"Vacation, All I Ever Wanted..."

Yes, we have decided to blow our tax refund on two vacations this year. One to Disneyworld in October and this one, to Vegas, in April. The ROckabilly Weekender last year was such a blast, we've decided to make the trip again. The Orleans hotel will be our destination again; we loved it there. We're going to take Victor this time as well, since he'll only be seven months old and not weaned yet. The other boys would love it too but unfortunately, we can't afford the airfare for everyone. I'm so excited to witness the car show again, the jive contest, the pool party, the music...it will be just as great as last year, I'm sure, except this time I won't be sporting a pregnant belly and morning sickness.

The other reason we're definitely making the trip is that we are actually in the planning stages of moving to the area. Boulder City Nevada is the place we are going to check out and we have been checking rental property prices for the past two weeks. IT's a nice area, for sure, but not exactly where we wanted to be-what with the proximity to Las Vegas. We wanted to be a bit farther from there. But because of the great job opportunities in Henderson and Las Vegas, it's a good starting point. We could rent there for a year, during which we could scout around in Arizona and Utah for a more ideal location (St. George Utah seems perfect but the job market is bad). Or, after a year is up, we could decide it just isnt for us and come back to Tennessee. I'm really set on trying it though, because I think it will be a great experience for the kids and a chance to see natural wonders we might otherwise not take the time to visit.

Speaking of travel, I was really torn about the idea of Victor riding in my lap on the plane. I know infants under two don't technically NEED a seat but most websites concerning infant airline safety will tell you that buying an extra seat is preferable due to turbulence. It's no big secret that an infant car seat wouldnt be effective in a crash, but the possibility of injury during the flight would make most parents go ahead and spring for the extra seat. Enter the Baby B'air! (
http://www.babybair.com/). It's a vest that the infant wears which allows you, during flight, to thread your own seatbelt to the back of the infant, thus holding him secure during your trip. According to FAA guidelines, the Baby B'Air is still not approved for use during takeoff and landing, but it has been cleared for use while in flight. So I feel so much better about everything and excited to be taking Victor along on our journey.


We're also really excited to have concrete plans for Disney in October. We had originally decided to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, since the kids would be sure to love it, but since we'll have a stroller and lugging it onto the busses isnt that appealing a thought, we have opted instead for the Beach Club Villas which are attatched to EPCOT and withing walking distance of that park, as well as just a short boat ride from the MGM studios. It is a gorgeous resort, w/ the greatest pool I've ever seen, and though it will probably be a bit more crowded than the AK Lodge, it will definitely be more convenient.