Vacation-The Odyssey Begins

To (loosely) quote the Go Gos, "Vacation's all I ever wanted."
I have been something of a homebody since the birth of baby # 7 last spring. This is S.O.P. around here for me, as I find that the thought of dragging a screaming, nursing infant around the countryside just kind of sucks the fun out of "getting away from it all." I basically consider myself in a sort of hibernation for a year until I can put the baby on solids and a sippy cup and leave him or her with a loving, competent adult (being either my mom-in-law or my sister.)

My husband, who is not currently breast-feeding an infant and is one of the nation's most frequent business fliers, totally does not get my way of thinking. Though he would be completely annoyed with anyone else's screaming child interrupting HIS first class flight, he would gladly pay to take me and baby to some exotic local. (He's quite generous that way.) Anyway, we have, in the past couple of years, established a tradition of sorts of traveling somewhere out of the ordinary (for us anyway) during the holidays. Last year, we took our four oldest kids to Paris (Euro Disney), Rome and Milan during Thanksgiving. This being (potentially) my oldest son's last holiday at home for a while (What if his rich college roommate wants him to go skiing in Telluride during Christmas break, or if he has to meet his girlfriend's parents?) it seems important that we do something as a family this one last time.

Brilliant individual that I am, I thought of vacations that didn't involve a flight. However, driving the 15 passenger van with a screaming baby isn't that great either. The alternative? A cruise! We happen to live very near a major port of call and when you consider that it takes care of basic issues like transportation, lodging and FOOD, it just seems like an obvious choice.

So, after a great deal of research and consideration, hubby has booked us on a fabulous cruise during the Christmas holidays. And, because he is such a sweetheart, we are taking BOTH of our mothers and my sister. (Can you say babysitting?) The better news? I will be basking in comfort in a suite, albeit sharing with the youngest two kids, and the other kids and the inlaws will be in what I lovingly refer to as "steerage".

Tomorrow, the adventure begins. I have to go apply for passports for my three youngest kids. My 6 month-old and his 84 year-old grandma are both getting their first passport. What a kick. Anyway, I am excited, but we are still three months out. This will be interesting.