Where the GREAT ROAD TRIP OF 2010 ends

Rather than retell the story of how our road trip adventure ended, I thought it appropriate to post the email I sent to my friends in Dallas. 

Hi, my friends.



So, my plans have changed drastically. . .

With Rip in Nashville, the kiddos and I embarked on a lengthy road trip a few weeks ago to end our summer. Being stuck inside with the insanely-hot temperatures in Texas was making us stir-crazy, not to mention the fact that we were missing Rip like crazy, AND I was losing my mind trying to keep the house clean so it would be ready for any showings. Since we had nothing on the calendar (I stopped tutoring at the beginning of August), we decided to take an adventure.


We took two memorable days and drove to Nashville (via our old stomping grounds of Little Rock), spent a week with Rip in his apartment, then drove north to Indiana to visit my parents. The plan was to stay with them 6 or 7 days. drive back to Nashville to see Rip for a long weekend (and go to the Titans game tonight!!), head to St. Louis to see Jacqueline for a few days, then get back to get Mason into school. He would have been a week late, but that was our plan.


Over a glass of wine last Saturday, my mom was asking me about our plans for the next weeks and months (with Rip being in Nashville, us being in Dallas, him trying to come back and forth, house hunting, etc.), and she threw out the question that would change my plans: "have you considered staying here?" she asked. No, I had not, but I started to right away. . .


And after careful deliberation, a phone "meeting" with Ripper, and an Excel spreadsheet to compare all our options, we decided to in fact stay in Indiana and enroll Mason in Kindergarten here. We'll be living with my parents while our house is on the market, and Rip will stay in an apartment in Nashville. The biggest plus to this situation is that the boys and I are only 5 hours from Rip as opposed to 10, which means he can make the drive up and see us (mostly them!) every weekend. Being separated from him has been hard on all of us, and this will ease that a lot. Additionally, having the support of my parents will be such a nice change from me being alone with the kiddos more often than not!


It was a hard and sad decision because it obviously means we left town without knowing we were leaving for good, and we didn't really get to prepare emotionally for it. We'll be back at least a few times. . .Rip and I are coming Labor Day for sweet Christina's birthday, then we'll return once or twice before eventually moving.


I miss my "life," but know that this was a really good decision for our family. I am very much looking forward to coming back next weekend and hopefully seeing you.


Here are a few pictures of Mason's first day of Kindergarten. He is going to the same elementary school I attended 30+ years ago, and believe it or not, he has one of my old teachers for his morning class, and one of my old babysitters for the afternoon class. :) Not a lot changes in small-town Indiana, and that's a nice comfort right now.


Hugs and love to all. See you next week!


KR
 
So there is the update!  One day I was making plans to drive back to Texas, and the next day I was frantically looking for a backpack, a lunchbox, school supplies, and Mason's medical records.  We moved into my childhood home, and are enjoying so many facets of life in Indiana.  The small-town feel of community, the leaves on the trees turning amazing hues of red, orange, and yellow, the smell of corn being harvested from the fields, the freedom to let our five year old play outside for hours on end without fear of something happening, spending so much quality time with my parents and having them really get to know our kids, the sounds of the locusts and the creek as we fall asleep at night, running into old acquaintances and reconnecting with dear friends. . .the list goes on and on.  We are happy, healthy, and as well-adjusted as possible, considering Rip and I are still living in different states, BOTH of which are different than the state in which we own a home.  Chaotic, but temporary.  

AND we are HOOSIERS!  WE LIVE IN INDIANA!



The Hoosier State

By day nine of the Great Road Trip Adventure of 2010, we were in my home state of Indiana.  It had been two years since I'd visited, and I was SO EXCITED.  And I think it's safe to say that the kiddos were excited to get out of the car!

Once we got to my parents' house, the real fun began!  "Grammie and Grandpa" were ready to play all weekend, and we had BIG plans!  First thing on the list?  A trip to Arni's, the BEST pizza joint ever, then to my dad's high school for a Friday night football game.

