We’re hitting the road today to Slidell, LA. I wasn’t asked to cook anything specifically for Thanksgiving dinner, there’s always plenty of food. However, I am bringing a batch of cake poppers for dessert and I made three different kind of muffins to take down for breakfasts while were there. I made Mihow’s Giant Delicious Pumpkin Muffins which have won me tons of favor among the teens in my life, Bakerella’s Bananaberry Muffins which I love because it gives me a small break from all of the pumpkin AND Pioneer Woman’s Good Morning Muffins which are a fall-back fave in our home. If they all make it down to Slidell without being eaten in the car? I’ll consider mission accomplished.

I’m not sure how the road trip today is going to go. We have a DVD player in the van but we only use it on long trips so that the Movies In The Car thing is unique enough to actually get some traction when you need it most. However, Wes is still only into watching episodes of Dora. Movies seem to only hold his attention for as long as one of those last. Therefore, we could end up with 1 hour of peaceful travel and 5+ of screaming fits of rage. Either way – PRAY FOR US.

I start this conversation every time I make a roadtrip somewhere: Who does the packing in your home? It always amazes me how many homes are like mine and just have a designated packer. It isn’t usually spoken out loud, it’s just understood somewhere along the way. In my house it’s me. I think it started because I would pack the kid’s stuff, therefore I had a better understanding of what all needed to fit in the back of the vehicle, so packing the car just fell on my Task List too. Who does the packing in your home? Or have you mastered the Shared Responsibility Packing that I assume is only an urban legend along with The Monster In The Closet and something called Cleaning Blinds. (What is that about? There aren’t really people who do that are there?)

Have a great Thanksgiving. If you have a recipe that is a fan fave on Turkey day, share the love here in case anyone is looking for last minute inspiration. I showed you what I was making, now I want to see yours.

First off…NikkiZ is the perfect age for Disney. She’s old enough to understand lines and why they’re annoying. She can decide whether something or someONE is worth the long wait. She does fine without her nap and her schedule can be disrupted without total meltdowns. However, she’s also young enough to believe in the magic of it all. She didn’t question (too much) the fact that we saw Mickey in a parade about five minutes after this picture was taken. And he was in a different outfit.

But for every princess she met? My heart fluttered a bit too. I’m old enough to understand that yes – those two Ariel’s we met? Were not the same person. Yet I got totally thrilled meeting both of them. And I referred to them as Ariel and made sure NikkiZ got BOTH of their autographs. I also wished I had my own autograph book. I didn’t get to meet my two favorites (Eeyore and Pocahontas) – but if I had? I might have just had them sign my shirt or something.

After NikkiZ got her face painted I decided I wanted it done too. I wasn’t going to let her have ALL the fun. I rode roller coasters with MrZ even though I hate them. I even kinda liked Space Mountain. But Everest at Animal Kingdom? No thank you. I kept my eyes closed the entire time. We saw amazing 3D shows that had me laughing and great stage shows that had me Ooooh’ing and Aaaah’ing. While NikkiZ is definitely the perfect age for Disney, there’s something to be said about going for the first time as an adult. We can’t afford to go every year. And it’s not much of a vacation since you come back feeling like you’ve been run over by a heard of elephants for 3 months straight. (I’m sure the 13.1 miles didn’t help.) But we WILL go again. As soon as AndyZ hits that magical age. I may not be a as swept away the next time, but I will meet Eeyore and Pocahontas and will surely giggle a bit when that happens.

So…for five days we will be together and not drawing straws for who gets to change the next diaper. Not trading out baths for dishes (that’s a nightly ritual in our house…one does baths while the other does dishes) or packing up bags for school the next day. No carpools or sporting events. We don’t even have to make sure anyone gets fed for five whole days! No scheduling a day around naps (unless it’s our own) or bedtimes. We can go on walks without strollers and go to restaurants without high chairs. This may possibly be the weirdest trip MrZ and I have had together because we don’t really know how to function as just…a couple. 10 years and this will be the longest time we’ve spent NOT as parents together. Weird.

Of course – the prep before hand may kill me. Trying to make sure every kid ends up where they’re supposed to be without putting the strain all on one friend or family member? Is like it’s own geometric theorem that needs solving. Thank god we have willing family and friends to help us. The little kids are staying with MrZ’s parents while my friend Stace (who also has a high-school aged child) is responsible for LilZ. Of course, she doesn’t quite realize what all that’s going to entail. I’m going to sit down with her tonight and beg for her help getting LilZ everywhere he needs to be. Maybe I’ll bring her chocolates. Of course two of NikkiZ’s BFFs are having birthday parties this weekend that she “can’t miss” and we’re not even going to stress about the dogs. We’re boarding them instead of having someone take care of them. It’s hard enough making sure the kids are ready, I don’t even want to worry about the dogs too.

