The Cuba Vacation Drags On

From my journal: Thursday, September 27, 2012.

When we thought our vacation couldn’t get any worse, Big Sister wet the bed. Poor thing. She went to bed traumatized by the shower. (It was, by her standards, unclean. In fact, it was really clean. It just wasn’t her own shower at home.)

Cuba continued

From my notebook: Wednesday, September 26, 2012.

Two more days and we go home. The kids, hubby and I are all fantasizing about home; about the food we’ll eat, the friends we’ll see, the showers we’ll take.

Hubby and I both admitted to feeling trapped yesterday. We can’t do anything to make our kids happy. All they want is to go home. And yet, we’re stuck here.

Cuba Revisited

It was barely a month ago that my family and I traveled to Cuba for a vacation.

This is what that looked like:

Cuba – You always want what you can’t have

Standing at the kitchen sink, washing the dinner dishes, listening to my kids scream and fight with each other, I wish I was in Cuba. I long for the buffet meals with nothing to clean up, the lazy walks around the pool and down to the beach, the afternoon naps in the shade of a palm tree.

Up to my elbows in dish soap suds and dirty pots and pans, I let my mind drift to our recent family vacation in Varadero, Cuba.

The Power of Perspective

Pre-Cuba, my daughter took issue with the type of toilet paper I picked up one day in a rush. We had run out of our usual, more expensive brand and it didn’t appear to be on sale anywhere (I only buy it when it’s on sale).

Taking inventory that morning of what was left, I figured I better pick up a cheap an economic alternative to get us through until the next big sale/stock up event.

The end of summer

Had a busy two weeks. Had a lot of fun. Sad that it’s over. But we have the memories. Not much more to say. Enjoy the pictures.

A river in the city – some Time for Nature

My family and I live in a city. You might be picturing a concrete jungle without much opportunity to connect with nature. Yet our neighbourhood is teeming with nature and my kids love it.

We live not far from the Humber River and spend many a lazy day sauntering along the path enjoying what nature has to offer. We have met deer, frogs, snakes, geese (always geese), chipmunks and squirrels. I think we may have even spooked a beaver by accident once.

Recently, my husband and I took our kids to a local park to do some climbing and swinging. There’s a path at this park that connects to the Humber River. Thinking our kids would rather play at the playground, we settled on a park bench to watch them and enjoy the sun.

End of summer envisioned

Heading into a couple of weeks off. Hoping to get some writing done. Hoping to enjoy some quality time with my kids before the September routine hits. In the vein of think successful – be successful, here’s what I’m envisioning:

Motivation Wanted – maybe get a dog?

I’ve been feeling a little like I’m trudging uphill through mud lately. No particular reason (that I can figure out anyway). I’m just not very motivated. I’m going through the motions. I’m working out every morning. I’m taking my kids to the park and playing with them every evening. But…I’d rather be sleeping.

Then it hit me. I always work out in the morning. I always take my kids to the park in the evening. It’s a boring routine. I need to spice up my activity to gain real benefit from it and to stick with it. Maybe I should get a dog! That would keep me motivated, and every day would be different! New places to go walking. New people to meet. I’d be exercising and having fun! But wait, I can’t get a dog. We have allergy issues. Not to mention the fact that we have no time to look after a dog. It’s such a huge commitment.

Then I heard about a company called DogVacay and I thought, “What a FANTASTIC idea!” A vacation for dogs!

The summer fall-down

You know how kids look forward to the lazy days of summer? How does the saying go? No school, no books, no teacher’s dirty looks? But then, after a few weeks, they’re bored and wondering what to do with themselves. You can only play at the park or in the backyard pool with the same friends for so long before everyone forgets how to get along.

Well, I’m kind of like that too. I so look forward to an easier schedule in the summer. Everything is more relaxed; bedtime, meal times, attitudes, chores. Ok, maybe too relaxed.

out of routine = out of my mind