Homemade, Home Interiors, Home Life, Homeschool, Home Organization, Home Business and Home Moving Tips. I am a large family homeschooling mom of 8 sharing tips on all things home.
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Our Big Family Vacation Details
Published 7 months ago • 8 min read
Hello Friend,
Even though I am a blogger, I follow another blogger. I took two trips in 2023 by airplane to Montana and Utah. To learn how to pack lightly, and what to wear, I subscribed to Travel Fashion Girl. After the trip, I kept reading her emails, as she sometimes mentioned blogging life - I related with her google ai struggles that lowered our blog traffic.
Anyways, she had a giveaway where the 5th prize was one of her Compass Rose products. I thought - I would love to win that and signed up - never imagining that I would win a larger prize. I won 2nd prize!!!
The Prize I Won
The prize was a stay at her beautiful cabin, called Lakeside Dreamzzz2 in Rogers, KY. I felt so blessed by God as it was the perfect size for our very large family and we had always been thinking of picking up our adult daughter at college in TN, staying in KY somewhere and going to the Ark Encounter. This was our opportunity!
Our large family at the Lakeside Dreamzzz2 cabin in Rogers, KY. Our son in law took the photo. There was a total of 13 of us! The cabin sleeps 14.
Who Came With
My college daughter, Marissa, had always wanted us to see her college dorm and meet her friends there. So, we rented a big van for many of us and my married daughter and her husband drove separately in their new vehicle as they wanted to do some mountain biking and could bring their bikes that way.
Everyone that was on this trip included my husband's parents, my husband and I, and our 8 kids plus our son in law. A total of thirteen people.
The Hailstorm
We had some bad weather on the way to meet up with Marissa in TN. One of my adult sons found an iHop to eat supper at for Grandpa's 75th birthday! (I felt bad he had to spend so much time in the vehicle.)
We had just ordered our food and I took the little ones to walk around the restaurant (and stretch their legs) since there was only one other couple dining and they looked like very kind people that wouldn't mind children walking by.
As we were walking to the front window, it started hailing! I would say it was only pea size hail, but I was thankful to be in the restaurant and not riding in the van through it!
It Rained Every Day
We arrived at Marissa's college and met with her and saw her dorm room and it was raining so we talked about loading her car up in the morning, but noticed the weather would be worse then. So, we loaded her vehicle in the rain! It rained at least some of the time on every day of our vacation.
The Fire Alarm at the Hotel
Our family stayed at a hotel not far from the college in two separate rooms that offered a swimming pool and breakfast. The kids were so happy to be in the pool after driving. We all slept well until 2:30 am when the fire alarm went off.
My friends, I have suffered with tinnitus for a few years now and oh, was it bad after that! Imagine me trying to get 4 kids to walk out the door and downstairs and outside in the middle of the night when all of our ears are blaring! Not fun! It turned out to be a false alarm and we all went back to bed.
The Graduation Parties
We watched the graduation ceremony for my daughter's friends and were invited to attend two graduation celebrations while we were there. I felt kind of strange not having a gift and being there eating their food. I love southern hospitality y'all. Everyone was absolutely wonderful and my young kids were well behaved! Of course it rained, but at least the parties were inside.
Amy at NeededInTheHome with a statue of Harlan Sanders.
The First Colonel Sanders KFC
I drove Marissa's car as she was tired and didn't care to drive in a thunderstorm. Our destination to the cabin was less than 4 hours. On the way, as a supper stop, we saw the first KFC in Corbin, KY at the Harlan Sanders Cafe and Museum. That was fun. I especially loved that it was free! All we paid for was our meal and a cute magnet I wanted for my fridge. I love magnets. If you ever want to send me a gift, please send me a refrigerator magnet!
The First Night
We arrived at the cabin very late at night. It was a private road that had a bar blocking it so you couldn't drive through and you had to type a code to open it. We found that in an email and the bar lifted up and let us drive through. We got to the cabin and typed the door code and got in and everyone carried all the things in.
We basically put items in the fridge and freezer, found our PJs, had a Bible and prayer session and went to bed the first night. Everyone slept well after our busy day.
Amy and family on steps that lead to a pier nearest our cabin.
The Private Lake
I didn't realize that it was in a private wildlife reserve area. There was a small lake with still waters that made me think of the verse, "He leads me beside the still waters." from Psalm 23:2b. This cabin is literally just steps away from being "beside the still waters."
Several of us took turns on the kayaks. My husband is in the yellow one and the rest are some of my older kids.
There was a small break in the weather and we found out the kayaks and canoe are available as a first come first use basis for anyone staying in the large cul-de-sac of cabins around the lake. We did bring life vests and we used them on the lake. It was a sweet time together.
There are fish in this lake, but it you fish here, it is a catch and release only type of fishing.
The Cabin
We absolutely loved our stay at the cabin. It had a big kitchen with a full sized refrigerator, dishwasher and oven. There was a slow cooker, which I used for two evening meals for the family. My love language is quality time and I don't want to waste time cooking on a trip like this!
Amy in the big living room area.
There was a large living room area with plenty of seating with a loft above it. I chose a chair in the corner to sit at and put my crochet bag nearby so I could sit and make things while talking with the family during rainy or evening times.
My adult sons in the hot tub on the porch.
Hot Tub on the Porch
We enjoyed time in the large hot tub on the porch at the cabin. It was under a covered porch, so we could enjoy ourselves even while it rained! It worked perfectly and was very clean.
Our large family at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.
Trip to The Ark Encounter
Many of us have been to The Ark Encounter before, but some were too young or weren't able to attend or weren't added to the family yet. This is all of us that enjoyed our family vacation together in one photo. It was only about 1.5 hours from the cabin. We ate at the large buffet next to the Ark and for supper we had slow cooker meatballs at the cabin. I highly recommend that you go to this and plan on spending the whole day. There are lots of exhibits and things to read, a gift shop (with magnets), a carousel, a zoo and more.
Packing Up and The Long Journey Home
Well after all our fun time, we had to be out of the cabin by a certain time so the next family could enjoy it. We packed up and I drove Marissa's car and my husband drove the big van and I imagine Mercedes and Garrett, the married couple, took turns.
We stopped at a McDonalds somewhere along the line that sold Krispy Kreme donuts and so we treated ourselves and got some. We were surprised because that business closed up in Wisconsin around where we lived. We used to take the kids there and watch how the donuts were made and get free samples.
We drove all the way home and arrived very early the next morning. We dropped off the rental van and picked up our dog after a nice long rest.
As a stay at home mom of eight (my oldest is 26 and my youngest is 6), I have learned a few things about survival on a small amount of income. I don't want to keep anything to myself and have you learn the hard way, when I know I could help you.
Large Family Frugal Life Email - a paid email subscription, not in my Etsy shop. Even if you don't have a large family, if you are into saving money, you will find these emails very helpful
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Homemade, Home Interiors, Home Life, Homeschool, Home Organization, Home Business and Home Moving Tips. I am a large family homeschooling mom of 8 sharing tips on all things home.
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