Looking Ahead In 2012

It's that time of year. Christmas is over. New Year's is over. All the birthdays are over. The Christmas decorations are down, and I am looking forward to spring. The problem is that it is only January. It's cold outside. There is snow on the ground, and we won't see our first daffodil for at least two months (that's if we are lucky--in 2011, it was so cold the first spring flowers did not appear until April).

So, what's a mom to do in order to chase those winter doldrums away?  Why look forward to spring and summer and fall, of course, make plans and think warm thoughts.

For the past two weeks, I have been thinking about what to do with the kids for spring break. They all wanted to go back to the Blue Ridge Mountains again. I can't say I blame them. I love it there myself. It would have been a short drive and an easy trip for me to do with four kids by myself since everything is familiar. I thought hard about it. But then I decided that we needed to try something new, something different, not the same old thing. I had been wanting to take the kids to Williamsburg for some time now. Three of them are old enough to appreciate it and enjoy it. So, I started looking into hotels and B&B's in Williamsburg and after some hemming and hawing, I finally decided that Williamsburg it is. My kids have off school from April 4 (the Wednesday before Easter) until Monday, April 16. That's some kind of spring break! I imagine some years we will take long family vacations some places fun and exotic. But that was not in the cards for this year. Instead, I opted for a three night get away to the Williamsburg Lodge. Unfortunately, David won't be able to join us.

Also over Easter Break, I will probably take some day trips with the kids. Something like Fort McHenry and the water taxi is always a big hit and a trip to D.C. to see a museum or two would be appreciated especially by two little boys I know.

We also managed to book our usual trip to Brigantine for two weeks this summer. We love Brigantine and the kids always have the best time there. This year, Stephen, Diane and kids will be renting the house next to ours for one of the weeks we are there, so that should be a fun twist on our vacation. I can tell you, my kids have been asking ever since Christmas was over when we would be going to the beach. I guess the apples don't fall far from tree--like their mama, they like to look forward to warm, lazy days on the beach.

We also decided that for fall break in October, we will head back to the  Blue Ridge Mountains again. Though I love the fall and all the colors, the crowds are much greater in October than they are in April, but Williamsburg seemed like the better bet for April. We are hoping to stay in a cabin on Skyline Drive itself this year, but I won't find out until tomorrow if we got it or not. If we did not, then we could still opt for two hotel rooms in either the Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge, or if that plan doesn't work, we can always rent a cabin in Massanutten like we have in the past. I am excited to do some more hiking with the kids and hope they will be up for some even longer and more challenging hikes. We've been on pretty challenging hikes with them in the past, so I am excited to see what their bigger, stronger legs can handle come October!

Of course, we have to put a bit "God-willing" over all our plans, but it is fun to plan and look forward to warm and sunny days ahead! Having fun things to do in warm weather always helps to make the winter a little less painful.