text: A First: Family Vacation – from midnight oil
  A First: Family Vacation
  Posted on August 3, 2012 by frommidnightoil
  We survived the family vacation, a rare but expected occurrence in family life. We drove to Prince Edward Island for a quick (2 full days, 2 1/2 days) summer holiday. For all of my intentions to plan well (avoiding those nasty annoyances of family vacations such as, but not limited to: feelings of slight, unannounced and therefore unmet expectations, and all-around miscommunication), we did not. Oh, we packed well, but that was about it. Where were we to meet for breakfast? No one knew until five minutes beforehand. What did we want to do? No one knew. So this became the vacation in which I learned to, from now on, clearly articulate exactly what I want even if no one else will. In other words, Colby's not the only one who is growing up. I guess this is good.
  It seems to me like family vacations are like childbirth. You find moments of beauty to remember while the moments of agony fade over the following days, months and years (time entirely dependent upon the amount of discomfort involved). I distinctly remember a family photograph in which my mother is seated with us three (very young) children on a fountain. She looks like she is going to drown us, herself, or c. all of the above in the fountain directly behind her. Somehow, we went on more vacations after that. Whatever happened must not have been terrible enough to prevent further outings.
  Our vacation wasn't, of course, perfect. There were tears (mine) and name-calling (all you Dearest). We were together too much and not enough. We did too much, we did too little. At the end of it all, we went together and we survived together. We had fun!
  The sole backseat passenger entertains himself wisely, which is to say, quietly.
  I exclaimed "we're crossing the Big, Big bridge!" momentarily forgetting that Colby is, in fact, 11 not 4.
  When traveling in other countries, one does well to remember to check the sizes before ordering. In this case, I enjoyed an teeny, tiny coffee when I really wanted an American sized vat of coffee.
  Have you ever seen an outdoor (and free) gym? I'm ready to move to the other side of the border!
  Biking from Dalvay to Brackley Beach
  Beach Mama = Happy Mama
  You are *Here*
  I could not get enough of these dunes. Lucky for me, they were everywhere!
  Just look at those boys. Can you spot Colby? He's hiding.
  I LOVE cows. While this lady isn't real (gasp), it seemed like every road I drove down held a clean (don't ask me how) and picturesque farm dotted with beautiful cows. I love cows.
  Waiting for our tour and ice cream at COWS Creamery
  I'm ready for school! Visiting the Orwell historic village, and its amazingly preserved village and buildings.
  Cow kisses!
  Which way, boys?
  Someone decided to swap out his appetizers for extra dessert at St. Anne's Lobster Supper!
  A two-person ride home in which I am the passenger drinker, reader, and sleeper. A rare, rare gift.
  Family values are a little like family vacations -— subject to changeable weather and remembered more fondly with the passage of time. Though it rained all week at the beach, it's often the momentary rainbows that we remember.
  LESLIE DREYFOUS
  Previous Post I'll say it. This one night at band camp . . .
  1 thought on "A First: Family Vacation"
  Angela smart	 August 3, 20125:32 pm	 Reply
  I see Colby!!! 😉
  So Logan Isn't a Role Model, but.
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