Vacation Week

We took a week of vacation.
We packed up everything we own, and strapped, shoved, tied, and towed in in our van.
And then we attempted to put the kids in.

On our way to the campground we saw this amazing van.
And the kids shrieked!
And I whipped out my phone and snapped a pic.
And then we drove on.

 We got to the campground, and I gave up any hope that anyone would remain clean.
Or poison oak free for that matter.

 I tried a few new recipes. Some were good.
And some took MAJOR willpower by the adults to eat.
Ga-ross.
Tin foil dinner fail.

 The kids spent most of the time in the neighbors campsite.
Which would have been perfectly fine, had it been vacant.
Oops.

 And while some complete strangers were babysitting our kids, we enjoyed a campfire, and lots of conversation.
I kid you not.

The hubs {because he can't really sit still for too long} did multiple laps around the campground with the kids on bikes. They hiked, discovered hidden beaches, more poison oak, and some giant redwoods.

 And I sat and read.
And read.
And read.
And read.
I finished 3 books, and sipped out of my funny mug/jar. 

 And we had our bible time around the campfire in the mornings.

And we introduced them to "lady lips", which we will forever regret. 

Every morning was like a giant sleepover.  Kids kinda just piled on top of each other...sharing sleeping bags, mats, pillows, and the occasional blanket. 

One of the days, we drove the short 10 minutes to the beach boardwalk.
Best. day. ever.
We played in the sand, then rode rides, then ate, then rode more rides, then ate some more, and then collapsed onto our deflated air mattresses.

 Another day we hiked.
And carried heavy kids up steep trails.
And sweated. A lot.
And got dirty.
All in flip flops.

We packed up the tent, a few spiders, and the filthy, dirty, stinky kids, and surprised them with a trip to Gilroy Gardens.
Which was amazing.
Clean, no crowds, and rides galore.

And then we came home.
And took showers, climbed into our own comfy beds, and slept for hours.
It was, hands down, one of the best vacations we've had in a long time, until I had to conquer the laundry.
Then I was grumbling.