June 19, 2025 • 26 mins
Episode 220 – Ruthie Takes Over: Growing Up Traveling with Rob & TracyShow Notes: In this heartwarming and hilarious episode, Rob and Traci hand the mic to their oldest daughter, Ruthie, for a personal reflection on growing up in a traveling family. From being the only child on her parents' Disney honeymoon to becoming the big sister and now a newlywed traveler herself, Ruthie shares her unique perspective on how travel has shaped her outlook and her future plans. What You’ll Hear:
- Ruthie’s earliest travel memories (hint: lots of princess dresses!)
- The shift in family dynamics when her younger brothers arrived
- A near-death lazy river experience that still gets laughs
- How childhood travel routines have influenced her adult travel style
- Her most cherished family trips—and why she’d relive them in a heartbeat
- Ruthie’s vision for traveling with her husband and future family
- Tips on making travel meaningful even when finances are tight
- The two hotel items you should always sanitize
- Why planning doesn’t kill spontaneity—it empowers it
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hey everyone, I'm Ruthie, Robin Tracy's oldest and it's my
turn to take over. I'm sharing what it was like
growing up with my parents, how the vibe changed when
my siblings came along, and how those adventures shaped how
I want to travel now with my husband. Episode one
eight two starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin Tracy, your go
to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Welcome back, everyone to the Family Vacationer.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
I'm Rob and I'm Tracy. We're so glad that you're
listening to our show today.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So we've been working our way through our children to
get each of their takes on what it's like to
travel in our family. Our nine year old son Nash,
our teenager Chase, and now our newly married daughter Ruthie.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Ruthy has a unique perspective being the first child to
travel with us and has been there as our family
dynamic changed adding two boys, so she is uniquely qualified
to talk about traveling with the Joneses. Ruthie, welcome to
the show officially.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Hey, actually, it's welcome back to the show because you've
actually been on the show before.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
So I have I have So Ruthie, let's take it
to the beginning. Let's start all the way back at
the beginning, when it was just you and me and Dad.
Do you remember any specific trips that really stuck out
to you.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
The one that I remember the most is when we
went to Disney when you guys got married. Yeah, I
was like four or five. I remember both my grandparents coming,
both like sets of grandparents coming. We went to the
(01:55):
Bibity Bobbity Breakfast and the Princess, and I remember I
dressed up like a princess every day every day because
I was spoiled.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
So it's really no different than your life now.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, absolutely not, just a different dynamic, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Side note, Yes, we took our child on our honeymoon. Yes,
our parents did go with us.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
All right, wait wait, wait, wait, hang on, if we're
gonna if we're gonna say that, let's let's tell the
whole story. So having a blended family, So we went
down for what five nights? First, I think it was four,
and then both sets of grandparents came down with Ruthie
and that was four more days, I.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Think, yes, And we had our own hotel, so we
had our own space. And then Ruthie stayed with the
grandparents and they joined us at the parks every day.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
But I have no regrets, and they spoiled her rotten.
I think both sets grandparents bought her three or four
princess outfits. Ruthie looking back, Yeah, can you remember how
it felt to have that one on one time with
us before the boys?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
To be honest, no, not really. I do remember that.
I do remember that one on one time, but I
always remember like really wishing and praying for siblings because
I didn't want to be the only.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
One and that falls under the guidelines of being careful
what you pray for.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
But yeah, I don't really remember.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Sorry, do you remember a moment when you realized that
everything's going to be different, like traveling, it's going to
be totally different now because we have a baby, or
we have you know, your siblings that are coming as well.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
There was one vacation that we went on and I
can't I think it was both sets of grandparents as
well went and it was when Chase was an infant,
and I just remember like Mom being super into the
baby and not playing with me as much. But I
(04:19):
don't ever remember being super jealous because I had every
other family member there as well. It just looked a
little different because I mean, we had an infant on
the trip.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So well, you were a great helper. Do you remember
a distinct moment where you went from hey, i'm a
kid on the trip, I'm helping.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I remember a stinc moment like outside of a trip.
I remember being at Nana's house and changing Chase's diaper
and somebody came to bring food or something, and somebody
made a comment like, oh, she's old enough to be
a second mom, and I was like, oh that's cool.
