We just got back from a lovely week in Maine. It was our first big trip pulling our new camper.
First, the good. We loved staying in our camper! We slept in our own beds, had air conditioning and our own bathroom with tub and shower. We were able to cook some of our own meals and really relax. The camping resort was really nice. We stayed at Bayley's in Scarborough. They have entertainment, three pools, a restaurant, nice playgrounds, and a trolley to two area beaches. All this and we could still make s'mores over the campfire at night.
We had a great time at the beach and in the pools.
DD went off a diving board for the first time! She was so excited! We also went to LLBean on my birthay and did a little shopping.
NOW, the not so good...
The Suburban kept overheating pulling the camper over the Berkshires and we had to ride with the windows open and the heat on full blast.
Okay, well we made it to Maine even though it was 95 outside. I mean, it was only a 6 HOUR Drive from Hades, but we were good sports. During the week the kids were great. They only had one full combined meltdown. It just happened to be when we were out eating lobster for my birthday dinner. 
For the ride back DH was sure he had fixed the problem with the car overheating. It was fixed...for about an hour. I thought I was going to pass out! We were just about home when DS gave us a little end of vacation gift. He threw up all over the backseat!
I bet you thought it was over when we pulled into our house. Not quite. We had paid DH's nephew to housesit and dog sit. We knew he would have to go to work, so we put an air conditioner on the back porch for the dog so that he would be comfortable during the day (we had DH's business partner check on the dog in the middle of the day and nephew was home by 4pm). Well our lovable, yet neurotic dog decided that three days was long enough for us to be away and he set out to escape and find us. He tore down the shades on the porch, clawed at the window (the AC was the kind with ducting) and jumped through the screen. Our neighbor saw him walking down the middle of the road and brought him home and put him in our basement. Our wonderful dog then found the corner of the foundation near the basement door that was weak and due for repair. He then dug his way through the foundation and escaped again. We have a nice size hole as a souvenir. Now nephew didn't know what to do with the dog while he was at work, so he put the dog crate (we ussually only have to use it when we travel in the car with the dog) in the middle of the kitchen. It took me an hour to clean up all the hair the dog blew due to anxiety (to be fair, DH's nephew didn't have any other choice...the porch was way too hot without the A/C).
I only have about seven loads of laundry to do
and I can consider this vacation officially over. I think I have a bottle with a cork in it in my future tonight. 
First, the good. We loved staying in our camper! We slept in our own beds, had air conditioning and our own bathroom with tub and shower. We were able to cook some of our own meals and really relax. The camping resort was really nice. We stayed at Bayley's in Scarborough. They have entertainment, three pools, a restaurant, nice playgrounds, and a trolley to two area beaches. All this and we could still make s'mores over the campfire at night.
We had a great time at the beach and in the pools.
DD went off a diving board for the first time! She was so excited! We also went to LLBean on my birthay and did a little shopping.NOW, the not so good...
The Suburban kept overheating pulling the camper over the Berkshires and we had to ride with the windows open and the heat on full blast.
Okay, well we made it to Maine even though it was 95 outside. I mean, it was only a 6 HOUR Drive from Hades, but we were good sports. During the week the kids were great. They only had one full combined meltdown. It just happened to be when we were out eating lobster for my birthday dinner. For the ride back DH was sure he had fixed the problem with the car overheating. It was fixed...for about an hour. I thought I was going to pass out! We were just about home when DS gave us a little end of vacation gift. He threw up all over the backseat!I bet you thought it was over when we pulled into our house. Not quite. We had paid DH's nephew to housesit and dog sit. We knew he would have to go to work, so we put an air conditioner on the back porch for the dog so that he would be comfortable during the day (we had DH's business partner check on the dog in the middle of the day and nephew was home by 4pm). Well our lovable, yet neurotic dog decided that three days was long enough for us to be away and he set out to escape and find us. He tore down the shades on the porch, clawed at the window (the AC was the kind with ducting) and jumped through the screen. Our neighbor saw him walking down the middle of the road and brought him home and put him in our basement. Our wonderful dog then found the corner of the foundation near the basement door that was weak and due for repair. He then dug his way through the foundation and escaped again. We have a nice size hole as a souvenir. Now nephew didn't know what to do with the dog while he was at work, so he put the dog crate (we ussually only have to use it when we travel in the car with the dog) in the middle of the kitchen. It took me an hour to clean up all the hair the dog blew due to anxiety (to be fair, DH's nephew didn't have any other choice...the porch was way too hot without the A/C).
I only have about seven loads of laundry to do
and I can consider this vacation officially over. I think I have a bottle with a cork in it in my future tonight. 
That sounds like one heck of a vacation!
It is great that you all are looking back at this with humor too!
They're home now, so I didn't have to worry about missing them too much. Now my mom needs a rest. 
