The ever-changing word of VACATION

DH is on vacation this week - so vacation is definitely on my mind.  :-) As I bent over a tub full of steaming hot water and vinegar - scrubbing Cy's toys (We have a massive Toy cleaning every 3 months) - I laughed to myself: "Some vacation" But to me, it's the best way to spend a vacation! Doing things around the house that I never get to when DH is working because they are time-consuming and with 2 kids - there is no such thing as TIME to begin with.  So as I sit here, there are a few words that have changed over the years for me that I'd like to point out.  If you are single, newly married, or a college student - read ahead to see what your life will look like in a few years.  And trust me, I know you are going to read and say: "Nope! That won't be me, I'll always love to go out or go on vacations.  I refuse to be cleaning toys on my vacation" - trust me - when the exhaustion hits, when it's harder to go out and more expensive than stay in - things change! But also trust me - it's for the better and it's so rewarding and amazing :-)

Eating Out:

- As a kid - something mom and dad paid for and if you complained loud enough - your choice would be picked!
- As a college student - roman noodles out of the "special" cup
- As a newly married adult - Let's go to the nicest place possible - and splurge! 2 incomes... no kids... yep - it's amazing!
- As new parents - Anywhere quiet so the new baby can sleep in peace and we can eat in peace
- As parents to a toddler - Anywhere loud, so not many people are disturbed by our son's yelling
- As parents of a toddler and a new baby - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are eating in! It's too much - fussy baby + demanding toddler + too high of bill = NOT WORTH IT!



Vacation:

- As a kid - something mom and dad picked, you just went along for the ride
- As a college student - Going home on break
- As a newly married adult - VEGAS BABY! Or anywhere amazing, wonderful and fun!
- As new parents - Somewhere fun but close by.  Austin, Dallas, San Antonio
- As parents to a toddler - Let's go to the beach, or travel a little ways for him to really enjoy himself! These are fun vacations! Toddlers are a HOOT on vacation!
- As parents of a toddler and a new baby - NO!!!!!!!!!!! We are staying in Houston! It's too much - fussy baby (who cries every time she's in the car for longer than 10 minutes so NO traveling is even possible) + demanding toddler + too high hotel bill = NOT WORTH IT!!!!!

Night Life:

- As a kid - HA! Bed by 8... what night life?
- As a college student - Bible studies (I know some of my friends are laughing right now... laugh away), night games out on the field, cramming sessions for tests
- As a newly married adult - Eating out, going out until the wee hours of the morning - enjoying freedom
- As new parents - Do the books say to have him in bed by 8 or 9? Let's do 9pm...or 10pm...  and then move to 8 later when it matters... that way, we have more freedom to go catch a movie or grab a bite
- As parents of a toddler - Yep - definitely 8 pm.  We can rent a movie - we are staying in! Bed by 11... perfection
- As parents of a toddler and a new baby - NO!!!!!!!!! We are going to bed early! It's too much - fussy baby + toddler who exhausted us all day + high cost of sitter = NOT WORTH IT! We will be in bed with the kids by 8pm!