Hanging By a Thread

The Cheapskate’s Guide to Iceland

In October, we traveled to Iceland, and it was amazing. We were there 10 days, and we LOVED every bit of it! Every view, every experience, every waterfall, every pool, every meal, every rainbow, every craggy cliff, every sheep, every horse, every everything was utterly fantastic to us. We met some lovely people. We ate wonderful food. We stayed in interesting places. We learned so many fascinating things. We had one experience with bad/loud neighbors our first night in Reykjavik, bad enough to make us book a new place for the following 2 nights, but that actually all worked out well. And I dropped and broke my phone...thereby losing my camera and emails, reservations, etc., but we had my husband's phone and we made sure our son brought his phone (an older hand-me-down) for emergencies and we had brought one laptop for emergency access to information. I ended up using my son's old, hand-me-down phone for photos, and I think it was better than the one that broke. So, that too, all worked out fine.

It can be an expensive trip, but if you know how to plan and what to eat and where to go, you can save money and have enough for a few amazing splurges!

We did rent a vehicle because half of our trip was spent outside of Reykjavik exploring the countryside. Renting a vehicle is expensive, plus it's necessary (or at least a good idea) to get the insurance, and gas is extremely expensive (more on that below). So, the car took up a chunk of budget.

And yet, food was really not much more expensive, if at all, than what we see here in the Twin Cities. Which is to say, it is expensive, but we are used to that. If you come from a place that eating out is not exorbitant, then it may come as a shock to you when reading through a menu in Iceland, if you can quickly convert the Icelandic Krona to US dollars, that is. We found it best to be conservative in our ordering, but not convert the price and not worry too much about the cost. You have to eat, after all. We shared a lot of meals, and we did not eat every meal out. We do pack food, and we buy groceries when we travel. And we book apartments or homes or cabins that have full kitchens for preparing meals. Hostels often have a space for preparing your own meals, as well.

So, here are our tips for keeping your Iceland trip within your budget:

1. Fly IcelandAir. From MSP and other locations, you can get a direct flight. Our flight was 6 hours long, overnight. The plane was plenty spacious and the crew very friendly. Kids younger than 12 actually fly for less and receive a box of food and a small backpack type bag with fun activities and ear buds upon boarding. We chose the option for 1 bag included with each person's ticket, but in the end had one extra bag. They weighed that one last and then called it a "carry-on" and checked it for no extra cost, each way. Note: They are VERY STRICT on the size of carry-on bags. They can't be more than the size of a backpack or large purse. Fortunately, we don't fly with large suitcase type carry-on bags. So, we were fine regarding the carry-on bags.
2. Kids under 12 are free at most pools, spas, museums, tours, etc. I think the only places we had to pay for the kids were the Saga Museum, the Perlan and the performance at Harpa (see below).
3. Eat Icelandic hot dogs at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. It's just a trailer. You'll see the line first. It's worth the wait. We went here two or three times. They are soooo good. Be sure to order them with everything! They are made with lamb…I think that is why they are so tasty.
4. Eat Soup. Anywhere and everywhere. We had some good lobster soups. Generally, places have a meat soup and veggie soup.
5. Braud & Co. is an AMAZING bakery! We got pastries here each day we were in Reykjavik and then stocked up on bread and pastries before we left Reykjavik to explore the country. While not dirt cheap, the pastries are so good and are not going to break the bank either. Get a variety and share them.
6. Reykjavik Roasters is just a block away from Braud & Co. and has delicious coffee and hot chocolate to go with your pastries. This should be your first or second stop of the morning…or any other time you need some coffee.
7. National Parks, waterfalls, geysirs, volcanoes, beaches, cliffs, glaciers, otherworldly landscapes and all natural wonders are free to explore to your heart's content. Our tip: if you see cars pulled over/stopped in a parking lot, pull over and check it out. One exception is Kerid Crater. This is on private land and it cost us a small amount, but it was worth it.
8. When renting a car, choose a couple of companies and message on Facebook or email and ask for a discount. Then, go back and forth until you get what you want. I got a 10% off discount by doing this. And get the insurance – some companies include most of the insurance types in their prices. Be sure to let them know what season you will be visiting and where you will be traveling. That way, you can be sure you get the right vehicle for your travels; some areas require a 4x4.
9. Buy groceries at Bonus or Kronan, the discount groceries stores. Buy local favorites and explore candy, bread, meat, cheese, skyr options. We LOVED the Isey brand skyr (Icelandic yogurt) and got some blueberry jam to mix into the plain skyr. We found that most of the Continental breakfasts we ate had skyr and jam, plus ham and butter and breads and a fish paste (similar to a tuna salad). So, we bought some of the things we had seen on the continental breakfasts when we bought groceries. We usually make sandwiches, eggs and toast, cereal, overnight fridge oatmeal and spaghetti for our cook at home meals with touches of fruits/veggies or cheeses or spreads or sauces or proteins that are local foods/tastes.
10. Pack your own food to bring. Word of caution: Check with customs to see if there are foods you can't bring in or take out. For instance, Iceland does not allow any meat to come in, dry or otherwise. So, no beef jerky/meat sticks – something we usually travel with. We always bring things like trail mix, dried fruit, coffee, tea, crackers, dry pasta, granola/protein bars and chocolate.
11. Eat pizza – it's easy to share and cheaper this way. We ate a lot of pizza. We love pizza! And it was delicious! Our favorite was Black Box in Reykjavik. It was mostly locals and the service and pizza were fantastic! Our next favorite was in Arnarstapi on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at Arnarbaer. Flatey Pizza in Reykjavik was disappointing though and the service was equally disappointing even though the reviews and ratings were good. We would not go there again.
12. Shop at Kolaportid – the indoor flea market in Reykjavik. I got an Icelandic wool sweater and an original watercolor for a great price there. It's the one place you need cash. There were so many cool things here. It's open only on the weekends.
13. Walk as much as possible and conserve gas. It is EXPENSIVE! I think walking is the best way to explore and not miss anything anyway, but sometimes you must drive, of course, if you are exploring outside of Reykjavik. So, when you plan your trip be aware that gas is quite costly. We paid about $300 total and it was the equivalent to a full tank of diesel.
14. Stay in a hostel, when possible. Some have family suites with private bathrooms. We stayed in a variety of types of lodging during our 10-day trip. One of them was the Base Hotel, a hostel that used to be the NATO Base barracks for families. We booked a family suite with private bathroom. It had two rooms with a total of 4 twin beds and one queen with a private bathroom for about $140 for the night. There was a game room, arcade games, a huge magnetic chessboard, a pool table and a library, a small café and a bar all with a cool, funky style and variety of travelers.
15. Book a Free Walking Tour. You pay what you can/what it was worth to you at the end of tour. It's an awesome way to get to know the city and its culture, government, food, the must dos and don'ts, etc. We do this kind of tour in any city we travel to that offers it.
16. Consider a Reykjavik city card for discounts. For us, and what we were doing and the age of our kids, it did not add up to a discount, but it's worth checking out.
17. There is no tipping at all in Iceland! (other than the free walking tours)
18. Talk to people, whether visitors or locals. They will give you tips and information that is invaluable.
19. Research and read everything you can find on Iceland. I found local blogs, TripAdvisor comments, maps and local Icelandic guide websites very helpful.
20. The Geothermal Bakery Bread Tour in Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn. We enjoyed the geothermal pools at the spa the night before we went on the Geothermal Bakery Bread Tour, and really enjoyed everything about the Fontana Spa. The bread tour was absolutely fascinating – at least to me – and quite affordable. We lucked out with our guide as it was her grandmother's bread recipe that they use and has been passed down for generations. The dark, dense, slightly sweet bread is baked inside a pot that is buried out in the hot sands where the hot springs are. After seeing how it is baked, we were served warm bread that was just dug up from the hot sand with thick slabs of butter. Our tour was just our family since no one else signed up for it, and we ate as much of the bread as we wanted.