(05:04):
So yeah, I've never I don't know, there's so much
younger than me that I've always thought like, I'm not
a second mom. It's kind of weird, but I am
a lot older and I was able to take care
of them differently, but on trips and stuff, I always
(05:25):
wanted them to be able to play with me and stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
So I don't know what's a favorite trip where we
were with the whole crew that you think? Is it
your favorite trip?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Like our whole family are just like us five.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Could be any any combination.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Mm I. We have gone to Disney several times, but
one of my favorites was when every buddy came to Disney, Mimi, Pop, Paul,
Cassie and their crew. That was really special because I
(06:10):
don't know, I just that's one of my favorite places
now that I'm an adult, like I it's very nostalgic
for me because of how much we went as I
was a kid, and then having my whole family there
was just really was really special to me.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So just a side note, Cassie is my sister who
also has three children. So that was a trip that
you went on with grandparents and cousins. So if you
could relive one family trip exactly how it was, what
would it be.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Well, it sounds terrible, sounds really bad, but I mean,
can I do two?
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Sure, okay, so one it sounds so mean, but it
was my senior trip and it was all adults, and
I remember everybody just wanting to take me on my
senior trip. So it was me, my aunt Cassie, my
uncle Matthew, my Memi, my Papa, and my parents, and
(07:13):
I just remember feeling really special and it being about
whatever Ruth you wanted to do. And that sounds like
super stupid, but because it's always we've had younger kids
like we've had to gear our vacations more towards kids things,
and that trip was like bringing me into adulthood. And
we got to I got to go to a casino
(07:35):
with my parents, like and I don't know. I just
thought that was really special and really fun, even though
it rained for the whole cruise.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Parents of the Year right there, taking our kid to
a casino, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I just didn't slot machines.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, this is wow.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Born after about fifteen minutes, Yeah, I was born. But
it was a good experience. It was fun.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Parents of the Year. What was the second one? We
take you to jail or something? I don't I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I would have to say it was our last trip
to Disney. It was the five of us plus.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Gus, and it was my fiftieth it was.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Your fiftieth birthday, and I just that was kind of
our last family vacation before I got married. And I'm
very I'm very grateful for that trip, just looking back
on it and being able to spend that time with
my brothers and.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
And right now your mother's crying. Yeah, probably, probably.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
She cries all the time.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
More than likely, there's a good chance.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Hey, the life changes are hard.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
All right, Well, looking back, what do you think that
travel taught you growing up?
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Well?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I think that and maybe you'll ask you this later,
but one of the things that I dreaded about vacations,
especially when we went to Disney, was how like planned
it was. I hated that. I was like, why do
we have to have a plan, Like, why can't we
just go and why can't we just do this? And
now like we went on our honeymoon and I planned
(09:25):
it to the hour, I had an itinerary, and I
think that that taught me just how to plan and
how to prioritize your time and to make sure you
get done or get to do what's important to you
in the time that you're out of place.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
That sounds good, all right, So do you have a
most embarrassing travel moment?
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Does it have to be my travel moment?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yes? Oh no, No, we're not talking about my travel moment.
We're not talking about my whatever. Let's go go for
if you tell him my most embarrassing travel moment might
as well embarrassing.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
You almost died.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And you were laughing the whole time, how about that?
Speaker 1 (10:11):
But now we can look back and it's embarrassing.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yes, it was actually embarrassing back then. That hasn't changed.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Okay, So how old was I? Like seven?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I think you were younger than that.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
No, she's about seven or eight.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It was before Chase. I know that. We went to
one of our favorite hotels in destin what's it called ed.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Waterscapes actually in Fort Walton Beach.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yes, sorry, sorry, next yeah, next door. We went there
and we were in the Lazy River, which we love,
the Ray Lazy River. And if you don't know what
Rob looks like, he's a bigger. He's a bar for
a guy. He has very wide shoulders, he's tall.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
He's I'm fluffy. I'm fluffy. Go ahead, I'm fluffy. I'm fluffy.
That's fine. I am. I am You're big, I'm broad
and fluffy. But that's.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He decided that he was going to dive headfirst into
an inner tube and he got stuck.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I got stuck in the water upside down.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So just put this mental picture in your mind of
an inner tube and this broad.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Man fluffy, yes, fluffy man.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Flags in the air flucking around.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I was flailing, okay, fine, I was flailing, yes, yes,
because I was drowning.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
That she is trying to flip him over while I'm dying.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Last right, right, that's what I wanted to set up.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
His mother in law, Mimimi is laughing.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
No, it was my mother, wasn't it. Yeah, my mother. Yeah, yeah,
it's even worse. Yeah, my mother and my wife are
sitting there laughing hysterically while I'm drowning with my little girl,
trying desperately to get this raft off of me.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yes, but then I realized, oh my gosh, he can't
get up, so I flipped you over.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I don't remember that party. I just remember the laughter off.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And You're like, we're gonna have to cut it off.
