Where Did Summer Go?

Summer was long and slow when I was ten. It was rather enjoyable and fun, and long enough when I was fifteen. It picked up pace when I was twenty three and got married, it became a little shorter as both hubby and I worked full time. It turned into a whirlwind when I was holding an infant in my arms at the age of twenty five. Now at thirty one, with two kids, two family businesses, summer seems to have disappeared! Anyone else feel this way? It almost seems like each year is four weeks long and those weeks are winter, spring, summer, fall. That's how fast life is flying in front of me.  

This forces me to stop and enjoy separate moments, to create those moments, to say no to some things that rob me of precious time with the kids. To say yes to some things that enable me to spend more time with them - ironically for me that's photographing weddings on weekends, if it wasn't for that I'd have to find a day job and see the kids much less. I've had to learn to say no to social media. To temporarily say no to this blog, as much as it is another 'baby' of mine. To say no to people that always want something from me and drain me. To say "Yes, let's go to the beach!". To say "Yes, how about rollerblading in the park!". To set aside the phone and give my littles a BIG hug.

I don't want to remember this summer spent sitting in front of a screen, worrying about every little thing in running my business. It's amazing how when we let go off the worry, make time for our family, the rest just happens so much easier, it comes - maybe slower, but in it's own time. 

Not only that, but what will the kids remember? Mine are outdoor addicts and if I don't feed their addiction to fresh air and sunshine we would all drive each other nuts indoors. Summer may feel like it's eluded me, but we've most certainly made memories - painting a room together with our kids, creating their own new space, beach days with homeschoolers and friends, family rollerblading trips, lots of biking, splash parks, lake trips, and plenty of fresh air. We can't afford a tropical family vacation, not by a long shot, but you don't need a whole lot of money to make memories with your kids. I spent as much time with them as I could before a very busy wedding season this August and September!

Would love to hear about your summer! How do you keep it from escaping so quick and make memories?

10 Best Low-Hazard Sunscreens & Smart Sun Exposure Tips

Sun phobia has been cleverly marketed over the past twenty years or so. It's unfortunate that the belief that sun causes cancer is more widespread than the fact that sunscreens are loaded with carcinogens. Yes, we absolutely must be careful with our sun exposure - sunburn is never, ever good for you and raises your risk of skin cancer. But that doesn't mean we should slather ourselves and our children with highly toxic, chemical sunscreens that only exasperate the problem. 

What do we do here at Eco-Babyz? Many of you asked, so I'm here to answer even though almost half the summer has passed! Here is how we do our best to avoid sunburn all summer long, yet get plenty of healthy sun exposure to optimize natural vitamin D levels.

• Embrace the shade: I don't know about you, but on a hot sunny day we want to be in the shade. Maybe because we have no pool and don't live on a lake, but I digress. To avoid sunburn and overheating, staying in the shade when possible is just common sense. When out in the sun for prolonged periods, take frequent breaks to cool down and re-hydrate in the shade and apply more sunscreen. 
• Wear sun hats: The delicate skin on your child's face tans faster than other body parts, make it a habit of wearing light colored sun hats on sunny days. If it's really hot, dunk it in the water before going outside and put it on damp! We particularly love the fast drying, always good looking, and easy laundering hats like this one and this one. 
• Drink lots and lots of water: There is nothing worse than sun exposure + dehydration! All parts of our body, every cell, and your skin need water to function properly. You will never see us outdoors in the summer without plenty of water for the kiddos and I. We rely on these stainless water bottles because they are the only ones so far that I've found leave no weird taste in the water and don't accumulate mold, love them! They come in different sizes too, the kids love the 16.9 oz ones. 
• Apply sunscreen when we know we will be in direct sunlight for more than half an hour: My kids and I tan easily, so I know how long we can be in the sun without damage. This timeline may differ for you and your kids, you may need to apply sunscreen if you now you'll be out in the sun longer than 15-20 minutes. Which brings us to...

Which low-hazard sunscreen do we choose? We love these carcinogen free, non-nano zinc based sunscreens and use some of them sparingly when needed, we never go through more than a tube in the summer (maybe because we don't live on the beach or vacation frequently!). Though I think that may change since we've just discovered an amazing lake near us, and it's free! Here they are in approximate order of value for the amount in package, cheapest to most expensive (prices current at time of publishing this post)...