    A few splurges that were totally worth it:

    1. The Blue Lagoon. The kids were free here, but for two adults with the basic package (towels, lockers and adults get 1 free drink) the total was still $200. This was our second stop after getting off the plane (first stop was a continental breakfast at Viking World). We were exhausted, and the blue lagoon was relaxing and rejuvenating! We spent 4 hours here. It's not to be missed. Word to the wise: Make reservations before you arrive! It does sell out. This is one of my favorite things I have EVER done. The locals tend to poo poo it, but it was an amazing experience and beautiful and unique and such a wonderful memory!
    2. Omnom Chocolate Factory Tour. The kids were free, but it was still about $80 total. We loved it! It was quite interesting, the chocolate was amazing, and the people were lovely. You get to taste all of their chocolate! IT IS FANTASTIC CHOCOLATE!
    3. How to Become Icelandic in 60 minutes at Harpa. Harpa is the performance center in Reykjavik and the architecture alone warrants a visit. It is beautiful and the outside tiles continuously change colors. We went to this performance on our first night. We were exhausted by the time difference and no sleep, but we laughed our heads off and loved it. While it is silly and fun and delightful, it is also quite an education and provides a fascinating look at the Icelandic culture and history and people. Make reservations before you go. It was a full house when we were there. (Be warned if you have young and/or sheltered children: There is some "language" as Captain America says and some topics are a bit savory, but our kids loved it, and we did not feel that it was inappropriate or regret taking them – our kids are not sheltered from "language" or information though)
    4. Lunch at Fridheimar Tomato Farm. Everything about this place made us happy! Of course, we all love tomatoes. The food is delicious. The warm, golden light of the green house feeds the plants and your soul and gives you a happy buzz. Service is friendly and impeccable. If you get just the soup buffet, it won't break the bank either. It's all you can eat tomato soup with butter, sour cream, julienned cucumbers in vinegar and basil for topping said soup and mounds and mounds of various delicious, rustic, made on site bread and coffee or tea to end the meal. Of course, you can order a few other tomato-based dishes too…and we did. So, this ended up being our most expensive meal, but it was my birthday and a splurge was in order. Oh, and it's best to make a reservation.
    5. The Saga Museum. It is a wax figure museum that tells the tales of the most famous Icelandic Sagas or stories. We each had an auditory guide and went through the fairly small museum at our own pace. It was beneficial for understanding many stories, locations, tours, etc. throughout our trip.
    6. The Perlan…or the Pearl. This is a wonderful museum for understanding the geologic formations and phenomena on the island. We found it quite educational. Additionally, there is a manmade ice tunnel/cave/glacier that is kept below freezing and made from ice. We took a guided tour through and it was really interesting. There is a deck around the top of Perlan that offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area.

If you have the chance to travel to Iceland, do it! It is such a wonderful trip, no matter what season you choose to go. I have other tidbits about places to stay and where to eat, and maybe one day I'll get around to writing those posts.

Where are you headed?

Anna

Travel Cents {Savvy Travel Tips}

My children will grow up to be world travelers with a passion for exploration or hermits who never want to leave the comfort and familiarity of home. I'm hoping for the former.

Since my kids were little bitty, we have gone and done all that we could afford and fit into the schedule. I decided early on that they would have to roll with it when it came to schedules…that is, I didn't keep strict schedules of mealtimes, naptimes and bedtimes – not if it interfered with doing something fun or meeting a friend out for a walk or coffee and playtime.

There were certainly lean years that we could afford only the nearby and free events, but more recently we've been able to go farther and do more, more frequently. Traveling when and where we want to is just one of the perks of homeschooling.

So, my kids are still having to roll with it and drive and fly and walk wherever I find a good deal to go and explore. In this past year we've spent time in Florida, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Iowa, Wisconsin and explored our own state of Minnesota. We go where I find cheap airline tickets and where we have family and friends.

Traveling teaches so much. Of course, we learn about the history or industry or art or culture of the particular area in visiting museums and going on tours, etc., but we also learn about the people who live there, the ins and outs of a city – the way a city feels, especially the cities we walk. Traveling itself can teach patience and resilience and going with the flow when things go wrong. But more than anything else, removing yourself from the familiar and going out into the world and exploring and experiencing new things broadens the mind. And this is what I strive to achieve when we hit the road or soar into the sky.

Oh, sure, there's often whining or complaining along the way, but I choose to ignore that and keep pointing out the beautiful, interesting, new things we're seeing. And once we get somewhere the boys forget their worries or complaints.

So, that's the why and here's the how.

I search for deals.

I particularly like to fly Southwest Airlines. There are no hidden fees, each person gets 2 checked bags free and you can get really amazing fares. Recently, we flew to Atlanta for $49 apiece. For this most recent trip, I actually bought us 3 different one way tickets and it saved us about $700 in the end.

I check Groupon and Living Social for specials on activities. I do this for local activities and for the places we travel to. I have gotten bus tours and mini golf and boat tours and museum passes and even transportation deals this way. I even found a fantastic deal on a hotel in Miami through Groupon. Sometimes I call the business and check on availability or schedules before purchasing and often they give me a better deal to just go through them.

I schedule our trips for the off-season, if possible. This can really save money. 

Learn about the area if you won't have your vehicle with you and figure out if you can walk from hotel to activities/tours, etc. or if there is mass transit that's a good option. In D.C., we had several good, economical mass transit options to choose from. We went with the D.C. Circulator bus week pass that cost of $11 apiece.

If no good mass transit options exist, perhaps Uber is a good choice or maybe you need to rent a car. If you end up needing to rent a vehicle, do call your insurance agent beforehand and see if she/he suggests skipping the added insurance that can really raise the price of the rental. My insurance agent told I didn't need to get any, no matter what the rental agent told me.

If you will be traveling for more than a few days, plan to bring along snacks of nuts, fruit, crackers, granola bars, tins of tuna, meat sticks, packets of nut butters, etc. I have been known to make a mean little smorgasbord from our snack stash. This point is especially important if you have special dietary needs and may not be able to get food that fit your needs in airports, on the go or in the middle of nowhere. I speak from experience.

Be sure your kids have activities to distract them from layovers or early or late travel. I have found that all my kids really need to keep themselves occupied while traveling is a computer or tablet, but I still encourage bringing along travel games, sketchpad and book, some snacks in their own bag and some suckers, if flying. My favorite suckers are the Organic Trader Joe's suckers – no artificial colors or flavors – and they work well for takeoffs and landing.

Do your research before your go. Be sure you know the costs and times of activities. Check weather and map out distances. Plan out an itinerary – even if it's just a tentative plan. Know where restaurants are in conjunction with your activities, especially if you have picky eaters or special diets to consider. Hangry kids are no fun! Plan accordingly.

Double check with TripAdvisor. There are reviews on just about everything these days, and I have found this site to be very helpful in deciding whether to go somewhere, how long we will need to allow for activities, the cleanliness of hotels and which rooms/floor/side to request, etc.

If you homeschool, be sure to ask if there is a special rate for homeschools/educators/students. There often is a discount to be had.

And if you have a membership at your hometown museum or zoo, be sure to check reciprocity deals. Our Minnesota Science Museum membership has more than paid for itself due to its many partnerships with other museums.

Now, what's stopping you? The whole world is out there waiting. Over and out…

Anna

Itinerary: Washington D.C. Trip Part II

Itinerary making is not to be taken lightly. I spent many hours on this and went through multiple drafts before settling on this one. Of course, we made little adjustments throughout each day. And then, each night we went over the next day's schedule and made changes.

Regardless, here is what we ended up doing each day. The pedometer on my phone showed that we were walking an average of 15 miles a day. We packed it in from early am to late pm. And we all survived, learned a lot and loved all the exploring.

Tuesday

Flight from MSP to Baltimore/Washington 8:05 ET

Town Car from TransGapLimo (better deal than taxi) to Best Western Rosslyn/Iwo Jima in Arlington VA

Wednesday

Taxi to Senate Office Building – 7:45am

Breakfast with Sen. Al Franken (for MN constituents – check with your Senator) 8:45 am

Capitol Tour with Franken staffers

Lunch

Walk around Capitol and down toward the National Mall

Unplanned stop at National Botanical Gardens for bathroom break – beautiful place for a quick rest

1:30 to 3:30 DC by foot tour of Supreme Court, Capitol & Library of Congress tour (outside only with exception to Library of Congress)

Dinner

7 to 9 Lincoln Assassination Tour

Taxi to hotel

Thursday

Taxi to Senate Office Building – 8 am

9 to 10 am Breakfast with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (for MN constituents)

10 to 12 Senate and House Chambers to observe business being conducted

12 lunch Wicked Waffle

Stumbled upon Farmers' Market on 15^th & K Street & meander through Lafayette Square and past White House on way to tour

2 – 6 pm DC by Foot All in One Tour (National Mall and Tidal Basin)

6:30 Meet friends at the Willard Hotel for dinner in drinks – Café du Parc

Taxi to hotel

Friday

Rosslyn Metro Station to buy DC Circulator week passes $11

Breakfast at Wicked Waffle (yes, again – it was good, cheap and quick)

10:45 arrive at White House for 11 am Tour – takes a while to get in through security checkpoints, but once inside it's a self-guided tour that you can go through at your own pace. We took our time – how many times in your life do you get to spend time in the White House!

