How do you remember your trips?

Hi friends!

About a month ago we took a family vacation to Virginia/Washington DC/Maryland and it was super special.  When I used to live on the east coast Fall was my absolute favorite time, so I absolutely loved being able to take in all of the beautiful fall color!  The kids got to really "live" history in Monticello, Jamestown and Williamsburg. Williamsburg was especially fun because we rented period costumes for the girls and the girls just totally LOVED it.  At $25/kid it wasn't exactly cheap, but the kids became so much more interested in learning about the history of the time, so I totally think it was worth it! 

Eventually we headed north to DC where we checked out the monuments, museums, and the treasury!  My kids loved the treasury tour--especially when one of the workers pretended to make a paper airplane out of one of the money sheets! DC provided such a fabulous background for lots of history lessons for the kids.  They asked the best questions as we covered everything from the ideals our country was founded on, the challenges our democracy has faced, to civil rights and equality.   Good, good, stuff. 

On this trip-just like when we went to Europe earlier this year--we only took carry on luggage.  It requires a bit of planning to make traveling light possible (like making sure we had access to washers/dryers!!) The only downside to traveling light is that it doesn't always leave room for souvenirs.  Even not considering the space issue, I've found myself buying fewer things on vacations lately and I'm not quite sure why.   

A few weeks ago though I started feeling a bit nostalgic of our trip, and when the kids and I were painting ornaments on clear glass globes, I decided to paint one from our trip.  I really love this idea because all of these "trip ornaments" all kind have the same "look" even though they are different.  My kids loved it because it was just such a nice bit of quality time spent painting with them.

 In fact, we had so much fun that when Lu had to go to a ceramic painting shop to earn a girl scout badge, I decided to paint a ceramic trinket tray based off of our European trip earlier this year!  I love it! It was kind of inspired by an old anthropologie product that isn't available for sale anymore.

 I'm totally digging my new way to remember trips with handmade things.  Making these things, alongside my girls, feels like remembering great memories and forming new ones at the exact same time!  So special! 

So that brings me to ask, how do you remember your vacations?  Do you have a crafty way to document your favorite trips, or do you pick up an ornament or other memento everywhere you go?  I'd love to hear!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  I have to say that life feels so busy these days, but I'm trying to step back and remember that my kids won't be young forever, and the Christmas excitement won't always be there. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

XOXO,

Jill