Tom took the kids to the airport this morning for their spring break flight to Florida! This was their first trip flying alone, though they had a flight attendant babysitter (for an additional fee, of course).
They had a few snafus (Owen forgot his meds so they had to turn around and then it took forever to get to the gate due to the clueless United employee helping them) but they made it.
We went to a Titanic exhibit today! It was neat to see reproductions of things (dinnerware, rooms, grand stairwell, etc.) as well as a few actual pieces. It was a little crowded so I didn’t take many pictures.
Different menus for different classes:
And we got to walk along the first class promenade:
At the beginning we all got a card detailing the life of a passenger. You find out at the end of the exhibit if your passengers survived—and all four of us did (which I thought was crazy)!
Then it was lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and then home.
Y’all—I’m at my second full weekend of SeneSister time in two weeks!
Yes, I went outside my comfort zone AGAIN and am attended a Wisconsin team training (at a stunning mansion right on Lake Michigan) with a bunch of ladies (none of whom I’d met before)! The main event is a personal training from Joni (again, the second time in two weeks!).
I felt very awkward (of course) because everyone knew everyone else, but we played some games and got to know each other and I tried to not be anxious.
I did have a roommate this time, so that helped!
Since Lin only lives an hour away, she came and picked me up so we could hang out before heading to the airport! We went to Disney Springs where we wandered, shopped, and had lunch!
Then I ran into a SeneSister at the airport!
And it was good to get home to everyone…
Group training today…
After lunch it was out to the pool for the next session! We each had to write down the thing(s) that were in our life that if we could just get rid of, our life would be better.
And then they were mixed up and redistributed and we each read someone else’s card out loud. Lesson? Every single person has something stressful/heart breaking/anxiety-inducing going on even when it looks like we have our lives together and we are not alone. It was really eye-opening and emotional.
Then we had small group sessions in which we had to all say something nice about everyone else in our group. Lesson? It’s easy to discuss all the bad things about ourselves but it’s much harder to talk about and hear about the good things about ourselves. And it was hard hearing people tell us how awesome we were.
Compilation of ladies enjoying the waterslide:
Impromptu training by Abby!
And what Joni posted on Facebook…
I think this is the first birthday we’ve been apart and I couldn’t get a picture, so we’re throwing it back to your first birthday…and last week!
Showered, made up, and ready for a few hours of training from our CEO!! My Twister room is crazy, y’all!
Training with Joni started bright and early at 9!
At lunch, it was time for a surprise 40th birthday party for Jenna…
and margaritas!
And two of my SeneBesties.
And then group photo time!
And my first photo with Joni!!
And then finally pool time!
A bunch of ladies did karaoke. They had a blast…
But it’s not really my jam so I watched for a bit and then ended up grabbing a friend and chatting/brainstorming in my room for like two hours!
Our Airbnb was INSANE. Check out their promo video:
This is what you see when you walk in—Owen would have loved it!
This is Jenna, the one who adopted me into her group. I love her so, so much.
My Twister-themed room:
I had to FaceTime Katie to show her. She was totally jealous!
Did someone say charcuterie dinner for 45?
I was honestly overwhelmed once everyone arrived. There were like 45 of us staying in the house, and I had only met like 15 of them previously (and really only knew less than a handful of them) so I was a bit anxious…but I’m apparently good at faking it. I did tend to stick to the people I knew better but did go outside my comfort zone a bit.
I normally would have been sharing a bedroom with someone, but as it happened to work out, I was by myself. That was good because I don’t mind being by myself and having a place to escape, but it was bad because having a roommate helps get me out of my box and gives me someone else to talk to and get to know.
The end of a loooong day that started at 5:30am cst and ended at 11:30pm est.
My last homemade lobster meal from my mom before heading to the airport—a lobster omelette with a side of lobster!
Our last fresh lobster dinner—2+ pounders! We couldn’t even finish them so we have leftovers for lobster quiche in the morning before heading to the airport and back to real life!
Today’s adventure in Maine…So happy it was sunny today! We started at Marshall Point Lighthouse in Point Clyde, ME. This is where the Forrest Gump scene of Tom Hanks running was filmed.
