Road Trip Survival Tips

Grr.

I wrote up almost an entire post last night while in the car (ironic, isn't it?), and woke up this morning to find it gone.   Thanks, Blogger.  

I guess I'll attempt to write it again.   Which means, of course, that it won't be nearly as good.   Forgive me of that!

We at the Circus love to travel.  However, traveling with 6 kids is often cost prohibitive.   We have to do a lot of things to make sure that it stays within the budget - pack food, save up "points" throughout the year to redeem as free hotel rooms, find coupons or homeschooler discounts for attractions that we want to visit, and most cost effectively....drive instead of fly.  It's not uncommon for us to spend 16+ hours in the car instead of purchasing 8 airplane tickets - it's just a huge cost savings.   As long as we have enough time to spend in the car (and it's not just a quick weekend trip somewhere for an event), we choose to drive for all of our vacations.  

Along the way, we've picked up some survival tips that have helped to make the trips run more and more smoothly as time goes on.   I thought summer vacation was the perfect time to share them with you all!   Pick and choose what will work for your family, and come back and let me know how it went.    Add your own survival tips below, too!

Keeping the Kids Entertained

We're a no-screen family in the car.  For the longest time, we'd borrow DVD players from friends or pass around an iPad in the back of the car....but then I realized that I was setting our kids up to fail once we got to the hotels or our final destination.    You see, for some reason, God has decided to bless us with Circus clowns (well 4 of the 6) that turn into crazy, out-for-blood monsters once the screen gets turned off.   I don't know what happens - it's like their brains go haywire and they turn into meanies.  I'd find myself chasing grumpypants children around a teeny-tiny hotel room, constantly nagging at them to change their behaviour.   And you know what?   Looking back now, I realize they couldn't change it, even if they'd wanted to.  The stupid screens just shut down their critical thinking skills somehow.   Or their impulse control.   I don't know.  Their brains were allergic.

Once we realized that, we started going back to traditional methods of keeping the kids entertained in the car.  Here are some of the winners:

Personalized Binders

When I made these 5 years ago, the kids were super into Angry Birds.   We still use them on a daily basis, so they definitely held up well.   Basically, it's a 1" three ring binder, and I drew a design on regular old computer paper.  It's attached to the binder with a sheet of clear contact paper.   They actually look exactly the same today as they did when I took this picture - you'd never know that they're 5 years old and have gotten a TON of use!  (almost daily use!)

Inside the binder are two plastic folders - one holds blank printer and construction paper for their own creative use.   The other one holds cheap workbooks, and puzzles that I've created or printed from online (there are TONS of free puzzle generators online - you can make crosswords, wordsearches, whatever you want.  I've also printed out free sudoku puzzles, coloring pages, and the hidden pictures from Highlights online).  

Treasure Chests

This is an alternative to the binders, or can be used in addition to them.   Every year about this time, Target's "Dollar Spot" is overflowing with cheap school supplies.  I pick up some of these expanding file folders for a dollar or two, and fill them with puzzles (actual cardboard puzzles, emptied out of the boxes and put into ziploc bags so that they lay flat inside the expanding file folder), foam shapes/stickers for craft projects, thin books, and usually paper lunch bags to make into puppets.   I usually label each one with the child's name and "Treasure Box", and that's what we refer to it as.

Magnetic Lap Trays

Otherwise known as cookie sheets.   No joke.   I buy the $1 cookie sheets at Walmart, and voila! You now have a magnetic lap tray.   Paint one side of it with chalkboard or dry erase paint, and you've got an interactive lap desk!   

None of these things need to cost a lot of money - honestly, after making the binder or the treasure box or lap desk the first time......I "restock" it with things from around the house before each trip.   Kids are funny like that - I can pull the magnetic poetry off of the fridge that they walk by every.single.day, and they react like it's a brand new toy that they've never seen before when it shows up in the car with their magnetic lap desk.    Same goes for books that I find buried on bookshelves, or puzzles pulled out from the back of the puzzle drawer.    They take on a whole new life on a road trip.

Audiobooks

Audio books have become our new weapon of choice in the car.   There's always Audible that you can purchase them from, but don't forget about your local library.  Our little, "small town" library has TONS of audio books right on their shelves, and if they don't have what we want, they can usually get it from another branch with just a little advanced notice.   If you don't want to take a library item with you somewhere, or can't get to the library in time before your trip, check out the selections on Librivox.   They're free for download, and there are oodles of options.

