450 sq. ft. and we live!!!

The kids and I just spent 5 days and 4 night with my parents and my sister, precious Aunt Traci, in a 450 sq. ft. condo in Corpus Christi. Wow....tight space, wide age span (72 - 6), lots of chiefs, lots of Indians, and lots of fun. There were many perks to this trip. The first perk being that we got this trip together by working together. The second was that Uncle Timmy dropped my sister off at my house with a suitcase, and she brought big smiles to my kids faces as we loaded up. Then......... I was able to watch my son and my dad spend some "male-bonding" time at different times. I watched (more like listened to) my daughter and my mom laugh in bed at night because Makaley HAD to sleep with my mom. And, mom made the coffee. I didn't have to. Dad pumped the gas. I didn't have to. AND if the kids argued, someone else got onto them. I didn't have to!
Kauy and I slept in the living room/dining room/ kitchen on some kind of a "sleeper sofa" (more like a kindergarten nap mat for two under the age of 8) while Aunt Traci(our photographer, mediator and best friend) slept on the matress of the top bunk which we moved to the floor. It reminded me of growing up and going camping with my parents and grandparents only this time we had our own bathroom without the bugs and spiders (althought there was a non-draining tub), no trains, critters, or late night arrivers; we had a microwave, a refrigerator and almost double the space. This time we had a coffee pot that was not plugged in and hidden under the picnic table, and we did not eat mom's famous "Hawaiian Spam" this time. We ate at Landry's, Snoopy's and of course Whaterburger!!! This time we had a TV, but only watched the weather in the morning. It was on those early family vacations we learned to play 42, spades and conasta. Makaley learned to play spades this time. Next time will be 42!
My son loved the visit to the Lexington. In truth, I think we all did!!! What an awesome museum, and it was on water. My daughter loved the Texas State Aquarium !! The kids learned a lesson on lightening and its love for water when we woke to a thunderstorm and watched from our safe balcony the lightening popping the water. We had reading lessons, map lessons, sharing lessons, lessons in directions when you get lost and a lesson in what happens when you are feeding sea gulls(what goes in must come out!). I loved walking on the beach in the morning with a cup of coffee, listening to my kids giggle, listening to us all giggle, watching my family play in the ocean in the rain. The best perk............it was family. Yes, just so you know...we did get short on calm tempers a couple of times. Like I said we were in a 450 sq. ft. condo or a suburban. The only battle scar was the one on Makaley's leg when she fell off a stage.
The down side of the trip..................unpacking, putting things away, and doing loads of laundry when we got home!
You know, when we get to heaven, we won't unpack a single thing!!!!! Nothing!!! We won't have to sort and fold laundry! But we will celebrate, as we did yesterday, that we are home. Safe. Sound. And in a house bigger than 450 square feet!.............but most of all.......With FAMILY!!!!