Sixteen weeks

Eight to go? Eight weeks seems long right now but way better than eight more months like so many others. Time has flown in Virginia so I'm hoping this trend continues. I bet those thirty hours of driving coming up will go so fast! Or not. Sean suggested that I start blogging in all caps to go along with no formatting, for the full on crazy ranting style that I so adore. I couldn't figure out how to do that in an efficient manner though, sorry.

Still no photos

Blogger and iPad hate each other and I understand. They both make me mad too. I may not get the new laptop until I get home, just a huge hassle. But then there will be too many photos... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hard for me to do email too, poor Sean is really neglected these days. We also try and do FaceTime on Pop's iPhone but it isn't the same as doing skype whenever we want. I find it fascinating that iPad corrects all the apple product's names with weird capital letters, so important, but always thinks border me is what I mean instead of Nordstroms. Yes, border me is having a big sale starting tomorrow, right?? Also, arch is how I type Argh these days. I am embarrassed by how often I use those words. Anyway, to replace my emailing habit I bought some books, so no worries, the children are still neglected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We did return to discovery ridge again today, more bungee trampoline and rock wall and zip line and tubing and whining from Anna. And then an expensive lunch at the Edge which they barely ate so I made them finish it for dinner. I am having hard cider and cookies. Clearly on vacation. Last cool mountain day tomorrow, then off to Leesburg to see Caroline and Andy. My best emailing friend Lisa is coming up to meet us from Ft Bragg, haven't seen each other in person in seven years! Nothing to catch up on, just want to have fun in person. I think we are going to try the air and space museum. Kids loved it three years ago, room for Patrick to run. Then food and shopping. Monday we head to Perrysburg, Ohio to see other ND Julie and her four kids, all of whom have been born since I saw her last. Makes sense since that was when I was in her wedding ten years ago and I only had a baby Megan then. Eight kids together, that won't be insane. If we drug them. Then if the kids are good we will venture into Michigan. A last minute decision. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am sad to report that Food of All Nations baked goods are nothing like the Albemarle Bakery. A good thing though since I have worked out maybe twice this whole trip and frankly those were just walks which I know 90 percent of people do not consider a workout. Meanwhile Sean is in pre-Julie shape from endless time to workout and changing to a healthier diet. No worries, I can continue not buying bacon and Dr Pepper when he comes home.... The problem with holding your music festival in a tent on a ski hill is that obnoxious children play on the balcony of a condo nearby. I sure hope the opera people tonight do not hear them as well as I can hear the music.... I had to break out a new movie that I was saving for the car trip just to get them quiet inside. I did break this into many paragraphs so if this shows up as one long crazy rant, blame iPad. I am of course crazy but I still have some writing skills.

Random mountain stories

I will try to make up for lack of photos with stories I have skipped. Pops has been taking the kids out for individual time with him and Anna was the first to go. They did not have time to get a photo but they both said they were glad the other was there so everyone would believe that they saw a bear up here at wintergreen. Of course we know bears are here but this was the first keenan sighting I believe. They were in a car at least. Another story took place the morning I was driving here from Nashville. Nana was having her coffee on her porch when she saw a fire through the trees. Now remember, this was back during the Colorado springs wildfires so caution was the plan. Nana went and woke the girls up and they took a few minutes to evacuate... With their little backpacks of stuffed animals. Side note to Sean, the girls have more animals now even though I pledged to never buy one again. Anyway, the house through the trees had been struck by lightning in the night and then the fire slowly built up until it broke through and pretty much burned to the ground. Thankfully no one was staying there that night. No, someone's moving truck was on the way, due that day. Unfortunately they had unloaded all the stuff that went in their car though, you know, the stuff you don't trust with the movers. That's about it for excitement I think. I am so used to the crazy drive up and down the mountain from doing it so frequently that I'm annoyed by the rookies. Drop your gear and time your braking appropriately... The kids used to complain about how long it takes but now they are used to it too. 2000 miles so far, some pretty rough ones at that. Oh we did go to a restaurant tonight, I guess it is a brewery, and not only did they have family friendly live music but they always have a bounce house out along with some playground equipment. A good combo for success. Plus they have deep fried Oreos on their menu. I don't even like Oreos but as always, deep frying makes everything better. Enough for now, need to get the kids in bed before the loud people upstairs start their nightly party. Kids can sleep through it, but won't fall asleep during it.

