We've been back for a few weeks, but then we've been away most of August. Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and then back to back trips to Wisconsin and Iowa (and not a single new state for the kids among them).
You know you are doing better than you think (and it often feels) when the only big issue on a cross country vacation with two very busy toddlers, one (working on Indian time) husband, one mom/gamma, two sisters and an honorary BIL is something you definitely can't control. Namely the weather. I should have known that we'd have rain (over half of our days), since it's been such a rainy summer at home, but boo. You can't help that you have to book months in advance. So for those who were wondering what happens after the polar vortex... It rains, a lot, like monsoons.
But we still had fun, and eeked out just enough good weather to enjoy the Cape and Nantucket. I hope we can stay longer next time. I'd love to count it in months instead of weeks. Someday...
Hyannis
Chatham
Osterville
Nantucket...love the Children's Beach
It was so hot on Nantucket, melting...
These two start school again this week (4 days!), they are getting so so big and ridiculously chatty.
Our rented van ended up being a Chrysler Town and Country. Not necessary something I'd buy, but it worked out well. Kind of funny because I learned to drive an automatic on a Chrysler minivan (my parents had a series of them over 20 years), but I hadn't driven one since then. We got such an amazing deal through Costco.com, it basically paid for itself in gas (30MPG!) and tolls vs. taking two SUVs.
The house we rented also worked out really well. We filled up all five of the bedrooms, but it thankfully didn't feel crowded. It had an amazing deck and views of the harbor, though it would be even more fun in better weather.
You know you are doing better than you think (and it often feels) when the only big issue on a cross country vacation with two very busy toddlers, one (working on Indian time) husband, one mom/gamma, two sisters and an honorary BIL is something you definitely can't control. Namely the weather. I should have known that we'd have rain (over half of our days), since it's been such a rainy summer at home, but boo. You can't help that you have to book months in advance. So for those who were wondering what happens after the polar vortex... It rains, a lot, like monsoons.
But we still had fun, and eeked out just enough good weather to enjoy the Cape and Nantucket. I hope we can stay longer next time. I'd love to count it in months instead of weeks. Someday...
Hyannis
Hyannis Light
A and the big boat heading to ACK
Shell hunters
Beach time!
Chatham
Osterville
M showed us she's going to put even my shopping skills to shame
Nantucket...love the Children's Beach
It was so hot on Nantucket, melting...
These two start school again this week (4 days!), they are getting so so big and ridiculously chatty.
So we just missed the President, who was vacationing on the Vineyard, but since I am a political junkie of course there was a Kennedy wedding while we were there (RFK Jr. and actress Cheryl Hines wed in a rainstorm in HP), and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy of RI and his new family shared our fast ferry to Nantucket.
Our rented van ended up being a Chrysler Town and Country. Not necessary something I'd buy, but it worked out well. Kind of funny because I learned to drive an automatic on a Chrysler minivan (my parents had a series of them over 20 years), but I hadn't driven one since then. We got such an amazing deal through Costco.com, it basically paid for itself in gas (30MPG!) and tolls vs. taking two SUVs.
The house we rented also worked out really well. We filled up all five of the bedrooms, but it thankfully didn't feel crowded. It had an amazing deck and views of the harbor, though it would be even more fun in better weather.
Waiting for the rain to go away, again
Many of these pics are courtesy of my sister, official trip photog, Jen Brinley