Read the book? Check!
Visited the lighthouse? Check!
It started out rainy and overcast but eventually the sun came out. We went out for lobster rolls for dinner.
I’m in Maine so that means FRESH LOBSTER!
There’s a dock just a few miles from where we’re staying that we visit every other day. If you saw my reel yesterday, that’s the place.
Honestly if I had my choice I’d probably choose a lobster roll, but there’s something about cracking open your own personal lobster!
Last night we had asked Owen to take out the lobster waste and set the bucket inside the garbage bins (because it was too dark to go too the beach and dump in the water—but it couldn’t stay in the house or be left out where animals could get it.
Never underestimate the non-listening power of a teen brain. This is what we found in the morning. He somehow missed that we said to put the lobster shells IN the garbage bin and just left it on the porch. So then he got the glorious job of cleaning it all up! We all had a good laugh.
Then it was off on another adventure—to my mom’s favorite spot: Pemaquid Point!
You’ve seen the lobster dinner, now see our dessert! Everyone loves strawberry shortcake!
When in Rome…
When vacationing in Maine, fresh lobsters straight from the dock are mandatory. You’re looking at nine lobsters coming in at 18-ish pounds!
Book 1 of Maine vacation.
FIVE STARS! Loved this book. Loved Vera—everyone needs a Vera in their life! It was utterly delightful. I enjoyed it so much I might listen to the audio version!
There were LOTS of rocks between us and the beach.
Heading back up to the house to get ready for the day’s adventure!
On top of Mount Battie.
Then it was off to the surprise for the kids—Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe. They each got $10 to spend there ($5 from Grauntie Rose and $5 from me) and Katie spent all of it plus some of her own while Owen didn’t spend a penny and saved it instead.
This was one of the things she got—fruit flavored if you were wondering.
And this was what I got—it was interesting.
Then we went to mom’s favorite place for dinner—The Happy Clam. And of course I had to try their infamous Blueberry margarita!
Katie was enthralled with the old school playground so she spent most of her time out there! After dinner we took pictures!
Then Owen got involved!
My mom said this was probably going to be their last trip to Maine—so I took both kids out of school for a week and off we went!
And with my mom, the reason for the vacation!
Two-pound lobsters for dinner? Yes, please! Katie hated it (color me not surprised) and Owen liked it. Tomorrow we’ll have lobster rolls.
Katie wasn’t thrilled with any of it.
Owen tried everything—from cracking to eating.
After dinner they surprised me with a birthday cake—complete with 50 candles!
Owen has mentioned more than once he’d like to attend MSU and today he said he really liked it (but to be fair, it’s the first real campus he’s been on and he didn’t see much of it). I then asked if he wanted a pic on the campus of his future alma mater…and he obliged. Unbelievably it’s just 3.5 years away.
We got free tickets from Vettix and Grannie went with us!
We got some souvenirs—and Tom got a Sparty Party beer!
We had a cool view.
Right in front of the scoreboard!
This cute little one was in front of us!
Unfortunately they didn’t play too well and lost so that was a bummer. But we still had a good time!
And on the way back to the hotel, we took a mini detour and drove by the capitol.
TIP OF THE YEAR: Avoid Chicago on September 15-16.
Tonight we got stuck in Chicago trying to get out of town after the show (it took an hour to go like four blocks).
Turns out it was the start of Mexican independence day (it’s actually 9/16 but the celebrating starts the day before) and the traffic was freaking insane!
Apparently the thing to do is drive around with passengers hanging outside the car (through the window or sunroof or both), honk your horn like a madman while waving huge flags, and cause traffic jams. And there’s lots of cops out…not doing anything.
Consider yourself warned.
Our annual “Oh crap we forgot to take a group picture all week so let’s do it as we’re getting ready to leave” group photo! Under the porch because it was pouring!
And our ride home…
The only day we headed to the beach — and it was super hot and sunny!
ESRAY PARK OUTING — The kids love coming here—climbing the rocks, playing in the water, finding creatures…