Anna's anger issues

While I was hiking Saturday morning with Bridget, Anthony, Leo and Ashley (photos someday), Anna tricked Nana into thinking she could use my laptop. The Internet is slower here and when some game wasn't loading fast enough she bent my screen in anger. Now I can see one corner of it, the rest is pixelated which iPad is telling me is the wrong word but whatever. It is jacked up, got it? So now I can't do photos or Skype on this iPad, which is the first version. I thought about getting a new one when Sean left so he could take my old one but he got an iPad 2 instead. I was being practical and frugal. Well, now I get my new one anyway and Anna will be banned from all computers for years, until she needs to do something other than games and watching shows. I hate how much she was on anyway and was going to throw down new laws after this trip, but now I have a real reason to do it and she can't complain. Even now whenever she starts causing problems I just say laptop and she scrunches her face and stops being naughty. I plan to use this technique indefinitely. Oh and I told them Disney is postponed now because I need to pay for the new laptop. We recently decided to put that off a few months for other reasons. But now the kids can blame Anna, haha! Anyway, long story short is that I hate typing on the iPad so blog posts will suck for a while and no photos until the new laptop which I want to get this weekend in dc.

Up the mountain

Photos and Friday night festivities post later.... for now just a recap of the drive from Stoney Creek to the Wintergreen mountain resort.  25 minutes of Patrick begging me to turn his light on so he could play with some little treasure he snuck from Nana and Pops, followed by 5 minutes of sleep where he missed the house all lit up Christmas style.  Then when we got to the condo I woke him up and started carrying him inside.  He protested that he could walk and then he climbed back up in his car seat, buckled himself, told me to shut the door and fell back asleep.  I thought he was just doing that so he could unbuckle and get himself out which is typical behavior, like when I open the door for myself and walk through, only to be ordered back inside so HE can open the door for me.  Anyway, no, he was confused and thought we still needed to drive up the mountain, didn't understand that we were at the condo.  He perked up inside, wanted to stay up as late as me and then promptly fell asleep after getting changed.  Easiest bedtime ever.  Hoping tomorrow after Starry Nights at Veritas Winery goes as smoothly!

15 weeks

I feel like I'm keeping track of a pregnancy, but NO, it has been 15 weeks since Sean left.  At the latest, he is getting on a plane home two months from today.  I am voting for a postponement of the one and only real mission they've planned because some crap is going on in Kenya that does not work well with foreigners traveling.  If it's postponed then he could catch a flight two weeks earlier.  Sean doesn't think that will work out but I can still hope.

Either way he gets home around the time that I start having two days a week with all the kids in school from 9 to 2:30.  I can't help but be anxious for this summer to get over.  Any time I've had to myself since Sean has left has been costly so I am sure to use it wisely.  That's a lot of pressure to be productive.

The kids are sleeping in this morning and I am on the patio surrounded by music festival.  Took me a while to realize the violin is directly above me.  Piano is across the ski run in the white tent.  8am, these people do not mess around.  I need to go get my sweatshirt.  Not missing Kansas heat, just missing Sean!

Not an African Safari

We went to the drive through safari zoo place yesterday and apparently took nonstop photos because it took me ages to go through them.  I didn't get one of anyone getting bit though, such a disappointment for you all, sorry.  There was also a great zoo for us to walk through in between trips through the safari.  Unfortunately Emily decided she hated her new shoes and I had to carry her.  Anyway, the photos for poor Sean who did not get a blog update yesterday...

 Help yourself!  They sure did.  I didn't get photos of the camel taking not one but two buckets from us.  He just kept his head in the car until we gave up the second one.  It was a big drooling head.

 Pops and the big girls drove in front of us and here they are getting surrounded.

