Big Boy Summer Break 2019
Summertime and the living is easy:)
What an incredible 3 months, with a life changing 3 weeks!
Summer in VA is always muggy, hot and kind of stifling lol- but we manage
We manage to run, laugh, jump, splash, yell, giggle, smile and love despite sweat pouring down our faces and backs. Lots of popsicles on the front porch, an occasional root beer float and always a bowl of chocolate ice cream for desert or as Evan calls is “ezert”
Now-a-days summer brings bliss with a little bit of heart ache; you see Evan and I get 3 weeks of vacation together his mother also gets 3 weeks of vacation with him. The weeks he is gone are gut wrenching, missing his voice and smile his funny sayings and caring soul. I spend a lot of time looking at pics and videos wishing he was right next to me, saltwater running down my cheeks. But enough about that
THE WEEKS WERE TOGETHER are LIFE CHANGING!
Whatever we want, whenever we want, how we want. Thankfully this kid is super grounded kind and humble, so it was a perfect mixture of reckless abandon while caring for each other and others around us.
Week 1- Camping Douthat state park- https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/douthat
We stayed in a rustic cabin build by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1900’s; it was so cool to see and experience cabin living. A huge fireplace, tiny kitchen and bathroom just perfect for 2 big boys and a Bulldog. We spent most of the day hiking and fishing, I bought some small generic Lego toys in eggs every day we would open 2 build them and then play in the dirt for hours. At night we cooked on an open flame- steaks, shrimp, burgers, veggies- it all tastes so so good after a long day of activity. Of course, the evening brought smores, campfire stories and looking for fireflies. The best part?-Cell phones didn’t work! No service wow! No screen time for us just good old 1980’s camping. Evan and I have always been close this trip brought us 100% closer I can see the love in his eyes as we just played or hit the little beach there. I think others could too; on our last night we ate at the lodge, since we had packed up al our gear. Some nice old ladies came by to talk to us and say how much they enjoyed seeing us around the campgrounds the week- very touching to realize strangers could see the bond we have😊
Late night drive home wrapped up the first week.
Week 2- Disney Cruise- https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships/dream/staterooms-overview/
WOW WOW WOW this was exquisite Disney does not disappoint. Everything was so polished, so clean so immaculate- especially after coming off a weeklong cabin trip lol.
I love when Evan gets this look in his eyes; this uncontrollable excitement he’s barley keeping bottled up inside, His eyes are wide and his smile goes from ear to ear, he stands up a bit straighter and his volume is on 10 lol. We boarded as early as possible to soak up all the Disney goodness, we explored every major part of the ship and hit up the on-board waterslide! Evan loved the stateroom, especially the on-demand Disney shows lol. There are 2 movie theaters on the ship so during the week we caught Toy Story 4, Aladdin and Dumbo. So cool to watch remakes of moves I watched with my mom, now with my son on a Disney Cruise 😉 Disney owns their own island!, of course they do lol, we ported there 2 days of the 5 day trip. Lots of fun beach activities but we mainly made sand castles and floated in the water on tubes😊 a true tropical paradise. The 3rd day was the Atlantis! Hitting up the Bahamas at 5 years old! We spent ALL DAY on the lazy river/rapids he was too adorable with his swim shirt, crocs, boonie cover and shades floating along, instructing me to let him go on his own lol.
My favorite part? Dinners! I gotta say Evan was a trooper, he let me dress us alike every night with no complaining 😊 the food was delicious, but the waiters and the ambiance was the icing on the cake.
Evan’s favorite part? Room service!(or as he called in room servants lol) Every night I ordered us cookies and milk; we would sit on the bed eating while watching old Disney movies; giggling about the day together.
It was a top notch vacation one we will have to do again!
Week 3- TONTANA (Montana) 😊 https://explorewhitefish.com/
Big Sky Country- how gorgeous is my home town?! Evan was the most excited for this trip; kind of a testament to his character- I would have though it was Disney but he was over the moon to see his cousins (which is what everyone was in his mind lol). Harber (Harper) was his BFF it was so col to see Eric’s Kid and my Kid running wild together mini versions of ourselves. Harber is just like Eric wild but kind and caring; Evan just like me slow to warm up but then over the top lol.
We hit up the Bulldog for burgers, Big Mountain, Flathead Lake, Bison Range and the Huckleberry patch.
Evan had a change to swing by M&S Meats all the staple visits on a perfect Montana Vacation.
Too cute to see Evan and grandpa have a water balloon fight and Evan saying “dad get the guy in the red shirt” lol
My favorite part? – 3 HILL STACK! I’ve wanted to do that for years! And finally, we got it done- I will do this every time were all together until my back breaks in half lol
Evan’s favorite part?- playing in Uncle Eric’s ( well cousin Eric’s lol) backyard- picking apples, jumping on the trampoline, floating in the pool all with Harber 😊
Cant wait to go back!
So that’s it that’s the BIG BOY SUMMER BREAK 2019- complete with special t-shirts worn at each spot. Planning this was really -really fun but, living it living it was amazing
Memories that will live inside us all for a lifetime memories that will keep my whole the next time he is gone for an extended period and hopefully memories he will share with his son one day over a campfire, at a nice dinner, or on the lake. Memories that strangers and passers by will share with their own families- about the Father and Son at the campground
Memories- memories that I wouldn’t trade for the world or all the silk in China
WE ARE BIG BOYS and FOREVER we will be
So long sweet summer