Hmmm...just depends for us from year to year.

This year, we went to Disney for week Memorial week and will go again T'giving Week. We are going to VA for 5 days during 4th of July. And to the Beach for a long 3 day weekend at some point in the summer. Then, we'll have a few weekend off raoding trips scattered throughout. (Generally a one night stay or camping, drive in on Sat, home on Sun...not sure you could count that as a vacation.)

Last year, we went to Disney for a week in the Spring, and did 2 4 day weekends at the beach with friends and a 4 day weekend in TN for my sis's wedding.

I want to add... I am so lucky to have found a pet sitter whom I trust 110% and who loves my boys and takes SUCH great care of them. I always feel comfortable leaving them in her care! It makes vacation that much less stressful not having to worry about them. My brother used to run with this girls mother a lot and we all got to know the whole family. She has an older sister who used to watch my dogs and now this girl does. She takes them on outings and field trips, shes careful and responsible with them, her parents love them so they are allowed at her house and play with her 2 goldens who are gentle giants, at night she sleeps at my house with them so they are somewhere familiar to them. It works out sooo great... I will be devastated when I lose her, no idea what I'll do then! :(

You know I would take excellent care of your girls if you and your hubby want to go visit your mom and friends. So make some plans to get away. ;)
I'll be sitting with Lily for a couple of weeks next month while Linda goes away.

Aww Donna thankyou, I know that their daddy will say yes, to this invitation; but I will be afraid that they be so spoil rotten, that they will not, want to come back to us, hahaha:yelrotflm I just can hear them crying all the way back home, we want to stay with grandma Donna:sidesplt:

That's what Grandmas are for :D Well just think about it. ;)

I know the feeling, this is how I feel about my sitter also!

She is AMAZING, the dogs love her and she even puts up with me calling daily, :p

I dread her ever stopping, It took so long to find her.

For those who havent found anyone yet. There are lots of great, amazing sitters out there, it does take a lot of work to find them but is well worth it when you do. I visited tons of different types of facilities before I decided on care in my home and then talked with and met with many people before deciding on this sitter. In the end it was well worth the effort, it is wonderful to be able to travel, see new things, experience new cultures, and know the entire time that my dogs are safe and sound and having fun of their own while I am gone.

So true, so true, what you said. You are so bless to find someone that you are comfortable with.
I friend of mine had a sitter at her house, the little dog got out so fast, maybe looking for her mama:(, I dunno, that got run over by a car and died, she on vacation, over seas, can you imagine. I know my girls will be in good hand with Donna-yorkidaze but I have to come clean is me, with the separations anxiety, I know sick:rolleyes:

Oh my gosh, thats awful! I know accidents can happen... I know my sitter would be AS devastated as I would be if anything happened to my boys on her watch, she just LOVES them. I can't stop traveling and experiencing things because I have dogs, that's not the life I could or would choose for myself. So I take the chance that someone else whom I trust 110% will care for them like I would. I do miss them like crazy though! The first time I went away for a week without them they were almost a year old. I got soooo depressed for a whole day in Las Vegas I actually cried. LOL I am much better now traveling without them but I still don't think I could do more than a week. When I got home from my cruise 2 weeks ago, Dexter cried so hard for like 3 hours it was sad! He glued himself to me and just cried and cried, he was sooo happy to have his mama home. Its sad that you can't tell them and have them understand that you are leaving for a short time and you WILL be back. I am actually more fanatical about them NOT staying alone overnight EVER. I would NEVER leave them alone overnight on purpose, I'm sure some people do and have and that is their perogative but I couldn't.

A GREAT pet-sitter who does it in your home, whom you can trust is worth their weight in gold! Bonus that she loves doing it so much that you can't even pay her she won't take $$. :) (my sitter won't take money so I do other things for her like iTunes gift cards and this time I bought her a Dooney & Burke wristlet purse... it's her first 'designer' handbag and I know she'll be thrilled to pieces!)