vacay and recuperating

(This was a draft from June 25 that I never 'published')

So. I love vacation. I count down the days, I dream of it all year long ...and then it comes, and...by day 3 we can hardly believe its only day 3. not neccessarily in a bad way, but...its just so weird being out of your world, ya know? not eating normally or sleeping normally, and visiting, and being in and out of the car a dozen times a day - and teaching the babe to try napping in his carseat, after I've worked so diligently to get him to be a good napper in his bed. But -- he did well. Seriously, so well. And so did Jonah - though he woke up much earlier every morning than I really wanted him to.

We stayed in a little cabin on the coast of Maine -- outside the deck, less than 20 feet away was the ocean. not swimmable, but...beautiful to look at, with its rocky, sea-weedy coast, and boats and sunsets and sunrises shining on the sparkly water. But - inside the cabin....well -- let's just say, when they said "rustic"...they weren't lying. haha! it wasn't awful - but we had to clean the kitchen counters and table and floors to get rid of the mouse poop everywhere. and we re-used the same dishes and utensils so we knew they were clean. but - it was a pretty good price. we're just not sure we're going to be returning to that same spot again next year. i'd rather pay a little more and not be worried about touching mouse poop.
Anyways. We shall see. We're trying to 'tweak' our vacation every year...figuring out the best way to visit and still have some alone time as a family so it really feels like 'vacation'...and not waiting for other people to call the shots, or decide what we should do every day. ugh.

we love our little vacation though. Getting to visit family, and road-tripping, and eating out and shopping in American stores (mostly Target, Bath & Body Works, and grocery stores!!), and getting to visit with some of our dearest friends who we only get to see once a year...and just being 'away' and out of normal routine...we love it, for the most part.

But we always love getting home, too...unpacking everything and settling back into our life. Jay says "nothing like a vacation to make you realize how much you love your life"...we couldn't wait to sleep in our bed, and sit on our couch and make our own meals and shower in our own shower. (which is really saying something, 'cause our shower is TI-NY!!!)

So. we're home. and settling back into life as we know it. And glad to do so.