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April 22, 2013

It's Monday. Aren't Mondays Beautiful?


What a whirlwind and tiring past two weeks I've had! Thanks to all of you who have kept in touch, and sent me encouraging notes and thoughts lately. I sometimes wish Tim didn't have to travel for work -- that we could live the life we want without him having to be so far away, so often. And I wish all my family and friends lived down the street, so we could be together all the time. Or at least that dog boarding wasn't so expensive (seriously, it's not the plane tickets, it's making sure our fur babies are taken care of). But here we are ... in Colorado ... a place we love ... and we will be fine! So, as always, thanks for the kind support. It means a lot to me, and I'm grateful.

In other news, it rained here on Saturday evening. "Uh, big deal!" you're thinking. But it is a big deal here. We're in a horrible drought, and it was so wonderful, I wanted to go outside and just stand in it. Our two dogs all but insisted on going out to lay on our back steps; I certainly wasn't the only one feeling a sense of calm and relief. So, I opened a few windows, filled my nostrils with the scent of the rain, and my ears with the sound of its gentle, steady fall. I want to vacation somewhere lush.

Also, we have the rest of our year all but planned. Is it just us, or does anyone else have to do this? Go back and forth between which trips will make the cut? Do we want to take a family vacation somewhere new and exciting, or do we want to spend time with our loved ones in mostly familiar places? Be a typical suburban Denver family that takes Maile to Rocky Mountain National Park, or skip Christmas presents and expand our international travels? And who are these people who live in our area that do all of that and more? There's a reason two-income households are "winning" these days, across America.

Next month, we'll be taking our first family flight since last August. Needless to say, Maile is a completely different little person now. People always tell us to give her Benadryl, or bring the iPad. But I will not unnecessarily medicate my child to fly (Do people really do that?), and we don't have an iPad. Maile has flown a lot, and has always been a good flyer, but do you have any magical tips for toddlers and flying? (She'll be on our laps, if that helps.) Please share!

Yes, today is Monday. It's funny ... SAHMs really don't have Mondays in the strictest sense. But we have Mondays. Trying to balance family, and family fun ... long distance marriages ... terrifying travel plans with a toddler. But it's a beautiful life. And we'll be fine.

xo

16 comments:

  1. first, i LOVE the rain, the smell of it during and afterwards!
    second, giving kids medication unnecessarily is beyond me. and i don't agree with it at all. i never flew with a toddler so i'm not much help there, but Becky at apples of gold flew with her little one earlier this month and had a post about flying with little ones.
    http://www.applesofgoldblog.com/2013/03/how-i-endured-6-hour-flight-with-my-14.html
    it might help! happy vacation planning friend - you all sure deserve it!!

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    1. Yes, me too, Leah! Also, the smell outside *just* before it rains. Gap used to make a body scent called "Grass," and it smelled just like that to me -- I loved it! Apparently, no one else did, though ... haha.

      Thank you so much for the link! Going to check it out, for sure.

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  2. She'll be great!! Just bring snacks (well fed children are much better behaved and so are mommy/daddys :) ). I say skip Christmas and travel! She's so little! Get her stocking stuffers throughout the year. I've always been told things are things, but memories live on!

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    1. That saying couldn't be more true, Tiffany! Hopefully we'll be able to get a few nice trips in this year. :)

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  3. I was so happy it rained. I needed to wash my car......Not anymore! :)

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    1. Me too! If only I'd left my car outside. ;)

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  4. Have her have her own little "backpack" to carry on, filled with a few favorites, CRAYONS!, and make a trip to the dollar store to get a few new "treasures." We even wrap them in wrapping paper to make it more exciting. And have enough snacks to last for days, just in case your flight gets cancelled or something cruddy like that.

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    1. Duh. I should've just asked you in the first place! Love you!

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  5. The smell of rain after a long dry spell is amazing! It makes such a refreshing change.

    Traveling with toddlers is definitely different to babies - we're also about to do a flight with Ollie for the first time since Sept. I can't begin to express my horror at medicating kids for no good cause (I had people suggest it to me too. When he was FOUR MONTHS old!), but you will make it through. Lots of snacks, books, stickers, crayons are my thoughts. And pray hard that you are sitting beside/behind/in front of a nice person - it's amazing what a difference a smiling, peek-a-boo-ing passenger can make :)

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    1. Oh my goodness, me too, Luana. I seriously question those people's parenting!

      Thank you for all your suggestions!

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  6. Hahaha! Magical tips for flying with toddlers. I wish! We have an iPad but Caroline is not a fan. We haven't flown since last fall and it was terrible. We're off again next month and I'm so hopeful she'll be a little calmer than last time. I think having them be super well rested helps. Good luck to y'all and enjoy having your little family all together this week. (PS Andrew is now super easy to fly with. He colors and looks at books and plays with his iPod. There is light at the end of the toddler tunnel! Ha!)

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    1. Yes, our first flight is during what's typically Maile's naptime. So, I'm hoping she'll sleep (and not be a screaming terror). :)

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  7. I've travelled with my boy twice on a plane, and we always bring along a set of colour pencils and some drawing papers, small storybooks and of course, his favourite soft toy and blanket. Hope this helps! :)

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  8. Colorado seems like such a beautiful place! But I can't imagine going through a drought. I've lived in the Pacific Northwest (close to Portland, Oregon) my whole life and I LOVE rain. I love sunshine too but I just can't imagine going without rain for too long.

    Hope your Monday tomorrow is a good one. ;)

    The Brayn of Chalayn

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    1. Colorado is gorgeous! We actually never planned on staying here, but it drew us in, like it does so many. :)

      My husband is from Northern California, so he's used to a "rainy season," too, and I always lived in places that it rained a lot. This weather is still unusual to me, even though we've lived here almost 5 years!

      Thanks, Chalayn, you have a wonderful Monday, too!

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