And the winners are...

The polls closed last night (per Chuck and Heidi's suggestion here, in case you're wondering why) and the winner, as you can see, is a 5-7 day trip in August 2009. Thanks to all who voted and commented. Since our trip of choice is "other," we need to nail down what "other" means. Please vote in the new poll on what you would like to do so that we can look into reservations, etc. as soon as possible. This poll will close on June 25th. Thanks!

Grandma's Thoughts

Guess it is time for GMa to add a line or two. After vsiting with Chuck and Heidi agree that for the most easily accessible places and with some back up members of the family close by, we should consider finding somehing in the local So. Ca. area. Beaches or mountains should be available a year in advance. Wish I could tell you that I feel up to doing any of the footwork. Right at this time it takes all I have to just get through a day without doing hardly anything. Hope that will improve and at a faster rate than so far. I seem to go one step forward and then two steps backward. Think it is great that there has been this much interest so far. We are so flexible as to time both month and length of days. Just hope we will still be here and strong enough to enjoy whatever is finallly agreed on. GPa getting a little tired of the boring routines we have been experiencing the last many weeks. This week was a milestone==first time I have not been back to the hospital or the ER since comeing out of the hospital the first time. I have such a hard time adjusting to all the medications the Drs. think I should be on. The side effects are almost worse than the problem they are tryiing to solve. Wish I could turn GPa on to at least offering an opinion, as usual if it is not a fishing or hunting trip he shows no interest. Guess that should not surprise me. Keep up the good work. Love GMa

Gpa Gary x 8.5

Ok...as Jules suggested, given the grandfolks "situation", something CLOSE is really all that's going to work for them, with the freedom for those who may not be able to stay a week, but could work in a couple-three days, to join us, is certainly their preference, i.e. the beach (I SUGGEST WE ALL GATHER AT UNCLE CHUCK'S HOUSE! I GOT DIBS ON TREY'S ROOM!), Big Bear, Idlywilde, etc....
The cruise being pushed by gsg's kids??...hey, we can set that up on our own, with an invite for whoever may want to go:))

Input from Jules

Although a cruise to Alaska is absolutely phenomenal, I would love to have a reunion closer to Grandma and Grandpa (maybe save the cruise for next time around). What about a beach house(s) along the southern CA coast? Lots of fun activities for every age and close to home for the grandparents. Lake Tahoe is also very affordable for the size of the group and would be beautiful as well.

Thanks, Krista, for taking this on! Just being together is great wherever it may be!

Okay, I did a bit of research:

-Alaska cruise: Since June is not good for most people, perhaps the earliest we could go would be July. There is a Royal Caribbean leaving from Seattle July 10 - 17, but from the article Aunt Heidi posted, it looks like Royal Caribbean only takes 3 year-olds and older for child care (problematic for Rhett, Gavin, Michael, Burk... Travis, too? How old is Sasha?). This cruise is $849 for interior rooms, $1199 for oceanview... (I think that's expensive, but I'm on a path of continual education and won't see a paycheck for myself from a real job for several years...). So, this might be a good option (close to June 21, per Ryan's recommendation, and a good time of year for most people, nice length of a trip, and a good location), but we need to have a frank discussion of finances before we pick a trip.

-For Travis: most 7-day Mexican cruises leaving from the west coast are Cabo, Matzatlan, Vallarta. Carnival does have a Ensanada route on a 4-day option, but I'm hearing that some folks would rather stay away from Carnival. Norwegian's Mexico cruises don't start until September, which won't work for most people.

-My final plug for Tahoe (hear me out): People, it's only $4000ish for a nice lodge for a week. Let's hire a nanny for the week to be with the kids! I'm sure one of you parents has a babysitter that you love from home that we can all chip in and pay for them to come for the week. And, for the "blood bath" issue - we can either stay in our own timeshares or I found an option of 2 houses on a cul-de-sac (each with 5-6 bedrooms) so that we can have our own space, 2 kitchens, and not all be under the same roof. Seriously, the Alaskan cruise is over $1000 per person by the time you add airfare to Seattle. Let's drive to Tahoe, hire a babysitter for the week, cater a few of the meals, and we'll still come out saving money (You hear me, right? I know I get my drive to save money from somewhere and I'm pretty sure it's from the Glauser side!). We can fish, hike, boat, swim, shop, horseback ride, ATV, Uncle Gary can bring the bikes - we can all do our own thing. There's something for Grandpa all the way down to the little kids. Two other important things: 1) If you can't stay 7 days, you don't have to. With a cruise, you're locked in for the whole time - you're 100% in or out. If work schedules only allow you to come for 3 days to Tahoe, you can still come. 2) We're close by medical attention. Grandma's situation has shown how important it is to be close by help. I don't know what happens on a cruise, if they're able to get a helicopter over to the ship and quickly transport you to a hospital, but I just think there are benefits to a land-based vacation that we should probably think about. Thanks for reading! That's all you'll hear about it from me. If the family chooses something else, you'll have my support.

Thanks!

Some good points...

Everybody makes some solid points. Alaska would be difficult for the kids because they will want to be outside...I think parents may have some stir crazy kids who can't go outside and swim...I wholly support a mexican cruise if it is something different than what we did previously, ie, Cabo, Mazatlan, Vallarta...I seem to recall having bad memories from Cabo...to the tune of a 2500$ jet ski bill c/o Grandpa Gary slappin' down his platinum visa....Anyway, I digress...I would love to cruise and I think the appeal of not having to cook, clean, or watch the lil' ones 24/7 is very appealing....And I think having everyone under one roof would be a blood bath by the end of the week...People need to have the luxury of doing their own thing when they want to...Anyway, that's my two cents...

TG

Gpa Gary x 8.5

Uhhhhh.....if everyone shows up, that's 44-45?? Under ONE roof - Tahoe --- in the summertime - knowing full well I'll draw the short straw for KP?? I've got an appointment with my shrink to start the "meds" TOMORROW, in the hope the dosage will be properly regulated by August '09!
But seriously, given the "great-grandfolks" age and condition, shouldn't we be giving some additional weight to THEIR preference? gsg8