Friday, March 29, 2013

Part II

We are back home.  Safe and sound.  No airplane crashes.  No untimely deaths.  No horrid accidents.  Whew! 

The vacation started out all wrong and struggled from there.  First, after traveling for 12 hours (and I didn't have the chance to eat once) the resort told us that they had our reservation but did not have our room. They were overbooked.  I felt like we were in an episode of Seinfeld.  They managed to down grade us to a room that was not great. The shower had no hot (or even warm) water and it was right by a very busy road with massive trucks running by all night long. And for a good long portion of time there was no electricity either. 

The next day we were transferred to our reserved room which was better (it had hot water), but it seemed to be one thing after the next on our little getaway. After a while all we could do was look at each other and laugh. We decided to just sit on the beach and drink for the majority of the time and try not to think about anything else.    
It was an absolutely gorgeous beach.  The sand was white and soft and the water was beautiful.  I sat and read my book on a beach chair, and then when we'd had enough sun (and were burnt kind of crispy) we went back to our room and I read some more on the hammock.   
Things we learned on our vacation:

- My once-upon-a-time love for flying has disappeared with motherhood.  I have turned into a bad flier.  Upon takeoffs I begin to hysterically laugh until I cry.

- I am obsessed with hammocks.  I really should get one.

- Todd's ankles can become purple and swollen with sunburn even though the rest of his body is fine.

- Jamaica is just not for us. No need for a second trip to make sure.

- Todd and I can have fun together no matter what the circumstances.

- There is no place like home.  After three short days we were ready to get back to our wonderful kiddies.

I am so proud of how our kids behaved with the grandmas.  They were so helpful and listened so well. The boys even remembered it was garbage day, told grandma they'd take care of it, and quickly bundled up the garbage and recyclables and dragged them out to the end of the driveway before the garbage truck arrived.  And when the satellite got messed up and the tv went fuzzy the boys figured out how to fix it.  Twice! They all kept their rooms clean and put their toys away.  There was no fighting and very little need for discipline from the grandmas.

It felt like a month since I'd seen them and they all looked bigger to me after just three days apart.  We'd brought them t-shirts and little sea turtle snow globes that they were just thrilled about but they kept telling us that their real gift was just having us back.  Aww.  Little darlings.

I guess sometimes the best part of a vacation is coming back home.



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15 comments:

Hilary said...

Too bad there were problems with your room. You sure got some fine photos though.. and so sweet, your kidlets. :)

Kat said...

Hilary- Oh, it wasn't just our room. It was one thing after the next. It was nuts.
But, it was beautiful. ;)

Peruby said...

You have some mighty fine kids, there. And husband and in-laws.

You must be doing something right!

Keep the stories coming!

Anonymous said...

How rotten that things started so rough!
But I'm glad you got to relax and bond with your honey and ultimately make it home in one piece.

Bijoux said...

At leaf the scenery was beautiful and your husband isn't bad to look at either......sorry, couldn't resist!

Aren't kids great. They sure can pull through when you need them to!

maggie said...

Ah, looks beautiful! Nice to get back, though, too, it sounds like, and yay for good kiddos. I'm not surprised. :)

lime said...

the most important things after everyone being safe is that you and todd can have fun anywhere regardless of the inconveniences and irritations. that says tons about the relationship you two have!

Riahli said...

This made me tear up, imagining what it was like getting back to your kids... I often dream of time away with Ryder, but the few times we have tried I missed the kids soooo bad! And we both ended up wishing they were there, ha ha! It is nice to get away though, glad you two got some time alone. :) The pictures make it look amazing! I have a hammock in my back yard, and I love it. I definitely suggest you get one. :) I also think you should get some chickens. You know you want to, after looking at my cute little chicks! ;)

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

It's so nice you two could laugh about it, Kat. THOSE are the best memories ever!!

Happy Easter~ xoxoxo

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

It sure is beautiful there, but man would I have been upset about the circumstances. You definitely handled it better than I would have.

Glad you had a nice getaway and the kiddos behaved so well!

(And, seriously, flying with the kiddos, no problem? Leaving them behind would drive me batty..we've never done it!)

dawn klinge said...

I'm glad to read that your back with your little ones, safe and sound. The pictures are beautiful.

middle-angel said...

Beautiful pictures!
I'm glad to be back home safely. Even after reading your posting, I still would like to visit Jamaica one day.

Mom24 said...

What a beautiful post. I'm sorry for the things that went wrong, but so glad you and Todd had a good time anyway. Good for you! Glad coming home felt right too. I can not believe they overbooked! That's insane!!

CC said...

I'm so jealous!!! They overbooked our honeymoon room in Hawaii and we were downgraded to a room down the block in another hotel with no A/C! What a great way to start your honeymoon!!!

Karen Deborah said...

umm and keeping your hunky hubbins happy with a little tropical luvin! come on lady puhleeze!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson