Mark Twain Quote

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~Mark Twain

I just found this quote on a neat blog. This blogger is about my age. She has five kids. Eeek! She and her family live in an RV and travel the country without having a permanent place to call home. Double eek!! I have no desire to live in an RV for more than five-ten days and I have no intentions of selling our permanent residents, but this quote does makes me think of myself and how I need to do my best to get out and explore more. I find myself getting stuck in a pretty tight routine. Routine is definitely good for my boys. They seem to do better when they know what to expect next. However, sometimes I need to break us a little free from our daily grind and go somewhere.. See something new and refreshing. As a Mommy (I'm too young to call myself Mom.) of two little ones I am finding that sweet spot where I can push the envelope just enough so that we're all having fun, learning and exploring without pushing too far and causing my kids (okay, the whole family) to be fussy and "out of whack" for three days.

My husband and I get a chance to have date nights every once in a while...okay, we rarely go on a date night. It's usually in the afternoon/evening. We're usually home before 7:00. Some day when the kids are grown we'll revel in the fact that we can return home past 8pm! But I don't want to wish things away. I don't want the boys to grow up too fast....Anyway. I digress. When we go on said dates, I always tease my husband that I'd love get out of the house and go out to eat or see a movie and it'd be great if we left the city limits. If we leave the county it's super exciting! When we do get the chance to leave town to see a movie, go out to eat, see new scenery we return feeling rejuvinated. I wonder if the kids get that feeling after we go some place new.

When the boys get older and can travel more easily I'd like to set out and see as many states as we can. I'm excited to see their faces when they see new landscaping, cultures, etc. Until then we'll have to plan smaller, more practical short trips that everyone in the family can enjoy and tolerate! With winter just around the corner we need to get out and do a few little travel days before the bitter cold winds and snowy weather settle...Ooow. I think I just gave myself a cold shiver after typing that. :)