The Vacation Edition

"No one needs a vacation more than the person who just had one."
--anonymous

Can anyone relate??! You bet I can! Every time we return home from anywhere, Chris and I always comment on our state of exhaustion, and the fact that we're not supposed to be tired, but rested.


Anyhoo. Vacation.... that's this week's theme at Living Lovely with Family. Heidi, over at Mt. Hope Chronicles, is really hoping to gather a few out-of-the-box vacation ideas, and hopefully a few affordable ones, too (especially ideas for those on a shoe-string budget... and who isn't these days?!). Unfortunately, I don't have much experience on either front-- the one mega vacation we took as a family required months and months of saving (and sadly, it'll be a very long while before we save enough for a repeat performance!), and our other vacations have been supplied by our wonderfully generous parents.

Over the past few days, though, mom and I have been discussing this very subject, and together we've come up with a few possible ideas:

1. Plan a stay-cation... a few days or maybe even a week full of day trips in our surrounding area. No need for hotels or even expensive restaurants-- breakfast at home and picnic lunches will do just fine. And since we live in northern Virginia, our family has excellent access to all sorts of fabulous stuff-- like the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C. and the battlefields in Manassas; the fabulous aquarium in Baltimore and the gorgeous harbor district in Annapolis. A day trip into Richmond is an easy drive, and there's a wonderful children's museum there to boot. Even Williamsburg is doable, and we have wonderful friends nearby. Grin. So, lots of opportunties for fun... right in our own backyard!

2. Take advantage of family in friends who live in other places (== free lodging!). For instance, mom and dad live in the mountains and there are all sorts of unique opportunties to discover and explore in their neck of the woods. Mom is always on the look-out for more neat finds... why not recruit others to help in that process?? Like other family members, perhaps, or close friends. Surely they'd be tickled to participate and contribute to a little family fun (I think?!). Another for instance-- a few years ago my in-laws moved to South Dakota, and while my oldest two have visited their new home, the rest of us have not. I'd love to haul my entire crew out there for an extended visit, as I know there's a ton of cool stuff to see and do out west! Surely, when the time is right, they'd be willing to help create an itinerary for us as they are much more familiar with the area (and we'd have a free place to stay!).

3. Chris would love-- absolutely love-- to rent an RV for a traveling tour of the U.S. (I'm not sure if this qualifies for a shoe-string-budget or not, what with gasoline expenses and all. I guess I'll find out one day if we really look in to it!). Back in college, he and his buddies rented one for spring break and drove to the Florida Keys, and ever since then, he's been itching to do it all again (with us though... not them!). While the idea has grown on me over time, I'm still a bit hesitant... would we all survive?? That's a lot of us (don't forget the dog) cooped up in a tight space, leaving no route of escape when the male members of the family start snoring (that includes the dog). Just kidding. But seriously, I'd really, really like to tour New England-- Boston and Martha's Vineyard and the coast of Maine, too. Oh, and then there's Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. So many, many wonderful places that I'd love to see (and that I'd love to see with my family)...

Well, that's about it from this end. Hopefully, other readers will step up to the plate with oodles of helpful ideas; I'll certainly be checking in frequently (to Heidi's blog) because our family could surely benefit from the creativity of others!! Especially in these tough economic times, inexpensive-- yet fun!-- would be ideal :)

In the meantime, here's a little peak at the vacation adventures we've found thus far:

A year and a half ago, Chris and I took the boys on our first big vacation... we went to the greatest place on earth, and let me just tell you, it truly is the best! We went to Disney World, and it was utterly fantastic. Incredible. Unbelievable. A must-do. Really, and worth every penny!

We traveled to Orlando the week following Thanksgiving and it was absolutely perfect! Delightful temperatures, all week long, and the crowds... well, there were none (relatively speaking, of course)! Also, all the Disney parks had already been decorated for Christmas, making them even more magical than we'd imagined.

Another huge Orlando hit-- Seaworld! Top-notch shows (we all left with a desperate passion to become dolphin trainers!), phenomenal displays, gorgeous landscaping, and a fabulous new roller coaster-- which Chris had to experience alone. Sigh. Noh & Big Man weren't tall enough, Bub wasn't interested, and I couldn't ride (I was 7 months pregnant at the time). Ever the trooper, Chris "suffered" alone, while Noh-man stood drooling at the gates.