1-4 American History Museum – eat lunch there

4:30 to 7:30 Natural History museum

Take bus back to hotel

Saturday

Taxi to boat dock 7:45 am

Board Spirit of Mt. Vernon at 8:15 am

8:30 to 3 pm Potomac River (1.5 hrs to Mt. Vernon 3 hours at Mt. Vernon and 1.5 hrs back). Lunch on boat after Mt. Vernon

Walk to museum

3:30 to 7:30 Air and Space Museum

Dinner – Ledo's Pizza at hotel

Sunday

10 – 12:30 DC by Foot Arlington National Cemetery Tour

Lunch Plan B Burger

Spy Museum

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

 

Monday

Breakfast at hotel – slower morning

12 (arrive at 11:45) National Archives

Lunch

3-5 Ford's Theater

Tuesday

10 White House Visitor Center

12 Newseum – lunch onsite

4:00 to hotel to get bags

5 town car to airport

Flt home at 8:40 pm.

And a whole lot of walking in between and around and to and from…

What got pushed off the schedule due to time was the National Gallery of Art, and I really regret this.

While there were a few things we really enjoyed seeing at American History and Natural History Smithsonian museums, we were not greatly impressed by these museums, as a whole.

I must say that in my mind's eye my 8^th grade self was greatly impressed, but I had not seen much of the world at this point in my life. And my children have at their young ages already been to many impressive places and museums and exhibits. So, they are certainly wonderful museums, but we were simply underwhelmed by them and I wish we had instead gone to some of the many art museums.

We stumbled upon a beautiful sculpture garden and a sunken garden, farmers' market and the National Botanical Garden in our meanderings and relished in these little finds along the way. Everywhere we went we made friends and found helpful, kind, patient people.

We definitely took more time than planned at some places and less time at others. So, in the end it worked out. We chose to do a tour everywhere possible. We always got so much out of each of the tours – information, stories, tips we would have never known about on our own.

Each of us had input regarding what made it on to our schedule. This is why Madame Tussauds Wax Museum ended up on the itinerary. My 7.5 year old son had seen a kid Youtuber do a review of it and REALLY wanted to go. I was not thrilled with adding this, but it was his No. 1 pick! And I have to say it was a really nice surprise. We were all so glad we went. I'll add more about this in the next post of our thoughts, reviews and tips. Over and out…

Anna

Travel Plans: Washington D.C. Part I

I really love to travel. I haven't always had the money or the freedom of schedule to do so, but when I have the chance, I go…dragging along my kids and husband or sometimes my mom on whatever adventure I've hatched. And when we travel, we don't just push back and relax, we explore, we walk and walk and walk, we find hidden gems and we get the local scoop.

The thing I love most about homeschooling is the freedom we have to go and do and explore and learn firsthand anywhere and anytime we choose to do so. We've done a lot of that locally, but we have also taken to the road. We went to Southwest Florida in September, Kansas City area in November, Sioux City, IA in March (believe it or not, there's a lot of history and culture there) and Washington D.C. area in April.

For me, a huge part of travel is the planning that takes place before we leave home. I like to get the best deal. I like to have reservations when able to do so. I like to have an itinerary that allows quite a bit of flexibility. I like to know what our options are for activities, for meals, for breaks, for groceries, for transportation, etc. I explore maps, websites and blogs to the degree that by the time we arrive I already have a general sense of where things are and how to get here and there. I plot and plan and make lists and notes and first drafts of itineraries. I make phone calls and check out deals and FINALLY make out the official itinerary.

Here's how I planned the D.C. trip and how it worked out for us:

Step One: Where are You Going & How are You Getting There?

I had not planned on going to D.C. this year, but then in early January, I happened to see that Southwest Airlines was having a big sale. I scanned the deals from MSP, my home base of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and found that D.C. was the cheapest destination and it was too low to pass up. I phoned my mom to see if she was game to accompany me and the boys and bought the tickets. It's my philosophy that if you find deals that are truly too good not to go, you go!

Now, with Southwest, you can't lose. If you can't make the flight you bought tickets for, you get credit to go somewhere else when you can go. And they don't hide any fees like I have found on Frontier and Spirit. What you see is what you get, PLUS you get 2 FREE checked bags for each ticketed person! We, flying from MSP, are somewhat limited with Southwest, but they keep expanding the number of cities they are flying to from here. In fact, we were on the inaugural flight from MSP to BWI (Baltimore Washington International).

The only problem with flying into BWI is that it's about a 45 min drive to D.C. You can take a train or a taxi or hire a town car. We opted for a town car that was there to pick us up when we arrived and then picked us up from hotel and drove us back to airport at end of stay. I found a good deal on Groupon and then called and negotiated an even better deal. So, it was still cheaper for us to fly Southwest into BWI.

Step Two: Where are You Going to Stay?

The next hurdle was finding cheap, but clean and safe and nearby accommodations for us. How did we travel before the internet was around? Thank goodness for Trip Advisor! I was able to locate and then read hundreds of reviews on a Best Western in Arlington, VA, very near Iwo Jima, the National Cemetery and a big metro station. The reviews were mostly good, but I was able to figure out exactly which rooms/what part of the hotel I wanted to stay in.

So, when I called to book my reservation I knew exactly what to ask for. I have to admit I had concerns we'd get there and it would be a dump, but I also thought hundreds of reviews couldn't have gotten it wrong. We ended up paying $902 for a whole week when many middle range hotels in the area costs $350 a night – ridiculous!

We just needed a place to shower and sleep, basically. I hoped and prayed it would be clean and without bed bugs. And it was perfectly fine. It was clean with no sign of bed bugs. The staff was nice and helpful. It was conveniently located and easy for us to walk, catch a bus or take a short taxi ride. There was a really good (& cheap) pizza place attached to the building, and they even had a gluten free crust for me. Bonus: they always had hot coffee in the lobby – and it was good! Only downside was that it was small and fairly cramped for four people, but again, we were there from about 10 pm to 7:30 am on most days. So, it wasn't a problem. We would definitely stay there again.

Step Three: What are You Going to Do?

I put in a lot of screen time researching and reading reviews and contacting our MN senators regarding tours and events and locations. Then, I logged a number of hours coordinating times and locations. The result was a jam-packed week-long history lesson.

The thing about Washington D.C. is that there are a ton of FREE things to do with your family! How often is that the case when you go on vacation? None of the historical sites, including the Capitol, White House, Library of Congress, National Archives and all the monuments, cost a cent. Additionally, all of the Smithsonian museums are free. AND the DC by Foot tours are free – you just pay your guide a tip at the end, based on what you felt you got out of it and what your budget is. There are even free performances at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts at 6 pm every evening.

Both of our senators had breakfast gatherings for their constituents and this seemed to be a fairly standard practice with other state's senator's offices. So, be sure to check your senator's website. Plus, you'll need to go through your senator's office to get a Capitol tour and White House tour scheduled. They are also able to arrange Pentagon, F.B.I. (recommended age for this one is 16 and older) and other tours.

I'll provide our detailed daily itinerary in the next post.

Step Four: How are You Going to Get Around?

We opted for taxis when we had a specific time to be somewhere first thing in the morning. We got week passes for $11 each to ride the D.C. Circulator trains for nonspecific start time days, on our way back to hotel, around the mall area, etc. And we walked and walked and walked, logging about 15 miles per day. The city is easy to get around in and we met many people who were willing to help with directions or walk us to a station or give us insider tips, etc. We, my mother, two young boys and I, were out after 10 p.m. several nights and were not concerned about our safety. Of course, I always feel less worried about safety in a city I'm unfamiliar with. In your own city, you know where murders typically occur, the areas to avoid, the corner that was on the news last night after a couple was robbed at knifepoint, etc. I know D.C. is not necessarily a safe city, but the areas we were in were vibrant and friendly and filled with police and secret services officers. So, we never felt unsafe.

To Be Continued…Check in later this week for my "Official Itinerary" and our reviews of the things we did and places we went. Over and out…

Anna

How to Have a Perfectly Imperfect Day Trip {Or How to Make a One Hour Drive Take Three Hours and Have Fun Along the Way}

First, plan a date and destination with your friend and put it on your calendar. Now, get sick and reschedule that trip and go to the doctor for antibiotics instead.

On rescheduled date, check website for info and discover planned-on destination is closed on that day of the week. Scramble to pick another destination to explore.

Pack a lunch and snacks and bottles of water and 5 kids and 2 moms into a minivan.

Forget to get gas until on the road…oh, and always pick the scenic route over the interstate.

After getting gas, spot a cute park down the block. Realizing it's now already lunch time and passengers are getting antsy, pull over to play and eat lunch at cute park.

Once kids are spinning and climbing and howling like wolves next to the faux stone outcropping, check map on phone and discover that the ice cream spot you've been going to try for the last two summers is just 2 blocks away.

