So, we are getting into the "Vacation" part of our summer now that BW has finished summer school.  This weekend, we have planned a church beach trip on Saturday.  We have a treat that my sister is coming for a visit so we can celebrate my parents' 35th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday.  All 4 of my siblings will be on hand for a BBQ at my parents' house on Sunday as well as a few of my parents' friends.  I got to plan the menu so we will be doing "Surf n Turf":  Tri-tip & Salmon along with garlic bread on the BBQ (I do the planning, BW does the actual cooking). 

Then next week, we will be going on our FIRST EVER FAMILY CAMPING TRIP!  We will be going for two nights to an area about 1.5 hours north of us where there is beach and forest areas.  There are tidepools and ocean caves to look at as well as hiking trails.  Check back in the coming weeks for pictures.  I am assuming that planning a camping trip gets easier with time, but right now my checklist just keeps getting longer!  And I know there are plenty of things that I am not even thinking of!  As far as I can tell, we are basically moving every non-furniture item from our house into the woods for two nights.  Any tips are welcome.  Last night, BW made pancakes for dinner to try out our camping skillet (and also because I forgot to take down some meat from the freezer).  Tonight, we will be setting up the tent in our backyard to make sure we know how to set it up.  I am stocking up on juice boxes, smores makings and jiffy pop popcorn. 

Then we will be home for a few days, do some laundry, unpack and then pack up again to head to Northern California to visit BW's family (at least there I don't have to bring food and my post/pans).  The kids can't wait to play with their cousins!  We will be there for 4 days and then have one more week to recover from this vacation before BW starts seminary's fall semester.

I think I need to redefine the word "vacation" in my mind from time to relax to time for the kids(and us) to have fun so I won't be disappointed when I am thoroughly exhausted from all of this:) 

-J