We Leave in 34 Hours!

[Mugglemama]

And I'm totally not ready to go!

90% of the packing is done (I have to pack for 5 people...).

The main issue is getting the house cleaned to "company-ready" status before leaving. We'll have guests for 4 days as soon as we get back. And some of the things, like floors and dusting, really have to wait until the very last second because if my kids have ANY time at all to destroy a room - they will. They'll be helping with all of the last-minute cleaning, but I have to time it so that they don't have time to spill anything, drop their dirty clothes on the floor, or *somehow* manage to "forget" to throw away their trash. Ugh...kids.

So now I'm really beginning to stress. Tomorrow is going to be SO chaotic.

I need a pep talk.....all this stress is totally sapping the fun out of getting ready to go to Disneyland.

 

[yoyo93]

On the bright side, when you get to Disneyland you won't have clean anything! No vacuuming, no dishes, no dusting. Just get through tomorrow and you can have tons of fun in Disneyland!

 

[Mugglemama]

On the bright side, when you get to Disneyland you won't have clean anything! No vacuuming, no dishes, no dusting. Just get through tomorrow and you can have tons of fun in Disneyland!

Thanks! For the most part, that's true. I will have to do laundry six days into the trip when we head up to a relatives house for Mother's Day weekend. But you're right...I won't have to do any other type of housework during the trip.

It's not doing it that is so stressful....it's doing it late enough that my family can't wreck the house before we leave. Typically this isn't an issue...because if we leave a few things out when we leave, or the kids' rooms are kind of a mess, it doesn't matter when it's just us coming back to the house. I've never had company right after a DLR trip.

 

[jumparound]

Just think of how much fun you're going to have! (I'm jealous)
Even though your kids make a mess, at least they're also there to help you so you won't have to do it 100% by yourself. Just focus on one task at a time. Plus I'm sure your guests aren't going to be scouring over your house, trying to see what's wrong...they'll be more focused on relaxing and spending time with you and your family!

Have a great vacation!

 

[seagodess]

Good luck with everything. Hopefully you are getting your kids in on helping clean things too.
We leave in 2 weeks and I'm starting to think about all the stuff we have to do before we go on top of packing. I hate coming home from vacation to a messy house.

 

[Mugglemama]

Just think of how much fun you're going to have! (I'm jealous)
Even though your kids make a mess, at least they're also there to help you so you won't have to do it 100% by yourself. Just focus on one task at a time. Plus I'm sure your guests aren't going to be scouring over your house, trying to see what's wrong...they'll be more focused on relaxing and spending time with you and your family!

Have a great vacation!

Thanks for this!

Good luck with everything. Hopefully you are getting your kids in on helping clean things too.
We leave in 2 weeks and I'm starting to think about all the stuff we have to do before we go on top of packing. I hate coming home from vacation to a messy house.

Yep, the kids are DEFINITELY helping out. They always do...it's just that it seems that they can destroy a living room in an hour flat. You know, helmets and knee pads when they come in from riding bikes...books they're reading...notebooks they're writing their stories in (we homeschool and they do a TON of novel-reading and creative writing)...mp3 players, cell phones, legos, baby dolls, nerf darts, etc. Ugh.

And don't even get me *started* on how fast they can wreck a freshly-cleaned bathroom!

Feeling better and once again looking forward to the trip. Thanks everybody!

 

[MommaMouseketeer]

Have a blast!

 

[nannyz]

One thing I have loved about getting older is that the things that used to cause me so much stress (spotless house etc.) don't matter so much anymore. My real friends don't judge me on the condition of my house.
And the fact that I nearly lost my dear husband last year has really changed my outlook.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Nothing is more precious than time spent with those you love.
Have a lovely trip and a lovely visit with your company when you get home.

 

[ArchOwl]

Sorry you are stressed! I would hire someone to help me clean on the day you get back, but I hate cleaning so.... If you hire someone for a few hours on the day you get back, you can focus on unpacking, etc. Just an idea! You also have a good excuse for why everything might not be 100% clean.

And you are so close to being at Disneyland! Once you get there, you will be having fun and will forget about all this cleaning stuff. Maybe you can ask the Fairy Godmother for help! She could send those mice from Cinderella, they are whizzes at cleaning!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

have fun take pics and make sure tell us how it was. i cant wait were so close sooo close today i got a new shirt for 4 bucks

 

[Mugglemama]

Have a blast!

Thank you!

One thing I have loved about getting older is that the things that used to cause me so much stress (spotless house etc.) don't matter so much anymore. My real friends don't judge me on the condition of my house.
And the fact that I nearly lost my dear husband last year has really changed my outlook.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Nothing is more precious than time spent with those you love.
Have a lovely trip and a lovely visit with your company when you get home.

What a great message! Thanks!

It's not even friends, to be honest...it's actually our oldest daughter and her boyfriend. They attend college out of state and we only get to visit with her 2-3 times per year now, so I like for everything to be perfect when she gets here (she honestly couldn't care less, lol...in fact, she'd feel awful if she knew I was stressing about it). The boyfriend came with her to visit about a year ago, and he is very well liked around here...he's also the youngest of 5 so I'm *sure* he's used to kids' stuff around a house. (I say that as I give the bike helmet sitting on the hallway chair the evil eye...lol).

I'm glad you didn't lose your husband.

Sorry you are stressed! I would hire someone to help me clean on the day you get back, but I hate cleaning so.... If you hire someone for a few hours on the day you get back, you can focus on unpacking, etc. Just an idea! You also have a good excuse for why everything might not be 100% clean.

And you are so close to being at Disneyland! Once you get there, you will be having fun and will forget about all this cleaning stuff. Maybe you can ask the Fairy Godmother for help! She could send those mice from Cinderella, they are whizzes at cleaning!

I wish! Alas, no "hired help" around here. If I splurged for things like that, we'd never get to take these ridiculous vacations in the first place, lol! Fortunately, it wasn't the kind of cleaning that requires help, anyway...it was just the challenge of keeping everybody from making more messes once it's done. But I'll be putting the kids to work in a bit for a "power hour" of cleaning with me to vacuum, dust, disinfect counters, etc. one more time before we leave. And then I'm going to make them all sit still so they don't mess anything else up!! (just kidding...kind of ).

Ack! That reminds me, I need to go put fresh sheets in the guest loft!!

have fun take pics and make sure tell us how it was. i cant wait were so close sooo close today i got a new shirt for 4 bucks

I can tell you're getting really excited about your trip! How much longer before you leave?

 

[Mugglemama]

Van is packed, kids are bathed and in bed, dog is bathed and at the dogsitter's house, windows are locked, appliances are unplugged, and we are outta here in 7 hours! Whew!

Now...if we can just get some sleep. Naturally, there's a wedding reception with a very loud live band at the community center right across the road. I live in a very rural community (population, 300), and in the 2 years that we've lived here, never ONCE has there been a live band playing at the community center (which is actually a 100 year old converted schoolhouse - it really doesn't get much action aside from the occasional church booksale, lol). Naturally, they pick the ONE night we really need to sleep to strike up the (awful, btw) band.

I'll post from the parks later in the week to let people know what I'm seeing as far as Grad Nite crowds...see ya later, alligators!!

 

[I'm mikey]

Have a fantastic trip!!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

20 days and woke up finding my son is sick today was a bummer but at least its now and not when we are there

 

[Pixiafurie]

So excited for you right now!! Can't wait to see your posts!

Have fun in the magic