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How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

Escaping The Suburbs

in Everyday, Travel on 12/31/11

It doesn’t always go the way you planned. 

Our plan; one last great escape before 2011 came to a close.  The kids had a ridiculous amount of time off school…two whole weeks..and we needed a not so “spendy” way to carve out some family time together! 

183

It should have gone like this:

-Picture perfect Christmas.  Leave It To Beaver style.  Sorta. (with wine, Hubby cooking and me being greedy about chocolate and gifts)

-one gluttonous day in PJ’s, a Boxing Day tradition.

-three panicked hours of packing and then hit the road!

-Borrowing a gorgeous cottage on a lake for a full week of family fun.

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How it really went:

-48 hours of Mama tossing her cookies I know TMI but seriously it was awful

-three more days of being as weak as a newborn kitten, and whiner then a pre-schooler an hour past nap time.

-one broken furnace (Seriously.  So now I’m cold too.  Freakin fabulous)

-a crying pathetic pity party for one siting in the bottom of the shower because I was too weak to stand up but was gettin kind of rank and needed a shower feeling like I had ruined Christmas and even the damn house was now conspiring against our almost free getaway

-finally pulling up our boot straps and my fake everything is FINE face and making a run for the lake

-Two girls, 1 cat, 1 dog, 1 unbelievably patient Husband and me. A modern suburban motely crew. *Note to fellow suburbanites: When the cat cries in his crate it is not because he is lonely and wants to play.  Do not let him out to “play”.  He shall just squat down on your floor and pee vigorously . Gagging and screaming ensues.  Pit stop required. 

-Mama ends up over doing, well, everything and is relegated to being a useless tool sitting beside a roaring fire as my dear daughters take turns repeatedly asking me “Are you feeling better now Mommy?”.  Each time getting the patented Mama response “Oh I think so Honey, Mommy just over did it today.” while silently cursing myself for dragging myself so far from pharmacy’s and hospitals.

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Now a reality check.  All are tucked snugly in their beds and here I sit writing my very first post for Escaping the Suburbs….anxious for 2011 to be over, thrilled for all that 2012 holds for all of us. It’s not the way I planned to get here….. but we made it.    Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches or they will truly knock you down.  Life is good and I am blessed.

I’m thankful for friends, family and readers alike!! Cheers to each of you as we usher in this New Year!  Be safe, be healthy, be joyous.  Hoping we all have a chance to Escape the Suburbs in 2012, and I will have some great adventure’s to share along the way!  I can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring and where it will take us.

Much love…

  • « Christmas Eve, Trampolines and Tossed Cookies
    My Girls Love Bugs – HEXBUGS! »

    Comments

    1. Mrs. Tuna says

      January 2, 2012 at 12:08 am

      Well that seriously bites, there is nothing worse then being sick during xmas. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.

    2. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says

      January 1, 2012 at 10:22 pm

      You closed out the year in a similar fashion to me, I’m afraid. Glad you’re feeling so much better. Happy New Year!

    3. Tooje says

      January 1, 2012 at 7:57 pm

      I hope you are feeling much, much better!

    4. Kitchen Belleicious says

      January 1, 2012 at 5:49 pm

      I hate being sick during the holidays! Here is to a great new and exciting year! So have enjoyed getting to know you in 2011

    5. Marie says

      January 1, 2012 at 4:21 pm

      I really don’t mean to laugh at you, because illness is never funny, nor are broken furnaces and cat pee. That said, the way you re-counted the events has me giggling. I’m reminded of the time about 6 months ago that one of our Golden Retrievers had a very smelly accident while we were in the car in the middle of no where in western ND. SO nasty, but the memory makes me laugh.

      Here’s to a healthy, happy, and trouble free 2012!

    6. Busy Bee Suz says

      December 31, 2011 at 9:11 pm

      If something ever goes as planned….prepare to be shocked. Cause I will too.
      Sorry you had such a bad trip….and I can’t believe you take your cat anywhere. 🙂
      Happy new year friend!!!
      xoxoxoxo

    7. misszippy says

      December 31, 2011 at 9:06 pm

      So sorry you had a miserable few days, especially days that were destined to be so nice! Here’s to recovery and a fabulous 2012!

    8. Debby@Just Breathe says

      December 31, 2011 at 8:15 pm

      Unbelievable, so sorry things didn’t go as planned. Not the best ending to the year. ((HUGS)) Get some rest so you can face the New Year with gusto!

    9. Diana - Teacher Mom says

      December 31, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Stephanie, you are such a trooper. Here’s hoping you and your family ring in the New Year with much fun and good cheer. And no more cookies…

      Diana – Toronto Teacher Mom

    10. Andrea says

      December 31, 2011 at 5:49 pm

      Happy New Year!!!!

    11. Lee-Ann says

      December 31, 2011 at 5:45 pm

      Here is to a germ free 2012! Happy New Year!

    12. Torviewtoronto says

      December 31, 2011 at 4:07 pm

      happy new year to you and family

    13. C says

      December 31, 2011 at 2:42 pm

      Happy New Year Modern Mom! So glad I found your blog this year. Wishing you and your a family a great New Year minus all the tossing of the cookies. UGH.

    14. ~she~ says

      December 31, 2011 at 1:58 pm

      It’s so hard when The Mama is down sick. The family falls apart. Enjoy your weekend!

    15. Brian Miller says

      December 31, 2011 at 12:23 pm

      smiles…hope you are feeling better…ack on being sick over christmas…sorry it was rough…and i know you made some memories for them…smiles.

      happy new year!

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    Travel addict, sun seeker, coffee drinker, fashion lover, picture taker. This is a peek behind the closed and competitive doors of the suburbs. A place to come to learn about the best places to travel with your kids in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and beyond! stephanie@sassymodernmom.com
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