Attempting a family vacation

We're going to try it: road trip! Well, a short-ish one. We were going to go to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for a few days starting tomorrow. But the weather might be iffy, Liz really is not ready for a sunny day at the beach, and I am not really ready to help keep Cohen afloat while chasing Jensen down the beach and keeping Eli from eating as much sand as he can find.

So we're off to Wisconsin Dells tomorrow. This will almost meet our obligations to the six-year old who never forgets promises. And it will provide a comfy space to hang out without having to venture outside. Good news for Wisconsin: regular swim trunks for me, no Speedos. Actually, that's good news for the world. And if we get sick of the indoor water park (yeah right) I can take the big boys to the fake fishing ponds where you throw in your line and haul 'em out quick. Wish us luck...

Two nights ago after I put Eli and Jensen to bed, I took Cohen to the park. Liz and I have not had enough chances lately for 1-on-1 time with any of the boys. He assumed my answers would all be no, so he posed questions as "I wish" statements:

"I wish we could go over and jump on the rocks."
"It would be fun to go run on the grass."
"I wish I could go climb the tree."
"Too bad the playground is too far away."

I decided to say yes to everything, which blew his mind. So I got this smile and a very happy (and tired) boy. Made it all worth it.

After I put Eli to bed last night, Cohen had some mommy-and-me time and I took Jensen to get a haircut at SportClips. If you are not familiar with the SportClips experience, it is basically a sissy salon that makes you feel super manly about getting a head massage with your shampoo because there are TV's everywhere showing ESPN. Awesome. Jensen was shy when he arrived, but after double-fisting their free suckers, he bore down for the long haul. Cohen loves getting the MVP Package, which includes hair wash, hot towl, head and face massage, and neck/back massage. But he wasn't there. So I asked Jensen. He said yes. Here he is, trying not to like the shampoo while sitting in the massage chair, and J trying not to like the back massage. He loved both.



Liz has a few new eyelashes showing up late to the party. Her skin is glowing. So are her spirits. I have not seen her with this much energy and can-do-ness since March. It really has been two steps forward and one step back so far over these past few weeks, but that is better than the other way around. And I think we are close to three steps forward. Her eyes still constantly water, so pray that her tear ducts will start to heal as well.

It was SO good to have Howie, Amanda, and their kids here for a couple of days. I'll post more this week about our fun adventures, replete with photos. Wish we were closer to family. So glad we have each other.

Go Team Liz!

P.S. Here are some more awesome photos from Jen as she takes a cross-country road trip. More to come, I hope. Good reminder that the Team Liz Logos contest is still alive and well. Thanks, Jen!