Oh Indiana, I missed you too.
My sweet state welcomed me back after my near-week away with the open arms of a spotless house– including clean sheets and towels– (well, okay, that was really my past self anticipating my present self’s return that was responsible for that); a lovely midwestern thunderstorm; a post-rain nighttime breeze; and heavenly, heavenly sub-60s overnight temperatures, with the promise of a week’s forecast of low-80s and below. Ahhhhhh.
It’s good to be home.
As I am currently in this happy mindset, I can afford to be gracious about my trip to Florida. It was better than I had expected and feared. There were certainly some negatives, and, being the Complain Queen who you all know and love I can’t let you down by failing to mention them– but I’ll list those first so we can end the post on a pleasant note. 
-It was swelteringly hot and humid.
-We drove overnight to get there so we were both wiped out the whole first day, and of course my children wanted to be awake the second we got there.
-My brother-in-law was sleeping on the couch in the living room so we either had to be exceptionally quiet when they wanted to get up every morning at 6, or else kick him out.
-Our condo was on the fourth floor with a balcony walkway from the elevator to the room, and I am afraid of heights and edges.
-I didn’t get to enjoy the lovely ocean view from our condo’s patio balcony for the above reason.
-All the boys got seasick and had a miserable time on their deep-sea fishing trip on Tuesday.
-Jason went to bed at 9:00 that night and slept until midday the next day and had a fever of over 100.
-Tessa is still not walking and there was sand everywhere, including inside, and I spent a good amount of time trying to keep the floor clean because she crawled around in all the crud.
-I also, being far and away the most obsessive, unable to relax unless things are clean person in the condo (if not in general society), became the unofficial (self-appointed?) straightener and cleaner of the place, especially the kitchen.
-Tess woke up ridiculously early every day.
-I was tired all week, which didn’t help the crabbiness.
-Lil got stung, slightly, by a jellyfish.
-J got sunburned.
-I had some weird thing on Thursday where my lungs and chest and stomach muscles all felt strained and tight, like they would after having an asthma attack or running in the cold, all day.
-J and I both had this weird, unpleasant achy feeling in our skin and joints periodically throughout the week, which we’re attributing to the frequent drastic transitions between the hot hot hot sunny humidity outside and the cold cold cold air-conditioned dryness inside.
-I got some weird, allergic-y itchiness all over my legs on the last couple days.
-Skinny, flat-tummied, high-boobed, tanned chicks in bikinis on the beach (Including my new sis-in-law, who has a fabulous figure). Vs. Yours truly, sucking her baby-flab in underneath her blah frumpy one-piece.
-Because we tried the different way of driving during the daytime coming home, it took us fifteen hours to get back yesterday.
-I frequently felt like a bitchy person, despite all my very best and authentic attempts not to be– whether it was because I was picking up on expectations-of-bitchiness from my inlaws, or being too hard on myself, or what– I just generally didn’t feel very well-liked this week, whether by other people or by myself.
Okay, that’s out of the way. Here’s what was good:
-Relatively few arguments between me and my hubby, considering the tension and the circumstances.
-The girls were really very very good, all things considered, on both car trips. I really couldn’t have asked for better kids in the car– especially seeing as how they’re both under age 4.
-My parents-in-laws’ generosity: helping us get down there, covering the condo costs, stocking up on the majority of the food, my MIL’s insistence on getting us all something fun at the……
-Trip to the outlet mall, woohoo.
-The girls and I are returning only slightly tanner than when we left, and happily with no sunburns to show for it– thanks to my diligent sunscreen and hat applications.
-Lily had an absolute blast in the sand, the ocean, and the pool.
-Tessa loved the seagulls.
-The beach was right outside the condo door– no travel needed.
-Getting to see a cool storm Thursday night coming in over the water.
-Seeing, from a distance, but still, dolphins swimming by past the beach.
-Jason’s aunt and uncle were there, with their kids, and instead of adding to the stress, they helped the stress because Lily LOVED and immediately bonded to his 7 year-old cousin, Rachel.
-My night to prepare the meal went off more or less without a hitch, and the meal was a great hit, with everyone requesting the recipe. (thanks, mama!)
-No out-and-out disagreements or arguments with any of my in-laws (just the expected underlying tension).
-Lily and Tess were pretty well-behaved the whole time we were there, and Grandma and Lily got some good bonding done, I believe.
-There was a washer and dryer, and a dishwasher.
-I can color in two new states and an ocean on Lily’s traveling map, and four new states and an ocean on Tessa’s.
-Going “crabbing” after dark with a flashlight on the beach, to see the little white sand crabs scurry, was a huge hit with Lil and Tess.
-I actually got half of a book read, which I’m counting an accomplishment, given my lack of downtime to read.
-Going out to eat at a fun little Mexican restaurant near the condo.
-In a surprise turn of events, everyone but us left Friday afternoon or evening, and we left Saturday morning (we thought it was going to be the opposite), which meant our family got the condo to ourselves Fri night to get ready and unwind before our trip home. It was just what the dr. ordered.
-Safe travels for all– there and back.
And of course, the always-appreciated reminder of just how much I love being in my own, sand-free home with my own small little family, in my own little town where I know where things are. Plus the knowledge that I did the trip, it’s over with, and it wasn’t terrible– I survived and, at times, had a pretty good time. So I could actually do it again. I think. As long as I make sure my own house is clean before I go. Nothing beats coming home to vacuumed floors.
Or is that just me?
Pictures will follow………….
