Vacationing with kids...

My husband and I had an argument the first time we took our kids on a vacation.  He said when you have kids with you, it's a "trip", not a "vacation" because you don't get a break from life, because you still have the kids.  I disagreed and said it was still a vacation because there is joy in seeing your kids experience things.

I'll never forget when he saw chris's joy at jumping  through the waves in the ocean.  My husband turned to me and said, "It's a vacation"

This week, I bravely took my three boys to Chattanooga for 4 days. (btw, it was one day too long).

Was it a trip?  or a vacation?

I'd have to say... a little bit of both.  There were plenty of times when I thought something along the lines of, "What in the name of sweet baby Jesus was I thinking bringing these little brats here, by myself,for 4 days?!?!?!"

And there were times that I saw the joy they were experiencing and I was so glad we came.  Times when they were so sweet to each other.  Times when they said "thank you for this trip".  Times when we giggled over what will surely be jokes for a long time. (like Drew mistakenly calling the gnomes at rock city zombies or ninjas)

These are the moments that will be remembered.  I will forget that Drew got 4 spankings today.  That he threw such a fit while I was on the phone, I had to hang up and make the call later.  That Chris picked on Luke, and Luke was dramatic about everything.  That Luke and Drew were tired of walking.  That Drew begged to go to the pool, and then immediately decided he didn't want to swim when we got there.

I'll just remember the fun, and the three of them giggling over some video game in the bed next to mine.  Now that I think of it, it sounds like a vacation after all.