Oh my gosh, and Ruthie unplugs it and lets the
air out and it falls down, and then we all
felt really stupid.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Well, in my defense, I was suffering from oxygen deprivation
while you laughed. So you know, I've.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Tried finding it on YouTube and yeah, well that's but
he got it on film. It's really sad.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, that's really sad. Thank you, thank you forever. Yep, yep,
that's great. That's great.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
That's a pretty good embarrassing moment. That's something that we
have never forgotten.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Well, yeah, I mean, almost dying does kind of leave
a mark on your brain and your wife laughing the
whole time, though, thanks babe.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Were there are things that you didn't appreciate in the
moment but now realize that they helped shape you.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah, I would definitely say the planning piece. I remember
going to Disney and Dad was always like, no, we
have to go here and here and here, and I
planned this and I was like, oh my gosh, man, like,
let's we can go away from the plan. But now
that is so ingrained in my brain that I am like, no,
I wrote down that we're going here. I'm in a reservation,
(13:54):
We're going here. Another thing would have to be hotel rooms.
If you don't know, Rob is a stickler about hotel rooms.
There are certain ones that he's like absolutely not like,
or like hotels like we have to go here and here.
And I always thought that was kind of strange growing up,
(14:16):
like why can't we just go to another hotel? But
now I've been to a couple and I realized there's
a reason why we go to certain hotels because they're disgusting.
So now I'm a germophobe about our.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Hotel well again, and might have. This is great for me.
Thanks everybody, good night. No, I wow, this is awesome.
In my lifetime, I have traveled extensively for work. In fact,
I spent several years traveling all over the country doing
(14:53):
this and that and the other. And so when you
stay in a hotel that much, you develop a you know,
taste for a certain hotel. And so that's why I
don't stay in hotels with doors on the outside for
security reasons. And I do like a hotel where they
actually clean the room.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
So you know, I'm not complaining.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And hey, while we're at at Ruthie, what are the
two things in a hotel room that you should not
touch without cleaning? First remote? Yes, that is I can't
invest the first or the second one the phone. Yep,
there you go. I have done my I can just
retire now, Yep, there we go. I feel better about
(15:40):
my parents ting.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Now bring a sanitizer pack when I go on vacation.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Yep. And your mother made fun of me the first
time that we traveled together when I whipped out some wipeies.
But I mean, if you think about why those things
are things that you shouldn't touch, then the wipe pies
make sense? What do you.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Think we got right about traveling?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Got right about traveling as a family. We don't do
this so much anymore, but I remember when we were younger.
I mean, I feel like I have a lot, I
have a lot of things that you guys did right.
And I don't know if you guys ever said this
out loud, but you guys always made it a priority to,
(16:27):
no matter like how we were financially or whatever, that
we went on a trip at least once a year,
if that was to Disney or to the beach, or
to Dollywood or wherever, like you always got you guys
always made it a priority to make sure we had
those experiences. And I think that you guys did that
very well, without knowing like us, knowing if we really
(16:50):
couldn't afford to.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Go or not.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I think you guys did that very well. You
always you guys always picked really great restaurants.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
That would be your dad and that would be my dad.
Is Fluffy?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I think I think so too. The in my teenage years,
I got really really sick of Disney World, like really
sick of Disney World. But I'm very appreciative now looking back,
how many times we went because now I want to
go back like all the time. And as much as
I do want to go other places, I really have
(17:34):
a have a soft spot for Disney. I don't know
if I answer your question. I can't.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
You guys do great with traveling. I enjoy traveling with you.
I never have to worry you guys, take care and
think of everything.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Well, what would you like to improve on with your family?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Probably love your dad, but probably going other places, like
broadening those things. Like like I said, I love Disney World,
but I really want to make sure that Cole and
I experience the world before we have kids, or taking
(18:14):
our kids on those adventures with us. So just broadening
the places that we go and we visit.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Anything else, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
All right, Well, you kind of already touched on this one,
but let's talk about planning. Are you you think you're
turning into us as you travel now? Or do you
think you're forging your own path?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I love you, Mom, but I think I'm turning more
into to dad when it comes to traveling. Not so much.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Mom.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Follow up that goes with that, who do you resemble
more when it comes to packing for a trip. Are
you like me where I start packing like over a
week in advance, or your mom who's still packing as
I'm packing the car to leave.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
No, No, I've got it all like weeks ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
There you go Bucks. See, Yes, okay, I feel better.
