Just in case you were wondering how vacation is going for my oldest son, who's visiting the Smoky Mountains with Grandma and Grandpa all this week, I will let you in on our conversation last night. It went something like this . . .
"Hi Mommy! Fast cars. Black ones. VRMMM, VRMMM, VRMMM. Me do it. Golf. Putt-putt. Ride trolley. Eat steak. Grape (kool-aid). Candy! Swim in pool. Hot tub. Popcorn. Pepsi. Raisins. Deer. Rocks in water. My room. My bed . . . "
So, did you get all that? There were a couple of brief interruptions by me, when I tried to ask questions or clarify something, but he didn't really take time to stop or even notice my inquiries. He just kept going, giving me a minute by minute account of his trip. It was actually one of the longest moments of talking to him on the phone that I've ever had, instead of his usual "Hi Mommy, Bye Mommy!" routines. He was actually quite chatty.
The translation, if you need one, is something like this. He got to ride on fast go-carts, black ones, all by himself. The condo where they're staying has a mini putt-putt course on the premises, and he's been playing there, a lot. They rode the trolley for about an hour one day, just sight-seeing and enjoying the ride. They grilled out steaks last night and apparently had grape kool-aid, too. There has been lots of Halloween (and other) candy enjoyed. They've gone swimming in the indoor, heated pool every night since they've been there (and probably will every night until they leave). He's been allowed to dip his toes in the hot tub while Grandpa relaxes there, and then they head back to the condo for popcorn and Pepsis (and apparently some raisins at some point, too). They took a scenic drive one day and saw three deer, stopped to throw some big rocks in the mountain stream, and even had a picnic near by with his current favorite - bologna. And, he has his very own room and bed, which he's quick to point out is "Connor's room" and "Connor's bed," should you ask. And there it abruptly ended.
So, I think we can safely say he's having a big time and in no hurry to get back home. It was well worth missing out on an hour or so of trick-or-treating, apparently.
And Mommy feels better too, since he got kind of pitiful on us last Friday when we met up with Grandma and Grandpa for the exchange. He of the "Bye-bye, see you later!" actually resisted getting out of Mommy's truck and tucked his head down with the pouting lip when it was time to go.
Yeah, that lasted all of five minutes, and he's not looked back. Mommy who, he says.
