“Sometimes you just have to worry about those people who sit around your dinner table every night!”
This comment hit home to me recently and was said to me by a very dear and good friend. She couldn’t have been more right if she tried (she knows who she is and thank you!).
Between work all week long (and contrary to the believe of those who think I sit at home doing nothing but play on Facebook, so not the case in the least) and crazy long hours that I do keep with writing, as well as designing, this concept had gotten away from me a bit.
Also, I am the type of person that has tried more then not to please others (extended family and friends alike).
So, that line meant the world to me coming from a person who has been nothing, but a good and valued friend.
Most that know, read my writing and follow along know Kevin has been taking off Mondays this past summer to extend our weekends for family fun time. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but it is just the truth around the parts lately.
And yes I have also written and shared about how every last penny we have has ben going to save for that first home we are intent, hell bent to buy and can’t wait to live in.
So these long weekends were meant to prolong our family time during the nice warm, weather, but have not wanted to spend an arm and a leg on a real vacation.
Kevin had been proposing to take the family to some place like an amusement park or water park to enjoy ourselves, but that we didn’t have to pay for a hotel or some place to stay other then our own place right now.
Well, it turns out that my brother and my husband’s very good childhood friend both had off this past Saturday. They also wanted to do something fun.
We decided to go to our local water park (Splish Splash), which is about an hour east of us. They went ahead in the early morning and did the adult rides together, while we hung back letting the girls do their Saturday morning soccer routine. Once that was over, we came home, got everyone, changed and ready. Then, we drove about an hour east to meet up with the guys at the water park.
It was the best decision I think we have made in a long time and I literally haven’t smiled this much in a long time and certainly haven’t felt this relaxed either. And having two people there who know and love the girls to be back up for us, so we too could try out on of the adult rides for ourselves, was a wonderful change of pace.
It was just one ride, but if you have been to a water park or any amusement park for that fact, you know how long lines can get to ride some of the more popular rides. It was so kind of them seriously to hang out with the girls, while got to do this though and for that I am truly appreciative.
We had the option to purchase bracelets to skip the lines, but we knew it wouldn’t be more then one ride we could go on and spent the rest of the day at the kiddie portion and the wave pool with the kids.
And for the most part that is what we did for about 4 hours, before heading home to change again and then all go out to dinner at Chili’s before ending the perfect day.
Don’t get me wrong, we had a few moments here and there. I mean the girls are still young and just kids, but for the most part, it really was a ton of fun. I wish I had more pictures, but didn’t want my camera or iPhone to get lost or destroyed by the water, so I only have a select few from before and after we hit the rides, but again totally worth and hope to go back again real soon.
Family Togetherness at Splish Splash!And yes it did make me realize even more so that sometimes, you need to “Let Go” It’s Okay” to worry about those people that you do have around your dinner table every night! And the rest and those who love and care about you will all fall into place!
Linking up this up with both of my very good bloggy friends, Lanaya at Raising Reagan for her Letting Go series and also Kera at Nugget on a Budget for her It’s Okay” series.
Thanks ladies for giving me a place and reason to share!!
And now as promised, I have a very special giveaway to share today on here, thanks to Elena from Cropped Stories and some other wonderful bloggers, too. Please enter the rafflecopter below to get a chance to win a $100 Virtual Visa Gift Card.
Last, but certainly not least, please don’t forget to check out my web design company for specials running at J9 Designs for all your web design needs, as well as my blogging advice, too.
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massholemommy says
Sounds like fun at the water park! We're going to one of our local water parks on Friday!!
