The ironic thing about going away with children — besides the fact that my husband and I, after investing in a portable dvd player for the first time, foolishly allowed ourselves to enjoy the quiet and be lulled into a false sense of security in believing that our four children would actually cooperate with each other…stupid parents — is how quickly our expectations of a fun family vacation seem to differ to that of our kids.
I mean, we don’t get away all that often – and Washington D.C. is absolutely beautiful this time of year – could you really blame us for trying to squeeze in as much sight-seeing as possible?!?
The cherry blossoms, the walking tours, the museums, the pandas at the national zoo and the air heavily weighted with history, surrounding you with nearly every turn, and leading to yet another monumental moment in early America.
The kids enjoyed our last visit to DC (two years ago during President’s weekend) and they were looking forward to a few new experiences their father and I had planned for them.
Until they realized that the hotel we were staying in has an indoor pool.
Then, the only thing all four of our children wanted to know about Washington, D.C. was:
“When are we going back to the hotel!?!”
After every meal…every museum display…every potty stop…and after nearly every ten minutes or so…
“When are we going back to the hotel!?!”
So, I couldn’t blame the looks of disdain and/or pity my husband I received whenever he or I (and sometimes both of us at the same time) would scream:
“FOR THE LAST TIME…I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH FUN IT IS…WE DIDÂ NOT COME ALL THIS WAY/SPEND ALL THIS MONEYÂ TOÂ SPENDÂ ITÂ IN AÂ HOTEL SWIMMING POOL!!!
Ah…good times!
It wasn’t all bad, of course – regardless of the fact that I also got my period when we first got to the hotel because…HEY!…we were on vacation and my total lack of energy and extreme physical discomfort is par for the course — there were some very lovely Kodak moments, though.
The sculpture garden outside the Smithsonian (one of many) was a lot of fun – it was an absolutely gorgeous day with blue skies and temps in the sixties — although I recommend that children be made aware of the fact that there is perhaps such a thing as “artistic license” and avoid later attempts of having to explain why, “…that lady statue has three breasts?” and “…oh my god, that man statue totally LOST HIS PENIS!”
The kids called the the “old” Smithsonian (now the musuem’s executive offices) “the castle” and their gardens were breathtakingly popping with color!
We spent an entire day at the National Zoo and enjoyed it, very much — especially with cute little hands-on activities for the children — like, Mini-Me comparing her mini-paws with that of the casts on the tiger trail.
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And no Full House photo album would be complete without an obligatory ninja pose by Little Man.Â
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A final pose with the gang at the zoo before heading off to a twenty-minute-walk to the metro….spent holding poor little Mini-Me….like, most of the trip….because I should have listened to my husband when suggested we take the umbrella stroller, just in case….stupid mommy!Â
Speaking of stupid mommy — I was scheduled to host last weekend’s Carnival of New Jersey Bloggers (#48), but missed the boat on getting it up for my fellow Garden Staters. I sincerely hope that they accept this feeble attempt at an apology and I would like to thank Enlighten New Jersey for picking up the slack!
Folks, I know you’ve heard it before, but – we seriously need a vacation from our vacation — the next time I mention planning the perfect family vacation…or if I even attempt to volunteer (last minute) at having everyone over for Easter dinner, before unpacking…or make plans of any sort without prior written consent from a licensed chiropractor and/or mother nature, herself…slap me out of it!Â
In the meantime, excuse me while I try and start finish do the laundry…find a way to make the pain in my neck and back, like, stop…and humbly kiss Kate’s ass for still taking my call, yesterday…and fully expect to bang on her door until my knuckles bleed…and will do my best and not stand her up, again…until she admits I’m an asshole and says:
“Liz…I still love you…you ignorant slut!”
Care to join in?
Comments
26 responses to “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was another Full House family vacation!!!”
Welcome home!
Aah, the family vacation. Our last, and probably final, family vacation was a 5-day excursion to Colonial Williamsburg during Christmas when my son was 15. (Since he’s now 22+ and his sister is 26 we’re not likely to be going on the road together any more.) Used to be most every school break would be time for a ROAD TRIP!!
