The Idea of "Vacation"

It's kind of hard to get motivated for the "work/school week" right now. I have finished packing Noah's, Aaron's, and my suitcase for our trip and the suitcase is sitting in the middle of the hall waiting for Steve's stuff. Most people would think I am being silly in how excited we all are about a four day trip to St. Louis, but that's okay. We didn't get away for a vacation at all last year. We can't afford trips to warm islands like so much of the rest of our family.

For us, the time away from life for a few days will be priceless.

The first "vacation" I ever took didn't happen until I was married for four years. My sister had planned to get married in Disney World so along with my dad, step mom, brother, and his girlfriend at the time (now my sister-in-law) we bought tickets fro a trip to Disney for the wedding. This was the trip where I discovered I would never fly again...but that's another story.

My sister ended up moving her wedding date up and held it on the football field at Northwestern University. Don't call her unoriginal.

But we decided to go anyway. We had such a wonderful time just the six of us and I am glad we got to go once before any of us had kids.

Once kids started coming, I always wanted to make an effort to take a "vacation" each year. Steve has wonderful memories of family trips (remember those station wagons when you were piled in without seat belts?). He has such fun stories of trips he took camping and other trips with his cousins. We have both wanted that for our family.

Luckily, we have been able to plan small trips almost every year. We have been to Mackinac Island (Poor Jenny was SOOO pregnant with Odin in the heat),

Wisconsin Dells (I was pregnant with AA and couldn't get on the water slides at Great Wolf Lodge),

Jenny holding Baby Odin, Noah in the car












and Lake Geneva (Jenny pregnant for Kira this time).


Noah at 3 years, Baby Aaron











We didn't take a vacation last year together while Jenny was pregnant for Ronin.
I hope one of these years my sister and her family will be able to join us.

So this year we are off to St. Louis. Matt's family went last year on their way to Texas and they enjoyed it. The nice thing is NO ONE is pregnant this time. We have NO restrictions...woo hoo!

So, back to the beginning of this story. I am having a very hard time putting together meals, lunches, and babysitter schedules (our babysitter is on vacation this week, too) for the two days before we leave because I just want to GO. It is supposed to be in the 50's here all week and 70's there.

So although we are not whisking away to a tropical island, the time away with my family will indeed be the break we all need. I look forward to coming back with fun or silly stories and pictures to share.

P.S. If anyone out there lives in the St. Louis area and wants to recommend fun activities for our trip while we're there...I would love to hear them. We're kind of winging it. :)

Happy Monday.