The Family That Vacations Together . . .

Oh, I'm back from a nice long week of fun in the sun. I have mixed feelings, of course, it's always nice to be home after a long trip away, but the beach is such a delicious get-a-way that it makes you want to stay there forever and ever.

This was an extremely unique vacation experience for us. Usually just the three of us go, with Baby Doggy in tow, but this time the in-laws invited us to go with them on vacation. I was pretty weary of the whole set-up from Jump Street, but Mom #2 insisted everyone could be on their best behavior for a week.

So just to recap, the vacation includes: Mom-in-law, Pop-in-law, two Bros-in-laws, along with Mom #2, Baby Boy, Baby Doggy, and myself. We did manage to get our own beach house for
just our little family while the two bros-in-law stayed with their folks since they are both single.

Now let me just explain the difference in our family dynamics. Mom #2’s family is a very traditional Hispanic family: Dad sits in the recliner, Godfather style, and demands everyone do what he says, when he says, and how he says. Family members shuck and jive to keep the peace.

Our family unit is run a little differently: Mom #2 and I hash out discuss everything and try to come to some resemblance of a compromise and even solicit Baby Boy’s opinion on what he may or may not want to do IF we’re in a good mood.

Even with this major contradiction in leadership styles, everyone did manage to behave themselves and there wasn’t too much tension other than a few ill-scheduled fishing trips (which Baby Boy simply did not attend), one extremely tense lunch, a few murmured, “Why don’t y'all just eat when Dad and I eat?” And a three person family decision to come home a day early just so we could spend a little time alone on the highway, LOL. Oh, the joys of extended family.

As you can see from the photos above . . . we officially survived our Summer Vacation 2008.

Baby Boy and I are officially getting back to learning on Monday . . . so I’m just going to try to
get all of my last minute lesson planning and preparations done for the rest of this week, and of course, catch up on my blog reading. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time . . .