It Began with a BBFT

Gotta finish the 3rd installation of vacation 2014 even if it was 3 months ago. After 7 days of family vacation it was time to knock the sand off of the beach toys, to gather the explosion of stuff we managed to bring and funnel it back into the family van once more for the trek home. Although we made the drive to vacation in one day we were not about to attempt that on the way home--not with 4 very overtired kids and 2 very overtired parents. We decided to split it up and so we were able to stay a little longer on the day of departure and enjoy just a couple more hours of island time. It was just enough time for a squirrel to get into our house that Ryan eventually chased out and for Ben to poop on the bathroom floor. Thank goodness we took our time leaving, otherwise I might have missed those life events!

So, the squirrel. We had gone on a bike ride that morning and Ryan arrived back at the house before the rest of us. We get this group text picture of a squirrel perched on the arm of the couch!  So of course while Ryan was trying to deal with the squirrel we were all rapid fire texting him: "how did he get in?" "Did you try peanut butter?" "What room is he in?"  Poor Ryan. I guess one of the kids had left the door open and hilton head squirrels apparently need to relax as much as anyone so he just came on in to check it out. When Ryan arrived home he saw an open door and then heard noises upstairs. He assumed it was an intruder at first. He hollered and waited for the confrontation that was to come but the noise kept right on going. So, brave soul that he is (compared to me--I would have called 911 and locked myself in the car) went upstairs to check it out and that's when he found our friend the squirrel jumping repeatedly into the glass doors that lead to the patio. The kids and I arrived soon after and my job was that of observer of the upper deck doors (to be sure he actually left) as Ryan flushed out the tiny invader. Whew, crisis averted.

The poop. Well as any seasoned parents know, packing up for a trip--on either end--is one of the most stressful parts. It always takes longer than you think it will take and with little ones it is basically a two steps forward one step back operation. So we were frantically packing and the kids were just roaming and playing. Then my sister says very calmly (this of course if the sister of 3.5 kids) "uh Heather, Ben just pooped on the floor of the bathroom".  Sure enough, there he was squatting over a full on pile of poop about 2 feet from the toilet. I guess he gets points for trying--and for doing it on the tile floor rather than the carpet. Regardless though it was not fun to clean up.

The ride home was not too traumatic. At one point a couple of the kids were asleep and Ben reported he had to pee--well I was not about to stop for that when I had two snoozing kids (one of them being the unsinkable Jack Battles) so I told Ben he had to pee in a diaper. Ben balked at that at first but he was easily swayed by a sucker in exchange for one pee in a diaper while driving. Deal. So I somehow wedged a diaper in there, he peed, and we were good to go. Pinterest that! Thank you Oprah Mom confessions (yes, some lady peed in a diaper on a road trip so as not to wake the kids--and I for one totally get it--I haven't done it--but I get it) for the idea.

Upon arrival to the hotel we enjoyed a nutritious meal of pizza, the kids took a quick dip in the frigid hotel pool (like seconds--it was just that cold) and settled into our hotel room. We somehow got all 4 kids sleeping in various nooks and crannies of the room by 8:30. Ahh, success.

We made it home with enough time to get unpacked a little bit, start some laundry and I was even able to make it to my evening yoga class for some much needed exercise therapy.  Although my purpose was to 'get away from it all' and I was tired as all get out, my mind kept drifting to thoughts of vacation and the memories that were made.  The waves of thankfulness started crashing in. Thankful for a family that loves each other and WANTS to take the time and resources to spend a week together, thankful for time with timeless friends, thankful for siblings (and siblings in law) that love my kids and helped out with them like they were their own, thankful for time to just play outside, thankful for parents who remember the challenges of young kids and help out in every way possible . . .