Vacations Aren't For the Weak of Heart

It's been too long.  I'm jumbled up and inside-out for not being able to write in the last few weeks.  Feels like my brain needs a good dusting off.  Many layers need sorting.

I'm a few real life errands away from doing work worthy of reading so in the meantime, let's just wipe around the lamps and magazines-

• We just returned from a few days vacation on the east coast.  
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• I combined visiting with family with a vacation.  It was eleven days of pinging all over in planes, rental cars, and boardwalks in effort to do it all.  I should know by now that for me Doing It All means immediate inner turmoil and a mini-meltdown on a lounge chair.  
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• We surprised the kids with a visit from their old besties from Virginia.  Their reactions were low-key and conversations picked up right where they left off while Tanya and I wiped away unnecessary mom tears. Kids and their impervious hearts.
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• If we vacation together, never invite me to the beach..  I will spend our entire trip disappointing you that I don't want to actually go to the beach.  Or go anywhere or do anything.  Unless you desperately want to listen to the seagulls while sipping hot tea on the porch.  In that case, let's.  I will pack two mugs.
• The boardwalk is prime real estate for feeling awesome about yourself.  Anything goes.  And sometimes some of it has yet remains scantily clad.  Rock on, rounding curves and aging muscles.  You too deserve the light. 
• My mom's house is now a time machine that makes me walk around daydreaming about my little brother's elementary school years (he's 22 now).  Standing in his closet remembering the days he wore funny T-shirts, teenage-slouched in his oversized hoodies, and turned pink when he laughed.
• My own children seem older and more present in my mom's house.  Gone are the days I hover or refill sippy cups.  My favorite thing in the world now is to watch Mom listen to Abby.  Abby speeds up and Mom's face searches for anything meaningful.  It's like Diane Keaton meets Reece Witherspoon.  So, so funny.
• Grayson still thinks my mom and Grandpa T are Santa Clause.  When I'm not in the room, apparently he places his order for the next LEGO piece his shelves can't live without.
• My little nephew dances just like his father.  I wish we could see this more often in person.  And more of my brother's sweet family.  
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• East coast waters are frigid in July.  Living in Louisiana for a year has spoiled me and now I fully expect all natural waters to be bubble baths leading into a jacuzzi.
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• Abby is terrified of sharks.  This made the beach trip and surrounding aquatic themed EVERYTHING so much fun for her.  I have sore arms from carrying her little near 6yo frame so she could hide her eyes from all of Ocean City.  
• Leaving my family is increasingly difficult for me and taken in stride with my kids.  Their youth and their "military kid" lifestyle seems to be giving them an edge over change and loss.  I'm impressed at their fortitude and maybe a little envious.  Andy always stops at Dunkin Donuts because husbands don't mind spending $5 on a hot drink that might dry up the sads.
• If I never see another arcade, token machine, or ticket counter, it will be all too soon.  We took kids to the arcade so many times it began to feel like an Examiner headline:  Family of Four Rot and Perish at Prize Counter Because 5yo Could Not Decide Between Pink or Purple Slinky. There is not enough cotton in the world to mute out the hellish cacophony of that place.  I might actually hate it.
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• When asked what their favorite part of vacation was, the children both agree:   The arcade and visiting with their old buddies from home.  Sacrifice is often worth it. 

Getaway

The good thing about when your husband travels for work is that sometimes he gets to go to the beach.  And you and the kids get to go too if you're so inclined.

The bad part is that your husband doesn't actually get to go to the beach because he's stuck in a conference room there on business and the rest of those Marines in those Marine meetings wouldn't look kindly on him showing up to work in his swim trunks.

(Our room was on the third floor, second quad.)

So we did a lot of keeping busy without him, awaiting the 6:30o'clock whistle.

The sunsets were gorgeous.  I forget how much prettier things are when you are beyond city lights and noise pollution.

I also forgot about inflation.  Would you believe we paid $25.00 A PIECE for these airbrushed Tshirts?  I can remember them being maybe $10.00 when we were kids.  Wowza.  I chalked it up to enriching our lives by supporting the arts even though the boyman creating  these masterpieces was using blow dart techniques on a prewashed canvas of 100% cotton.  Honestly, it really was one of the most relaxing moments of our getaway.  I love to watch people do what they are best at and this manboy would certainly rival Kat Van D any day.

But have mercy, check out this sunrise.  Or sunset.  I don't remember.  It was all I could do to keep track of our room key.

I'm going with sunrise.

This moment? I do remember.  Abby had just awakened and dove on the couch to catch a quick video of something to do with Bears.  She wound up on my iPad moments later because bears do not hold a candle to Strawberry Shortcake (in Spanish) on Youtube.  Muy Beuno.

Even though this looks more like a surveillance video outside of the local park, it's a blurry night vision shot of Andy going flashlight crab searching with Grayson.  A few minutes later they were whisked inside by an unforeseen sandstorm that brought pelting rain and a disappointed 4 year old.

What's disappointing to one person is a hidden blessing for another.  This man was T-I-R-E-D.  What isn't pictured here is the box of Gobstoppers he snuck into the hotel room.  In the morning, Abby found his stash before we woke up and just about made her way (ever so sneaky silently) back to her room to hoard them.  I called her name before she got too far and she says, "I was going to bring them to Grayson, Mommy.  He wants candy for breakfast and not toast."

I'm so sure, you little sugar fiend. The sweet tooth doesn't fall far, little one, now please don't forget to floss.

Home Sweet Lake House

Our little family vacation was the best we've ever had.














It was also the only one we've ever had but who's counting.














Without too many intrusive verbosities, I wanted to share some highlights of our time at the cabin in the woods.














































But there are so many that I cannot choose.














So instead, here is a mosaic of our days.











































































































































































Rest assured, there are only 953 more images to narrate if these don't tickle your fancy.














You probably wish I were kidding.




















Enjoy!














Hello Little home away from home. We have missed you so.




















































The fish cannot say the feelings are mutual, however.




















































But the dogga was mighty happy.




















And somewhere Jimmy Buffet was smiling.




















(while karma was giggling - he was trying to get me and soaked himself in the process.)





















































































































I call this one Alice in Wonderland...even if she is more of a Penelope Rose.







































Can you spot the blond bombshell?




















We are so lucky to have this place to run to.















To play in.





























































To smile about.

































To explore around.














































To love simply and without makeup.



























To reconnect.










































































































I am so very lucky.