Vacation?

With summer approaching, I am starting to think of the summer trips that we could possibly take.

Since we have moved to PA, the kids and I have made the trek back to SLC every summer.

This has been getting more and more expensive every year.

I used to be able to find ticket for under $400 (as long as we drove to Baltimore or Philly), but now I can't find anything under $500.  

So, for the 4 of us to just fly to SLC, it will be over $2000.

I have been doing some research on other vacation options, and we could do a lot of different things with that money.

After talking about it for a while, Rocky and I realized that we haven't had a vacation with just the 4 of us in a long time.

Or ever, for that matter.

Every time we go somewhere, it is with other family members.

(Not that I am complaining, we always have a great time with everyone!)

And then (to my utter shock and amazement) Rocky suggested we go back to Disney.

(If you know my husband at all, you will understand what a shock this is.  I thought he would HATE Disney World the first time we went, but apparently he had a good enough time to want to return within a year.)

We could plan a decent Disney trip with the $2000 saved from not going to SLC.

I even found flights from HARRISBURG to Orlando for $130 round trip.

Or we could even drive.

Ahhhh, the possibilities.

I know our families will be upset if we don't visit.

And I will be sad not to see everyone.

But when we moved out here, we specifically talked about how we didn't want every vacation we took to be visiting our families in the west.

We wanted to take the opportunities we had on the east to explore.

And we have done some exploring (NYC, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia).

But at what point do we stop using all of our vacation money to visit family?

(Just so we are clear, our family does visit us pretty regularly.  My parents have been up once this year, and are returning in a few weeks, and Rocky's parents were just here for Easter.  It is extended family, and siblings that we don't get to see that often.  My kids only have 2 cousins, and if we don't visit, they will only get to see them once this year.)

We are also planning a trip to Williamsburg, VA to see some friends, and to hopefully visit the beach.

And then our Thanksgiving trip with family to St. John.

So maybe that should be enough vacations for now.

Fleeting Moments

I honestly can't believe all the change that seems to be coming this summer.

None of it is happening directly to me, just to people surrounding me.

People moving, changing jobs, adopting babies, having babies, etc.

I am filled with such conflicting emotions about everyone's change.

Then I go back and reminisce about the big changes in my life (babies, moving, new business).

And life does continually change.  

I mean, the kids just keep getting older.

And I hate that.

Can I stop them?

I hate that Ciara is starting to get an attitude.

It doesn't happen all the time, but on occasion (usually when she is tired), this other girl rears her ugly head.

She is shockingly rude, and snotty.

I feel like this is just a glimpse of what is going to happen in the near future.

Great.

(that was said sarcastically)

And every milestone that Caden reaches, I am just reminded that this is the last time I will get to experience it.  And it breaks my heart a little.

Even the puppy is growing at an alarming rate.  

I left for work one morning, and I swear she had grown about 2 inches by the time I got home about 3 hours later.

SLOW DOWN, LIFE!