Toolio was fat

rollin-and-a-goin; NOWHERE

Alright - so the cooking classes in Italy thing has been on the backburner for some weeks (months, really).  This is something I still really want to do, but it's looking more like a pipe dream.

So now I have this preschool-teacher gig, and two whole kids, and too much house to manage, and a 5-digit amount to pay on the credit card this week, and all those medical bills, and the ol' portfolio is down in the last 6 months.  Fourth quarter promises to be great, but we have that tummy tuck to think about next year.

So -ciao for now, Italia.  The dream has shrunken to a whisper and I'll forget about it.  I think it's time to crack open my latest Mario Batali book.

JUST NEED TO SAY...

..that it is amazing how large a mess a tiny, little one-year-old can produce.  No, seriously.  This is not typical baby mess.  This is like a whole gang of babies-mess.  How can someone not even 2 ft tall make a mess larger than my house?

Ah - the mysteries of children.

just a few images from the trip

Yeah - we're home

So we got home a few days ago and we're still unwinding.  I'm still tired.  The house is still a mess.  However, the trailer is almost clean and the car has been washed -  really well.  I think we're off to a good start - er - return?  Whatever.  things are getting back to normal.

I'm really not motivated to write yet.  I remember thinking on the trip about writing everyday.  I had so much to say and so much to report.  There were uncountable strange or fascinating moments to write about on this trip.  But lack of WiFi and having to keep a clean camp site = no time to or means to write.  Oh well.  The only thing I worry about is getting it back (the urge to keep blogging).  I hope I can find a way to get motivated again.  I want to keep the blog going.  Gramps needs something else to read besides the stock reports! Heh.

And we're still pretty busy around here.  Hubby goes back to work Monday (puke) which means I become the Primary Care Giver again.  I will never take my husband's presence for granted when it comes to taking care of kids.  Never.  Now all I want is to win the lottery so both of us can share the joy of the Primary Caregiving.  We would all be so much happier if one of us didn't take off everyday.  Okay - maybe I would be happier.  But isn't that the point?  Heh.

So now I'm off to drink coffee and have Granny Toast (toast broiled with parmesan cheese).  The rest of the weekend should be busy and fun.  Hope my friends do well at their garage sale.  That's where I'm headed; to donate stuff and help them sell.  Wish us luck!

LEHI, UTAH

OHMYGOD.  Where do I start? 

Yeah, so we've been on the road.  Internet and cell phone reception have been scarce at best.  I have no idea how to start this update...

So I'll begin by syaing this is the end.  We are on our way home after 5 weeks of adventures.  And I mean TRUE ADVENTURES.  Not going into detail because there is just way too much to tell, but here are the highlights since the last update (a month ago?).  Well - the best of what we've been through:

*skirting the whole heatwave thing

*Rocky Mountain National Park

*The Mystery Bus of Penis Valley (yeah - I'll tell you sometime)

*Mt. Rushmore is cool

*Deadwood wants you to be drunk!

*Grand Canyon made me cry

*Utah is way, way better than in pictures

*I can HIKE!  I can HIKE and carry kids!  I can HIKE and carry kids and feel good!

So despite the fact that there have been times when showers were 4-5 days apart and my hair hasn't been near a small personal appliance for over a month, we've had a great - honestly great - time.

And we ARE different.  Deso is now a speed crawler and Bubby loves to swim.  We've discovered that an Indian Food Buffet is a great restaurant option for the whole family.  BTW - Santa Fe has great Indian (as in Middle Eastern) food.

The boys are learning how to play together and the parents are learning how to deal with a whole new phase with these kids.  It's been tough, but we are most definitely not sick of eachother.  We came to the conclusion that we are not homesick because we are together.  Sounds cheeseball, but home is where the heart (and family) is.  Even if it is in the middle of some sand dunes or on the side of a canyon wall.

So now we are heading home.  Once we leave the comforts of the North Provo Best Western, we'll camp for a couple nights on the drive back home.  We'll be tired, but in a good way (except for, of course, Deso keeping me up the last few nights...but that's another post).

Sorry about the lack of posts.  When we get home all should be well.  Sorry about Uncle Eddy, La.

Hope to see and talk to everyone soon~

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