Family Vacations

We just had spring break last week and I had looked at going somewhere for the week. Man, was I shocked when I started pricing out places! It looks like $1500 is about the cheapest you can do for a week anywhere. We have to sleep 7, so that requires more space. We finally decided that we would wait until the summer because my husband is busy at work. We moved from the Destin area of Florida three years ago. We were six miles from the beach so we have never had to pay to go. Growing up in Mobile, AL we were 30 minutes from Dauphin Island and 45 minutes from Gulf Shores so we never went to stay on the beach. I thought it would be nice to stay on the beach for once. About 30 minutes from Destin is the community of Seaside, FL. It was where they filmed The Truman Show with Jim Carey. We have visited for the day and I always thought it would be great to stay there. For a 2 bedroom cottage it was $5500 for the week. I cannot imagine what the homes go for! I can't imagine paying that for a week at the beach.

After almost 20 years of marriage we have only paid for about three vacations. I guess we have been spoiled mixed with we haven't done a lot. My husband has had to travel with his job so we have spent three winters in upper Michigan. I have been to New Mexico, California, and Las Vegas as a tag-a-long on his business trips. Oh, we even drove from Michigan to Canada for the day. As a family we had season passes to Disney and went a few times. We also have gone to Gatlinburg, another place in Tennessee with my parents, my husband and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas, and have been on a cruise to Mexico.

There are so many places I would like to go. I would love to go to D.C., Colorado, to see the Grand Canyon, Savannah, San Antonio, Ashville, Montana, New York City, and my dream... Italy and Germany. I am just freaked out by the cost to travel these days! How do families afford to travel like they do. So many friends on FaceBook are constantly going places. How? The same people always get manicures and pedicures and eat out. What am I missing? I am starting to feel left out.

Camping at Little Mountain Marina

We went on a spur of the moment camping trip to Little Mountain Marina at Lake Guntersville about an hour south of Huntsville. We had to be back Saturday afternoon for a baseball party so we were only there one evening until noon the next day. I love that we can get out together away from tv, computer, and other things at home and connect with the kids more.

Kyle caught this little fish. He grabbed it to take it off the hook and said it bit him so it came off the hook and was flopping on the pier and flopped back into the water before we could get a photo of him with it.

Cameron got the catch of the day. Pretty nice size.

This is what you do when it starts raining. When you have no tv, computer, or other distractions. You turn off all the lights and tell ghost stories and then play with the camera to make ghost photos.

They had an indoor and an outdoor pool.

Kyle made this bandana, which is really supposed to be a handkerchief, at VBS this week. He lives in it now. I really hope it doesn't last long.

Baseball 2009

We are almost done with the season. Kyle's team won last night with a 45 minute inning. They pulled it out winning 17-16, ending the game at 10:30 last night. The boys were past the tired state and were in the silly stupor. I was with Jacob on the other quad so only made it to the end of the game. I asked if they had poured sugar down their throats, and I tried to pawn Kyle off to two moms for the night. No luck. I had to bring him home.

This photo looks like the pitcher is asking for the ball.
Then, he and shortstop look surprised that Kyle threw it home and not to the pitcher.

This boy in the wheelchair broke his leg sliding into 3rd during our last regular season game. He waited a little late to slide and his prong on his cleat dug down and hung up under the base. That prevented his foot from progressing forward while the rest of his body did. Result... snapped tibia and spiral fracture of the other bone. The coach said the foot was hanging sideways. It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to get there, stabalize him and get him off the field. Poor boy, he was wailing in pain. He had surgery to pin the tibia back together and is done for the summer. The boys, who had won two games all season, won the game by 10 points. They were so on fire.

In this photo, he came to our first tournament game and the coach is giving him a bucket of candy and a card that the team signed.

Jacob is number 7.

Camping at Monte Sano

These are all wonky, but I do not feel like adjusting photos around. We went about 15 minutes from our house up to Monte Sano for the weekend. We are really die hard campers and even came home one time. You know, we needed things. We also went to Walmart, the Huntsville library, and a special place I will show you later. I am adjusting, People! I grew up vacationing in resorts and spent a lot of time at Hilton Head and other luxury places. We didn't camp so I totally understand my teens requests to go to the mall. My 16 year old made some comment about not being seen with us, but .... whatever!

My husband insisted we buy this because our kids could not camp without trying camp food. He is a Marine so he is used to prepackaged, yucky food that "you are grateful for" when living in the Saudi desert for weeks on end. I didn't try it. It is deviled ham. What is deviled? Looks like dog food but some of my kids tried it and won a lot of points with Marine husband. I am still considered a sissy wife.

Why waste your tonge on yuck when this is at the bottom of the mountain? Yes, we went to Krispy Kreme. I am so sorry for you people who don't have a KK near by or especially for those who thing other doughnuts are good. One you go Krispy you never go back. When all the people who visit Destin have to go to the Donut Hole, you know the truth- Krispy Kreme is on the other end and is so much better. We got them hot and they melted in our mouths. So good!

This is how we usually see our son. We didn't have reception so he must be playing games.

King of the Fire. We had people coming to ask us how to get a fire going.

Home school party

We had our end of the year party for our home school today. It involved eating, kareoke, square dancing (they offered a Friday class on it), face painting, and just hanging out with all your friends.

She's watching you!