lessons learned

what i learned on my memorial day vacation
by sue krekelberg
age 37

1. when traveling 10+ hours by car with two boys under the age of five, bring lots of snacks, take time to play soccer at rest stops and utilize the portable dvd player (not matter how much you're against it)

2. no matter how hard you try, you will never NEVER be able to maintain your children's nap/sleep schedule; nor can you contain their excitement and enthusiasm for being somewhere super-duper fun and exciting...both are things that can/do make toddlers and pre-schoolers highly sensitive, emotional, and 100% unpredictable - you just gotta cut them some slack (and yourself) and sometimes just ignore the whining and screaming and crying and go with the flow

3. always...always...take the time to goof off with your kid - and once in awhile capture it all on 'film' (even if it's just with the camera on your phone).

4. never question the opportunity for a date night...leave as quickly as you can - do not pass go, do not collect $200 and do not say you'll close the garage door on your way out

5. avoid big, heavy, falling 4x4 boards at all costs...or you'll end up with an egg the size of a racquetball on your forehead, weeks worth of totally disgusting black(purple/green/yellow) eyes and a swollen face and the missed opportunity of a much needed date night ('cause the trip to urgent care & the pharmacy for codeine & anti-nausea medicine surely does not count as a 'date')

gross, gross, gross - and it spread to the other eye and down my cheek. how dare it!

6. no matter where you are in the united states on memorial day, even if you have a black eye, seek out a parade and honor all those who have served our country...i appreciate each and every service man and woman regardless of where they served, but boy did my eyes swell with tears of pride and gratitude when the korean war servicemen rode and walked by this year.

7. always remember to bring your camera and video flip cam (especially when it's leo's first time to the family cottage)...but in case you just happen to leave them at home on the kitchen island and have a complete meltdown and fit about it when you realize it after 10+ hours on the road with two little dudes, apologize to husband for said fit and be thankful for family and friends that become your personal photographers for the weekend

big huge THANK YOU to the Melville family for coming up to spend a rainy day with us at the cottage, bringing the most amazing chocolates, candy, and fudge, and taking some absolutely wonderful pictures (better sideways than not at all.  sorry, i tried and tried to fix 'em - guess i'm rusty at this blog posting thing!)

thank you. thank you.  we love you guys!!!

until next time...which i promise will NOT be another month away