This morning Kyle woke up at 7:15.  We quietly talked for a few minutes about the fireworks last night and then Erika started to stir.  We all started rolling and getting ready…showering, packing up, etc.  We were all ready to go and out the door about 8:30.  I had a packed a few poptarts and the kids ate them this morning.  We decided to drive and get out of the city and then stop for breakfast at a restaurant. 

As a last finishing touch, the hotel had cold water bottles and lollipops for the kids waiting in the car.  They wanted to have them right then but I said after breakfast.

We drove for an hour and a half and then stopped for breakfast and a Perkins.  Just as we ordered my sister called.  She was picking strawberries and wanted to know if I would hook up with her and take some home to Mom.  After we ate, we got gas at waited at a McDonald’s for my sister, Joan.  Within 5 minutes she arrived and gave us 4 flats of fresh berries to take to Mom.  Nice of her to pick them for Mom.

We drove a bit and stopped to see DH’s aunt, Esther.  Since his Mom died, she is the closest relative he has on his mother’s side.  Right when we got there, her son, Steve, got there, too.  They were on there way to the hospital as her other son, Gary, is having problems with a stomach infection.  We visited with them for about a half hour and left.  They wanted to get to the hospital and we wanted to get going, too.  I hope all turns out well for Gary.

We stopped for ice cream.  Erika didn’t want any - she wanted McDonald’s - so Dad drove through McDonald’s for her.  She ordered nuggets and fries and she ate it.  She was hungry.

We got going on our way again and stopped at my Mothers.  Erika wanted berries so Mom washed a few for her with a bowl of sugar.  Erika ate a few and was full - I ate the rest and they were good.  Mom offered that I could take a bowl home but I didn’t.  Joan picked them for Mom - and I didn’t want to take them, although I was tempted.

We left to go home.  We thought the perfect way to top off our vacation was to go to the kids’ favorite little drive in by the house.  We happened to be getting home about supper time so we asked if they wanted to go there for supper.  Kyle said no.  He just wanted to get home.  For him to pass up going there said a lot to us.  He must have been so anxious and so nervous - he really needed to get home so he could relax.  We decided to honor that and go home. 

We got home, unloaded the car, got pajamas on.  The kids played on the computer right away and I started laundry.  Since our house was in “show” condition when we left, it was so nice to come home to.  It was spotless.  I put the kids down at 7:30.  Kyle snuggled in bed and said, “Ahhh, this feels good.”  He said, “Vacations are nice, Mama, but it’s nice to be home, too.”  Isn’t that the truth?  Don’t we all feel that way?  I finished laundry and went to bed early, too.