Vacation...part three

Once in Daytona everything was beautiful. No one was sick, the weather was great, our room was extraordinary! The kids loved the ocean...we bought them boogie boards and they had a blast surfing the waves. Doug loved it too! There was a sand bar about 50 yards off of shore that was the perfect place to ride the waves. The girls went shopping for a few hours the second day we were there. I saw a Salty Dog Surf Shop that I had to visit and we also had to stop at the super sale in Nine West. Emily and Alaina had a great time trying on high heels and I had a great time buying more shoes...just what I need.

After being in Daytona for three nights we loaded all the kids back in the vehicles and drove 10 hours to the Smokey Mountains. Wesley had a rough day again in the car...I started keeping countless bags around just in case...ended up changing his clothes, my clothes...thank goodness we had brought some beach towels for him to sit on. Our caravan was very gracious with the delays and in the end we pulled into the resort around 10:00pm I think.

The next day we went whitewater rafting. Thanks to everyone for talking me into going...it was one of the most adventurous things I've ever done! And talk about fun! The first thing we did after they called our name was to grab a helmet, life vest and paddle. After we put on the vest the guides come around and tighten it for you...so tight in fact that I was quite sure I'd never breathe correctly again. Then we load onto a school bus that has our rafts on the top and ride up the mountain. Emily was so nervous during the bus ride that she was almost grey by the time we were at the top. She wasn't at all sure she wanted to really go through with it...and I wasn't sure I was gonna convince her. But she's tough and worked through her fear and got right into the boat when it was her time. We went through class 2, 3 and 4 rapids...what a rush! At one point in the trip Christian showed remarkable bravery and saved Doug's life after Doug got bounced out of the raft. Doug got the opportunity to swim the rapids...even if that really wasn't what he had in mind. One minute he was sitting across from me, the next he was gone!

We toured Gatlinburg...had one of those old fashioned pictures taken of our family, ate great biscuits and gravy, swam in the resort pool, went out for dinner with 10 children under 12 and then finished off the trip with some great go-cart racing! And then it was time to load up the van go home.

All in all it was an excellent time. All of the families got along, the kids played together great, we conquered the ocean and the mighty rapids of the Smokies. This will be one of the vacations that the kids will remember for a life time.

Off to Florida and the Smokies

We leave tomorrow morning at 3:30am!!! Everybody here is extremely excited...it has made bedtime very difficult to say the least. Wes was so confused when we were packing the van, he thought we were leaving and shed many tears when he had to go back into the house and go to bed. This will be the first trip we take with our new Honda Odyssey. So far it's proving to be MUCH bigger than our last van. We have so much extra room in the trunk it looks like I must have forgotten something...and yet, we have everything! It is truly amazing!

So wish us luck as we begin our journey with 6 adults, 10 children, 8 boys and 2 girls all between the ages of 12 and 2. The first time we descend upon a McDonalds will be a like a tour bus unloading.

Anyone know how early Dunkin Donuts opens? It's not 3:30am is it?

Life is getting easier

We just got back from a three night, four day vacation to the Wisconsin Dells. This is an annual trip we have been making with the family for about 5 years now. Each year it seems as if I am pregnant or have a small baby in tow. Each year, we have a good time but by the end of the weekend Doug and I are exhausted and are at the end of our patience rope. It is truly an experience to travel with small children, depending on the age of the smallest child we either have to stop half way so I can nurse, navigate our way through McDonald's holding a baby, a toddler and a tray, which is not easy, try to get some rest as the baby wakes every three hours or the toddler cries off and on all night because he is not in his own bed, push a stroller through crowded hallways loaded with who knows how much garbage you have to carry when taking care of an infant and then always be aware of where the elevator is because the stairs are off limits.

It is a challenge to travel with small children but when you have four kids there is no choice; we either needed to go on vacation with them or stay at home for 10 years while they all grew up. I am not a mother who believes in staying shut up in the house because I have kids. I think it is a good idea for kids to learn how to behave properly in public, grown up situations. I think kids should learn how to eat in a restaurant that doesn't have slides and tubs for entertainment. I think it's important to teach them, even at a young age, to place their order with a waitress, to ask for refills or extra napkins if they need them. It's a good lesson in speaking to adults, saying please and thank you and how to make up their own mind and take responsibility for their choices. We always start at Denny's or Buffalo Wild Wings or other loud restaurants where we won't draw too much attention to ourselves if one of them decides to scream or throw a tantrum...which has totally happened. What I've learned as I've added to my clan is that the youngest look at the oldest to see how to behave. It always amazes me how my little ones take their cues from the older children. That said...it's not easy and often Doug and I have thought, "we should just go by ourselves."

Anyway, all that "training" at home has grown into a more enjoyable vacation; that, along with the fact that the kids are getting older. The two older ones played with each other as Doug and I took care of the little ones or they all played together while Doug and I watched. That is a thrill I hope every mother gets to see...all her kids playing together without killing each other. The kids were able to stay up later in the evening and sleep later in the morning...that was the best! We have had vacations when everyone is up at 6:30 am... that is the pits! (By the time 10:30 rolls around they are ready for a nap.) We had no stroller this time, which meant that Doug and I could walk together while the clan ran up ahead.

Christian and Emily were a huge help. They packed their own suitcases, put away their clothes when we got there and then packed up again when it was time to go home. Granted Christian only packed one pair of socks and underwear but hey that was his choice. They helped us in so many ways, getting themselves dressed, keeping track of their bathing suites, entertaining the kids, helping making lunch, finding luggage carts and even stayed in the room for an hour after the little ones went to bed so that we could go get a drink. (That kind of back fired on us though...as we were walking back to the room about 10 doors away, the fire alarm in the hallway next to ours went off...it freaked us out...Doug ran all the way to our room...the kids seemed to be just fine.) The older the kids get the more enjoyable they are to go out with; Christian is so witty and Emily is a great shopping partner!

I really feel like we have rounded a corner in our family life. We are no longer in baby mode and we are moving into I'm not sure what you'd call it...but I'd call it easier as far as vacations go. It really kind of surprised Doug and I. As we were driving home, we both commented that we had a good time and we are not totally exhausted. Amazing...for those of you who have younger kids than me...life does get easier and it will sneak up on you too.

PS. Don't worry...that's not a real bear in the picture...or at least it's not still alive.