I feel better about life now.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
I never forget anything though. We Well, now that you're married,
how are you and your husband thinking about travel?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I think some of the best advice that we've gotten
wedding wise, like when we were about to get married,
is don't forget about like being spontaneous in this season
now we're in I mean, we could drop everything right
now and just drive somewhere on a weekend or whatever.
(19:49):
So I think that we're trying to be more spontaneous
with that stuff. But also, like I said earlier, when
money isn't an issue.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Because he's always an issue.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Well, we did just like go through a really hardcore
money season because of the wedding and all that. So
once we are out of this, going somewhere abroad, like
we really want to go see Greece and Africa.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Africa what part of Africa.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Uh Kenya or Zanzibar.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
And and why those places.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Kenya. I I've always had a I've always wanted to
go to Kenya, but Zanzibar gives you. It's on the coast,
so it gives you kind of like the feel that
you're in Hawaii a little bit, but also the Safari
feel of like the animals and stuff like that. But
(20:59):
I think Zanzibari you get best best of both worlds.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Okay, So that kind of answers my next question. If
you're going to stick to road trips, if you're going
to go international, it's going to be a mix. Sounds like,
sounds like all of it.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, yeah, just as much as we can do, especially
before we have kids, getting the big trips out of
the way.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Well, and if you think about it, your Mam and I,
I mean you were there, so we didn't we weren't
able to do those spontaneous trips. Not that we minded.
I mean, we love taking you with us, but you know,
we didn't we didn't have the opportunity to have those
spontaneous trips.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yeah, and even in the twenty years that we've been married,
almost twenty years, I don't know that there have been
very many vacations that we've taken just us. We've always
taken the kids.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
No, and that's next that is controversial with a lot
of parents because a lot of parents think, you know,
you need the time away. And I totally respect that,
and I completely respect the parents that want to take
the kids, you know, everywhere you go. I just for us.
It was always I don't know that we ever made
a conscious decision of if we were going to take
(22:14):
you guys or not, but you know, we just liked
having you out with us.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I really liked that about you guys. Looking back, like
now that I am married, I wish that you guys
would have had that opportunity a couple more times than
you were and you were able to. But as a kid,
I never felt like my parents were leaving me or
that because of our background, Like I never thought Rob
(22:40):
was replacing me in any way. And it felt very
special to go on those trips all together and get
to experience those as a family.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
But it too is you know, you only get so
long with kids. You know, they grew up and then
they have families of their own, and then then there
will be a time that Rob and I can travel
the two of us.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, well we're saving up for our twentieth. In fact,
we're going to put a GoFundMe link in the show
notes for people that want to pay for our trip
on our twentieth anniversary. I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And there's a questionnaire if Ruthie and Cole should go
with just make sure you put yes.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
This is going to be one that is just your
mother and I on our own, with no children, with
love in our hearts for our children, but no children
with us. Yes.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
I just yeah, I wonder what it's going to be like.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
We'll have to talk to each other. Good grief, We're.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
Gonna have to talk and do stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Yeah, bring a book, bring a book. I'll find an
in or two to jump in. Well, we'll have a party. Actually,
I can't do that because Ruthie is not with us.
I'll die because you'll be laughing. So yeah, do that.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Man.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
When you think about having kids someday, what do you
want to carry forward from your family vacation memories?