Keeping the Kids Fed

This is the biggest part of a road trip for us - trying to keep the kids from getting hangry.   We all know how easy it is to munch in the car as an adult, but for some reason, our kids don't do the same.   We have to make sure that we're aware of how much food their getting and how long it's been since the last time they ate.   There are obviously a lot of us, though, and food costs can quickly add up if we're stopping at restaurants or even gas stations all of the time.   Instead, we bring a lot of stuff along with us.  

While we're in the car, each of the kids gets one of these containers.  

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I color code them, so each kid knows exactly which one is his/hers, and I can pack them according to eating abilities and preferences.   In it, I pack a lunch (if it'll be lunch time for them), or if we're going to be on the road during a non-meal time, I'll pack three snack options for them.   They can keep the container next to them in the car, or in their backpacks, and help themselves as they get hungry.

We stop every two hours, even if it doesn't *seem* like anyone needs to stop.   It might seem like that's a waste of time, but I promise you, a little bit of proactive stopping will pay off in the long run.   Letting them get out, remember that they're hungry, and stretch their legs will make a WORLD of difference.   And, don't forget to make them go pee during those every-two-hours stops!   

When we are on the road for lunch time, I often pack picnic lunch fixings.   We stop at a rest area, make up a mess of sandwiches and fruit/veggie snacks, and let the kids run around after they eat.   Make sure to keep a bag of "fun" stuff to play with at a rest area.  I tend to grab a football and bubbles - both keep the kids relatively close (learned the hard way that frisbees lead to children running OFF OF THE SIDEWALK without looking  - they seem to be able to aim better with footballs).   

Keeping Everyone Happy

It seems to work best for our family if everyone is somehow involved in the planning of the trip - I'll often pass out maps to the oldest kids so that they can follow along with our progress.   They go shopping with me to pick out the snacks and any new toys/books for the car.  As much as possible, we involve the kids in the planning and preparation process.  

When they were really little, we often drove through the night, and let the kids sleep on the way there, but that doesn't work so well now that they're older.   Maybe it would work for you though - give it a shot!

To keep the Circus happy, we have to make sure there are opportunities for entertainment, regular meal/snacks, and lots of leg stretching.   Mike and I are always happier with lots of coffee, too.  ;)   Definitely budget your time and finances for coffee stops!

My number one piece of advice for people considering road trips with kids?   

Just get out and do it.   Stop a lot.   Take lots of pictures.   Stop at random places (we have a tendency to stop at weird tourist attractions and saint shrines).   Go easy on yourself.   It's one of those things that gets easier with more practice, so don't give up.   It will be worth it in the end!

Brain freeze

Well, not really.   But kind of.   I guess you might call it writer's block.   Basically - I haven't blogged because, well?  My life?  It's not super interesting.  I mean, I don't think it is.  It seems pretty ordinary to me.

I get up, I get the kids up.  (Well, if we're being honest, the kids get up and then I stumble into the kitchen after them and pour a delicious cup of Mystic Monk coffee).

I feed the kiddos.   I get them dressed, or instruct them to get dressed on their own.

I prod the older ones to start schoolwork, and I take the littler ones to preschool.   (I'll probably blog about our choice to send the littler ones to preschool some day.   If you're interested).  

Preschool pick up, and then it's home for lunch, or it's time for lunch on the road.  

Gymnastics, gymnastics, gymnastics is the theme for our summer afternoons, so we do that and then turn around and come home.

Time for naps, a bit of clean up, chores for the kiddos, and any leftover schoolwork.   Dinner prep and serve.   Bedtime.  (chorus of angels, this is your cue)

Straighten up, get the baby to bed, and then prep school and lunches for the next day.

Go to sleep, and do it all again.

Add in the fact that I'm trying to avoid hot-button issues because everyone's already on edge with it being an election year and I just don't have the energy to deal with that, and there's not much left to blog about, is there?

It's a pretty mundane life.   I love it, but it's pretty boring to anyone else, I would think.   We're all kind of doing the same thing, aren't we?  This crazy thing called life - routines and monotony and alarm clocks.   

So, how do we shake it up?   Or do we?   Are we just racing through life, aiming for some golden goalpost that is always moving?

