When my sister-in-law Cindy asked if I wanted to do a 5k this morning with a group from her gym, it sounded like a good idea.
I ran cross country and track through high school and college, and it became a huge part of my identity. I have kept running since then, but joint pain has slowed me down over the last couple of years. I miss running regularly. Even more, from my team running days, I miss running with a group.
I found out the run was at 5 a.m. Then, I learned we would need to leave The Compound at 4:45 a.m. to get there. I was awake all night, afraid my alarm wouldn’t go off. The three little boys all kept me company at one point or another, which didn’t help. Finally, after feeding the baby, it was 4:20 and I decided to just get up and get ready.
One of my favorite family rituals is bedtime reading.
At our house, it has many forms. Dad might read to the littles while Mom reads to the bigs. Sometimes there is a special book for just one or two kids that they get to stay up later for (read: Harry Potter). One parent might read to everyone, or the bigger kids may hang out in the living room and read quietly to themselves.
Confession: it doesn’t happen every night. But it is something we all enjoy.
When we’re traveling, just getting the kids to bed at a decent hour can be a challenge. Still, I like to bring a couple of books along. We typically make time for it every few nights during the trip. It can be a great way to gather together and settle down at the end of the day.
Here’s what we’re reading on this trip.
We left The Compound around 11 a.m. in two cars.
Despite many opportunities to join us, our oldest begged off. Roads here are narrow, winding, and frequently change elevation; even dramamine didn’t make a drive appealing to him.
We drove north to Castara, stopping along the way to see a little waterfall a short walk down a stairway, and just out of sight of the road.
(Photo Credit: Kimona Paramour Photography)
Like the trip to your destination, once you arrive, there are some things you can’t control. There may be days where the unfamiliar food is a thrill to everyone in your family…except one very unhappy person. Maybe everyone is ready to sleep except for the ones who need it the most.
As an adventure-loving homebody, I need a certain amount of familiarity to feel comfortable, and try to provide the same thing for the rest of the fam while we are away from home.
For a long time, I thought I was a flexible person. I loved going new places, trying new foods, and meeting new people.
As time has passed, I have realized I am not that flexible.