Speaker 1 (24:17):
I would say making a trip happened at least once
a year that was really important to me, and making
a place super special to my kids like you guys
did for Disney. Cole and I have talked about because
(24:37):
we went to Hawaii on our honeymoon that in ten
years if wherever we are, however, making many kids we have,
we want to try, like on our on our ten
year university, we want to try to take our kids
to Hawaii with us. So just making vacations fun and
(24:58):
memorable and and something that they'll cherish for and when
they're my age.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
You said your kids, but you met your parents, right,
that's what you Yeah, yeah, I mean I know it's
it's sometimes you can confuse yoursel Yeah you met parents.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's what.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, of course you did. What kind of travel experiences
do you want to give your kids?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I really want to make sure, not make sure, but
if we can make sure they go internationally before either
like when they're older some sometime, because I didn't go
out of the country until I was seventeen, and it
was like it was shocking. So I want to experience
(25:48):
that with my kids because I didn't even go with
you guys internationally. I went with a friend, so I
guess just to be able to experience that with them.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Well, it has been great releiving this with you, traveling memories,
near death experiences. Thank you so much for sharing your
stories and your heart with us.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
If you're listening and loving this mini series, be sure
to check out our latest two episodes featuring our other kids.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Follow us on Instagram at the Family Vacationer, and subscribe
to our substack for more travel ideas and bonus content. Remember, folks,
to keep your passports and your hearts open.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Save travels everyone.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Thank you for listening to the Family Vacationer. Make sure
I like and subscribe to hear more from Robin Tracyery
Tracy
Hey everyone, I'm Ruthie, Robin Tracy's oldest and it's my
turn to take over. I'm sharing what it was like
growing up with my parents, how the vibe changed when
my siblings came along, and how those adventures shaped how
I want to travel now with my husband. Episode one
eight two starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to The Family Vacationer with Robin Tracy, your go
to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Welcome back, everyone to the Family Vacationer.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
I'm Rob and I'm Tracy. We're so glad that you're
listening to our show today.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So we've been working our way through our children to
get each of their takes on what it's like to
travel in our family. Our nine year old son Nash,
our teenager Chase, and now our newly married daughter Ruthie.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Ruthy has a unique perspective being the first child to
travel with us and has been there as our family
dynamic changed adding two boys, so she is uniquely qualified
to talk about traveling with the Joneses. Ruthie, welcome to
the show officially.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Hey, actually, it's welcome back to the show because you've
actually been on the show before.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
So I have I have So Ruthie, let's take it
to the beginning. Let's start all the way back at
the beginning, when it was just you and me and Dad.
Do you remember any specific trips that really stuck out
to you.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
The one that I remember the most is when we
went to Disney when you guys got married. Yeah, I
was like four or five. I remember both my grandparents coming,
both like sets of grandparents coming. We went to the
(01:55):
Bibity Bobbity Breakfast and the Princess, and I remember I
dressed up like a princess every day every day because
I was spoiled.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
So it's really no different than your life now.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, absolutely not, just a different dynamic, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Side note, Yes, we took our child on our honeymoon. Yes,
our parents did go with us.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
All right, wait wait, wait, wait, hang on, if we're
gonna if we're gonna say that, let's let's tell the
whole story. So having a blended family, So we went
down for what five nights? First, I think it was four,
and then both sets of grandparents came down with Ruthie
and that was four more days, I.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Think, yes, And we had our own hotel, so we
had our own space. And then Ruthie stayed with the
grandparents and they joined us at the parks every day.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
But I have no regrets, and they spoiled her rotten.
I think both sets grandparents bought her three or four
princess outfits. Ruthie looking back, Yeah, can you remember how
it felt to have that one on one time with
us before the boys?
Speaker 1 (03:16):
To be honest, no, not really. I do remember that.
I do remember that one on one time, but I
always remember like really wishing and praying for siblings because
I didn't want to be the only.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
One and that falls under the guidelines of being careful
what you pray for.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
But yeah, I don't really remember.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Sorry, do you remember a moment when you realized that
everything's going to be different, like traveling, it's going to
be totally different now because we have a baby, or
we have you know, your siblings that are coming as well.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
There was one vacation that we went on and I
can't I think it was both sets of grandparents as
well went and it was when Chase was an infant,
and I just remember like Mom being super into the
baby and not playing with me as much. But I
(04:19):
don't ever remember being super jealous because I had every
other family member there as well. It just looked a
little different because I mean, we had an infant on
the trip.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So well, you were a great helper. Do you remember
a distinct moment where you went from hey, i'm a
kid on the trip, I'm helping.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
I remember a stinc moment like outside of a trip.
I remember being at Nana's house and changing Chase's diaper
and somebody came to bring food or something, and somebody
made a comment like, oh, she's old enough to be
a second mom, and I was like, oh that's cool.
(05:04):
So yeah, I've never I don't know, there's so much
younger than me that I've always thought like, I'm not
a second mom. It's kind of weird, but I am
a lot older and I was able to take care
of them differently, but on trips and stuff, I always
(05:25):
wanted them to be able to play with me and stuff.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
So I don't know what's a favorite trip where we
were with the whole crew that you think? Is it
your favorite trip?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Like our whole family are just like us five.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Could be any any combination.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Mm I. We have gone to Disney several times, but
one of my favorites was when every buddy came to Disney, Mimi, Pop, Paul,
Cassie and their crew. That was really special because I
(06:10):
don't know, I just that's one of my favorite places
now that I'm an adult, like I it's very nostalgic
for me because of how much we went as I
was a kid, and then having my whole family there
was just really was really special to me.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
So just a side note, Cassie is my sister who
also has three children. So that was a trip that
you went on with grandparents and cousins. So if you
could relive one family trip exactly how it was, what
would it be.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Well, it sounds terrible, sounds really bad, but I mean,
can I do two?
