A New Record

So Team Williams had to go to the barn this weekend come hell or highwater to prepare for the pending Cheesehead onslaught, starting on Wednesday. We wanted to get the kitchen stocked, sheets changed etc. On Friday, 75% of the family had terrible colds. Joe was flying in from California and didn't get home until almost 6pm. I was knee deep in my work project at 7pm and everyone was exhausted. We decided to get to bed early and get on the road at first light. Well.....that didn't happen. We ended up getting to bed much later than anticipated because, well frankly, our children were being highly uncooperative, nay, bad. It was boys behaving badly. Such is life. After the floggings and waterboarding, it was quite late. The next day, we stopped at Joe's dad in New Jersey to pick up a few barn items and before we knew it, we were getting to the barn around 4pm. We arrived, did a bit of work and went to bed. The next day, we sprung into gear as we had to leave by 3pm to arrive back in time for a Sunday night board meeting for Joe. So let's put this in perspective, 5 hour drive, arrive Saturday 4pm and leave Sunday at 3pm. Here's the weird part: it was great. The drive is a non-issue anymore. We have books on tape and the boys veg and listen, or read, or sleep. (this time was Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer). We arrived and the barn was cozy and inviting. The snow was bountiful and the boys played for an hour yesterday and most of the day today. Joe and I were busy beavers in the house but it was fun and relaxed. We had North Country Public Radio on through Garrison Keilor, Riverwalk Jazz and This American Life. We drank tea and stoked the fire. We did not attend any of the Winter Carnival activities - NOT ONE - but that will never happen again. Though certainly not ideal, we decided that 23 hours in the Adirondacks is STILL worth it.