Mommy Meltdowns: Our BIG Adventure!

It was the trip that almost didn't happen.   In an attempt to use my dad and stepmom's timeshare points before they expired, Jeff & I went back and forth many, many, many (did I say 'many' ?) times to find a destination we could both agree on.   Once we finally decided and found availability for the size unit we wanted (at least 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms), and the week we wanted to go, it became the trip that kept growing and growing.

We picked the Berkshires in Massachusetts because the surrounding radius offered so many activities for us to do. And we knew we could do the drive there and back in a day. Sunday to Sunday was when we'd be at the resort in Hancock, MA. Once that was booked, we thought it would be fun to do a day in Boston. When checking out the baseball schedule for the Red Sox, Jeff and Ian got tickets for a game on Friday night. Next thing you know, we are now spending two nights in Boston. How fun!   Then I saw an article on the Top 40 places to show your kids and Plymouth was on the list. How can we be so close to Plymouth (only 45 minutes from Boston) and not spend a day there?   Of course, we had to go!

We planned to leave by 7:30am on Friday morning (7/1/16), however, Jeff knew traffic was going to be bad driving to Boston (4th of July holiday weekend) so we decided to leave on Thursday evening. We would drive to Delaware (therefore, bypassing D.C. and Baltimore traffic the next morning) and spend the night. So our 7 night trip escalated to 10 nights.

Wow! What a trip! What an adventure! There were so many amazing things to be excited about. I've never been prouder of my family. Jeff and I planned a very 'outdoorsy' vacation. Believe me, we are not an outdoorsy type of family. I am most thankful for Vince Carrier and the invention of air conditioning. I am pretty sure Jeff and the kids are not too far behind me in this appreciation.

We wanted the kids to see what is out there. I love showing them new things and seeing it thru their eyes. We did it all! Whitewater rafting, Aerial Adventure Park (ropes course), Zip Lining, Go-Karting, Bouncy Trampoline, Horseback Riding, rides like the Giant Swing, Mountain Coaster, and Alpine Slide. It was one spectacular moment after another.   And I am so proud of how the kids and Jeff kept an open mind and gave it a try. Besides being outside among the elements (you know, heat, bugs, sunlight), my people have issues. Lots and lots of issues. Sam is prone to meltdowns at any given moment. You just never know when she is going to blow. And Ian has this fear of heights.   Somehow everyone kept it together and had a blast.

We had a great time and truly felt like a family doing normal, family things without causing a scene wherever we went. This is no small feat!

In Boston, we walked the Freedom Trail. Yes! Let that sink in for a moment. The four of us walked a little more than a mile to the Bunker Hill Monument to officially start the Freedom Trail. 2.5 miles later, we all finished it and was still smiling.   Crazy, right?   We stopped along the way and took in all the famous landmarks. Of course including a stop for gelato in the section that most resembles Little Italy didn't hurt either. Could it be that my kids are finally starting to grow up and appreciate these really cool opportunities they are being given? I hope so. Sam logged 27,000 steps that day.

The 10 days we were gone was some of the most active this family of four has ever been. I do hope we can continue to do activities like this again without having to be in Massachusetts.

Highlights: Sam loved the street performers in the Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market area. While Jeff and Ian were at Fenway Park, Sam and I walked around the shops. But the street performances caught her attention and she was hooked. It was pretty cool.

Ian and Jeff spent the day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. It was just a 2 hour drive from where we were staying. This had been a dream of Jeff's for some time to take Ian. It was really cool that they were able to go.

Both kids packed themselves! I wrote on a piece of paper how many outfits, pajamas, underwear, socks, bathing suits. They picked out everything themselves and put it in their suitcases. Love this!

My family let me take as many photos as I wanted. This was awesome!

Funniest video EVER of us on the Giant Swing:
Pay particular attention to Jeff and Sam asking for the swing to stop being raised, which can't be adjusted. Then pay attention to Ian's face as the swing lets go and starts swinging. Hehehehee.