Vacation

The second week of June marked our first family vacation in three years (link). Sean’s parents rented a beautiful property this year with direct, private access to the beach on Amelia Island. It was a really spacious house, and we got the bottom floor (2 bed 2 bath) mostly to ourselves, which afforded some privacy and quiet for naptimes and bedtime.

I contracted strep the week before the trip (I was finally diagnosed Thursday, but had been sick since Tuesday and we were supposed to be boarding a flight Saturday), and was a little stressed that I wouldn’t be well enough to go on this much needed break, but the antibiotics I was finally given Thursday completely took the edge off and I was able to go with the plan (thank God). The plan was that I would take the girls down on Saturday and Sean would join us Monday night late so he could get some work in the weekend before vacation. I accidentally booked a 7:30 PM flight (I thought it was 7:30 AM) with my award miles, and though it initially stressed me out that it would be so late, it was for the best in the end.

Saturday, Sean went to work, and then I went to work packing every single thing I could think we might need for the trip. It literally took me half of the day, and the other half I spent cleaning so that I could come home to a clean house. It is truly amazing how much thought has to go into packing when you are travelling with small children. Everything from clothing and shoes to diapers, toys, medicine, snacks, DVDs, crayons, coloring books, mobiles, pillows, boopies, stuffed animals, blankets….in order to make your own life easier, you have to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible. No small task. And I wasn’t even doing an epic trip like some awesome rockstar mamas I know.

Sean dropped us off at the airport after checking the flight status on the way there and seeing that the flight had been delayed until 9 pm because of the weather (insert paranoia-I have become a skittish flyer in my old age)…though he offered to take us home, I declined because I had once missed a flight because I was told it was delayed and it ended up leaving a few minutes late, but not as late as they originally said it was going to leave (I was AT the airport and went to get some food when I was told the flight was delayed-I was very very sick with pre-eclampsia (2 days before Gillian was delivered) and collapsed in tears when I returned to the gate and everyone was gone…spent 5.5 miserable hours at the Columbus Airport that trip). I managed the STUFF like a pro (we only checked one bag and I carried the rest), and we got through security pretty easily. A mom of 5 (who looked amazingly young and gorgeous) took pity on me and helped me get the girls back together after going through the security checkpoint. I got all the pieces of our stuff back on their respective hooks and on my shoulder, kids back in the stroller, and off we went to the gate. I find when I travel alone, other parents, particularly women, are incredibly sympathetic and helpful…like offering to hold Gillian on the plane so I could go to the bathroom once, for example. It’s the little things that you are so grateful for.

We boarded the plane and left at 8:15 (glad I didn’t assume we were really leaving at 9). I got everyone down the jetway, and a sweet Australian mama corralled the kids and carried a bag while I folded up the stroller.
Waiting to push back was a little tense, as Addie wanted to get down and was doing some impressive crying, but once we started moving she kept noting the “Mama, Papa, and baby Airplanes” out the window. It was very sweet. Gillian was great throughout all of it, and very helpful (Yay! We’re at an age where Gillian understands the true importance of this!!!). Once we were in the air, the DVD player went on, and the kids were happy. At one point the stewardess asked me if we had some headphones for it (no) and then told me that if anyone complained, the DVD player would have to go off. I told her that I thought they would like hearing the crying and whining a lot less than the faintly audible Little Einsteins, but acquiesced.

Even with Gillian getting seriously green at the gills for about an hour of turbulence (me=terrified but holding it together) and me making sure the barf bag was readily available (note to self: she has motion sickness like her Papa), she and Addie were generally tired and calm and were happy to watch their DVDs. At one point we went to the bathroom and I multitasked by peeing and changing Addie’s diaper (who was standing) at the same time, then getting Gillian to “try” in a tiny bathroom. Amazing what you learn to do as a mama. We landed without incident, and got all our things reorganized on the stroller hooks and my shoulder and headed off to baggage claim to get our stuff. Jacksonville definitely doesn’t have it together the way O’Hare does-it took 40 minutes for our bags to come (about midnight by that time), and then only the car seats came through (off we went to customer service to file a claim). Our bag of clothing and bathing suits were lost (grumble grumble). Luckily, the girls were not tired, and after the initial sprint to see Nonni and Grandaddy when they spotted them across the terminal from the stroller, they continued to literally run around in circles until we left. Many bystanders commented that they “don’t look very tired”, but I have to say, my girls can party with the best of them. Even at midnight.

