mexico!

Eliana and I made up this little song last year around this time. It goes something like this:
Mexico! We're going to Mex-ih-coah!
(repeat again and again with incredible exuberance)

We just dug that one up and started singing again. Cuz we're going back. After one nap. Eliana measures her life in naps. I seem to measure my life in breaks. I think after fifteen years of teaching and a lifetime of an academic calendar schedule, it's hard not to think of things in little chunks, all surrounded by splendid weeks of respite. I am at the end of my fall chunk! My first fall chunk of being a working mama with two kids. It's been a hell of a chunk. Busy and wild and full and ridiculous. I'm ready for a bookend.

It's funny the things you don't articulate or plan but just somehow happen. Jeff and I met as teachers. We saved money to travel somewhere fun over our breaks. When we became parents, we never consciously planned to travel with our kids. But this is Eliana's third trip to Mexico. Pretty good for a three year old. Sol's passport is all ready to be stamped. He's so sweet in his little photo. So official, that Sol. I guess he was with us last year, just in a different capacity...



The bags are packed, sunscreen and tums purchased and we're ready to roll. Last year we came home for Christmas. I felt really strongly about Eliana having holiday memories in her home. This year I don't have any of that sentiment. I'm not sure what happened. Perhaps I don't have time for it! I love that they'll have memories of a Christmas in the sunshine. The posada. Tamales. Lots of friends and family in an exotic and warm locale. An adventure.

Most importantly, though, I'm ready for some down time with my people. Our foursome. Ready to snuggle up and read books and meander and cook together. To break out of my routine of tasks that move us from one day to the next. Ready for the spontenaity that travel brings. The break from procedures or expectations. The surrender to the moment (especially in a country like Mexico where the very notion of time is different to the way it is here). Ready to carry Sol on my chest and hold Elie's hand. To be together. Look, it's our whole family! While this is one of her favorite exclamations, Eliana doesn't seem to get to say this enough because we always seem to be moving too fast. I'm ready to shout it from the rooftops. Our whole family. Together. For two whole weeks. On our own, sunny path.

My favorite mommy/daughter pic ever was taken in Sayulita two years ago. So much happiness...