OBX 2009!

At the start of this decade we traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Looking for an Independence Day vacation, somewhere we could drive, somewhere we had never been, somewhere that had a beach. We, Beth and I, chose this vacation spot by a blind point to the map. OBX was where the finger landed and several months later we drove the distance to a town called Duck.  We, at that time, was me, Beth, our boyfriends Todd and Dave, and seven other people. We were singles, we were young, we partied!  We vowed then to return yearly, as it was the perfect place to go when we EVENTUALLY started families.

This year was the first time we had been back in several years, and the first time this once "singles" vacation became a family trip.  I use the word trip very carefully.  Prior to leaving for this journey I think I may have, accidentally, referred to it as a family vacation.  Todd, rightfully so, heard vacation and thought relaxation and started counting down months 'til the trip.  Halfway through the week, if it even took that long, we renamed it to a family  "trip" and I am still not sure that word is literal enough for Todd's understanding.

The "trip" began right after the boys' finished their last day of camp.  Waving goodbye to their counselors and friends, we drove to Cape May where we drove the car aboard the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.  Hurricane Bill caused a turbulence on the waters that shook the boat much more than I had anticipated and even though I spent the full 70 minutes on the verge of vomiting the boys had an absolute blast.

After we got out of the car they ran onto the deck, wind blowing through their hair, with such delight.  They were thrilled to be aboard a boat, thrilled to be out on the water, thrilled to look through the binoculars cemented on the ships deck.  And, in case that was not enough, there was a playground inside!  Our picnic lunch of turkey sandwiches and chocolate milk was swallowed down in moments just so they could go down the slide.

Once we arrived in Lewes, Delaware we technically had a three hour drive to our next destination: an overnight stay at the Hampton Inn in Chesapeake, Va.  Technically!  But, ten minutes into the drive, despite the potty break we took on the boat, both boys had to pee.  So we had to pull over, somewhere.
Now, might be a good time to mention that the car was loaded with stuff.  LOADED.  Like if there had once been an open crevice it was now filled with something...food, toys, clothes, diapers.  Our second row had Chase and Ryder in it. Between them, below them, stuff!!  The third row was half up, half down.  The half down side had more STUFF.  In fact, most of our STUFF was in that third row.  Luggage, boogie boards, I don't know what.  The half up side was where Turner sat.  If it is possible to give a newborn clausterphobia this is exactly what we did to our darling third born as he sat, rear facing, in the third row, surrounded by things he could not recognize.  Usually, he sits in the second row facing his brothers.  That was like first class travel compared to flying cargo with the luggage. So, clausterphobic and unstimulated he cried.  Turner is not a crier yet he managed to cry for the whole trip.  The trip that technically should have taken three hours but really took 5.  He also cried part of the next day when we did the final leg of the trip.  And, he cried a good portion of the ride home.  The ride home that took 10 hours.  Turner cried more in the combined car trips than he had in his then 8 month entirety.  And, as I've mentioned, seldom as it may be, he cries loud.

When we finally arrived on the Outer Banks, nice and early to avoid the Saturday rental traffic, we sat in hours of traffic.  We were not the only ones, apparantly, with the bright idea.  We got to the rental office at noon for a 4pm check-in and they said they would call us when our house was ready.  So we set off for a pizza lunch, al fresco, in the heat and humidity.  The passing of the 4 hours was idlely slow, and as you would know it our house was not ready until 4:05pm.

However awful this may sound, it was not so terrible as we lived through it.  Once we actually got into our home, and were able to settle down, the week finally began.  But, you see, Todd has no experience with spending 24 hours with our kids, for 7 straight days.  For him this was an adjustment he has yet wanted to relive.   But, OBX was still enjoyable, though I am pretty sure Beth and Dave will never have a third kid (they had one at the time) after seeing what our life is like.
Our days were long, as long as you'd expect with  two 3 year olds and an 8 month old!  Admittedly, we watched the clock at night until we could have some adult time.  Of course I am aware that as the years pass things will gradually change. Ten, fifteen years from now we will be the older versions of our same selves, in the same house and our kids will watching minutes pass waiting for us to go to bed so they can tell fart jokes, steal our booze, or smoke their pot.  But, for now, it is our vacation too and we did find plenty of time to enjoy.  Amidst hurricane season we witnessed some of the biggest waves we had ever seen, we BBQ-ed on the beach, tailgate style, we took the kids to a race track and let them drive some laps, and Todd helped them climb to the top of a lighthouse.  We sat poolside, we sat by the beach, we soaked in some sun.  We enjoyed ice cream, cocktails, good friends and cousins, and good food.  And, when the kids are a bit older, I can't wait to go back.