Or is this everyday boringness the meaning of our lives?   

I really don't know.   Some days, I feel like I'm just running through the motions, wasting the time here on earth, letting everything pass me by and just getting older by the minute.

And then other days, I see something like this happen:

A glorious moment in time - my oldest and my youngest, sharing a laugh.

And for a minute I think maybe, just maybe, this is what it's all about.    The every day routines that give them security.   The joy of friendships.   The laughter between siblings.   The responsibility of chores.   The new information and ideas found in their schoolbooks.  The act of caring for one another.

This is really what it's all about, right?   Trying to leave the earth in a generation of well-formed, compassionate, joy-filled human beings?

And so, I stumble through life, marveling in the contradiction that is life:  The boring is also the amazing.    The mundane is of the upmost importance.

Yet, I still can't bring myself to blog my way through it - it's too complex.   It's too simple.   It's so unique and marvelous, our little family.

But yet, we're just the same as anyone else.   And "just the same" doesn't really make for great reading.   Or for sage advice.   Or amazing recommendations.   Or mind-blowing nuggets of wisdom.

Just my boring little corner of life.

This may be my Circus.....but it looks pretty much just like yours.

Ramblings

Good morning, y'all.

I missed a few days.  Sorry.  So much for hitting that goal, huh?  haha  

I can't even blame it on being on the go all day, which is my usual excuse.   I just didn't want to sit down and blog.   It was way too beautiful out here - and living in the cold north woods has made me really appreciate those days when they come.  We stop almost everything (schoolwork must still be done), and head outside.  Schoolwork is done in the sunshine, picnic lunches are eaten, and we judge the success of the day by how dirty the bathwater is at night.  Well, unless we go swimming first.   Then, well, you know.

Does anyone else count summer swimming for baths?   I can't possibly be the only one that gives kids a pass on bathing if they've gone swimming.  Right?  

******

I'm feeling rambly today.   Lots of things going on, lots of thoughts in my head.  We're not finished with school here yet, and won't be until July 8th, so life is pretty much the same right now.   Schoolwork and preschool/therapy all morning, gymnastics all afternoon.   I shared a picture of our schedule last night on FB, and well, I think you all can see why I'm insane now.   And always flustered.   And reliant on color-coding our children.  I'd lose my mind if I didn't color-code.

As much as my kids hate still being in school right now as their friends are finishing up, it's sooooo worth it every September.   To be able to enjoy those glorious "Indian summer" days without fighting for space at the beach or playground is just amazing.   They'll agree with me then, I know (they always do!), but for now, I'm fighting serious cases of "I don't wannas" with the oldest three rascals.  I'm trying to balance it by changing up our school days - schooling at the library or coffee shop, for example - but it's still hard on all of us.

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I guess I'm also suffering from a case of "I don't wanna."  Feeling super stir crazy the past few days.   For an introvert, I actually don't like to stay home all that much.   I like to explore.  I like to be outside.   I don't like being with *people* much (sorry, but it's true - I get overloaded, sensory-wise), but I would MUCH rather spend all day, every day, outside.    

I'll tell you a secret.  I don't really like housecleaning.   Or being all that domestic.     I do it because I have to....and I try to do it to the best of my ability.  Not because I'm all motivated to succeed or something like that.....I just don't want to have to do it again.   haha.

******

I guess I'll wrap up this incredibly exciting blog post of nothingness now.  Maybe a couple of cute pictures?   Of course.  Pictures make everything better.  :)

So, here you go.  The Circus Summer Beginnings.....in photos:

Ahh, potty training.  Not for the faint of heart.

Schoolday picnics!

My favourite "room" of the house

Art class, which necessitated a costume change - even with the smock on!! - before our library trip today

Alright, and with that, I'm signing off.  Have a great day!

Tried something new...and I think it worked!

I don't know about you, but I sometimes really doubt my abilities as a mom.   Throw in homeschooling, and I spend a good chunk of my time wondering if I'm really the best person to do this job.

Don't get me wrong, I *love* my job.

But sometimes, I'm 100% sure that I'm not the best person for it.

