Journey's End

Arriving at our WorldMark resort--whether in Branson, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Oceanside, Tucson, or wherever--is always a pleasant experience, almost like coming home.

*

We've been owners in WorldMark, a vacation club, since 2001. We love it. The resorts are amazing, and it's so great to be able to spend a week vacationing with my kids each year.
Here's a little tour of our condo, with a little narrative of how we spent our first day.

*

Above is the view of the office and resort as you arrive, and at right are the condos as seen from the office parking lot. It's all built into the area's rolling hills.

*
*

*

*

This is the building where our condo is located. It's actually 3 stories tall, but the first floor is located below parking level. Our rooms are on the far left, on the second floor, level with the parking lot.

*

*

*

*

*
There's the door to our condo, at the end of the sidewalk "bridge." The window left of the door is the boys' bedroom.
*

The first thing we did when we arrived, of course, was check in. While there, we spoke with the staff about activities and entertainment for our week here.

*

We left the office laden with brochures and ideas.

This is the view from the balcony off the living room and master bedroom.
*

After we got all the cases, bags, and boxes unloaded and our stuff moved in, we discussed our options for activities and decided upon those we could enjoy while staying within our entertainment budget.

*

Then the boys went off to explore the grounds for an hour or so.

It didn't get dark until after 9pm, and that's when the fun began. We went out on the balcony to watch the fireflies appear, while simultaneously being deafened by the incredibly loud frogs far below.

*

One firefly got stuck in the screen door, and watching him up close was fascinating. It's like there's a little laser beam in his butt!

*

Here are Jacob and Dylan in the living room.

*

The temperature was warm at 98 degrees, but the humidity is what takes a lot out of you! To me, it's like trying to breathe water.

*

Luckily the air conditioned rooms were perfect!

*

*

Another shot of the living room.

*

Jacob and Dylan already have plans for swimming and tennis tomorrow morning!

*

We also need to go shopping to stock the kitchen for the week. Tonight we used what we brought with us to make spaghetti, with popcorn for dessert while we watched our latest Netflix movie, Inkheart.

I have a cute story to share from this morning, when we were preparing to leave our most recent hotel.
*

Dylan was making a balogna sandwich for our lunch on the road, and he dropped a slice of bread on the floor. He called out automatically, "Diego!" Then he waited for our dog Diego to come in and eat the bread.

*

When he saw us staring at him and giggling, he demanded, "What?" It took him a moment to realize he was calling a dog who was over 900 miles away. We all cracked up!

*

The photo above shows the dining area. At right is the breakfast bar. The kitchen is on the other side.

*

*

*

Here's part of the kitchen. Behind that door is the little laundry room.

*

I always like going home with a suitcase full of clean laundry! it makes unpacking easier, and it makes the homecoming so much nicer, not having to plunge right into laundry.

*

*

*

Sarah and I will share the master bedroom. There is a Murphy bed in the living room (the kind that folds down from the wall), but I won't make Sarah sleep there.

*

When Mark was still with us, the kids used to fight over who got to use the Murphy bed. It's big and comfortable, and they loved to open the big doors and pull the bed down, just like in the movies. It sleeps two, so the 2-bedroom condo actually sleeps 6 total.

Another view of the master bedroom. That door leads out to the patio.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

The master bathroom. You could fit 2 or 3 of my little bathrooms into any WorldMark bathroom!

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

This is the boys' bedroom. They've already had their annual vacation argument over who gets which bed and who gets which drawers. It's practically a tradition.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*
Another view of the boys' bedroom.
*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

And, finally, here we have a shot of the boys' bathroom.

*

To be honest, I wish my own house were this nice!

*

So this is our little home away from home, and we are comfy-cozy here. I only hope we have some time to relax here between all the activities the kids have lined up for us!