"My soul is full of longing

For the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean

Sends a thrilling pulse through me."

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Aahhh... the beach! We love the beach, and every year we're blessed with a trip or two to the coast. For years now, Chris's mom has been taking us to North Myrtle Beach for a week's vacation and it has been a highlight of every summer. And last year mom and dad took us to Cape May for a week in July-- a return to mom's old stompin' grounds-- and it was an incredible treat! This summer, we're looking forward to a week in both places. The only down side-- the return trip home. How I'd love to own a little cottage near the shore-- a place to hang our hats (or our suits) for weeks on end as we soak up the sun, savor the fresh ocean breezes, and enjoy the peace and tranquility that is the beach!

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in."

--Robert Orben

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."

--Jacques Cousteau

"Sponges grow in the ocean. That just kills me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn't happen."

--Stephen Wright

"Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach."

--Michelle Held

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything."

--Michael J. Fox

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Easter!!

The pink bow

On Sunday afternoon, I ran a few errands while Lolli napped and the guys snacked.  Just the typical stuff-- a library in & out and the grocery store, followed by a quick drop-in to a little shop up the street.  I needed to pick up a cosmetic bag I had ordered weeks ago, and since all the littles were home with daddy, I seized the opportunity (because as any mother knows... a trip to a women's boutique with little people in tow== a recipe for disaster!).  The owner immediately handed my purchase, beautifully wrapped in a little white bag (which was stuffed with hot pink & green tissue and then tied at the handles with a delicate pink ribbon... I just love that extra touch!), and then I cruised out the door and down the street towards home.

By the time I pulled in the driveway, the guys had polished off a large canister of peanuts and two bags of Goldfish, and Lolli was awake and hungry!  I plopped her in her highchair, placed a few cheerios on her tray, and then unpacked the groceries and dropped my new bag in my purse.  Lolli and I then snacked a bit more together... and then that pretty pink ribbon, now strewn across the kitchen table, caught my eye.  Two years ago, in my pre-Lolli days, I never would have given a pink ribbon another thought (the boys aren't too keen on them, as you can imagine :), but now that I'm full throttle in little girl mode, a ribbon this pretty and pink just couldn't be tossed in the trash.  

So into Lolli's hair it went.  And she looked so precious with that floppy bow on top of her head, I just had to snap a few photos.  Here are a few:

John 1:1-4

"In the beginning was the Word,

 and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God. 

 He was with God in the beginning.  

Through Him all things were made; 

without Him nothing was made that has been made. 

 In Him was life, 

and that life was the light of men."

John 1:1-4

The Yearly Edition

"What an enormous magnifier is tradition!  How a thing grows in the human memory and in the human imagination, when love, worship, and all that lies in the human heart, is there to encourage it."

Thomas Carlyle

This week's installment of Living Lovely with Family is all about yearly traditions.  Heidi posted about her family's wonderful traditions at Mt. Hope Chronicles, and several others have shared as well. It's really been a lot of fun-- this sharing of ideas-- and encouraging, too!  There really are so many fun things to do with family, big things and little things, that build lasting memories... and that's what this series is all about!  So if you're interested in reading any of the other posts, check out the links on Heidi's blog.  

In our family, many of our yearly activities are tied tightly to our vacations (but since that's the topic for next week, I'll save the vacation pics until then) and the holidays.  Being with family-- both the immediate & extended-- is important to me.  Very important.  I truly am a "the-more-the-merrier" sort of gal when it comes to celebrating special occasions with loved ones.  So whether it's sharing some turkey with all the fixin's around the Thanksgiving table or a hamburger and hotdog around the grill on the 4th of July... family is where it's at!

A few other activities that have inhabited special spots on our calendar are:

Trunk or treating at Big Man's preschool on (or around) Halloween.  My older two enjoy handing out candy to the little ones, though this past year they were a bit disappointed that we hadn't decorated our van to "compete" with the one parked next to us.  For the next couple years, we'll have to occupy ourselves with a new tradition (as Big Man will no longer be in preschool); but then it will be Lolli's turn and we'll all be able to enjoy this fun once again!

