And oh boy where we.
Okay, so since Tom finally finished his big work project and we had gobs of people in and out of town all summer we thought it would be nice to get away as a little family. Start what will hopefully become a tradition of family vacations. Nothing huge or expensive, just a nice little get away.
Now, I had definitely assumed that a vacation with small children would look a bit different than a vacation without small children, but at one point each night I was sleeping (or actually, not sleeping) with all three of them in my bed.
We guessed who might get carsick on the way up the winding mountain road to Big Bear, and we were wrong. Uri slept right through it, Josie turned green. Thankfully she didn't actually throw up, but she did refuse her snack container the rest of the trip. I think she thought it had been her snack that made her feel awful. Poor thing.
She also got a bit confused, I think, and thought we had moved there and our tiny little cabin was now our home.
Oh, the cabin. Okay, I found a great deal, but like they say, you get what you pay for. It was clean and the staff were supernice, but it definitely had some character you might not get in a pricier place. Oh the fake landscaping was amazing. Every piece of art on the walls appeared to be handpicked from a yardsale. It was over the top! Also, the futon that Tom and a rotation of children slept on (not our original plan, but whatever works) was seriously falling apart. Like, "Uh, I guess just leave that piece underneath of it so they can fix it later." falling apart. Pretty sure he just undid months worth of chiropractic care in 2 nights.
But whatever whatever. We really did have some fun. When we first arrived we checked out a little park walking distance from our cabin. Right on the lake - BEAUTIFUL. Then after a complete nap fail, we went "hiking" on a paved path along the lake. It was beautiful and the kids played in the water...they sort of just walked right into it. Haha. We have video of Uri repeatedly throwing rocks in the water. Pretty sure he would have been happy doing that all day.
The break from the heat was WONDERFUL (as I type this, sweat is running down me, no joke. I am sick of it.).
The second day we attempted another "hike". This time on a path with Uri on Tom in the backpack, Asa on me and Josie "hiking". We had to park across the street from the trail head and after we got from the car to about, oh, I'd day 50 feet onto the path Josie said, "My legs...uh....my legs....hurt!" Apparently that had never happened to her before! We went a little further and it wasn't getting any better (look! a lizard! look a bird! check out the size of that pinecone!) so Tom found us a short cut and we headed back. It was hilariously short and three year old paced. And it guaranteed a 3 hour nap for 2 kids that desperately needed it.
We picniced every lunch and ate breakfast as a whole family and the first night we BBQed and the second night we ate at a restaurant because the fish I had planned on us BBQing also got carsick on the way up the mountain. "Kath, something smells like its going bad in the food bag. You don't smell that??"
"Oh honey."
The restaurant was a cute little place and had come recommended by both Yelp and the gal behind the desk at the cabins. She did not appear to be in charge of decorating, so we trusted her. Everything was great, although I noticed that it was full of old people. Oh! I had forgotten that old people always eat out early in the week and early in the evening (right when a really young family might also eat out). And then the party of 3 was seated next to us. An old couple and their middle aged daughter. They were super nice, but HOLY COW. Old lady perfume. Like instant headache perfume. I could no longer smell (or taste) the yummy bread on the table. It was super gross. Blah. Someone needs to regulate that stuff.
After our dinner of perfume flavored food (which really was good and then the waitress had Josie "help" her with the check, so sweet) we went for a drive all the way around the lake. SO PRETTY. And kind of gave us an idea of some things we might try next time. Like in 10 years. Just kidding.
Then we got back, built a fire in the fireplace and had smores. The kids deconstructed them first, which was pretty funny. I should have just given Uri the chocolate, haha.
The kids went down really well and Tom and I just sat up and chatted for a while. So nice.
The next morning I was about shot after another amazingly awful night sleep. The baby was also SUPER cranky. "Where's Asa? And who dropped off this miserable child??"
So that was frustrating. So my husband sent me and the kids to the little lake park while he packed up the van and cleaned up, etc. Then he came and got us, we both took some advil and headed out to drive through the village, which was very cute. Then we went to a little playground (everything has a view of the lake! Love it!) and play and eat lunch before heading home.
There were definitely some learnings I will take from this adventure. It really was good, just, well, our kids are YOUNG and so that makes things a bit more work. We skipped some things we had planned or thought about entirely. Like the pirate ship. And the zoo of injured animals. And the bikes. Heh. I am SO glad we went during the off season (summer and winter and big there, not so much during the week school starts) and maybe next time we will pick a different cabin place (like on the north shore....oooooh...pretty) And maybe take some Dramamine or something for Josie. Poor thing.
Since we have been back I have done exactly 800 loads of laundry and folded about 2.
Also: Please note I did not mention bath time or even brushing kids' teeth on our trip...not a mistake. Never happened. Haha.