1. Neutral Skin and Hair Mineral Sunscreen Water Resistant 80 mins | SPF 33 | 8 OZ | $11.99 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

2. Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive | SPF 30+ | 5 oz | $16.39 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

3. ThinkSport Kid Safe Sunscreen Thinkbaby Livestrong | SPF 50+ | 3fl oz | $12.69 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

4. Badger Kids Sunscreen Cream, Tangerine & Vanilla | SPF 30 | 2.9 oz | $15.99 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

5. Sunology Sunscreen Kids | SPF 50 | 2.1 oz | $14.99 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

6. TruKid Sunny Days Sport Plus Water-resistant UVA/UVB Sunscreen Lotion, Unscented | SPF 30 | 2 oz | $14.99 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

7. Sweetsation Sun'n'Fun Broad Spectrum Mineral Sunscreen for Kids with Antioxidants, Marshmallow and Chocolate | SPF 30 | 3.3oz | $17 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

8. BurnOut KIDS Broad Spectrum | SPF 35 | 3.4 oz. | $17.99 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

9. California Baby Sunscreen Lotion, Everyday/Year Round, Water Resistant | SPF30+  | 2.9 Ounce | $22.25 | EWG Hazard Score: 2

10. Badger Plus Sunscreen All Season Face Stick Unscented | SPF 35 | 0.65 oz | $8.79 | EWG Hazard Score: 1

Want to find out how your sunscreen is rated? Check out the EWG 2014 Sunscreen Guide.

What's your favorite non-toxic sunscreen?

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Picnic! {thoughts on work-life balance} #StonyfieldBlogger

Now that summer is here, we don't miss a chance to be outdoors instead of being home. We play outside, 'home'-school outside, and eat outside. I am thankful I can't really work outside - my work is tied to the computer except for actual photo sessions that I do outdoors while kids are with grandma. It really limits my work time, but I'm thankful for that. 

It means that every time I'm outside with kids, I'm really there, all of me. It means my work is more focused and I have to learn to say 'no' to Facebook and Pinterest. It means I can chase them around the playground until I have to stop and catch my breath. It means I stop wasting my time and put myself into every task wholeheartedly (always working on that one). It reminds me time is limited. It reminds me that even though nothing is perfect and I don't have all things figured out, my time with the kids is way more important than work. Even though it's work I truly love. Even though it's work that's been built on years of trial and error, sweat and tears, countless unpaid learning hours, webinars, and mentoring sessions. 

I may never become a world renowned photographer. My photos may never appear in Bride magazine. I may never shoot 40 weddings a year and don't intend to. But I know my kids, especially at this age, need my presence, undivided attention, and guidance as they slowly learn what life is about, what matters, what's more important than test scores, college admissions, or a career. 

It's a little alarming I'm raising them in a world where very few people do what they love. Very few make their passion their career. Not that people don't want to. It's just that they are hindered from doing that the moment they first step foot into public school, where test scores trump discovering your passions and talents. At least that's the impression I got in my 12 years of schooling. 

I don't have a formula for raising great kids, finding balance for life and work, helping kids find their life compass. I'm just learning as I go. If there is one skill that's great for a mom and entrepreneur to have, that's being a quick learner. Everything about motherhood is a learning curve. Breastfeeding, nap schedules, balancing career and kids, your relationship with your spouse, even understanding your own feelings about all the constant changes kids bring into your life. 

Nothing is perfect right now. I don't think anything in life can be. There is always room for improvement in work, marriage, raising kids, keeping a household. To me, life is one huge transition, it doesn't feel permanent, it passes by quickly. People come and go. I don't want to live pretending I have many more years with my kids, we truly don't know. 

So that's that. Amidst constant change, these little picnics and outings with my two little birds. Savoring each moment.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Stonyfield for providing yogurt goodies for kids and I to enjoy at our picnic!

Solutions to Toddler Sleep Issues

You would think your sleep deprivation would be over once your baby grows into a toddler, right? Not so fast! I have learned with both my children that so many factors affect the length and quality of their sleep. Through trial and error with outdoor time, the food we eat, and screen time, I've adjusted our daily routine for optimal sleep for all of us. Do I get it perfect every day? Uhm, no. Children change, we change, and it's always a learning process.

We talk about this with other moms and these five issues I am summarizing below are a common thread for negatively and positively affecting our children's sleep, of course besides the obvious - a regular bedtime (which hopefully isn't too early). 

I would love it if you chime in with a comment on how you've found any of these helping or hindering your child's quality of sleep!

