The 8 year old trip...

You know... that trip you get to take when your 8 where you pick the place, the sites, the food, the adventures...
               Yep, well I didn't have an 8 year old trip either! (Although when saying this to one friend of mine, she said, oh, yes--well, we were 13 for ours...!) However my lucky children get to have an 8 year old trip with their grandparents (and their cousins will get to as well they just aren't 8 yet!)

This January was John's 8 year old trip. He got to go to the Everglades in Florida because he wanted to see alligators. His goal was to see three gators--but he was pleasantly surprised because he was "Gator Good" and got to see way more than three alligators and he even got to hold one! This was a highlight for him.

I am not sure how the 8 year old trip idea got started. I think I remember my mom saying something about how wonderful 2nd graders and 8 year olds are so that must be a good age to get to spend some special time with the grandparents. We were the first to experience this event with Sophia who got to go to Williamsburg, VA to see all the places her American Girl doll Felicity would have experienced. She also got to the go the beach and eat whatever she wanted--which might be one of the most things that the 8 year old experiences! The report from the FL trip was that John's mouth never stopped moving--he was either eating or talking the entire time! I got a text at 9:30 am on the day they left telling me that he had ice cream and Papa had pizza and so it began!

There was also some time for John at the beach. I have to admit I was quite jealous of his being in 80 degree weather while I was home with cold and the threat of snow. We have heard many stories about his trip and most of them make us laugh. I hope to get a picture of him riding a camel so that I can post that as well--not only was there a camel at the zoo but he got to RIDE it! ("but you can't sit on the hump, it's full of water"). I am told there are many, many more stories as well, but we only get one a night! I love how he loves to tell stories and savors his trip by stretching out the amount of time he gets to talk about it.

Rob is wondering why he doesn't get a "38 year old trip" and that is a good question! However, I think this was a brilliant idea and it seems that 8 is a good age to embark on this adventure. There was no homesickness (they were gone Wed-Sunday) and only reports of funny stories and sweet comments given by the grandparents. So it seems that 8 is a good time to go on a trip away from home and mom and dad and sister (who missed him so much they have shared a bed the last two nights!) to have an adventure. And what a fun memory to have, spending alone time with grandparents who adore you and buy you pretzels with cheese sauce whenever you want!

Sophia commented at dinner a few nights ago--"So when's the teenager trip?"
That's my girl!