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.

First Trip To Disney

We spent the last couple of weeks visiting all of our family and friends in California (more on that in future posts), but while we were there, we made a point to make our first trip to Disneyland since having children.  Disneyland is only a couple hour drive from our parents hometown and so we decided that a day trip was likely all the kids we could handle.  It ended up being quite the group of us traveling down to Anaheim for the day with 15 people.  It was, of course, crazy but fun but also nuts, basically everything you would expect a day at Disney with toddlers to be.

The day went a lot like this, there was whining because we had to wait in lines, pure joy during rides and while seeing characters, followed quickly by meltdowns when the kids realized the rides were done and we couldn't just get right back on Dumbo.  There was a major shortage in naps and an extreme excess in sugar.  But even with all of that, it was so worth it.  Ryan, at 3.5 years, was the perfect age to absolutely take in all the wonder and amazement that is Disneyland.  I almost cried a handful of times while watching her light up with nervous excitement in front of the princesses and dance and sing along in awe during the It's a Small World ride.  There is just nothing better than watching your child experience Disney magic.

One of the highlights for me and Ryan and my Mom was coming across Mary Poppins, Bert and the penguin in their It's a Jolly Holiday attire.  Ryan, Rory, and our nephew Austin were those three for Halloween in costumes all handmade by my Mom and it was so fun for Ryan to see them decked out in the same outfits they wore in October.  And it also just reaffirmed to me that my Mom is an INSANELY talented seamstress.

Even though Rory wasn't really old enough to understand what Disneyland is, she had a great time too.  She rode rides, ate cake pops, and stood in the background and watched as Ryan met many of the characters.  She especially enjoyed the Dumbo ride.  She's really come out of her shell in recent months and basically just wants to keep up with her big sis at all times of the day.

If I can ever convince Josh to go to Disney again in the future, my plans to make things run a little smoother would be to bring more snacks, download the Disney App in order to catch characters right as they are arriving, and bring things like bubbles to do in lines.  But in general, it was an amazing day and brings a smile to my face every time I think about it.

Disneyland is truly the happiest place on earth, where dreams do come true, and where magic is found.

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!