Vacation is supposed to be fun right?

SO, after many hours of planning, fretting, organizing and packing (with a HUGE help from my Dad) we head out this am at a bit after 5am. Excitement is electric within the vehicle on the short drive to pick up Daddy and get this party started. Kids delve into their goody bags with snacks, games and surprises. DS's/DVD players start up and everyone is beginning the vein of hours worth of car ride. A small blip occurs with #4 as she has a near meltdown when I don't switch to ha-la-la (VBS song she loves) but otherwise all travels well. We make a rest stop visit, a lunch at O'Charleys which by the way does NOT have kids eat free in TN go figure, visitor center/restroom break and lastly wouldn't you guess a Walmart run for eggs, milk etc. In that time I never did get to nap but #4 cried herself to a morning nap, and readily slept after lunch. Heck I called it an everyone rest time and by George they all did.
BUT upon arrival the excitement got the better of my 4 and no more crew. To no surprise I spent the first 20 min getting everything put away and then resumed playing the air hockey, checker board, pool table fun. Daddy grilled steaks and we headed to the pool. In what ended up equaling basically 2 1/2 they were all nuts. Talking over each other, ignoring directions, yelling, running, grabbing, shoving and on and on. Truthfully #4 was probably the best behaved out of the bunch. Daddy kept saying they are just excited but all I could think is seriously we will not leave this place and spend ANY money of they cannot stop this!!
I can tell I am getting old because my love of swimming is underscored by my body temperature. Praise the Lord that my husband took one for the team and got in and played despite his lack of interest in swimming. We came back, put #4 to bed after playing another round of games. With much ado the hot tub was the finale before bed. I had such high hopes of enjoying that time. Hubby got in but our polar opposite bodies forced him to get out less than 5 min in. Attempting to determine why the jets were barely on left all three big kids playing musical seats. I finally just laid by head back, appreciating the few times one of them asked if they could climb over me and let it all go. Funny I had thought they would get in do exactly what they did, go to bed and hubby and I would steal away for a moment alone to relax. HA!

Finally getting everyone to bed, minus Eva who was startled by her sister and required much attention and ending sleeping in bed with big sis, we snuck to our room in the front of the cabin. #3 came down 2 times, once needing a night light (smart mom I brought one) and another time for some "red lights" he was seeing. Crisis averted, fears calmed, prayers spoken AGAIN no thanks to big brother who was discussing the potential of "bad men" coming in. Deep sigh...

Suddenly, I hear little girl voices. Hubby and I smile at this sweet sound and let the giggle away. But, a few minutes turns into a half an hour. Daddy goes to hush and threaten twice with no avail. It is then I suggest only one little girl be heard. We both listen and then it gets quiet, another sigh thinking FINALLY!! Alas, this is #4. Thump and tip, tip, tap...screech and our door opens just a bit. A big enough bit for a little redheaded child to peek in, startling from my what are you doing reply. Knowing she was living on borrowed time she flies to our bed and climbs up in such a flurry I have no time to move the computer and stop her. She flops down between us, kicks her legs out and puts arms behind her head. Own it girl is all I can think. Half chuckling, half serious I tell her she must go back to her night night not sissy's since she got up. Kicking and partial screaming we trek back to the girls room. #2 never waivers from her deep sleep while the argument continues with her losing the battle. A kiss, hug and tuck in later I am back nestled in my room with hubby.
I am gonna pull the fun out of this day if I can muster it, having a grateful heart like I tell my children. But man I sure thought vacation was supposed to be fun??