Double Digit Getaway {v.2}

All of the sudden I have two kids in the double digits! Two. Double digits. Goodness, it happens fast.

When our oldest turned 10, we started a tradition of a Double Digit Getaway. It is just the 10 year old and parents for 2 days and 1 night. We let the boys pick something within 3 hours of our house – totally up to them. Our budget is not unlimited, so a huge extravagant trip is not an option. Honestly, I’m not sure I would want something extravagant anyway. There is something so sweet and simple about what the boys pick.

This round, my son wanted to go to Silver Dollar City…for sure for one day, possibly for both days. He told us he would decide after day 1. (The kids got season passes for their birthdays from their grandparents! So, so much better than legos!)

As we loaded up to head out of town he told us he could “handle a frappuccino.” We don’t go out to eat very often, nor do we say, “yes” to lots of extras. Things add up quickly for a family of 7. It is fun to have two days of saying “yes” to things like frappuccinos and roller coasters. He was in charge and we followed his lead. He picked which ride to start with and where to go next. He decided when we were done and what was for dinner (Chick-Fil-A). Our kids are used to being flexible and not always getting the final say in things – lots of opinions and ideas in our crew. It was almost hard for him to have all the deciding power for 2 whole days.

We rode all the rides he wanted and in the end, I was the one asking for more. He ambushed his dad with some water blasters and I was almost doubled over on the ground laughing so hard at the two of them. Simple, sweet, and lots of laughing….

Ten seems to the perfect age in our family for these trips. It is young enough to still be young – roller coasters, donuts, ice cream, but old enough to make it all extra fun. I sat with him on one roller coaster and told him how much I loved him as a baby, but how thankful I am he didn’t stay tiny. Thankful for the past with him, excited about the future, but relishing today…relishing him at 10.

SnapShop Students: Several of you have asked about how I capture adventures and still be present to fully enjoy them. For this trip, I did not bring my DSLR into Silver Dollar City, and only used my iPhone. I wrote a short lesson with several ‘outtake’ and ‘process’ pictures to show you how I go about capturing key parts of our getaway without having my phone in my hand the whole time. I wanted to have a few photos to remember our time together, but the point was TO BE TOGETHER, not have a million pictures to look back at one day. Make sure you visit the SnapShop site to read the new lesson.

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