Mini Vacation

We so needed a break. Our last vacation was Thanksgiving two years ago. We have done some things, gone places, but not like a real vacation. It was time. It was way past time. Saturday morning we loaded up the kids and went to St. Augustine. I would post pics, but because I was trying to delete something else, I actually deleted all the pictures on my camera. I am so angry at myself, but that's another post for another time. On with the trip.

We had a hanger on. We found it after we got there and we all decided that we would do a Flat Stanley like group of pictures. A couple of weeks ago we did a photo scavenger hunt with the youth at church. One of the girls that rode with me left a sock in the van. The kids were supposed to get all the trash and extras out, but left Sock. We took Sock to several of the places we visited and took pictures. Sock seemed to have a good time, but didn't say much.

There was a small glitch in the plans. We had booked a room after looking at several hotels on the internet. Did you know that everything you see on the internet isn't true? Amazing, I know. They even gave our room away. We had booked the room because of the amenities and extras. One of the extras was a kiddie water park. They had one, but it wasn't working. They had a 116 ft water slide. It was cool, but the pool was peeling and cracking on the bottom. We had been to three different rooms, each one progressively worse. The doors didn't shut, the keys didn't work, I could go on and on. We decided to change hotels after dinner, and finally found a room at a different hotel after looking at three others. We wound up at Hampton Inn for our second night and were much happier. If you go to St Augustine, call me first and I'll tell you where to not go.

The first place we visited was the fort. It was amazing. The price was right and our pass was good for 7 days. We toured the fort and got there in time to see the "changing of the flags." It was a reenactment of the Spanish exchange with the British. They even fired the cannon. We so want a cannon. We wandered through the courtyard and some of the rooms. It was amazing to think that hundreds of people had wandered the very same places we were over hundreds of years ago. We went back the next day to look at the moat. That was cool. We encountered some wildlife down there including a black snake that was more scared of us than we were of him. We could tell by the way he slithered away from us as quickly as he could. Sock wanted his picture taken with him, but that snake wouldn't hold still. It wouldn't smile, either.

The second day we visited the lighthouse. We actually went there before we got to the fort. We climbed 216 steps, 165 ft tall. I will suggest that you don't climb that many stairs before you tour a fort and walk downtown. Just saying. Hubby had gone to the lighthouse at Ponce Inlet as a child and never made it to the top. The big girl was terrified of going that high. They did it. The big girl did this weird puppy whining thing all the way up. I told her to just focus on the next step. We did have to stop and rest a couple of times. Thankfully, they had several landings. The accomplishment at getting to the top, specially for hubby and the big girl, was a very surreal moment for them both. I stepped out onto the deck with the boy and the baby, both of whom raced straight to the railing. I took one look out and went back inside. I had to turn around and face the lighthouse and edge my way to the door. Hubby ended up taking them to see all the way around. He didn't look and faced the building all the way, but he did it.

I stood inside holding the big girl. I am constantly amazed at her resilience and fortitude and braveness. She didn't want to go up. She hated the thought of it. She whimpered and whined all the way up. But she never quit. She took rest breaks with the rest of us, but she never quit. While the baby and the boy practically ran all the way up, she forced herself to take each step. And she took them. I held her at the top while she cried. I praised her for facing yet another fear. I am so incredibly proud of her. I'm proud of hubby, too. They were amazing and I am honored to be part of their family.

Because we are gluttons for punishment, after the lighthouse and jelly legs when we were done, after taking the fort tour and wandering around there, we decided to walk downtown and have lunch and do a little shopping. We had great Greek food and tried on cute clothes in some cute boutiques. We have decided that next time, and there will be a next time, we are staying downtown. There was so much we didn't have time to see and do. The streets were narrow and crowded. If we don't have to drive, we don't want to.

It was a much needed get away for us. We ate too much and spent too much money. We swam in the pool, lingered in the hot tub, and walked the beach. There were no electronic games, no TV. Just us together. After all of the things we saw, the food we ate, and the activities, we are so glad to be home. And, today is hubby's birthday. Happy birthday, Hubby. Thank you for a great weekend. We are recharged. We feel more connected. We need a vacation from our vacation. But we would do it all over again. Even the lighthouse.

Have a great day.