There's No Place Like Home... Or Is There?

Happy Monday after Thanksgiving. Or, happy 24 more days until Christmas to get everything done that you know you couldn't even if you could clone yourself.

I really didn't want to come home yesterday from the new place. I wanted to play hooky for just another day, to savor the the cocoon like atmosphere and stare at the gray empty beach and watch the waves crashing. Unfortunately, there were five kids who had to go back to school, a college freshman who had to prepare for his first-ever midterms, and a husband who had to catch a plane and then a helicopter into Manhattan. The baby was totally up for burrowing in with me though!

Surprisingly, I spent a good deal of my "vacation" working, cleaning, arranging, unwrapping, cooking, laundering, etc., but it felt so good to be with the family in a different place and yet, be "home". Home is somewhere where you can relax, be yourself, not have to be on your best behavior.

We actually sat at the same table at the same time for all our dinners and even a couple of other meals. I enjoyed washing dishes while listening to the kids swap jokes and stories. The baby hadn't seen his big brother since August and took to him as if they had never been apart. I guess part of the difference is that our house is 6800 sq. feet and we all have our separate areas to spread out and away from each other. The new place is maybe 2200 sq.feet with only 3 bedrooms as opposed to the 6 at the house, which forces some togetherness. It was just a special time even with the disarray of boxes and the beds on the floor rather than frames. I can only think that because it was a new space and doesn't have any of the proverbial "baggage" of our everyday house, that we could all relax and truly enjoy each other's company. I hope it will always be that way, a place where we can reconnect as a family.
We are going back for a week after Christmas. I can't wait. I am a little concerned because my mom-in-law will be there as well. I love her, she's a great lady. However, she is the type who can't just sit and relax. She has to have a plan of action or be doing something at all times and I am afraid that she is going to change the dynamic of the group. I just don't know how we are going to keep her busy for a week and still find time to just put our feet up and enjoy watching the waves.