days without doug: Aaaaand, I'm off!

Before i fly to New York in the morning, i have to do a little catch up here. Things have been crazy cray-cray and i genuinely can't believe i got everything done in time to pick up grandma chamberlain at the airport tonight. I should totally be asleep as leaving the house at 5:45 am. gulp!

Highlights of the Auburn trip:

penny is terrified of dogs. there are 3 BIG dogs at the property. all weekend long penny would shriek if one of those dogs looked in her direction and say things like 'very sharp teeth, mama, very sharp. hold me, very hold me, very bad hold me." like she couldn't get the words straight. One night i was sleeping next to her and she jolted and then said, is that a dog? is that your body or a dog body?? Simon on the other hand, loved them! Owen liked Rocco, the special needs dog. he yelled, "say goodbye to Rocco for me!" as we were pulling out of the driveway.
Horses!! Sophie, Simon and Owen couldn't get enough. Penny wouldn't even try. A horse is just like a really big dog.
owen and mendi's daughter madeleine were so cute running around that place (but don't tell Owen i said so.)
Simon was like a totally different kid. wanted to go from one adventure to the next. trying to swim in the pond, riding the horse, riding the ATV, picking up huge sticks like swords, etc. he just kept going and going and going.
sophie and marissa were a dream! fun to have a friend along, sweet with the little girls who just wanted to be with them, riding the ATV's and singing at the top of their lungs up and down the hills. almost catching air and running into the side of a hill. playing chase with Lindsay's husband Justin on the ATVs on the hillside.
And the paddle boat on the pond. All the kids loved that!
super yummy food, amazing house with heated tile floors, a badae toilet i was too nervous to use, and friends that feel just like family.
Awesome friends, Jason and Scott, came by to play on Saturday. Jason's son Milo is Owen's age and they played all afternoon, into the evening and then owen went to their house where they had some kind of massive nerf gun war with milos whole family. Older sister and boyfriend included?! Now i know our house is super lame.
Scott came and chatted and held babies, so fun to catch up.
Mendi and shared a bed (just like the old days) and stayed up talking until the wee hours and then were alternately awakened by various children all night. hahaha. Actually, it was more painful than funny.
On saturday night we watched our 7th grade performance of Peter Pan. Mendi played Peter Pan and i was a very important Indian. pure gold, i tell you.
bought a portable DVD player for the ride home. wouldn't have made it home alive without it.