Next, a relaxing day swimming and playing in the pool.  To be out of the ridiculous Texas heat and instead in "normal" heat (90 instead of 105) was a great change!  I'm proud to report that Mason finally learned to swim by himself over the weekend, which was awesome!  Go, Mason!

Of course, we couldn't imagine leaving Indiana without a stop by the Frozen Custard for a fruit drink.  I'm sure that place also has delicious custard, but I can never bring myself to order anything other than a good ole' fruit drink.  Yum!  While we drank the refreshing delights, we walked around the little zoo at Columbian Park, which was free, clean, and a great way to end our day!  Although Brody Boo wasn't too thrilled about the petting zoo. . .

The last thing we HAD to do before leaving Indiana was go to Barb and Eric's.  They have been family friends for 25 years, and Barb has always been a special person to me. . .kind of like a bonus mom.  They live on a farm, so there's a ton of fun stuff for the kiddos to do there.  Eric took us all for a ride on the Ranger, and Barb made her "famous" Cowboy Cookies.  MMMMMMMmmmm.  My favorite for the last 25 years. 



At the end of our first four days in Indiana, we started thinking about leaving on our return trip.  Ugh.  We were almost two weeks into our big road trip adventure, and the next leg of the trip was all about getting back to Texas.  Via Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, and then home to Dallas.  I hated the idea, and kind of dreaded returning to an empty "husband-less" home, but Mason needed to start Kindergarten, so we had to get on the road soon.  



"I Wanna be a Cowboy. . ."

(Okay, honestly, I want to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. . .unless they're looking for middle-aged moms with zero dance experience, zero flexibility, and jiggly thighs. Don't think they are.)

However, Mason really does want to be a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He regularly tells us he's going to "Dallas Cowboys College" rather than the suggested Purdue or Texas A&M. I hope he does, indeed, get accepted to that prestigious college. That would solve any lingering fears I have about our retirement funds.

Wow, I'm all over the place.

Here's the point of this post. . .Rip scored four fabulous tickets to the Cowboys game; we took my dad and Mason, and had a blast. For one quarter. Then Mason started climbing on our laps, playing on the floor, and asking for a foam finger. And begging us to play "Rock, Paper, Scissors" instead of watching the game. His "fun-meter" maxed out, I guess. We left just before halftime, but were all so impressed by the new stadium.

Everything was amazing. . .soft cushy seats, a 50 yard long television screen, Tony Romo, the shops and food venues, and watching Mason's first NFL experience. And, of course, the cheerleaders.

(So, if I can't be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, at least I can get an answer to this very pressing question: "How do they flip their long, fabulous hair around like that, and have it still look amazing? What's the trick? Seriously?")

F is for French Fries

French fries? Yea, I know. Rather pathetic.

BUT, let me explain.

I had some good ideas for "F." "Friday," "favorites" (I even had Mason go around the house and take photos of his favorite things. Too bad I never got around to uploading those pictures!), "family," "football," "fall," . . .seriously, I had some good ones.

And then Dad showed up.

My dad is so awesome. He is fun-loving, energetic, full of happiness, easy to get along with, and has the best heart. He loves his family and my mom like crazy, and possesses a unique ability to be simultaneously goofy and respectable. He also eats junk food like a kid and will use any excuse he can conjure up to ditch his normal diet of yogurt and carrots for something yummier. I think he would even trade his firstborn for a bowl of ice cream. (WAIT, that's ME! Dad, don't trade ME!!) Anyway, Dad and I were upstairs with the kids, just catching up and hanging out, and Mason was writing the letter "f" on his little chalkboard. I was trying to be all educational when Dad said "you know what 'f' is for? FRENCH FRIES!"

Thanks, Dad.

So, clearly, that had to be followed with an outing to McDonald's for Happy Meals. There was just no way around it at that point! I'm pretty sure Dad was secretly jumping for joy when he heard me say it was "f" day. He had a plan the whole time! Clearly, Mason wasn't too upset about the turn of events.

I'm fairly certain Brody would have voted for "F is for Fall" so we could show off our festive decorations, but he didn't seem too upset either. He got some "Mommy Time" while Grandpa and Mason went to McDonald's.

And I even got a salad delivered. I think that's a pretty good FRIDAY.