Hi.
I’m not sure if you remember me, but I occasionally post some things here.
It’s delightful to see you again.
And I am happy to say that I am almost caught up on life again. Last week I finally finished some work-related stuff that’s been hanging over my head, celebrated the little guy’s (upcoming) birthday with a few of his friends, wondered if the house was going to fall in when roofers were here (thankfully the house remained intact), avoided certain frostbite (okay. slight exaggeration.) while watching a baseball game in 44 degree weather, and managed to be sound asleep by 10:30 every single night.
I can’t even tell you how proud I am of that whole asleep-by-10:30 thing.
I don’t think that’s happened since I was in 3rd grade.
Last week I also tried one of those little 90-calorie Snickers ice cream bars for the first time, and SWEET MERCY THEY ARE DANGEROUS. I mean, I appreciate that they’re only 90 calories and all, but as soon as I tried one, I wanted to eat three more. Which sort of defeats the purpose of the 90-calorie dessert option.
Anyway.
One of the things that I am determined to check off my to-do list this week is an article about summer vacations that I’m writing for HomeLife magazine. Earlier tonight I was wondering what would be the quickest way to finish a little sidebar survey that’s going to go with the article, and then I remembered OH, WAIT – I HAVE A BLOG.
It’s a handy little thing, a blog is.
So if there are a few of you who wouldn’t mind answering a couple of super-quick survey questions for the sidebar, I’d be mighty grateful. Be warned that I may quote some of your responses, but I’ll only use your first name if I do.
All righty. The questions.
1. What’s your favorite destination for a family vacation?
2. Typically, what is your state of mind by the time you actually arrive at your vacation destination?
Thanks in advance, y’all, for your help – I appreciate it so much!
Our favorite family vacation is to go to the lake. We usually go to Pickwick Lake, but most any lake will do. As long as we have water, sun, a boat, and maybe a little beach, we are one happy family. Our usual destinations are close to 3 hours away, so by the time we get there I have three things on my mind: standing up, finding a bathroom, and letting the kid run around so he can release some energy.
San Diego! It is our go-to destination and not just because our first child was conceived there (after 2 years of trying) and our second was also conceived there (surprise baby!). My husband says it us clear that we sadly can no longer vacation there;)
By the time we get there, I’m so happy to be on vacation with my people — short flight from San Francisco makes it a niceties of travel and nor miserable:)
Our favorite place is Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX (though there are locations all over). I swear to you, that place must pump narcotics through the vents, because we are all delirious with happiness from the moment we walk through the welcome door.
It is a 5 hour drive from our house to the park and the first time we went our daughters were 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. My state of mind when arriving was, well to put it nicely, frazzled. (Did I mention we made the trip in my teeny tiny Ford Fusion with a Grandma in tow? That’s 3 adults and 2 toddler-babies in one vehicle. For 5 hours. Five sticky, sweaty, meltdown-filled hours.)
There’s a profound difference between “family trip” and “vacation.” A family trip is where we take the kids somewhere and while we make take a helper or three, we’re essentially taking our little circus on the road and just doing it in somebody else’s house. The kids love it, we make some great memories, and they’re already begging for it again this year, but it ain’t no vacation.
A vacation is me, on the beach, sand in my toes, just breathing. Oh, and hubby comes, too.
But whether we take our circus or just ourselves, we go to the beach. It is my happy place and I must see it or surely die. And sometimes, by the time we arrive, I think I might.
Our favorite vacation destination is Carillon Beach near Panama City, FL. We rent the same beautiful house and pretend it is ours for a week of heaven. It is a long drive there for us so by the time we arrive we are more than grateful to be there. I am the happiest knowing I have a full week ahead of fun family time. It’s always wonderful because there is no agenda. Rest, sun, sea, laughter and good food. The best.
Favorite destination: Outer Banks. Nothing but happiness when we get there (and maybe the slightest urge to use the potty. And maybe a little bit starving, too.). Even though it is generally past 5:00pm, and we still have to run out to the store to get food for dinner that night and breakfast and lunch for the next day, and put our clothes into the drawers and walk the dog and set up her crate and put all of our necessities out and – good Lord – everyone fights over the only bathroom in the beach house, there is no getting over the warm sand beneath your feet, the gulls crying overhead, the crashing of the waves and the laughter of the four best little people in the world. It is like the entire world melts away…
my favorite location(s) are with family. So I go to Florida beaches. Missouri river rafting and the St. Louis area. Lots of fun stuff to do up there.
Western Kentucky is the great location for lots of wonderful food.
I am usually on a vacation high by the time I get to any location. But I am generally pretty laid back and go with the flow of whom ever is my host family. I have no kids of my own but I spoil the kids I visit.
We live in Texas, so there are plenty of places “in-state” to go, but our favorite weekend (or week!) vacation is Rockport, TX. We have a travel trailer and bay boat that stay down there, so the Iivin’ is easy in the trailer-hood! Throw some clothes in a bag, put on some shades, and prepare for fishin’ and relaxin’. The biggest worry is who’s going to house sit our menagerie!
The beach. Any beach. I have so many fond memories of vacations at the beach. I can only remember two summers that we didn’t go to the beach — once when we decided to go to Six Flags Over Texas, and the other when my sister got married (curse her for making me give up my vacation :) ).
The feeling I have when I finally arrive is a big sigh of relief/relaxation. I’m basically in another world. I sort of disconnect myself from the world (hard to do in this technology world today) and just relax, enjoy my family and eat lots of shrimp.
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