Chris gets a text Thursday night at 6:30 asking him to take the next day off and go to Victoria to work Saturday, Sunday and Monday with the idea posed to take the family and make a family trip out of it (they know us well). We had several concerns. MAINLY that it was a coveted weekend off. We are still adjusting (a year later) to Chris having to work every other weekend. So we talked about it and ensured that he would be able to attend church with me and decided we would GO! I needed a change of scene. This provided it.
Later that night I feared we had very much made the wrong decision.
Friday we left and got to the hotel around 4, after picking up Chris's rental car (I refused to be carless or drive two cars down: which left a rental car as the only option as he had to be at work as early as 4am while we were there). Our first look into the room we knew we had made a good decision.
Bathroom stocked with Aveda products :)
Tip: when travelling with kids ALWAYS get a separate bedroom and some sort of kitchen:)
Friday night we ordered from Brown's Social House. Chris picked it up. We scarfed it down with Ali and Roly and Violet; opened the door to find Marnie and Sam on the other side and headed to the POOL!!! The girls are NOT used to sharing a bed. Lesson learned. (I knew this BUT thought it might be different now) and I woke up to hear them whispering to each other at 3:40. I went and told them it was time to go to sleep and Abigail said, "Mom I can't, we're talking!" Eventually I ended up falling asleep with them.
Saturday I knew Olivia needed at least one nap of normalcy. So we headed out after her morning nap... as we were leaving I realized I FORGOT (or lost... haven't found them at home yet) my LEGGINGS... and had NO outfits to wear. So I slapped on a pair of pants and my longer jacket and set off to the mall. I met Chris and he brought me a Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino (knowing I was having a rough moment) which he got for free as the Starbucks employees were in training and giving them away free (inside the Target that is just about to open). I purchased another pair of pants and made a mad dash out to Langford to get my butt into the Play Zone (much like Jumpin' Jimminies in Nanaimo) to meet up with Ali. It was pouring rain, the first weekend of spring break, and as such had about 100 kids in there with about 5 birthday parties happening at once!!! As soon as I got there I wanted to RUN away. I got Olivia in the carrier and the girls set off. They had a BLAST. They got rosy cheeked and sweaty heads! They were so cute together. Usually they split up a little but not this time. They were always a few seconds within each other running past me. I feared leaving the whole time I was there. How would I manage a tantrum. Thankfully not a flinch after I paid a dollar to have them ride the carousal. Saturday night they slept like angels. I had put Isabelle to sleep on the chaise tucked up against the couch so she wouldn't fall asleep. Genius!
Sunday morning went off with out a hitch! As we were walking down across the lobby the girls were remarking at the sun and how they would need glasses to keep their eyes protected. Well little did we know that the valet man was listening. He said to them I have some glasses would you like some. They got the cutest glasses (which they left behind at Ali's house and got two new pairs Monday morning). Church was GREAT. We were able to see most of our old YSA Branch Presidency and it was heavenly to me. Sunday we had dinner with friends and it was delicious and great to catch up with friends. It was perfect!
SUNDAY NIGHT was AWFUL. The girls went to sleep immediately... BUT Isabelle kept waking up (not NORMAL for her) and crying. I was cuddling her, she would still wake up. NOTHING was working. Finally at 2:30 she passed out with her Dad. She slept until 6 and I found her on the potty. Then back asleep until 7. She puked. And then stopped crying and started talking. WHAT a relief to stop hearing the incessant crying with no communication. Chris didn't go to work. We decided to get the heck out of there. I had been promised room service breakfast. So I got it. I ordered it for the girls too because we had forgot to get groceries for breakfast for them.
WELL.
Chris was mad at how much it cost. I didn't care. But was mad at him for caring.
It arrives...
It has the BC ferries plastic lids on a dinky little tray. NOT what I expected. Not what I felt I paid for. As I was lifting my plate off BOOM the lid slips off and my EGGS go FLYING under the table. The girls pour copious amounts of salt on their food while I am cleaning up and Chris is in the other room...WHERE is the fabulous tray table with the fancy flowers AND silver lids?!?!?!?!?!! It was a nice hotel. It should have been WAY better. The jams and ketchup jars were adorable... I kept them all.
He felt vindicated. I was so upset. My luxury of the weekend. WASTED.
It was a gorgeous day Monday and we were SO upset to leave early. We got home and were glad to be home.
Today Chris called me to tell me he has a 3 day weekend this weekend AND next weekend off! Truly a fantastic reward and perfect timing for our life.
I could use daily housekeeping!!! It was HEAVENLY!!!
The girls now think we need to put our car to sleep because it gets tired (thanks to parkade parking)!!
