Weekend Away

So here it is a very cold Friday morning we have just walked the kids to school and sat through a nice long assembly in the freezing cold to watch our youngest daughter get an award. Back at the house I am defrosting in front of the heater and thinking about what I need to do today. We are off on a Weekend away with my mother in law and her husband.
Everyone looks forward to a weekend away staying at a hotel or in this case a chalet set in the middle of the most beautiful forrest you have ever seen. I think the whole idea of having time away is fantastic. I think it would be even better if I did not have to take along four kids and puppy.
But we do these things for family time. And as I sit her contemplating all the clothes I must pack for four kids in the middle of winter. Making sure the portacot is ready to go. Extra Nappies for Daniel. The bag of stuff for the puppy. The pillows cuz we all hate sleeping on pillows that are not our own. The bag of activities to keep everyone busy. The pram to push Daniel in. And then there is the food side that must be packed. Considering the amount of food my children digest daily there will be plenty of bags just for the food. And as I sit her contemplating how the hell are we going to manage once again to fit it all in out car I really really just want to stay home and forget the whole idea.
The kids have packed thier own clothes and I have checked all bags to make sure they have packed the right clothing....and just as well that I have. I dread the coming home and the unpacking and putting away. I dread the amount of washing that will pile up from being away from my washing machine for three days. But I will smile and be happy and get everything in the car. Have a little fight with my husband who is stressed trying to organise his stuff for the trip and I will just look at him and smile.
I will go away for three days and still cook dinner and feed the kids. I will still yell at them and pick up thier messes. And I shall do all of this with a smile on my face knowing that I would have had just as much fun and been more comfortable in my own house.