For the rest of the photos from this trip, click here

Key West

I love my three boys. I love having three kids. I wish I had it in me to have more, but I don't. Yes, I love my three kids but though one baby is a lot easier than two ever were, three kids is much more hectic than two ever were. Someone always needs something, ALWAYS. Between diaper changes and bottle feedings there is whining and tears. This hecticness is exactly why we needed a vacation. So we headed to the Southermost City, as those who live there like to refer to it, of Key West.
Usually the preparation to leave the kids for several days is so involved that it attempts to spoil the thrill of a vacation. But, this time, the need to get away heavily outweighed any pre-travel stress. Despite having a three month old and feeling as though I would miss out on some monumental milestone in any of their lives I was ready to have four days with my husband.
Key West is a small town loaded with art galleries, restaurants, and bars and, as most resort towns, overloaded with vendors selling over-priced crap to souveneir happy tourists. The vibe is laid back, the dress is casual, and the minds are liberal. This was exactly the place we needed to be at the moment.
We flew into Miami and drove the three hours to Key West in the rented convertible Sebring. At first, I felt convertibles were over-rated. Even though I was still dressed for Philly's dank spring day in the heat of Miami, I was cold and needed to wear my sweatshirt most of the ride. The wind was blowing through my ears and I kept thinking we should put the windows up. Then, after we got off the highway and onto US1 I found comfort and also the thrill of cruising in a convertible. The ride was beautiful, most of it anyway, and completely mind blowing. There we were on a two lane road with nothing, NOTHING, around us but turquoise waters. You looked to the left and there was just a distant horizon. You looked to the right and it was the same thing. Todd, myself, and the vast sea. You feel like you are driving on the water!
The directions to the hotel ended this way: "make a right onto Duval Street. Stay on Duval until you get to the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel will be on your Left". When I read that I found it amusing and wondered how literal it was, only to find out there was nothing more than a pier separating the Gulf from our Key West home. The Ocean Key was wonderful, adorable in its decor, high-end in its quality. We somehow ended up with one of the best rooms though it is not sold that way. Others are larger, suites in fact, and may be a bit more private, but our fourth floor room was perfectly located so that from our balcony we had sunset straight on, view of the pool just a bit to our left and Sunset Pier bar and grill just below us. We never had to leave our room to see the sunset or watch the boats, hear the live music, or stare out at the pool. Even some good people watching was available to us for the same price.
By the pool we befreinded, as you would expect, the bartenders. You'd be left wondering if it was a coincidence that we, by which I mean Todd, were the pretty blondes' favorite customers:)
Our first night there we were like caged animals let loose, well maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but we set out on a night of imbibing that this post-partum writer hadn't experienced in some time. After a mind eraser and some pub chat with the bartender at Hogg's Breath (where I jokingly wondered if the taxidermied Pig above our head could spread the dreaded swine flu) we learned there was a Philly bar owned by no other than Pat Croce. We are still not sure why Hans, the bartender, would have had any reason to think we would be interested in, or even know of, Pat Croce but upon this mention we headed right over to the Rum Barrel where we were welcomed by Eagles jersey's and the Phillies game up on the flat screens. Philly proud, we were happy.
The following days were filled with breakfast and coffee on our balcony, pool lounging and sun soaking, massages, wave running, sunsets, dinner, and early bed.
Upon recommendation we learned there were two sushi places on the island. The debate seemed to be out on which one is better so Todd and I decided to vote for ourselves and try them both.
Ambrosia, our Thursday night dinner, was beautiful with fancy presentation and good fish. We found it to be very good but were still curious what Origami had to offer. On Saturday we went to the much more casual, much more neighborhoody "joint" that, though we loved the friendly feel, certainly lacked in luster from its rival. Though the fish was good we both preferred Ambrosia as far as meal quality went.
We also dined, between the sushi outings, at Louie's Backyard Patio. Known for its views moreso than its food, Louie's did not disappoint. Looking out onto the Atlantic, sitting in the open air, hearing tides crash into rocks, we enjoyed a very good meal in a "vacation must" setting.
Key West is a small island. We walked from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. We stopped for a picture at the large thimble shaped concrete slab marking the southernmost point of the Continental US and admired the view from the end of the earth as we stood on pier jetting into the ocean.
Key West is a boaters town. There is a Margaritaville rhythm and the pace is slow. We are not boaters, though some of the yachts we saw were crazy to look at, but its hard to deny the vibe and the sun and the goodtime this southernmost city has to offer.

For the rest of the photos from this trip, click here

Jamaican Me Crazy!!

Todd and I love Jamaica. It always seems to be, for many reasons, the vacation spot we return to most. We've been there a half dozen times already and intend to continue adding to the tally. In fact, we were supposed to be there right now. Literally, at this moment, we would have been 48 hours in to a Jamaican vacation, soaking up the sun, and relaxing. We also would have been there with four of our great friends and having the time of our lives.
When we found out I was pregnant, we knew I would be 33 weeks along when we boarded the plane for Negril, we were not worried. We figured we would still go, enjoy ourselves, and relax even if I looked ridiculous in a bathing suit and couldn't enjoy one cocktail while I was there. Uncomfortable or not, five days in warmth and relaxation had to be better for the pregnancy than five days in the middle of the winter chasing two year old twins. Not to mention this was our first adult only vacation with the Sperlings and the Klaus' in a very long time. And so, we counted down the months, then the weeks. With just two weeks to go a minor complication in this pregnancy landed me on modified bedrest and prevented the trip altogether. Disappointed as I was at the time, it was Todd I felt bad for. He had been so excited for this trip and I felt as if I had destroyed his dreams. He has been handling it ok. Now that it is the week of, however, I definitely feel the disappointment of being here and not there. I can taste the salty caribbean on my tongue, and the delicious coca bread from the poolside grill in my mouth. I imagine Beth and Dave and Erik and Lori enjoying hummingbirds with extra splashes of vodka, and I laugh as I picture Erik throwing off the fruit and umbrella that is surely accompanying the drink. I know they are having a great time and are likely thinking of us less then we are them. We'll get back to Jamaica, this I know, and we will probably even have the luxury of travelling with all of them again, but it definitely is a sore spot that we had to miss out. I know, though, once we hold Zygie for the first time the trip we almost took to Jamaica will be a distant memory and the love of our child will remind us it was worth it.