Do you ever want to just do a quick getaway with your extended immediate family, spending quality time and having lots of fun without breaking the bank? Well, here is what we did as a family.
You know family is very important to us all, so my husband decided to arrange a quick getaway that wouldn’t break the bank or pockets of everyone to spend a little quality time along with having some fun. Something our hearts had been desiring to do for the past four years, well we finally did it and it was the best family quick getaway, ever.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I, took a quick getaway for a few days to Williamsburg, Virginia, not alone, but with his side of the family, as well as my side of the family, let’s just name it, “The Shine/Bethea Getaway.” It was right after the 4th of July, we had an opportunity that doesn’t come around often to maximize the use of our TimeShare to accommodate such large group, the timing was just perfect and we jumped on it, quickly and reserved three suites. However, that was just the beginning of the challenge. Try organizing two different families, along with multiple people, within families themselves, a total of 23 people, 12 adults and 11 children. Well, we were able to pull it off minus, 2 adults and 3 children on my husband side, not bad at all. Derrick and Wakeisha, we missed you guys and you’ll missed a lot of fun.
We left for Virginia, very early morning to get there to enjoy our full day. Accommodations at the resort was a workout room, game room and swimming pool along with enough space in the suites for everyone to be comfortable and we took full advantage of it all, well.,,umm…except, the workout room. The staff in the office was hospitable and they served complimentary chocolate chip cookies, lemonade and coffee. It was a pleasure watching the kids enjoy themselves in the pool and the adults having a little fun in the game room, playing pool, table hockey, and video games. As hunger began to set in, later in the evening, initially, we were indecisive as to what we were going to do or eat. Finally, we made a group decision to go to a Pizza spot. The restaurant was able to accommodate us all at one long table to fellowship, which was AWESOME! After dinner, some went to bed and a few us hung out, let our hair down and just chit-chatted on the patio until the wee hours in the morning.
Saturday was the true adventurous day, because guess where we were all heading to?… Busch Gardens…YAY!!! Once we arrived, we took a few pictures, then we all went our separate ways with some of us grouped, but the parents with kids went to the kiddie rides, first. Initially, my husband, me, Tomalex, Jamie, James, James Jr., and Janerial were all together, but we lost each other after the first ride, but it was ok, because we all met up later. One of the most fun and daring rides was the Griffon, because it dangles you before it drops you at a 90 degree inversion, from 205 ft in the air and yes, we “DareDevils” rode it. I think we all did, except for Joann and Misty, they rode NO Rides, because they are “sketty cats”…lol. Anyway, we all had some Awesome fun and good eating at the Park. The kids were good and tired by the time we got back to the resort. Again, this night, some went to bed and a few of us hung out, let our hair down and just chit-chatted and played Spades on the patio until the wee hours in the morning.
Sunday Morning, all the fun had to come to an end because we must hit the road home, but before departing we all met in the parking lot to make a decision on breakfast, prayer, and good positive notes about our family outing. However, unfortunately, we couldn’t come to a compromise-able group decision for breakfast..lol, so both sides of our family went our separate ways for breakfast, btw… we were going in different directions for home, any way. They went to IHOP and we ended up at local pancake house there, due to the wait at Cracker Barrel, “we should have known”. However, it was a great choice; the food was good.
I believe this trip for us all was a start of something new, as well as, an experience we have not experienced as an entire family on both sides. Before, we left, everyone was already saying, “lets do this next year, but more days and we need to mingle a little more.” This trip displayed family love, bonding, fun, and unity, allowing everyone to let their hair down, and have some breakthrough moments in communication and understanding of each other, on both sides.
Conclusion, Family is EVERYTHING, so it is so important to spend quality time and show each other love and never be to busy to take time out for the ones you love.
“Stay connected to the Vine”,
Love and Blessing,
Cassi of “Cassi N’ Jazzi”
cassinjazzi.wordpress.com 