1 Vacation down....next....up..Vegas

So we made it thru family vacation...and we are no worse for the wear!  Skinny and I had a great time....even though it was REALLY HOT.  When I say REALLY HOT..I'm talking about burn your footprints off on the pool deck or it feels like you just took a shower when you walk out the door in the MORNING.  It was in the 100's all week while we were at the lake.  So it was a lot of swimming everyday, which for me it was perfect.  Skinny actually ventured out twice to play golf in the morning a couple of days....but by afternoon he was back at the pool.  On our last full day at the lake, Skinny and I rented a jet ski...it was a blast and much more fun then the last time I rented one.  Granted that was almost 15 years ago and I was the driver. 
I'm pretty sure everyone had a good time also....even though there were a few fights and everyone was glad to be heading home at the end of the week...we all did say "we would maybe do this again soon".  Now we will see once the planning for next year's trip to Florida...and see who really would end up coming.
All in all I have to say it was a fabulous start to our vacation/business trips "month".  Next up is the girls' only trip to...VEGAS......!!!!

2 days and couting

Last Day of work before our whirlwind next 30 days......we start with the family vacation, then Girls' trip to Vegas...then LA/ATL business travel.  I feel sorry for Herbie....he is going to have to spend a lot of time at "doggie camp".  But at least this past week is over and we can relax a little...maybe. 
This past week........Skinny comes home on Saturday to tell me his brakes are pretty much out and someone has shattered his sunroof with a golf ball.  So we talk about what we are going to do...fix it or "something else"....but really it is a waiting game till Monday, since the auto shop was now closed.  Skinny talks to his Dad on Sunday and maybe we can buy his old car off him...for cheap.  But we still need to wait to see how much it will cost to fix our car.  Skinny takes the car in on Monday...and the cost is way too much!!!  So now what to do.....Skinny again talks to his Dad about his Dad's car. Now here is where things gt a little gray...cause next thing I know we are looking at cars to buy from a dealership.  Monday night Skinny brings home his still broken car....and Tuesday night he goes to find a car.  So we now have a new car..which really this is not the best time to have it...since like I said before....we are GOING ON VACATION!  But then things can never be easy....or drama free!  Guess we will just have to watch it a little on vacation...and Skinny will only get to play golf a couple of times.

Griswald Vacation 2012

Yes...you heard me....it's summer time...so that means it is time for "another" Griswald vacation!!!  Now if you recall we have not had one of these kind of vacations since 2009....and here is why.....( long version)
Back in 2009 my Grandmother decided she was not getting any younger...nor  were any of her children, granchildren or great grandchildren.  My than 2 year old niece wanted to "go to the Beach"...so we started the planning.  Since there were 19 of us who would be going....by car and/or plane, we needed a family friendly place to go and one that would be easy to get to.  My siblings talked about CA, TX, the coastal South and FL. Most places....but FL were nixed.  We decided that we didn't want to go to the Orlando area, since the kids were too little to truly enjoy it.  But we did keep coming back to the FL,  we looked at different places in the Miami, Tampa and FL Keyes area.  Like I said before, there were going to be 19 of us... ranging from 79 to 4 months old....so we needed a big house with LOTS of rooms AND bathrooms.  We finally settled on the Gulf Coast of FL...after MANY calls and emails back and forth from my siblings, aunts, THE MOTHER, plus cousins.  Oh yeah, maybe this is when I should inform you that my Aunt Queenie....is the one who makes decision for "US" all.  If she doesn't like something...we don't do it...and it's usually her way or the high way.  Anyway...She decided on the Siesta key area...so that is where we go.  We find 2 great condos, right next to each other, everyone but one of my cousins gets to come...we enjoy sun,sand and family.
Jump to 2010...Grandma decides that the week long trip is a little too much to do EVERY year...so we decide we will do a l0ng weekend, Thursday thru Sunday.  Talks start for Kansas City, WI Dells....places within driving distance...with some kind of beach again....( my niece's suggestion...)  Once again the DSM crew is up for most anything, just as long as there is something for the 3 and 1 years to do.  Again lots of emailing and calling is done...but again Aunt Queenie dictates we go to a place of her choosing....which is Lake Geneva.  I know... I know... you are asking yourself, why do we even try to suggestion something?....Well because we like the stress of finding places and then getting shot down...NOT!!!  Anyway all 19 of us converge on the little lakeside town for 4 days of family, fun and sun.  During this trip we ( the grandkids) are to decide AS A GROUP where we will go in 2011. My Grandmother gives us a budget, there is suggestions that we go somewhere different....so I look at the Savannah/Hilton Head area ( yes...Skinny's influence)...Rands and A.B are good with that too...since they are also family friendly area.  My cousins want a most mountain vacation....so they look at places like Denver and Little Rock. Everyone brings their printouts, pricing and "presentations" for Grandma's review.  We spend a whole evening looking, listening and discussing.  Everyone agrees that Grandma can make the final decision, and we would all be happy with whatever.  She goes home with all the information.....we DO NOT go on vacation as a family in 2011.
At the beginning of this year, there are talks of "another" week long family vacation.....we are now 21 people ( my sister added twins at the end of 2011).  We talk about a bunch of places but it is decided that we need to really be somewhere we drive to....since over half of us live in DSM....and now we have 4 children 5 or under.  It needs to be a place we can get to quickly.  So after many hours of discussion...Lake of the Ozarks is picked.  But where to stay?  Again lots of research is done....but again Aunt Queenie makes the decision....and we are now ready...in a little over a week to invade MO....with our red shirts.
It should be interesting...since I have heard thru the grapevine...there is a lot of "unrest" in the QC family.....I just hope we don't make total fools of ourselves...and my Grandmother gets the "family togetherness" she it looking for.....
FYI...a week after we get back from this Family "vacation".  Rands and I will be going to Vegas for a REAL VACATION!!!