Corral kids back into car for 2 block drive to Nelson's Ice Cream.

Note at door that only cash is accepted. Quickly count out all bills and coins to be found in your wallets and bottom of purses to be sure there is enough to cover 7 ice cream orders….kid size, please {the scoops are HUGE…REALLY!}.

Sit outside (the only seating at this joint) with others who have discovered this ice cream paradise and enjoy the cold, sweet cream and the warm, beautiful day.

Again, attempt the mere hour drive to decided-on destination….but realize you just fed a large cup of ice cream to each of the 5 kiddos in the back…find place to stop and explore and burn energy!

Pull over at Marine on St. Croix {as if you have a choice, the charm of this tiny village will draw you in like a magnet}. One storefront sign catches the eye of these harried moms….Chocolate & Wine…. Alas, that will have to be another trip… Find a historical marker detailing the first mill on the St. Croix River and follow the trail and signs. Spot an old log cabin and peek in the windows…try to convince the 3 year old that large doll in the crib is NOT a dead baby…make a bathroom stop before getting back in the car…maybe the General Store has a bathroom….no, the bank…no, try the bar….bingo…

Again, head toward destination.

Finally, arrive at target destination…it should have taken only an hour to get here, and yet, it has taken three hours….Franconia Sculpture Garden!

Let the kids get out and run and play and explore. While they can't climb and slide and shimmy up and down and all around (and in one kid's case, rip the backend of her pants out) on all the sculptures, there are quite a few they can.

Franconia is on a huge piece of land with forests and prairies and lawns and bathrooms and a fridge of cold bottles of water for a $1 donation.

I didn't expect the kids to enjoy it as much as they did, but we were glad they had so much fun. They climbed and played and slid and swung from the beautifully created play structure, they climbed up and slid down and crawled inside a rooftop and stood atop a concrete mound and climbed a tall ladder to a lookout and went inside a "dog house" and added to the art with the provided chalk and got up in the treehouse in the woods and played and created and imagined and pretended and observed and got dirty and soaked in the beautiful day and the smells of the country.

And after three and a half hours of playing and imagining and observing, leave hungry, tired, dirty and happy.

Soldier on…6 miles…to Taylors Falls and find The Drive-In. It's the most adorable little drive-in you can think of, inhabited by the kindest and most helpful wait staff you can imagine. They make their own root beer daily and the burgers are fresh and juicy and delicious. Next door to The Drive-In is the most adorable little mini golf course. All of it is so idyllic and immaculate and classically cute that one can almost believe she's stepped back in time to the 1950s.

Get back into the car and head home in the dark happy, tired, dirty and full of caramel-ly root beer and burgers. The trip back home will take only 1 hour and 8 minutes. Wipe down kids and put them into bed!

Of course, we didn't have time for the mini golf or the unique pot holes and cliffs at the state park along the river in Taylors Falls, but that will have to wait until another day trip.

I love mini trips filled with fun and adventure and exploring and the little surprise findings all done in a day. No packing, besides a picnic lunch and a few snacks, and no hotel expenses necessary. Sometimes they're planned and sometimes they're totally impromptu, but either way they're always memorable experiences.

This summer I started leaving towels and bug spray and sunscreen and blankets and hats and my ever-trusty Norwex cloths and a first aid kit and water toys in the back of my minivan for any planned or unplanned day trips or picnics or walks or swims. We have used these items over and over, and it's been really convenient to have these things already in the car. Now, I just have to think about packing snacks and lunch or dinner and drinks and perhaps some sweatshirts or swim suits to add to the mix.

All this stuff came in handy when we made an unplanned day trip to Duluth recently and when we met friends at a park with a creek just 15 minutes from our house.

This summer we've been on the go more than ever before. Now that my kids are 9 and almost 7 it's easier to pick up and go find places to explore. I've loved this summer of 2015 full of fun and friends and big and little excursions.

What adventures are in store for your next day trip? Over and out…

Anna

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Summer vacation with family…when the kids go to bed unbathed, smelling of sun and water, mingled with remnants of bug spray and sunscreen…when the adults are too busy catching up with cousins and aunts and uncles to notice that the children are still running about in the dark shadows long after that hour of bedtime has come and gone…when cousins, no matter the degree, play games and laugh and the distances between melt away…when meals come on paper plates and rules about desserts and number of bites to be eaten before consuming sweet treats are relaxed…when drinks come ice cold, out of coolers…when getting dressed means putting on a swimsuit…when "Are we there yet?" has been excitedly asked 10 billion times. These are the things which memories are made. Over and out…

Anna

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Drama on I-35 {& Blessings}

Weellllll, we got some adventure right off the bat on this trip. Here's the short version: Due to an unfortunate oversight by a tire company who serviced our vehicle on Monday and shall remain nameless in this post (but will pay their due), we almost lost a wheel or tire or both (forgive me, I am not a mechanic). This loss of lugnuts left us disabled on the side of I-35 between towns in IA…basically, the middle of nowhere, but we did feel blessed that it had not ended in our deaths or the deaths of anyone else traveling on the road with us, if we had indeed lost a tire/wheel.

After sitting for an hour and forty-five minutes, calling and trying to find a tow truck to come get us (including my emergency roadside assistance number on the back of my insurance card….this poor lady told me she could not even locate I-35…oh, good grief!), Trooper Hobart came knocking at our window (honestly, he scared the tar out of me…I mean we're sitting on the side of the interstate in the middle of nowhere and someone knocks on my passenger side window….). Anyway, kind Trooper Hobart found a tow truck to come get us.

Bob showed up with his tow truck about 30 minutes later (2 hours and 15 minutes of sitting on the side of the road, if you're keeping track). And bless his heart, despite a lack of seatbelts, taking 2 different phone calls while driving us, backing up on an entrance ramp and making a u turn in the southbound lanes of I-35, he got us safely to a mechanic, whom he had called ahead of time, who was prepared with the correct lugnuts and stayed open late for us.

This mechanic checked all the lugnuts and quickly fixed the one wheel with broken/missing and/or loose lugnuts in just a matter of minutes and got us back on the road.

All said and done we lost almost 4 hours of driving time today and incurred a number of unexpected costs (which will surely be reimbursed in time); and yet, the boys got to ride in the cab of a big tow truck for the first time. They quite enjoyed this experience. And we are quite appreciative of Trooper Hobart and Bob and the owner of River City Auto & Detailing for all their help today.

Surely, the hand of God was on our back tire today, and I'm sure He was guiding those helpful people to us. We feel blessed and refuse to dwell on the what-ifs.

When I lamented that I had been concerned about the conditions of our tow truck ride, the boys told me it could have been worse….he could have smoked. It's true, and a good way to look at things. It wasn't a hot day; we had plenty of gas and lots of food and drinks in the car (we did eat our lunch in the car on the side of the road today); we had internet access; and no one freaked out during any part of this ordeal; and a deer came out of the trees not far from our car as we waited for the tow truck.

As I was reminded earlier this week, things could always be worse. So, really there's no point in thinking of a worst case scenario because you can just keep topping the worst case with even worse cases, and really what's the point?

And now, we are back on track to get to Texas today.

Texas….where everything is bigger….the people are friendly…and a coke is not always a Coke. Over and out…

Anna

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Summer Road Trip 2014 {Here we go again…}

I do feel a bit like I'm taking the circus on the road…

I've counted out underwear in neat little stacks, packed up ointments, medicines and bandages of all sizes, thought through meals and bought groceries, washed berries and cut up a watermelon and made 4 tin-foil wrapped sandwiches for a roadside picnic, bagged up birthday presents, washed every bit of the dirty laundry and placed outfits in order in suitcases, gathered up interesting and favorite books, quietly collected little treats and surprises for along the way, checked the condition of lawn chairs, taken an inventory of water toys and floaties…and now…. Now, I'm to that point where I'm just done. If we forgot it or don't have it with us, we'll do without or buy it when we get there.

This is the fourth year the boys and I have struck out on the road heading south to Texas. It's always a different adventure seeing different people and going to different locations and doing different activities. And it's always the same stopping at familiar rest stops and tourist traps, seeing family and friends and being Texans for a few weeks of the year.

This year, we'll start with a family reunion at a lake (I'm told they still have a few bodies of water in Texas), spend a relaxing week at the beach with the other side of the family, visit the in-laws' new house in the country, tour the Johnson Space Center (again) and anything we decide to do along the way.

Each year, as my children get older, the things I have to bring along changes. The first year we took this road trip my younger son was still in pull-ups. So much has changed (thank God), including their choices of toys and activities to occupy themselves.

