East to West

We've been back in Massachusetts for a little over a week and I feel like we are finally starting to come out of our vacation coma.  My Mom used to tell us when we were kids that she always felt like she needed a vacation after vacation and I never really got it, until ya know, I became a Mom and realized that there is a TON of behind the scenes work that goes on to make sure everything runs smoothly during travel and while we are there, etc.  And it's not that we didn't have fun, we all had a blast, but it's definitely nice (and necessary) to get back to our normal routine.  Everyone is finally adjusted back to our normal East coast timezone and I finished unpacking the last suitcase...today.  But anyway, back to our big trip.

One of the most stressful parts of traveling is just that, traveling.  I make tons of lists while I'm prepping to travel.  I buy special snacks, make sure the iPads are fully charged and loaded with new games and movies (do yourself a favor and grab a set of kids headphones), pick up some fun small toys for the trip and pray that we will make it on the 6 hour flight with no major meltdowns.   And either my planning is just superb, or I have kids that just travel pretty well because thus far, they've both done amazing on all the flights we've been on.  Window clings from Target tend to be a great thing on the plane.  I snagged this game which I remember from my own childhood and the girls thought it was hilarious and I also bought this reusable sticker book which Ryan literally spent a solid 45 minutes playing with.

Josh and I are so lucky.  We are from the same home town and all of our family and many of our extended family members are located in the same city.  We are so blessed that we can so easily see so many people that mean so much to us and allow our girls to build relationships with not just their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins but their great grandparents too.  Much of the our time in Bakersfield was spent seeing family every day and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Scurlock Siblings

Scurlock cousins

Grandma Lala and Great Grandma GG

Grampy

Auntie Rach and Ry

Great Grandma Louise and Rory Louise 

Papa B and Ryan

Auntie Rachel,  Grammy, Auntie Tenna and Roars

Great Gramma Catie (Cathleen) and Ryan Cathleen, and Rory

Fairman Cousins

"Tenna"

Grampy, Grammy and their three granddaughters, Adalie, Ryan, and Rory

Uncle Brandon

Grammy Cathy (Cathleen) and Ryan Cathleen 

I mean really, aren't we so blessed!?!?  No matter how many times we see each person while we are home, it never really feels like enough.  It is hands down the hardest part of living all the way on opposite side of the country, but I like to think that we make the most of the time we have when we have it.

Family Vacation -- Cabin on the Little Manistee

Where have I been?

Honestly, I couldn't even tell you.  We've been around but we've been caught up just doing life and somehow the blog has fallen by the wayside.  It's not that I haven't wanted to post, but things like my etsy shop have taken precedent or ya know, raising kids, keeping the house somewhat tidy, etc etc etc.  And then, I got so behind it felt like I couldn't just jump right back in.

But, here I go.

We recently got back from our Summer Family Vacation in Michigan!  I know, what the hell is in Michigan?  Well, my Dad's entire family is in Michigan and his parents own a beautiful cabin on the Little Manistee River near Irons, MI.  I went there a number of times while I was growing up, but it had been 13 years since I had had the opportunity to go.  My parents generously decided to fly not only my family out, but both of my sisters and my brother and his wife too so that we could enjoy a week together.

We had such an amazing week despite the fact that both of the girls ended up sick.  Rory ran a 103 degree fever for the first three days and Ryan followed with a similar fever the last few.  Seriously, it's always something right?  They literally had not been sick since we had traveled to California in February.  Honestly.  I had lots of help though and Josh and I still got to spend some time away from the kids.  Thanks fam!

As you can see by the photos, we kayaked, we went to the lake, we drank, we ate loads of ice-cream, we Josh fished, we hot tubbed, we drank, we ate ice-cream , we tubed down the river, we ate ice-cream (sensing a theme here?) , we made S'mores, we sat on the porch and drank coffee, we watched home videos galore of previous years at the cabin, and most importantly, we ate ice cream, we spent lots of time together.

There are three things I came away from the trip knowing.  One, my parents are the most amazing people.  They are always willing to give of themselves and continually make sacrifices for each and every one of us kids.  Two, my kids have the very best aunts and uncle I could ever ask for. My siblings (sister-in-law included) love to love on my kids.  Josh and I are basically non-existent to Ryan when they are around and that is a very great blessing.  And three,  Josh and I are going to have to work very hard to work off all the beer and ice-cream we consumed on this trip!

Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt

Yesterday, we Scurlocks hosted a potluck Easter brunch and egg hunt for some of our best friends and their kids.  Josh has to work next weekend and I really wanted to do something that allowed him to celebrate some Easter festivities with the girls.  Plus, I really needed a reason to thoroughly clean my house and having company come over always promotes that. :)

I spent a majority of the week running errands to get the necessities for the party with my two tag-a-longs in tow.  One day we even ran to Target in our pajamas because getting kids changed and out the door at 9am... ain't nobody got time for that!  Although my Mom definitely told me on the phone later in the week that "She NEVER took us out in our pajamas when we were kids and she had four of us."  Well, I don't remember her drinking a glass of wine at 5pm most nights either but hey, Moms gotta do what Moms gotta do.

In order to keep the hosting costs at a minimum, I made the party a potluck.  We provided a "waffle bar" which was a hit as well as mimosas and a few fun and festive treats.  However, at 10pm the night before as I was decorating the 24th cupcake and the 20th cookie and hand dipping bunny peeps in chocolate and sprinkles I did wonder why on God's good Earth I do this to myself (cue the reason to serve mimosas).   It's all for the kids right?  Hmmm it's possible it's entirely for me.  Or Josh. Okay that's definitely not true.

The egg hunt however, was totally for the kids.  It was a chilly 30 or so degrees but they didn't care.  They were so excited to go hunting for the eggs.  This was the first year we had tried an Easter egg hunt with Ryan and I'm just so thrilled that she had fun.  Although the plastic eggs have barely left her sight since she found them and she keeps asking when we are going to go looking for eggs again.  I'm pretty sure we will be hunting for non-treat filled plastic eggs around the house every day until the novelty wears off.

Ryan won't let Rory play with her eggs but she is willing to show them to "Ro-roars" as she likes to refer to her.   If Rory does manage to get ahold of one, Ryan is quick to grab it away.  Sister love at it's finest.

It was a truly fun day and while I wish stuff like this where the whole family is together could happen more often, it makes the days that it does seem extra special.  We are so blessed to have all of our friends here in Massachusetts and so happy that we get to celebrate these kinds of things with each other.