Its 80 degrees...

...where my parents are. They called from Arizona this morning. They started their journey days ago from northern Minnesota where it had been in the negative digits. Mom said as they continued their drive south, they kept peeling off the layers. I could hear in her voice she sounded happy and excited to be back in the heat and sun. They'll enjoy a month long vacation before heading back north. I wish I could join them!

It was good to hear from them because I was worried. They will be 76 this April and its a long drive for them. They had promised to call one of their children each night but I hadn't heard anything in several days. We're not the kind of siblings that speak to each other on a regular basis.

I think this is another reason why I wanted my kids to unschool together. I want them to be friends. They will spend more of their lives with each other, than with DH and I.

I have 4 siblings, but I've always felt like the odd one out. I have one sister who will call me once a week. My one brother I hear from probably only when a holiday or other family event is coming up. My other two sisters probably would only call me if someone dies. There is a difference of 5 years between me and my closest aged sibling, so maybe that's the problem. I came too late to be a part of the gang.

Planning our own vacation

I went to plan out our annual May trip and decided this year its time for a change. For years we had been attending the WPA homeschoolers convention, and then spending several days at the Kalahari Waterpark resort in the Wisconsin Dells. We'll still attend the convention, (we have to because I'm a presenter!) but we'll skip the Kalahari. When I called to make the reservation, the rates had jumped up and the reservationist was borderline rude. In years past it was always such a great deal, but this year I'm thinking there has got be a better way to spend $400. We could take some really great day trips or buy some really cool toys for at home.

I'm going to start brainstorming a list for spring/summer fun. Our snow is starting to melt although at night it freezes back up again. I'll be happy when it finally melts all away. Right now its ugly. Its a dirty, crusty mess. We need a good rain to wash it all away. Actually that would be bad. We don't have anywhere for the water to go!