Family togetherness.

"Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now, live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all that I've taken for granted."
-Sylvia Plath




Although my family is a mere two hour drive away, sometimes that distance and the things I must do in preparation for the trek seem daunting. The list making. The packing. The Car Distraction Plan. The Backup Car Distraction Plan. The Backup to the Backup Car Distraction Plan. Resorting to really loud music when all the distraction plans fail to work. Then to do it all over again on the journey back home.

But once we're there, it's always so worth it. Watching Spencer follow Uncle Brian around and hang on his every word. Laughing as Ashton tricks Aunt Hopey into giving him her apple and then hear her beg for a few bites. Seeing Spencer fly across the room into Aunt She-She's arms for a quick hug before he's sent back to bed. Experiencing cousin love as old trucks and tractors are pulled out of the basement and vroom'd around the house. Sitting in the same chairs at Gram's house as I've sat my whole life, drinking coffee and pigging out on her cinnamon rolls. All these moments in the middle are worth the hassle of the trek to and from.

A few weeks ago, while my husband was lucky enough to escape reality and share a hunting cabin with a handful of grown men, the boys and I made the trip to visit my family alone. Usually we reserve visits for big events, like holidays and family reunions, but I prefer the more relaxed trips where nothing is planned except a bunch of family togetherness. We will definitely have to add more of these sorts of visits on the calendar.