Nothing too exciting (that's probably O-K!)

I've been a little elusive this week....sorry! I talk to Chuck every day, but it seems like he keeps going back and forth between Detroit, MI and Chicago! I'm sure I'm speaking for him when I say...redundant! His time to come home is getting closer...but GEEZ...this is taking FOR-EVER!! Still, 6 more days!He's trying to decide about this load, right now...he could hurry up and t-call it on Saturday at the terminal...and wait for something else, or deliver it on Monday...staying on the same load all weekend (which is kind-of stretching it out a bit!). I trust he'll do what's right. He's worried, though, because it seems like the week he wants to get home they send him as far away as he can get...and then it gets down to the last 15 minutes of his driving time when he's pulling into the terminal on Thursday...Their planning really cuts it close...especially with some changing weather moving it. He's headed for Detroit, Michigan for the 3rd time this week, I think! I noticed on the radar, tonight, that they are in the lower-western-most corner of the action the northeast is seeing...they always have lake-effect snow, anyway....but I don't want him to get caught in anything too treacherous....we have a special weekend coming up, I want him HOME!!

Things around here are good - busy...tomorrow is Marco's last Basketball game for the season; Alex joined art club, now...she's got a teacher that really likes her and is very encouraging - I think we all have had one in our lives who believed in us at one time, or another...it's nice to have a connection! So, good for her!

Marco went with his buddy last weekend to see a movie for his birthday...the new Percy Jackson, the Lightening Thief...Marco gave me the book to read so we can talk about it..."thanks, kid"... :)

Sam's getting really busy...he's climbing on top of the dining room table every chance he can get - climbing on top of the computer desk...found a way out of his crib by climbing up on the trim that goes around his room, so I had to move the crib to the middle of the room. I think he's still too young for a toddler bed - he won't stay in it! We've got a much better sleeping schedule, now, though...only ONE day this week up in the middle of the night...2-4:30. I'm not sure why, but the rest of the week was fine - in bed by 8:30, up around 5...that's a good schedule.

Anyway, school started out really crazy - I had 3 papers and a power point presentation due in the first 2 weeks...they don't just give these degrees away, you know! I had to redo my benchmark assessment 3 times (just the abstract) before my teacher would grade it..she even called me to tell me what she wanted! I ended up with 4.68 out of 5 points (talk about splitting hairs). I have to watch my grades; anything below a 3.0 and they can kick you out of the program...luckily I'm at 3.8! (not to brag or anything, but I'm not exactly a traditional student...I have 3 kids to take care of and a household, virtually on my own...I think I'm managing pret-ty good..).

Anyway, looks like we're warming up next week in the mid-thirties, FINALLY...

have a good trip to Arizona, Dad and Jean! (will they find a house THIS time?? ...(they've made this trip a few times to look at real-estate).

Take care -

Robin

Spontaneous roadtrip....

Well, Chuck's been gone 10 days...12 more to go...ugh! Yesterday morning I was talking to him at 8 in the morning and he told me he was going to be staying in Milwaukee for more than a day...waiting for his time to reset or for the appointment times to come...not sure what the original reason was....we were talking about it and I was questioning his times and everything...at the last minute I decided to take the kids out of school - it was about 12:00 noon when I got them...we packed for the night - I made a reservation at a hotel down there, with a pool -found a GREAT rate for 2 queen beds and an indoor pool, including breakfast....only 45 bucks! Anyway, we set out....I didn't call him until I was almost to Madison - it ALMOST backfired on me....he said "turn-around, go back....there won't be enough time, and I don't want you to spend the money"....I told him where I was and he said "well, since you're already this far...plus, he missed Alex's birthday, and Marco's is on Monday, the timing was good...we didn't get there until almost 8:00, but the pool was open until 10 and we had a pizza and a great time....the bad news is my camera batteries were exhausted...so I didn't get any fun pictures of Sam enjoying the pool..for the first time...he had a BLAST! All of us did - we sat in the hot tub, and relaxed...the last time we did something like this was labor day weekend 2008...Sam was TINY. We deserved it. This morning he called me after being back on the road for about an hour and thanked me for doing it....it was short, but it was nice to have a night off of the truck, with the kids and me, all together...we have to create these moments when we can, now! 12 more days he'll be home...it will be our anniversary and we have a night planned at Thayer's - 5 years ago married there...she's become a great friend...it's been 3 years since we've been back there. Looking forward to having Chuck all to myself, at least for a day!

