So it seems as if I’ve been away from home non-stop since the last week of June, and for the most part I guess that’s true. I had my Harsens Island retreat the last part of June, then my visit to Scrap Palace of Romeo, and most recently our family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. It sure feels like I’ve spent a lot of time in the car. Especially after today riding home in the car with three kids, ages 7 and under. In the words of my favorite band, Barenaked Ladies, “It’s a long way back home…” or at least sometimes it sure seems that way.

I haven’t updated in a few days due to all my travels so let me give you the run down on the rest of my stay at Scrap Palace first. All I can say is that everyday there was just a great, if not better than the first. I got maybe 8 layouts done and then some cards that I did with only scraps that I’d have left after each project. I also finished a mini flip calendar for 2008-2009. The food was continuously fantastic, and everything was five star all the way. There is a lot more to a scrap retreat then just the time you spend scrapbooking. It has a lot to do with the atmosphere, the food, and the people. Again… five star all the way!! If you are looking for a getaway be sure to give Scrap Palace a chance!!

Now that I have that covered, on to my next trip. We just got home from a family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. We left the day after I came home from Scrap Palace. It is about a five hour drive from here I think and the ride there was a little rough. The weather was fine, a little light rain, but the kids were less than trilled. There were no naps to be had in the car and I really thought one of them might poke out the others eyes before we actually got to our destination. It didn’t help that it took us twice as long to get there then it really should have. In true Dera fashion, we forgot things we needed, had a problem with the car, etc.

This year my parents when on the trip with us to help with the kids. That worked out SO much better than it has in years past when we didn’t have any extra help. There are a lot of kids in that waterpark and with only two of us and three kids it can be difficult to keep an eye on everyone. Not to mention that all three are really in different age groups and while one wants to go down a slide the other two really aren’t at the age that they can do those types of things yet. With my parents there everyone got to so what the wanted for the most part. Best of all this year I wasn’t stuck in the kiddie pool the entire time. I got to actually go on some of the slides myself and visit the adult only hot tub - go figure!!

Yesterday my mom and I took a minute to visit a scrapbook store that was local to the lodge itself. The store, Forget Me Not Scrapbooking, was only all of five minutes away, and really a nice store. The store is really nice and had a good selection, so if you are in the area be sure to check it out. (When I was there they had Cricut cartridges buy one, get one half off.) The store is arranged by theme for the most part and I found at least one thing that I had to have, lol. I bought a Sweetwater Scribbles Template, a piece of Flair printed paper I had been on the hunt for and a Maisy Mo tin that I want to alter and create a mini album with.

I think that really covers it. Hopefully I can get all the laundry done as I unpack tomorrow. It seemed like it took ages just to unload the car, and I think we are all dead tired. With that I think I’ll get moving up to bed. I just wanted to let everyone know I’m still here, and still scrapping. Now I’ve got even more photos to get working on!!

~j