First and foremost, happy Easter to all who celebrate today!

We drove all day yesterday, leaving at 9am from Richmond, VA and arriving home to NJ at 3pm in the afternoon.

SC Road Trip Postmortem

1. I am happy to be home. Yes, Myrtle Beach, SC is gorgeous but it’s not home.
2. Happy to sleep in my own bed last night.
3. Karaoke every night in Myrtle Beach: people singing and being happy. Me listening and reading my book.
4. Spanish moss = creepy and awesome. Too bad it can’t survive in NJ (too cold).
5. Friday to Friday in Myrtle Beach was quite leisurely. There is not much to do except beach (or pool), shopping, and eating. Which, by the way, was a wonderful combination and exactly what I needed.
6. Breaking up the trip up into two parts was the right call: NJ to VA, overnight in VA, then VA to SC next day. Return trip- same.
7. If Google maps states the trip is 5 hours, think it’s more like seven, especially if you are traveling with kids.
8. We got there and back with no issues in terms of my little Subaru, no flat tires and no accidents. We drove on many different highways as well as local roads. Drove over huge bridges. Passed folks parked on the side of the road with a variety of issues, flat tires, a few fender benders and a few accidents. I sent a silent thanks for being safe on the road and some words of comfort to folks for a quick resolution.
9. The ocean+sand+kids=amazing.
10. Great memories were made on the beach, at the pool, on MB boardwalk, as well as the Broadway at the Beach.
11. Paula Deen’s restaurant! “Put some South in your mouth, y’all”
12. We had ice cream every single day we were there. Kind of ashamed of my lack of self control as a parent.
13. I now want to go more south and explore Georgia.

March

Here is the post I wrote at the beginning of March with my plan.

Some items came to fruition, some were eliminated. Regardless, March felt busy. Although I am sure I say this about all of the other months. It felt busy because I knew we have a trip coming up so I was cramming things in like trip prep, wrapping things up at work, making sub plans, making sure the house is presentable. I am one of those strange people who cleans the house before leaving on a trip.

In March, I specifically remember struggling with daylight savings time. The week after DST I felt so tired and was dragging my feet at work and at home.

In March, we had a few events that were definite highlights: Riverdance (solo), Eid (celebration at my friend’s house, with kids), Brooklyn Children’s Museum and Science Fair (as a family). Delicious St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage and setting a leprechaun trap.

Diana Krall concert at the State Theater did not happen and neither did a visit to the Asia Society in NYC – it was simply too much to add to already full calendar. Did not have a monthly date with my husband.

In March, I continued my exercise routine, some before work, some after, and going to the YMCA most weekends. I continued with a little cardio but focused on lifting, with progressive overload, and my favorite cycling class on Sundays. I also exercised four times during our road trip to SC (the building where we had our rental had a fitness center).

An obvious highlight was our spring break road trip but I already wrote a lot about it here and here. Many readers may remember how I fretted over my district possibly taking days away from spring break but that did not happen and for that I am thankful.

My kids had their regular activities of Brazilian jiu jitsu, two to three times a week, as well as weekly piano and gymnastics lessons.

Everyone in our family was healthy, no sickness or missed work or school. Also, good parent-teacher conferences, with good feedback (both are above grade level and can only be scaffolded up). My husband only traveled for work once.

I also did some decluttering of closets in our house.

April

Speaking of work travel… My husband is gone pretty much the whole month of April. He will be away every week, with varied amount of days. Some weeks it is 2 days, other weeks, it’s four days.

So…

There will be a lot of solo parenting in April.

Because of that, I want to make my April relatively low-key.

I want to have a date night in April. Maybe go see a show with T. He suggested a matinee in NYC, I’m down!

I want to continue my exercise routine: aiming for 2 times during a work week and twice on a weekend.

I want to continue bringing the kids for family swim sessions at the local rec center (YMCA).

My sister-friend B’s birthday celebration on 04/17

I want to enjoy April flowers and, quite possibly, showers (like today). Trim roses, clear some flower beds, even out the soil where our kitchen garden used to be (it was taken down in the fall). Plant something where the kitchen garden used to be. That also meets my “time outside” goal.

I want to spent less time on my phone.

I want to read. I want to write posts on my blog. I want to catch up on fellow bloggers’ posts.

Have you been to the southern part of the US? The Carolinas? Georgia?

How was March for you? What are some things to look forward to in April?