Teary Preschool Post coming Thursday, I just know it.

Within the first hour of our vacation, we had a Barfing Situation. I suppose, as far as Barfing Situations go, that it was exactly the kind of Barfing Situation you want to have, if you are going to have to have one. We had been driving for about 45 minutes and were about to pull off I-95 for breakfast at Chick-fil-A when Dave happened to glance into the back seat and see that Lucy was hornking all over herself. It turns out that Lucy – who up until that moment we'd NEVER seen puke – is a barfer of the Extra Silent variety. There she was in the backseat, quietly ejecting her stomach contents while we continued blissfully unaware down the highway at 80ish miles an hour. If Dave hadn't turned around and spotted her, we would have pulled into a fast food parking lot ten minutes later and pulled her out of the car without the knowledge that she had VOMIT all over her and then I would have needed a change of clothes as well.

Of course, she had barfed all over her blankie, so we needed a replacement for the drive, and NATURALLY, the suitcase with the kids' clothes and supplies was buried under all 18 metric tons of vacation necessities, so our 15-minute stop turned into a 45-minute stop and then there was the ensuing mental anguish of WHEN WILL SHE BARF AGAIN? And also OUR VACATION IS ALREADY RUINED, wasn't it bad enough that last year we had the non-sleeping baby and the rocking chair-less house that gave us the gift of the persistent backache? NOW THIS YEAR WITH THE BARF. Seriously.

But then two hours went by and not only was she barf-free, she was HAPPY, and we figured we were in the clear. So we rolled happily into a gas station for a fill-up only to notice... oh HA HA HA HA HA.

A FREAKING FLAT TIRE.

 

I laugh about this because I remember that the worst thing for Dave wasn't that he had to change a stubborn tire, or that he had to change it in 95-degree heat in the middle of Nowhere, North Carolina, or the fact that he had to take everything out of the trunk to get to the jack and the other tools. No no no, in typical male form, he sighed heavily and remarked, “We were making SUCH GOOD TIME.”

The rest of the week was a joy. No, Lucy didn't sleep very well (SURPRISE) but I am hoping that next year she'll be sleeping in a real bed and not in that awful pack n play, that I padded with every blanket I could find but STILL had a big uncomfortable ridge in the middle. Poor Lucy, she got the equivalent of an ancient hide-a-bed for a week of vacation, complete with that iron bar that goes right across the small of your back. Plus we had the added bonus of an ACTUAL ROCKING CHAIR, so putting her down for naps and back down in the middle of the night (oh how I loathed seeing you, middle of the night) was a breeze. Well, 75 percent of the time it was.

The days, though... the days couldn't have been easier. This year, they played in the WATER. Together, even! AND NOBODY ATE ANY SAND OR MADE A GIANT TURD MADE UP SOLELY OF SAND IN THEIR DIAPER.

 
Also, our house was fantastic.

 
On the sixth day of vacation, we actually called and reserved it again for next year. The back deck alone was worth the price.

 

And call me sentimental, but I love the idea of coming back to the same place year after year. I love the idea of the kids thinking of this house as THEIR beach house. I confess, before we left on Saturday morning, I took them to a discreet corner of the porch and marked their heights very lightly with a pencil. I don't even know if it will last until we get there next year, but I love thinking that it might be, and that we'll be able to compare them to the kids they were last year. In height and a million different other things.

After all, one of them is starting preschool on Thursday. He could have a GIRLFRIEND next year, for all I know.

 

Comments

[Sarah]

Ooh, can you share the details on the house (website?) - in the unlikely event that we get to go there. Also - any reading done? I just started The Kids are All Right, and am loving it so far. Looks like you had a great time!

[em]

i'm looking for the details on the house too, we live in NC and are looking for a permanent place to rent ever summer. Good ones are hard to find, we've struck out so far.

[A'Dell]

That looks like SUCH FUN!! We go to the exact same bed and breakfast in Maui every year and it's already "our" place. Even though Claire has only been there once and we're not taking her this year (ha ha!), I have high hopes that it will be sort of the same for them.

