So, Vegas. The Grand Canyon. How could we make it awesome and completely ?

1. We didn’t set the goal that this vacation would be amazingly awesome and stress free. I mean, are we insane? So we set the bar lower. Have both boys come back alive and not in need of a lot of therapy. That’s it. (and we’re willing to give ground on the therapy thing, too).
2. We were going to pack light. We tossed out our huge 1980s bags that Tony Soprano could have hidden two bodies in, and bought high tech, ultra light air Canada luggage.
3. We’re going to pack like we are going for a week, not a year. I will leave behind such vital things as a sweater, extra batteries for the laptop and 22 books. The -prettiest-girl-in-the-world has vowed to size down her makeup bag and pack only 11 shoes and 18 changes of clothes.
4. The boys are going to have a say in what we’re doing. This can be a good thing and a very scary thing. (See the later post for the results of Carter’s search for what to do in Vegas). However, they’re old enough to help make the vacation a success for them, too.
5. We’ll not have an ironclad, written-in-blood schedule of things to do. While this causes my left eye to twitch, it’ll give us a lot more flexibility and hopefully assist in making #1 easier.
6. We will only use the car for the first part of the trip – the journey to the Grand Canyon. Like giving up on my need to schedule everything, giving up my need to have a car, even if I don’t use it, will be something new for me. I mean, what if need to drive out to get an emergency model tank?
7. The boys will be responsible for their own packing and their own bags. This loss of control and potential disasters will be for them to sort out. If they forget shorts, they will have to wear the pants they packed. If they forget a toothbrush, they’ll have to ask for one at the desk.
8. I will not be able to bring my laptop. Not that I’m going laptopless, but I’ll have to borrow one of the boy’s laptops. There won’t be any of my programs set up, my files of pictures I often use or my writing documents, but I HAVE TO write so it’ll be better than nothing. Or worse, having to write things out by hand.
9. We will ensure that everyone eats a lot. Not because we want to be chubby, but to avoid attacks of the hangries. To be fair, that means The-Oldest and me. If we don’t get fed, we can be a real pain to be around.
10. I will plan to have one surprise on our vacation since it’ll be The-Prettiest-Girl-in-the-World’s birthday. Oh the possibilities are endless, but I also have to make sure she’ll still marry me a few months later. Stay tuned.