Sunday, July 13, 2008



To me, these people look remarkably happy, and not nearly squished enough! We have just finished 3 days of....... Anyway, this is a family site, so I will not write how I really feel right now. We arrived in Vermont at about midnight last night and Evan is already awake and ready to go for the day. Each of our traveling days have ended right around midnight which makes momma a happy camper (NOT!). Hopefully, I will get a 15 hour nap today and all will be well.
As for the beach - We cannot pick up the keys until 4:00 pm. I guess anyone who wants to sit in the driveway until then is welcome to. Rooms will be available upon floor space needed for little sleepers. Jeremy and Maria - prepare to sleep in a closet! We had issues 2 years ago with this, so here are the playing rules. Anyone with more children has the right to run into a room and yell TRUMP to the family who is already setting up stakes in that room. Then the smaller family will pull up stakes and run to find another room. This should make things fun and interesting at least for the first afternoon. Bob and I, of course, hold the most trumps, so we may just run from room to room yelling, just to see the rest of you scurrying away for the next closest room. NOW I remember why I had all these kids!
I have not heard if Ben and Jenny have found plane tickets yet. So at this point, we will all need to be responsible for our own dinner on Sunday and breakfast the following Sunday

14 comments:

somestratt said...

Yeay! You are on the east cost and the weather isn't completely horrible, even if the drive may have been. Yuck. Cant wait to see you on Friday (hopefully b4 midnight!)

Cindy said...

And our major TRUMP is that Cindy Lynn *NEEDS* to have a bed, so Russ & I need one of the rooms with a double & a twin.

abstowe said...

All right - Cindy, your special password is - 2 bed TRUMP!!! Cindy can move anyone from anywhere with this password. She must agree to yell it at the top of her lungs with at least 4 members of her family joining in. Perhaps the offending party will just be startled or scared enough to grab their stuff and run screaming!

Cindy said...

And our other TRUMP--we also need the least smoky room for CL, if that turns out to be an issue. I'm planning to bring some of that fabreeze...and hopefully Jeremy is right!

somestratt said...

Cindy, I actually have some special "smoke out" stuff I bought off the internet when I scorched the chicken that one time. I will look around and see if I have any left, just in case. Hmmm What is my trump? I know I have to have one...It is starting to sound like a really fun game though :)

abstowe said...

Lai,
You don't need a trump - you have a room and a half! Do you want the first half of the week or the second half? Or do we each want to put some of our kids in there all week?
Of course, if we could get Val or Ben to come, then we would be out that room, but it would be totally worth it!

somestratt said...

I am completely cool with giving it up. I also though, if not, maybe I could use it for naps if necessary,and you could have it for bedtime. What do you think? Hey, do they even have phones there???? that means since you are back in civilization you should call me!

Jeremy said...

I have had vacations with large groups of people before...I am just happy for the closet. :)
So I am sure this has been answered but I was wondering which days we are fending for ourselves? I am partially blind currently so I can't seem to find it on the blog.

somestratt said...

Maria,

I am so glad you are starting to feel better. Have you heard yet that I have some small maternity bathing suits (I will double check to make sure) that you are welcome to borrow. Also, you only have to figure out food for yourself on the incoming out outgoing Sundays. Outgoing should be easier since there are usually leftovers of all sorts of things. Incoming should be relatively easy since most are traveling. You and Jeremy are going to cook on I think Thursday with Dad and Ramona for everyone...other than that you don't have to worry about it. Cook for everyone once and then bliss!!!

somestratt said...

I found Margarets comment on our other...yes dead...post. Here it is...

"is this line dead? I am weighing in. Unplanned means work is done by the parents only. A chart planned beforehand makes sure Andra doesn't end up doing everything! And, the parent of the oldest child should supervise, if needed, for instance, I will stay in and watch Levi clean. And provide apropriate threats about his driving and dating life to make sure that the work gets done.
As a parent blessed with older kids, having my kids be in charge on only the day I cook works for me very well if people want to go with that one. Many kids make many slaves!!!!
re nannas comment. . .as a cook, I don't want to do all cleanup on my cooking day too. bushed, with andra."

Andra and I will talk over the final stuff when she is here on Friday and get everything set.

Jeremy said...

I would love to borrow any suits you might have. Shopping for them have always been my least favorite thing and it seems being pregnant has made it 10 times harder!

abstowe said...

Maria,
Ben just took the bathing suits and Laila's other cute maternity clothes to Jeff's house.
They in turn will bring them to the beach for you! Isn't family great?

Jeremy said...

You guys are just totally cute!! Seriously I feel so happy that I got such cool sisters-(and brother)-in-laws.

So random question. Does anyone know if you are allowed to build a fire on this beach?

somestratt said...

Maria, I think Cindy would most likely have an answer to that question. I have never built a fire on the beach...believe it or not, but how much fun would that be!!! I really doubt it is allowed though...for some reason.