Insanely OBVIOUS Statement of the day:

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"Vacationing with 3 children is much much, MUCH different than vacationing alone with your spouse/significant other."

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I get to state it anyway, though, because I don't think I realized it fully before we left on our vacation. yeah. It's a whole. lot. different.

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Yeah, and I know what you are thinking...different must mean bad. No, not bad...ok kinda bad sometimes at some tiny points ...but overall not bad. Just harder. And more work. And fun...but exhausting-fall-into-your-bed -tired kind of fun. It's kinda good that we went on vacation with all the kids, because I was worried about missing my workouts..but really toting 3 kids around Disney World is a workout all by itself. So I'm pretty much ready to go to Zumba tomorrow.

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SO to explain how our trip went...I present the:

Do's and Don'ts of Vacationing with 3 Children.

Do:

Do make sure children have treats, activity packs, and a toy to snuggle on the plane ride there.

Don't :

Allow(Not notice that) them to have so many toys they can't possibly carry them all...so said toys get left behind/ lost.

Do:

Buy the kids with water toys to play with on the beach.

Don't :

Pay $20 a day to rent an umbrella to sit under that no one will actually ever sit under. (almost did it...but then realized that kids don't usually like to sit perfectly still on the sand in the hot air when there is an entire ocean to be splashing around in!)

Do:

Buy kids Lunchables (cost $2.50 per lunch or so) to eat every day if they want! They were completely thrilled with that.

Don't:

Waste money on random restaurants where the kids order CHEESEY NOODLES in the shape of mickey mouse and eat two small bites and then pay like $25 a pop for their meals. (It's called Character Dining at Disney World) At least they did get a pic with Mickey for all that cash. =)

Do:

Eat a fabulous seven course meal at a fancy-romantic restaurant ALL Alone with your spouse!

That was the best night out!!

Don't :

invite the kids. (No we did NOT!)

Do:

Take as many long walks on the beach as possible!

Do NOT:

Let the disappearing Son wander off and get lost so Grandma has to call security at hotel and wander around on a Golf Cart to find him!!

DO:

Buy tasty Ice Creams at Various local establishments...YUM.

Don't :

Allow the 4 year old connoisseur/collector of keys and watches to swipe a key chain watch from a store.

DO:

Make said swiper come with to return the item to the shop and apologize profusely to managers. (Who thanked us kindly) Also DO tell said child that he may need to realize that he will go to JAIL if he continues on a path of thievery.

Don't :

Pack ANYTHING with long sleeves when you are going to a place where it is 115 degrees with the heat index!!!!

Do:

Try and keep cool in the pool as much as possible!

Don't:

Forget frozen water bottle supply at hotel when spending the day at the Magic Kingdom. Remember??? I said it is HOTTTTTTT!!!!!

Do:

Make up for it by getting more ice cream

Don't:

Allow yourself to lose your cool (throw a grown up temper tantrum) when travelling from the hotel to the parking lot to the tram to the monorail to the Disney Park. (Opening and closing strollers while holding a baby and a large 198 pound bag is not a favorite past time of mine. )

Do:

Remember that the Pioneers had to have had it WAY WORSE. Remind self that travelling to and from Disney is actually not the PIONEER TREK.

It's more of a modern pioneer trek LITE.

Don't:

Let yourself be outnumbered with children! EVER.

Do:

Make sure you have at least one adult per child in attendance! (makes life a LOT easier!!)

Don't :

Take preschoolers on the Tower of Terror, if you at all think they might not like it or you may hear about it the rest of your trip.

Do:

Offer lots of make-up fun at all car/driving rides that he LOVED.

Do:

Try as much food as possible in the countries at EPCOT.

AND you MUST ride SOARIN' at Epcot.

The best ride in all the parks.

And finally, kiss and hug your kids as much as possible and relax and play much and remember that even though it may be hard to travel as a group...you're making memories that you will cherish always...or at least never forget! (hah!)
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And that's all I have to say about that!