Fresh Air and Sunshine

I am sure you've noticed that your kids sleep better when they spend time outdoors. Our Western lifestyle has robbed us of the natural rhythm of wake/sleep cycles. Spending most of our days indoors puts us in a state of "light deficiency", then our sleep cycle is further messed up by too much artificial light in the evening when natural light has faded. This reversed light exposure actually directly affects a group of cells in our brain, the suprachiasmatic nuclei, that synchronize to the light-dark cycle of your environment when light enters your eye. It's pretty amazing! You can read more about it here.  

From my own experience and that of many moms, outdoor time is crucial for kids (and adults!) to sleep well. Fresh air = healthier cells! Simply put, it brings more oxygen to the body's cells, which results in better function of all body systems including digestion, brain/cognitive function, increased growth due to healthier cells, improves the action of the lungs, etc. After five years of learning from my own children, there is no denying they sleep and behave better when they have ample outdoor time. Now I'm not going to go into how hard New England winters make this for us!

In simple terms, this means that it's crucial for both you and your kids to spend time outdoors during the morning and daytime, and then to wind down indoors without too many bright lights and no screen time before bed. Which brings us to the next factor...

Zero Screens

Okay, so zero screen time may be harsh. Staring at a screen for at least some part of the day is crucial for your well being, right? While technological advances are awesome and useful, we need to look at how screen time affects kids (and us!) 

Do my kids get zero screen time? Currently my toddler who is 2 years and 7 months old usually gets zero screen time, with the occasional 15 minutes of The Piano Guys music videos or some animal videos on the computer. My five year old gets no more than an hour of screen time each day (while her brother is napping) and it usually pertains to homeschooling, learning videos, or interactive learning games. Sometimes I make her nap with him if necessary, or spend one-on-one time with her, which eliminates screen time on those days. 

Toddlers and screen time don't mix. At least that's what I experienced with both my son and daughter. Our screen time limits are just a result of what we've experienced when we had no particular limits, to put it simply - it was chaos. Daily screen time affected both my toddlers negatively and resulted in epic tantrums, poor eating habits, short attention span, night terrors and sleep problems, behavior issues, and pretty much zero desire for anything but screen time. 

We don't have a TV in the house, and I'm glad we don't. I don't miss anything by not watching it and according to statistics I gain about 5 hours a day - the average amount of TV an American watches every day! That's 35 hours a week that I instead spend with my kids, cooking simple healthy meals, and working on my home-based businesses. Instead of watching TV and having it show me what my life could be like, what I should buy, or what will 'make me happy', I spend that time creating the life I enjoy and spending quality time with actual people. 

I have to say, it isn't easier for me or particularly convenient to not be able to rely on television to occupy my children when I shower, cook meals, clean the house, or have a phone conversation. It forces me to get really creative and it forces my kids to interact with each other more and to learn to get along. It can be tough sometimes going against the grain of what our society deems necessary. In the long run, limiting screen time get everyone more and better quality sleep and makes parenting easier in many tangible ways.

Social Interaction

I am an introvert. I prefer to spend time with very few people I am close with. I really don't like crowds. But all humans are social beings and we all in one way or another crave meaningful interaction. Childhood is the perfect time to demonstrate to your kids how to build relationships by example. I can't tell you how many kids I meet are clueless about how to properly interact with children of various ages or adults. I really believe it's beneficial for children to play and interact with those older and younger than them, in the presence of their parents that can gently direct them and at the same time demonstrate their relationship to the adults present.

I've noticed this so many times, playing with other kids tires my children out immensely! Social interaction fuels their developing mind. Everything is new to toddlers in the world around them, so is interacting and learning about relationships! Granted you know your child best, some may benefit from one-on-one play dates and others may enjoy a large group setting more. Try both and see what works for you.  

Mind Work 

When kids participate in passive activities all day as onlookers, they are missing out and likely they will not sleep as well as they could. I'm sure you notice that when you leave a child with a few hands on toys, blocks, and tactile items, they'll go explore them right away. Yes, some mind work may happen with a screen and an interactive game, but the developing minds of toddlers need real-life 3D exploration. They instinctively crave it. Just watch them play in the dirt with rocks, sticks, and grass. 

Toddlers learn through play - hey, kids of all ages do! Even adults learn best through hands on and visual activities than just lectures or textbooks. Present your toddlers with ample opportunities to use their mind creatively throughout the day. Some of our favorite aides in this, items they play with regularly is the Haba Indian Summer Magnetic Game, alphabet blocks, City Blocs, Lego Duplo, IKEA train sets and abacus, geometric stacker, and a shape sorting cube, to name a few. 

