Wednesday, August 5, 2009

See this very special gal in the picture with me? She happens to be my little sis. Love her to pieces, even though she is taller than me, skinnier than me and can tan!!! She really is one of my favorite people in the world. I truly love hanging out with her. I'm very thankful, for I have a really close family. I hear all the time of people who say they never talk or see their family and I'm like "WHAT?!!! ARE YOU CRAZY? FAMILY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BLESSINGS GOD GIVES US! CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT THEM!!!"



Anyway, I said all of that to say, that it is a good thing my sister and I love being with each other, because we are getting ready to take another trip. Yes, we just got back from a weeks worth of vacation with the whole family. Yes, we were all cooped up in two vans for hours. Yes, we are sick of gas station bathrooms. Yes. Yes. Yes. However, we love each other so very much, we are willing to go another round!



Actually, we are just going on what we call every summer our "road trip." Which in my family it basically means we are going to see the grandparents. Every summer, since my kids were babies, we would load them up in the car/van, say goodbye to the dads and stop as many times as we want between my house and my parent's house. Sometimes we go and do fun things, like the zoo, theme parks, Chucky Cheese, and sometimes we just "chill" and hang out watching movies. Whatever the agenda, we always have a good time.



This year the plan is "School supplies and clothes." You see, my sister and I live in small towns in south Arkansas that have nothing in the way of shopping. Walmart is it. I am thankful I have a Wally world, but I wish I had a few choices every once in a while too. So, we are heading to Grammy and Poohpa's house, which is about 30-40 minutes from Branson, Missouri. Can we say "OUTLET MALLS?"

I'm excited. I will need prayer, though, for my kids seem to think I'm made of money, which I am definitely NOT. I just pray I can find what we need with out robbing a bank. Can you believe how much everything goes up from year to year? Why do I have to supply Kleenex and Ziploc bags for school anyway? Next thing you know, they will want me to buy toilet paper too. The lists just gets longer every year.

Another reason I'm excited about my visit home is that it is my great aunt's birthday. She will be 99. She is one special lady and loved very much by her family. There will be a family party for her Sunday.

So, after work today, I will be loading my kids into my sister's van and we will head out for another family adventure. Don't worry, pictures will be taken and posts will be written. And prayers will be said. After all, my sister and I are going with these guys...


Too bad the aquarium gift shop didn't have the shark cages for sell. It might have come in handy.

Happy summer! :)

16 comments:

E @ Scottsville said...

Oh, that sounds super fun! I love a 'reason' to shop --- even if it's just for back-to-school clothing and school supplies. Even if it's for the kids and not for me. Still FUN! =0)

We just finished all the 'clothes' shopping and now it's onto the school supplies.

Have a GREAT TRIP, Mich!

Anonymous said...

This post makes me wish I had a sister. :(

Andrea said...

My little sister is my best friend! Hope you guys have a great trip together!
Blessings, andrea

Pilar said...

Enjoy it!

Jim said...

Sis,
Now, you-all be careful acomin' up, ya heer? We'll have the latch string out (boy, that dates me) and the candle in the window!

We're looking forward to your coming. We've rested some the last week or so since our vacation with you!

Love you,
Jim-Dad

Heart2Heart said...

Mich,

Oh what fun it all sounds like. Yes even though life does have its tough moments like gas station bathrooms, you gotta love those memories you make along the journeys and the places you will come across to stop at.

Can't wait to hear about your expedition into the world of school supply shopping and I whole heartily agree with you that schools list for supplies grows each year, pretty soon, we will be supplying the teacher's salary and gas for their cars.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

christy rose said...

Loved that last picture! Too funny! I recognized your sister right away from the picture on her profile that comes up in her comments. You both seem to love each other very much. I have a sister that I love a lot too but we do not keep in as much contact as you guys seem to. It is a wonderful thing! You are very blessed to have each other. I hope you have a blast on your trip. Your aunt is going to be 99. Wow! She is so close to 100. I had a great grandpa who made it to 100 too. We had a big party for him then also.
The shopping trip sounds fun too. I have been to those outlet malls. They are fun. Don't worry all kids think their parents are made of money. I think it is a tween and teen disease. For which the only cure is their own job. :) I completely agree with you about the kleenex and ziploc bags too. I have 5 kids. They want each kid to bring two boxes of kleenex and a box of ziplocs. Two years ago, I decided that I would send kleenex when and if my kids needed them and not at the beginning of the year. The cost of school supplies for me was already outrageous and it saved me $12 to eliminate them. The kids did not care either. Well, have a blast on your trip. Can't wait to hear how it all went.
Christy

momstheword said...

I am taller than my sister! I don't see her very often though.

Even though we homeschool I always bought the kids some school clothes every year, just so they could have the fun like everyone else.

However, they are boys and they never really seemed to care much about the clothes, though I enjoyed it!

Cathy said...

Took me awhile to make it on over for a visit! I barely keep up with my blog and other's this summer, but I'm here...gettin' to know the sis of Amber:) and the fact that you just referenced "outlet malls", well that's just an added bonus!

You guys are too cute, and I think you must have the sweetest family ever! And have I mentioned yet that you look VERY familiar...hm...weird.

Have a great "road trip"! Say hi to Jim-Dad for me! ...and if the noise in the van gets to you, I hear kids LOVE to ride on the roof.

He & Me + 3 said...

Have a fun trip and I hope you find everything on your list on Sale.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Sounds like a divine time! I'm not close with my sister and she has no children. I've got a few close friends that feel like sisters to me, and I cherish the time I spend with them.

You ought to head to NC this weekend. It's tax-free shopping in our state. I've got the list made for my 4, although their needs vary. Two are heading to college, two to elementary. This age span continually challenges me and blesses me all in the same breath!

Have fun...

peace~elaine

Mocha Momma said...

Have a great time. I like your sister too.

I have a great sister too.

Be safe and come back soon.

Say happy birthday to your lovely aunt. 99 years old, that is amazing!!

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

I hope you have fun on your trip! I love reading your sisters blog and have been meaning to drop you a note for some time~time has been flying by. I was just in Arkansas this past weekend about an hour away from Little Rock for my little step-brothers wedding.
I know what you mean about family. They are the most important thing and I talk to my little sister nearly every day!
Have fun shopping!

Amber said...

Okay...so we survived the drive up here....reading all the green signs along the way.

Now...wonder what is in store for the next few days??!!

Love you muy mucho. And you are one of my favorite people, too. Fo shiz.

Eyeglasses & Endzones said...

Love that picture of you and your sis...and isn't that interesting that one of you can tan and the other can't....God's little mystery!

PS...have fun shopping and let me know if you get a coupon on the shark tank...I might need one also!

Anonymous said...

Happy Trip, Mich!
It is wonderful that you and your sister are able to spend so much time together.
♫Happy Birthday to your great aunt!♫
♥Hope