The excitement of A) Amanda’s graduation and B) Not committing hari-kari after 16 hours in the car

Dear Sara & Kelly,

We made it.  30 hours round trip to Auntie Amanda’s college graduation, and we made it.  Old Doubtful (aka Mommy)..well, she had her…doubts.  She threw up the red flags.  She waved large caution signs in front of Daddy for months.  “THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO WELL.  They cry on the 1.25 mile trip to Wal-Mart.  Sara won’t sleep in her OWN BED, let alone a HOTEL!  A HOTEL!!!  JUST IMAGINE THE CHAOS!  Entire nations will crumble from the echoes of our exhaustion.” But neither of us could stomach the thought of missing Amanda’s graduation, so we decided to give it our best shot.

Meet obstacle #1, he shall be ours…

I used to be a traveler girls.  Before you two were born, I lived out of a small black suitcase that was so road-worn, it had a nickname (Dr. Bag, you sweet luva’ you).  I see other families travel.  I assumed I was just doing it wrong.  I’ve watched in stunned silence as friends took babies to Mexico.  Cruises, Disney World, family reunions…pipe dreams as far as I was concerned.  We’ve had road trips so painful that I’ve watched the speedometer, telling myself if Greg pumped the brakes even once, getting us down to around the 70 mph mark, I’d jump out.  Drop and roll girls, just drop and roll.  We’ve taken trips that were so full of screaming and non-sleeping, we’ve come home early.  We rarely leave a 60 mile radius from this house.  We have our memories of China, Prague, malls located on the other side of the city…and they will keep us warm.

Apparently Ernie will be in the Christmas picture this year

So, with our GIGANTIC new computer screen attached to a tiny laptop holding your 40 favorite videos, the minivan packed with entirely NEW and EXCITING snacks (as soon as Kelly found out the fruit snacks were shaped like Snoopy, it was GAME ON as far as she was concerned), Daddy and I held our breath and backed out of the garage last Wednesday, once again praying for a miracle.  And somewhere on that first 10 hour leg of the trip, you two were transformed.  Morphed.  Changed into…TRAVELERS.  For the first 8.5 hours, neither of you made a peep.  I read an entire book.  Daddy and I did a little brainstorming.  I drank a whole cup of coffee.  While it was hot.  I don’t do that at home.  I’m not going to hold the last 2 hours against you.  It was midnight.  You brought real effort to the table, and that should count for something.

Tassled, stoaled, and otherwise decorated

Basically, I’m not sure whose children we had on this 7 day adventure, but I’d like to keep those kids.  You smiled.  You ate.  You played independently.  You behaved in restaurants.  You walked and tolerated adults having conversations as if you do that every day.  EVERY DAY…just imagine that world.  And while our sleeping arrangements varied night by night, based on what we all agreed might work for you both, for the most part, you both slept.  I don’t think either of you cried during the entire trip.  Seriously.  I’m not joking.  I don’t even think that’s possible, unless someone was sneaking you, or me, serious mind-altering medications.

The girls learn that Big Eddie does not, in fact, eat popsicles

Watching you have fun has changed this entire spring for me.  I don’t know where my funk came from, but this week, you lifted it.  Sara, you couldn’t stop beaming from sheer excitement.  I wish we could have snapped a picture of your face as you grabbed Auntie Amanda for the first time since Christmas.  It’s as if you were healed.  The world came together for you in that moment.  Kelly, you were extra-flirtatious, if that were possible.  Grandmommy and Grandaddy became your “Goo-Mommy” and “Goo-Daddy”.  You must have squealed “I Wuv You Pop Pop!” about 100x.  Uncle Randy is probably bruised from the hugs you gave him.  And well, I don’t know how to say this, but Ernie, I think you’ve been replaced.  Auntie Amanda introduced us to her new beau, Ross, and for Kel-belle, it was love at first sight.  Her answer to every question for the past 72 hours has been, “Ross”.  It might have something to do with his height.  Kelly has been obsessed with the words, “Too Tall!”, and “Really, Really Tall!” for about 2 weeks now.  Ross isn’t lacking in height.  As for me, I’ve started a new club titled, “Ross the Navy Man Drives a Mini-Van”, which will replace my earlier club titled, “Driving a Subaru doesn’t automatically make me a Lesbian”.  It’s a free country people!  Let us be!

