Have mug, will travel

The period of relatively less chaos after Christmas is ideal for us to attempt a short getaway each year. This time? A quiet little place in DeSoto, Missouri. It's small (there are 7 of us this go around), but cozy and really all we need. There's an itty bitty kitchen, living room, two bedrooms and a pullout sofa — and of course, a little patio for my morning coffee. (Yes, I'm one of those crazies who packs my favorite mug in order to have a bit of the familiarity of home.)

Cory has had an exceptionally busy season— the usual of Advent and Christmas, but add in two funerals during that time, with another one scheduled for two days after we return home. My new part-time job is going very well, but we're still working out some scheduling bits and working to fit everything in. My parents visited for a week at Christmastime and were able to be here for two kids' birthdays. As they are every year for us, the last six weeks or so have been a LOT, even for my super scheduler, work out the details, fit it all in, calendar brain!

Our plan for the next couple of days? A bit of low-key fun, without a schedule bursting at the seams.

This morning, the little guys and I were up early (as always), Cory headed off to a church service (it is Sunday after all, it's what he does), and the big kids slept in a bit. We toured a wonderful little tiger sanctuary this morning and learned more about these big cats and the rescue efforts and daily care required for them. We ate lunch at a fantastic tap house (recommended by hotel staff — you never go wrong asking the locals for suggestions!) and grabbed caffeinated beverages at a local coffee shop. We stopped at an antique mall and were pleasantly surprised that the little guys enjoyed it as much as, or more than, the rest of us! Then we were back to our room for a bit to write, read, play Nintendo, and nap. Let the reader guess who did what :)

We reserved the little theater onsite for this evening for our crew to watch Mr. Popper's Penguins and enjoy some popcorn. To me, this felt like just the right amount of play, scheduled activities, exploration and relaxation. It's cold here in the off-season, but there are few people around and it's nice and quiet, just the way I like it. Today was a wonderful day.