Our First Family Vacay

We went! We did it! We’ve been married for 7.5 years and took our first family vacation this month, with Craig’s family. I also made my first attempt at taking beach portraits– like with a real camera and a tripod.  Be gentle ;)

It wouldn’t be a true portrait session without the one child who “can’t stop cryingggg-g-g!”

And Emmett ended up changing shirts because the white polo gave him the “NO CHURCH!” wailings.

We stayed in a gorgeous beachfront house.

I have to say it set the bar for future vacations so high that I fear all future trips will be a disappointment.  I saved a few of my Snapchat stories documenting the interior, as well as my variety of poorly done accents, to share here, if you’re inclined.  (Sorry! I’ve had to go private because a few people started taking screenshots of weird things that only made sense if you’re a creep, sooooo. Bye.)

The belly which scrupulous eyes might note is steroidal(see below) bloat. Promise.

It took all of 1 morning for me to instantly love waking up to the smells of coffee already brewing and Grandma Cook happy to love on my grumpy children for me to sense that parting 8 days later would be all sorrow, and zero sweetness.

Craig and I got a chance to escape for a date while the boys stayed with Craig’s mom and grandmother. (Craig’s work, always calling at the most inconvenient moment.)

The paradox? I didn’t want to go.
Traveling anywhere with multiple children, no matter who you are is:
1. A circus.
2. A circus.
3. A circus.

…but traveling with a baby who is newish to the walking scene, beginning to climb on every the dangerous thing he can possibly find, AND traveling with a 5 year old with Autism, who still gives me PTSD from past summers of wandering, who is also still wearing diapers (when it’s bad, it’s REALLY BAD.),
AND traveling with a wife who is currently suffering debilitating pains which make it nearly impossible for her to lift, walk, or go anywhere with a sense of urgency…

–Well, I had some anxiety about going on vacation. Just some. (SARCASM. LOTS.)

But, the week before we went, I called the doctor I’ve been working with. After discerning with my husband and family, we decided to have my prescriptions for steroids and a mild pain medication filled.

I started the steroids during the 12 hour drive.  We stayed the night at a hotel in Alabama, and upon our Florida arrival the second day, I noticed I was sliding in and out of the car with an ease I’ve not experienced IN MONTHS.

I was able to fully enjoy our vacation, walk, bend down, hold our children, wade in the water, swim, and climb the 3 levels of the house with pain at a level lower than I’ve experienced in months.

We celebrated Lexington’s 7th birthday that week. I could tell he truly loved taking in the vastness of the ocean.

 

I’m so glad we went.

“Bath will do him a world of good!”