Vacation habits/routines are nice, aren't they? There's less to think about and you can just enjoy without worrying about the details.

[Robin]

Adorable photos! I want that to be my beach house, too. Where is it?

[Carmen]

Add me to the list of people who want the information for that house. It would be worth the trip from Vancouver, most definitely. Gorgeous.

Glad to hear the sleep situation was better this year. It certainly helps make a vacation feel more like an actual vacation when the sleeping situation is not horrific.

[Jessica]

That looks like Myrtle Beach! I think I know that house!

[Swistle]

I love that you reserved your next vacation MID-VACATION!

The only way you could possibly improve on the wonderfulosity of your vacation photos is if you also had one that commemorated the barf.

[HereWeGoAJen]

Dude, what did you do with Asher and who is that enormous child in that last picture?

[Catherine]

Yeah, where did you go? Looks gorgeous. The pictures rock. For a baby bed, I recommend getting a toddler air mattress. We have one for our son and it's AWESOME. I can't remember the name of the company but we got it from One Step Ahead. Also, my son's in preschool, and he has two girlfriends, Maggie and Layla. Good luck.

[Jacqueline]

It looks beautiful! We rented a really big house on Myrtle Beach in Garden City a couple years ago and the whole family went (grandparents, parents, aunts/uncles, cousins). Even in such a huge house we were all packed in there, but it was one of the best vacations ever. Nothing beats being able to walk out your back door to have your toes in the sand and hear the waves crashing.

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

The house looks gorgeous! Wow - and it does seem like a lovely idea to have a set place to return to year after year. (We had one of those places when I was growing up and I have SUCH fond memories of the Happy Family Times.)

Hope Asher's preschool experience is easy and fun - for everyone.

[Theresa]

You're making family beach vacations look like a breeze! Minus the barfing/nonsleeping/etc. I love the idea of going back to the same beach house it reminds me of Beaches.

[auntie]

Looks like a wonderful vacation! That house is gorgeous and just what I'd expect a vacation beach house to look like...and right on the beach! Good memories for you and your family :)

[Hayley]

Definitely add me to the list of people who want the info on the house!!! Looks like a blast!

[Angie]

Awwww....so sweet. We didn't even get to talk about your vacation yesterday :( I agree - pack & plays suck. So not comfortable and always makes vacation (& lake house) sleeping miserable. Where did you guys go? That looks a lot like Sunset Beach where we went a few years ago for a wedding. The house/beach looks gorgeous. So glad the trip was awesome (minus the drive, but that is SO YOU to have that happen!) xoxo

[ANNIE]

What a beautiful house! Yay for going back next year. And also? I love the picture of Lucy & Asher watching Dave change the tire. And ALSO? Your last sentence combined with that photo of Asher brought tears to my eyes. I think *I* will be crying tomorrow too.

[Melissa]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! That house looks amazing!

Oliver started preschool two weeks ago. He screamed & cried for 10 minutes, but I made it back to the car before crying myself (GOLD STAR). By the way, he LOVES school now. You & Asher will be ok too. :) Good luck!

[whoorl]

Duuuude, Asher looks EXACTLY like you.

[Lady in a Smalltown]

We go to the same New England island every summer in August. I have gone 13 summers over the last 20 years, this was my husband's 5th and my son's 2nd. We have friends there and it is such a wonderful week away from it all.

There are tons of rocking chairs on the front porch of the hotel so each year (all 2 so far) I take a picture of my son sitting in a rocker. This year I got my friend to do it with her 10 month old. I think it will be a really great way to watch him grow up on Island.

[amanda]

I'm so glad you had a wonderful trip! And that the barfing didn't continue .... : )

[Jim looking for armless chairs]

What a nice post. I remember when my kids are still young and we spend every summer in my mom’s beachfront house. I remember rocking my little daughter to sleep in my mom’s rocking armless chair outside the porch of the house watching the sun sets. Those things are what make life wonderful. Do not forget to take a photo whenever you go out with your kids as this are the only time that you can capture the moment because one day, when you wake up, you will realize that they are no longer small kids who can be bribe with candies and chips.