They're out!!!!!

It finally happened! Sh-hhh. Did I say that out loud? My son and the girlfriend have moved out. Is that angels I hear singing in the background? We spent yesterday getting their things over to their new address. There is just a bit still here. #1 son called at 8:00 this morning about it. Us: "No! Stay there. We will bring it to you this afternoon!" It is sad how excited we are.

After all of the months of looking on the internet and newspaper for housing (that would be me looking, of course) and them poo-pooing signing even a 6-month lease, the girlfriend picked this house out on her own. It is a 2-bedroom, holes in the wall, foundation shifting home in the ghetto with a one year lease that they will be paying at least $200 a month too much for. I don't think I would be able to get any sleep there. And the kitchen....ew-w-w-w. She didn't even realize that it did not have a refrigerator until after they had signed. So much to learn! My mantra is now "I'm sure you will figure something out."

We got in Thursday night from a week of travel. The car says we drove over 1800 miles. We met family at their lakehouse in Kentucky for a couple of days. #2 son took a friend with him and they had a blast jet skiing all day. Lots of fun visiting and then a bonfire and s'mores in the evening. Good family time.

From there we went to Indianapolis. That was where the boys dubbed our trip "The Dead People Tour". Hub had promised his aging aunt to take her to her parents (his grandparents) graves. He had not been there since he was 10, so we were relying on her to get us there. Oops! It is a huge cemetery and we had two cars, four adults and two boys looking at every tombstone while the aunt waited in the car. Bless her heart. She was embarrassed that she was so confused, but after probably an hour or wandering, we found them. So next we had to go across town to another cemetery to find another set of grandparents. This cemetery was actually pretty cool. Even the boys were a bit fascinated. It was very ornate; lots of fancy monuments and even a few celebrities including President Benjamin Harrison and John Dillinger.

After that adventure, we went over to a cousin's home for a 4th of July celebration. Lots of family, lots of little babies to hold, lots of fabulous food and great fun. I love being with my husband's cousins. We spent the next two nights at one of the cousin's farm. That is a treat in itself. SO beautiful! Such a different lifestyle than mine. Don't know that I would want to do it, but sure is fun to visit.

While on this trip, I got to have my very first Bloggy Buddy visit. I met "Birdie" from strelitziamusings.blogspot.com at a mall for lunch. She was gorgeous and gracious just like I knew she would be. So much fun! We chatted and chatted while we were serenaded by a pianist and a soloist in the atrium. Not a bad lunch!

We left there and took the young teens to a Children's Museum. Knowing that they would not be seen from anyone from their school, they had a great time and didn't worry about looking cool.
There was also a travelling exhibition of Barbie there. (Sigh.) I walked all through it and remembered all my Barbie's and the outfits they had on display that I had once played with. Barbie has had so many careers. Ken is still a moocher with no job. He still was just hanging out at the Barbie Dreamhouse and driving her convertible. ;)

That evening, we had the next stop of our "Dead People Tour". (That sounds so bad!) While we were driving up from Kentucky, we received a call that one of Hub's Indianapolis aunts had passed away. She was 92 and had a great life. The visitation was that night so we all went over there to see her son that we had not seen in many years and pay our respects. #2 son's friend had never seen a dead body so this was an experience. After greeting family, I just let them go to a side room with their I-pods. My family didn't stay for the funeral the next day as none of had brought appropriate clothes or shoes.

We decided to break up the long trip home and drive 6 hours back to the lakehouse and then 6 hours home the next day. On the way, we saw a sign for Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. (Never knew that he had been born in Kentucky.) Since this was our "Dead People Tour", we drove 20 miles off the route, toured and learned more about Lincoln. We started out again and then Hub thought about Mammoth Cave. He and I had been there with #1, but #2 and his friend had never been a cave. Here we go again traipsing through the countryside. Kentucky designs the roads thinking that you need to enjoy all of the state's beauty. The roads are winding and it take twice as long to get anywhere. We got there late in the day but just in time to catch the last tour. It's not as pretty as Carlsbad but it is interesting. Also, at Carlsbad Caverns, you take an elevator down into the earth. Here you walk down. Lots and lots and lots of stairs. It is 54 degrees in the cave so it is okay. But then, you have to come out. Up lots and lots and lots of stairs. We were all sweating by the time we got out and I am sure my face was beet red. Next time, I will just wait in the gift shop. Our 6 hour drive had now turned into almost 12. The next day was rainy, so there was no skiing. We were all anxious to get home Thursday night.

So no "adults" living up stairs now. #2 son flew out this morning to go on vacation with family friends in Texas. Mom and Dad have the house to ourselves for a week to chase each other around. Woo-hoo!

Later.