Of course books are in a category of their own when it comes to mind work. We regularly use our library card because I could never own all the books they want me to read to them and explore on their own! It does wonders for developing their vocabulary and language skills. We don't go to bed without reading. We do have quite a few favorites though that have a permanent place on our shelves (like this one and this one). 

Watch the Ingredients

Reading nutrition facts is not enough these days, the ingredient label is just as if not more important. I wish I was making this up, but we truly live in a world where 'food' marketed to kids and their parents hardly resembles real food. It's usually a mixture of sugar, artificial flavoring, coloring, additives and GMOs. I'm sure you already know this. 

What's our story? Before kids we lived mostly off of processed foods and when I bought boxes labeled "all natural" I really thought it was in fact natural. Pregnant with my first, I learned a lot I didn't know. We slowly switched to real foods and simpler meals, as a result our food budget actually shrunk. Many health problems diminished or disappeared. We started feeling a lot better overall. Little by little we started buying more organic produce and looking for healthier meats, and we still spend far less than we did on food before we had children. Processed foods are expensive!

Our bodies are used to feeling well when we eat meals at home since we consume very little added sugar (which is a lot like cocaine) and nothing artificial. When we travel and visit people however, I allow my children to eat a certain amount of whatever is served and it usually involves sugar-loaded dessert. Without fail, every single time their behavior changes and they do not sleep well after consuming these kinds of foods. It's just a personal observation, but I know I'm not alone in my findings. A lot of moms that feed their kids more/less healthy on a daily basis will tell you what too much sugar, colors, and flavors does to their kids when they allow it on occasion! 

If your family is still living off of the SAD (Standard American Diet) consisting mostly of processed foods and sugars, don't despair. You can change things a little at a time and gradually substitute processed packaged foods for things more wholesome and natural. You'd be amazed at how much money it will save you too, along with better health and sleep for everyone. 

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Does your toddler have sleep issues? Have you tried all this and still having trouble? Maybe you have more ideas to share with other moms? Let us know below!

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Spring Officially Here! {photo session}

Yesterday was GORGEOUS. I can hardly believe we're out of our winter slump and can finally take photos outdoors! We had fun at this park and opened the season to a lot more outdoor time that we desperately crave. 

Pollinating Bee

New England winters make me wish we moved to a slightly warmer climate. Which may actually happen in the distant future, for many reasons. I'm so over spending the winter home with sick kids. Over. It's a fact of life and you can't always avoid it, but surely there are places where we could live to get sunshine not just 5-6 months out of the year. No vitamin D, guaranteed sickness. Supplements help, but just aren't the real thing. 

When we got to the garden, I remembered I completely forgot to actually dress them nice for photos, just got out the door in whatever they had on. 

That smirk!

My princess!

Baby E and Baby T were so happy for the warm the weather that they almost liked the presence of the bees on nearly every flower. Plus it was a good deterrent for my toddler, who wanted to pick all the flowers where he isn't supposed to. 

We'll be enjoying this spring, summer, and early fall, but honestly, I'm not looking forward to next winter. 

These photos were taken at the Stevens Coolidge Place (that I didn't even take a picture of!), just a ten minute drive from our house. 

Can't wait to see it in all it's early summer glory!  

What climate do you live in? Love or dislike winter?

Photos: Copyrighted to V & A Photography, specializing in Boston wedding photography, Boston family photography, and Boston newborn photography

Maudslay State Park | Newburyport

A few weeks ago in September we went to this beautiful park with the kids, the last time we were there when Baby T was still in my tummy exactly two years ago. This place is absolutely amazing and to add to the fun, there was an installation of sculptures by different local artists throughout the park. 

As much as I don't like hauling around the Nikon D800 with me on trips like these, I never regret taking it and I always do when I don't take it along. So here are a few photo highlights of our trip that I hope you'll enjoy (just saying that because I love looking at photos on other blogs too!). 

Oh, and if you're local to Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire and ever need maternity, newborn, family, or event photos, I am here!

It was a beautiful day, all the way up until an epic tantrum by Baby T when he found out we're leaving. :)

Easy Play Fort for Kids

Baby E Playing in the Fort

What kid doesn't love a good fort? I still remember vast chunks of my own childhood spend playing in one! Winters in Latvia were pretty long and the fold-out couch in our living room became a favorite play space with my girlfriends. Now that I'm a little more grown up [ahem], I love making forts with my kids. We usually use a large blanket, but it gets warm in it pretty fast. So when we came up with this idea thanks to a simple spring clamp, the kids absolutely loved it.