After leaving us in South Milwaukee (we were 80 miles from Chicago), he had to head up to Green Bay for a pick up, and then back down to Chicago, then up to Pennsylvania....it was snowing off and on all day...for him and for us coming home. Nothing horrible, though. It was a long way for Sam....on the way there, the last 25 minutes or so he literally SCREAMED....it was awful to try and drive down there with that noise! Everyone was headed toward Chicago, and past Waukesha it was just insane! I've been to Chicago quite a few times driving - one time I got there at 7 in the morning...during rush hour....the tollway is INSANE! But with the wet roads and the darkness...I must say with Sam crying I thought I might lose it. But we found Chuck's exit where he was, and the hotel was 5 exits north of where he was...it was fine. I've driven in LOTS of states, with LOTS of adverse weather....been through the Rocky mountains in a blizzard with my friend, Sharon, and through Nebraska in tornadoes and torrential rain...the trip to Salt Lake City is 810 miles each way, and is filled with hazards! And many times I was traveling alone (or with my kitty in a carrier)...But with a van full of kids...that was a new one...

We got home today around 5:00 and Alex went to stay overnight with her friend, Allison, and Marco has his best friend, Sam, here....they're going to see the movie "The Lightening Thief"...tomorrow...he and Marco have read all of the books in the series 4 times, each....they're such nerds.....I'm glad Marco has a good friend who "gets" him! I told Marco he should be a meteorologist....all the cute nerds are meteorologists on tv! ;)

Well, I'm going to bed...Sam's asleep, and I'm drained from the 14 hours of driving in the last 2 days...have a good rest of the weekend!

Robin

Seriously thinking of a road trip...

I can't believe we STILL have 12 days left of this trip...it's getting monotonous.

We have Marco's birthday on Sunday...he's inviting a buddy to go to the movies. I'm excited for him, the timing of the release of the new Percy Jackson movie couldn't've been better...he and his friend Sam are the only 2 nerds they know that have read all of the books in the series 4 times, each! I'm glad the kids love reading so much.

I spoke to Chuck a couple of hours already this morning...he's near Appleton, WI - he's picking up a load and will be in Milwaukee tonight/tomorrow...he only has to drive 180 miles on this particular load. So, I was thinking Sam and I could get in the van and be there by 5:00 tonight....the time is going so S L O W!!

It's very frustrating....

Well, I finally got my textbook for my class that started LAST Thursday, so I should get working on my paper that was due on Wed., the professor made provisions since the book was on backorder, and so many of us didn't have it in order to do the assignment.

Still thinking of that roadtrip....could be a fun activity for Marco's birthday weekend...we'll see.

Have a great weekend, everyone -

Robin

Cumberland Mountains....

Sorry I've been gone so long....I had a big benchmark assessment due for my class and I had to revise it 3 times! Also, the kids were home for 4 days, so I had a lot of distraction this last weekend.

Well, Chuck was in Arkansas yesterday morning and he was in a huge backup...there was some snow on the ground and the state is not equipped for dealing with it! The hill he was climbing was causing some problems for some of the vehicles. It was warm enough to make it a slushy mess! Today he should make it to Nashville...they're expecting a little bit of snow, too, I believe...I have to check weather.com to see what it's going to be like. I didn't talk to him much, yesterday, not as much as usual, so I feel like it's been a long time! We're at the beginning of the 2nd week of him being gone, and it feels like it's been forever! 17 more days until he gets back home again....on our 5th anniversary.

Well, waiting patiently for my text book that is on backorder for my new class that started on Thursday and trying to organize...I'm DYING for spring! I can't wait to open windows and clean!! I see on the thermometer outside it's only 15 degrees and it's 8am...chilly! Well, we have to do some running around, today...have a great Tuesday! Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day weekend! Missed my sweetheart, but had my 3 other valentines to hang out with!! :)

Robin

Those poor truckers....

Hi everybody...Sorry I've been out of touch, lately. We had a busy couple of weeks! I just finished my class for the term, tonight...new class tomorrow....starting some practicum hours, now. I'm applying for my short-call sub license to get my foot in the door with some of the area schools...exciting! Chuck was just home over this last weekend...he was dealing with rain and snow everywhere he went for the last 3 weeks! He was home on Saturday and left this morning (Wednesday)...so we had a nice few days together. We went up to my dad and Jean's on Sunday for the superbowl...good commercials...:) Happy for the Saints, I guess...I'm a sucker for a good Cinderella story. Today Chuck is spending the night near Black River Falls, WI - he is headed for Georgia. I talked to some girls in my Trucker's Wives group who live down there and it's been unseasonably cold, but no rain or snow to speak of for the rest of the week...so that's a relief! His region is pretty much the eastern half of the US, so I'm hoping that "stuff" gets out of the Atlantic seaboard before they send him back up there!! He's staying out a little longer this time because he really wants to make it home for our anniversary. So, he'll be out 22 days, coming home on the 4th of March. It's getting pretty old having him gone, but what are the choices??? We do what we have to, I guess. Sam's getting a lot better with the separation, now. He is connected at the hip with his dad when he gets home...that's the absolute hardest part of all of this. Well, anyway, I'll update when I find out anything new!! Take care and stay warm!!! :)

Robin