I am off on vacation!!

Ummm, wait. Didn’t you just get back from almost two weeks of vacation?

(embarrassed look on face and a defeated nod).

Yes, I did just get back from Spokane on Wednesday night after seeing my family. But now it is time to spend a few days with my other family.

I will be attending vacation at Hilton Head with Sidney’s family (a couple babies have been added since this photo was taken in October).

Pretty soon Sidney, Sloan, and I will be taking off in the car to Hilton Head, S.C., for a relaxing vacation with my wife’s family. An island, Hilton Head is known for beautiful beaches, prime golf courses, and abundant wildlife.

Sid’s parents have rented out a beach house for the Mathis clan to enjoy over the next week. Although I would like nothing more than to stay through next Saturday, I will be returning solo to Myrtle Beach late Monday night so I can get back to work. Sid and Sloan will stay for the duration of the vacation.

I am excited for the next few days! Hilton Head isn’t Bill Clinton’s favorite vacation spot for nothing. I have heard the place is beautiful and I am excited to experience something new. Most of all, I am excited to spend time with Sidney’s family. Should be a fun ride! Don’t Blink.

Yesterday, I returned to Myrtle Beach with a fuller heart. A 13 day stay in my hometown made me feel refreshed and inspired. You see, summer in Spokane is special. The mornings are brisk, the days are hot, and the nights are cool. It stays light out late and you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes. You sleep with the windows open and you eat outside. This was exactly the backdrop that Sidney, Sloan, and I enjoyed during our duration in Washington.

Before we arrived in Spokane, we had to travel to Spokane. This is Sidney and Sloan on the plane (Sloan did great).

Over the course of almost two weeks in my hometown, I had the opportunity to experience some big events with my family.

As you know from previous blog posts, my little family traveled to Spokane to be with my big family for my parents’ birthday party and the birth of my nephew. My mom and dad’s 60th bash was a blast, a truly fun and memorable event. Then, a couple days later, my sister gave birth to her son, John. The delivery went smoothly and both mom and baby left the hospital healthy and happy.

This photo is of my sister and I with our respective children. I was glad we could be in Spokane for the birth of John.

So yes, the two major events that motivated our travel out west went great. However, we didn’t just twiddle our thumbs for the other 11 days of our trip. While in the Pacific Northwest, we managed to do the following: engaged in an epic water balloon fight, competed in a corn hole tournament, hit up the area’s major casino, watched “Dunkirk” at the theater, dueled it out at the bowling alley, enjoyed drinks at a restaurant that overlooked the local country club, made a spontaneous trip to Missoula, played pub trivia, swam in the pool, strolled through Manito Park, drank the best white chocolate mochas Spokane has to offer, and attended story time at the North Spokane Library.

Among all the fun things we did, we swam in the pool (top right), played in a corn hole tournament (bottom right), went to Missoula (bottom left), and toured Manito Park (top left).

But aside from all the “fun” we had out and about, the best part of the trip was just hanging with family. Whether it was sitting out on the front porch with everyone, watching the faces of my parents light up when they held Sloan, visiting my sister’s family at their house, enjoying delicious dinners at the dining room table, laughing hysterically at old home movies, sitting down together to watch a Redbox, cheering on the Mariners, or swapping stories over beers, the time we spent with each other at my parents’ house (and my sister’s house) was the highlight of our time out west.

Just hanging out and talking in my parents’ front yard was a highlight of the trip.

I will always remember this trip by how we celebrated some very special people. First, it was my parents. At the party on that first Saturday, we had the opportunity to really recognize the amazing lives they have led thus far. After the bash/reunion, it then became a showcase for the two newest members of the Reser family, Sloan and John. It was so nice to have two beautiful babies for everyone to adore and enjoy. As I saw tears of joy shed from family members when they would hold Sloan or John, it made me realize what life is really all about.

It was so special that Sloan and John got to spend time together.

Speaking of tears, I know it was tough for my parents to say goodbye to Sloan at the airport yesterday morning. It was very tough for Sidney and I as well. However, I now have a more calming feeling when the time comes for me to hop on a plane and leave my family. I realize that even though I am heading to a location 3,000 miles from my mom, dad, brother, sister, and others, there is a certain fact that gives me comfort: Sloan is a product of them all. The blood of my family is inside Sloan and therefore I am never too far away from my roots.