Amanda and the Guy Who Usurped Ernie (aka Ross, but we’ll just call him Ernie-Too-Tall)

You have so many favorite memories, I don’t think I can catalog them all.  You finally got to play with “Tatie” (Katie), whom you know only from her blog, but I think recognized within moments.  You 3 played like you were old pals.  Daddy and I got to share dinner with Katie’s Mommy & Daddy, and Aunt Bethy and Uncle Billy, and I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.  Bethany is about to have a little baby girl of her own (albeit defying all laws of carrying girls…SWELL woman.  You look amazing!), and Kara is pregnant again!  Yeah!  So I got to laugh the hardest because I was the only Mommy drinking!  I’d feel bad save the fact as I was the size of pregnant beached whale at Kara and Mike’s wedding, and I missed Bethany and Bill’s wedding due to the small obstacle of being in labor.  Circle of life, I guess!  Congrats to two truly fantastic gals, who, as best friends, and in a very Hollywood movie kind of way, married brothers.  Sometimes, life is just plain old cool.  And seriously…pick a week, any week.  I will put together a fun-filled Midwestern kid-crazy agenda that will blow Tatie Bear’s mind.  Carseat included!

Tatie, Tara, and Telly, having the night of their lives

We made a trip to the National Zoo, and I think if those pandas could have, they would have crawled right through the glass and cuddled with you both.  Goo-Mommy and I were jumping up and down, “LOOK!  THEY ARE RIGHT NEXT TO US!”, in sheer amazement, while you two spoiled bunnies looked at them like you expected them to do everything but wave.  The turtle pond was packed with babies, and I think we could have been happy just standing there all day, counting them.  We added a couple of birds to our bird journal, thanks to Amanda’s quick photography.

Grandmommy, Auntie Amanda, Kelly & Sara at the National Zoo

You swam in the hotel pool.  You turned your Grandparents’ gazebo into your “house”.  You made a fairy house with the myriad of natural resources available in their yard.  We held and squealed at a million caterpillars.  We picked azaleas from Grandmommy’s rainbow of bushes.  I think you ate a box of popsicles.  You did a neighborhood stroll and caught up on all the news.  You watched “Peter Pan” for the first time.  You got to give Uncle Rex and Aunt Mary kisses on a rare visit to Norfolk.  You inherited Grandaddy’s childhood desk, a full-size outdoor tee-pee, and Auntie Amanda’s pink camping chair (all items I will care for to the best of my ability, in the hopes that someday “cousins” would like these heirlooms as well).  We got to finally wish Uncle Randy and Auntie Jess congratulations on their recent engagement in person, while secretly coveting her ring.  My God, the ring.  Ring is too small a word.  Let’s call it, “The Masterpiece”.  Or maybe just, “Good Lord, Randy has good taste in women and rings.”

A graceful, gentle fairy house, made of sticks, wood ferns, and azaleas

And when all the popsicles had been licked, cake icing had been swallowed, and naps skipped…it was time to come home.  Daddy and I gently carried you to the van at 4:30 this morning, where you two slept until 8 am.  Again, not sure what drugs the Goo-parents slipped you, but I’m hoping to find it hidden somewhere in my suitcase.  Long story long, you two were perfect.  Angels.  I think I told you I was proud of you about a bazillion times.  We made it home with zero drama, walked in the door, where we were greeted by the authentic, organically all-natural, Sara & Kelly.  Who were so tired, they screamed through naps, threw pizza on the floor, turned bathtime into a water park (WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?!), and are now at Hour 2 of bellowing through bedtime.  Kelly, you told me you “oatmeal’ed in your diaper” 3x after dinner (apparently your code word for diarrhea), and Sara…well, the only nickname I can give you is, “33 Pound Nervous Breakdown”.  THERE you guys are!  I almost missed you.  Almost.

Butterflies FREAK her out, but apparently she’ll kiss a caterpillar

I swear, I think I’ve kissed both your cheeks right off.  Thank you.  Thank you for trying so hard.  Thank you for listening.  Thank you for entering my life, turning it upside down and inside out, and making me see each day for what it is.  New, full of adventure and possibility.

I love you endlessly and completely,

Mommy

I’m jumping in…oh yes, I’m JUMPING IN

P.S. to the friends who thought I might have fallen off the earth (aka, The Grid): We are home safely with a stack of delicious novels from Grandmommy (umm…will need Italian primer for a couple of them…LOVING “Very Valentine” already).  Finished “The Ultimate Mom”, a gift from Grandaddy…LOVED IT, perfect read over Mother’s Day weekend.  And also loving my memories of a fabulous Mother’s Day.  SOMEONE, and I’m not saying who, created Volume 3 of our little blog.  Every picture, every word, every memory, now in hardback on my bookshelf: One Day They’ll Be Famous, Volumes I-III.  But most importantly, Auntie Amanda is a college graduate.  CONGRATULATIONS FABULOSO.  Now hand over your sports bra that secretly holds liquor.  I have a long summer ahead, and I’m going to need some….”refreshements”.  Or keep it, because while college is over, your child-rearing days lie in your distant future.  That bra will make you the most popular Mom at the PTA meetings, I promise!