Flashback to last fall.   I was sitting, staring at Mr J's 6th grade course list and lesson plans  and I started to have that moment of panic.   How the heck was I going to do this, while also schooling a 4th grader and a 1st grader, and juggling Mr T's therapy and Miss R's toddlerness and staring the idea of a new baby in the face?   There's this huge jump of coursework between 3rd and 4th grade, so I was looking at the idea of TWO boys with heavy loads, in addition to teaching basic reading and writing.

I came to the realization that the best fit for us this year, with all of the changes that I knew were coming, would be to "outsource" for a few subjects with the older two boys.   Bring in Teaching Textbooks and Homeschool Connections.

We'd used Teaching Textbooks in the past, and had liked it.   I decided we were definitely going to be outsourcing math, using their programs, for all three boys.   (Side note:  I've found that they tend to "run" a year behind - so my third grader was doing Math 4, my sixth grader doing Math 7, etc).

Okay, one subject taken care of.

Using the Homeschool Connections unlimited recorded classes option, I was able to have Mr J do both his foreign language (Spanish) and history without deviating too much from the original syllabus provided by Mother of Divine Grace (it was the same subject matter).   Problem solved!   5 of the classes that I needed to teach were now off of my plate.  It wasn't much, but it was enough to make me feel a bit less stressed and be able to handle the amount of schooling we had in front of us over this past year.

It brought in one interesting question, though - with prerecorded classes, we had the flexibility to decide just WHEN Mr J was going to watch the lecture itself.   In the past, I'd assigned lessons for each day of the week and just given the boys each a daily assignment sheet.  I wondered what would happen if I gave Mr J the freedom to set his *own* schedule?

I decided to try it - instead of spelling out, each day, what work they were expected to do, I started giving him an entire week's worth of lessons/assignments and stood back and watched what happened.

There were a couple of weeks where he was trying to catch up on schoolwork on Sunday night before a new week started, but overall?  He did great.   He started to be more aware of what was going on in our daily lives and started to show initiative to plan his day accordingly.   For this child in particular, who usually stresses HARD when feeling overwhelmed, the sense of "being in charge" seemed to help him thrive.

We're definitely going to continue this method for Mr J next year (and in the future), and I'm debating starting the same kind of thing for the up-and-coming 5th grader.    We'll see.....he's not the same temperament/personality, so it might not work....but I might try.   I'll let you know how it goes.  ;)

Of course, you all want to see how it works, right?  Of course you do!  Here's what Mr J's desk looks like every week...

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The planning stage.......Completed work is put back into these folders, and I grade it on Sunday, file it away for their portfolios, and replace it with new assignments for the upcoming week

I made each of the boys these binders for a road trip about 5 years ago....they've come in incredibly handy throughout the years!

A typical weekly assignment sheet - each subject has the week's worth of assignments written on it, along with a box for him to check off once completed.   This is probably the hardest part for me - I have to take the daily lesson plans provided by Mother of Divine Grace and convert them into a weekly assignment sheet.   Mr J tends to assign each item to a particular day of the week, and he writes that to the right of the check box.   It helps him stay on top of things, he says.

The completed box.   I think I spent a total of $5 on this whole set up, and it keeps things so nice and organized on his desk (when he actually puts the papers in the file folders....he is a young boy, after all!).   It's easy to grab and take with us if Mr T has therapy sessions or we have appointments of any sort.

Alright, not a super exciting blog post, but I'm hoping it might help out someone out there who is also coming to the end of their school year and evaluating what worked and didn't work for them.....and it gets me back into the blogging routine.  ;)

Have a great Sunday, y'all!

I know, I know....don't say it.

I won't say it if you don't.

We'll just pretend like I didn't avoid you for over a year.

Just pretend like it never happened.

Okay?

Okay.

Good.

*******

Maybe I can distract you with a cute baby picture.  Yes?  Yes.   Good idea.   Here, stare at this beauty:

Isn't she a cutie?

Miss E is our newest Circus clown.   I adore her.   And her sleeping habits.   10pm - 6am EVERY NIGHT, folks.   8 gorgeous hours of baby sleep.  In a row.

I love her.

*******

Anywho.

I'm trying to get some "normal" back into my life, so I'm dipping my toes back into the blogging pond for awhile.   We'll see how well it works.   (anyone know a good site for blogging via iPad?  Fighting for the computer just isn't really my style).

It's quiet here - the kids are sleeping, Mike got called into the hospital, the chores are *mostly* completed.   So.....here I sit.   I want to read the next chapter of Belgravia, but first....let's do a quick little blog post, 'mkay?

