Aruba in April

I know I'll only get 50% credit for such a late post, but I figure it's better late than never. I also apologize in advance because this post will be only cover a FRACTION of the awesome photos we captured on our recent family trip to Aruba. My hubby has yet to "dump"/upload his pic so that I can share them on this blog. We all the photos are ready, I promise I will share more.

So...yes, we took ANOTHER beach/warm weather vacation this year and this time, it was with Nate's dad, step mom, brother and our sister-in-law. There was much debate on whether we would go on a trip this year, but we all made it happen and here are a FEW shots from the week in Aruba:

This is the view of our kitchen/dining area complete with lofted ceilings...living room area is to the right, rooms to the rear and outside patio and pool behind the view

Our room (Nate and Molly's), connected to a share full bathroom for "the kids"

Mia slept in a bonus "media" room

She LOVES her chap stick! She got in to the grape flavored nasty purple stuff and used it as make-up

Walking with daddy on our last dinner on the beach

one view at the "Last Supper" we had

Nate enjoyed setting up some shots from different views...that's us eating on the beach :)

Before dinner photo shoot in front of our huge tree in our back yard...the boys played bocce ball here many times

Notice Nate's nasty scary man mustache...Mia wasn't sure she wanted to kiss him

She'd kiss mommy though!

Mia with "Coco and G"

As I said, I'll try and follow up with some more Aruba Pics as soon as I can. It was a wonderful trip, we had never been to Aruba before. In general, we typically ate breakfast and lunch at home and ate out most of the nights. We had lots of surf and turf items and of course the crowd pleaser: lobster bisque. The accommodations were wonderful and the housekeepers were amazing. I might have picked a different location of the island to stay at; however, I can't complain because I didn't do any of the work looking for spots and I just got to enjoy the ride. I don't feel compelled to go back there anytime soon, but I must say the airport experience was seamless.

This so-called-spring has been busy with work and I have no time to really slack off anymore and blog. I'll try my best to fit this in when I can :)

Routines, Habits and Traditions: a random rant

Routine: Webster says (God I miss that show) that routine is a regular course of procedure. Becoming a mom, I feel I have gained a whole new appreciation for the routines that I grew up with and ones I have now created. Kids don't like to admit it, but they need routine. I believe it helps them anticipate outcomes, predict a stable environment and understand consequences of thoughts and behaviors. In my experience growing up and now raising a child, I have all the evidence I need to continue to create and implement consistent routines.

Habits: Again, that little cute Webster says that a habit is a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior. I guess then, the ultimate goal would be to have your routines just turn themselves in to habits right? Habits are typically referred to as either good or bad. Good habits can be making your bed, brushing your teeth, etc. Bad habits are chewing your nails, popping your gum or chewing ice in a movie theater. I am trying to figure out the distinction between habits and routine. It seems like it is more about consciousness: you may be less aware of your habits in the moment and they have simply "settled" into a common or typical behavior; whereas routine takes thought and preparation to first get it going. Feelin'me?

Traditions: George Papadapolis' midget adopted son, Webster, claims that traditions are inherited, established or customary patterns of thought, action or behavior. That seems too boring. I tend to place much more value in the word tradition. Too me, traditions take the most amount of consciousness, thought, effort and follow through. Like routines, traditions can ultimately be predicted and anticipated and I believe the hope is that they eventually become habits as well. BUT...I believe there is an additional element for the creation of traditions: a sense of higher purpose or meaning. Yeah, routines have purpose too...but it seems to be more about meeting basic needs and logistics. Traditions are more about making and encouraging conscious connections and shared meaningful experiences....which is maybe why they are so hard for me to make and stick to.

I write this blog because I am trying to figure out why the hell it has been so easy for me to establish routines for my family, why it's hard for me to break habits and most importantly, why on earth can I/we not create meaningful, predictable, consistent fun traditions? Is it because the added element of connection, consciousness, and meaning comes along with pressure, fear of failure and vulnerability? Yes, yes and yes. Excuses get in the way of us creating meaningful traditions: weather, motivation, hangovers, kids, family, friends, money, work, feared perceptions of others, resentments, tasks, etc. We've allowed it to happen, I've contributed to it and I want to get better. So now what, where do we start and how do we forgive ourselves for slacking up until now?

Let it go. Celebrate the successes we HAVE had. Identify and build on the good.

Done and done! Now I want some fun examples of your family traditions that have meaning to you....maybe we'll adopt them as well :)

Just Sayin'

Hands are not for hitting

Well, we certainly have been spoiled and blessed by having a basically perfect child....up until now :)  Mia is now 19 months old and has most certainly hit her toddler-hood PMS emotional whiney tantrum stage.  Within the past few weeks, Mia's vocabulary and attempts at taking have really increased...which I guess also includes an increase in frustration in trying to get her point across and be understood (and get what she wants).  During times of stress, we now have noticed that Mia gets louder in her jumbled up words, stomps her feet, opens her mouth up and screams, cries, takes toys from others and one only a few occasions...yes, she has even hit others.  I'm pretty sure we are doing "the right thing" in being very direct and clear with our statements, looking her in the eye, ignoring the tantrums, redirecting, praising the good, etc....am I missing something?  By no means would I consider Mia mean, vicious or even defiant at this point. I guess I have just been sitting pretty 'til now and am a bit shocked when I see my perceived perfect little peanut all of a sudden get an attitude...kind of like her mother :)

My one main concern is her possessiveness of toys and things she has typically thought were hers.  She seems to share well and give things to others that are older than her but somehow finds it difficult sharing or allowing younger or same-aged kiddos to play with her things.  She responds well to gentle requests like she's helping out, but of course does not do well with demands...duh.  Any tricks of the trade from seasoned parents out there that we can add to our tool box?  Again, I'm not wanting to come across as complaining about Mia.  What she is doing now and the boundaries she is testing are absolutely appropriate for her age....I guess I just needed a slap in the face to wake me up from my fantasy that everything would continue to be full of candy, unicorns and sunshine.