Serious Packing

I have this problem when I go on vacation ~ I think I need to cook and clean everything before I leave. Jake and the girls are not going on this vacation with us, so I feel like I should make sure everyone and everything is taken care of while I'm gone. Today I fixed one of the kids favorite dishes, Chicken Divan (enough for all of them to share). I'm also getting ready to bake oatmeal cookies (they love my version). Amy and Angie live in their own houses but I still think I'm in charge of them. Is that just a mom thing?

Seriously, I need to start packing. Where do I begin? When we actually get to South Dakota, we'll be staying at the 80 acre farm my father in law bought a couple of years ago. No one lives there....it's just for anyone to stay at if they're visiting the area (do people actually go to South Dakota just for the heck of it?). So, my sister-in-law Dawn and I are coordinating kitchen/meal stuff we'll be needing over the next week or so. I can't wait to try some of the German dishes my father-in-law always talks about. There will be lots of relatives back there, many who will be staying at the farm with us in their motor homes or in the house. I'm looking forward to childhood stories of Rick's Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I'm just hoping someone helps with the dishes. :)

On our way home from this journey, we are going to stop in Sturgis (so I can feel like a motorcycle mama). Hopefully, I won't come home with any new tattoos! (just kidding) Then, we're stopping by President's Rock (Mt. Rushmore), then through the Black Hills (where I believe they sell jewelry), then a detour through Disneyland. Ok, I was lying about Disneyland...but I figure after this trip you can call me Goofy.

Nothing new in the health department. Rick's feeling pretty good for all the stuff his body has been through, and I'm still coughing. Same cancer. Different day.

Love you more than all the locusts in South Dakota. (oh my gosh...are there locusts in the Dakotas? I think I saw a movie about that one time... ick!

Dreaming Large,
Doreen