One more week!

In case you ever wondered what happened here, we made the decision to go to Washington as a family, rather than just Andrew.  It would have been nice to go in October so that we could see all the people we love from Maryland, but Andrew's boss will be out of  town half the month of October, leaving Andrew in charge of the store, and the other half, the big-wigs from Portland will be here in the Salt Lake store, and my man needs to be there to impress them with his general awesomeness. 

While there were a few little factors contributing to our decision - Cameron and Ethan will have 3 full weeks in school, rather than the one or two we originally thought, before we pull them out - the main issue is that I decided that our kids need every chance they can get to visit with their grandmother.  One never knows how long their grandparents will be around, and to miss an opportunity to spend time with one is like inviting Regret to be your constant companion. 

While we're on the subject, did you know that Cameron had 13 living grandparents when he was born??  How amazing is that?  My kids are now down to 8, which is still an incredible blessing, but it shows just exactly how that can change in 8 years.

At any rate, Cameron and Ethan are both doing quite well so far in school.  Cameron seems to feel comfortable in his class and looks forward to walking out the door every morning, and he comes home with news and smiles, and that is all I want.  Ethan could use a break.  He's having a hard time adjusting to the full day of a first grader.  He liked school a lot more when it only lasted 3 hours a day.  He's a good kid, though.

So we are leaving here in just one week, and will be gone for a week.  Andrew and I are both foaming at the mouth thinking about Moe's at Cannon Beach and their fish and chips, the kids are falling all over themselves with excitement to see cousins and the new exhibit at the Oregon Zoo.  I am going to force Sandy to let me interview her for hours on end for her personal history.  Andrew is losing sleep due to adrenaline overload.  Fishing really gets him going, but he's also looking forward to the Second Annual Cousin Football Throwdown Smear, or whatever it's being called.  I get to visit the Rose Gardens, one of my favorite places in the world, see my sister and her family, laugh at her just for being the mother of twins - all that good stuff.  Trent will get to show off his 6 teeth and massive thighs which are now being measured by the quarter-ton, and demonstrate what we are sure will by then be crawling.  Right now it's a weird thrusty-scoot thing.  And we're all just very excited to see family.  Strangely, I am very much looking forward to the actual drive.  I love spending time with Andrew, and we have 750 miles to fill with fascinating conversation.  Hopefully not about work or the salmon run.  (I live in a dream world.)

A bonus for all of you is that you won't have to suffer through my rambling blog posts for 9 whole days!  Unless I decide to write some before I leave and schedule them to post at random times while I'm gone.  I just learned that trick and may choose to employ it!  I often have too many thoughts and feel like a freak for posting them one right after another.  I can't help myself.  Sorry.  Also, new blog editor does not have spell check.  What's up with that??  I NEED it!

"Vacation" dilemma

As everyone knows, Andrew has a physical need to fish for salmon every fall. Because of that, I am doomed to suffer through family vacations where he goes off fishing early in the morning and I sit around waiting for him to come back for most of the day. Does it infuriate me that the only vacation we ever take is to go fishing? More than words can say, but that is not my current dilemma, and I also have to stop thinking about that before my insides explode with rage.

Okay, so here is the issue: Andrew is once again going to Washington to fish this fall. He plans to leave during the second week of September. He wants us to come with him, but I told him we can't. Cameron has always struggled to make friends and to retain those friends once they are made. Sometimes my heart breaks when I pick him up from school because he has obviously had such a bad day, and back in April, it was like pulling teeth to get him to invite kids to his birthday party. He kept insisting that no one liked him. Also, heartbreaking. My problem with Andrew's planned trip is that it takes place during the second week of school, so Cam would only be in school making friends for only one week before we would be taking him out for a week. My fear is that by the time we get back, he will have been "forgotten" and/or replaced by any friends he was able to make during week one. I do understand that kids have struggles and that they need to learn to work through them on their own, but I do not want to hinder him in the process. It's going to be hard enough for him without having his parents give him a set-back. I absolutely want to do the right thing for him.

That's my position. Here's Andrew's argument:
He'll be fine.
You worry too much.
I always struggled with friends when I was his age too, and I turned out fine.
Cameron wants to go visit his cousins.
We could have a party for him to invite kids from school to when we get back.

I have tried to convince Andrew to go later in the fall, such as late October, when there will be another salmon run, and he refuses. So this is it. He gave me two days to make a decision. After all, he has to book a plane ticket if we aren't going with him. So help! I am torn, and I don't know if I'm being an over-protective worry wart, or if I am on the right track.

So this is me petitioning all of you for your opinions. Help!