The perfect vacation....many ideas come to mind when I think of what my perfect vacation would be. I've traveled to some pretty amazing places in my short life - Europe, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Carribean, Hawaii, East Coast, West Coast - large cities to backpacking but none compared with the vacation we took last weekend.
Balin and I were wanting to take the kids on an extended weekend trip that would perhaps signal the last extended family time before Balin's busy season kicked in. We thought about going to California to camp on the beach, perhaps Mexico's coast (within driving distance) or maybe we'd just go down to a resort in Phoenix where the weather was in the 80's. After much deliberation and frustration with reservations, we decided to take a vacation at home.
We turned off the phone and cell phones, called and cancelled any plans we had made for the weekend and told the kids to get ready for a great vacation weekend. Perrin promptly went in and packed her backpack and was ready to "leave on vacation". Sam asked where we were going and how long it would take. When we told him we were staying home and his room was going to be his hotel room, his eyes got wide and his smile was big. "We're staying home? Can daddy play legos with me?" Yes, Yes, Yes. We started our weekend after lunch Friday and headed first for Peter Piper Pizza where we could play video games and air hockey. We stayed there for an hour or so till all our tokens were used and then we headed to the YMCA for a family swim time. The place was packed with preschoolers and their mommies. (I guess I don't get to the pool often) After swimming, we headed to the store to pick up a few treats and a couple of movies and then home for dinner and a movie night. I made special popcorn (popcorn with brown sugar and butter - my favorite) and we all sat on the couch and watched Wall-e. It's a great movie with a wonderful message.
The next day my dad called us up in the morning and asked if we wanted to go to Phoenix to the Melting Pot with him. We decided to make a day of it and head down to the Phoenix Zoo and then go out for an early dinner around 3. The Zoo was great - expensive at $17/adult - but great. The kids loved seeing all the big animals and then going to the kiddie water area. They walked, held hands with Grandpa, ate cotton candy and played in the water. There was very little whining, which impressed everyone. After the Zoo we headed to the Melting Pot and had a wonderful 4 course meal of cheese fondue, salad, meat fondue and we finished it off with chocolate fondue. YUM! It lasted 2 hours and the kids were wonderful the whole way through. Not a peep or a whine. Between the company and the food, the day was a complete success.
Sunday we took a true day of rest and barely got out of our pajamas. We stayed home the whole day just playing games, reading books, jumping on the trampoline and doing a whole lot of nothing. The weather was pleasant so by 4:00 we were out on the back patio having special drinks, chips and salsa, roasting hot dogs over a bon-fire and enjoying the sun.
When we finally came home after being on vacation, everyone was in agreement that our vacation at home was the best vacation ever. Sam and Perrin were rested and I wasn't overwhelmed with laundry, cleaning and unpacking. Hopefully we'll repeat our vacation every couple of months...
Balin and I were wanting to take the kids on an extended weekend trip that would perhaps signal the last extended family time before Balin's busy season kicked in. We thought about going to California to camp on the beach, perhaps Mexico's coast (within driving distance) or maybe we'd just go down to a resort in Phoenix where the weather was in the 80's. After much deliberation and frustration with reservations, we decided to take a vacation at home.
We turned off the phone and cell phones, called and cancelled any plans we had made for the weekend and told the kids to get ready for a great vacation weekend. Perrin promptly went in and packed her backpack and was ready to "leave on vacation". Sam asked where we were going and how long it would take. When we told him we were staying home and his room was going to be his hotel room, his eyes got wide and his smile was big. "We're staying home? Can daddy play legos with me?" Yes, Yes, Yes. We started our weekend after lunch Friday and headed first for Peter Piper Pizza where we could play video games and air hockey. We stayed there for an hour or so till all our tokens were used and then we headed to the YMCA for a family swim time. The place was packed with preschoolers and their mommies. (I guess I don't get to the pool often) After swimming, we headed to the store to pick up a few treats and a couple of movies and then home for dinner and a movie night. I made special popcorn (popcorn with brown sugar and butter - my favorite) and we all sat on the couch and watched Wall-e. It's a great movie with a wonderful message.
The next day my dad called us up in the morning and asked if we wanted to go to Phoenix to the Melting Pot with him. We decided to make a day of it and head down to the Phoenix Zoo and then go out for an early dinner around 3. The Zoo was great - expensive at $17/adult - but great. The kids loved seeing all the big animals and then going to the kiddie water area. They walked, held hands with Grandpa, ate cotton candy and played in the water. There was very little whining, which impressed everyone. After the Zoo we headed to the Melting Pot and had a wonderful 4 course meal of cheese fondue, salad, meat fondue and we finished it off with chocolate fondue. YUM! It lasted 2 hours and the kids were wonderful the whole way through. Not a peep or a whine. Between the company and the food, the day was a complete success.
Sunday we took a true day of rest and barely got out of our pajamas. We stayed home the whole day just playing games, reading books, jumping on the trampoline and doing a whole lot of nothing. The weather was pleasant so by 4:00 we were out on the back patio having special drinks, chips and salsa, roasting hot dogs over a bon-fire and enjoying the sun.
When we finally came home after being on vacation, everyone was in agreement that our vacation at home was the best vacation ever. Sam and Perrin were rested and I wasn't overwhelmed with laundry, cleaning and unpacking. Hopefully we'll repeat our vacation every couple of months...
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