Baby T and Baby E in Their 'Playhouse'

They can play in their fort for hours! Sometimes I play with them, but most times this gives them free playtime and me - some time to wash dishes in peace, throw in a load of laundry, cook dinner, or tidy up the house. Trust me, this is a much, much better alternative to sticking them in front of the TV. We do not have a television in our living room and decided this room is best used for living and playing.  

These Cheap Clamps Make It Easy

Here is our little trick for making a fort in ten seconds flat. I ordered these Cheaplights Spring Clamps for photo sessions at V & A Photography. Of course whenever I open any package, the kids are always right there stalking me and curious to know what arrived at our doorstep. I wasn't surprised that the moment they saw these they wanted to play with them. Baby T wanted all six of them for himself! Moments later a light bulb lights up in my head and I go grab a sheet. We set up three kitchen chairs and clamped the sheet at three points to the chairs and voila! A really quick set up fort. The clamps are not toys of course, keep that in mind. Also, little kids can't really open them, you need a lot of strength.

If you have your own backyard, you could use these clamps in the summer to attach sheets to a tree without any harm and make an even better and bigger fort for outdoor play. These spring clamps are so versatile, for just $7 you've got hours of fun play for kids and a useful household tool for holding things together when needed!

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

My Favorite Photos from Newfound Lake

I wrote in detail about our Newfound Lake trip and shared photos with you - but I had so many photos that they wouldn't all fit in one post. Here are a few of my favorites that capture the beauty of the lake, the variety of weather. I've never seen clouds fly so fast as I did there!

The sunsets are gorgeous, this is right before our bedtime with the kids. 

It seems like every afternoon a thunderstorm rolled in, so it's a good thing we went swimming every morning before Baby T's nap time! 

I love this shot my husband took of me and the kids swimming. 

Can you see? Baby T's little footprints along with my husband's feet :)

Chaos of living out of suitcases in a very small cabin. Baby T was running around in his Bambo Nature diapers and wanted me to look at his rock. 

Baby T playing with sand in the most beautiful setting a playground could ever wish for!

PS: You can see more of my photography at V & A Photography.

Our Newfound Lake Vacation Story | Photos

It was a busy Saturday morning, packing up our car for a short 1.5 hour drive to the lake with the kids. 

"Hunny, it won't fit" my husband said as he came back from stuffing our Honda Accord full. 

"What do you mean it won't fit?!" I thought. Don't tell me I spent all day cooking and packing food for the whole week just to find out the food will not fit in the car!

We ended up fitting it all, after all. [Whew!] Including two bags in my front passenger seat. Yeah, don't ask. I guess I wanted to be sure we were prepared for anything. You know, rain, sun, cranky kids, the normal. Except I wasn't actually prepared for what did happen over those 3 nights and 4 days.

Off we went! We left later than planned, as always, both kids were fast asleep napping during the drive. As we got closer, the scenery was truly beautiful. Vibrant green mountains, winding scenic roads, leading to the sparkling lake alive with vacationers. 

We drove up to our vacation cottage. As we saw more and more of it we proceeded to use the words shack and shed to refer to it - 'cottage' didn't really fit. As my husband described so well "Back in the 80s when I lived in the Soviet village, this would be considered a storage shed."

When I was booking it, the words 'cozy' and 'rustic' were used in the description. That should have been the first red flag. As was the fact there was no photo of the so called 'updated kitchenette'. Sorry, this doesn't look 'updated' to me, maybe 20 years ago? I should have paid closer attention to the reviews on HomeAway, all posted by people who stayed there 30+ years ago before this place was sold off as condos. How could I miss that none of the reviews actually talked about what this place is like inside, today?

The photos don't look so bad, right? It's cute. Looks can be so deceiving! Hubby hit his head on the porch rafter. Several times. Okay, so he is 6' tall. But he has never hit his head on a ceiling, door jamb, or rafter anywhere else we vacationed. 

See those windows? With paint peeling off. Not safe for kids. They are held up by little hooks from 30+ years ago. We steer clear of those. The back window? Not existent. It's mesh with wooden sliding shutters, no glass. 

There is only one sink. None in the bathroom. I end up using the same one for washing dishes as for rinsing Baby T's potty! Yum! [Smile] Broken chair legs. Broken rocking chair on the porch. Rocking chair paint peeling so bad that I do not feel safe putting my kids in one. Paint peeling off the entire porch. Broken pic nic table. 