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Janine Huldie says
It was so much fun and now we are planning on going back again before the summer is over here!! Enjoy your trip on Friday, too!! 🙂
LisaAndAshley says
We just returned home from a few days at the beach, and I cannot tell you how good it was for my family to just be together, away from everything. Love this post…it is the people around the dinner table for sure. 🙂 Your girls are so cute, and it looks like y'all had a blast! :)-Ashley
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Janine Huldie says
Ashley, that sounded like a ton of fun for sure. And I know I am so ready to please everyone all the time, but this sure hit home and was really happy to just get a away for a bit even if it was for a day trip with Kevin and the girls. We had so much fun we are going to do it again now before the summer does end! 🙂
Rita Abitabile says
Great photos and I know how much you, Kevin and the girls needed some fun time. And it was great that Michael and Matt were off from work to be able to join in the fun. Your good friend is right; there are times that you have to just worry about the people around your dinner table. You can't let outside forces make you upset. Keep things in perspective! Love, Mom
Janine Huldie says
Oh thank mom and seriously couldn't agree more!!!
Rosey says
Water parks ARE relaxing and fun. We go once or twice a year, but I would LOVE to go more!! I'm glad you had a good time. The pictures you got are great. 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Rosey and I know they really are so much fun and relaxing, too!! 🙂
Billybuc says
Very true words, Janine. Those people around the table….they are our life. If that ain't a priority then nothing is.
Have a productive and loving day my friend.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Bill and truly knew you would be able to relate here for sure. Enjoy your day now, too!! 🙂
realhousewife says
That really takes me back Janine:). We had those times when we just didn't want to spend a fortune to get out of the house with our girls….I was pretty good at finding free fun around here! When you have a family of five – tickets for anywhere can run into a huge expense!
They closed our water park that was near…the closest one to us is in Illinois now!
Janine Huldie says
Kelly, I am so with you on this and even though we are one less, it can get so very expensive. I told all that I am not a liar recently, but wish I would have lied about Emma's age this past weekend. Lily was free because she is still 2 years technically, but at 4 years old, I pad $20 for Emma to do everything Lily did and they are pretty much the same age. I may need to practice my lying skills if we go back before the end of the summer and say she and Lily are twins. And so sorry though they moved yours and hope you can get there when you can now though.
Lanaya says
Life gets incredibly complicated at times and it's hard to remember the little things that make you happiest. Great post my love.
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
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Janine Huldie says
Lanaya, you are so right about this and that is what I have now had to tell myself more often to be consciously aware of all the good I have surrounding me in my very own home!! 🙂 xoxo!!
Michelle Liew says
Looks like you guys had swimmingly good fun, Janine!
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Janine Huldie says
We did Michelle and seriously can'r wait to go back now!! 🙂
catherine says
I am all smiles reading this post! Makes me happy to see you so relaxed and happy. And you look fantastic!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Catherine and I was truly so happy to be able to share this will all. Was a great day and am hoping for more like this real soon!!
tamaralikecamera says
It occurred to me recently that I don't know where in the world you are! And if you really want privacy, that's understandable! But maybe you're not so far from me – based on that water park location. I had you pegged on the west coast for some reason, as if you and Lanaya hang out in real life all the time.
The family photo is wonderful! I'm looking for one last hurrah or two before summer ends up here. I've been feeling pretty fried lately and I'll probably write a post about it tomorrow. An easy post…or else that wouldn't be productive now, would it?
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Janine Huldie says
My name is out there and think many know I live on Long Island in NY. I thought we both lived not too far off on the east coast from a few of your recent posts, too. And would be nice if we did, because you already know I would love to meet up with you someday soon!! Lanaya and I have never met to be honest, but seriously sometimes feels like we have, because we too have so much in common and get along great, too. Funny how we have all never met, but seriously think I am better friends with you both then some I have known in person for years. And I know exactly what you mean about fried and seriously if write the post for tomorrow have a feeling I will relate and then some now!!!
tamaralikecamera says
I hear that about the in person thing! These blogging friendships are amazing. Ok, awesome about the east coast. And it's not that I'm not observant (I hope), it's just that I discovered you fairly recently. And I'm so glad I did! Maybe you had mentioned it before. I'm pretty sure we've got Elena on this coast, or else she just vacations where I do – Cape Cod! I have a very good friend on Long Island but I haven't been in ages. I definitely spent many childhood good times there.