My mom and dad are tremendous parents and amazing grandparents. They treated us so well this trip.

My little family can’t thank my parents enough for all they did for us when we were in Spokane. As always, we were treated very well. Needless to say, we can’t wait to return for Christmas. Don’t Blink.

On Monday afternoon, our family was given another gift from God. At 3:37 p.m., my sister gave birth to her first son, John Thomas Koutecky, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Sidney, Sloan, and I were right there to welcome Little Johnny just moments after he entered the world. Perfectly healthy and very handsome, it was so amazing to hold him.

This photo was taken right after John was born on Monday night.

First off, I am very proud of my sister. She did so well carrying John for nine months, the whole time which she checked up on Sidney during the final months of her pregnancy and Facetimed us nightly once Sloan was born. Although she was carrying her own child, she unselfishly put our situation before hers. That is just the type of person Miranda is.

Congrats to Miranda!

With John’s birth, it caps a wild four months for us. Sloan was born in March, Henry was born in June, and John was born in July. Our family has definitely grown. Just yesterday, we looked at a photo from our wedding in June of 2016. The image was predominately of our two families. Sidney and I looked at each other and said, who in this photo would have thought that just a little over a year later there would be three new babies hanging around?

Several of the people in this photo would be impacted by three babies that would enter the world in just 13 months.

What a blessing that Sloan gets to be around John for the first week of his life. Although they will have no memory of their initial time spent together and although thousands of miles will soon separate them, they will be special cousins. Sloan will brag that she has a west coast cousin and John will say he has a sweet southern cousin. They will always look forward to their visits together.

Thank you God for John’s safe delivery and for Miranda’s health. Also, thank you for letting my mom keep her sanity through a very busy week. Don’t Blink.

It is time to talk about the fun part!

Over the past couple of blog entries, I have alluded to a big trip we are taking. However, my writing has focused more on pre-trip logistics such as packing and traveling with a baby. Enough of that!

Sidney, Sloan, and I are about to fly to Spokane, Washington, for two weeks of fun and memories. This expedition will have three major components to it.

1. My family will meet Sloan – And we aren’t just talking my nuclear family. Aunts, uncles, and cousins will all have their first look at our beautiful angel. Judging by Facebook comments and texts, I have some relatives who are very anxiously awaiting Sloan’s arrival on the west coast. We can’t wait to show her off and properly introduce the newest Reser.

2. My sister is having a baby!! – This Friday, my sister will give birth to her first son. I was unable to leave Myrtle Beach when Miranda had Mikayla almost three years ago so I feel privileged and fortunate to have this special opportunity. Not only will Sidney and I be gaining a nephew but Sloan will have a new little cousin. Please pray for my sister that she has a safe delivery.

3. Mom and Dad’s 60th birthday party – Long before Sloan and even longer before Miranda’s happy news, this was the reason we were traveling to Spokane this summer. As my parents both have summer birthdays, we are throwing them a joint 60th birthday bash/family reunion this Saturday. Lots of family and friends will attend and we can’t wait to celebrate!

It is going to be a fun ride! Like in the past, the path to Spokane will be grueling. We will drive from Myrtle Beach to Charleston. Once at the Charleston Airport we will depart on the cross country flight to Seattle. We will then catch a plane from Seattle to Spokane, arriving at our destination around midnight. It will all be so worth it.

If you are one of my Spokane readers/friends, feel free to reach out! I am honored to head back to the city I was raised in and introduce Sloan to her “home away from home.” Don’t Blink.

Going on a vacation, especially an extended one, can be stressful. Our family will leave this side of the country for two weeks starting tomorrow. However, don’t think our preparation for what will be a very memorable trip started tonight.

Truth be told, I started preparing early last week. Same with Sid. In fact, last Tuesday, she was already compiling a packing checklist for Sloan. That is what it is all about, my friends…checklists.

My secret to getting organized prior to leaving is to jot everything down in checklist form. Items to pack? Checklist. Chores to do around the house before departing? Checklist. Documents and itineraries to place in a folder? Checklist.

I usually start compiling these lists 6-8 days before I leave. Now notice how I just say start. I begin the lists well in advance so I can have several days to think about what I need to do and what I need to pack. Because, honestly, who can write down the 101 things that need to be done in one hour? Giving myself 72 hours of stress free planning allows my brain to recall everything that needs to be done.