The final drop in the bucket (pun intended) for us is the leaky shower head. No matter what we try, it drips, and drips all night. All night. Are you familiar with Chinese water torture? Well, we are now! 

The cottage is at a toasty 100 degrees Fahrenheit when we come in. [Smile] Followed by a rapid decline to a chilly 60 degrees at night. [Cue 'Frosty the Snowman'] Well, for me the view made up for it. Beautiful! (That is a fan, which was our 'AC' during the day when we tried, unsuccessfully, to cool the place down)

My husband is not so fortunate and could not enjoy the view. First night, fever, chills, body aches. He is completely miserable! I feel pretty helpless. All I have with me is cod liver oil, arnica, and some Cold Care tea. He still has a fever the next day and it does not help that he cannot sleep because of the leaky shower head. He didn't sleep all three nights we were there. So when he proposed we leave, I really couldn't say no and had to put myself in his shoes. 

What we do love is the lake being right across the street. First evening, we step out to the lake to feel the water shortly before sunset. Baby T is ready to jump out of my arms and right into the water, we let him get a little wet. I decide to skip the anti-bug balm that we love and use all summer, we're only out for a few minutes. I'm surprised, no mosquitoes. 

We settle in for the night. I realize with all our belonging there and the kids, the studio is a little too cramped. We're stepping on each other, literally. By morning I realize it is more cramped than I thought since I need to head outside with kids asap because hubby did not sleep all night. Now he can get a snooze because the constant sound of cars outside on the main road somewhat drowns out the leaky shower head.

Fortunately, this morning we venture up the hill of our condo complex and discover this beautiful playground with gorgeous views. You can see nearly the whole lake from here! This was out retreat during the stay, the kids love it! For the most part they just love the sand and I love the photo backdrop, the quiet, the fresh air, and a pause for my mind that I seldom get when we are home. 

We come back to our cabin about an hour later. I make breakfast. Early afternoon rolls around and we are so ready to check out the water. Being inside is unbearable as the temperature climbs to 95 again and doesn't stop. We get our swimming gear on!

Of course for the kids this is the most exciting part. They both love the water. Baby T even more so than Baby E, maybe because he is a water baby. I am so relieved to have the Swimtrainer floats, it made it so easy for me to keep an eye of them. No need to strain my back holding Baby T in the water and Baby E is well on her way to being a confident swimmer with the stage two orange float. Unlike a regular float it allows for the proper swimming position and lower the child a little in the water so that they can move their arms and legs under the water, genius! I only wish I got one sooner when Baby E was a baby.

The water is so warm, we then have a hard time trying to convince them to get out. Baby T obliges at hubby's mention of a yummy snack. The rest of our stay revolves around nap times, swim times, bed times, and meals. We visited the local Mill Fudge Factory and Ice Cream Cafe, perhaps the biggest attraction in town with the priciest ice cream I've ever tasted. It was worth it though because they had wi-fi, we could check for any urgent emails, and they had toys for the kids. That was the best part!

The place had a rustic, vintage feel - an old town charm.

Baby E even tried out the doll high chair. 

The cafe is situated on a cliff over a river with some wonderful views and the sound of the water. This cozy, narrow back room had wicker chairs, children's books, and windows that opened right onto the river. We took an evening walk in town and were surprised that mosquitoes were non-existent, they only came out later at night after sunset - when we were already in the cabin putting kids to bed.

   

On our last day there we went up to the playground on the hillside to take in the view one more time and take some family photos. Just when we thought we were done with the unexpected, the car is packed, and we're about to lock the cabin, Baby T falls down the front steps. My heart sank as I heard his scream and ran outside to see him at the bottom of the stairs. Thankfully he was okay and with the arnica rub and tablets, his bad bruises were gone in six days!

My favorite photo from the trip, Baby T is squealing in delight (not crying)

Sure, our trip was nothing like we expected and cut too short. It definitely wasn't very pleasant for my husband. We've decided that while the kids are little, anything more than three nights is too much for us because there is just too much stuff to pack for a longer stay - not to mention the food that we would need to bring along with us to avoid junk at restaurants and save money.

The most pleasant thing about the trip was having a break from my to-do list. At home there is a constant flow of tasks, chores. Here I could just take a little break from that and I could focus a lot more on the kids. No laundry, minimal cooking, minimal cleaning. The cleanest lake I've ever seen, fresh air, lots of sunshine, and some one-on-one time with those you love. Isn't that what vacation is all about? 

Do you have any 'vacation with kids' horror or success stories? 

Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!