This year, I left the packing of their backpacks up to them…I'm not sure if this was a good idea or not. Time…on the road….will tell. I hope they have brought things to fill their time and keep them occupied. I do know that my 5 ½ year-old has packed an antique beaded hat he scored at an estate sale…not sure what he intends to use it for though….I told you, it's like taking the circus on the road.

I always look forward to the wide open spaces when I'm on the interstate; something I don't get in a city. I do so enjoy the conversations I have with the boys about the land we drive through and the people who pioneered this land and all the history that surrounds us during our trip.

We've found all kinds of adventures and places to stop over the years; places I drove right past over and over without ever stopping as a young adult. This trip is about taking the time to read the historical markers or visit an obscure museum or eat some local BBQ or ice cream or whatever it is that's special about the places we go. No rushing through just to get to the next stop for the night.

Last year, our summer road trip included a family wedding in Austin, TX. We were fortunate enough to get to see the famous Congress Ave Bridge bats fly out for the evening on the day we arrived in Austin. My kids still talk about those bats. And this is what it's all about…making memories and seeing loved ones and having adventures.

Here's to summer road trips. I'll be checking in from the road from time to time. Over and out…

Anna

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Open Letter to Toyota {feeling a bit sentimental}

Perhaps I'm feeling a bit nostalgic….but here goes anyway…

Dear Toyota,

Thank you.

I know many people are embarrassed or have mixed feelings about having gone through the minivan-buying rite of passage, but I don't feel that way about it. For me, it coincided with becoming a parent, and that I'm very proud of. July 3^rd will mark our 8^th year of having our 2006 Toyota Sienna minivan and July 11^th marks the 8^th birthday of our first child.

It may sound silly, but that vehicle is an integral part of our family. In fact, a number of significant firsts have occurred in that vehicle. Eight days after making this big purchase, we drove to the hospital through contraction after contraction in our brand new mini. A few days later we strapped our teeny baby into a car seat, got in and drove away from the hospital and into our brand new lives. One week later, we drove to the airport to pick up my mom; she met her very first grandchild there in the middle row of the mini.

Two years later, we drove away from that same hospital with a toddler and another brand new baby strapped into the seats behind us.

We have gone on countless adventures, both near and far, in that vehicle. We've picked up friends and family and luggage from the airport for family reunions and baptisms and birthdays and random visits.

My mom, two aunts, two sons, my old Leonberger, my husband and I once all piled in and took a day trip to Duluth; that was quite an adventure. A few years ago, we drove from the Twin Cities across the state of Wisconsin with the kids and our old giant dog to meet and take home our new giant, a rescued St. Bernard. We take an annual road trip from Minnesota to Texas to see family and friends every summer, with our mini stuffed full of things for stops along the way, at a lake and at the beach.

We've weathered wind, rain, snow and ice in our mini. We feel secure and safe in our vehicle. We trust that we can always pack in everything we need for a trip, a CraigsList run or after a visit to IKEA; and my son's giant hockey bag fits perfectly.

Our mini is more than a mode of transportation; it's our mode of living. It gets us where we need to be.

Yes, it's not so progressive of me to rely on a gas fueled vehicle made by a foreign company, I know. But it's true. We rely on this vehicle every single day.

It's marked with crayons and juice stains and a dent in the rear fender from that time I backed into a pole in a parking garage. There's a hole rubbed into the driver's seat floor mat from where our heels rest. The middle console is filled with snippets of papers with long forgotten notes, an applesauce pouch, a granola bar, some sticky coins, several napkins, a spoon from Dairy Queen, a Norwex cloth or two, and a collection of pens, pencils and crayons from a restaurant.

In the "way back", there's a bag of soccer balls, a bat and glove and a couple of reusable shopping bags and a couple of bag chairs, a sign of summer. The "way back" assortment changes seasonally.

This vehicle holds our lives in it, daily… both figuratively and literally. And for that, Toyota, I thank you for our reliable vehicle from which we conduct our lives.

We joke that this will be our son's first car. They age together, year after year, and as a family that is more concerned with functionality than appearances when it comes to our vehicles {and hopefully other things in our lives too}, it really might be his first car at the age of 16. My parents are still driving their 18 year old Toyota…

Over and out…

Anna

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Space and Time and Parenting

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.

And I think this applies to parents and children too.

Over the years, since becoming a mom, I've traveled for work some and gone on a trip with girlfriends once or twice and left alone with my husband once.

I'm always glad to get back home, of course. But I do not miss my children when I am away. I chat with them on the phone for a few minutes each day I'm gone. I may pick up a memento or snap a photo for them, but I do not miss them.

I need space and quiet and alone time to be a good {enough} parent. My brain craves the silence that only separation from one's child can give. No thinking through schedules or answering of obscure questions of the universe or settling arguments or preparing meals or disciplining or consoling or shushing video game noises or checking on the crashes and bangs and yelling and no chaos. Just silence.

I can turn off that part of my brain. I can tune out the chaos of others around me.

I don't consider myself to be a complete introvert. I can be loud and outspoken and social and enjoy being a part of a group, but then I need a time and place to withdraw and step into my own head and simply be. And that's what I have enjoyed about these times without my children.

After these times away, I go home ready for the noise, the messes, the questions, the incessant talking, the laughter, the fun, the brotherly fighting. I can enjoy being with my kids.

I love my kids and would do anything for them, but I recognize this fact about myself: from time to time, I need space, even if it's just for a few hours.

You may not see things this way, but if you do, enjoy those moments, hours, days, whatever time you get alone away from your chaos, and don't feel guilty about it. It's OK for you to need space and it's good for you to take time away from your kids; for you and for them.

Some thrive on loud and crazy and bright. Others need quiet and calm and solitude. Still others move back and forth between these two worlds. Parents don't get to choose which type they are and which world they live in with their kiddos. Parents are simply on all day, all night, day after day, week after week, year after year.

So, if you're like me, take a break when and where you can get it, relish it and then tuck it away in your cap for a moment when you think you just can't take another round of "Why Trivia" or "Sibling Squabbles" or "What's for Dinner, Mom?" or "I'm bored" and let the memory of that calm and quiet soak in and surround you before you return to your reality.

{This is particularly important for me to remember as we embark on the summer months of long day and long nights.}

Over and out…

Anna

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House {Summer} Rules

Put on Sunscreen ~ Don't set an Alarm ~ Don't Run Near the Pool ~ Stay out Playing until it's Dark ~ Wear a Bike Helmet while Riding ~ Get Wet ~ Laugh Often ~ Eat Meals Outside ~ No School Work ~ Wear Flip Flops ~ Read for Pleasure ~ Don't Leave Kids in Hot Cars….EVER ~ Splurge on Really Good Lemonade ~ Invite the Neighbors Over for  Marshmallow Roasting Around the Fire ~ Get Outside ~ Use Bug Spray {made from essential oils} ~ Eat tomatoes Right Off the Vine by the Handful ~ Play in the Sand ~ Collect Shells, Rocks, Sticks, Pinecones and other Treasures ~ Avoid Ticks ~ Find Adventure Wherever You Are ~ Sit Outside and Listen to Summer Sounds and Feel the Sun on Your Skin ~ Eat lots of melt-y treats that come on sticks ~ Go to Bed When you Are Tired~ Clean up after yourself ~ Do laundry when we run out of swimsuits and beach towels

Over and out…

Anna

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This is the time of year I start to get antsy.

Every June I have a deadline for a big work project. I sit hour after hour at my computer during the winter as the snow falls and then through the spring as the snow melts away and teases us with a warmer day here or there and then the sun begins to stay up a bit longer and warm, shiny afternoons beckon to me from the window, and still, I sit working at my computer. Eventually, school comes to an end and my kids are excited for summer break to begin, and still, I sit working at my computer.

I began to get restless and fidgety. I try to make deals with myself about working for so long and then taking a break for a fun little adventure. I work deep into the night so that I can be out in the warm shiny days and lovely lingering evenings with birds calling and bunnies scampering and kids laughing.

And then, finally, when I think I can't stand it for a minute more, I finish my work and my summer break begins.

I love Minnesota for all of its beautiful seasons, but summer is so long awaited and free from schedules that it has become my favorite. And I think it is because of our long, cold winters that there are so many wonderful things scheduled from June 1^st to August 31^st each year.

It's hard to fit everything in, but we pack in a ton. Some things we do every summer, sometimes on a weekly basis; others things on our list are firsts. And the greatest thing of all is that so many summer activities are free! 

