We're back! What a trip. Not everything went as planned, but all was good. Sometimes you just have to roll with it and let it all turn out which every topsy turvey way it will.
No matter how carefully you plan the details, life happens and changes develop. There is no use pouting or being sad. Instead we looked for the good parts and made the most of them.
On the first leg of our journey, our free hotel room disappeared and we had to stay elsewhere. We found a room nearby at a good price, and it was fine, just not the freebie, 4 bedroom guest house at the ritzy country club we thought we'd have. But the friends we met up with and the fun we had made up for any inconveniences along the way.
Then, in Hilton Head, where these shots were taken, our ocean view room disappeared too. We stayed at a great resort and were able to get a half price room, but we had a roof top view instead. Our plans of tucking the fairy in early and toasting the New Year while sitting on the patio,sipping wine, and watching the ocean didn't happen.
But Sugarwing's comment about the ugly view of hotel roof tops and parking lots as far as the eye could see- "Why would anyone do this to our world??" was so funny and heartfelt that it will be 1,000,000 times more memorable than any glimpse of the ocean that we could have had.
And the hotel was still on the beach. The weather was chilly, but that didn't stop Sugarwings from running headlong right to the waves as soon as she saw the water.
If we'd stayed in a room facing the water instead, I might have missed that awed look on her face as she walked over the hill toward the beach and saw the Atlantic waiting for her.
While the weather wasn't perfect, it was plenty good for a Kansan, and good enough for me to decide that there is no place better to be on New Years Day than a misty beach with my fairy grand baby!
I think this little sprite agreed with me.
We'd packed a portable DVD player and a stack of movies for her to watch during the driving parts of the trip, and it stopped working as soon as we turned it on. So, I pulled out my magic phone, looked up children's DVD players online, and then found the closest place was to buy one, and 15 minutes later, she was engrossed in the adventures of Pooh and Piglet, and we were only out $99.
Which, if you've ever travelled with a 4 year old drama princess, you will understand that is a small price to pay for her entertainment. And the sanity of the adults in the car.
Her only souvenir from Disney World was a balloon, she isn't a child who demands anything or needs to shop. When we took her to the Disney store in our Orlando hotel, she ran straight to the coloring books and crayons set out for kids to play with and was content to make pictures. No thought at all about the merchandise around her.
And one of her favorite things at Disney was chasing bubbles in the dark.
I think she has her priorities straight in life. So, I don't think it hurts to spoil her a bit by treating her to a new pink princess DVD player.
My husband's vacation got cut short and at our Baltimore layover on the flight back, he rented a car to drive to VA to work. I flew the rest of the way with Sugarwings on my own and was so happy to have that "princess computer" as she called it. Although she was perfectly happy pretending that the seat belt was a snake and my fingers were baby snakes, I am old, tired and was ready for a break. The DVD player was much more important to me than to her.
Disney, and all of the rest of the trip was fun, but it was the little things that were the best about the trip. Laughing with family, visiting friends, watching the joy in Sugarwing's face as she fed the seagulls from this restaurant in St. Augustine.
Yep, feeding pigeons and seagulls meant as much or more to her than any ride at Disney. Here is a couple seconds long clip of her laughing at the birds. See what I mean? Kids know that its not what you spend, its what you do that counts.
The little clip of Sugarwings feeding the birds has me smiling and laughing today too!
Did she say, “Look, a PENGUIN”? Too cute!
🙂
~Becca~
Sounds like you have a wonderful time! Her giggles with the seagulls is priceless.Warm Blessings!~Amy
What a lovely child she is! Your post really reminds us to keep the child within us and never let us be completely grown up. The way she looked at the “not good enough vacation” as a pleasant journey, I can imagine you realize that the trip was actually really nice. Thank you for sharing this!
Hugs to you/Therese
Thanks for sharing your trip Karla, Sugarwings is adorable and the feeding the penguin made me giggle, what a wonderful Grandmother you are and No Karla you are not old! That be me that’s old sweetie! Hugs and happy thoughts, Marilou
These are beautiful pictures, Karla. What a sweet child!
It sounds like you made the best of the situations you encountered, being with family helps all the time!
Hope your year is coming along wonderfully!
XO,
Jane
Dear Karla…that’s what I love about you…your attitude is always WONDERFUL and so positive!! It truly makes the difference between a happy life and a frustrated one. Sugarwings is so beautiful on the beach ~ your photos are gorgeous! Thank you again for being so kind to me, it means more than you’ll ever know, hugs and love, Dawn
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip and her smile and laughter are indeed priceless! She sure is growing up fast!
St Augustine is one of my favorite places in the world!!!
Isn’t it always the little things that mean the most–vacation or otherwise!
aawww Sugarwings can melt a heart of stone..I like your positive attitude Karla..make the best of it and enjoy the best…Glad you are safe and sound…brave woman…
How sweet that child is! Glad you had a nice trip even if it wasn’t exactly how you planned it.
What a well loved little girl!!
Karla,
I am soooo jealous of Sugarwings and her toes in the ocean! That is my favorite thing to do! Glad you made it and the hiccups are what give us character!
Your precious granddaughter reminds us to enjoy so many things in life we can’t even see anymore. It’s so beautiful to hear her giggle!!!
This post has made me smile from ear to ear. You have the most wonderful outlook on everything and Sugarwings is indeed lucky to have you and your husband.
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
I absolutely applaude your purchase of the princess computer! One of the world’s best inventions, I am pretty sure it was invented by a mom. So glad you rolled with the punches and made some great memories!
Oh, she is a precious little girl. I loved the comment. It sounded like something my daughter would say at that age.
I think that children who are secure, get positive attention and experiences with nature, have less of a need for material things.
When my daughter was four, they didn’t have DVD players. We kept her entertained with a kids tape player and books on tape.
~elaine~
Nice post. I love it. Waiting your new posts. Thank you…
Beautiful post. Beautiful granddaughter!! Wonderful grandparents!!
Absolutely divine! What a special time for all of you. Such joy in laughter of babes! Welcome back…and happy new year to you and yours. ~ Angela
That’s for sure — kids know how to make everything fun! I think the pink princess computer is a must-have for that age and long drives, too. We did the same thing when Ben was that age; the night before a long, long drive I ran out to WalMart and bought one for the car (although it was a video one in those days) and never regretted it! It also came in handy when our camping trip got rained out one time and we took shelter in the car for several hours!