1) THE ROOM:
DH was AGAIN taking out SDs trash for them and complaining about how 'disgusting' is was and how they just leave it. I told him "Why should they do it if they know you'll do it for them?" He says that they should do it...me,"Then you don't touch it and make them do it!" "But it's gross!" he states. "And that's exactly why you leave it for them to LEARN that!" And he comes back with..."They don't separate the trash and recycle." Me, exasperated, "Yes you need to watch them and make sure they do it and do it right and that means you make the effort!"

Not bad, not bad at all.

SDs were with BM a day early because of her bday so we had an extra day w/out them.

SD13 was nominated by her teachers to participate in a special travel program next June. Only 35 kids in her class were picked, so it's a big deal. This would be her first "independent" travel.
Basically it's based on her being a good, active and engaged student.

...and she has to raise $2K.
The group is required to do fundraising and SD13 will also have to earn money to go (DH and BM will both chip in as well but it's been made clear that she has skin in this one).
So she's figuring out what she can do to earn money.

So DH and I agreed that we'd take the SDs somewhere this summer for a shorter, local vacation.
Somewhere fun that has a lot to do and then on the way back we can stop at a nicer place for he and I.
It would be affordable and the SDs would have fun....they are pretty good travelers now that they are older so it's not an issue like it was before.