" There is
nothing .. Nothing in life .. Like messing around in boats "
( i think I made this quote up long ago)
We just finished
three weeks of vacation time - and as much as i love to travel many
places and explore - nothing really comes close to three weeks in summer at the
cottage
Especially when for i
think for the first time in 22 yrs of cottage history we can finally say "
we had amazing weather !!! " sure some clouds and a little rain
some days but over
21 days most days were hot swimming boating ones . The angels shone upon us for
at least 75 percent of the time !
Couples time was
wonderful . Time with Beauty just the three of us very precious . Time all 5 of
us was truly wonderful.
A few highlights of
the last week of family vacation
- felt even more
special because the boys mostly gone for summer so we were all very happy to be
reunited
- chase was highly
annoying the first couple of days as he has had to date a summer with no rules
or structure . Couple of big fights at beginning of vacation and then we all
settled in
- beauty has been
soooooo sweet and nice and close to us all. We have savored every minute
- bear is the most
affectionate he has ever been . When he likes a girl he is always nice
- are kids are : so
so so damn loud !!
- ....and messy!!
-... And super
connected and close
- the days are like
this :
They get up between 12-1pm
!
-phones go away 1-6:00/6:30pm
- we go for 1.5 hr
boat ride
- we eat long lunch at 3pm
on the dock
- we swim off dock
after lunch and splash around
- we do 2 hrs of
watersports
- we all relax and do
whatever from 6-8pm
- we all cook , tidy
, do groceries and shower ( some if us ! ) at 8pm
- we watch out series
" stranger things from 11:30-12:30 and all cuddle on the couch often with a
snack
- we go on our phones
or do puzzles 12:30-1:30 am approx
- everyone goes to
bed ( and hubby and i often on bali bed on dock under the stars and wake up
around 10am
and swim in the lake beneath our feet :)))
Its all a little
crazy i know . And a wierd schedule and a bit bizarre but really magical and
incredible and fun
Mostly it is ours
Our routine
Our thing
And somehow we have
wired our kids this way too
We made it clear to
our kids many years ago that one week at cottage is mandatory as a family no
matter what . So far they agree ! Its hard to make it work but i think
essential to all of us .
A few realizations
- less conflict the
less i speak
- hubby and i less
connected as a couple when kids around
- family time is very
very important to us and a true basket a
- i hate the music
the boys listen too but have made it a basket c
- i adore beauty's
music
-taking technology
away for most the day is the smartest thing i have ever
done and a constant but necessary struggle
- chase has shown us
that he can ask us advice on anything in his life . Hard for us to hear as
parents but so good for teens to know they can discuss absolutely anything
-we all adore our cow
blanket
- ok stranger things
is really really good
- our kids are really
getting on our nerves re their bad manners table and elsewhere . Clearly we
have not focused enough on this in their lives . Disappointed in them and in
oursélves
- all the cuddling .
For three teens we lucked out as all cuddlers with us and with each other
- great manners with
guests who come over however . Welcoming , engaging , warm , curious, inviting . That
part good
- loved having
soulkeeper and her hubby on boat for late swim and then mexican fiesta with
kids and jacuzzi. Great discussions with kids too . Like a village raising our
kids it felt like
- lots and lots of
boat rides and blankets and water sports
- fave tradition we
have ( and i did not even steal it !! ) pizza making contest that we do once a
year on vacation . Categories include : taste ; look ; creativity ; name of
pizza ; music piece to accompany
the taste .
Love it and super fun
and delicious . Hubby won hands down this year with his thai pizza of cilantro,
chicken , challots, carrots, fish sauce and peanuts
- mr pizza by boat
and shopping for didi bday gifts !
-bear being invited
to both a big party and a day of surfing and declining both without even asking
us as he wanted to not take away from family vacation
- chase begging to go
home a night early but then actually being ok with it when we said no
- beauty and how much
she has fallen back in love with her brothers ( and us ! ) and so much closer
to us all on this vacation . Love that girl so. It won't last but we are seeing
it more and more often :)
- the relationships
between the three little bears is so sweet
-endless debates and
talks
- god i am so much
less annoyig when i am quiet. I need to constantly remind myself to just shut
up!!
- hubby and him
reminding us of husband on show
- hubby little thai
dance on pizza night and fake smile ( intention of the day !!! )
- kids leave tonight at
8pm and we have one more night and day alone . Sad to see them go.
And a little happy too to have one last day on our own .
And it is still
always a little shocking to see the three of them
drive off in our
car away from us and back into their own lives . Always shocking to see that
car pull Away without us as the drivers
- was truly an
amazing family vacation . So glad despite all the schedules and jobs away and
more exciting opportunities for kids ; we made it happen. This week is worth
its weight in gold
If i could give any
advice to a family it is spend a week together twice a year minimum . The
proximity is good for the souls and relationships as chaotic and messy as it
often is
As the kids leave -
as the vacation ends and the good weather ends up windier and colder on our
last day full of rain , i feel so grateful for
these frozen moments in time .
That's
what it feels like
really time freezing . Standing still for our family and our moments
And today i feel my
restlessness creep back in . Reality starting to take grip . The lists and plans
, the work, fixing broken phones and ipads and washing school uniforms .
Projects to plan and business trips to take . Excercising and disciplined
eating . Getting on a scale after 3 weeks of indulgence and bad news to break
to a child tonight . Deadlines and decisions . Feelings to handle and
scheduling chaos. Work work and work which I love but is also extremely
demanding of course
And it is all
bittersweet as those times are not frozen- they are the moments in between that
make up what we call life .
Run . Recover . Run .
Recover . Run some more . Recover
Life should always be
a series of sprints . I don't believe in marathons .