But once we leave MrZ’s parent’s house without the kids tomorrow? And head to the airport? That’s it. It’s just the two of us for five days without one diaper bag in sight. It’s going to be the weirdest thing EVER, and hopefully exactly what I need to rejuvenate myself for the holidays.

One of the earliest pictures I have of just the two of us. May, 2001.

My trip to Chicago was awesome and I do have a lot I want to talk about it, but I want to wait when I’m in more of a happy mood because it feels kinda fake right now as I’m STRESSING THE HELL OUT.

Luckily, my husband somehow found out he has the magic hands and can put my son to bed in his crib and he sleeps through the night. He did it while I was gone and I hated him for it. BUT – he did it again last night? And it worked! My son slept through the night last night. PRAISE ALL OF THE GODS IN ALL OF THE LANDS.

So…in the meantime…here is a funny video of my daughter talking about polar bears while coloring ON MY TABLE.

Watch her color on my table! from zoot on Vimeo.

Oh, yeah. Thanksgiving was awesome.

Unfortunately, I am now into Major Crunch Time for Huge Project At Work so I don’t have time to fill you in on the details of the week (like how I considered trying to steal MrZ’s cousin’s dog because she is literally the most AWESOME DOG EVER (aside from our own, of course)) because I have to Work Work Work.

I do have time for a few pictures though! Yay for pictures!

We stopped in Tuscaloosa, home of the Crimson Tide. My husband’s football team of choice. And by “of choice” I mean that he is such a fan of this team he follows recruit news, memorizes stats, and orders digital cable just so that he can buy Pay Per View games throughout the season. We went by the stadium and ate at the locally significant Waysider. Oh, and we also did some Toddler Tossing. Of course.

I also had to do the Torture My Kids By Taking A Million Shots Of Them In Their Dress Clothes routine that my children just love. Seriously. They look forward to it because it’s SO MUCH FUN!

(Too much sarcasm?)

And then I thought Hey! I look decent too! and I made LilZ take some pictures of me and the kids. I should have gotten MrZ to take pictures of all of us, but I think he was running or something. I don’t remember. But still – pictures of me that I actually like! It’s a Thanksgiving Miracle!

Then came Food…Food…and more Food. Of which I have no pictures because I was too busy EATING IT ALL.

We came home just in time for the Iron Bowl where one of my gifts to MrZ was to buy Crimson Tide outfits for the whole family since we were going to his parent’s house (where there would be Auburn Fans) to watch the game. First time I’ve ever worn a shirt for Alabama…it didn’t burn as bad as I thought it would. But more importantly? Look at this adorable cheerleader! Irresistible!

Roll Tide!

So, that was my break. In a very quick and photo-intensive nutshell. How was yours?

Yesterday went well. MrZ and I make a damn efficient team when it comes to just GETTING SHIT DONE. We drove 80 miles to get the furniture (Which is about as far as we’ll drive for free furniture with the price of gas and the low-mileage minivan.) and loaded it all up and drove back in time to nurse AndyZ. We took apart and loaded a twin bed (and mattress) a trundle bed (and mattress) a chest of drawers (not a DRESSER as I kept calling it) and a nightstand. All into the minivan. And by the time we had to go pick up the kids at 4:30, we had even unloaded it all and put it together again and in a spot inside the house. AND! And we also went to lunch together AND! And we also watched two shows on the TiVo together.

In terms of maximizing the amount crap a person can get done while their kids are at daycare? We totally won a gold ribbon, a trophy, and a giant cookie. Don’t you think?

Of course – the one negative is that somehow the two entries I had set to go live yesterday while we were gone? Those entries didn’t go live. As a matter of fact – they disappeared entirely. I’m fairly certain this is my fault somehow, I’m just not sure how. Maybe my subconscious didn’t like the entries and deleted them in the middle of the night while I slept? I don’t know. What I do know is that when I sat down to check my email this morning I was very sad to see no one had commented on either entry. And then I realized – there were no entries.

I’m evidently only allowed to be awesome at a few things before the necessity to be a dumbass forces it’s way into the mix. Yesterday? Awesome about moving furniture. And also? Dumbass about blogging. See? One can not live without the other. I guess because the universe can’t handle my awesomeness unless it’s tempered by a little dose of dumbass. I’m just THAT awesome.

