10 Things I Learned on Vacation

1. If you're going to the beach stay on the beach. The up charge is worth it. Especially when there are stormy days and you're stuck in the room for part of the day. The view from our condo was amazing. And the balcony was even better. 

2. Wear sunscreen. We did really well on the sunscreen front this time. No one got burnt. I didn't get noticeably tanner, but you have to pick your battles. Brother, on the other hand, with his Guatemalan roots turned a nice dark caramel color. And of course Baby is already as dark as she can get. 

3. Go ahead and spring for the pricey beach chair rental. We got the padded wooden beach chairs and the umbrella. We debated but we were very glad we did. There was already so much to carry - the beach bag, all the baby gear, beach towels, the giant blow up dolphin float... Side note: brother has been obsessed with plants vs zombies lately which features a diver zombie and a dolphin zombie on the pool stage. Brother had to have the goggles and snorkel and the giant dolphin float so he could be a zombie on the beach. With all that gear we were glad to not also have to carry our own chairs and an umbrella. And an umbrella is a must for a baby on the beach. 

4. Always take someone with you if you have kids. There were so many times when we wanted to go walk on the beach after the kids finally fell asleep. Can't exactly leave a 6 year old in charge of a 6 month old though. Next time we will strategically invite friends who wouldn't mind a little babysitting now and then. 

5. Don't make any solid plans in advance. In Florida if its raining just wait a few seconds. It doesn't last long. You never know when those brief showers will pop up, though, so keep your plans flexible and you won't be disappointed. 


6. Don't wash the brand new cheap beach towels with the white hotel towels. I think this one is self explanatory. I've never seen items go in so white and then come out so red. The resort was very understanding though and in sure they had a laugh at our expense after we left. 

7. Make lasting memories by getting dirty in the sand. Your kids will remember. Jamie and I both took turns making sand castles and digging and covering ourselves head to toe in sand. Maddox was right there getting dirty with us. 

8. Eat where the locals eat. This is my favorite one. Jamie and I love to research restaurants beforehand to find the little unique restaurants you have to know someone to know about. Let me just say that I ate my weight in oysters. 

9. Reality hits you faster when you fly. When we drive for long trips there's always that long decompression time on the way back where Jamie and I talk and make plans for the future. Coming back to reality settles gradually like floating dust particles. Not so with flying. The flight was short and getting everyone's things in order to get through security and get on the plane is pretty hectic. Flying with adopted children is not easy in itself. Brother had to have his record of foreign birth and since Baby's adoption is not finalized (will be in a few weeks) we had a notarized letter from the adoption agency stating she was our baby. So no decompression on the way home. 

10. Nobody's gonna clean your house while you're gone. That was a sad lesson to learn.