Vacation For Three Please

Visions of summertime danced in my head.

I know, I'm just like the next person here in northern America. Sick of the cold. Tired of the snow. Sick of being cooped up in the house. Tired of wearing heavy coats. Sick of saying "brrrrrrr!". Tired of complaining about the weather.

February comes and we can't wait until May. I think we should just take February, March and April right off the calendar. Go from snow to 60's, 70's and a little of the 80 degree temps. I'd be cool with that.

So, here I was with my visions of summertime. Warm weather. Green grass. Sounds of the outdoors. I start looking online for a place to vacation. Like we used to. Sweet little cottage on a lake in Somewhere Up North, Michigan. I find a charming little place on a sandy beach in Tawas. One place we've never stayed. Perfect.

Then I start to wonder. Who will actually be going this year? In years past, of course, it was all six of us. What wonderful memories of those vacations. I'm not trying to be all Pollyanna, but it really was great times. Kids taking their bikes, swim suits and fishing poles. They could hardly wait to get to our destination to check out who is sleeping where and then scout out the surrounding area. It was one week away from everything, doing the simple things. No phones. No computers. Only us and the great outdoors. It was my job to read an entire novel and oh yeah, cook. While sitting in a lawn chair outside, I'd hear "Mom, look!", "Mom, watch me!". The kids loved every minute of it. John would take the kids out in the boat, fishing and swimming. Real. Good. Times. I looked so forward to it every year.

Last year we bumped things up a few notches and went to Key Largo. All six of us (well seven ~ Krista). Beautiful vacation. And I certainly hope not our last as a family.

But things are already looking different this summer. As I propose our vacation spot to the family at dinner the other night, I hear immediately, "I'm not going." That would be Mr. Matt. He's got a job and he ain't a missin' a week of the almighty dollar that could be earned. He is working on paying us back for the money he borrowed with his whole truck thing and he is anal about it. He wouldn't dream of paying less or even skipping a month to go with us. In my mind, I'm thinking, "oh, you're going!".

Rachel, due to a cranky mood disorder that struck her not long after I came in the door from work, quickly piped up, "I'm not going either".

And at that, Alec wide-eyed and excited says, "Well, looks like it will just be the three of us!".

The visions that must've run through that kid's head. You can just imagine.

This is all without Josh even knowing about it. He was at school. But I'm sure that I already know the answer. He gets a one week paid vacation and will most likely spend it on some bike trip that he is hoping to do with a friend, or whatever else.

Maybe he'll surprise me and say yes. Maybe.

But I cannot imagine going on vacation with one child. That, my friend, will not happen. Not yet and hopefully, not ever.