We’re just coming home from a month-long visit home to see our friends and family in Indiana. The time we spent there was filled with some new and exciting things for our son and for myself.
One of the best things about visiting was taking my son to one of the playgrounds I used to frequent as a kid. He had a lot of fun climbing, running, and touching things. It was fun to see him in an environment I spent many days of my childhood in.
Summer is here, my friends! It’s time for fun in the sun, creating new ways to entertain the kids since they’re out of school (#CanYouSaySummerCamp), and of course, vacations.
Now, if you are anything like our family, vacations are not as relaxing as they used to be. With a 4-year-old and a 4-month-old, going anywhere for an hour is sometimes level: mission impossible.
Rolling waves glisten and sparkle under the effervescent rays of morning sunshine. A soothing breeze off the water sweeps the hair from your eyes as you gaze across the sand and surf. There’s no stress here!
It’s the perfect setting for the getaway trip you’ve been longing for. Suddenly, a car door opens. You realize you’ve been daydreaming again while waiting in the pick-up line outside of your child’s school!
But what if you could actually escape to beachy bliss?
About two months have passed since we moved to Illinois. Things are finally starting to settle down, and we’re getting into a daily routine, which is pretty easy to do when you have an almost 10-month-old who needs naps to keep from being a grouch.
After yet another military move, you would think post-PCS unpacking would be a breeze. But, here we are, emptying one more brown box of “stuff.” I’m so close to throwing my hands up, getting rid of it all, and living the RV life.
I know, I know… RV living wouldn’t really work for our family at this military assignment, but it’s a “someday” idea I’ve been pondering the pros and cons of. Instead of a soaring mountain of moving boxes, we could wake up under tall pines with fresh mountain air. Rather than this endless sea of packing paper, we could lounge in beach chairs by rolling ocean waves. Those travel plans sound pretty tempting when daydreaming of retirement days ahead!
Like 99.9% of military families, we live far (very far, in fact) away from our extended family.
When we got orders last summer, my mom even remarked, “I feel like you’re moving half a world away.” Truthfully, it does feel like that, especially during the summer. In the summer, our schedules aren’t as busy, our days are less rigid, and it’s then that I find myself wishing we lived closer to family. Well, then and those two days in March when I’m throwing two birthday parties back to back.
Spending quality time with your kids is one of the most important—and rewarding—aspects of being a dad. Hanging out with your kids on a regular basis is crucial to staying in tune with their lives and sends an important message that you care. Besides doing everyday things together like cooking or playing soccer, taking a family holiday can be a great way to make some unforgettable memories. Road trips, in particular, offer wonderful opportunities to spend quality time together—and they’re typically less expensive and less stressful than flying.
On this week’s empowering episode of Army Wife Talk Radio, we’re chatting with guest, LeAnna Brown about Economical Excursionists.
Military and civilian families from coast to coast have either gone or are preparing for their much anticipated (and often much needed!) summer vacations. Most of the time, we spend months planning for our trips, especially if they’re far away. But, sometimes, a vacation to a distant land isn’t viable. Summertime is also the time of the year that boasts the most expensive rates for flights and vacation packages. My husband and I try to plan on big vacations during the off-season, just to save some bucks in our big trips. Staycations are in the cards for many this year.
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