If you’re lucky enough to live by the beach or by a friend with a pool—or maybe you’re really lucky and you’re about to jet off someplace tropical for spring break—it never hurts to have a swim bag packed at the ready when opportunity strikes. I like to be optimistic.
Actually, last summer, I kept just such a bag in the trunk of my car (though admittedly it was more for weekly swim lessons and spontaneous afternoons at the community pool than for jaunts to the coast). So here’s some inspiration—for summertime optimists and lucky-duck spring breakers alike.
Realizing that we were a little short on sustained conversation—lately our evening routine seems to involve a lot of dinner and bedtime hand-offs, screaming (side-glance at Skyler), or general toddler interruptions (“why?” “what doin’ mommy?” etc.)—Aron and I decided to arrange a babysitter for Hudson while we took Skyler out on a walking date. It’s basically a move from our New York playbook, as it’s how we got out with Hudson when he was a baby.
Anyone could of course shoot for a variation on this with a newborn sleeping peacefully in a car seat during dinner, but (at least right now) we’d have had to bring someone else’s newborn to have that happen. But Skyler’s pretty happy to sleep and let us do all the talking—as long as there’s movement involved. I thought I’d share some photos…
, a children’s book about a boy and his dog who get separated and, of course, reunited after the dog has some fun adventures around the city. I love hearing Hudson pronounce “San Francisco” and “Golden Gate Bridge.” We talk about the cable cars and the sea lions (which he remembers), and the curvy streets and colorful Victorian houses (which he does not).
I love the idea of discovering other children’s books to bring to life and combining them with travel. It was an idea explored so sweetly by Bridget Hunt (on her blog, Tales of Me and the Husband) last year. In fact I couldn’t stop thinking about the video (below), so I asked if she would share the experience of bringing Make Way for Ducklings to life. Here’s what she had to say… Keep Reading >
