SO BY NOW YOU'RE ALL ASSUMING...

that I can't function without the teen here.

I can't email. I can't write. And I sure-as-heck can't blog when she's gone. Right?

WRONG!

We're simply having too dang-much fun since she's been gone. Who has time to blog?

But that ends today. Because the world traveler returns tonight. Home from an amazing trip. The sights were amazing. The accomodations were over the top. The experiences unforgettable.

We spoke every night - and I was assured each and every day that all was going well. Some days we spoke twice...if something extra cool happened. I looked forward to each call from her.

It has been proven, for the record, that she is indeed a scrapbookers daughter. She called when she filled up an entire one-gigabyte memory card in just Granada, Spain. From what I've heard, Al Hambra is definately photoworthy. But it sounds like the teen was duly impressed. ONE GIGABYTE!

One of the courtyards at Al Hambra...


and reportedly one of the "most photographed" sights in Spain, the reflecting pool at Al Hambra...


But from phone conversations, it sounds like Madrid and Barcelona were her two favorite cities. Madrid, because she got to see such an "insiders point of view" from my friend Carmela, and they got to do so much chummy, city walking...


and Barcelona because it's on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and in her own words, "a color of blue I have never seen"...



I can't wait to get ALL of her photos uploaded to the computer and start reliving her travels with visuals. It's going to be fun to watch!

She says she's coming home bearing gifts. I just hope mine is not a t-shirt that declares, "My daughter went to Spain and all I got was to pay the cell phone bill!".

Hahahahah - just kidding sweetie! As long as your minutes to me outnumber your minutes to the teen guy, you're just fine!

She'll be home soon - and then the debriefing begins. But she'll have to talk fast, because I leave for Chantilly, VA tomorrow afternoon. So here's to hoping my lime green suitcase survived Spain.

Because I need to pack it TONIGHT!

Great American Scrapbook Convention, right outside of Washington DC is where I'm headed - and I get to spend the weekend with Jennifer and Justin. Hanging out in the QuicKutz booth, housed within the Scrap-Mart booth. Answering questions, schmoozing the scrappers, doing some demos and dazzling them with some QK coolness. It's a fun time. It's a good time. Doing it all with cool people makes it even better!

Bienvenodos mi hija - welcome home!

until then - - -

LITTLE DOES SHE KNOW...

but I've cancelled her return flight to the United States!

Why, you ask?

Oh, the answer is oh-so-simple!

I'm not letting her come home because this is what she does when I try to take pictures...


Now I ask myself - what did I do to deserve this? GRRRRRR...

Oh well - she did call when she landed in London. Just like I asked. And she did call from the hotel in Spain. Just like I asked. She is currently waiting for our friend, Carmela, who lives in Madrid. She's an attorney there, and offered to hook up with the teen on her first night in town. To give me a "mother's view" of how it's going! I think they are going to do some walking around and have dinner. It will all be wonderful - because Carmela is charming, and wonderful, and generous and oh yeah...she's Spanish!

All kidding aside - here is the teen and her two cousins.


Her traveling companions, along with their grandmother, for the next 10 days. Her cousins are roughly ten years older than her, but I think she can hold her own (granted neither of them toted a stuffed dog along for the plane ride...but that's AOK by me!).

The boy and I are off, around town, to plan dinner for tomorrow's big jazz concert. Greek pasta salad, a la gal pal Kimberly Kwan, and some rhubarb crisp. YUM-OH!

until then - - -

ONE TIRED MOMMA...

because I had to stay awake.

Just had to.

And I'm glad I did. Because while tracking the teen's flight online, I found this cool widget. One that will tell me what time it is in Spain. Right now, this very second.



And for some strange reason, that gives me comfort!

Knowing what time it is, where she is.

But for now, I know that she is safely on the other side of the Atlantic. Probably people watching at the London airport. Waiting for her 2-hour, early morning flight to Spain.

I however, am going to bed!

until then - - -

SHE'S LEAVING, ON A JET PLANE...

don't know when she'll be back again.

Oh wait - I do. She'll be back on June 20th.

She's got her English to Spanish dictionary...and has half of it committed to memory. She's organized, she's got addresses, she's got her cell phone charged. She knows when she is supposed to call - because she knows the time change involved. She's prepared, she's got her Euros and her suitcase is locked shut. She's toting exactly 38.5 pounds of ziplock-organized luggage...


they really do make for very tidy packing. And we're all about staying tidy while overseas!

Leaving for the airport shortly. Meeting her traveling companions at the Omaha airport. They fly into Chicago, with a quickie 2-hour layover. Then, it's on to London. Then thru immigration as she enters the European nation. A couple of hours to people watch in London, and then straight into Madrid. 11:40 am Monday is when they arrive - which means I should be getting a phone call about 5:00 am. Can't WAIT!

