Big Trip for a Big Kid

Today I sent my oldest off.

Ethan was invited by good friends to join them on a trip with their son. Not a playdate, not a day trip, not a sleepover, a VACATION. They will be gone for 5 days. Not in Waldenbuch, not in Stuttgart, not in Germany... in Italy. With sunscreen, banana bread and books for the car, and passport for the boarder, he was off this morning. Last night he slept like a baby (with me); I tossed and turned and wondered if I should just call the whole thing off. But I know that he's in good hands (the Dad's a Navy fighter pilot, I'm pretty sure he can navigate a BMW) and that he'll have a great time (including a day at the beach). After all, he's only been saying since he was 4 that he wanted to go to Italy and eat pasta every day. So now here's his chance.

And for us left behind, we'll wile our days as a family of 4 which will be a new experience for all of us. Alex and Evelyn are already plotting fun things to do since they don't get to go to Italy (yet). And enjoying then winding down of summer. And I'll be counting the days.