This Mom's Confessions

By

Finish the Sentence Friday Blog Hop #3

Filed Under: Writing/Blogging Tagged With: , , , ,

Welcome back to Finish The Sentence Friday Blog Hop (FTSF).  We give you a sentence and you finish it (however long or short you’d like). Write a post and link it up, or if you don’t blog, feel free to finish the sentence in the comments for everyone to see.

Your humble hosts:

Janine’s Confessions of a Mommyaholic (Twitter, Facebook)

Can I Get Another Glass of Whine (Twitter, Facebook)

This week’s sentence:

“The last time I went on vacation, I…”

Next week’s sentence to finish: “When I was younger I tried…”

Here’s how I finished this week’s sentence:

“The last time I went on vacation was actually this past summer (July 2012). But the vacation plans started to take form over a year ago in February 2012. We were at my sister-in-law’s 30th birthday party, when my husband’s cousin mentioned that she had rented a beach house in Connecticut for a week.

As much as I love my husband’s family, I am not going to lie I was nervous about going away to a place a few hours away with a 2 1/2 year old, who was potty training at that point (would be 3 years old in July) and 15 month old (who would be 18 months at that point). See being home and trying to get them to sleep in their own room and environment was hard enough at times, plus having to find stuff to entertain them with all day long for a few days was also on my mind. Plus even though we were family, we would all be in close quarters for a few days at least and wasn’t sure who would possibly get on who’s nerves first. These were just a few things that came to mind and worried me.

So, a few months went by and didn’t hear much more, but then as the time drew near, I was getting e-mails and even saw his cousin again at my niece’s 1st birthday party, where she pretty much had us and the rest of the family as going. Plus, I was assured though by his cousin that we would have our own bedroom and not to worry. Also, I found out the dates fell the week before Emma’s 3rd birthday. We decided to go, but again still was worried. Again, don’t mistake me I love these people I do, but the above concerns did make me just a wee bit nervous still.

Well, July rolled around and then that week was upon us. The plan was I would drive Kevin to work in the morning, pack the house while the kids napped and then get on the road to pick him him at work. Then, he would drive the rest of the way to the beach-house in Connecticut. We did just that and actually made good timing.

Here Was the Old Beach-house

When we arrived, we had to park in the driveway, which was on incline, of course had to use the parking brake, hobble out of the car, somehow get the kids out on this incline, and unpack the car, too. Well, we did all that and was led to our room. We did indeed have our own room, which had twin beds and nothing else to accommodate two kids. Thankfully we had taken a sleeping bag and set that up for Emma. She is such a good little girl, bless her heart and sleep fine with her pillow and a sleeping bag for three nights. Lily, I had to put in the bed next to me and wedge the bed up against the wall. She slept against the wall part and I got the tiniest edge of the bed. Seriously, I have to admit not the most comfortable sleep I ever had.

On top of this, I am a light sleeper and any noise will wake me up. The walls were pretty thin and could here too much all night long, whether it was those above us moving around on the third floor or my nephew crying next door from teething (believe me I felt for him and have had two of my own, but not what I wanted to hear on vacation). And last, but not least, let’s not forget the outdated plumbing. I truly worried that someone was going to clog the toilet yet and then what?? Not so much for me, but we did have little kids potty trained (mine included).

I know I shouldn’t be complaining, because it was a free vacation and my husband’s cousin is a doll for putting us all up. Believe me I love her and can’t thank her enough for doing that, but the sad truth is at 35 years old, I need to sleep when I can and comfortably. I wish I was in my 20s again, where I could sleep anywhere and just go with the flow, like the time I slept on a futon in a friend’s house for a month. Seriously, might not have been comfortable, but it never seemed to bother me. Probably just getting old!!

That said, the beach was magnificent though and the company wasn’t bad either, just truly wish I could have had a day at a spa or something to recuperate from my sleepless nights. The next time, I swear, I will pay for the five star hotel room, because I just can’t help, but need that at this point in my life.

Now tell me, in the comments, something embarrassing you’ve done (you’re in good company). Or write a post and link it up! And be sure to share my vacation story with all your FB and Twitter friends. We’ll also be featuring some of our favorites on Twitter with the Hashtag #FTSF and our Facebook pages too, so make sure to follow. Don’t forget to grab a button and put it somewhere people will see. We’d are hoping to keep this hop going strong and continue this for a long time to come!

Finish the Sentence Friday



Don’t Forget to Vote. Your Vote Counts and Is Appreciated!!
Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

Please Visit my Sponsor of The Month:

[amazon_mp3_clips widget_type=”Bestsellers” width=”250″ height=”250″ title=”” market_place=”US” shuffle_tracks=”True” max_results=”” browse_node=”” /]

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Sharing is caring!

About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill says

    Sheez, you had me checking the calendar to see if it was Friday. I panicked for a second. LOL The last time I went on vacation….I don't remember. 🙂

    Have a good weekend my friend!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Sorry for the confusion Bill. We put this one up on Thursday night to give those linking up a head start. Happy Weekend to you and thanks for stopping by 🙂

  2. Emily says

    Oh yeah I'm all about a nice hotel too at this stage in life. I'm like you — I need my sleep and a comfy bed. If I don't have that while on vacation, I'd rather stay home. We've done a lot of extended family vacations like that too — fun, but chaotic!