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Sure, okay, so one it sounds so mean, but it
was my senior trip and it was all adults, and
I remember everybody just wanting to take me on my
senior trip. So it was me, my aunt Cassie, my
uncle Matthew, my Memi, my Papa, and my parents, and
(07:13):
I just remember feeling really special and it being about
whatever Ruth you wanted to do. And that sounds like
super stupid, but because it's always we've had younger kids
like we've had to gear our vacations more towards kids things,
and that trip was like bringing me into adulthood. And
we got to I got to go to a casino
(07:35):
with my parents, like and I don't know. I just
thought that was really special and really fun, even though
it rained for the whole cruise.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Parents of the Year right there, taking our kid to
a casino, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I just didn't slot machines.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, this is wow.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Born after about fifteen minutes, Yeah, I was born. But
it was a good experience. It was fun.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Parents of the Year. What was the second one? We
take you to jail or something? I don't I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I would have to say it was our last trip
to Disney. It was the five of us plus.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Gus, and it was my fiftieth it was.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Your fiftieth birthday, and I just that was kind of
our last family vacation before I got married. And I'm
very I'm very grateful for that trip, just looking back
on it and being able to spend that time with
my brothers and.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
And right now your mother's crying. Yeah, probably, probably.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
She cries all the time.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
More than likely, there's a good chance.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Hey, the life changes are hard.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
All right, Well, looking back, what do you think that
travel taught you growing up?
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Well?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
I think that and maybe you'll ask you this later,
but one of the things that I dreaded about vacations,
especially when we went to Disney, was how like planned
it was. I hated that. I was like, why do
we have to have a plan, Like, why can't we
just go and why can't we just do this? And
now like we went on our honeymoon and I planned
(09:25):
it to the hour, I had an itinerary, and I
think that that taught me just how to plan and
how to prioritize your time and to make sure you
get done or get to do what's important to you
in the time that you're out of place.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
That sounds good, all right, So do you have a
most embarrassing travel moment?
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Does it have to be my travel moment?
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yes? Oh no, No, we're not talking about my travel moment.
We're not talking about my whatever. Let's go go for
if you tell him my most embarrassing travel moment might
as well embarrassing.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
You almost died.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And you were laughing the whole time, how about that?
Speaker 1 (10:11):
But now we can look back and it's embarrassing.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yes, it was actually embarrassing back then. That hasn't changed.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Okay, So how old was I? Like seven?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I think you were younger than that.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
No, she's about seven or eight.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It was before Chase. I know that. We went to
one of our favorite hotels in destin what's it called ed.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Waterscapes actually in Fort Walton Beach.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yes, sorry, sorry, next yeah, next door. We went there
and we were in the Lazy River, which we love,
the Ray Lazy River. And if you don't know what
Rob looks like, he's a bigger. He's a bar for
a guy. He has very wide shoulders, he's tall.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
He's I'm fluffy. I'm fluffy. Go ahead, I'm fluffy. I'm fluffy.
That's fine. I am. I am You're big, I'm broad
and fluffy. But that's.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
He decided that he was going to dive headfirst into
an inner tube and he got stuck.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I got stuck in the water upside down.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
So just put this mental picture in your mind of
an inner tube and this broad.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Man fluffy, yes, fluffy man.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Flags in the air flucking around.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
I was flailing, okay, fine, I was flailing, yes, yes,
because I was drowning.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
That she is trying to flip him over while I'm dying.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Last right, right, that's what I wanted to set up.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
His mother in law, Mimimi is laughing.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
No, it was my mother, wasn't it. Yeah, my mother. Yeah, yeah,
it's even worse. Yeah, my mother and my wife are
sitting there laughing hysterically while I'm drowning with my little girl,
trying desperately to get this raft off of me.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yes, but then I realized, oh my gosh, he can't
get up, so I flipped you over.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I don't remember that party. I just remember the laughter off.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
And You're like, we're gonna have to cut it off.
