying to get everything done. I miss her even though she is right here. She always says "how come your one of those moms that has to work." It breaks my heart. But it is just the way it is. I am a working mom. I have her signed up for 4 different summer camps this summer and am hoping to get her into swim lessons as well so she will have something to look forward to and do during the day. We had her birthday, my birthday, Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas, New years, Valentines Day and St Patrick day. Each which we enjoyed so much. Vaughn for your birthday we had a pony party ( I will post pics on here soon)decorated in pink and gray and lace and a strawberry lemonade cake just like you wanted. You got an Easy Bake Oven and lots of calico critter stuff, dress up clothes for you and your doll, puzzles, art stuff, clothes. You were a happy happy girl! Christmas was such a blast this year. Every year you get more and more into it. For the first time this year you went and sat on Santa's lap. You were nervous. Very Very nervous but you did it!!! I was so proud of you and you were so proud of yourself! This year you really wanted the Calico Critter townhome which you got. You got your "American Girl" doll and her hair salon and arts and craft stuff and a scentsy buddy and a "ipad" (Kids tablet.) that you love. Its kept you busy on many trips, restaurant waits and daytime bored times. We did your 25 day advent bags again and rang the Red Kettle Salvation Army bells and you sang carols the whole time. It was a hillarious year as far as carols go. You sang proudly "Jank the Holes of Holy Fala." (deck the halls with bells of holly) and On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to be a Poor Bitch in a Bears Tree. Entertainment at its finest my love. You provided many laughs but just kept singing loudly! Jamison our leprechaun made his return on St Pats day and caused many shenanigans in our house and left you many fun gifts and gold coins as well. One of the biggest changes thats happened is I have met a man worthy of our time. Something I thought would never happen. Jamin and I met the beginning on December and I knew almost instantly I wanted him to stay around. He has been so incredible and I could have never written a list of things I wanted and needed in a man and ever described him more perfectly than he is. Its like he was designed exactly for me. I know it sounds crazy to say that since its just been a few months but he's been such a great person to have around. He really allowed V to take her time with him. I thought she would never come around and it took her several months to even really except his presence. He lives an hour away so is only here Friday-Sunday but she finally has in her own little way, accepted him. SHe wants him to do most things with her on the weekends now, she wants him to color, help her spell, tell her stories, read her books, answer her questions, get her a drink. Last night she said "I havent ever hugged him mommmy, do you think that would be okay for me to do?" And I said sure! She wanted me to ask him just to make sure and so he walked over and gave her a huge hug and she just beamed. I knew accepting a child would be hard for anyone who didnt have their own but he's been great. We're taking that slow for both of their goods but I think its going to be okay. He is such a great guy. I never knew what it felt like to have someone really cherish who you were or want to spend time with you or want to hear what you had to say. In the beginning I felt like everyhting I said I rushed through, becuase I didnt think any guy would really care what I said, but he does....he cares, he remembers, he asks questions. He gets me. Its the strangest thing. I never ever knew what I was missing. I didnt know what it felt like until now. It feels amazing. Anyways, thats a small recap of whats been going on. We start the kindergarten process soon for Vaughn, parents meeting in a couple weeks, then kindergarten assessments, then awanas awards night, and preschool graduation. Ugh. I cannot belive this is all happening so fast! Slow down time!!! She's my only baby!!! She's so excited for kindergarten. She's going to own it....but I'm starting to feel a bit sad about how fast its all happening. She'll never be home with me during the days again. These are the last of our preschool days. I cant help but shed tears at the thought. Lots of tears. Love her little self so much it makes my heart ache. Talk about long days, short years!