Planning, planning

One of the things that I love the most about summer is that hubby and I both have such a good amount of time off together.  This is truly one of our greatest blessings, because it allows us to do many fun things that we probably wouldn't be able to do otherwise.  A week spent up at our cottage?  No problem.  Random daily trips to the beach, park, etc with Rusty in tow!  Sure!  When we got married we both looked forward to our first summer off together, relishing the fact that we were both teachers and could enjoy those extended moments.  The one bummer is that we usually do our traveling in the high cost season, but hey, I can't really complain when I get two full months off. 

This summer will be a bit different, as Kevin has decided to do summer school, but we still have plans anyway.  His summer school is only for three weeks in July, so it's not a ton of the summer, and it's also a nice little financial bonus for minimal effort, especially since he was lucky enough to get to teach the same class he taught two years ago for summer school.  This means that we have much of the curriculum already developed.  Plus, considering it is just three hours a day, it doesn't really ruin the whole day now, does it?

Last night we had a chance to finally sit down on the couch together and make some potential plans and I really.can't.wait.  This summer seems like the perfect summer coming up.  Rusty has become so much easier.  Easier to transport, easier to understand, easier to throw in the car on a whim and head to some unknown destination for the morning. 

The most thrilling part of our summer is going to be the time we get to head back to SD to spend with my family.  This is definitely always a highlight of our summer, and this trip is going to be packed with goodness.  We will spend the first week with my parents and sister and her family, going back and forth between houses, enjoying lazy mornings vegging out and taking Rusty around to see cows, tractors, etc. Kev and my dad, whom he affectionately calls Brucey, will probably be doing a lot of gofling, as they are both big fans of the sport.  I will enjoy my mom's cooking, the good old favorites of home, especially her specialty, PRIME RIB!  My mom makes the BEST prime rib...period.  I have never had better...anywhere.  We will also probably have a bbq or two with my little sis and her hubby and daughter.  Sis and I have a girls' day out planned, including a pedi or mani or *gasp* maybe both! 

The first full weekend we are there Kev and I will leave Rusty with my parents and jet off to visit my brother and sister-in-law for a few days.  We are pretty excited about this, as not only does it mean some time alone for us, but also some good times with Neil and Samantha.  We really seem to click with them, and are looking forward to taking in some baseball, maybe catching a movie, some dinners out...it will be good.

This will be followed by...camping of some sort with THOSE PEOPLE.  The ones I was talking about the other day!  We aren't sure yet exactly what it will look like, but knowing us it is sure to be loads of fun.  I can't wait.  We will probably spend some time on a lake or perhaps even venture to Yellowstone.  One can't really be sure, but what we can be sure of is that there will be great conversation, lots of giggles, and just all around happy memories made.

This will finish off the trip, with the final weekend back at my parents' house.  Man, this is going to be so great.  I am glad it is towards the end of the summer so I have the entire two months to look forward to it.

Another plan in the works???  A mini getaway for hubby and I.  We have decided that it will be two nights or so, and must be within driving distance.  I'm looking for something somewhat luxurious, a nice hotel, perhaps near a beach.  Some really good food.  Maybe a spa visit???  Some fun activities for hubby and I to enjoy together.

Having said that, let me end with this:  Where would YOU suggest we go for our mini getaway fellow BCers???

Our mini getaway before Rusty was born was a trip to Seattle which included Pikes Market, a few Mariners games, some most excellent seafood from The Crab Pot, and...of course, a posed photo outside of the original Starbucks.  Who doesn't do this on a trip to Seattle?? Wow, I was really pregnant...just about a month from delivering the munchkin!