    • Janine Huldie says

      So glad I am not alone on this, because I was starting to think man I just sound old and pathetic. But I am at least in good company with you Emily 🙂 🙂

  4. Stephanie @ Mommy, f says

    I remember saying several years ago, "I'm too old to sleep on someone's couch." Double that feeling when you are traveling with young kids. Ugh. Hard to keep a positive attitude in such circumstances!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh so true Stephanie and felt bad truly for complaining, because it was a free vacation, but seriously the next time we are staying at hotel, because like I said I am way too old for this, lol!! 🙂

  5. Janine Huldie says

    Terrye, I will give you the beach was amazing and we literally opened our bedroom balcony door and had a great view of it. But the sleep accommodations are not for me anymore. At this point in my life, I need my own hotel room. Sad but true, I just am not as young as I one was I suppose!!

  6. Melanie Chisnall says

    That truly sounds like a holiday you are never going to forget! The house is stunning. Though beautiful and free, and with family – I completely understand about the sleep thing. A holiday is supposed to mean comfy beds and sleeping whenever you want. I think it's almost time for you to start planning a new one for this year! 🙂

  7. Seriously Kate says

    Oh how fun it is to travel with toddlers and extract them from their daily routine!!! I'm like you, sleep is rare, I'll pay for the comfort. 🙂
    Kate

  9. kenyagjohnson says

    I was waiting for the "but", after all the trust, believe and love, I knew it was coming. My husband and I had to sleep on a full sized bed, and old plastic covered mattress where we rolled into each other by default. ANY hotel would have been a five star accommodation after sleeping like that. I feel ya, glad it turned out well. #FTSF

    • Janine Huldie says

      Lol, Kenya and I am with you on the next time being more along the lines of five star accommodations and no more uncomfortable sleep arrangements. Thanks again for linking up!! 🙂

  10. Marie Chamberlin Moo says

    Thanks for hosting. I'll be back next week after just finding you today. This sounds like fun. I tried to put your button on my Post, but it didn't work. Maybe you should check on that. So, the last time I was on vacation we went to Cedar Point. I rode around in a cart because of my back (I have Spinal Stenosis) & I was the camera lady & played games and won all kinds of stuff! It was a blast.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thanks Marie for your comment and sounded like a ton of fun. Did you copy the whole HTML code for the button, because I know many others have and had no problem. The other thing is to make sure you paste it in HTML not visual view in your post. Hope to definitely see you back here next week 🙂

  11. Maggie Amada says

    I hear you on the family vacations. You need a vacation after it's all over. Thanks for sharing and for hosting the blog hop.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thank you Maggie for linking up again and for relating to my post a bit. My pleasure to co-host with Kate and hope to see you back again next week, too!! 🙂

  12. Ruchira says

    I usually have such nightmares when we visit Tahoe and when we rent a home there. Those homes are old and when the heater is on, the noises it makes can give any soul a starry night. Thank heavens we all in a big group when we visit such homes…lol

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh I hear you on that Ruchira and will say I was truly dreading it knowing how hard it would probably be with two small kids. Granted it wasn't as bad as my mind made it, but still missed my own comfortable bed, lol!!

  13. christine says

    We haven't had to vacation like this for a long time. With six kids in tow, no one invites us to stay with them! 🙂
    Thanks for hosting the hop!

  14. Kat Biggie says

    I completely agreee! I want a nice comfy bed and SILENCE at night! It's so hard traveling and "vacationing" with little ones. I think it will be a few years before I actually enjoy traveling with the kids! I didn't get a chance to write up an FTSF this week, but I"ll be back next week!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Alexa and I really thought man is it just me. So nice to know it isn't and am in such good company. No worries and believe me I have been crazy all morning and not sure how I am keeping up right now and look forward to your post next week 🙂 🙂

  16. Janine Huldie says

    Oh so true Kelly and they do seem to love their beds the most at this age, but then again at 35 I also love my bed and make no qualms about that, lol!! Thanks again as always 🙂

  17. Kera says

    And this is what I'm going to have this summer when we go on vacation! I'm hoping to TRY to start Sofia on some sort of potty-training routine in the spring or summer, so that will be part of our vacation too lol. Luckily my parents own their beach house and everything is up-to-date and comfortable there. Not to mention I'll have my parents AND my sister to help babysit Sofia so I can have some relaxation time!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Kera that sounds a bit more like it to me by having help. All of Kevin's siblings have kids around the age of my own kids so the help was at a limit on top of everything else. And good luck with potty training, when it is only one it is usually a lot easier. I just happened to have two within months of each other, so I am so done and worn out from it, lol!! 🙂

  18. Jane Marsh says

    The last time I went on a family vacation, we actually did leave early and stop at a 5-star hotel on the way home for a night to recuperate. 🙂 It's great!

  19. Kimberly Haugh Yates says

    I remember those great 20 something vacations and those weird places I was ok sleeping–never again! Even with no kids in tow, I need my sleep.

  22. Kristi Campbell says

    Thanks so much to you and Kate for hosting again! And I used to be able to sleep anywhere when I was younger, too. Vacations are wonderful but when traveling with small kids AND family? Not exactly relaxing!

  23. EMMA says

    I always say a mother should have her own 2 day break after a family holiday. I've never seen a beach house with being in the North of England. I would love to go and just step out on to the beach every day.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Emma, I love your theory and as for the actual concept of going to the beach and staying in a house right on the beach, it is pretty neat. I happen to love the beach, so for me I loved being that close to it 🙂

  24. 69brushstrokes says

    I love this "finish the sentence" concept. I'm more of a DIY blogger but since I'm trying to improve on my writing and loosening up a bit in my writing (being comfortable in my own words, so to speak). This seems like a good "exercise" for me. I hope to join in next week! And I totally get you about needing to get some good rest at 35!!! I'm 43, and believe me, I've had some vacations where I've needed another vacation afterward just to recuperate. 😉

Footer

Confessions Belong To

I Am A Published Author!

Featured Confessions

Confessions Partners

baby clothes on DHgate.com