Thoughts on our Vacation Down South

Late Friday night, we returned home from our family vacation.  This year's vacation looked a little different - mainly due to the fact that we didn't all sleep in a teeny tiny pop-up!  Yes, this year we went to South Carolina, and our 21-year-old pop-up doesn't have A/C, so we couldn't bring her along.  We had an amazing time seeing the sights in South Carolina and relaxing on the beach together.  A few highlights:

• Hours in the car:  About 35.  If you know our family, you know that's waaaaay fewer than other years.  And while 35 hours in the car with 7 people might not sound appealing to many, I always enjoy the car time (granted I drive ZERO of those hours, sooooo).  On these long drives, we sing together with harmonies (both good and crazy), we laugh till we cry, and we also have good and meaningful conversations.  While a plane ride might be more efficient, I'm glad we have all those hours together in the car.
• Wildlife seen:  As I said above, this trip was very different from our other trips, especially in the area of wildlife!  While we're used to seeing bears and eagles and buffalo, this year we saw enormous orb spiders (one of which was at almost eye-level with my son on a hike!!), skinks and lizards, a snapping turtle, dolphins, and alligators!  We had alligator sightings several times, but this picture shows one just across the pond from where we were staying.  He slithered up on the bank during a rainstorm, and after about 10 minutes, he just slid right back into the pond.  The kids were glad we got to see one, and I was very glad he was at a slight distance!

• National Parks and Monuments:  Congaree NP and Ft. Sumter and Ft. Moultrie.  At Congaree National Park we took a short 2-mile loop through the swamp lands, which is where we saw the giant man-eating orb spiders.  It was 1000 degrees as we walked on the boardwalk, reading the informational signs, but also sweeping left and right, up and down, lest we walk into a spider or encounter an alligator in all the standing swampy water right next to us.  Ft. Sumter and Ft. Moultrie were both fascinating and sobering visits as we pondered all those who had sacrificed so much.
• Heat Index: 105+ Our first several days of vacation were spent in the National Park/Forts, and sightseeing in Charleston and Savannah. And oh. my. word.  It was HOT.  I am not a fan of the hot, (or the cold for that matter - I often tell the kids that I am a delicate flower).  We walked around the cities, slathered in sunscreen and wilting and sweating within seconds of being outside.  Charleston and Savannah were so beautiful - we all loved the history and architecture and beauty of the towns, but I gotta say, it might be better to see all these things when you didn't feel like you were going to die of heat exhaustion.
• Jewelry lost/found.  Three pieces.  On the "hike" at Congaree, my son quickly brushed away a bug at his face and broke his crucifix, causing it to fall through the boards to the muck below the boardwalk.  My husband, ever ready to do whatever job must be done, got on his hands and knees next to the boardwalk (thankfully there was no water at this spot) and put his hand under the boardwalk while my son shined his flashlight through the slats.  Do you recall all the creatures that were at this National Park? I couldn't have done it!  The second piece was another crucifix, misplaced as we were about to pull out of our hotel in Charleston.  After several minutes of searching the hotel and car, it was found in the owner's backpack.  And finally, a gold hoop earring, lost at Ft. Sumter or on the ferry ride over.  Unfortunately, this one has yet to turn up, though I still have hope maybe it's in the car somewhere.
• Theme Song:  God's Country by Blake Shelton.  Every year, a theme song emerges during our many hours of car time, and this year was a clear winner.  When my husband and I started dating, we only agreed on about one thing regarding music:  we both hated country.  This has stayed true all 27 years of marriage, and our kids have rarely if ever heard country music in our house.  But as they've gotten older, they occasionally like a country song that wanders onto our radio or Alexa, and this seems to be one of them.  So this year as we drove through "God's country", we could sing all about the devil going down to Georgia.  But he didn't stick around.
• Doggies left behind:  Dukers!  Since Duke is too crazy/naughty/strong, we didn't feel we could ask anyone to dogsit him, so we boarded him at the place we adopted him from.  They are a great organization and post pictures daily of their doggy daycare dogs and their boarders. Every day, one of us would remember to check their facebook page and we would often be rewarded with pictures of our naughty boy.  He appeared to be living his best doggy life, swimming in the baby pool and running around like a maniac with the other puppers.  We picked him up yesterday and I can't tell if he's glad to be home or if he misses his newly made pals.  Either way, he's resumed his naughty ways at home. 

• Time in the water:  So much!!  During our time at the coast, we fell into a rhythm - eat lunch, then go to the beach for a few hours, then head to the pool before a (very!) late dinner.  The ocean was ridiculously warm and we all loved playing in the surf.  We played spike ball every day, read books, drank beach drinks, and took walks.  At the pool we built triple stack shoulder sits and practiced our handstands and underwater tricks.  I tried valiantly to get someone to make a synchronized swimming routine with me, to no avail.  Our trips don't often include so much time in the water and while we're all still a little sunkissed/peeling, I think its safe to say that we all loved so many days at the beach and pool!

As the kids get older, we are seeing them treasure these trips more and more.  I think they all realize how precious our time together is as they are all leaving the nest in various ways.  I am so incredibly grateful that all the older kids still want to take an adventure with their family - I know that the days are numbered when we'll all be able to take these trips together.  We saw some beautiful sights, we relaxed, we ate well, and we laughed so much.  As usual for me, it doesn't really matter where we travel to - the best part of any trip is the togetherness.  I'm so thankful for the time we get to spend as a family on these adventures.