Into the car, and off we went. I was already grateful for backup and we had just arrived. I had been a very long day, and the kids had not slept since their midday naps. But they had plenty of energy to sing for 30 minutes while we drove from the airport to the beach house! We arrived, and Suzi had everything set up for a successful bedtime routine. Luckily, the girls were already in pajamas to travel, so we changed a diaper, got some fresh water in sippy cups, got Addie her bottle, and put both girls to bed. I went and sat on the porch that faced the glorious ocean, and soaked it in for a half hour to unwind before I turned in. I forget the amazing peace the ocean has always brought me. My mom always called me a “water baby” and I literally grew up with the ocean in southwest Florida. Seeing the girls grow to appreciate it so much in just a few days made me really sad it isn’t a bigger part of their lives. I mean, we can pretend Lake Michigan is the ocean, but it just isn’t (it is definitely the best that can be done when there is no ocean in driving distance, though).

Sunday morning we woke to a beautiful sunrise after 5 hours of sleep, but the girls were raring to go. Bill and Gillian made Grandmama’s famous buttermilk pancakes for us and Auntie Kim and her friend Rebecca (who had also stayed Saturday night at the beach). Gillian ate THREE pancakes. Addie ate a whole pancake (if you recall, she hasn’t been a big fan of solid food lately, so YAY!).

Then the kids wanted to go play at the beach, but unfortunately with the lost baggage, we had no bathing suits. Suzi offered to go buy new ones (there was a Target nearby) but I called the baggage claim people and they said our bag was on a flight slated to arrive at 9:30. I decided to go pick it up instead of wait until the evening for delivery.

When I returned, off to the beach we went. We started a morning ritual of going down to the beach and enjoying the cooler mornings and late afternoons to avoid the midday heat. We built castles, played in the sand and wading pools, collected shells, swam, and body surfed. It was nice to remember how much fun it is to just bum around and play without any responsibilities to do anything at any particular time. We all spent quality time with eachother and the kids, and it was a wonderful, relaxing trip. Sunday night Bill grilled some awesome pork tenderloin, and the kids enjoyed having the grandparents bathe them and get them ready for bed. Lots of jumping on beds and squealing and ticking occurred.

Monday morning, we got up, ate breakfast and were on the beach by 8:30. This was the day I realized I could get up and meditate and take a walk on the shore if I wanted to. And I did. All. By. My. Self. Every morning (*heaven). I also managed to take a few pictures of Gillian that morning before the camera ran out of batteries (*sigh*), but I got a few great ones.
Suzi had made some gorgeous white sun dresses for the girls, and we wanted to re-enact the beautiful morning light pictures we took of Gillian when she was Addie's age in 2008.

 

The day went by like most after it, where we went to the beach, had lunch, took naps (I took some naps too!), played at the beach, had dinner, tooks baths, and went to bed. That doesn't do the actual experience any justice, but that was the gist. Suzi's dear friend Annie stopped by and it was nice to catch up with her a bit while the kids were napping (we had some nice piña coladas together!). My neice Amber (who lived with us last fall for a few months) and my sister-in-law Dawn visited in the late afternoon and early evening. The girls were so happy to see her, and it's obvious how much they miss her. Bill picked Sean up Monday night late and they got back around midnight. Suzi and I had waited up for him and we all had a midnight snack and hung out a little before heading off to bed.