How about a quick rundown of my favourite veggie freezer meals?  It's a question I get asked a lot - what the heck do you make in those "stocking the freezer" weeks that you speak of?    Most people know what we hardly ever eat meat, and they also know that I use A LOT of crock pot and freezer meals, what with our crazy gymnastics schedule and all.  (soon to be TWENTY ONE hours of practice a week.   5 days.  FIVE DAYS.   So, fifteen hours of practice for two kiddos, with 6 hours of practice - at a different time, of course - for a third kiddo.   And 1 hr of driving a day.   So, really, 26 hours a week devoted to gymnastics.   Oy vey).  

It's pretty hard to find blog posts dedicated specifically to vegetarian freezer meals - I know, because I've looked - so most of these recipes were found on a trial-and-error kind of system.  We had a meal that was a crowd favourite, so I attempted to freeze it and it either worked (yay!) or it didn't.   Some of these double as crock pot meals, so I'll mention that in the descriptions, too.

Alright, here we go....the Circus' favourite vegetarian freezer meals....

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Roasted Veggie Burritos

These are so versatile.  I love them - I usually just use up whatever we have in the fridge that needs to be used up, and call it good. We've made a few modifications along the way, but nothing to elaborate.

 I double the veggie amount and use half the amount of rice.  This doesn't really matter when it comes to the freezability (yes, I just made up a word) of the recipe, but it's a preference of our family.  We like the veggies more and the rice less.  On that note, I also don't add salt to the rice.  It seems too salty for our taste buds with salt in the veggies AND the rice.   To make up for that, I double the other spices with the veggies (cumin and oregano).   I leave out the cheese - we avoid dairy - and use fajita sized tortillas instead of the ginormous ones.  (fajita size is just right for my littlest clowns, and the older ones can just eat two if they're still hungry).  I roast the veggies, cook the rice in my rice cooker, mix it all up together (it's just easier than measuring stuff out), wrap it up in the tortilla, and crisp it on my griddle.   Once crisped, let it cool all of the way, wrap it tightly in saran wrap, then throw a  bunch of them into a large freezer ziploc bag.   We also use these as quick and easy lunches  - you can pull out as many or as few as you need.     Just zap them in the microwave, and you're good to go (the kids and I also crisp them up again on the griddle if we have time - they're yummier that way).   Super easy to just make double one night and freeze the leftovers.....which is my favourite "stock the freezer" maneuver.

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Red Lentil Curry with Kale

This was a total comfort food for me during pregnancy.   The lentils and kale are super high in iron, and cooking them with the tomatoes helps to really draw that out.    For me, someone who eats primarily vegetarian (especially when pregnant), that's a huge plus.   We must have eaten this one at least once a week during my last pregnancy, especially since it's a great "winter night" kind of meal.

I actually make this one entirely in the crockpot - no sauteeing or anything.  I just chop it up, and throw everything except the kale into the crockpot.  Right before I leave the house (or during naptime, if it's not a gymnastics day), I add the kale and hit the road.   Just cook it for about 8 hours, on low, and it will be perfect when you get home.

We usually eat this over rice, but it can be eaten as a stew and all by itself, too.

To freeze, let it cool to room temp, and spoon it into a gallon sized freezer bag.   Lay the freezer bag flat on a small cookie sheet and stick into the freezer.   Once it's frozen, you can pull the cookie sheet out and stack up the ziploc bags to save space....and prevent everything from falling out on you when you open the freezer door.

Rice can also be frozen with the same method - cook, cool, and then freeze flat in a ziploc bag, squeezing out as much air as you possibly can.   When I reheat it, I add a little bit of water, then stick it in a microwave safe bowl and zap it until it's cooked.   To reheat the curry, you can cook it on the stove top, or....my favourite.....let it thaw a bit until you can break it into chunks, and stick the chunks back into your crockpot.   Cook on low (feel free to stir it occasionally) and it'll be ready about 8 hours later!

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Sweet Potato Chili

Oh, this chili.

How I love it.

This chili is my go-to when carnivores are coming over.   They don't even miss the meat, I promise.

I've brought this to soup suppers.   I've given it away.  Every single time, I get bombarded with requests for the recipes.  It's a keeper, I promise.