 I let Patrick ride in the front seat with me and Nana.  We were told not to feed the zebras and I remembered well the ones in Texas who chewed up the side mirror on the old mini-van.  (In case you were wondering what that was from, Andrea).  So this one chewed on my windshield wiper, argh!

My, what a small car you have.

 I want this trash can just so people know I'm not quite right.

Now this is a fun job, weed whipping some African cat cage.  Look closely, the cat is in there and knows who is boss apparently.

Moments before the giraffe changed from licking to nipping.  Patrick is still talking about how he thinks the giraffe was picking it's nose with its tongue.  You know he was jealous.

Who likes Tweety Bird enough to get a big tattoo of it on their back?  I am judging?

Everyone loved the parakeets, so much that they fought over them.

A quote from one of them to Pops after he coaxed a green one onto a stick, "But I wanted a blue one!"

Megan got a blue one and I bet someone else was pissed about it. 

 Clearly this is a cat-cow.  Check out the tail.

Not sure why the pot bellied pigs were mixed in with the llamas but they were pretty cute.  Let the record show that I didn't run over a single one either.  It was close.

So proud to be standing in the front seat.

We stopped at the Pink Cadillac Diner in hopes of ice cream.  Slim pickings due to the power outage recently.  Notice the old jukebox keeping with the 50s theme and then the Ms Pac-Man next to it.  I feel so old realizing that Ms Pac-Man is vintage now.

 Of course King Kong was outside the diner.  Kids had no idea what it was.

Climbing the tortoise for Nana.

Random filler

I have a lot of safari photos to go through so in the meantime here is some filler.  Also I would like to mention that I am on the porch and it is chilly!  Feels great and I can't hear the children.  I should put them to bed but I don't want my cider to get lonely out here so that will wait a bit.  Nothing planned for tomorrow until 5pm when we get to go down the mountain to MEET ANTHONY.  No pressure or anything, Bridget.  Also, no whispering sweet nothings to each other or we will embarrass you.

And now for random photos that Anna took and then some from the lake here where we didn't think we needed swim suits for the kids because it was cool up on the mountains.  And sweltering at the lake.  We didn't stay long, just long enough for Anna to soak her clothes.

 Super Nana!

Are these two working together on something without fighting??  Shocking.  I'm sure it only lasted a few seconds.  Notice the tongue sticking out in concentration.

Discovery Ridge at Wintergreen

 Emily finally went into the indoor bounce house but then got kicked out because she refused to keep her socks on.  She does hate socks.

 Cheating at skee-ball which I guess doesn't matter as much when there are no tickets for prizes.  The girls weren't interested in it like they are at Dave and Busters so I know it's all about the prizes for them.

 Patrick also liked to throw the skee-ball, not roll it.  Refused all my suggestions on how to play.

 Outdoor bounce house thing.  Finally wasn't too hot to use it today.

 Megan on the bungee trampoline thing that only makes me a little nervous now.

 Emily was being so good there today, just sitting at the table and coloring.  Perhaps she read my recent post about how naughty she has been with sneaking away and locking doors.

 I think this is Anna's favorite activity.  I kept it on the DL that she threw up last night, didn't think the bungee guy would appreciate that...

 We finally figured out that Patrick does weigh enough to go on it too.  He was very serious about it.

 At first he looked a little green, I thought he was kind of freaked out.  He refused to respond when we asked if he was having fun.

 Finally at the end he was smiling.

Wintergreen Resort may rethink their "family" policy for benefits after they figure out how many kids and grandkids are on that Keenan gold membership.  My kids now think it's no big deal to go do bungee trampoline and wall climbing and bounce house and game room since I let them do as much as they want.  I don't pay a dime and it totally tires them out.  Nana paid for some zip line and tubing last weekend but I don't have those photos yet.  I explained that was a special treat as I prefer the stuff that's included on the card.

Some overlook on that road

I pulled into an overlook so I could actually enjoy the view without worrying about plunging down some cliff.  The guy in the hat explained that the memorial cross by the tree behind him was for a college guy whose knot came untied while rappelling down that cliff last year.  My list of hobbies to avoid keeps growing.

