(from a social network perspective)

My family of six and I recently dealt with and survived a full on “smackdown” with the swine flu.  So for anyone out there who may be panicking, getting H1N1 doesn’t mean you necessarily die.  While it IS the nastiest flu ever to hit our family, it didn’t last forever, although we’re still actively dusting off some of its lingering effects.

It began with our 4YO (our youngest) on a Sunday . . . Continue Reading

Wednesday morning began with more of my wife’s delicious microwave scrambled eggs!  While the adults cleaned up (everyone clears at home), the kids spent some time playing on the deck, trying out the hammock and the porch swing, but their favorite thing about the deck was . . . the BELL!

They had a ball with that bell, ringing it till I thought it might crack.  So much for quiet, peaceful cabin life!  :)

Day 3 was the day we planned . . . Continue Reading

One thing I neglected to mention about Day 2 was Satellite Television.

We made the choice to be TV free in our home more than 10 years ago (really) and have never regretted it.  However, the cabin rental came with satellite TV, so on Tuesday night I snapped on the TV after the kids were in bed to see how much things had changed in TV land over the last decade.

So with the volume down very low, . . . Continue Reading

Tuesday morning started nicely with hot baths then a tasty breakfast of biscuits and microwave (no skillet, remember?) scrambled eggs!  However, we decided after this meal to abandon eating at the dining table.  While it was a beautiful piece of handmade furniture, it was clearly built for Half-Giants!  Instead of the table top being rib-high, the average height for most dining room tables, this one was chest-high.  My 6YO had to sit on her knees and my 4YO actually needed two pillows under her just to reach her plate.  Even my wife and I felt like little kids again!

Breakfast was followed by . . . Continue Reading

My family and I were very excited about our recent family vacation trip to Nashville, Indiana in Brown County. We were one 4YO, one 6YO and one geriatric poodle lighter the last time we’d been on a family vacation. For that trip we stayed at Songbird Cottage – a trip my 10YO and 12YO still talk about, so needless to say, the idea of another family cabin was quite appealing to everyone.

After reviewing size, pricing, amenities and optimally one where we could bring our dog, we settled on Moonstraka managed by Hills O’ Brown Real Estate. We made our lists, determined what few groceries to take, packed our many bags, double-checked the carsickness kit (a barf bowl, a box of Queasy Pops, a spray bottle of Fabreeze, etc.), borrowed a luggage carrier and we were off! We made it all the way to Nashville with no carsickness and so our hopes for a trouble-free vacation were very high!

Unfortunately, that was all about to change. . . . Continue Reading