So we are on our way home...I am writing this on the plane, there is a bit of rough turbulence that makes you thankful for your life and enough to make you look over at your little ones and hope that we will make it home safely.
We have had a safe and uneventful trip. We have been allowed to travel around in a nice car, stay in nice places, eat amazing food (well, i have, all the boys tend to stick with bland, boring food, in my opinion....i go for the fish tacos or indian while they cross the road for pizza). We have watched both of the boys become more confident swimmers and closer friends.
I look at these boys and think how lucky I am...they are crazy and wild and never sit still unless they have something electronic in front of them, but they pretty much laugh all the time and i am thankful for that.
In the past few days, Chris and i have been talking about this trip and what it has felt like. Every year of our holidays is different. This year, we came back to Vegas. The first time we drove into vegas, it was fun! Like picture us all hanging out the car windows, arms flailing, laughing, yelling ‘we are HERE!! Isn’t this crazyyyy??!!’ This year we flew into vegas, and travelled down to Tucson. I fell in love with Tucson. It’s dry and rugged....we stayed at a gorgeous resort where we would run down the roads to get to the pool and the hot tub. Chris and i, for pretty much the first time, were able to relax in the hot tub while watching the boys swim.
This trip marked the first time we were all able to travel with no bulky carseats (only boosters), no stroller, each boy handled their own backpack loaded with their own snacks and video games as well as their own little rolling suitcases loaded with their clothes, stuffies and blankets.
We saw some amazing sights. Legoland was opted for over Disneyland, and it was a great decision as the whole park is pretty much built for their age! Disney is crazy pricey with many dark characters throughout the rides that have scared both boys in the past. Plus, we did Disney last year with Mike and Susan, how could we possibly have a better time this year without them? So much better to do days like that with family.
Visiting with the Inch family felt like we had never left. We walked in and had brie, baguettes, grapes, and slices apples, just like the last time we arrived. Everyone is still very busy, coming and going and being gone for many evenings. But when they would get home, we would often stay up and talk {though I love being in bed by 9ish, we aren’t sure when we would be back to visit so I figured I could sleep at home!} Little Kevin had rowing, that was over an hour away....they drive him there and back for that 3 sometimes 4 evenings a week! The boys LOVE Kevin and Elizabeth. It was sweet to watch both inch kids go in the night before we were leaving to say their good-byes to Isaac and Elliot. Lots of hugs, tickling, laughing....very sweet. Kevin and Elizabeth are hopefully coming out this summer to visit.
One of our favourite days was visiting the sand dunes where our car got stuck in the sand when we went off onto the seemingly hard looking shoulder {nope, not solid}. What I really loved was watching the boys check out the problem, shrug their shoulders and set off to play in the sand in their bare feet, making the most of the situation. So many people came out to help, including a border patrol officer who was really nice. It made me sad to think that a week after we left the Arizona/Mexican border, one of his patrol co-workers was shot and killed a week later while doing his job there, right where we were. We must have angels who fly beside us...danger surrounds us and we are so unaware.
But after the car fiasco, we climbed these beautiful sandy dunes as a family. Holding hands, laughing as we jumped down the sandy mountains, hauling Elliot on my back as he cried in frustration at not being strong enough to climb up alone, walking along the top ridges and taking some beautiful pictures that will soon be up on my bedroom walls....it was an amazing day, really full of adventures.
They were peppered in and throughout out trip, but adventures were few and far between for us on this run. Chris and I love adventures...we love the new and unknown path. We are perfect for each other really. This trip felt like it was a repeat of a trip we took a few years back, just as older people with older, more capable kids. We learned much about each other and our kids. We also learned that you can never go back......
I am unsure if I would have done anything different about this trip though. The kids had so much fun with each other and being able to spend so much un-interrupted time with their favourite man, I can’t say I would change anything. Their age really restricts what Chris and I love to do. Our favourite times always seem to go back to moments we are outside; hiking, climbing, exploring.
So, continuing on that note that I wouldn’t have changed too much this year; the reason: those boys are slow and a little too whiney when they get a little tired. Though when it is time to head back to the car, they run! {wha?!!} We figure we are laying the groundwork for longer outings as they get older, because we can only carry them on our backs and shoulders for so long! They are 40.5 and 45 pounds each! {the westjet lady let them each stand on the luggage scale this morning for fun! I was tempted to ask if I could too, being curious how much weight I gained this holiday!!!}
I am happy to be going home. Holidays are a good time to rest and be reminded that your own life is amazing.