Clearly I am not a big risk taker because I wouldn't even let the kids out of the car to check out the view from the overlook.  Nana was with them in the car listening to them protest loudly.

More for Sean

Excessive posting these days to keep Sean entertained and so he knows what we're doing with his family.  Keeping busy is what we're doing, anything to wear the kids out is my motto!  Today we went to some place up on some road (I am awesome with details), perhaps the Blue Ridge Parkway? 97% of my readers have never been here so I am just going to make stuff up.  Anyway, amidst the construction were some old buildings so we could see how people used to live in this area.  Kids loved touching everything and climbing through it all.  Nothing broken or stolen, a successful outing.

 I can't believe Patrick didn't notice the gun above the fireplace.

 Emily thinks she is still a baby so here she is wondering how she can climb into this cradle.  I thwarted her attempt.

 This was a hand's on place but after Anna couldn't stop touching this instrument they may rethink that policy.

 Checking out the chicken coop.  Emily came after them and noticed that there was still a chicken inside, which then charged at her.

 She thought she was getting away with something because I didn't stop her from chasing the chicken...  which I knew she couldn't catch.

 Come on, guys!

 This shot totally creeps me out.  Discuss.

Modern construction crew which kind of spoiled the ambiance. 

Stir Crazy Dress Up

Trying to pass the time this morning I suggested Patrick go put on a fashion show for us.  This was after Emily did her own show for no other reason than she is really into changing outfits these days.  I should mention that she is also really into sneaking away and being naughty these days.  More than once I caught her locked in the bathroom eating toothpaste or playing with toilet paper.  I do not like this turn of personality.  Anyway, the fashion show....

And this is Emily thinking she is "crazy" with that headband.

Feast Day

In The Holiday Cameron Diaz goes shopping in this little gourmet shop soon after arriving in England and she fills her basket with all sorts of treats and wine.  The check out gal makes a comment about how someone must be having a party and she's says "oh yeah" as she swigs some wine.  She is heading back to her house swap home all alone, until Jude Law shows up and makes it the best vacation ever of course.  Anyway, minus Jude Law, I had that day.

Pops took ALL FOUR kids to a movie by himself and spent a small fortune at the snack bar.  Nana and I went to Charlottesville for some shopping and time away from children.  As always, Feast was a highlight and since I obviously don't get there often enough, I loaded up my teeny cart with my favorite candies and dips.  Several people made comments about how they would like to go to whatever party I was having.  Umm, yes, it's just me.  Ha ha, like I would share this food with kids who are thrilled to get Skittles and Sun Chips!  I would feel bad about how much it cost except I spend more on kid food and at least half of that is wasted by them at each meal.  Trust me, none of this will be wasted.  I intend to save some of the candy until Sean gets back.  Of course, I was informed that can be shipped to me any time so I may just restock in September.  Oh, I may have popped into Albemarle Baking Company next door too...  Definitely do not have a bakery like this back in Manhattan, although for long term weight management that might be a plus to not living near here.

Not a very artistic arrangement here, I was more focused on tasting tonight.  I did split the chocolate bomb thing with Megan after the littles FINALLY fell asleep at 9:30 and while Anna took her shower. Megan deserves treats for all the help she gives me, plus she has the most advanced palate of the bunch.  I think the fruit dessert will be breakfast...  Not included in the photos is the box of desserts that don't need to be refrigerated.  Hey, the days are long.

Home base for two weeks

We rented a condo for a couple weeks up on the mountain and checked in last night.  It is a nice updated one, not sure if it had been cleaned or not, some confusion with the property manager.  We seemed to be the only ones in the building until someone showed up late last night in the unit above us. I'm sure they are just thrilled to hear my kids ramming around this morning.  I tried to keep them quiet but there is a limit.  Oh and the dryer isn't working which will interfere with my laundry hobby.  But, the heat wave has broken and the clouds are rolling in, a nice change.  And it's good to unpack for a couple weeks.  We are right by the ski lift, thinking Patrick needs to go run up and down the hill...