Spontaneous Vacation!

What do you do when your husband calls at 5:00 pm and says he wants to go on vacation...tonight? Here is what you do.

1. 1. Try do quiet the chaos that immediately starts in your mind as you think of the 101 things that need to be done before you can get out of the house. You also try to quickly get over the fact that your children will be up very late and the 2 year old will probably cry in the car as you are completely unprepared to keep her amused.


2. Say, "Sure!" And mean it.


3. Go tell the kids and enjoy watching them jump up and down like bouncy balls with sheer excitement.


4. Sit on 7 year old's bed and make your quick packing and to do list simultaneously guiding bigger kids in the packing of their own suitcases. Don't forget books on CD, leapsters, bathing suits, goggles, stuffed animals, and a million other things. Definitely get a few bug jars. Oh yeah, and some clothes.


5. As you are making your list, you remember you forgot to put the last load of clothes in the dryer. This is not good because you NEED some of those clothes.


6. Put a load of clothes in the dryer.


7. Call Mom and tell her you need to come by the house and get your pack-n-play for the 2 year old to sleep in. (Mom and Dad call back in a few minutes and graciously offer to meet us with the pack-n-play so we don't add an hour or more to our drive.)


8. Make arrangements for Rose, the dog. She will vacation at the other grandparents' house for the long weekend.


9. Grab some snacks and drinks and do the best you can with what you have. Which isn't much since grocery store day was going to be tomorrow.


10. Forget about your spaghetti dinner plans! (And think, hey, at least I don't have to cook tonight...we'll eat on the way!)


11. Pack your clothes and 2 year old's clothes. Don't forget Mr. Bear or you'll be in BIG trouble.


12. Stuff it all in the mini van.


13. Grab your cell phone, ipod, camera, Bible and journal, a book to read, some medicines (just in case) and pray you don't forget anything too important.


14. Get in car, get gas, some cash, some supper, and meet parents to get pack-n-play.


15. Drive for three hours to the mountains of Tennessee and thank God for the memories that will be made in the next three days. Pray that 7 year old doesn't find all the animals she hopes to find.


16. Have fun!

I'll post some pictures when we get back!