Family Holiday

Dog Mountain

Let's talk about "Family Holidays", not Christmas or Memorial Day,  or two weeks in Hawaii (though that sounds dreamy), but rather a day your family is simply "on Holiday". 

A story I'm currently working on has a family who decides to have "a holiday".  A day they don''t go into the office, instead they pack a treat and head outside to soak up the day.

no smiles like sunshine smiles 

Recently was a mid week weakened (which are more normal for us) and we made a holiday or it, Jesse and I made sweet rolls, then while the dough was rising we went outside.  Outside we were meet with sunshine after months of rain, so we tromped through our woods, finished the rolls, threw them in the oven, and went back outside. Dan finished his work, joined us, and we consumed a supernatural amount of sweet rolls and orange juice, while basking in the sun. Dan and I talked and day dreamt while Jesse drove his toy truck through every puddle he could find. Eventually Jesse's nap time, and some errands had to happen but that feeling of                                                          holiday lingered. 

I love the idea of Family Holiday,  oftentimes when either Dan or I am away it turns into a holiday. A way we can stop and enjoy our kiddo instead of stressing about flying solo in parent world.  Then there are times family holidays just happen and everyone joins in the easy going adventure at hand. 

Our first ever was the day I was in labor with Jesse (read full story here) to this day I swear that's why I had enough patience to let Jesse come at his own time. 

From time to time Dan will hike up a mountain for a few days at a time (think snow/ ice ax/ ropes), and when he does I get a prewritten text from his team's GPS every morning saying if they are safe. Over the next 24 hours Jesse and I do a lot of fun things to help keep my mind from being distracted waiting for the next text to arrive. 

It is a MILLION times better enjoying those around you then worrying about the one who isn't around. 

--- Fun fact: Jesse was three-weeks (yes weeks) old the first time Dan spent multiple nights climbing a mountain. (Don't feel bad for me, a best friend stayed with me and I ate cookies

Dan and Jesse the night before the climb

the whole time:) --- 

Sometimes a family holiday means we all pile into the car and head to the beach for the day. Or go apple picking, then bake a pie. Or like the day we took Jesse to his first movie.

Doing something out of your norm and enjoying each other. 

Sure, it could be different when Jesse is twelve and saying the whole time he'd rather be doing something else. But part of me thinks he'll still like them even then. That enjoying each other, and adventure are not going to go out of style. 

doughnuts and chai are always a winner

"Abbott Holiday" with some friends in Israel

Is there a better place to eat watermelon? 

Jesse at the beach in awe of the ocean

Being in the PNW has it's advantages, like waterfalls everywhere

Found this park near our old home,  quiet and perfect for picnics (Dan is making a sun s'more;)