before I forget

So we had a little incentive for the girls to be extra good on vacation and not get on our nerves so very much. We did have a lot of time in the car after all. So we had daily good kid awards. And instead of every kid getting something at every gift shop that we stopped at (3 on the first day alone!) the "good kid" got to pick out something special while all of the girls got postcards or smooshed pennies at each location. So the first day Miranda and Madison had bright and sunny dispositions and they tied for the GKA on Tuesday. On Wednesday Miranda was grumpy as all get out and wasn't even in the running. She did get a lovely pair of silver and some-blue-stone dangly earrings for Tuesday's performance and Madison chose a fun and intricate coloring book. So Wednesday Danelle dazzled us with her cooperative attitude and her willingness to help when we had work to do. (And not hide with a book at every turn...ahem, Miranda.) Danelle picked out a fun necklace for her prize with dangly charms. Very girly and very cute. On Thursday Kamiryn made the biggest effort that we have probably ever seen. Of course it wasn't perfect. We are talking about Kamiryn after all. But boy oh boy did she try hard. We heard a lot of "may I pleases, and yes please, no thank you and yes mom or yes dad"...it was obvious that she was working hard. So on Thursday evening we were gathered around the campfire and the girls wanted to know who prevailed that day. Derek was actually holding Kamiryn on his shoulder while he and I discussed in a whisper the days attitudes and events. She heard us talking about her but she was still so shocked when I stepped back and announced "although she wasn't perfect, due to great effort the good kid award goes to Kamiryn." She couldn't believe it! It was so darn adorable. That kid can be such a stinker and still totally melt my heart! We cannot remember exactly what she said but she just couldn't believe it. She did ask us if she had really gotten the good kid award and then was so sad when her sisters teased that it could still be taken away. Kamiryn couldn't believe her good fortune to be able to shop for her prize the next day and was even more excited when she was allowed to pick 2 things (she was a lot easier on the souvenir budget). I can't remember who earned the award on Friday,only that I thought that I deserved it that day. When the girls insisted that it had to go to a "kid" I reminded them that it was a "GOOD kid award"....not a least bad kid award. But what did I expect on day 4 when everyone had already had a turn (not enough motivation) and we were already at the fabulous water park....couldn't hold that over their heads anymore.
All 4 girls tied for the good kid on Saturday(Derek's call)and so we stayed an extra night at a hotel in Roger's courtesy of Derek's parents and got to go swimming with cousins. It turned out to be a good (and affordable) way to encourage good behavior.
Might have to figure out some kind of good husband award.
Umm.
Nevermind.