Then, with 2-3 days remaining until takeoff, I actually start to physically pack and get tasks done. Working off a thorough and complete checklist with plenty of time to spare removes most of the pressure.

How nerdy am I? I already had the clothes laid out that I would change into after work on Wednesday.

You know what else relieves pressure? Having a great wife! As I mentioned above, Sid is not just packing for herself; she is packing for Sloan too. I am extremely thankful for all the work she has done to prepare us.

Not unlike preparing at home to go on a trip, prepping to leave work for two weeks is extremely daunting as well. I have worked ferociously over the past week to put myself in position to enjoy my time off without worrying too much about my job while in Spokane. Again, checklists have proven key to keeping me on track and relieving me of anxiety.

At this point, because of great support and detailed content calendars, I am ready to step away from Coastal Carolina for two weeks so I can have some fun out west.

Granted, we will still be putting finishing touches on our preparations this evening. However, we won’t be running around with our heads cut off. I will be working half the day tomorrow before we start our travel itinerary. I am confident that I will be able to drive home after work completely relaxed and ready to go.

Yes, being prepared to go on vacation can be a lot of work. But the time put in is more than worth the fun, joy, and memories that are made. This trip especially will provide us with an extremely favorable return. I can’t wait!

Probably the biggest knock on my blog is that I am too positive. Sorry, not sorry. When you have so many positive things to write about and you are an optimist by nature, what do you expect? However, let me shift to the “dark side” just for tonight’s blog post.

I am fed up with airlines. Maybe it is just bad luck on my end, but over the past three years I have seen way too many flights delayed and/or canceled. Now I can understand blizzards and hurricanes throwing wrenches in air plans but this has hardly been the case. When flight conditions are pristine, whether it be in the middle of the summer or during a time on the calendar where the nation is enjoying stable weather, it seems like more and more are getting canceled. Why is this? The airlines never tell you.

Okay, fine, let me give the airlines the benefit of the doubt. I know certain conditions must exist beyond our wildest imaginations that can make a flight extremely unsafe. Thus, the numerous times flights are canceled for seemingly no reason whatsoever, there must in fact (well at least I hope) be a reason.

However, although there might be a reason, there is rarely any accountability. I have flown airlines where our entire itinerary was ruined and we didn’t get so much as a voucher or a complimentary hotel stay so we didn’t have to spend the night on the airport floor. Other airlines have provided us with decent customer service and travel vouchers. Unfortunately, the vouchers were for such a small amount that all they served as was a gimmick for us to fly that airline again at just about full price.

When flights are canceled, the economic impact on the traveler is immense. You waste vacation hours, give up work wages, spend money on hotel/ground transportation, lose out on tickets/reservations you already purchased, and increase spending on crummy airport food.

But for many, the economic punch in the gut doesn’t come close to the disappointment and pain of missing valuable time with the people or places you were traveling to see. Whether you are traveling coast to coast to see family members or you are flying to your favorite vacation spot in the world, an altered itinerary is a crushing blow. Nothing is worse than when all the excitement and planning goes down the drain because an airline decides to cancel a flight at the last minute.

So how about this? What if airlines figured out a better way to stay on schedule? What if airlines developed better technologies and protocols to deal with problems that sometimes delay flights? What if airlines try to do a better job for the customers?

If such solutions aren’t readily available in the near future and travelers will continue to miss out on vacations or fail to return home at the correct hour, I challenge airlines to make it right from the economic standpoint. Yes, I know it doesn’t satisfy the disappointment that is suffered from a sentimental standpoint but the wallet shouldn’t have to take a hit. If an evening flight is canceled, complimentary lodging at a nice hotel (with round trip ground transportation) should be mandatory. As for the flight that never took off? A round trip ticket good for the entire cost of a flight should be given to anyone impacted by the cancellation. No more of this bait-and-switch voucher offer.

I couldn’t imagine life without air travel. The whole concept of an airplane still boggles my mind. Believe me, I value the service offered by airlines. However, for the amount of money that we pay and the trust we put in when we make a reservation with these major companies, a higher standard should be strived for. I welcome any feedback from people within the industry to set me straight on where I am missing the mark.

Until then, I am crossing my fingers that I have not jinxed myself. Sidney, Sloan, and I are traveling out west next week and the last thing we need is a flight delay. Don’t Blink.