Oh my gosh, and Ruthie unplugs it and lets the
air out and it falls down, and then we all
felt really stupid.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Well, in my defense, I was suffering from oxygen deprivation
while you laughed. So you know, I've.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
Tried finding it on YouTube and yeah, well that's but
he got it on film. It's really sad.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, that's really sad. Thank you, thank you forever. Yep, yep,
that's great. That's great.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
That's a pretty good embarrassing moment. That's something that we
have never forgotten.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Well, yeah, I mean, almost dying does kind of leave
a mark on your brain and your wife laughing the
whole time, though, thanks babe.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Were there are things that you didn't appreciate in the
moment but now realize that they helped shape you.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah, I would definitely say the planning piece. I remember
going to Disney and Dad was always like, no, we
have to go here and here and here, and I
planned this and I was like, oh my gosh, man, like,
let's we can go away from the plan. But now
that is so ingrained in my brain that I am like, no,
I wrote down that we're going here. I'm in a reservation,
(13:54):
We're going here. Another thing would have to be hotel rooms.
If you don't know, Rob is a stickler about hotel rooms.
There are certain ones that he's like absolutely not like,
or like hotels like we have to go here and here.
And I always thought that was kind of strange growing up,
(14:16):
like why can't we just go to another hotel? But
now I've been to a couple and I realized there's
a reason why we go to certain hotels because they're disgusting.
So now I'm a germophobe about our.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Hotel well again, and might have. This is great for me.
Thanks everybody, good night. No, I wow, this is awesome.
In my lifetime, I have traveled extensively for work. In fact,
I spent several years traveling all over the country doing
(14:53):
this and that and the other. And so when you
stay in a hotel that much, you develop a you know,
taste for a certain hotel. And so that's why I
don't stay in hotels with doors on the outside for
security reasons. And I do like a hotel where they
actually clean the room.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
So you know, I'm not complaining.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I'm not.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And hey, while we're at at Ruthie, what are the
two things in a hotel room that you should not
touch without cleaning? First remote? Yes, that is I can't
invest the first or the second one the phone. Yep,
there you go. I have done my I can just
retire now, Yep, there we go. I feel better about
(15:40):
my parents ting.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Now bring a sanitizer pack when I go on vacation.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Yep. And your mother made fun of me the first
time that we traveled together when I whipped out some wipeies.
But I mean, if you think about why those things
are things that you shouldn't touch, then the wipe pies
make sense? What do you.
Speaker 4 (15:59):
Think we got right about traveling?
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Got right about traveling as a family. We don't do
this so much anymore, but I remember when we were younger.
I mean, I feel like I have a lot, I
have a lot of things that you guys did right.
And I don't know if you guys ever said this
out loud, but you guys always made it a priority to,
(16:27):
no matter like how we were financially or whatever, that
we went on a trip at least once a year,
if that was to Disney or to the beach, or
to Dollywood or wherever, like you always got you guys
always made it a priority to make sure we had
those experiences. And I think that you guys did that
very well, without knowing like us, knowing if we really
(16:50):
couldn't afford to.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Go or not.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So I think you guys did that very well. You
always you guys always picked really great restaurants.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
That would be your dad and that would be my dad.
Is Fluffy?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I think I think so too. The in my teenage years,
I got really really sick of Disney World, like really
sick of Disney World. But I'm very appreciative now looking back,
how many times we went because now I want to
go back like all the time. And as much as
I do want to go other places, I really have
(17:34):
a have a soft spot for Disney. I don't know
if I answer your question. I can't.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
You guys do great with traveling. I enjoy traveling with you.
I never have to worry you guys, take care and
think of everything.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Well, what would you like to improve on with your family?
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Probably love your dad, but probably going other places, like
broadening those things. Like like I said, I love Disney World,
but I really want to make sure that Cole and
I experience the world before we have kids, or taking
(18:14):
our kids on those adventures with us. So just broadening
the places that we go and we visit.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Anything else, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
All right, Well, you kind of already touched on this one,
but let's talk about planning. Are you you think you're
turning into us as you travel now? Or do you
think you're forging your own path?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I love you, Mom, but I think I'm turning more
into to dad when it comes to traveling. Not so much.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Mom.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Follow up that goes with that, who do you resemble
more when it comes to packing for a trip. Are
you like me where I start packing like over a
week in advance, or your mom who's still packing as
I'm packing the car to leave.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
No, No, I've got it all like weeks ahead of time.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
There you go Bucks. See, Yes, okay, I feel better.
I feel better about life now.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
I never forget anything though. We Well, now that you're married,
how are you and your husband thinking about travel?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
I think some of the best advice that we've gotten
wedding wise, like when we were about to get married,
is don't forget about like being spontaneous in this season
now we're in I mean, we could drop everything right
now and just drive somewhere on a weekend or whatever.
