Tea Party.

Isn't it funny that when you are driving back home from a trip it always seems longer? It may have something to do with three kids and no "backseat" parent. We had such a nice time with Pete. The highlight for Olive was the dinners. Hans' was breakfast and they all LOVED the pool. We hit as many thrift stores as Olive could handle but no great finds.
This picture is an accurate depiction of Oscar over the last few days. He is a hyper-hypo or a gloomy gus. Not much in between. All of his muscles ache and I can see the beginnings of a breakout on his forehead. Definite awkward age. I think this will be hard for Oscar because he really loves being a kid. I mean really.
Case in point? This morning he organized a tea party. I think the initial reason is that he really loves tea and where as his Dad has tea several times a day, I do not all that often. Secondary was keeping Olive entertained so that she would stay away from the paper airplane air force that is currently residing downstairs. Hans decided a tie, jacket and pocket scarf was in order.
I love this about Oscar. He is a sweet boy. He kisses me goodnight every night without fail. Pete too. I do not feel this is odd or that a boy of his age needs to toughen up. Sometimes Pete mentions this and I know that it is because he loves Oscar and doesn't want to see him pushed around. I really want to help him make the transition to teenager painless but I don't want that to involve him giving up the person he is. Luckily he is not self conscious at all and once again I feel like I put way more thought into these things than the kids do. One thing that Oscar has always been obsessed with is sticks and rocks. Ask anyone that knew Oscar between the ages of 1 and 4 and they will tell you he always had at least one stick with him. He and Hans have a renewed interest in rocks and fossils. So along the way back home I had to make several stops at possible collection sites. I was happy to do it because it made the kids happy but we also had a chance to make Olive forget the last song that she requested demanded over and over.

This brings me to a new list. I wasn't sure if I should attempt a return yet again but luckily Kim helped push me in that direction. It's been awhile so I feel we could maybe repeat some. But, for today I would like to list our current 5 favorite travel songs, based on this last trip.

1. Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Olive is heavily into Sound of music right now. I am required to watch her dance to this song no less that three times a day.

2. Paper Planes by MIA. I love this song. Not aimed for kids but they came up with some pretty sweet choreography and even Oscar took part in that.

3. I Saw the Light by Hank Williams Sr. This Hans' all time favorite song and always his first
request.

4. Raz by Tim and Eric. Just in case you click on this link, the kids just know the song. I love Tim and Eric but it is not for kids. I have the album though and a few songs they love.

5. A Lot of Moving by The Avett Brothers. I believe my sister Alex is in love with these boys. After her several testimonials I added them on my Zune and I really like a lot of their songs. The kids liked this one a lot and it became our trip anthem. Olive is particularly obsessed and knows all the words. Oh, and do not feel threatened Alex, my current raging crush is this guy.