Traveling- the night before...

Where to:
So our family is heading out for our annual Florida trip to Regal Palms. This year will be slightly different. My parents are going, as well as my brother and sister-in-law, and their three kids. Sadly, my older sister was not able to make it. 
Travel:
What is interesting to me about traveling is how different people are and "how" they travel. I stress my father out. That was evident at a recent family dinner. Traveling is really an experience in itself and personalities definitely play a role in your "traveling style". Kyle and I have been on many trips together. We have had relaxing trips, and not so relaxing trips. Inevitably the not-so-relaxing part comes from the airport. Kyle and I both have different styles of traveling. He is the type that likes to be there hours in advance. Me...not so much. I find it to be a waste of time. I would rather gamble on what I think the wait might be on security. I stress Kyle out, I get it. We are different people, different personalities. We joke that we will use separate flights and meet up at said destination. As far as tomorrow,  our flight is at 6:00 AM out of Portland. Little Portland airport. Never busy, but I swear it thinks its Logan or something. Like the Little Engine That Could. Anyhow, I wanted to leave our house at 4:00, Kyle wanted 3:30, we settled on pulling out of the garage at 3:50. Odd time, I know. Something very unsettling about leaving at 3:45 that didn't rest well with me. 3:50 I managed to be ok with. 
The packing:
How many bags should we bring? Now that airlines charge per bag, this is a carefully thought out process. Do we become the travelers that claim to have "carry-ons" that are really overstuffed mini suitcases shoved into overhead compartments that tick off the flight attendants? To avoid this, Kyle tells Devyn he will share a check in bag with her. Well, this involves him putting his things in with her carefully packed Roxy luggage. Sharing a bag is not something that resonates well with a 10 year old girl. Especially with her father. She is officially at the "age". We settled with Kyle having his own carry on, which include carefully rolled t-shirts...very uniform. Me, my disheveled pack job of a suitcase. Hey, who knows what I might need? Corbin and Landon sharing. Devyn of course, has her own. She is a girl. A girl needs her space. I get it.
Tonight:
Tonight was the usual Kyle trying to pack-things-in-the-car-too-early night. Me saying no, I'm not ready. Of course there are always last minute things to pack. Blankies, stuffies. The kids were doing the usual asking a 1,000 questions about what we are going to do the second we get there kind of thing. Little do they know it is suppose to rain and thunderstorm tomorrow. 
As far as the early morning goes, I have all of the kids clothes laid out on their floor. Dev asked to sleep in her clothes...me, being the mean mom that I am, I had to keep up my image with a fast "NO" and a "give me a break" expression. I have quick breakfasts ready consisting of peanut butter and honey sandwich squares and an apple. Corbin asked for a pop-tart for breakfast and he got the "yeah right" expression. I haven't scored the points yet, but I assume I will because I did manage to sneak in a surprise in their individual carry-ons. I made individual "emergency airplane bags" filled with fun goodies...packs of gum, vitamin C lollipops, blank journals, chips, and healthy M&M's (healthy M&M's...sounds like an oxy-moron, I know). Hopefully things will run smooth. :)
Memories right? 

25 things...

I used the Facebook trend of 2009 and my monthly issues of US Weekly as inspiration for this weeks topic. I decided to make this week, 25 things you may not know about "me". I thought it would be fun for the kids to do... a bit harder than I expected. Kids groaned a bit at first, but then I couldn't get Corbin to bed because he wanted to finish typing out his list.  My plan is for us to do this "25 list" once a year. I think it will be fun to see how we evolve, including myself. People change, interests change. Our lists should change. Or will they?? As always, Landon's post is obviously done with help, but you can see the jest of his little personality from his "25 list". 


Mama's list
1) I am a vegetarian that could be a vegan if I didn't love yogurt so much.
2) Peanut butter is my flavor. You name it. Ice Cream, pie, cookies, taffy...
3) I love reality TV. 
4) I have been pretty obsessed with yoga lately.
5) My favorite movie is the Goonies.
6) I have an unhealthy addiction to gum. I get jaw aches. In need of an intervention.
7) Pedicures are my favorite thing in the world.
8) I can't stand country music (I have tried to like it numerous times).
9) I notice spelling errors.
10) I leave kitchen cupboard doors open a lot.
11) I placed 2nd in a ping pong tournament in 7th grade.
12) I once got a $150 tip when I worked at a bar in San Diego...for serving 2 drinks.
13) Blinds that are closed during the day drive me crazy. 
14) Blueberry picking is therapy for me.
15) I can be really impatient...working on this one.
16) Ice cream is my splurge food. No baby cone for me.
17) I could browse Whole Foods for hours on end and then still do a few more laps.
18) I am a messy cook.
19) I brake for farm stands.
20) I can't stand it when drivers do not use blinkers. 
21) I have met MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) with my dad.
22) I also met a drunk Kelsey Grammer with my dad. (same night)
23) I sing a lot and it drives my kids crazy.
24) I am creative, but not a good artist.
25) I have driven cross country 3 times, but do not have any desire to do it again until I am at least 60. In regards to driving/road trips, I tell Kyle, "you drive, I'll fly and meet you there!"