We make memories and create traditions all summer long that carry us through those seemingly endless cold, snowy days and nights in the winter. Here's what on our bucket list this summer…

1. Picnics at Lake Harriet Bandshell; a favorite tradition and favorite place; music (every single day through the summer), picnic dinners, awesome playground, beautiful views and walking/biking paths.
2. Swim at Bryant Lake Beach; one of our favorite swimming beaches.
3. Week on the TX Gulf Coast with family at our favorite beach; one of my favorite things ever.
4. Swim at the pool at least once a week, meeting up with lots of friends.
5. Visit Johnson Space Center in Houston, a trip we always look forward to; each time our experience is different since the boys' ages are too.
6. MN Zoo Giant Bugs exhibit and playing at the splash pad and playground and seeing all the familiar animals.
7. How to Train Your Dragon 2. I really loved Hiccup and Toothless in the first movie and seriously am so excited about this movie…it better live up to my expectations.
8. Outdoor Movies at Centennial Lakes; another beautiful, free, outdoor venue for music, movies, picnics, strolls, mini golf and lawn bowling.
9. Shakespeare in the Park; I love Shakespeare and there happens to be one in a park very near to me this year. It's Comedy of Errors; always a good one. And it's the one I saw outdoors in London one summer long ago.
   
10. MN Sculpture Garden Mini Golf; very tricky, artistic challenging golf, that is. Or mini golf at Centennial Lakes or putt putt at a park nearby, or maybe all three.
11. Open Field at Walker Art Center; Sunday afternoons are the perfect time for us to hang out in this space. I love to take a picnic, go to church and then walk over to the Walker and hang out all afternoon in the Open Field space. There are all kinds of activities from sports to games to arts and crafts to musical instruments and more there for the using.
12. Conduct a "Best Ice Cream in Twin Cities" Tasting Tour. We are pretty pumped up about this one. The Twin Cities has some REALLY good ice creams and custards! This one will be an all summer activity. We have already begun planning it out.
13. Attend at least one parade, even if it's the State Fair parade.
14. Visit Family in Texas; we love this road trip tradition.
15. Watch at least one fireworks exhibit; so many to choose from around here.
16. Golf; with my husband; with friends; and maybe with my boys (after their lessons this summer). I'm really not good, but I really enjoy playing.
17. Ride the new Green Line from Union Depot Station in St. Paul to Minneapolis stopping at the MN State Capitol, the Weisman Art Museum, Ax-man Surplus and exploring several cultures along the way. (Green Line opens June 14^th)
18. Pick berries at least once; blueberries, raspberries and strawberries available around here. So good!
19. Dine al fresco as often as possible; the possibilities are endless around here, but my favorite is W. A. Frost.
20. Go to at least one Minnesota History Center's Nine Nights of Music; this has been on the list for several years and we still haven't made it there yet. I think this is the year for it. Plus we want to explore their Toy Exhibit inside too.
21. Pizza on the Farm; two favorites: A to Z in Stockholm, WI off the Great River Road (amazing drive – even if I can't eat the pizza, it's worth it) and Red Barn Farm in Northfield (run by a friendly family from the barn/kitchen behind their home and they have a gluten free crust option that's really tasty!) Both options are relaxing, beautiful, full of animals and gardens and flowers and magnificent views of farm land. We love this tradition. Oh, and if you go to A to Z, go early so they don't sell out and so that you have time to stop at the pie shop in tiny, picturesque Stockholm to pick up dessert or stop on the way home for really great ice cream at Flat Pennies on the Great River Road). Remember you bring the plates, napkins, blanket or table and chairs, pizza cutter, candlesticks, flower arrangements, salad, apps, desserts, vino, lemonade, whatever you decide is necessary for your meal. And you take everything, even the pizza box, back out with you! Oh, there are bathrooms available in both locations! I don't go that rustic.
    
22. Go to a drive-in movie theater; eyeing the one in Litchfield right now.
23. Of course, we plan to frequent Riverview Theater too; we love this little, old (cheap) theater; some great classics being played this summer too.
24. Visit Little Mekong Night Market in St. Paul (near the Western Ave station on the Green Line).
25. MN State Fair; enough said
26. Throw a Lego Movie themed birthday party; working on figuring this one out…
27. Read, Read, Read
28. Writing, writing, writing
29. Adventure, Adventure, Adventure

Summer is an attitude. It's stopping at the fruit stand on the side of the road and then sitting in your car, eating a peach with warm juice running down your arms to your elbows and dripping down your chin; it's doing nothing but reading a book all afternoon on a quilt on a grassy hill; it's picnicking on any night of week, just because you can; it's swimming until your fingers and toes are all puckered and wrinkly and your shoulders are pink from a bit too much sun; it's finding out about an activity, location or event and piling into the car, heading there on a whim; it's ice cream long after bedtime; it's sitting around a fire pit, looking up into the pitch dark sky searching for stars; it's pulling over to read historical markers, following maps, visiting tourist traps, stepping back into history and soaking up as much sun as possible.

Here's to squeezing every last drop out of summer and making memories that last a lifetime. Over and out….

Anna

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My Life {in a Bag}

As I was stuffing my laptop into my old leather bag, the one I've carried since law school, I realized that the contents are a pretty good representative of who I am. Now, whether this a positive or negative, I'm not so sure.

I like to be prepared for what life throws at me. So, I'm always the one with an overstuffed carry-ons and large suitcase at the airport. I was the one who carried the giant diaper bag and was never out of snacks or diapers or wipes, etc. I pack heavy.

I've been carrying my big, old, Eddie Bauer Leather bag a lot lately because it's my busy season when it comes to my legal editing work. So, it goes with me to tae kwon do classes and to the coffee shops and anywhere else that I might have a few minutes of sitting and waiting; time I could be reading or working on my computer.

What could I possibly need, you ask? Well, of course, there's the obvious, my laptop and cord. Then, there's the little zipper bag with my hot spot device (a necessity for me), ear buds, an external hard drive (I want to always have access to my photos – you never know what I might need for a post), and USB charging cord and plug.

There are two volumes of National Geographic, The Week, Gluten Free Living and a Minnesota Monthly stuffed in too…just in case I have a minute to read. There are two notepads and a variety of pens tucked in; a pack of gum, left from the last flight I took – to Chicago in December. Some used tissues are stuffed in a pocket – must not have had a trash handy - and the small package with remaining unused Kleenex are in another pocket – I'm never without Kleenex. I'm an allergy sufferer.

Two travel size Norwex enviro cloths made it in. You never know when you might need to wipe something off someone's hands, face, computer or tablet or phone screen, clothing, etc. They get a lot of use. I also found a small Pokémon toy from a McDonald's Happy Meal pushed down in an inside pocket, along with 2 applesauce pouches and a granola bar. A mom always has a few snacks stashed away for emergencies.

There's a small Gussy Sews pouch with business cards and my ever-present big, paper calendar. I NEED to write things down on a real calendar. No virtual calendar for me. Nope, I like my 8.5 x 11 notebook style calendar with chicken scratch and marked out items and red and blue and black ink and coffee stains and all.

And last, but not least my phone, keys, my big, overstuffed wallet, a couple of tubes of lipstick (I almost always blend colors and really hate to go without lipstick) and my powder compact.

Is it heavy? Yes. Is it all necessary? Yes.

Well, I did throw out the brochure for a tae kwon do tournament from March, the used Kleenex and the index card with travel info from our trip to Chicago in December. What's in your bag? Over and out…

Anna

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Adventure {by coincidence}

Sometimes one thing leads to another and another and then you've got a full blown adventure on your hands with all the makings for fun family memories. And I love it when that happens.

It was a Saturday in late September; a beautiful fall day, crisp and clear. The boys were outside running and playing with the neighborhood kids. I could hear their voices from time to time.

I went online to check out Craigslist/free to see if there were any finds to be had on that morning. I like to scavenge and repaint or clean up and give new life to old or discarded items, and I like to do it for Free. I have mentioned this before, in a past post on my Craigslist finds, but you'd be surprised what treasures I have found for the taking.

Well, this September morning I found a listing for the leftovers of an estate sale. There were tantalizing photos of filled boxes and tables of tons of stuff….all for free. The listing said Princeton, but the directions sounded rural and confusing at best.

I knew it was somewhere north of Anoka and Anoka is only about 30 or so minutes from our home. So, I looked it up on the map and decided it wasn't too far to go. I talked Will into the adventure to go scavenge estate sale leftovers an hour or so away, but the boys grumbled as we gathered them up and into the car.

We drove and drove and drove. It was a beautiful drive as the leaves were already starting to turn, pumpkins were stacked at roadside stops. We passed fields and old farmsteads and woods and farm supply stores. We got further and further out away from the city as we drove north and west. The boys started to open up to the idea of having an adventure.

You see, this was not the first time we had gone in search of something I had found on Craigslist. They knew this drill: go to a stranger's home, load something into the car, drive home, unload and then mom goes to work re-doing, re-arranging or re-thinking. But this time it was different. We had never driven so far for a Craigslist freebie.

