I think that the anticipation of a trip is sometimes more fun that the trip itself. It looks like you're getting your mileage out of this one. ;-) I hope you have a great time.

We're doing a four day vacation to Tan-Tar-A Resort in the Ozarks. Both girls are looking forward to it for different reasons. Rap gets to go horseback riding, and Pippi wants to hang out with the college interns from church that will be there. Ever boy crazy; not sure where she gets that from. :-X

Rapunzel has been saving her money for another trip. She asked me how much she needed to save for her airfare. Silly baby, as if I'd let her pay. But that trip isn't going to happen. I'm used to our flaky family, but it's not easy to see my daughter hurt. Children absorb those incidents quietly, but I wonder what mark it leaves on them to know that they really weren't *that* important.

I didn't receive any email. But she did wonder why she was mysteriously scheduled off for the weekend of July 8th. I didn't tell her, but you'd blogged about having her come out that weekend.

Please just delete this thread. I'm over-reacting to the four days that they just spent with their dad. He was a total jerk, complaining about their Father's day present to him, etc., every day they were there. It's tough to watch them hurt over people that are supposed to love them.

I'm off to clean closets or do something productive that'll burn off my indignation. Please forgive me. I could have handled this much better.

Nonsense. If you didn't get my e-mail, you were quite right to expect that I'd just blown the whole thing off. But I assure you (and her!) that nothing is farther from the truth! I'm quite looking forward to it.

My boss scheduled (and then cancelled) a tradeshow from 7//7 to 7/10, just about the time I was going to call her about that weekend. Like I said...the uncertain business travel schedule is being a problem. (He's a bit of a nut.) However, after I get back to town, I'm *here* for a while. I'll write to her tonight and start working on picking out a weekend, okay?

P.S. I'm sorry he's being a jerk. Adults can handle that but it's really hard on kids and can leave scars.

They're not getting rid of ME that easily, though! :D