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Janine Huldie says
I think you are right and Elena is somewhere on the East Coast, too. I actually grew up in Queens, NY, but moved out to Long Island when I was a freshman in high school back in the day. But you are so very observant and mean it so happy we are friends even if we have never met personally!! 🙂
NuggetOnABudget says
Loved this post Janine! I'm so glad you all had a fun time at the water park, and I know, those days spent with family and good friends doing something different and fun are usually the best days. We were supposed to go to a water park Friday for RJs firm family outing, but it was cancelled due to the rain. However, we still ended up having fun at the local Jumpin' Jakes, which has a ton of bouncy houses that Sofia and our friends' two kids could play on. Then we went out to dinner as well. It was an unexpected but good day. And I LOVE that saying, to worry about those around your dinner table ~ so very true 🙂
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Janine Huldie says
I was so sorry that Friday was a wash out for you guys, but am happy to hear that you were able to go to the bounce houses and dinner afterwards instead. Seriously was so very happy though to get this to work in linking with both of you today. So, I can't thank you enough for giving me a great place to link and share this!! 🙂 xoxo!!
findingninee says
I'm so glad you had such a blast! I love water parks 🙂 LOVE them. Glad you got a break and you know, your friend was so right – sometimes we do need to just worry about the people we see at our dinner tables. What a nice reminder.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Kristi and must say that we really did have a great time. And can thank my friend enough for that gentle reminder, because I seriously needed it!!
notinjersey says
I love water parks and I'm so glad you had a great time there!
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Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Dara and I am so with you!! Water parks are so much fun and we really did have a blast!! 🙂
stephsprenger says
I LOVE going to the water park! I personally feel that having 4-6 adults per 2 kids is the best way to go! 😉 Sounds like you had a great time!
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Karen says
totally agree Janine…sometimes Tony will surprise me with a this is what we are doing today, I worry but it turns out to be a fun and exciting day.
Love that you got to meet up with friends, you all look so beyond happy. what a great day.
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Janine Huldie says
Yes, Karen I, too, have had a few of those moments here too and can so relate. But this really was a great day and so thankful for that!! 🙂
katherines corner says
I haven't been to a water park in years. This looks so fun. A giveaway too, yes!!! I hope you added it to the win page at Katherines corner
Janine Huldie says
It was so much fun Katie and I just linked up our giveaway on your page now. Thank you for the reminders always, because my mommy brain truly gets the better of me for forgetting that and so much more sometimes!!
Leah Davidson says
Having that family time is so important ! I also love your the quote about worrying about the people sitting around your table. It really struck a chord with me. If I can "do good" to those people around my table, then I'm focusing on the right things! Just found your blog – so glad I did!
Janine Huldie says
Oh so happy you found me too Leah and heading to check out your blog now, too!!
Rich Rumple says
Yep, there are times you just have to do it and enjoy. Some of my fondest memories of my youth come from the visits to pools and lakes where I could swim for hours, slide down the many slides, and even find myself jumping and diving from the 50 foot towers. (It used to drive my parents crazy when they'd catch me doing that!) Glad you all had a great weekend!
Janine Huldie says
Can imagine it might have driven your parents crazy, but you were definitely just having fun, so good for you!! And thanks as always Rich!! 🙂
Erin Callaway says
Sounds like an awesome day! Something that you and the girls will remember for a long time.
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Janine Huldie says
It truly was Erin and thanks!!! 🙂
gigigirl says
Glad you are doing fun things on Kevin's day(s) off. The water park is a lot of fun….I've been to one and the kids just love it. Glad the girls had fun, as well as Mom and Dad enjoying some grown-up rides. Keep the fun going! xxoo
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Aunt Gloria and so true about water parks being fun for the whole family. Hope all is well with you and send love right back at you!! xoxo!! 🙂