Vaya con dios mi hija!

(Go with God my daughter!)

until then - - -

SO LET'S JUST ADMIT IT...

I suck at posting from the road. But I have an excuse. Really I do.

You see, I'm at home. As in - staying at my parents house. And I've got three kids to watch after. And while they really aren't that much trouble - it all makes for one worn-out-tired-as-all-get-out blogger. Basically I'm too pooped to post!

And the fact that my mother is a bad influence. Scrabble and martinis - that's what we do at night. When I usually post to the blog. What's a girl to do...say NO to her mother?!

But I promise - some more pictures soon.

We sent the short dude home today. On the plane. And he was all set. Seriously. As we sat at dinner last night, we asked him what seat he wanted to sit in. He said..."the second row". Okay, easy enough. But which seat? He said "the middle one". Since I usually pick the aisle, I asked why the middle? He looked me straight in the eye, momentarily stopped chewing his green beans, stretched out his arms and said, "so I can have a cute girl on each side of me"!

He's SEVEN! Momma - you better watch out. I think you've got a ladies man on your hands!

Lots to do tomorrow. Seeing that the teen is leaving the country in 72 hours. The luggage issue is killing me. Which one to send, whether to pack a duffle bag inside her other bag. What to have her carry on. What should she use as a purse. All of these issues are flying through my head. She has no real opinion...she's more concerned about making sure we've got her iPod charger figured out for European plugs. And deciding how she's going to live without text messages for TEN DAYS!

But we'll get it figured out. TOMORROW. After I get a good night's sleep tonight. And possibly crack open my new bottle of peach bellini mix. Peaches and champagne - now THAT is a recipe for a relaxing evening and a good night's sleep.

Don'tcha think?

until then - - -

TOTO - I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN KANSAS ANYMORE...

actually we never were in Kansas - but that doesn't really matter!

We made it to Nebraska this evening - about 7:30 - after a long THIRD day in the car. The short dude spoke with his sister on the phone tonight and said to her, "we've been driving for ninety two hours". It wasn't quite that long - but it felt like it!

For the short dude's folks back home - a little photo catch-up...

When we left Santa Fe Saturday morning - THIS is how chilly it was...


the boys were actually COMPLAINING about the temperature. I kept saying "enjoy it"...but they weren't buying it. They just wanted sweatshirts and a blanket! WEENIES!!

The drive through New Mexico was basically uneventful - THIS is what New Mexico looks like...


YEP - the entire state. Makes for an enjoyable drive...until you're behind a parade of trucks going up one of the mountains. Which I usually seemed to be!

To fill up the hours yesterday, and today - the boys had DVDs, Gameboys and PSPs. They realized half way through yesterday that the earphones for the DVD player, also worked on the Gameboys.


That was a welcomed relief to those of us in the front seat. The teen and I were listening to a book-on-tape, and had been playing "dualing volume controls" with the backseat for over 200 miles. This solution was ideal!

As we drove - we decided that Colorado is just as pretty as New Mexico.


Different, YES, but equally beautiful!

When we got to Loveland, last night, the boys were ready to burn off some energy. And the boy remembered Aunt Arlene's croquet set. Within minutes they had the wickets set up, and a strategy mapped out. It started out fine -


but eventually turned in a ball-whacking competition. Which was fine - it kept them busy, and happy for quite some time. (and isn't Arlene's backyard gorgeous!!)

Sunday morning - we woke up to a delicious breakfast. We were all famished and made quick work of almost an entire casserole dish of egg goodness! Thanks again Arlene - much appreciated - and muy delicioso (that's Spanish for very delicious!)

Then the entire group of us headed to church. The kiddos were wonderful, and the short dude was especially observant. He noted all of the similarities. Catholic church in Colorado, Catholic church in Arizona - IDENTICAL MASS. Those things go unnoticed to most of us - expected even. But to him, it was very interesting - shocking even. Fun to witness that!

He also took special note of all the stained glass in the building...he loved it. And I agreed with him - very beautiful!


But, the best part of church in Colorado - if you'd ask the three children I was with this morning - would be unanimous. Donuts after mass! We think this should be implemented everywhere. Because nothing puts the finishing touches on a great homily - better than a glazed donut. Especially when you get to enjoy said donut with family and friends!



We left town around 11:30 - which was later than I had planned, but AOK in the long run. We made a mad dash across the eastern part of Colorado - and hit the western edge of Nebraska. Just as we crossed into the state - we recorded our high temperature for the day...SEVENTY FIVE!


Hello June in Nebraska!

Everyone was excited - everyone was anxious. The kids were getting a little punchy about Kearney, so I finally pulled over to get some food. Trail mix, apples, licorice and juice packs weren't going to hold them much longer! And I caved - caved BIG TIME...


