Things I Learned on Vacation

In no particular order, here are 15 (yes, 15, that's all I could come up with) things I learned on our vacation. We had a wonderful time. I can't wait to post some pictures once I figure out how to get them off of my new camera (translation: don't hold your breath for those pictures).

1. It is quite possible, in fact, probable, to return home from vacation with more stuff than when you left (especially if grandparents are involved).
2. It's pretty easy to parent when the only items on your agenda for the whole day are 1) run around on the beach and 2) swim at the pool.
3. Will is no longer a boy. He is actually a fish.
4. "Treat" is actually a food group while on vacation.
5. Running around after/with your kids is pretty good exercise. Not good enough to counteract the cocktails and vacation food you ate all week, but pretty good nonetheless.
6. One of the hardest parts of motherhood is conquering your fears so that your children don't inherit your neuroses. So, let's say that you're hypothetically afraid of close contact with sea creatures. Even if you would REALLY rather not, you must still pick up starfish and throw them back in the ocean so that your children can see you do it and want to try it themselves. (Although, Julia really needed no encouragement.)
7. Doing laundry on vacation is not such a bad thing if it means you do not have to do 18 loads of dirty laundry when you get home.
8. Children CAN actually subsist on air and milk for days at a time. I've witnessed this first-hand.
9. Julia does not like bike riding. She much prefers horse riding, but ONLY IF it is the "white pony". Don't you dare try to put her on the brown pony. No, no, NOOOO brown pony. Don't even try it.
10. Two and four are the best ages. I'm looking into ways to keep them this way.
11. I am jealous of Julia's tanning ability. And yes, we put sunscreen on her all the time.
12. Will makes up a lot of games. They all have complex rules that you will never get right. And, all rules favor him.
13. "Vacation" does not mean the same thing to children as it does to adults. For example, "Sit by the pool and read your book" was not on the kids' list of fun vacation things to do.
14. As an addendum to #13, my children don't understand the concept of "sleeping in" on vacation. In fact, they seem to think that you should get up even earlier so that you can fully enjoy all of activites that the day holds.
15. I really like hanging out with my kids. I almost decided that we should all stay at the beach and never come home. The long car rides, the multiple grocery store visits, the packing and unpacking--it was all worth it. This was the perfect vacation.