They enjoyed the rural scenery. Remember, my kids are city folk and rarely venture into the countryside except for our trip to Texas every summer.

I have always loved road trip adventures. There is something about riding in the car with my family, heading towards something and open to whatever stops or adventures come our way.

After a long while we entered Princeton and noticed a stock car race track before turning down the first of many county roads in our quest for free stuff. We continued to try to follow the directions turning here, then doubling back and then turning the other direction. After a bit, we left the paved roads and just when we were about to give up we spotted a spray painted sign beckoning us on. We continued to follow those signs until we got to a long, dirt, tree-lined drive, with a sign announcing that we were in the right place.

The boys were now completely into this adventure, as we strained to see what was at the end of the dirt road. We had arrived.

We found boxes of interesting things, clearly once loved and cared for, antiquated items, some unusual, some broken, some beautiful, some with potential. The boys chose their treasures, coming home with a ceramic bird with its beak wide open…maybe it's a vase…., a blue, square, beaded, vintage hat for the dressing up bin, an Iowa State clock, a lazy Susan, a hat box and more. We picked up a fantastic shelf for the boys' room – no painting necessary, some art that simply needed new frames, vintage linens, a few classic books, the whole set of Little House on the Prairie just like the one I had as a kid and a few other things. And had lots of fun going through all of items.

We felt that we had accomplished our goal in the trip and headed back down the dirt road to the gravel road to the paved road and back into Princeton.

By this point it was early evening, the sun was just starting to go down. As we drove back by the stock car track, we noticed there were races going on now. None of us had ever been to a stock car race before, and we were curious. We didn't have to convince the boys of this adventure. So, we pulled in and bought tickets.

The nice lady at the ticket booth gave us the low down on where to sit (for family atmosphere) and where to buy the ear plugs (it get VERY loud) and the history of the Princeton Speedway (apparently it's the place to be on Friday nights from late April/early May through September). We had happened upon the last race of the year on this Saturday evening.

We got our ear plugs and sat in the family section and watching in wonder at the roaring, modified, painted up, smashed-up cars. These races certainly offered a treat for all five senses; it was something to see these cars speeding around and around, up, down and around, stirring up thick, red dust, to hear their rumbling and roaring motors, to feel the vibrations from their revving engines, to smell the fuel and burning rubber and to taste the dirt flying up from the tires.

We sat mesmerized by this scene as the sun dipped down in front of us and breeze got cooler and crisper, lulled by the constant rumblings of the engines, intermittently checking our raffle tickets we were given at the ticket booth as the numbers were called between races.

We got brats and chili cheese fries from the local chapter of the FFA (for you who did not grow up in rural parts that is the Future Farmers of America) made from scratch and cooked to perfection on the grill behind their booth. We bought roasted corn from a father and his son. We munched on freshly made-on-the-spot kettle corn that an elderly gentleman was peddling.

It was a bit peculiar to have stepped into this small town tradition without any connection or purpose in being there. And yet, I felt completely at home sitting in the metal bleachers, eating the food from the little booths and cheering on the hot pink car or the #8 or the bright green one or the sleek black car or the brothers competing in the same race. It felt like being at the 4H shows of my childhood in small town Texas, including the taste of the red dirt in the air; and it was comfortable.

When the sun had disappeared and our ears had had all we could take and bellies were full, we climbed back into our car and headed home. We talked about what we had seen and gotten and experienced on our mini, unplanned adventure as we headed towards the city lights. We felt happy. And a huge, bright, round moon kept us company all the way home.

And this is what it's all about…life. My kids will remember this day and these experiences. We may never pass along that way again, but this memory will be perfect in my mind. We did nothing earth shattering or expensive. We planned nothing. We did not rush or get caught up by time. We simply moved along from one thing to the next, being present in the moment. Over and out…

Anna

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Photo Op Friday {Summer Memories}

I love this photo. I took it in June. It was a lovely summer day with my boys spent at the Mill City Museum and Spoonriver and the Guthrie Theater and Open Book and the Mississippi River.

This particular photo is an outside wall of the Guthrie. This is Sir Tyrone Guthrie, founder of this excellent theatrical center, along with my son, appearing to be miniature in comparison to the expansive image.

As summer nears the end , I am torn between wanting more time for exploring, adventuring and lazing about with no particular agenda and wishing September would hurry up and get here, ushering in the start of the school year and with it a set routine.

But when I look back over the photos of summer I know it's been a memorable one full of family and water and sun and NASA and road trips and art and history and ice cream and neighbor kids and nature and camps and camping and music and sports and movies, and I feel blessed.

I like to keep a few photos from our summer adventures lingering on my desktop so that I will see them and open them up every so often and think about the memories from that particular excursion... this is one of those photos.

I hope your summer has been magnificent! And for us, in Minnesota, it's not quite over.... the State Fair hasn't even started yet! Over and out...

Anna

Photo Op {Pro-Woman....Need I Say More?}

Isn't it funny how a place can feel like home even when you haven't been there for years and years and all the memories come flooding back and you can navigate by instinct? Well, last weekend I was in Austin, Texas; my birthplace; the capital city of Texas. We were there with lots of other Berends for a cousin's wedding and staying just off the Congress Ave. bridge; the one where millions of bats live (aside – a very cool thing to see at sunset).

It was the first trip to Austin for our sons. I was so excited to show them the Texas State Capitol and regale them with stories my childhood memories of visiting this magnificent building on school trips and with my mom and brother during summer excursions and playing and picnicking on the beautiful grounds and how my birth (& my brother's) had been proclaimed in the legislative chambers and of my great uncle, a state representative, etc.

It was a hot day; 104 degrees we later found out. The boys had complained of walking too far in the intense heat on our way to brunch (remember, they're Minnesotans). Our most helpful waiter told us we could catch a city bus for $2.50 just a across the street from the Snack Bar (sidebar – this is an amazing, delicious, fresh, farm to table, very accommodating café on S. Congress – go there if you have the chance!) So, we did; getting off just a few blocks from the capitol building and walking up the street, capturing all its grandeur and all my memories, as we did.

As we walked, a sign caught my eye. It was written in red marker on a white poster board and it had been stuck into the wall of a boarded up storefront. It made me think of that magical night just a few weeks back when there was that possibility that women could win a battle over choice and autonomy when it comes to their own bodies; that night when Wendy Davis stood, unwavering, for 11 hours, prepared to go longer, intending to go longer; that night when men and women filled the layers of that awe striking white rotunda, going up and up and up; cheering and shouting. The images I saw made me long to have been there; filled me with gratitude and admiration for leaders like Wendy Davis who refuse to stand down just because it's a difficult battle and an unpopular opinion. It made me proud to be a woman from Texas.

This photo is of the sign I saw on Congress Ave just two blocks down from the Texas Capitol last Saturday. Need I say more.... Over and out....

Anna

Year 3: Day 2 #SummerRoadTrip {Tips for Getting Out on the Road for Your Very Own #SummerRoadTrip}

One ought to leave home and explore the country as often as he can. Driving through states provides an opportunity to take mental snapshots of the landscape like giant wide-angle lenses on a camera to be recalled at some other point in time and meet the people and hear their unique dialects and any local charm that they may or may not possess.

One ought to be one with the land as often as possible; to feel the gentle rolling of the terrain or the twists and turns that yield new sweeping views of the landscape with each summit; to hear the roar of the unfettered wind whipping through the tall prairie grasses; to see the carefree calf playfully running and kicking up his heels in the valley far below the highway.

Today, we finished the first leg of our summer trek to Texas. In the two days of driving we saw license plates from 34 different states and 2 different Canadian provinces; we saw 3 deer, 2 dead and 1 running wild in a meadow; I sang along with Vampire Weekend, Imagine Dragons, Shania Twain and Celine Dion; we discussed what it would be like to travel this route without a highway in a covered wagon and talked about the various battles fought in our country and the reasons for those battles and what it was like to live the life of a Native American; we traveled through 5 states, arriving in the 6^th state on Monday night.

Each year of this family tradition, this trip gets easier for me, as a solo parent for a few weeks. The first year I struck out my younger son was still in pull-ups and not inclined to sitting for long periods of time tightly strapped into his seat. Last year, there was much bickering between the brothers and consequently, a crabby mama. This year, so far....dare I say it...the elder Berend Brother has been helpful and placid and kept the peace and the younger held it together pretty well considering we have spent 17 hours in the car together in the last two days.

My boys are even remembering our route and certain stops or landmarks or experiences from the past two years of driving through these places. And regardless of the arguments or frustrations along the way, we are making memories; memories that I hope last a lifetime and create new memories with new generations and new routes and traditions.

