Travel Archives - Page 27 of 37 - Enjoying the Small Things

Mitten State Hollah

January 3, 2012 By Kelle

I don’t know where to begin. Especially when I’m, again, holed up in a restaurant (Big Boy, thank you very much) with WiFi for a short time with the pressure of ripping this post off before my pancakes arrive. Needless to say, this disconnect thing has been such a good thing for me. I feel relaxed and present.

And, Lawd have Mercy, did Mother Nature ever deliver.

It snowed all day yesterday–thick white flakes that fell fast and caught the sun as they made their journey to the already thick blanket below them so that it looked like glitter–a unicorn concept I fully appreciate. I guess it takes coming back to realize just how beautiful your home state is because I don’t remember ever seeing it this way. It’s spellbinding.

And now it’s time for the breakdown.

Family time at the cottage was magic, the perfect balance between planned and laid-back with many comedic moments of “it wasn’t supposed to go this way” in between–like when we let a sky lantern loose at midnight on New Year’s and instead of it escorting our 2012 dreams in a graceful float into the black sky, it got caught in a tree and shriveled into ashes. Go 2012. Whoo!

We bundled up for cold morning walks on the lake, returned for hot cocoa and games, watched movies, and perfected the art of nothingness.

Parenting has been effortless as the girls have been scooped up and entertained by so many, the sight of which is always endearing.

My favorites so far…

Fireside hot chocolate.

Practicing our Ice Skating Moves.

We’re taking our doubles routine to Nationals.

Our cottage night time routine.

Finding an abandoned store in Johannesburg and jumping out to model with the creepy mannequins.

Spud Warehouse in Gaylord.

Trains in the Snow.

A sight I rarely get to see: my bundled babies with rosy cheeks.

Tubing at Hanson Hills in Grayling.

This picture.

Having to retake this picture with my sibs five times because it was snowing so hard, we couldn’t keep the lens clean.

This picture.

Watching my brother’s dog run free on the lake.

Our famous quilt being dragged in the snow.

Hats. Sweaters. Colorful scarves. Good Lord, I miss these clothes.

The irony of sun catchers against a snowy window.

Doing Facetime with Daddy. We miss him. We love technology.

Sledboarding in a man’s dress coat. You should try it.

Being with my sister.

The frozen lake.

Michigan holly.

Finding everything is more photogenic against snow.

Taking over the bar at the Lewiston Lodge the last night at the cottage. My dad and Gary watched the little kids while the big kids took off to make a grand finale of our last night. There was a jukebox, a line-up of siblings and cousins…and a whole lot of laughter.

I haven’t written or worked or even checked an e-mail in the last four days and as much I’m beginning to feel a little itchy to start working again, I know this time of family and rest has been so beneficial–like a farmer giving a field a rest before planting a new crop. This next year is going to be a good harvest. I can feel it.

I forgot last Friday’s Phone Dump:

We’re finishing the week off in Houghton Lake with my cousin’s family and will soon be back home.

Have a great week.

straw, taters & hay…and a very happy new year to you.

December 30, 2011 By Kelle

I know my last post said something about me learning to stop disclaiming things this year. But listen. I have to give a disclaimer.

Cue disclaimer.

The following post must be read with the understanding that I am high on snow fumes, family, views of chalets and red holly contrasting crisp white snow drifts. If a reindeer married a unicorn, their love child would be this post. That is all. I’m going to proceed now.

Wait. One more thing. I have to set the present scene: I’m in a chalet-looking McDonalds in the heart of Gaylord, MI (the only place with cell phone service or WiFi around here). I’m at “the bar,” if you can call it that in McDonalds–a formica counter with a swivel chair. And, you bet, I am swiveling my heart out. There’s a hot cherry pie next to me. And snow from the window’s view. And Louis Armstrong is belting a Christmas carol because these northern Michigan people know how to do it right–it’s still Christmas here.

On the way into Gaylord, we spotted about 352 picturesque barns, countless fields of sheep and cows and horses, and somewhere in the middle of it all, a big sign that said “Straw, Taters and Hay.” Which is all I needed to see to have a Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and big fat lovely New Year all in one.

