A Road Trip to Remember
We travelled 1,500 miles and back, drove through at least 10 states across the Mexican Republic and came back happy, tired and filthy. All my friends said we're nuts for taking the girls on such a long trip, but we discovered that they are lovers of the road as much as mom and dad are and we had a blast.
Elizabeth pretty much slept through it all (unless, of course, we stopped for food). For Victoria, this is her first trip and she is more than a handful - not exactly a peaceful child. But that won't stop me from doing this again, she's sweet and fun to be with as long as she is not hungry.
This trip was as much fun as it was enriching both mentally and spirtually. I visited so many historic places...places I had only seen in school text books. We were able to show Elizabeth why she should be proud of her country and told her stories while standing in the very place they happened.
It was fascinating and awesome. Plus, I had a my own private tour guide (for free!). My father and mother in law travelled with us and my father in law knows just about everything there is to know of all the cities and every old building, statue, monument we visited. He is a world of knowledge and so willing to share it that I could do nothing but stare and listen in awe.
We also visited my grandfather, whom I had not seen for four years, not since Eli was 18 months old. It is always nice to go back to a familiar home and face when you are so far from your own. There, my grandfather's four or five cats met there match with Elizabeth, who did nothing but chase them and carry them like babies. Since her dad is not exactly a lover of cats (let's just say he's allergic) she knows we'll never have one at home so she took advantage of every moment there to be with the (poor and innocent) cats.
Victoria, on the other hand, ate a ton of beans with tortillas and her bare hands too. As if this is not funny all on its own, this is extremely funny to us because back when Eli was just 18 months old, she did the exact same thing at my grandfather's house - ate beans till there were no more left on her plate (and mine). Like Javier said, there is something about that house, those beans and my daughters.
Then the cherry on top of this delighful treat was Acapulco. We hit the beach and my daughters fell in love with it. Eli has been to the beach before, but I don't think she remembers. She cried when we left and kept turning back to the ocean saying "goodbye Acapulco..." She was in the water 90% of the time we spent there, and only got out to eat, when we actually forced her to. She did not care for food or sleep while she was in the water. And her sister...well! Victoria, who is absolutely reckless walked into the water as if it were no different than walking into her room. We had to make sure she knew that she could actually drown in there. She loved it. She loved it so much she actually fell asleep in the water, and I'm not talking about the pool, I'm talking about the ocean!
And though all of this was wonderful and I enjoyed it to the fullest, do you want to know what the best part was? Javier. My husband who is sometimes accused of being grouchy and loud, walked with me hand in hand...was cheerful, giving, happy, loving and re-assuring. Not to say that he isn't usually all of this, but we all get so caught up in our daily routine that we don't realize just how far away we can become from the people sitting next to us. I saw him relaxed and enjoying every second of our trip.
So it was more than a trip. This was a vacation from stress, routine, problems and anything else that can cloud your mind and keep you from enjoying life to the max.
I know Victoria will not remember this, but I know Eli will and hopefully she will also remember that this idea began for her, or because of her. I wanted to give her a nice and long vacation before she began first grade - which she will next Monday. But that is an entirely different blog.
So I say to all - be happy, enjoy life, don't worry too much, kiss your honey every chance you get and play with your kids while they still want to play with you.
Elizabeth pretty much slept through it all (unless, of course, we stopped for food). For Victoria, this is her first trip and she is more than a handful - not exactly a peaceful child. But that won't stop me from doing this again, she's sweet and fun to be with as long as she is not hungry.
This trip was as much fun as it was enriching both mentally and spirtually. I visited so many historic places...places I had only seen in school text books. We were able to show Elizabeth why she should be proud of her country and told her stories while standing in the very place they happened.
It was fascinating and awesome. Plus, I had a my own private tour guide (for free!). My father and mother in law travelled with us and my father in law knows just about everything there is to know of all the cities and every old building, statue, monument we visited. He is a world of knowledge and so willing to share it that I could do nothing but stare and listen in awe.
We also visited my grandfather, whom I had not seen for four years, not since Eli was 18 months old. It is always nice to go back to a familiar home and face when you are so far from your own. There, my grandfather's four or five cats met there match with Elizabeth, who did nothing but chase them and carry them like babies. Since her dad is not exactly a lover of cats (let's just say he's allergic) she knows we'll never have one at home so she took advantage of every moment there to be with the (poor and innocent) cats.
Victoria, on the other hand, ate a ton of beans with tortillas and her bare hands too. As if this is not funny all on its own, this is extremely funny to us because back when Eli was just 18 months old, she did the exact same thing at my grandfather's house - ate beans till there were no more left on her plate (and mine). Like Javier said, there is something about that house, those beans and my daughters.
Then the cherry on top of this delighful treat was Acapulco. We hit the beach and my daughters fell in love with it. Eli has been to the beach before, but I don't think she remembers. She cried when we left and kept turning back to the ocean saying "goodbye Acapulco..." She was in the water 90% of the time we spent there, and only got out to eat, when we actually forced her to. She did not care for food or sleep while she was in the water. And her sister...well! Victoria, who is absolutely reckless walked into the water as if it were no different than walking into her room. We had to make sure she knew that she could actually drown in there. She loved it. She loved it so much she actually fell asleep in the water, and I'm not talking about the pool, I'm talking about the ocean!
And though all of this was wonderful and I enjoyed it to the fullest, do you want to know what the best part was? Javier. My husband who is sometimes accused of being grouchy and loud, walked with me hand in hand...was cheerful, giving, happy, loving and re-assuring. Not to say that he isn't usually all of this, but we all get so caught up in our daily routine that we don't realize just how far away we can become from the people sitting next to us. I saw him relaxed and enjoying every second of our trip.
So it was more than a trip. This was a vacation from stress, routine, problems and anything else that can cloud your mind and keep you from enjoying life to the max.
I know Victoria will not remember this, but I know Eli will and hopefully she will also remember that this idea began for her, or because of her. I wanted to give her a nice and long vacation before she began first grade - which she will next Monday. But that is an entirely different blog.
So I say to all - be happy, enjoy life, don't worry too much, kiss your honey every chance you get and play with your kids while they still want to play with you.
posted by Toni @ 10:00 AM
3 comments
