The perfect parent

Once upon a time.... I was a perfect mother.  I started out as the perfect aunt.  I watched my siblings have kids and raise them.  I helped them with many of the daily tasks of caring for a child and thought I knew it all.  I had advice and ideas coming out of my ears!!  Not only had I learned what to do from family and friends who had forged ahead of me, but I also read books!!  That was the key!  All the answers to parenting were in those pages and I was ready!!!  I would eat the best foods during my pregnancies.... I would be glowing and energetic and wear the cutest clothes.... I would be bohemian and trendy in all things, and my kids would thrive!!  I would not yell.... I would read to them daily....they would never watch tv... We would eat healthy dinners and never have fast food.... we would talk openly and be best friends. I would expose them to different foods and cultures and ideas and oh my!! I would be utterly splendid and go down in history!!  I. Had. It. Figured. Out.  And then..... I took the pregnancy test.  The very second before that stick said "pregnant"  I was at the TOP of my game.  The very next second... I started to ever so slowly "forget" the mother I imagined myself to be and became something quite different.... I did not exercise daily.  I didn't do yoga (which, by the way,  I had never done previous to being pregnant) I drank pop.  And I cried. All. The. Time.   Now, almost 8 years after that first stick changed my life, we have every video Disney has made.   I am still not doing yoga.  And yes.  I yell!  I even.... dare I say??  I have spanked on occasion!  But there are a few things I did hold on to.  Dinners at the table (even if it does come in a box once in a while).  Some form of exercise for us.  Reading MOST days. Fantastic and LONG road trips to far reaches of the country.  Prayers at night.  And most of all.... wonderful conversations about the things that happened that day.... whether they were good or bad. Our kids are healthy, safe, and they are happy.  Do I have this figured out?  No!  Am I an expert?  ABSOLUTELY NOT! But I don't think anyone ever does... do they??

The Traveling Brightmans: The Final Chapter

We finally got on the road at about noon and boy was it hard to leave!!! The only thing that made it bearable was the temperature climbing to 111 before we left Phoenix!!!  We took our time through AZ and stopped at a few little shops on our way north.  Sedona could be seen from I-17 and it was so hard not to turn and take a detour through that awesome place!  We kept on course and sooner than we thought... we were in New Mexico!!  Subway sounded  like the perfect thing for dinner so we stopped for gas and a sub.  As we were waiting in line there was a FIGHT between a customer and the Subway staff.... over a sub.  It was sort of random and a whole lot awkward so we scooted out.  I mean they were ready to get physical!!  The drive was easy and scenic, especially coming into Albuquerque at night!!   We had a few adventures in Amarillo Texas as... we saw someone back into a poll at a gas station, we saw another "fight" in a parking lot, and managed to stop at every McDonalds that was closed along the highway!!  Other than those few issues it was smooth sailing until Oklahoma.... Now... I do not want to offend any of my dear friends... but I have to say Oklahoma is the HARDEST state to drive through.... or at least along the 40.  It is long, hot, and there are no rest stops on the turnpike.  Also... don't pay too much attention to the billboards on a roadtrip... especially when you are driving and sleep deprived!!!  Just after sunrise I noticed a sign that said "see Clinton..."and I thought... "I didn't think Bill Clinton was from Oklahoma! Let me read further....." I continued to squint at the sign and then all of a sudden I hear rumble strips and I am almost off the road!!!  SCARY!!  After that I gladly gave the wheel over and shut my eyes a bit!!  (BTW... Clinton is a TOWN in Oklahoma!!)
Once we were FINALLY out of Oklahoma (I tell ya... it was hard driving folks!) We were renewed and ready to reach St. Louis! Another tip... and most of you probably know this.... but when going through St Louis... the trick is to GO AROUND!!  We followed my Dear Daddy's advice and cruised right through with no troubles!!  Once we finally found a hotel with a pool and decent rate (props Sleep Inn!!) we took a quick swim, relaxed and slept until 9:30am!!!  The rest of the trip was uneventful, quick, and easy!  All in all, definitely a trip I would do again... but not until the cramps are gone in my legs!!

The Traveling Brightmans Part 3

The last leg of our trip was much anticipated by the kids and us.  We finally arrived at the home of Grandma" Zona"  (short for AriZONA)... aka James' mom!!  As soon as we walked in the kids just went about the business of getting spoiled.  Things were much slower on this part of the trip but we were still all over the place.  As soon as we arrived it seemed we were leaving for a drive to Maricopa to see our dear friend (the person who introduced us and the best man in our wedding) Mike.  It was a drive but the kids loved playing video games with Uncle Mike and getting their pic taken by Grandma Debbie (Mike's Mom)   Sadly we could only stay a short while and we were back at Grandmas!!  We also got to enjoy some more family time at Grandma's and we got to see some of our California cousins at Steve and Mary's.  We ended our vacation with an eventful day at a water park with all the Brightman cousins!! If I had to give advice.... make sure there is one adult for every child under the age of 10 because they always need your attention!  I had a 3 year old in the wading pool and a 6 year old eager to brave the big slides... needless to say, momma was hopping!!