Every year, as we prepare for Christmas, we make several batches of homemade donuts to eat while we decorate the tree.  Mom and dad started this tradition years ago, and to this day, we all look forward to this scrumptious treat at least once (and hopefully a time or two more) during the holiday season.  

Then, on Christmas Eve night, the kiddos always open one gift each-- and it's always a present from Gramoggie & Poppa.  And every time, it's a new pair of Christmas jammies!  We love this great tradition that Gramoggie started before the kids were even born (I get a pair, too :)

And every year, we spend a chuck of our Christmas holiday with mom and dad at their house.  It just wouldn't we Christmas if we didn't!  Unfortunately, Chris's folks live very far away so we don't always get to see them then, but we look forward to their visits when they do make it east!

As Easter approaches, we always dye hard-boiled eggs to enjoy around the table (last year we didn't have any green ones, though, because Big Man ate the green dye tablet!  He quickly realized it wasn't candy.), and then we stuff plastic ones with goodies to hide and hunt outdoors.  The boys have already requested money inside the plastic eggs this year instead of candy!  

After Easter comes and goes, summer is never too far away, and that means... a Memorial Day picnic to kick off the season and then a pool party to wrap it up.  At the tail end of summer, Uncle Don & Aunt Francie always host an annual get-together, and there we gather with Chris's side of the family for a day of tremendous fun!  Even though most of us live within a couple hours of each other, hectic schedules and individual commitments prevent us from getting together on a more regular basis.  So when a date is set for this gathering, we black it out, insuring that nothing else conflicts with this special day :)

We love this time together with family... 

...and good eats 

... and a dip in the pool

... and a show of tricks

...and of course-- a Michael Phelps pose or two :)

One other summer tradition that we've maintained for quite a few years now is a family favorite for oh-so-many reasons... the county fair!  Funnel cakes, salty french fries, giant sodas,  hair-raising rides, and all the people-watching a gal could want :)  In years past we've gone with my folks to their county fair; last year we went to our own. Of course, when I made arrangements with some good friends to all go together, neither of us realized that the day we chose was "Dollar Day."  Evidently, the rest of the county did know that little fact because they were all there!  We didn't get to ride too many things because the lines were so long, but being there together-- and with friends, to boot-- made it all worthwhile!

And so with that in mind, I leave off with this "lovely" thought (and for any who might read this, please know that I mean this in the most sarcastic sort of way... sometimes this sort of humor just makes me chuckle):

"If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair.  Because in five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright.  We are dang near royalty.' "

--Jeff Foxworthy

Praying for Stellan

The boys and I have been checking in on Stellan several times a day for the past few days, anxious to read an encouraging word... hopeful for healing.  So far, he's had his ups and he's had his downs, but nothing permanent.  The doctors are still working... and we're still praying!  In all of this, though, there is some really good news to which we all must cling-- GOD is still on His throne, and He's not finished with this little boy yet; otherwise He would have already called him home.  Clearly the LORD is still working in this situation... and so we'll wait. and we'll trust. and we'll pray.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

Psalm 27:14

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."

Psalm 33:20

"I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O LORD my God."

Psalm 38:15

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption."

Psalm 130:5-7

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

Micah 7:7

******************

In the meantime, the boys "wrote" Stellan's name on our front sidewalk (and we sent a snapshot to his mom :) because they wanted to share their support-- they wanted his family to know that we are praying for their sweet babe.  Every day.  Over and over and over again.  All of us.  And thankfully, so are hundreds of others...  

When you have a spare second, hop on over to Stellan's name gallery (you can check it out here), and prepare to be amazed.  His name is being spread all over the world, from Canada to Baghdad to Haiti to London... it really is amazing!  The body of believers-- lifting this precious boy's name to heaven-- is incredible!  And inspiring.  And awesome.  Truly.  The outpouring of support, in fact, for this tiny babe, leaves me just about speechless...

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Wordless Wednesday