(19:49):
So I think that we're trying to be more spontaneous
with that stuff. But also, like I said earlier, when
money isn't an issue.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Because he's always an issue.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Well, we did just like go through a really hardcore
money season because of the wedding and all that. So
once we are out of this, going somewhere abroad, like
we really want to go see Greece and Africa.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Africa what part of Africa.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Uh Kenya or Zanzibar.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
And and why those places.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Kenya. I I've always had a I've always wanted to
go to Kenya, but Zanzibar gives you. It's on the coast,
so it gives you kind of like the feel that
you're in Hawaii a little bit, but also the Safari
feel of like the animals and stuff like that. But
(20:59):
I think Zanzibari you get best best of both worlds.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Okay, So that kind of answers my next question. If
you're going to stick to road trips, if you're going
to go international, it's going to be a mix. Sounds like,
sounds like all of it.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Yeah, yeah, just as much as we can do, especially
before we have kids, getting the big trips out of
the way.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Well, and if you think about it, your Mam and I,
I mean you were there, so we didn't we weren't
able to do those spontaneous trips. Not that we minded.
I mean, we love taking you with us, but you know,
we didn't we didn't have the opportunity to have those
spontaneous trips.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yeah, and even in the twenty years that we've been married,
almost twenty years, I don't know that there have been
very many vacations that we've taken just us. We've always
taken the kids.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
No, and that's next that is controversial with a lot
of parents because a lot of parents think, you know,
you need the time away. And I totally respect that,
and I completely respect the parents that want to take
the kids, you know, everywhere you go. I just for us.
It was always I don't know that we ever made
a conscious decision of if we were going to take
(22:14):
you guys or not, but you know, we just liked
having you out with us.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I really liked that about you guys. Looking back, like
now that I am married, I wish that you guys
would have had that opportunity a couple more times than
you were and you were able to. But as a kid,
I never felt like my parents were leaving me or
that because of our background, Like I never thought Rob
(22:40):
was replacing me in any way. And it felt very
special to go on those trips all together and get
to experience those as a family.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
But it too is you know, you only get so
long with kids. You know, they grew up and then
they have families of their own, and then then there
will be a time that Rob and I can travel
the two of us.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Yeah, well we're saving up for our twentieth. In fact,
we're going to put a GoFundMe link in the show
notes for people that want to pay for our trip
on our twentieth anniversary. I'm kidding. I'm kidding.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
And there's a questionnaire if Ruthie and Cole should go
with just make sure you put yes.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
This is going to be one that is just your
mother and I on our own, with no children, with
love in our hearts for our children, but no children
with us. Yes.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
I just yeah, I wonder what it's going to be like.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
We'll have to talk to each other. Good grief, We're.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
Gonna have to talk and do stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Yeah, bring a book, bring a book. I'll find an
in or two to jump in. Well, we'll have a party. Actually,
I can't do that because Ruthie is not with us.
I'll die because you'll be laughing. So yeah, do that.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Man.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
When you think about having kids someday, what do you
want to carry forward from your family vacation memories?
Speaker 1 (24:17):
I would say making a trip happened at least once
a year that was really important to me, and making
a place super special to my kids like you guys
did for Disney. Cole and I have talked about because
(24:37):
we went to Hawaii on our honeymoon that in ten
years if wherever we are, however, making many kids we have,
we want to try, like on our on our ten
year university, we want to try to take our kids
to Hawaii with us. So just making vacations fun and
(24:58):
memorable and and something that they'll cherish for and when
they're my age.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
You said your kids, but you met your parents, right,
that's what you Yeah, yeah, I mean I know it's
it's sometimes you can confuse yoursel Yeah you met parents.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Yeah, yeah, that's what.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Yeah, of course you did. What kind of travel experiences
do you want to give your kids?
Speaker 1 (25:23):
I really want to make sure, not make sure, but
if we can make sure they go internationally before either
like when they're older some sometime, because I didn't go
out of the country until I was seventeen, and it
was like it was shocking. So I want to experience
(25:48):
that with my kids because I didn't even go with
you guys internationally. I went with a friend, so I
guess just to be able to experience that with them.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Well, it has been great releiving this with you, traveling memories,
near death experiences. Thank you so much for sharing your
stories and your heart with us.
Speaker 4 (26:09):
If you're listening and loving this mini series, be sure
to check out our latest two episodes featuring our other kids.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Follow us on Instagram at the Family Vacationer, and subscribe
to our substack for more travel ideas and bonus content. Remember, folks,
to keep your passports and your hearts open.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Save travels everyone.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Thank you for listening to the Family Vacationer. Make sure
I like and subscribe to hear more from Robin Tracyery
Tracy
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