BTW: What! you couldn’t grap a passer by to take a picture of the ENTIRE clan? Poor hubby had to take the pics? tsk, tsk.
Welcome home!
Aah, the family vacation. Our last, and probably final, family vacation was a 5-day excursion to Colonial Williamsburg during Christmas when my son was 15. (Since he’s now 22+ and his sister is 26 we’re not likely to be going on the road together any more.) Used to be most every school break would be time for a ROAD TRIP!!
BTW: What! you couldn’t grap a passer by to take a picture of the ENTIRE clan? Poor hubby had to take the pics? tsk, tsk.
Welcome back! You were missed!! Sounds like a great time…among the usual family woes of family vacations! lol The pictures are great, you have such a lovely family!
Welcome back! You were missed!! Sounds like a great time…among the usual family woes of family vacations! lol The pictures are great, you have such a lovely family!
Joated — as I responded to you via email — it bears repeating:
I’m on strict orders not to leave a picture trail of thompsonclanpop!
Pssst…check the mini-paw pic…who is that man casually sitting on the bench in the background…I wonder?
**snicker**
Joated — as I responded to you via email — it bears repeating:
I’m on strict orders not to leave a picture trail of thompsonclanpop!
Pssst…check the mini-paw pic…who is that man casually sitting on the bench in the background…I wonder?
**snicker**
Glad you and yours are home safe and sound!
Glad you and yours are home safe and sound!
Yay! Welcome back Liz! I still love you!
Glad you had fun in Washington- love all the pics!
nat and Petey
Yay! Welcome back Liz! I still love you!
Glad you had fun in Washington- love all the pics!
nat and Petey
Looks like it was fun – despite the naggy “hotel pool” Glad you back safe and sound.
Looks like it was fun – despite the naggy “hotel pool” Glad you back safe and sound.
Well that is a fine looking family.
Well that is a fine looking family.
There you are! I was cleaning up my links and realized your old one didn’t work anymore! Thanks to Katespot I found your updated link.
I like the snazzy digs! Good stuff! Looks like you had an AWESOME vacation.
We need to plan another NJ blogmeet this spring – I’ll bring Duncan again.
There you are! I was cleaning up my links and realized your old one didn’t work anymore! Thanks to Katespot I found your updated link.
I like the snazzy digs! Good stuff! Looks like you had an AWESOME vacation.
We need to plan another NJ blogmeet this spring – I’ll bring Duncan again.
I can’t believe you were in DC and you didn’t call!! Glad I found your blog again. SOrry it has been so long! Please, the next time you are here send me an email, I will meet you somewhere with all my kids!
I can’t believe you were in DC and you didn’t call!! Glad I found your blog again. SOrry it has been so long! Please, the next time you are here send me an email, I will meet you somewhere with all my kids!
You know I love you! I wouldn’t ever call you a slut… while you were around anyhow. LOL. We still have plenty of weekends to get together. Hopefully, there will be a Starbucks nearby… {{{hugs}}} BTW – I love the pics!
You know I love you! I wouldn’t ever call you a slut… while you were around anyhow. LOL. We still have plenty of weekends to get together. Hopefully, there will be a Starbucks nearby… {{{hugs}}} BTW – I love the pics!
Liz,
Check your email “spam” folder for a few emails from Enlighten-NewJersey.
Liz,
Check your email “spam” folder for a few emails from Enlighten-NewJersey.
Looks like a good time was had by all, despite Aunt Flo’s arrival (how inconsiderate of her!) and the hotel pool’s gravitational pull on the kids. That’s a fine lookin’ family ya got there! 🙂
Looks like a good time was had by all, despite Aunt Flo’s arrival (how inconsiderate of her!) and the hotel pool’s gravitational pull on the kids. That’s a fine lookin’ family ya got there! 🙂
Wow it looks like y’all had a blast. I love the sculptures. Sorry for laughing at loud about your pool rant.
Have a good one!
Dawn
Wow it looks like y’all had a blast. I love the sculptures. Sorry for laughing at loud about your pool rant.
Have a good one!
Dawn