Last week, my family experienced a first: a big family vacation with the 3rd generation. Sure, I went on vacay in my childhood with the parents and 2 siblings. But now my siblings have spouses and kids. So yeah, this was a first. And it was great! You may expect me to narrate all about how we spent every hour, what we ate, what we did. But  I won’t because, honestly, I wouldn’t want to read about every minute of your vacation. But I do want to share some things I saw on my way up to Missouri.

First: the eye-catching, make-you-chuckle, “only-in-hillbilly-country-would-you-see-that” sights along the way:

1. Chigger Hollow Trading Post

2. A car dealership called “Look and Call”

3. A cemetery named “God’s Little Half Acre”

4. Who Da Thought It Souvenir Shop

I also traveled a verrrry curvy, mountainous road which conveniently provides a “runaway vehicle gravel pit” at the bottom. By the name you can imagine how comfortable it makes a traveler feel while on this road.

With the the rainy weather, wet road conditions and most time spent stuck behind a motorcycle convoy, this “runaway vehicle” issue became more real with each curve I took. I didn’t take that road on my return home.

But what I will really remember and really cherish?

Craft time with the nieces. The kit was crappy, we ran out of glue and it was too advanced for them. But I grabbed a rubberband from it to wear as a momento. Zoe picked hot pink one for me, of course. She’s the diva of the bunch.

I witnessed the first time Sophia (6 months old) was introduced the luxurious, exciting fun that is the focus of so many childhood summers–the swimming pool!

Zoe asked me 3 times each day to me to pull her tooth. I told her 15 times each day she needed to wiggle it more.

Brett’s first time to play tennis. “It was a good hit. Well, if I would have hit it.”

Isabel is a mess. She is a tornado…but she also has eyes like rainbows when she smiles.

Gabby was the biggest little helper you could imagine. And she seemed to (though not necessarily on purpose) get picked on quite a bit.

Ava never ceases to amaze me with her wit and intelligence, crazy ways and silly faces. This week was no different. Except this week she shared a bed with me for the first time ever and I learned: if I ever have to choose again, which little precious one I’d invite to sleep with me. We all have our quirks while sleeping. And I’ll just say, I can put up with her much more than the other kiddos.

I think we should make this “big family vacay” a annual event.

Brett, Gabby, Zoe, Ava and Isabel in their 3D glasses at the Butterfly Palace