I couldn’t come up with a fancy, catchy title for this post – it just is what it is. From San Diego to Disneyland to Dallas.
I’ve basically spent the last two weeks out of town, and then home for four glorious nights in my own bed, with just enough time to do laundry, go grocery shopping (well, actually Will did that – but I made the list…), run around and pretend to get caught up with some things, re-pack and head off to Dallas tomorrow afternoon for trip number three. Phew! I’m tired just typing that!
Week one was a business retreat in San Diego. It was great, as I expected. A beautiful resort with amazing people and new connections, plus a ton of training and hands-on work sessions. I have vowed to bring my family back to that place because to be honest, I was a little sad they didn’t get to come with me.
There was a whole kids club and splash zone with water slides, families making s’mores by the fire pits in the evenings, and so much other fun stuff for kids and families. Not to mention, the spa which I can only imagine was divine (I didn’t get to indulge in it this time around), and the Deepak Chopra Center (which I managed to sneak into really quick to buy a couple of books). I will definitely be returning!
Week two was a fun-filled family adventure at Disneyland. I hadn’t been there in forever, like since before California Adventure Land. Going to school down in Burbank, CA, I had an annual pass and my friends and I would go for a ride or two and then go back to school. Being back made me feel just like a kid again and I was so excited to run all over and show my family everything! I didn’t want to leave.
It was Will’s first time at Disneyland (he had been to Disneyworld), and both Zackery and Brayden’s first time too. I could write a whole post on just Disneyland, but the uber-short version is we had a blast! The boys both had their allotted meltdowns (which was by no means unexpected – I mean, hey, if I were four, had only eaten apples and chocolate milk all day, got up early and stayed up late, was sweating like crazy, waiting in line, yeah, I would be a little cranky too and might just shed a tear or sixty), and we ended up splitting up for a bit one day which actually worked out much better for the boys, but overall they were fantastic, and we all still love each other, even after the twelve hours we spent driving home on Friday. *wink*
Tomorrow I head off to Dallas for week three of travel to the eWomen Network International Conference. I’m looking forward to it, and spending the rest of today (when I’m done posting this) getting ready. Most of my packing is already figured out (I pretty much washed my clothes and folded them back up to put right back into my suitcase), and I’m not even really stressed about it (which is NEW!). I guess I have finally figured out how to organize and pack my suitcase!
I come home Sunday, and then BAM, school starts Monday. Zackery, second grade – WOW! Not sure I’m really prepared for that yet (we have all the school supplies and we know who Zackery’s teacher is, but mentally it just has come so quick). I kinda wish we had two more weeks of summer, especially since these last three I am not home. Going into first grade still felt close enough to Kindergarten that he still felt like my little baby. But second grade, that’s “real” school, the big time – Zackery is growing up and time is flying fast!
Every now and then I stop to remind myself about how far I’ve come, and why I started this blog, and what it means to me and how I’m going to keep it going. “Stories of A Mom.” That’s what it’s called. I started it more as a journal of my motherhood, especially when I was first diagnosed with Postpartum Depression. I never had any intentions surrounding it, other than it being my outlet – the place I could write whatever was on my mind, the place I could tell stories about my day and about my boys, the place I could tell my stories of being a mom.
I’m blessed that I have the opportunity to do all I’m doing, and even more so that my family supports me. I’m blessed to know my purpose.
This is still my story, and although I don’t always write funny stories about Zackery and Brayden, they are always still somehow a part of each of these posts I write. Everything I do, I do with them in mind. They are my ultimate Why. So stick with me and I promise a funny story here and there, and a serious one or two, but always a true, honest, authentic capture of one mom’s journey.
Thanks for reading,
With Love & Mommy Hugs,