Well, it's almost time for me to begin making arrangements for our family's vacation.  I'd like to think that I have a better grasp on things than to let them wait until the very last moment, but this year would not be a good year for me to use as an example of my "awesome preplanning capabilities".

My daughter is graduating this Saturday, our four oldest kids and I are leaving for camp a week later and I still have no idea how we will celebrate my son's birthday - July 4th!  Last year we had a "staycation", you know - we didn't leave the city, but took in all that the Windy City has to offer.  The above picture is from the day we decided to visit the Adler Planetarium.  I think it's kinda neat that my children's clothing color matches their advertisement!

I don't really know what we are going to do this year.  We have put quite a bit of money into our house, updating and winterizing it.  We are nowhere near done with that, so spending alot of money on a vacation just doesn't seem like a good idea.  We've already seen Chicago - I mean WE LIVE HERE!  I am fresh out of ideas.  We don't have a backyard (well its about 13'x7'), so camping out at home is out of the question.  We do have vacation ownership and could use bonus time to stay during our vacation.  The only thing about that is, there is nothing around this place but fields.

I am so open to suggestions!  What does everybody else do when money is low, gas prices are high and you really don't want to waste the nine days that your family gets to spend together without interruption?  I know the Lord will help me figure out something.  Now, back to graduation preparation....