It's also another one of those double-duty recipes:  a great freezer meal AND a great crockpot meal.

To freeze, let it cool after cooking and freeze flat in a ziploc bag, like I described above.

To cook in a crock pot, just chop up  everything and stick it in and cook on low for 8 hours.  No need to sautee anything or do any other prep, other than chopping things up.   Right before serving, I tend to mash it up a bit with the back of the ladle, but even that's not necessary.  I just like a thicker chili, and that seems to help.

Seriously.  This one is a keeper.  If you don't try any other recipe on this blog post....try this one.

Now.

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Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers

This recipe might have the most unappealing pictures of the finished product than any other one I've seen, haha.   Don't let that scare you.  We've tried MANY do-it-yourself veggie burgers over the past couple of years, and this one is by far our favourite.   The babies prefer their burger without a bun, and the older clowns like to add ketchup, mayo, AND mustard, but no matter how it's eaten, it's an all-around crowd favourite here.

To freeze it, I double the recipe (it has an added bonus of being a "pantry" meal for me - I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand, except for the buns.  That's an easy thing to pick up at the store - or have Mike pick up on his way home - so it still counts as a "pantry" meal, I think!).  Once the burgers have cooled, I freeze them between layers of waxed paper in a gallon ziploc bag.  Squeeze out as much air as you possibly can, and you'll prevent that nasty freezer burn that can happen on things like burgers.     If you're really prepared (only happens when I'm pregnant and nesting, let's be honest), freeze a pack of your favourite hamburger buns, and then you can quickly defrost those at the same time.   To reheat these, I tend to zap them for a few minutes and then crisp them up quickly on the griddle.   The crisping part isn't necessary (the zapping is fine on its own), but we prefer them that way.

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Red Beans and Rice

The title of this one is "Easy Red Beans and Rice", and believe it or not....I've made it even easier by converting it into a crockpot meal.  ;)

Seriously.  Another dump-and-go recipe.   Just dump everything into the crockpot (except for the Liquid Smoke - add that just before serving.  Oh, and the rice.  Cook that separately), turn it on low, and you'll have a delicious meal in about 8 hours.   

I've had a hard time finding canned red beans up here in the good, ol' Northeast, so I've started using dried red beans.   To make it with dried beans, dump the dry beans (I use a whole bag) into that same crockpot.   Add about 6 cups of water, and then cook it on low for about 8 hours.   When those are done, drain the beans, and then add in the other ingredients.   Continue to cook on low for another 8ish hours.  The beans will break down a bit more than the canned ones, but I actually like it better that way.    I usually rehydrate the beans overnight, drain them after breakfast, add the other ingredients, and then let it go until dinner time.    The rice cooker makes the rice, and then we're good to go!

To freeze, just do the ziploc bag trick again.  To reheat, I thaw it a bit, break it up into chunks, and stick it back into that crockpot and cook it on low all day.

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Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

These enchiladas with this sauce were my first-ever attempted vegetarian recipes.   Ahh, the memories.    I honestly don't know if I'd ever even MADE a sweet potato before that moment in time.   Crazy to think about that, isn't it?   Huh.

They've become a staple for me, that's for sure.   This isn't a good "gymnastics night" recipe, but it's a fantastic comfort food/cold weather one.   To freeze, I put them in a disposable tinfoil baking dish, cover with a layer of tinfoil, then saran wrap, then tinfoil again.    If you plan to freeze them, omit the sour cream when you're putting them together - it'll get funky in the freezer.  Instead, I'll just offer sour cream as a "topping" when serving it.   

When freezing these, I cook the filler as directed, build the enchilada (omitting the sour cream), line them up in the tinfoil baking pan, slather them with the yummy sauce, and then freeze.   To cook them later, I'll pull them out the night before and let them thaw in the fridge, then bake at 350º until they're cooked all of the way through.   

Yum.  Served best with margaritas.  

Just kidding.

Kind of.

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Those are my staples - the meals I make when I know the next few months are going to be crazy and I'm going to want a stash of "easy to make" dinners.    I don't think I've ever gone more than 3-4 months before pulling them out and using them, so I'd probably advise you to do the same.   They may have a longer freezer life than that, but I can't guarantee it.    

Whew.

That wasn't too hard to do.   Maybe I'll get back on this blogging horse again, after all!

Good night, y'all!