A quick note

We made it back safely. Even though we made far more potty stops then we expected, I can’t say that I didn’t benefit from them. *grin* It worked out okay to put the bed in the back of the van. I tried to sleep while it was in motion, but it didn’t really work very well. Actually, on the way there I took a short nap and I was fine. But on Saturday night, sleep was just not happening. I would roll with every turn, I’d bounce with every bump and I was getting the worse heart burn I’ve had all pregnancy! I finally sat up and asked Adam when he would be stopping. He got the hint (plus he was tired. It was around 2 am after all) and stopped soon after my inquiry. We got home around 4 pm on Sunday and by 6 pm, the van was all unpacked and back to normal. I had hung up everyone’s clothes on a rod (that I duct taped to 2 seat belts in the back) and this made packing and unpacking so much easier. This is definatly the way I will pack for trips from now on. Since I hang up all clothes anyway while at home, it was so nice to grab whatever from whomever’s closet, walk it to the van and hang it up there. The underclothes and pj’s did get in the suitcase, but that means we only took one large suitcase and a smaller one for shampoo, hair things, extra diapers and the like. Plus I was able to do a couple of loads of laundry while in PA, so that made things even more nice once we were home.

That’s all I’ll say right now since I want to use the remainder of the afternoon to work on writing a 4 week rotating menu for meals around here. I really don’t like menu’s (actually, it’s the sticking to them that I don’t like), but it’s getting to be a huge hassle come 5 pm and I haven’t thought of what to eat. I also like change, and if I don’t think of what to eat sooner than an hour before we eat, I tend to make things that are very similar. I’ve decided that I will make a 4 week rotating menu, but I won’t dictate what dish will go when (like meatloaf on Monday, tacos on Tuesday, chicken soup on Wednesday….). I have found in the past that when I do put a dish in a particular slot, come that day I don’t feel like making/eating that dish. So I would usually not make it and there goes my menu. So if I put 7 suppers in one week, but not designate them to a particular day (all the ingredients would be bought since they all got on the shopping list), I can make whichever 7 dishes sounds good to me for that day. The stuff is already bought, so there is no added expense; things are already planned, so there is no rushing around at the last minute (for breakfast, lunch and supper); and I still get the flexibility and change that I desire, while my family gets meals that are good (not just thrown together at the last minute) and that are “on time”.

I’ll let you know how it goes. But I need to go make it first….