7.19.2013

The "Vacation" that began & ended with Barf.

Last Thursday, I packed up the car & loaded up the kids and headed to Tahoe for 5 days.
I call this a "vacation" with quotes because really? A vacation with kids isn't a vacation. 
Vacations are relaxing. Traveling with kids is work. Hard work. 
It's a trip. It's a  going to a destination.
Vacation? No. Trip? Yes.
Kevin stayed behind to work & finish up a work project that had a pressing deadline. 
It was my first roadtrip all by myself.
Everything was going great until 2 hours in when Kate told me that she was getting carsick.
I told her to stop reading her book and close her eyes.
I handed her a plastic bag...just in case. 
Good thing I did, she barfed a few minutes later.

 Quick 5 minute pit stop to get rid of the bag & then we were off again.
You can either laugh or cry when things like this happen. 
I chose to laugh. And drink wine. 
(But not while driving, don't worry. I wait until I get to my destination.)

I knew she was just car sick because she had been reading her books on windy mountain roads.
And, an hour later when we stopped at In-n-Out, she ate an entire hamburger & thing of fries.
Whenever Kate gets the stomach bug, she doesn't have an appetite for days. 
This was just getting car sick.
We were in the clear. Phew.

Luke gets 5 stars for traveling. He is so chill & easy.


 Tahoe is my happy place. I love the quiet, the smell of pine trees and the beauty.
Check out the back of my car (also a Tahoe)
 All that stuff for just 5 days. Gotta love traveling with a baby. They need so much stuff. 

 One of my favorite things is coffee in the morning on the back deck.
This was much needed since my kids sleep horribly in Tahoe. 
The altitude? The excitement of being there? Sharing a room? It's a combo of all of it.
 I love you, Tahoe. And coffee. I love you, too.

 I was excited to take Luke to the lake for the first time. 
 He loved the sand. Loved it.

He kept kicking his feet in the sand. Loved the sand between his toes. So cute.
 
 My parents & sisters came up also.  Brother cousins at the lake, Jack was not impressed.

Friday night Pizza night in Tahoe. All kids asleep by 7pm. Peace & Quiet. Wine. Just me & my younger sister. My favorite hour of the entire trip.
 One of my least favorite parts? This nasty spider I found in our bathroom sink.
 #Gross


Saturday was more lake time.
   Iced coffee time at my favorite Tahoe coffee shop.
My brother in law did the Tougher Mudder on Saturday & really hurt his ankle. Ouch.
 Yes, my sister married a Dodger fan. Ugh. Conincidence that he hurt the ankle with the Dodgers tatoo? I think not.  :)

  Remember making pot holders as a kid? Weaving Loom!
 Found a new beach spot on Lake Tahoe.

 After 5 days, it was time to head home.
 It was a tiring (and fun) 5 days. 
Luke was a champ, slept great and loved the lake.
The girls slept horrible & where up several times each night. 
We got home and I was exhausted. Ready to sleep in my own bed.
The first night we were home, Kate woke up at 11:30 and barfed.
Then, proceeded to get sick EVERY HOUR after that until 8:30 in the morning.
Turns out my brother in law & sister had also gotten sick the day before.
Kate was sick for 24 hours & then Claire woke up the next night with it. 
Kevin stayed home from work yesterday feeling nauseous.
#miserable

Hope I don't get it and Praying that Luke doesn't get it.
Gotta love "vacations"
Especially ones that start and end with barf.
Tahoe is still my happy place.
Hoping our next family trip in a few weeks is barf free.

17 comments:

  1. Looks like you guys had a great time in Tahoe. I remember making those pot holders when I was younger. Love the picture of Luke in the woods.

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  2. A trip bookended in puke is a problem. I'm glad that, aside from the girls not sleeping well, the rest of your time at your destination was good. You're right, there really isn't such a thing as vacation with little kids. My husband says it's pretty much just doing life somewhere else :)

    Oh, my husband was sick when we were driving home from a little trip earlier this month. He was totally puking into a plastic bag while we were getting happy meals for the girls at the mcdonalds drive thru. I'm sure we gave the 17 year old employee quite a story to tell ;)

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  3. Oh my goodness, I love your stories! Sorry your trip started and ended with barf. At least it was a memorable trip and hoping everyone is feeling better soon :) Heather

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  4. I love Tahoe as well. We have a place on the North Shore...I like it over there because it is not as busy as the south shore. Where is your favorite coffee stop?

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  5. sorry that should say where is your favorite coffee shop in Tahoe? :)

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  6. Oh my heavens! Without knowing about all the puke, I would say you had a fabulous time! Tahoe looks gorgeous! However...as any good Texan would say..."bless your heart" with all that barfing! Poor Mel!

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  7. I am going to keep this post in my memory for when I travel to CA in a couple weeks with both kids. By myself. I will channel Mel and laugh. And drink wine.

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  8. Oh my word... I am preparing for a trip back home in about a month and this post {although funny from my end now}... not so funny when I know what I have to look forward to with a 19 hour drive! How long was your drive???

    And, I was cracking up when you commented about the wine and drinking it but not until you got to your destination. :)

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  9. I love your Tahoe recaps. I have LOTS of fond memories there, growing up and into adulthood. We moved to GA two years ago and I haven't been to Tahoe in three years, but it feels like an eternity, as it's my happy place too! So sorry about the puking. A little dose of reality in a magical place, huh?

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  10. This is shallow, but I absolutely love your striped tank top! Is it new? If it is, would you tell me where you got it? I want to purchase it right away, if it's still available.

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  11. Isn't that always how it is...just when you're exhausted and don't think you can do anything but sleep...they get sick!!! Nothing worse than being sleep deprived. Except barf.

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  12. You have me excited to go to Tahoe the week after next on my last hurrah before going.back.to.school (dun, dun, dun...nooooo!) and praying that there is no barf to accompany us! I will be armed with barf bags since Kieran did last time (no more iPad on 50!), and keeping my fingers crossed for good nights rest...none of us sleep well on the first night and the kiddos usually don't do well any if them-totally blame altitude and excitement! Hope you guys are better!

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  13. This might be my fav post I read all day :)

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  14. It began and ended with puke is hilarious! It looks you had a BLAST! I will say this...I love pineapple on pizza......and I love mushrooms on pizza....but I don't like them on the same pizza?!? Still, I admire your pizza creativity.
    p.s. HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU HAVE ALL THE KIDS ASLEEP AT 7:00?

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  15. What a gorgeous, gorgeous trip! I'd love to visit there someday! But I hate that y'all had a sick one on the way and y'all get sick when you got home. But trips away with the whole family are the best.

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  16. Sorry your "trip" didn't start and end well but had a happy/fun middle part. Love your photos.

    In the event your brother-in-law is interested in doing a Spartan Race, I know they have them in a few locations in CA, I can get him a 15% discount.

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  17. Beautiful story. I would love to visit a place i never been too with my kids.

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