So, if you are thinking about striking out with two parents or just one, I say DO IT! It may be hard the first year or two or it may be quite easy, but it will be worth the memories and traditions.

Here are the 5 things I found helpful in planning and executing my annual adventure on the road with my kids:

1. Plot out your route and make a hotel reservation for each day/night. Even if you are a fly by the seat of your pants kind of gal or guy, when kids are involved you better have a starting and ending place in mind...for each day. Then, when they ask, "Are we there yet?" and they will, you will have an answer for them and a place to rest your weary head each night.
2. Have lots of snacks in a bag sitting in the front seat with you for easy grabbing and handing out to hungry/cranky/restless/tired/whatever kids sitting behind you. I like to stash little plastic IKEA bowls in the snack bag for easy filling and handing. Snack Ideas: applesauce pouches, pirate booty, dried fruit, trail mix, M&Ms, etc.
3. Plan to stop about every two hours for a quick break at the bathrooms (or more if potty training, etc) a run around the visitor center and/or mini adventure at a local spot. I like to plot these out too with a bit of researching before the trip;
4. Be prepared for the, "Mom, I'm bored!" "Are we there yet?" and other common cliché type, but very real questions! Pack a bag/backpack for each child (or if they are older, have said kids pack the bags themselves, as I did this year. However, not sure that worked since one kid packed all stuffed animals.} Include a variety {that's the part he forgot} of books, figures, cars, pens/pencils/markers/crayons, stickers, paper, coloring books, favorite small toys, etc. Then, when they say," MOOOOOMMMMM! I'm BORED!" and they will, you can remind them of this stash of toys!
5. Keep it simple and retro by planning to stop at state rest stops and visitor centers and eat a picnic for your meals while traveling on the road. Many of the states we drive through have wonderful, modern, clean rest stops. Iowa even provides free wifi at each of its rest stops, and there is often a small play area for kids and some even have fenced dog parks. As for the picnic, I like to pack fresh fruits, veggies and crackers and chicken salad or a wrap or sandwich. Again, think ahead and have a bag or plastic container with plates, napkins, utensils, etc with easy access to items that must be kept cold.
6. OK...one more...Don't be afraid to get off the road and explore when you see something that catches your eye or interest. You never know you may find a gem or discover a place you never have to stop at again. We've experienced both...

The key is simplicity, even if my totally packed mini doesn't look very simple....it is...in my complicated mind. Get out on the road! We start Leg #2 on Wednesday. Over and out...

Anna

Year 3: Day1: By the Numbers {#MN2TXSummerRoadTrip}

So, we have set out on our annual summer pilgrimage from Minnesota to Texas; another year older and a bit more ambition in our travel plans this year.

This trip has come to represent several things for us. Firstly, it is a way for my boys to see their extended families and spend time with their cousins. Secondly, it's good for "city kids" and their mama to get out in the wide open and see cows and fields and tractors and oil derricks and giant bales of hay and varying terrain; things of which my childhood was made of. And, lastly, it helps me to clear my head, driving under vast blue skies, racing through the lush hills and valleys, past row after row of corn, into the prairies and through the sun burnt grasses and red clay earth and towards my homeland of Texas.

Texas, where they'll hug you whether they know you are not; where no one ever asks me, "Where are you from?"; where I originated; where my childhood memories reside.

Day 1 was a bit delayed, but for good cause, and Sunday was the perfect day for travel. The temperatures were barely above 80 and that was only once we reached Missouri. Here is our report...by the numbers.

• 18 state plates
• 4 states
• Welcome center rest stops in each of those states
• 1 big bag of snacks
• 2 tablets and 2 boys
• 1 DVD player
• 3 CDs
• 12 stuffed animals... I might be exaggerating, but I might not be...
• 1 bag of books
• Very few arguments....so far
• Half way there....

This year we are going farther than we ever have on these annual summer treks....all the way to the Gulf Coast! But most importantly, I will have some time to write and clear out the cobwebs and get caught up on topics that I have been slow to address. So, stay tuned.

Oh, and I figured out my hashtag (#) for the trip. See above in title. So, each time I post something about our trip on Facebook, I will use this hashtag.

Where are you going this summer? Over and out....

Anna

Motherly Advice {The Importance of Adventuring}

From the time our little ones are babbling and bobbing around we start putting blocks with letters and flash cards with numbers in front of them. We sing the ABCs dozens of times and teach signing and multiple languages and recite nursery rhymes and quiz them and prod them with these most basic learning materials.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped the pushing and reciting and prodding. My boys were more interested in experiences and sounds and play and listening to me read to them; and frankly, so was I.

They love to touch things and gather and collect items. They like to ask questions and explore and try their hands at things. They like to ask me questions to look up online and create their own worlds based on what they see and hear.

And yes, they watch TV programs that are neither educational nor lesson oriented. And they often arm themselves with "weapons", as they categorize them, before running out to play super hero or spy with the neighborhood kids. And they play video games on the Wii and on our phones and on the tablet and the computer.

But, here's what I determined. Rote learning will come. They will learn their ABCs and 123s. They will learn to read and write and do math and jumping jacks. They will go to school and be taught these things. And I will sit and do homework duty and reinforce that which is being taught.

And yet, I will not stress over whether they can spell better than anyone else in class. I will not worry whether they can recite the alphabet in the correct order or count to 1000 faster and first in class; because they will know these things.

Instead, I will take them on trips and to festivals and events and plays and concerts and picnics and I will read books to them and be read to by them (as they gain this skill) and we will try new foods and plant a garden and discuss God and ghosts and the universe and black holes and ticks and super heroes and arrow heads and birthday party ideas and costume designs and rock n' roll and minecraft and much more.

So, if your child knows the alphabet in three languages, backwards, forwards and sideways by the time he is 3, that's great. But if he doesn't; no worries. He will. Just keep reading and talking and adventuring. It will all come in time, as it has with my boys.

Don't skip over the best parts; the creative parts and philosophical parts and engineering parts. These parts fuel the brain and make the reading and writing and arithmetic essential to carry on with the fun parts. Over and out...

Anna    

 

5 Things You Should Know {Before You Start Your Summer}

I have a memory of a summer day in south Texas. My brother and I spent the day at a family friend's house. I don't know why this memory stands out so much, but it is always easily retrieved from my mental files when I think of summer and sun and swimming.

They had big above ground pool and deck. We were in the pool almost the whole day. We got out for lunch. We had bologna and mayo sandwiches on white bread. I remember this because we never ate bologna at home. After lunch we got back in the pool and swam the afternoon away.

The sun was hot and bright and my skin was pale. I can still feel and taste and smell that day in my mind.

It wasn't until later in the evening when I had gone home and gotten out of the sun and out of my swim suit that my skin turned red and hot and tender. I looked like a lobster. I don't think I'd had sunscreen on at all that day. It certainly wasn't the only time I was sunburned; it was the mid-80s, we weren't so cautious of the damage that sun can cause, but for some reason that day stands out.

Summer means fun and pools and hot sun soaking into our pale-of-a -vampire skin and sprinklers and baseball games and lakes and lemonade and sand and concerts by the lake and picnics and golf and these things warrant a quick summer safety reminder course.

Over the past three years, I've written a number of posts on summer safety, including pool hazards, sunburns and sunscreens, water safety, bike helmets and more.

Life happens in an instant, and my philosophy is that it's better to be prepared when it does. So, before you go out and start your summer, please do read through these posts and visit ewg.org to check your sunscreen too.

5 Things You Should Read Before You Start Your Summer:

1. Pool Safety: The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips. Good tips, and you'll get a kick out of my paranoid side too; Distracted Vigilance: Tips for Preventing Drownings. Don't use your phone {for any purpose} while you're supposed to be watching kids in the water....
2. Sun: Sunburn...I Mean Summer Memories: Tips for Playing it Safe in the Sun. We definitely need some sun for Vitamin D, but too much is not a good thing; What's Your SPF? The Dangers of Sunscreen {be sure to check your brand at www.ewg.org.
3. Bikes: Spring Fling: Getting the Properly Fitting Bike Helmet {with Video}. This is important, folks! ; Blessed Bikes: Rules of the Road. Do you know the bike laws when it comes to being a biker and being a driver?
4. Heat: Not Even for a Minute: Children Left Unattended in Vehicles.This is also serious, folks! And another take on this subject: Soapbox: Hot Cars and Free-Range Parenting.
5. Travel: Flying with Kids? Great; it can be a wonderful adventure, but be sure you are prepared: The Well Packed Bag: Regulations Regarding Air Travel with Kids; Control Freak: Tips for Safe and Happy Traveling with Kids. Have fun!

You have now completed Summer 2013 Orientation....GO OUT AND ADVENTURE! Over and out....

Anna