Vacation at Last!

After not having a vacation where we went anywhere, since 2005 due to pregnancy and having a newborn / high needs baby, we left today for a 10 day beach vacation at my grandmother’s house in the Great Lakes region.  The above picture is at my grandma’s from her deck at sunset.  My sister just returned last week, and this is a picture she took. 

She has a beach house, w/ her own private beach and it is just wonderful.  Joe and I have gone several times before we were married, and it is just a peaceful, quiet retreat.  We took Ryan for the first time when he was 6 months old, back in 2004, and then when he was 1 1/2 in 2005, and he had the best time playing on the beach.  His big thing was to dig holes in the sand, and then have us pour water into them.  He sat out on the beach for hours doing that!

This time he should be able to enjoy the water as well, and we’ll see how much the swimming lessons paid off.  I know Cole will have a blast in the sand (if we can keep him from eating it), and he is a water baby already! 

It is kind of like “getting away from it all,” at my grandmother’s.  She lives on a peninsula about 15 minutes away from the nearest town.  She doesn’t have a computer (and we are leaving the laptop at home), and her TV only gets a few local stations.  Usually at night, everyone will sit on her deck, watch the sun go down, sit around talking, and then read and talk. I am bringing about 6 books w/ me, and Joe thinks I’m crazy.  He says the days of us sitting around, and reading are over, but I’m not giving up that easily.  I can read pretty fast, once I get going, so if Cole stays asleep at night we’ll see. I am hoping he’ll be so tired at the end of the day, he’ll just want to conk out!

It is a slower pace at my grandma’s and one that I admit, that I miss.  Seems like as much as I try to “slow down” at home, there is always another load of laundry to do, or something a child needs from me. 

I also have to say that we are looking so forward to this vacation, because my dad and step mom are coming with us.  They absolutely adore Ryan & Cole and have already offered all the babysitting we want.  Every night sounds good to me.  🙂

With Cole being such a high needs baby, the last 14 months have been rough on us.  Joe and I have been so sleep deprived; some days it just seems like it is all we can both do, to get through the day and we haven’t had the energy to devote to “us.”   So we plan to take my parents up on their offer (and often) and get out for lots of dates, movies, fun, and some time alone.  We both need it.

 We have a direct flight to a city about 3 hours away from my grandma’s and then we are renting a car and driving.  I have a bag for Cole and Ryan, with new books, toys, and snacks.  Hopefully, that will keep them happy and somewhat content on the airplane. 

So there are my wishes and plans for our vacation. I know things don’t always go to plan, but we should have fun regardless. 

I won’t be blogging obviously, for a while, but check back around the end of next week.  Hope everyone has a great few weeks.  🙂