Whew!

I am back home after an exhausting trip. The baby did great with all of the flights & travel, schedule upheaval, multiple people wanting to hold him, etc. I got to spend time with my mom, aunt, grandma, brother & fiance, as well as several other relatives I hadn't seen in many years. I wish the cricumstances would have been different, and it was a bit difficult being there looking out the window at the river where grandpa had drowned, but I'm very glad I went. It was really good staying in the house I grew up in and because my brother was so little when we moved away, it was neat to relive stories and recreate some of those memories for him and his wife-to-be. Let's face it, she wanted to hear more about his childhood and I do love to talk. LOL

Home, however, didn't seem to fare so well in my absence - I was gone 4 days and although I am very grateful for my daughter being able to handle the kids & care for them, I can't understand how it never occcured to someone to sweep the kitchen floor, run the dishwasher or wipe off the table!  Not to mention, the huge thunder storm they had here on Thursday night that sent a bolt of lightning that blew a hole in our pool, completely draining it after we just spent $2000 repairing it a few months ago and into the house through the phone lines poping the phones, internet, satalite & one of the tv's.  Sigh.  It's always something. I was also just informed by #5 that no one gave them a bath the whole time I was gone either. Bad, bad daddy! Now you all understand why I never take a vacation by myself.......