We are finally settled back in at home and we all couldn’t be happier.  It’s been snowing non-stop for almost a week so it has been quite cozy holed up here in our townhouse with the fire and our fresh tree.

It’s been really nice to be back at home in our own beds and old routines (with some hopeful improvements).  Stella seems to love having her own room and run of the house now that we have gated our many sets of stairs.

I’m enjoying getting back to my yoga and hitting my favorite coffee shops.  Justin just loves having his TV and high speed, always on the internet!  It’s funny, we went away to escape the routines but it’s quite comforting to have them back now.

We are very glad we had the time on the road traveling to enjoy each other as a family and visiting with many family and friends but there’s also something nice about snuggling up in your own home and just enjoying each others company.

A lot of people have asked me, “how was the trip?”  “What did you like best?” And many other questions of the like.  It’s funny because it all seems a blur at this point but what I remember most are the little pockets of time that we just enjoyed each others company or when we hit some pretty big obstacles and could just laugh as we made our way out of the mess.  We grew as a family but most importantly we realized what was important and where we wanted to be.

All of these questions and reflections have reminded me of one of my favorite books, The Alchemist, by Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo.  It’s a fable that teaches many lessons:  follow your dreams, discover the world.  But in the end the character learns that what is important is oftentimes right in front of you, but you must take the long road around to find it.  If you haven’t read it, I’d recommend it as you begin the new year.  It will be quite inspirational.

As we all begin the holiday season I thought I’d share some last minute holiday travel trips for families heading out to visit relatives (close by or far away) over the holiday season.

1.  If you are going to be getting on a plane try to plan flight times around nap times.  If you can actually choose a flight take-off time that will be around when your child usually naps it will work our great as he or she will likely fall asleep on the plane.

2.  Try to find a direct flight if they exist and never take more than 1 layover unless you are saving MAJOR $$.

3.  Pack plenty of snacks and different toys.  At Stella’s age I haven’t bought into the whole buy a new toy and give it to her on the plane thing.  She pretty much thinks a new toy is a toy at the bottom of her toy basket she hasn’t seen in awhile.  And actually right now, the best toys to her aren’t baby toys but something that is mommy or daddy’s…so the sky is the limit for entertaining a toddler.

4.  Have patience, in today’s traveling world, something is likely to go wrong.  Just be prepared for anything and laugh as there isn’t much else you can do!

5.  Check as much luggage as you can and take only what you need.  Most of you will not be going to the tundra on your holiday so you can buy whatever you need there or borrow from family/friends.

6.  Buy gifts on line and have them shipped to your destination.  They will be there when you get there, you won’t have to pack them and you can’t wrap them before you get there anyway in case security needs to check them.

7.  Get plenty of rest before your trip and eat healthy and stay hydrated.  Sneaking in some holiday cookies or candies for the road can’t hurt either!

Justin, Stella and I recorded a little holiday greeting for you:

Happy Holidays!

For more on The Alchemist:

From Publishers Weekly
This inspirational fable by Brazilian author and translator Coelho has been a runaway bestseller throughout Latin America and seems poised to achieve the same prominence here. The charming tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures. He journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment. The story has the comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity of a fairy tale, but it’s full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams. The cumulative effect is like hearing a wonderful bedtime story from an inspirational psychiatrist.

Tomorrow ends our big adventure.  We leave Roanoke, VA at 6 AM and arrive in Vancouver in time for lunch (dim sum anyone) and a nap in our own beds.  We can’t wait.

It’s been such a great and enlightening trip.  Justin and I truly believe in the power of taking some time off, away from the chaos and routine.  It helps you refocus.  Figure out what is important in life and go for it.  We are both very excited about the upcoming year for our business.  The one thing that these “mini-retirements” have done for us is given us new ideas and excitement for our businesses.

We are also obviously excited about what the year ahead holds on the family front.  I will be 4 months pregnant when we arrive home tomorrow…time has flown by.  It looks like we will be spending another year in our home in Vancouver which means we will put some final touches on small renovations to make it more comfortable for when baby #2 arrives.

I’m curious to see how Stella adjusts to being back at home.  The past few weeks have really worn us all out and I think getting back to her routine will be great.

As the trip comes to a close I know it’s just the beginning of many more trips as a family.  If we can do this whirlwind trip I know we can tackle just about any adventure.

I hope that these blog posts have inspired some of you to take a trip, have some fun, head out on an adventure.  Kids or not, I know you will look back on your experience with some of the best memories.

Thanks to all those who made the trip memorable.