Vacation Vacation Vacation

First a little background information...We are both youngest. We don't really make decisions. You don't know how often we get in the car and in the first 10 min we're having the following conversation, "Where do you want to go?" "I don't know. Where do you want to go?" Back and forth until 1 of us or 1 of our children makes a decision. My brother in law use to tease us, b/c we would flip a coin back in our dating & early marriage days....

Now a days we have a more democratic way of doing things. Our children each get 1 vote. Mommy and daddy get 1 1/2 votes. I have decided when we're alone with them we can up that to 2 1/2 just in case we need it. Also, mommy and daddy do have veto power...of course.

We have been trying to figure out where to go on vacation. We have a list of places we had wanted to go prior to having children, but our son surprised us...and so even more fun we have been whittling away at our list of destinations with our children in tow. Since we are taking our children we have had to add some destinations we have already visited back to our list (like Hawaii, California, Disney World).

This time around we can not afford the Disney World trip, plus it would be fun to drag my parents along. We had originally thought we would do a California trip and Hawaii all at once. That won't work for 2 reasons...1 my husband can not be away from his business as long as he would need to be away and 2 we do not have enough airline points to book the tickets to accommodate that trip.

When asked, "Hawaii or Mickey Mouse?" Our children both answered, "Hawaii" without hesitation. WOW! Okay...they both want to to see a volcano and a lava beach....I am thanking the Lord we can not afford a helicopter tour. I have always refused one of those...and the other 3 want to do it. I am just not that adventurous :-). I like adventure on the ground with my feet...I will explore and hike and have great determination and climb anything, when I can control it to some extent! Back to the vacation.....

The parents (us) were still thinking California. As we were discussing it and exploring we decided getting to Hawaii during the summer or typical school breaks is nearly impossible using airline miles. If we're going to do Hawaii we almost need to do it now. We have hotel points and fortunately my husband is Diamond with Hilton, so we get free breakfast and typically we get room upgrades....so If we fill ourselves and our children up with breakfast....we should be able to miss lunch...eat carrots and granola instead....and then have a nice supper of some sort. Also, since they will still be 5 and under they will eat free (except the luau). The luau will be expensive, but since my daughter isn't 5 yet she will get the luau free (trust me it won't seem free). We won't need to rent a car but for 2 days....to tour the island. We will have plenty of time to lay on the beach and build sand castles.

The only things I am sad about are...we can not go to our honeymoon spot. We have always dreamed of taking our children to the resort for a few days....or even having that be our entire destination. It is just too expensive....they have made it insanely expensive now...maybe out of reach for us forever :-(. Sad for me, b/c I LOVED that place and Hawaii doesn't seem the same without visiting there even a couple of nights to reminisce. We are still hoping to save up enough to return for our 10th anniversary (June 2011)....we will see.

The other sad part is my daughter will be too young for the keiki programs...so mommy and daddy will not get a meal alone. I don't know that doesn't bother me too much. I don't leave them with anyone but my mom or my husband's brother and sis in law and a preschool I trust....I am THAT protective. We may never do sleep overs either....that is for another discussion.

Now I must assess what still fits and what doesn't...who needs flip flops and sunscreen and all of that. I am also going on a diet. I do not like the way I look anyway...plus I need to get back where I was b/c 1 I am happier there 2 I like the way I look there and 3 then my clothes would fit....Now that we are all FINALLY well (or I think at least)...I will be hitting the gym and the ball and the slim fast....and push ups and Billy Blanks (he makes my arms awesome...I think I hope).

I can't wait to lay on the beach, build sand castles, swim in the pool, hike and watch my children do these things for the 1st time!!!!