Which reminds me…Happy New Year.

A trip down Enjoying the Small Things Memory Lane of headers this year.

******

Back to right now.

Oh, I am happy. We are in the middle of nowhere, there is snow, there is a cottage with a wood stove and quilts, and there are two happy girls experiencing things for the first time.

Like building a snowman.

Or trudging out in the snow early in the morning for a walk on a frozen lake.

It was hauntingly beautiful–white as far as you could see, and silent except for the wet crunch of boots to snow and the contant scratching of the toboggan as it slid across the ice.

Last night, we got to see my mom and George (visiting from NY), my grandma, and a whole slew of cousins before we drove North. Such a nice bonus to our trip.

Blinged out leopard print cane and bigass ring. My grandma is my hero. One of the most amazing women I know.

Then, while babies slept in the car, we drove three hours North to Lewiston, Michigan and arrived late to a little cottage in the snowy woods.

Gary’s family built this cottage when he was a little boy. I asked my dad for a hair dryer this morning and he erupted in laughter as he fetched me this still-in-the-box Norelco Shape ‘n Dry from the 70’s.

Dude, don’t underestimate the power of the Shape ‘n Dry. Needless to say, it shapes. And it dries. It has attachments. And this brilliant feature where it shuts off every 30 seconds to prevent it from overheating. And it smells like burning plastic and smoke when you use it. You only wish you had a Shape ‘n Dry.

No seriously, this cottage is so the bomb. I want to live here. It is so full of character and history and charm.

Lainey chose one of the rooms to be her play clinic. My dad and Gary and I all took turns today as patients, sprawled out under quilts and following her instructions for M&M and chocolate chip pills.

Both girls have adapted beautifully to different temperatures. Lainey asks to play in the snow every half hour, and Nella smiles with rosy cheeks and the reflection of snow in her bright blue eyes.

Tomorrow, my brother and sister and families arrive. And this sentimental mama wants to cry/laugh/do a unicorn dance every hour, on the hour…because I am happy.

I intended to go back and talk about my favorite moments from this year. But the past is overshadowed right now by this perfect present.

Moving Forward

October 29, 2011 By Kelle

We are home. And I just want to sit and let that statement simmer for a bit because the ever so comforting idea of home is worth simmering.

This little welcome? Oh, you should have seen it. I don’t know whose face was more fun to watch–the girls or Brett’s.

I’ve been “under water” for the last four days and only now coming up for air. I can honestly say I don’t think I sat one time but to eat or make it through an airplane ride since Monday.

And while we’re on the subject, can we talk about this picture in the airplane safety handbook?

This man is having entirely too much fun. He’s, like, air born. And his hands are all “Wheeeeee!” in the air which, I’m sure, is not how it goes when there’s really an emergency.

Moving on.

We were a hot mess of travel today. A strollers collapsing, kids crying, bag schlepping kind of mess. And, at 7:15 in the morning, I literally chased the Budget rental car shuttle bus, waving my arms and screaming, as it drove away with one of my suitcases. You should have seen me. I was fast. And loud. And I caught him.

Before I begin to unravel any sort of description for this week, I must start out with some important news.

Early Wednesday morning, just minutes before I left our hotel for the first day of shooting, a little something happened. I was nervous. This kind of photography experience is completely new to me, and I felt a little out of my element. Nella perhaps sensed my anxiety. Because Sister smiled and took her very first steps for me, wobbly but sure. (She’s walked for our P.T., but it doesn’t count until Mama sees it)

Houston, we have a walker. Video to come.

This experience is pertinent to everything this week meant. Seriously, as I was triple checking battery back-up and lenses and chanting to myself convincingly, “You’re going to rock this out,” my girl looks up, smiles and moves forward.

It is about moving forward.

I became involved in this project back in August when I met Colette in San Diego at Blog Her. Colette is the Senior Brand Manager for Infantino. She welcomed her second child, sweet Dexter, eight months ago and, like me, was surprised to find out her little man came with something extra.

