Man, I just cannot wait!!!!!

It's that time of year again for the family vacation. And what a vacation this one should be.

We're heading up north a little futher this year and we are not going camping. We have rented out a cabin. For the last week I have been starting my preparations for this trip. For the first time, I think ever, in our life together, we will be taking a PAID family vacation! This in itself is just beyond exciting.

I don't charge my daycare parents for my vacations, that just doesn't seem right that they would have to pay double daycare. However, I have had parents tell me that I should be doing this, that I have done this job for 13 years and I deserve paid vacations. They do have a point yet I haven't been able to bring myself to implement this into my policy.

And something else that's just so exciting? We will be going for 10 days. For some this might seem like a silly thing to be excited about but for Pat and I it is also the longest hiatus we've been able to afford with our kids. Oh, and we will not be bringing the dogs along either. We have a close friend staying at our house and she has no idea just how much this is helping us out. THANK YOU!!!

So, on this trip we will have the luxury of a beach, beds, a kitchen, a boat, and many other extras for the kids to do. There's a lodge for the kids to go play pool or video games, tons of walking/biking trails. I just cannot wait!

There is also an on-site laundry area so that is another perk! It will most definately save on the packing of clothes. Pat and I have laid down the law that minimal clothing is allowed not because of room for the kids but because the kids want to bring their bikes. Something that we don't usually get to do when we camp. Too much other things.

It's a 3 hour drive so we need to have as little packed in our van as possible. Pat and I have also decided to buy our food in the city near where we'll be staying which has a Cub Foods. In this area Cub Foods is a cheaper grocery store and in doing that we will not need the coolers. So my stress for this trip is way less than last years.

The kids aren't quite as excited, at least the older two because there will be no cell phones allowed. :( Poor little things, they won't get to talk to their boyfriends for a week and a half....I feel no pity! In fact, I cannot wait to NOT have to listen to the two of them bickering who has been on the phone longer, who gets the phone next. The best part about this though is that it seems that when we go on these trips, the two older ones become the best of friends. Something that I just love to see.

I know that moms all across the world only want for their kids to be friends and to get along all the time, but this just isn't nature. So I will take what I can get and cherish it. Perhaps that is why I love our family vacations so much. As a family, we all function really well and there is little to no conflicts. What more can a mom ask for!