Family Vacation

We just got back last night from a fabulous family vacation. Just the seven of us headed up to a beautiful lake about 2 hours away from here. It was super last minute and kind of crazy trying to pull it together, but was just what we needed.

We spent most of our time at the lake. The smartest thing we did was to bring our big container of plastic animals, the kids played with those in the sand and water for hours.



The second smartest thing was renting this fun little toy

The girls spent lots of time digging holes



Brennan spent lots of time entertaining these guys


While I spent my time keeping this sweet baby happy and out of the sun

When we tired of the lake and the sand, we'd head to the pool.

Some things I learned from this trip:

1. I'm always kind of shocked and appalled the first time someone throws a tantrum or fights with a sibling when we're on vacation. Once I remember that our kids are still kids and when they act up it doesn't mean the whole trip is ruined, I enjoy myself so much more.

2. There are a million reasons not to go on a family trip, but do it anyway.

3. When Nate yells, "Let's swim to the big white booby" he really means "big white buoy"

4. Brennan is an amazing Dad. He invented game after game that kept the kids totally enthralled.

5. Abby is funny. There was a guy we saw at the pool and lake several times. For some reason Abby was kind of fascinated by him and talked about him a lot referring to him as the "Teriyaki Chicken Guy". I will never be able to tell you why but it totally fit him.

6. Anna isn't too cool to play with plastic animals in the sand with her 8, 6 and 3 year old siblings and I love that about her. She's also really funny and loves to tease (like by pretending to spill the million of little shells she insisted on bringing home much to Brennan's chagrin and laughing when he gets all stressed out). When he gets over the stress, it cracks him up.

7. Ben has some very challenging moments when he melts down, but other than those he is such a fun, happy, game, scrappy, bright little boy. He keeps up amazingly well with his older siblings and makes everything so much livelier.

8. Nate is possibly the sweetest little guy ever, and I just can't get enough of his sincere, serious mood.

9. Sometimes I'm not sure which is harder, when the kids are getting along (and being wild and crazy in the condo at bedtime) or when they're not getting along ("Nate is breathing loud and it's bugging me!" in the car).

10. Fun does not accrue. After we had been home for literally 10 minutes we heard that oh so dreaded phrase, "I'm bored."

11. There aren't 6 other people in the whole world I'd rather spend time with.