When Colette welcomed her beautiful son, she also welcomed the opportunity to affect positive change. She started Down Right Awesome and invited her company and its sister company, Step 2 Toys, to join forces in an amazing campaign that recognizes the beauty and abilities of all children. I am so proud to be part of it.

We began the week with a trip to UCSD where Colette and I had the opportunity to tour the lab of Dr. Mobley, one of the top researchers for the neurobiology of Down syndrome. (he was part of a week long series on KPBS last week. You can hear it HERE)

It was fascinating. Dr. Mobley’s team passionately explained some of the research that is currently in progress that could potentially increase the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. And though I didn’t understand all of what was explained (these people are very smart), I did understand the powerful underlying message of…progress.

We are moving forward.

This theme continued as the week progressed.

Twitter party at Farm (thank you to everyone who participated and apologies for not being very Twitter savvy).

Lunch at Infantino which may just have the most connected, kind and passionate family of staff ever.

Lainey’s shirt from my talented friend, Dig.

And finally, the photo shoot.

For two days, nine hours straight, the camera furiously snapped. Technically, it was fascinating–a well-oiled machine. Product photography has a lot of behind-the-scenes efforts that go into creating images for packaging and websites, and I will never pick up a rattle in Target again without appreciating that little picture of the baby smiling on the back. However, this shoot was different. While it was indeed a product shoot, it was so much more than that. It was an experience that combined a whole lot of passionate people, beautiful children, and the hope of moving forward.

It was beautiful, and it was clearly evident that everyone involved knew this was more than just a toy campaign.

One of my favorite moments? I was shooting three kids in one shady corner– sweating, smiling, framing these perfect moments and oblivious to everything else around me–and someone came up, tapped me and said, “Um, we have a little magic going on behind you.” I turned my head and there, on a huge play blanket spread out a few yards behind me, was a slew of babies. All quietly playing. There was a huddle of parents standing by and no one said a word. Babies–red hair, curly hair, fair skin, chocolate skin, almond eyes, round eyes–all smiling. Shaking rattles, touching each others’ cheeks, exploring the world around them.

And my finger went wild on that shutter button while I quietly choked back tears behind the shield of my camera.

I am so proud of Infantino and Step 2 for taking advertising where it should go.

Everybody plays.

And this week, I saw it. Chidren of all abilities came together and they happily played. It had nothing to do with differences and everything to do with the magic of childhood. I feel so lucky to have been right there, in the middle of it.

There are so many more pictures–ones I am aching to show you, and I wish I could post more, but most of them highlight new toys that haven’t hit the shelves yet, so I can’t let you peek. They’ll come soon enough though. And lucky for all of you, you’ll be seeing these beautiful children in Infantino and Step 2 marketing to come. A lot of love and thought went into these toys and campaign, and I met so many of the people behind them this week. Amazing people.

Parents, what a pleasure it was to meet you–to get to spend a few moments with the children you are so lucky to love every day.

We are moving forward.

Thank you to this awesome chick who assisted me this week.

Tasha is a photographer in San Diego and moving soon to Washington state. She’s fantastic–fun, easy, helpful–and her work is beautiful. If you’re in that area and looking for a photographer, check out Tasha Reifschneider.

It was a long week. But good.

Wednesday night dinner with a slew of awesome peeps at The Station.

Thank you to everyone who so kindly welcomed us–to everyone who radiated excitement for what this all means. Thank you to my dad who watched the girls all week and managed the GPS through confusing San Diego freeways.

And my girls…so glad I got to be with them this week. They were troopers.

Nella’s cute duds: Tea Collection.

And tomorrow? The whipped cream and cherry on the very delightful sundae we enjoyed this week. It’s our neighborhood costume parade. And we are home. Delicious.

You didn’t think I’d sign off without a Friday photo dump, did you?

Happy Weekend. Happy to be home. Happy to be moving forward.

A greeting card from our hotel gift shop.

Let the party continue.