We are going to Hawaii!!!!
That is IF my in-laws will come stay/watch our kids
Hubby won a trip for 2 at his work.
Another problem--we will miss Jessica's dance recital. We do not get to pick the days. It is May 28-June 2. Her recital is June 1.
She is very upset. I understand and I feel bad BUT John & I have not been alone in YEARS!!!! It would be so nice for us to get away. She has over 12 performances a year that we do attend (and have for years). Does this make me a bad mom?

By Kate on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 12:18 pm:

No, not if you're attending twelve performances a year! Is this just another recital, or is it something special? I understand her feelings, but no, I don't think it makes you a bad mom at all...I would go in your shoes. I remember being in sixth grade I believe, and my mom had to attend a funeral on my birthday. I flipped out! I was SO upset I was crying and sobbing. I realized later how ridiculous of me that was! Part of it though, was the way my mom worded it...she made it sound very sad and grave that she would have to spend a few hours at this funeral on my birthday (she made missing my birthday sound grave, not the funeral I mean). Had she merely said she had to attend a funeral from 10:00 to 12:00 on my birthday but we could do presents earlier in the day and we would have the cake in the evening like normal, I probably wouldn't have cared. But she somberly informed me that my birthday would have to be different this year, etc. So I'd act normal about this with Jessica and tell her it's just one recital and you will watch the videotape as soon as you get home and you'll be thinking of her and you know she'll do great.

Go and enjoy!

By Kaye on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 03:44 pm:

Very cool yvonne! As for your dd, the fact is simply you spend a lot of time with your daughter, you go above and beyond with her. Sometimes mommy gets to go first. Just tell her, yes you are sad to miss her recital, but you are very excited for you and your hubby. Honestly I think it sets a very fine example of marriage. Yes the kids are important, but so is your marriage and that needs some special time too. Maybe she will feel better about it, if you are excited and she gets to help plan some things.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 04:49 pm:

Yay for you guys!!! VERY COOL! I think you are a wonderful mom and agree that it sets a very good example of marriage. Have a great time!

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 04:54 pm:

Thanks! I have always tried to be there for all of their events. It is hard to knowingly go away during her recital. I will send her a dozen roses to be delivered the day of the recital.

We ARE going because this is simply a chance of a lifetime for us. It is an all expenses paid trip. John is very excited about us having alone time I don't blame him.
I know our marriage is important and we are always saying we wish we had more time together. This is our chance.

The in-laws have agreed to stay with the kids. We needed them to come to us, so Jessica can still attend her dance rehearsals & recital. We will need to put Cosmo in the kennel because he is too excitable around them. He likes going there, so no biggie. We were lucky with the dates (as far as the in-laws go) they will be away until the 26th.

Our upcoming anniversary trip (cruise) the kids and my parents will be with us. All our vacations have included the kids. I do not think they realize just how lucky they are.

By Melanie on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 06:32 pm:

How exciting! ITA with all the other responses. Have a wonderful time! What island are you going to?

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 06:55 pm:

We are going to Kauai.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 08:20 pm:

WOW Hawaii that is our DREAM vacation. We will definitely go someday.

Good for you for winning it!

Don't worry about your daughter's recital. It sounds like you go to every other recital during the year. You and your hubby deserve a vacation alone.

By Dana on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 08:29 pm:

I think Kaye said it best. have a great time.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 08:52 pm:

Oh, I would be going too.. No doubt in my mind. I would sit her down and explain, order the special flowers to be sent with a special message to her about how proud I was included, and a phone call when it is all done to hear all the details would be in order.. But I would not be passing up this trip. It could be a wonderful trip to reconnect with DH and I don't think many of us get this type of opportunity in our marriages. You go and you have a great time, for those of us that won't ever get to go. Take tons of pictures because you know we will want to see them all....

By Kaseys on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 - 09:49 pm:

Wow, that would be so much fun.. My cousin and her family lives in Hawaii, her dh is in the Marines, they have been there for a few years now.. She LOVES LOVES LOVES it .. I hope you have a great time..

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 08:24 am:

I would go! It's just one dance recital, out of all the performances she has.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 12:21 pm:

This is where we are staying:
http://kauai.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

By Kate on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 12:30 pm:

We stayed there on our honeymoon!! The grounds are beautiful, but the thing I don't care for about Kauai is that by law you cannot build anything higher than three stories. I prefer staying in high rises and being as high up as possible. BUT, it truly is beautiful and the grounds are spectacular. We ate at the Ilima Terrace every day and I see they still have it! You will love it and have a wonderful time!! I'm so happy for you!

By Rayelle on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 12:34 pm:

Oh wow! How exciting!!!! My parents went to Hawaii for their 25th anniversary and they had the best time in their lives!!! How awesome to win a prize like that! I agree with everyone about your daughter's recital. Have fun!!!

