Family Vacation

We just arrived back home, and since everyone is exhausted, I'm taking advantage of the downtime and writing. Nathan's parents picked Ty and Nate up around noon Friday, and we headed up around 2. Brody screamed for the first two hours of the ride (awesome.) He did sleep the last hour though, but it was also late in the day for a nap, it was far better than screaming though. Keira on the other hand slept the entire ride up, not making a peep.
We pretty much got settled and ate as soon as we got to the condo, (Nathan's parents own a condo there, and it is so nice!) By the time we ate and hung out for a bit, we put the kids to bed, although Brody was not having that, so he stayed up until 1030, and I rocked him to sleep. We played games after the kids went to bed, and I even had a glass of wine. It was wonderful.
When we were getting ready for bed, we realized Liberty must have pushed the screen door open and run off. It had started raining a bit by then, so we all went out calling for her. We pretty much figured she was going to be gone, with all the scents she could pick up on and mountains all around her, but ten minutes of calling later, she actually came right back to us. We were even happy at that point because, well we felt really lucky to escape that one. She remained closely guarded or on a leash the rest of the trip.
There is just something relaxing about that fresh mountain air! Even Liberty couldn't resist a romp outside.
We woke up and despite all the forecasts throughout the week, it was GORGEOUS out. We left the condo by 11 to head down the street to Story Land. I took Brody on the teacups with Nate, and I think it may have scarred him a bit. he loved it, until it spun about halfway through, and then he was done. We did manage to convince him to go on a swan boat ride, and after that he slept for the next two hours or so. it was such a huge help having Nathan's parents with us, but even more than that, it was so much FUN, having them there to share the day with us! We went on every ride there. Nate got to go on the roller coaster for the first time, and he loved it as well. The only ride Nate refused to ride was the bamboo chutes (or log ride as most people know it.) Ty and Nate had their faces painted, and they looked so cool. All in all, it was such a memory filled, fun day. Keira was an angel the whole day, and we could not have even wished for her to be any easier than what she was. We stayed until the park closed at 6, and then headed home and cooked dinner. The kids played outside for a while, and then we ate and got them all bathed and showered, and let them eat some ice cream outside, and then let them run off that sugar rush before heading to bed. Even Keira was exhausted and conked out at 730. The boys were asleep by 9, and well, after that long day, all the adults were fast asleep by 10.
We woke up early, got everything cleaned up, packed up, and put away, had an amazing breakfast, then headed to Jackson Falls. I do believe this was Brody's favorite part of the trip (and possibly mine too.) I could have stayed there all day long. I think next year we will make a day out of it. All good things must come to an end though, and we had to leave to try and beat the traffic out. We stopped and got all the kids ice cream at Dairy Queen and hit the road. Brody fell asleep eating his ice cream, and when the boys each finished, they both complained about feeling car sick. Nate fell asleep quickly afterwards. I had fed Keira at the gas station, so I had hoped she was good for the trip, but two hours into it, we all fell apart. Ty threw up, or basically regurgitated his ice cream in the back, he tried to make it into the cup his ice cream was in, but it quickly over flowed, Brody woke up, although he remained happy, Nate woke up from Ty throwing up and was upset he had to be near "puke-y Ty" as he so lovingly called him, and Keira woke up and wanted to eat. We pulled over and get the puke cleaned as much as possible, the boys went to the bathroom, I fed Keira and we hit the road again. I should have mentioned we all have colds, in various horrible snot ridden degrees, Brody being the worst. Although I was upset we were all sick, I have never been more happy to not be able to smell anything in my life! Apparently the car smelled pretty bad... a la throw up. As soon as we got home, Ty showered, we got all our stuff brought in, and I scrubbed the car. I left the windows open for good measure though.
I feel so lucky that we were able to go away. It was great to make so many more wonderful memories with Nathan and the kids, and that we were able to share those memories with the kids' grandparents as well. They treated us to an unbelievable weekend. We are truly blessed.