A week on Cape Cod with John's family proved to be both relaxing and a whole lotta work. We went into it with low expectations. Our kids thrive on their schedules and sleep best at home, they travel well (in the car that is) but pretty much are total failures at sleeping in strange places and regulating themselves to new situations. We carry on though, teaching them new things and exposing them to a world oustide of Glens Falls.
The Good.
Luke was awesome at the beach. Digging in sand is his forte and he full on succeeded at shoveling and keeping himself entertained which was a 360 from last year's beach trip where we chased him every which way. He understood boundries, didn't steal toys from strangers and asked for help when it came time to refill his pail of water. He was thankfully, for us, very intimitated by the ocean, a good kind of fear for a 2 year old I think.
Being around family and watching all five cousins play and interact. It was at times also ugly. Read on!
Finding out that Luke loves Fish and Chips.
Our morning neighborhood walk that preceeded our 3 hours of beach loafing.
Stolen kid free moments enjoying coffee and a snack at Buckie's Bakery.
An anniversary dinner (four years) in Chatham, Ma.
The Sundae School. OMG best sundae on the planet.
Luke repeating all kinds of words. Which had an ugly moment too.
Actually getting to read magazines from cover to cover.
Exploring Old Sturbridge Village on our way home, can't wait until they are old enough to really appreciate and enjoy it. We watched one of the reanactors prepare a meal, the woman was making a mixture that would eventually lead to a loaf of bread. Luke yells out "Pizza!"
Realizing that I crave our scheduled life as much as the kids do.
The Bad
The fact that the kids were up around 5am nearly every day and 6:30 was considered sleeping in.
The Ugly
Luke pushing and punching his 6 month younger cousin multiple times throughout the week. We were shocked. He was in time out repeatedly, this was not my kid. By Thursday night though they were sharing a snack in the recliner, phew. Thankfully Leo didn't take it all too personally, but man it's disheartening to watch.
Luke hearing me say "God" in an expletive way and repeating it about 5 times in the same manor. We are now biting our potty mouthed tongues.
Ellie throwing up mutliple times throughout the week. Dealing with a bad diaper rash and teething craziness kept us homebound and sleepless for all of Thursday. Not cool.
The fact that I took 2 trips to the laundry mat and still came home with a mound of dirty laundry is leaving me speechless.
The time on the highway when we were going 75mph at 10:30pm, I was sitting between the kids in the backseat and I unbuckled Luke's carseat instead of my seatbelt. Good Times.
The camera broke on our third day there. Pictures hopefully will follow soon.
It really was a wonderful week away from our monotous scheduled life, and while it was worth it to be together as a family, extended and nuclear, it was also good to come home. The break renewed our spirits and while we may still just be exhausted parents, we're also refreshed with new perspectives and appreciation for the life we live.
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