Ahhhh....Vay-cay-shunnnn

Well, I will try to remember to post a few pics once I dig the camera out of some bag somewhere, but for now, I wanted to post the Top 10 Things I don't want to forget from Family Vacation in Daytona 2009. These are in no particular order...that would take too much time and energy, so here goes:

10) Reading and reading: fiction, devotional books, and Erma Bombeck on the beach while listening to the ocean waves and children giggling nearby. Laughing hysterically as I read Erma Bombeck describe my life raising my children--so thankful to know I'm not the only one who has such an imperfect family!

9) Quiet walks with my man and/or my kids along the shoreline (trying to avoid stepping on sand fleas as they scurry to find under-sand cover)

8) The biggest decision of the day being "what's for dinner?" and that meaning we needed to decide on which restaurant to go to.

7) Coffee, devotional books, open Bible, journal and pen- with the background music of ocean waves and seagulls - to start my day. Hearing the still, small voice I've grown to love more than life.

6) Meaningful and unhurried conversations with my husband and occasional ones with my daughters (sometimes interrupted with one of the girls saying, "Don't you think that guy is SOooo hot?!", and me saying, "If you're talking about Daddy, then 'yes'")

5) Bringing along a friend for the first time: Amelia's friend, Sarah, which meant driving two cars, which also meant more driving for the only 2 drivers, but also a lot more peace and quiet in the back seat with the kids spread out, so definitely worth it!

4) Listening to some of the best, most authentic music while looking out on the vast ocean teeming with some of the most amazing creations~we saw dolphins nearly every day (and Amelia thinks she saw a wholphin, so we're letting her believe it),birds, fish, crabs--not to mention all the stuff under the water that we didn't see! I am so thankful for artistic and talented people who use their gifts to honor and glorify God--who put words to the emotions I feel, but can't fully describe myself.

3) The sweetest, most fun date with my honey: Stephen surprised me by taking me on a progressive dinner and took it upon himself to keep the conversation going with questions and games. We went to a cute little place right on the beach for appetizers, then drove to a different beach to enjoy a quiet walk (which only lasted for a few minutes because the rain came fast and hard--but that only added to the fun and laughs, so no loss there!) We went to Bonefish after for dinner (so yummy!), and had the most flirtatious staring contest ever known to man! After dinner, he challenged me to a gift-finding expedition: the price limit was $5. We went into a Wal-Green's and had 10 minutes or so to pick out a gift for the other. When we finished we hid them for later when we would reveal to each other the gift and the reason for it being chosen. While our gifts laid hidden in the bags in the car, we went to Rita's for dessert. We didn't want to leave the kids for too much longer, so we headed to the beach at our hotel and played music from my iPhone and danced right there on the beach. Neither of us are impressive dancers, but we didn't care. We exchanged our gifts and a few kisses and headed back up to the rest of our family. Stephen really outdid himself with this one. He later confessed he got the date idea at Northpointe Church's website, but I didn't care that he didn't come up with it on his own--the fact that he took the time to do all of this showed me that I'm still a priority to him and it blessed me more than words can say. (And he told me there are several other date ideas on the website that I get to look forward to! yay! :-) )

2) Going to Angell & Phelp's Chocolate Factory--getting all the kids a piece of chocolate in the shape of an animal, sea creature, or some inanimate object, and mommy's favorite chocolate covered cherries, appreciating the fact that a proceed of all sales goes to support missionaries. A win-win--and going from there to Aunt Catfish's on the River and enjoying some of the yummiest food available anywhere. (This counts as one because we do this every year as a tradition. It just wouldn't be the same to go the chocolate factory--which incidentally was a BIG disappointment to Macey when we went the first time when she was 6 and realized there were NO oompa loompas working there-- if we didn't go to Aunt Catfish's for the Early Bird Dinner right after. We HAVE to do these two together, so they count as one.) :-)

1) Being with my family for an unhurried week of sun, sand, rainy afternoon naps, 6 people sharing one (yes, ONE) bathroom, no "good-bye" kisses, and not having to wear a watch.

Some of the things I wouldn't mind forgetting:

1) Letting myself enjoy a whole box of Junior Mints while driving South the day we headed to the beach. I realized I dropped one, but thought it fell on the floor, so I decided to find it later, rather than while driving down the Interstate with two kids in the backseat. (Besides, ALL the calories get stuck to the one that gets away.) Sure enough--I found it later. Later after stopping at Starbucks and realizing that piece of dark chocolate had melted to the seat of my favorite capris. I can only imagine what the other people around me thought was on stuck to my derriere--so embarrassing!

2) Hearing the kids fight over the remote, the bathroom, the fact that one of them was looking at the other one, and pretty much any- and everything else that could be disagreed upon. If your kids don't do this--be thankful, and please don't judge me that my kids do. They are all as night-and-day as they come and I can only hope one day they'll realize that that's a blessing and not a curse.

3) Having to come home a little earlier than any of us were ready for--except probably Sarah. After some time with our crazy crew, she was probably ready to go home about 10 minutes into the drive down!

I have to add to my Top 10 List of things to not forget. This is number 11: On the way home yesterday, we stopped at Waffle House (Daddy's choice for sure!) for dinner. Jackson, who is usually a good eater, was just picking at his food. We finally gave up on trying to get him to eat it, and put it in a to-go box for him and headed out. Next stop was for gas for the cars, so I decided to get any trash out of the car while it was getting filled up. I had packed a "snack bag" for the road and as I looked through it, I realized there was a pizza crust in it. So I asked Jackson, "Did you have a piece of pizza?" He said, with a grin, "Yes." I laughed and told Stephen, "No wonder he wasn't hungry--he had a piece of pizza...and apparently a small container of Pringle's." That would have been enough to fill him up--normally. But then as I looked through the bag, I found TWO more crusts, meaning he had eaten THREE pieces of New York Style (X-Large) Pizza...and as it turned out, he also had TWO single-servings containers of Pringles, and FOUR Zebra snack cakes!! It's a wonder the 7-year kid didn't bust! ....And, as I sit here reminiscing about another great vacation which is already a part of our history, he sits here next to me saying, "I'm hungry Mommy..."....so I'm off to feed the bottomless pit that is known as my Boy Wonder.

Happy Summer friends!