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"Give me strength" update....
The good news, I survived the weekend. 
I think venting about it got me into a better place mentally and everything went a LOT better than last year. Last year was really the first time I had spent that much 'alone' time w/ Karen so I was just totally unprepared. This year - i was prepared.
Also, she wasn't quite as annoying. She had her moments. But at the same time, I also think she may have clued into my frustration last year.
I also have to kind of give her props too- we had a 3 yr old b-day party to go to yesterday. I have her the choices - I can take her to the hotel early, she can hang out at our house, or she's more than welcome to come.
She totally came, talked to my daycare provider, and seemed to actually enjoy herself. So, while she's not really a "kid person", she's around enough kids in her life that she does actually get it and she does make a genuine attempt to roll with it and make the best of it.
So - there IS some good there too....
However, I do feel that if this trip comes up again next year, if DH is working, I'm going to have to beg off on her coming. While it was all well and good this year and I'm not looking to end our friendship, at the same time - it's still stressful. PLUS - she may have realized how much our lives have changed (last year we were at least still living in the city!) and it's very kid-centric at the moment, and she may not WANT to come! It wasn't the most enthralling of weekends
We'll see. but thanks for giving me an ear! 
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
Re: "Give me strength" update....
I don't think you have to end the friendship, just as long as you can accept her for who she is and the possibility that she may not ever evolve in the ways you'd hope in a friendship.
Oh, I do have to add this funny story. As I said, she's an attorney. We know she's doing really well for herself. Last year she was talking about how she may just sell everything and "walk away from it all". She isn't happy at work, feels she has no one to be responsible for - she just wants to unplug and go.
This year, she's a little more specific - now she wants to buy a boat (because she's taking sailing lessons, ya'll!!!) and sail around the world. this is her "5 year plan" that she is now 1 year into.
And she again specifically said she wants to "unplug".
But meanwhile, she had her brand new (just FedExed to her Friday morning!) iPhone4s in her hand pretty much the entire weekend....
Um, yeah, can't wait to see how this "unplugging" goes.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10