I forgot where I heard it, but someone once told me that when traveling with little ones, out of town ventures should be referred to as trips instead of vacations. I wasn’t quite sure what it meant until I had kids, but now I totally get it. The word vacation conjures up images of relaxing, kicking up your feet and letting go for a while. On the contrary, the word trip has more of a purposeful and intentional tone that may require effort. All traveling with little kids is the latter.
Still, even with accounting for feeding schedules, skipped naps, a meltdown here or there and a little less sleep than we are accustomed to, it doesn’t mean that fun can’t be had and lots of helping hands!
We spent this past Thursday-Sunday at Lake Oconee in Georgia with a lot of family, all there to help celebrate my Grandma Betty’s 94th birthday! (Grandma Betty is Kaitlyn Elizabeth’s namesake)
It was wonderful on so many accounts. Getting to see so much family was a real treat!
As was having Kaitlyn meet both her amazing great grandmas.
The skies stayed cloudy, which made for unusually pleasant late-summer days filled with lake and outside fun.
And of course all being together to toast a spirited, generous firecracker of a woman- my Grandma Betty!
94 years young and as feisty and beautiful as ever.
We arrived back home yesterday after a 6 hour car ride that included stops to nurse, potty breaks and stretching legs, both furry and human. For a frame of reference, the car ride is supposed to take 3.5 hours (trip rather than vacation).
I soaked up a good night of sleep last night and am ready to get started putting things back together. Laundry, emails, groceries, exercise, cleaning… I’m coming for ya! And now I have sweet memories in my head to replay as I tackle the list. What a great weekend!
How well do/did you know your Grandparents?
I lost my Grandpa Jake when I was too little to remember, but have loved knowing him through the stories people tell of his charm and smile. I got to know and spend time with my PawPaw before he passed away my freshmen year of high school. He gave great big bear hugs and had a wonderful laugh. I feel fortunate that I continue to get to know my Grandma Betty and my Nannie more and more every time we get together!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Your family is seriously the sweetest! I love that you all take time to see each other – regardless of whether it’s a trip or a vacation!
My dad’s parents passed away when he was a little boy so I never got to meet them, but I love learning more about them through other family members. I am, however, VERY close to my mom’s parents. I like to think that I’m their favorite because I was their first grandchild! 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, I like to think I’m Grandma Betty’s favorite because I’m her youngest grandchild 😉 That’s wonderful that you are so close with them!
Tina Muir says
Haha i had no idea, but I guess that definitely makes sense! Looks like your trip was a great one though! I lost my grandma last year, so I miss her a lot, but I have one 97 year old grandma doing well, so hoping she keeps plowing on 🙂 Grandma betty looks incredible for 94!!
Jaclyn @ BumpSweat says
Your Grandma Betty’s adorable! I was fortunate to grow up knowing all 4 of my grandparents but, sadly, my ‘favorite’ (I know you’re not supposed to have those) grandma, the one who taught me to bake and garden and took me shopping, she died right as I started high school. I miss that lady every day, especially when a song reminds me of her.
kaitlyn @ Keeping up with Kaitlyn says
What a blessing for your family to still have Grandma Betty (who looks AH-MAZING and no where near 94 years old!) Both my grandmothers are 79 and one has alzheimers, unfortunately. Looking back now I wish I had asked her more, isn’t that always the case, but even with this disease I feel like I’ve still learned a lot about her through people I’ve talked to. She was an amazing person and this disease has taken that way from her. Both my grandfather’s passed either before I was born or even I was young and I had one great grandmother who lived until I was 14 – she was amazing!
I hope your girls get to spend many more years with their great grandma Betty!! She seems like a real treat!
Brittany Dixon says
Alzheimers is such a horrible disease. My Grandpa Jake passed away after having it for many years. I’m so sorry you have to watch your grandmother suffer from it, but am happy to hear you focus on the memories of the person that she truly is!
John J. says
Wonderful time together, as the pictures depict. You and your family added so much to the celebration. Your heart-filled style always adds so much to any family gathering!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
I grew up on the other side of the country from my grandparents so unfortunately I don’t know them at all. Every grandparents, aunt/uncle, and cousin lives in California (I’m in Florida) and I’ve seen them maybe 3-4x my whole life. I hate it!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
94 years old!! She looks fantastic! I’m close to both of my grandmas but my grandfathers are no longer living. I hope we can make a trip soon as well so they can meet Julia. Looks like such a special weekend, crazy sleep, car rides, and all!
Marjorie says
Grandma Betty looks so vibrant at 94! Looks like y’all had a great trip (couldn’t agree MORE that there are no “vacations” when traveling with littles).
I have one living grandparent left – my Nana. I did have a grandfather who passed away before I was born (when my dad was only 10). The others I love and miss dearly. There is just something about grandparents. Such treasured relationships!
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
Having a 94-year-old grandma in your lineage is a good sign! A long, happy, life ahead for you (and your kids perhaps?). I never got to meet either of my grandfathers because they both died before I was five, but I did get to know my maternal grandmother, as she came to live with us for a year when I was twelve.
Your vacation looks like it was a “vacation” more than a “trip”. Awesome!
Laura @FitMamaLove says
This is so true! Vacation will never be the same anymore! It’s great to go with extended family, so you have some help, though, and can maybe get a date night in.
Brittany Dixon says
Definitely a wonderful thing to have so much helping hands with the little ones!
Maria says
First of all, a very happy birthday to your Grandma Betty (that was my grandma’s name too)! 94 years is worth a celebration!
Trips definitely don’t sound like a picnic with two young kids in tow, but props to you still making a point to go on them and not letting it stop you. We have friends with children who honestly just never leave the house because it is HARD (who can blame them)…and their kids are older than yours!
Julie says
Wow, G-ma Betty does NOT look anywhere near 94!!!
Shari says
Happy Birthday to her!
char eats greens says
Trip for sure with 243293829x the stuff to pack vs pre-kids – and I only have one!! haha We just did a trip this past weekend to hubby’s parents’ house and that’s normally a 5 hour ride. We did it in about 6, which I was pretty happy about!