(And possibly delusional.)

I painted these too! Aren’t they cute?

Today will be the longest amount of time MrZ and I have spent alone since AndyZ was born. I know it’s not really a “date” – but we’re going to pretend we’re celebrating our Anniversary today (Which is actually Saturday and oddly enough, NOT a good day for us to celebrate – too much else going on.) and go eat together for lunch to celebrate. WITHOUT THE KIDS. We don’t eat out much anymore because it’s getting too expensive. It’s either Mexican or Pizza because those two meals are still relatively affordable even with three adults and one child. And we don’t do those often. So today? We’re going to lunch together. I’m so excited I don’t even know what to do with myself. An adult-only meal with my husband? What will we talk about? WHAT WILL I WEAR?

(The only thing that fits since I still haven’t lost the 34 pregnancy pounds I have leftover yet.)

It’s not much, but with three kids and two parents who work full-time – a meal alone is quite a splurge on time and money. I’m looking more forward to this more than the average couple probably would a weekend out of town. Even if it is combined with an 80-mile road trip followed by moving furniture…a meal alone with my husband? Totally makes up for it.

…To worry about how to make sure all of my shows are going to record? Should I go into the house just long enough to check the DVR and possibly do so covered in plastic? Or would it be even more evil to ask MrZ to do it for me between trips to the bathroom?

…To consider getting a hotel in Birmingham over night to avoid the germs instead of coming home and taking care of my husband?

…To take his moment of weakness to interrogate my sick husband about the whereabouts of my missing Lil’ Debbie’s?

• When it comes to NCAA sports – I am a Tennessee Vol Fan. I will always root for the Vols above and beyond every other team. BUT – after yesterday? I am totally in love with Auburn University’s campus. It is gorgeous. The buildings are fantastic and there is tons of greenspace and few roads with loads of walkways. I loved it. We found several great shady places to just let NikkiZ play. I can’t wait to show you all the pictures.
• Even if a child would normally sleep until 7am, if you put them in the car at 3:30am, they will likely only sleep a tad bit longer. Luckily, I could entertain my child with the promise of “We’re going to see brother!” And I stuffed her face with hashbrowns.
• The ride home, on the other hand, did not have as enticing of a prized at the end. We told her we were going to Mimi and Grandpa’s house and that we were ALMOST THERE. In Montgomery. Three-and-a-half hours away. We hoped she would simply fall asleep and not even remember that promise. But, no. The entire ride home she was making sure we remembered our final destination: Mimi and Grandpas house. So what did we have to do first before heading home? Go by Mimi and Grandpas. Luckily they were up and didn’t mind the drop-by.
• I only thought I was tired before. A day driving 600 miles and walking for hours around a campus full of energy made me truly understand the word “tired.”
• How do college kids actually live in dorms the size that I saw yesterday. My sister-in-law has made excellent use of the little space she has, but still! I would get severe claustrophobia. I lived in the dorms my first year but I went to a small school and the dorms were much bigger that the ones at Auburn. Hers is, literally, the size of my walk-in closet. And she has a roommate.
• The next time I’m ever pregnant and saying I’m going to drive 300 miles away and come back in the same day with a toddler in tow – will you smack me? Remind me about how tired I am today. Remind me that I actually cried when my alarm went off. Thanks.

(I have not, however, found my facial lotion. Have you seen it?)

This was my first extended trip in the desert and I was fascinated by it all. They have rocks instead of grass! There are those tall cactus-things (saguaros) everywhere! AND THEY’RE NOT FAKE. They offer rattlesnake training for your dogs. There are tumbleweeds. And a whole hellofalotof stucco. EVERYWHERE. I was the most entertained by the various signs of Christmas I spotted around town. I mean, if you know for damn sure it’s not going to snow you might as well fake it. It was awesome. But also weird. I like my frost in the morning during Christmas season, thank you. I may bitch about the cold, but it’s hard to imagine the holidays without it.

LilZ is kinda sick with some sort of cold/nastiness but he’s at that age where the last thing he wants is for me to baby him. I’m all, “Want me to rub your back?” He just looks at me like, “Touch me, and die.” He wants to wallow in his feverish misery.

Time to get caught up at work and at life. Which, will probably take a few days since I’m still kinda hobbling around from my post-race aches and pains. (Did I mention the blisters? I did? Oh. Okay.) I’m hoping I’ll maybe even find time to unpack sometime before Christmas. But probably not.