This Full House Archive

Tag: road trip

  • Lost and Found

    To think, this mommy/daughter mugging for the camera moment was nearly lost, forever!

    Last week, I wrote about how we hit the road and drove to Cape May for the weekend (yes, even the Doofus-Dawg seemed excited about his first road trip) and I did promise you pictures, to prove that Jersey is NOT all what you see outside your window, flying over Newark Airport (seriously, dude, we ARE called the garden state) but, my middle girl hid her camera from me, because I broke mine and, you know, she’s smart like that.

    “You can’t use my camera.”

    Gosh, but some 14 year-olds can get very touchy about using their stuff, right?

    “Why not?”

    Sheesh, I only wanted to grab the memory card and already promised NOT to touch anything else.

    “Because, I lost it.”

    Now, I could’ve reprimanded Heather for being forgetful, or acting irresponsibly with her stuff, but, well, it would be sort of like talking to myself, really.

    “Lost what?”

    Gosh, but some almost 9 year-olds can get very nosey about stuff, right?

    “Never mind.”

    Now that ALL the laundry from the trip is done (almost) STILL no camera.

    “Quick…take MY picture next!”

    I was telling someone at school how upset Heather was (about losing her camera, I mean) and…wait a minute…what the?

    “Who’s camera is that?”

    Long story short (you’re welcome!) my youngest daughter found Heather’s camera shoved into the pocket behind the driver’s seat in the minivan and, well, thank goodness for nosey little almost 9 year-olds!

    “Hey, I found it FIRST!”

    Wanna see other moments nearly lost?

    (more…)

  • Change is Good, Failing is Better

    I took this picture of Hope and Glen (my two youngest) in 2005 — the year my parents moved out of the house I grew up in — and, already, my son was very protective of his baby sister.

    “I don’t want her to fall in da wah-der!”

    Didn’t matter that my father’s koi pond was only about ankle-deep; in true Thompson fashion, my son is a born worrier (he gets that from his father) and, well, his concern for the physical and emotional well-being of everyone around him was sort of, you know, cute.

    Last night, however, turned chronic.

    “I can’t make ANYONE happy.”

    5 years have passed (I know, wasn’t it just yesterday I was blogging about his peeing on a tree?) and, although the stories are pretty much the same (only, with less pee) I find myself feeling as if we BOTH haven’t learned a gosh-darned thing.

    “I don’t understand?”

    You see, my 11 year-old son is entering middle school next year and long story short (you’re welcome!) let’s just say the boy is feeling a little stressed.

    “My teacher, you and dad, are ALL pushing me!”

    Okay, A LOT STRESSED.

    “To do what?”

    Seriously, the kid was blowing snot and — although, my husband and I had already had a talk with his teacher and discussed her concerns over his penchant for day dreaming — he’s been carrying and A/B average and I was at a loss as to why he was SO upset.

    “I’m going to fail.”

    Oh. I know this one.  In fact, 5 years ago, during my middle girl’s parent-teacher conference, I was the ONLY parent to cheer when her 3rd grade teacher told me that she had failed her 1st math test.

    “It’s about time the kid learns to fail, something!”

    Her teacher agreed, btw.

    “All your father and I care about is that you do your best.”

    Apparently, my son’s teacher feels differently.

    “She said I was going to get absolutely lost in Middle School!”

    Look, I get it.  I couldn’t do what she does — teach, someone else’s kid, I mean — however, I know my son and — although, I think, having our kids attend K-3, switch to another school for grades 4 and 5, and then again to the middle school, our school system hasn’t helped to make it ANY easier — this time, I believe the change will do him good.

    “I think you’re going to be just fine.”

    For the next 3 years, anyway.

    “Just ask Holly and Heather!”

    My 2 oldest daughters have already given him a run down of all the cool teachers and the, you know, not so cool teachers he’ll probably get…in middle school.

    “What are you doing, Hope?”

    My youngest daughter (she’s 8) ran out of the room to grab a pen and piece of paper.

    “I want to write a letter to the principal of my new school…”

    She’s graduating 3rd grade next month and is changing schools, too, OY!

    “…and I want to tell her that I want Holly’s and Heather’s teachers, ONLY!”

    If ONLY life was that easy, right?

    “Don’t worry, Hopey, I already told her AND the nurse that my youngest sister is coming!”

    You see, some things NEVER change AND my son happens to know that his baby sister is a frequent flyer!

    “The nurse’s office has got PLENTY of band aids!”

    Hope, however, rolls like her mother.

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    © 2010 This Full House

  • Hit the Road

    My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I dog sat a few months ago and, as a thank you, our youngest daughter’s Godparents invited us to spend a weekend at their summer home in Cape May, NJ.

    “What do you mean, they won’t be there?”

    It’s a busy time of year — especially, for folks who make a living out of digging in the dirt — so, this trip, it would be just the six of us….and my sister-in-law.

    “What about Doofus-Dawg?”

    Oh, yeah…him, too…much to the hor-ruh of Garth [not his real name] poor guy.

    “It’s a BIG house!”

    Besides, now that the kids are older and doing all sorts of stuff, on their own, we almost NEVER get to see each other, let alone do stuff, together, anymore.  I thought it would be sort of nice to eat dinner…sitting down.

    “I call the middle bedroom!”

    Actually, the house has five (I counted them…FIVE) bedrooms and a loft with four more (for a total of NINE) beds to choose from.  Although, the last time, I guess all the extra leg room sort of creeped my kids out and ALL four of them ended up sleeping in MY bed.

    “Okay, but I got dibs on the bathtub!”

    Did I mention, the Cape May house has a whirlpool tub (squee!) and it’s BIG…too?

    “DARNIT, why does mommy always get to go first?”

    Needless to say, we ALL had a TERRIFIC weekend (yes, together!) and, well, I hope to show/tell you more about it, real soon.

    “What do you mean, she took her camera to school?”

    Did I mention, I broke my camera (moment of silence) and, no…I don’t blame my 14 yo for not trusting me with hers, either.

    “She’s got ALL the pictures.”

    Except, the one of Hopey (above) getting a bird’s eye view of Cape May Point State Park from her daddy’s shoulders.

    Aaaand, this one of Doofus-Dawg totally blocking the entrance into the den/laundry room and, yep, it seems he needs a vacation from his vacation…too

    Stupid laundry!

    Liz@thisfullhouse signature

    © 2010 This Full House