By Happynerdmom on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 01:32 pm:

That's great, Yvonne!! You'll have a blast. DH and I went to Hawaii in June for our 20th anniversary. I think you'll love vacationing without the kids...much more romance, LOL! DH and I try to get away as much as we can.
Congratulations!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 03:12 pm:

Vacationing without the kids? What's that? LOL! I'll be there soon enough, since they are nearly grown and out of the house. DH and I haven't ever taken a vacation without the kids.

I think it would be fun to go back to Niagara Falls, without the kids, because it's kind of a romantic place.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 03:42 pm:

Kate,
Can you recommend any things to do?

The company has paid for the following excursions:

Dinners:
Taste of Kauai reception dinner
Hang ten beach blast at hotel's shipwreck lagoon
Kauai dine-around
Great Gatsby evening at Kilohana estate
Farewell ho'olaulea
The rest of the meals we have a cash allowance.

Activities: We chose 3:
Waimea Canyon/Waipd'o falls hike
Poipu Snorkel picnic sail
Backcountry tubing adventure

We have 1 day to go what we want. Any suggestions?

Dawn,
We went away on our 5th Anniversary for 2 days and I was miserable. It will be interesting to see who misses who the most. I imagine the kids will have fun having the grandparents all to themselves for a week. They will be off school, so I am going to leave some surprises for them. I am going to leave a few gift cards to restaurants and to the movie theater. That way the grandparents will have something to do with them

By Kate on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 04:10 pm:

Sounds wonderful!! We did the helicopter ride...ours included a stop at the other end of the island and lunch at the Princeville Resort. Then we got picked back up and flown back to where we started from. The hotel arranged it.

You could also parasail. Will you have a car? Sometimes we just drove around the coast marvelling that just a few feet away on one side was the ocean, and just a few feet away on the other side were enormous mountains!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 05:34 pm:

Yvonne, they will have a blast, with their grandparents! I know I would have!

One of my friends, took off for Jamaica, when her son was 6 months old. Her son is a month older than Sarah. When Sarah was about 5-6 months old, no way could I have left her for a week! LOL!

By Debbie on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 - 08:51 pm:

How wonderful!!! You are going to have a great time!!

And, your daughter will be fine.

By Bemerry84 on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 10:37 am:

WOW, you are very lucky !!!! Wish I could win a trip like that. Jessica will be fine and I'm sure she understands just has to give mom some flack.

Have a great time !!!!

By Yjja123 on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 10:55 am:

yeah she knows how to give mom flack. LOL.

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - 06:20 pm:

OK-- I have never left my kids for any length of time. This is all new to me. I am trying to figure out all the things I need to do/prepare in advance.
Warning---I tend to be an over-planner and with *only* three months to get ready, I am going crazy
I have prepared medical release forms for the grandparents.
I made maps to recital, dance classes, baseball games, vet, doctor, & restaurants.
I made a menu and will have half the meals prepared and leave gift cards to eat out the rest of the time.
I booked the kennel for Cosmo.
What else do I need to do? What phone numbers should I leave for grandparents? Note: they live 4 hours away so they do not completely know their way around here. They are staying here so the kids can still do their activities. I am trying to do as much as possible so it is easy for them.
Advice?

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - 06:51 pm:

Maybe any info about your heat (LOL you're in Florida!) or A/C, where your water shut-off is, location of spare keys, garage door code, security code, things like that. Or heads up on any quirks with your house - like our softener recycles around 2:30am, and if you didn't know it and were awake around that time, you might be worried about the sound. That sort of thing.

I hope you have a FANTASTIC time! I'm so excited for you!

By Kaye on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - 07:13 pm:

Make sure they have the name and number of a friend of yours to call just in case.

Also maybe a number of a friend for each that they are allowed to go play with or have over. I would consider when it came close to time to set up a playdate for each of them to give the grandparents a break. Or let your kids know that is an option.

Really you will mostly be in phone contact, if they have a med release (with copy of insurance card) they are set. You really can't prepare for everything. Just realize things won't be the same as if you were running it, but it will be okay.

Oh, make sure you leave a phone book with all your papers. Honestly I just don't keep them around because I use the net, but I know my dad wouldn't be comfy looking up something online.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - 07:25 pm:

Pediatrician or other doctor's phone number
Dentist or orthodontist phone number
Plumber or electrician or A/C service people phone number for emergencies
I'd leave the number of a couple of you and DH's friends for them to call in case of an emergency

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - 09:00 pm:

If your kids are on any medications, or have any allergies, that should be written down. Ditto on the signed medical-release forms. Also, they should probably have a copy of the insurance card, or an actual card. You can usually order extra insurance cards, from your insurance provider. I can order them online. They come in less than a week.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 02:47 pm:

Thanks! I ordered copies of their medical cards---great idea!
I have a friend willing to be "on call" for anything/everything.
There will be no time for play dates. the kids have activities every day (this is why we didn't send them to the grandparents, having them come to us instead). I wouldn't want to add to the daily "to do" list.