UGH - McDonalds. Oh well, it IS vacation! And they were so excited. They thought I was joking at first. But it was sheer laziness. Exit 302, gas station, hotel and a McDonalds. If we'd wanted anything else I was going to have to drive further into town - away from the interstate. McDonald's it was!

And now we're here! Nana and Bubba were waiting in the driveway. Dinner was on the stove, the toy cupboard was waiting, the pitcher of Peach Bellinis was prepared...VACATION HAS BEGUN!

Glad to have the driving behind us. Glad to have the fun stuff ahead of us. Tomorrow we're all sleeping in. Then maybe we'll wander downtown and show the short dude what us Nebraskans do for fun around these parts!

(wink, wink)

You ever tipped a cow?

hahahahaha

until then - - -

AND FINALLY WE ARRIVED...

in Loveland, CO. And we couldn't be happier!

It's currently 56 degrees - a slight rain is falling from the sky, the house is open, a breeze is blowing through the kitchen and the kiddos are in the basement practicing calf roping!

We might never leave!

KIDDING MOM!

Aunt Arlene rolled out the red carpet for us - even though she wasn't physically here when arrived - we were greeted by notes! Notes of what to snack on, where to find the goodies, where the "pop" was to be found and the general "make yourselves at home". THANKS ARLENE! So fun to walk into a house and feel right at home! Even when the homeowner isn't there!

But she soon arrived - we visited, ate and she was off again. An arena football game with her grandson who is turning 16 tomorrow. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID! Wow - I hope I'm as with-it and organized and full of life when I'm a retired grandmother! You GO GIRL!

The kids have been running non stop. Checking out Uncle Dick's saddles, cowboy hats, spurs, and mounted prize fish. The short dude wants to catch THESE kind of fish in Nebraska. HMMM - might be a tall order, but you never know!

No pictures to add tonight - I'm too pooped to upload my camera right now. But I took several today - so I'll add them tomorrow. Of course, once we hit Lincoln I'll lose track of time...so don't set your watch by that promise!

The teen has been texting her way across the country. To me, the mother, phone calls sound easier and more fulfilling. But I was told that phone calls are PUBLIC whereas texts are more PRIVATE. So, now I know!

Off to run the kids through the shower and dish out the ice cream. I think a movie has been slated for tonight - sounds OK by me. I'm sure I'll be asleep by then anyway!

But before I turn in for the night - I'll spend a few more minutes out on the back porch - sipping a glass of wine. I don't want to waste a minute of this weather! It's pure heaven right now...

until then - - -

THIS IS FOR THE MOMMA...

who got left behind in Arizona. Who was so brave this morning, in the driveway, as we drove away from her house...with her youngest son...the short dude.

Just for her - a photo update of our first day of travel. En route to Nebraska. Via Santa Fe and Denver.

--------------

Wheels up this morning at 6:30 - and after a slight detour for a photo album and a Quick Trip run - we were on our way. This is how the boys looked in the car, as we pulled out of the QT parking lot.


Keep in mind - this is BEFORE they consumed the entire bag of cotton candy, the 3 foot licorice whips and the Costco sized bag of beef jerky you sent with us. (THANKS A LOT FRIEND!!)

First pit stop of the day was at Sunset Point along I-17. Bathroom breaks (YES, the boys went in together!) and a little parking lot aerobics, and the guys were off to check out the scenic overlook. They couldn't quite figure out the telescope...ha ha ha...


but the teen came to the rescue and straightened them both out!


WHEW! Good thing we brought her along - huh??

A few more quickie potty stops - and we were finally in Gallup, NM for LUNCH!

The short dude had NEVER been to Cracker Barrel - and it's one of our road-trip faves! So Cracker Barrel is was! The boy taught the short dude to play the customary Cracker Barrel table game - but we got many looks from fellow diners...


guess we were having just a bit too much fun!! Lighten up people!!

We FINALLY got to Santa Fe - a bit behind schedule and just in time to hit 5:00 traffic. But we survived...by having a hand farting contest. (you can thank me for that one later :) At the hotel - the POOL was first in line of things to do...


and the boys didn't have ANY fun! KIDDING - I was trying to burn off their pent up energy...and I think I succeeded. They are exhausted!

Pizza, wings and some Star Wars on the hotel tv - and it's all WONDERFUL!

Here's a last look at your tired short dude - all the way from Santa Fe, NM.


He's sharing a bed with the teen - little does he know SHE'S A HUGE BED HOG!

He's been wonderful - polite and kind and funny and patient. Thanks again for letting him come with us - tomorrow is going to be BIG - Aunt Arlene here we come!

Good night!

until then - - -