I can actually say I have eaten and drank more than I ever thought I could and I am surprised I did not weigh 800 pounds when I lived here. Between the amazing Mexican foods, the parties with friends and family, and the Native New Yorker Buffalo wings we are stuffed to the gills and ready for home.

Departure is always bitter sweet.  I have always loved the anonymity of a larger community, the new and growing areas, and the mystery of the desert.  I made some amazing friends here and feel younger when I come back.  I am torn between these things and the roots of my Midwest home.  The clean fresh air, the green surroundings, the relaxed and neighborly attitude of the midwest,  and of course the water!

It is now time to get the kids loaded up and head out. Daddy is already on his way to the airport and we are just getting some odds and ends together.  Mild anxiety has set in but for the most part we are all rested and geared up for some more adventures on the road.... lets just hope they are fun ones!! ;-)

The Traveling Brightmans part 2

It has occurred to me that blogging each individual day would not only be difficult but kinda boring... plus we have just been too stinking busy for me to sit and write!!   It has been a wonderful whirlwind of family, fun and LOTS of sun!!  Our first Arizona stop was at the home of my college roomie and dear friend Kristy and her hubby Carl.  It was wonderful to see her and spend some time with her hubby.  What a beautiful home they have!  The kids had a ball getting spoiled by them and we got a good start on our tans in their pool!  The best part of the stay (aside from chatting late at night and laughing nonstop) was the AMAZING food!  Mr. Carl is quite a cook and the authentic Mexican food was just what we had been hungry for!  James arrived Friday night and it took him no time to get into the groove of the Mexican food and drink he missed so much!  After packing up and leaving Kristy's house, we headed out to spend some time with James' dad.  When you think of the desert the last thing you would consider is the lakes that have formed from dams and canal systems.  Well, we were lucky enough to spend a beautiful day on Lake Pleasant with James' dad and Step mom, as well as Kristy and Carl!  Great food, a wonderful swim, floating at the dock, and amazing mountain views made for some great photo ops and some memories!  After a day at the lake, followed by a day at the pool, we headed to the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale AZ.  We spent two luxurious nights with James' brother, sister in law, and nieces and nephews!  Again... more memories made and a great addition to our tans!!  Thank you Steve and Mary for a great opportunity!
Stay tuned for the final leg of our journey.... There is still SO MUCH to do!!  I don't know about you but I am beat already and may just need a vacation from my vacation! LOL

The Traveling Brightmans- Days 1 and 2

WOW What a crazy week this has been!!   Last Tuesday, July 5th, I set out in the Momma Mini Van with my 2 little Brightmans, my Aunt Pam, and my niece Shaunee, headed for the great southwest!!  We drove the WHOLE NIGHT and let me tell ya.... by morning I didn't think I could go any farther and definitely thought I should NEVER do it again!  I got a cup of the worst. Coffee. Ever. and life was sad and hopeless.... BUT after a few hours of tossing and turning, I finally got a good iced coffee and my perspective changed!  Lesson #1?  Do not trust your caffeine intake to a random roadside gas station!  Once the check engine light turned off (my engine light.... not the van!) and caffeine levels were at an optimum level we were on the road and smiling!!!  My two co captains were awesome navigators and we switched the driving roles effortlessly!  My two littlest crew members were amazing and really took in every sight they could find!  We played the Alphabet game, scavenger hunted for cows, cacti, etc.  and Kenzie learned the fine art of making truckers beep their horns!! :)  TOO CUTE!
We drove with ease until we neared Tucumcari NM. Calling ahead to hotels was a great idea and we found one with a pool, great rates, and FREE BREAKFAST!!  (Score!)  The swim was a perfect way to end a long day in the van.  After a hearty meal of pizza and beverage we slept like babies and woke with new perspective.  Breakfast at Roadway Inn was perfect and we were on the road by 10am.  The rest of the trip was perfectly uneventful and each time we stopped it was warmer and more beautiful.  I missed the desert and absolutely love New Mexico. The only sad thing was a dear friend lives in Albequerque and we were unable to stop for a cold beverage.... hopefully on the way back we can at least say hello....
We all enjoyed NM but the WELCOME TO ARIZONA sign was the best sight of all!!  We stopped in Winslow and got our pictures on a corner (hee hee) and hopped back in for the last leg of our trip.  Everyone was amazed at how quickly we arrived in Queen Creek to drop off Aunt Pam and then for a much needed stay with my dear friend and college roommate Kristy!!  Her beautiful home, perfect pool and backyard were a great way to end the first two days of our family excursion..... now we all cannot wait to get daddy from the airport tomorrow!!