Here's an excerpt from a hilarious article that I should have read before our 'trip' to Louisville.
"So, you’re headed out on a family vacation this summer. Great news! But are you sure? Are you sure it’s a vacation? You might want to think about that for a minute. Because a vacation is best described as time away from a job and/or the monotony and frustrations of day-to-day life with the goal of relaxing and having fun.Not to be a super downer, but chances are, if you have kids, and they are coming with you, you aren’t going on a vacation at all. You are going on what I like to call…a trip. You see, a trip is simply a journey to a place. While there is nothing wrong with a family trip, and, in fact, it can be a memorable time of family bonding, it should never, ever, be confused with a vacation. Such confusion can lead to unexpected feelings of regret and disappointment typically taken out on your spouse, who, incidentally, is feeling just as confused and swindled as you are." ;)
.....I really felt like our expectations were appropriately low. We had ideas but no tickets purchased, no itinerary set in stone. We prepped food and activities for the car, the hotel, the mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and right-after-dinner complaints of 'I'm hungry'. We got a hotel with a suite so that we at least had a door that closed Macy and her sleep needs off from the big kids. We really tried.
....We left early.
Macy was miserable.
Owen said he wished we only had four people in our family. Although I disagree with that, I did wish that we hadn't chosen to bring our 1 year old on a vacation the same month we started her in day care and she started to get molars. But July& August travel options were already full... so we tried June ;)
Every summer vacation wardrobe needs a fleece hat!
This was Macy's view of Louisville. She put her head down on the floor every where we went.
(This is the hotel).
We had some pouting.... but Amelia got over that pretty quickly. We were asking her to please eat when she was served food because we didn't want to have to pack a ton of snacks for every outing. Can you believe how mean we are?! Even more, can you believe how perfect this pout is?!
The first day we went to a Louisville Bats game. The stadium was within walking distance from our hotel. As you can imagine, the stadium was pretty empty for a mid-day Wednesday game, so we got great seats for cheap! Millie was still in her 'mood' for this pic, but Owen was enjoying himself. It was a beautiful park!
A different kind of vendor....
Those are cookies!
That afternoon, Mike went to the Louisville slugger museum during the kids' nap time. The bats are made of ash, birch, and maple wood, and they run about $200-$300 a pop! Modern day players use bats mostly made of maple because it's lighter.
A waxy Derek Jeter. Very realistic!
That night we got to have ice cream with two little miracles. These twin 5 year olds, Clara & Wilson were born at 24 weeks to my good friends Chris and Morgan from Mizzou. It was a quick visit but the kiddos got along great! We also got to meet them in a neat & quirky neighborhood. I loved the architecture and big trees.
Night time routines on vacation are super fun. I love this pic bc it captures the kiddos and their personalities perfectly!
Full Day #2.... DERBY DAY!
Thursday morning we went to the Kentucky Derby museum. Nyquist is the horse that won the Derby this year. Fun derby fact: Only horses that are 3 years old can race in a Derby. So they have one shot to win it!
We got to watch some horses practicing! The derby track is made of sand, so they wear these white cloth protectors to prevent chaffing. (That was Owen's question for the tour guide!).
My little horse lover watching intently!
Beautiful stallions. These jockeys train the horses.
Typically the race jockey and the race horse don't meet until the day of the Derby.
One or two (or three) mint juleps usually help when you're at this window!
Can you imagine the sound when they are all racing together on Derby Day? I'd love to go!
I think I'd need to start saving for my hat now ;)
The inside of the museum had some great simulated races too.
Macy's view... poor baby wouldn't eat. Wouldn't snack.
Wasn't happy in the stroller, the carrier, in our arms.... she just wanted to lay on the floor :(
....so restaurants didn't go well either.
Derby Beauty. This little gift shop hat was $100+.
Ralphie was really well behaved :)
More ice cream!
The hotel pool was a hit! I loved seeing Owen swim with some confidence!
We found a really cool splash pad, too!
Macy WAS happy here. That's the girl I know!
Super sweetsie... must have been all of that ice cream.
Silly selfie!
Friday morning we walked across this pedestrian only bridge called the Big 4 bridge. It links Louisville's waterfront park to Jefferson, Indiana. It crosses the Ohio river, and there is a speaker system on the bridge that plays classical music. Cool!
My grown up little Owen.
View from our walking bridge!
Time to hit the road home. We omitted a little day trip to Lexington (to see another horse park), and we omitted the Corvette museum. It would have added 2 hours on to our ride home.
....and we only got this view for 18 minutes of our drive as it was!
On father's day we were home sweet home, and this little love was thrilled.
Too much change in her routine for one month!
We loved what we did see of Louisville, and we'd really like to go back to see more! It's also supposed to be a foodie city.... so we need to go back and eat more, too!
A little family, trip.
THIS is exactly why, even pre-kids, we called our times in our hometowns visiting our parents "trips" instead of "vacations." We love our families and value our time, but it is not a "vacation" to sleep in your childhood bed now crowded with your spouse or help your parents with all the chores they can't do now that you are gone (often setting up computers;) "Vacations" are when we go somewhere just us. For all our travel since being married, we've had precious few "vacations" :)
ReplyDelete