Change of Scenery

This last weekend we went to Winthrop for the Woodworker's cousin's wedding. It was a big blast of an affair at the beautiful Wolfridge Resort. And it was a pretty successful family getaway, as far as parenting goes. Well, except for the Major Poop Incident on Sunday morning. Absolutely everywhere, I tell you. But had I dealt with it more swiftly from the outset, it might have been a Minor Poop Incident. Always learning.

We traveled there on Saturday, which followed a horrible night of poor sleep, so I was on autopilot. In those wee hours the night before, as I was bouncing Buckaroo, I seriously thought that I would not be able to get him and myself in the car, and the Woodworker would have to go by himself. It is truly amazing the bleakness of thought in those wee hours. But by morning I seemed to be moving in a forward motion. Buckaroo showed impressive car skills and took a 2 hour nap. Bless his little chubby heart.

I'm so grateful for the relative ease of our travel, both ways. And the condo we rented with our teammates was awesome, comfortable, affordable, convenient. Winthrop is old-timey and Western all over itself, which is fun. Eastern Washington is so vastly different from Western Washington. The change in climate, flora, fauna happens so fast as you cross over the mountains. I grew up in Eastern Washington, so the scrub grass and tumbleweeds hold a certain nostalgia for me. I enjoy it now because I eventually come back home to the shores of the Puget Sound.

My favorite things about the weekend were:
1. The Woodworker took Buckaroo for a very long walk on Sunday morning and I was able to have a sort of nap in total silence. That is the second time since Buckaroo was born that I have had a silent reprieve with him out the house (instead of me out of the house), and this was much nicer than that first attempt. I want more!
2. The weather co-operated for the wedding. A deep blue sky and blessing sun for the vows. We all stood with the bride and groom with the most amazing backdrop. The officiant talked about the cathedral of the Cascades, and it felt so true.
3. I reunited with a couple of buddies from undergrad days that I had NO IDEA would be at this thing. Such a thrill!!! I never imagined I'd see Tyler again, particularly. Really wonderful to hear about the twists and turns of someone's path since you last saw them. He seemed really great - all growed up and stuff - which warmed my heart.
4. There were a lot of families with wee ones there. It helped me to see other people surviving the exhaustion and complexity of baby-rearing. I try not to be too jealous of families who can enjoy outings with their tiny ones. We just couldn't do anything like that when Buckaroo was a newborn because he was so dang colicky, and he cried his eyes out every time we went anywhere in the car. But anyway, it was a mind-broadening experience to be with our parenting peers in the celebratory situation. Always interesting to watch how others do it, you know?
5. At one point during the wedding evening I was looking for the Woodworker and Buckaroo, and I found them dancing. Ahhnnnn. Eventually Buckaroo fell asleep on Dadda's shoulder. Eventually eventually I talked Dadda into letting me take them home. Eventually eventually eventually I got us all in bed.

Back at home in gorgeous Skagit County. Yesterday and today are misty mornings. Buckaroo and I took a walk yesterday (between lame naps) and I felt like we were subjects of a huge, majestic painting. No wonder there are so many artists around.

Today I seem to be coming down with something. A cough, and my eyeballs hurt. And all our recent traveling has rather undone any sleep training we'd accomplished. So, I'm feeling so scrambled. What to do. It was delicious having the babe in bed with us while we vacationed. So, of course, now he has no intention of sleeping well back at home.

I'm very happy my mom is coming today for a visit. She's the best.

Happy Wednesday.