Tuesday started like the other days (except we added a Starbucks run for Sean and I), but we took the kids to a playground after a morning trip to the beach before lunch. When the kids went to bed, Sean and I didn't squander the free babysitting opportunity and went to the movies (5 minutes away) to see Super 8 (Sean's pick). The afternoon consisted of more playing and relaxing, another yummy grilled dinner, and more bedtime fun. Wednesday, Sean's sister came back to stay the night and one of my oldest dearest friends (the fabulous Martha Seddon) came up from Lakeland to spend the day with me. Kim, Sean, and I walked to a little beach restaurant and had oysters for lunch, and then Marti and I went to the quaint little downtown Fernandina to window shop after she arrived. It was fun to just talk and walk (no kids!), and when we got back, everyone was at the beach. We headed down and had some good quality play time, then headed up to the house for showers and dinner (Awesome steak and potatoes). We also celebrated Addie's 2nd birthday a few weeks early since we were with family, and that was fun. Addie's favorite part: Balloons. After dinner, Marti and I took a long, luxurious slow evening stroll along the shore. I really miss being physically close to her, so it was wonderful to have a chance to cath up in person. It seems so long ago when we skipped school to watch the sunrise at Sanibel Island and talked about all our wild dreams (none of which included marriage or children). What a blessing to have someone in your life that you have been able to grow with for so many years!

Gillian watched Tangled about 30 times during vacation. She is *in LOVE* with Repunzel right now, and we had one of those amazing moments where she floored me. Gillian asked me "Mama, why in the Repunzel movie did that mean witch want to stay young forever?" Me: "Some people are afraid of getting old because maybe it reminds them that one day they are going to die". Gillian (incredulously): "Why are they afraid of that? They'll just go back to where they started". If you ever wonder if small children are tapped into the source prior to the distraction of aging, there you have it. I have no doubt we are much wiser at the beginning and end of our lives that we are in the middle of them.

Thursday, the girls got some special gifts from Nonni and Grandaddy (Repunzel toddler doll for Gillian with a dress that matches hers, and a little doghouse set for Addie with three little dogs to go in it (she LOVES dogs!!)) on a morning Target run, and Suzi and I took the girls to the playground. The forest fires (wow, they are HORRIBLE in Florida right now) had made the outdoor air pretty bad that morning (the wind direction was blowing from the fires, which had happened some, but was much worse that day, so we waited to do the beach in the afternoon). Sean and I took a long walk and had a long heart to heart about where we're going in life (career, location) and then went to the movies again (Bridemaids! (my choice)) and did beach time in the afternoon (the wind had shifted and it was much less smokey). Sean old college friends Aaron and Kathy came by to visit that evening and we stayed up visiting until midnight, at which time I told them I had to go to bed (yes, I am lame these days). I wasn't able to do much drinking because of the antibiotics I was one (they tore up my stomach), so the time warp of staying up late and visiting eluded me and I was just beat.

Grandmama's interment was scheduled for Friday morning at the Colledge family plot, and it was a nice service. Gillian was funny when, seeing the tiny ashes casket, she politely whispered "Nonni, how did Grandmama get in there?" We took a few photos of the girls in their white dresses since it was looking less and less likely that we were going to have time for the photo shoot we envisioned. After a little visiting with the family (Sean's cousins, and aunts and uncle and their families were there) we headed back to the house for lunch and naptime. Sean and I went out for sushi at lunch because we could, and we got back just in time for his cousins Jennifer and Emilie (Suzi's sister's girls) to arrive with Jennifer's son Cooper (who Gillian ADORES) and new baby, Cannon. We had nice visit with them out at the beach and then Sean's friends Aaron and Kathy swung by with their little girl (2.5 yr old Riley). After beach time, was pizza party time. I took one last opportunity to try to get a decent picutre of Addie in her dress and then we got the kids fed and ready for bed.

Suzi told a funny story of how that evening Gillian was playing with the blinds that Bill had just closed and he went into a long and detailed explanation of why he didn't want her to play with them taking several minutes. To this Gillian panned "Grandaddy, Bears live in the woods". A humble reminder of how it pays to keep the message short with children ;-) Then we just relaxed and had a nice talk with Bill and went off to bed. 

Saturday was our last morning at the house and we had to leave by 10. We were going to go down to the family river house ("The Farm") and throw a bit of Grandmama's ashes in the river and say a last farewell and eat lunch together. Bill's sister Mimi was there with her husband and kids and Bill's brother and family and other sister came as well. Mimi decided to send Grandmama off with mini vermooth martinis (her favorite) and we toasted her and released the ashes to the river at the end of the dock. It was a very fitting sendoff for a very wonderful woman who was as real, unpretentious, and funny as they come-a true southern lady. Sean's Aunt Kathleen told us that she and Grandmama had transplanted a wild hibiscus plant down by the dock years ago and had been "babying" it for years, and it had never bloomed...until that day. The exquisite red flower was a shock of color against the cypress trees and the growth at the river's edge. There was exactly one flower blooming, and many buds were to follow. The symbolism of that was not lost on me.

Bill grilled hamburgers and we ate and drank and visited and joked (for this is a REALLY fun group of people). Gillian learned to fish, compliments of Mimi's handsome son Jim, who she grew very attached to in a couple of hours, and she learned to play Super Mario Brothers from Mimi's other son Bryan. Eventually, we had to leave. We were sad to go, because I imagine the farm is magical for the girls at this age (it's magical to me at this age).

Suzi drove us back to the airport area and we ate dinner and she dropped us off at our hotel (we stayed 5 min from the airport because we had a 6 am flight-free with miles). It was hard to say goodbye, as it always is, but at least we know we will see them again on Gillian's birthday in September. We went up to our room and noticed there was no crib, as there was supposed to be. We got the kids bathed and thought somehow we could get them to bed without it since Addie had slept with us some at the beach. No such luck. Addie was not having it. After 30 minutes of her playing around while the rest of us tried to go to sleep (giggling, climbing on us, running aroundm trying to make you open your eyes by poking them with her fingers, etc.), I called the front desk and told him we really needed that crib. He told me he was the only one there and he would go look for one as soon as he could. 20 minutes later I called again. He said they didn't have any more and were trying to borrow one from another hotel. By this time, Addie was hysterical. 10 minutes till 11 pm Addie finally went to sleep, spread eagle, in my bed where Gillian was also sleeping (I snuck out of the bed and put a "do not disturb" sign on the door because I was pretty sure they would show up with the crib now that Addie finally went to sleep). I had about 5 inches of mattress and noted, jealously, Sean sprawled out on the other Queen sized bed, all by himself. I would have joined him if I wasn't worried Addie would fall out of the bed and hit her head on the bedside table (which she had already done once on our trip). 

4 am came way too fast. I figure I got about 2 hours of sleep with the flailing limbs in my bed that did not belong to me. We woke the girls up last after packing up everything and loading it onto the bag cart. The shuttle came at 4:30, but was full so we waited until 5 am and grabbed some breakfast snacks from the continental breakfast spread (just being laid out at 5). We got to the airport quickly, had an easy check in, boarded, and had a fairly uneventful flight back. Even though it was bumpy, I had reinforcements this time. But man, there was a line of thunderstorms in our path on both trips. It has been a crazy year for weather. Addie finally fell asleep about 45 minutes before we arrived. We got our bags, our neighbor Darla picked us up, and we were grateful to finally get home. Gillian went straight to bed for a nap when we got home (we got home at 8:30, which was fantastic), and Addie watched a Yo Gabba Gabba marathon while Sean and I unpacked (took forever-so much stuff!). Then I went to the grocery store because we had nothing in the kitchen and came back just after Sean had put Addie to bed. I took my nap and slept like the dead.

And that is the story of our 2011 vacation. We had a wonderful trip and enjoyed our time with friends and family. We appreciate everything Sean's parents did to make it a memorable visit!