travel — Stuff We Love — Life at Lancaster Land

As a family, we're away from the house a lot. A lot. A lot a lot a lot. This is a bad thing because we're almost two years into a house remodel and taking off on the weekends doesn't help finish projects around the house, which is probably why we're two-years in and not finished. The positive is that (I hope) we're teaching our daughter that to-do lists aren't what life's about; that life is about spending time together, making memories, and sometimes that means packing up and getting out of dodge for a couple of days.

The really good thing about prioritizing creating meaningful experiences over everyday responsibilities is this: sometimes when we're away, we're working. Not on our regular nine to five jobs, of course, but on the other projects, the passion projects, that we have. We're teaching our daughter that success and happiness aren't measured in completed to-do lists, and that our professional wins might not always come from punching a clock but from investing a little or a lot extra into things we really believe in. Our dreams are like our garden, and we make a daily choice to nurture or ignore.

When we pack up, and we leave the comforts of home, there are a few kid-comforts that I don't leave home without. Being prepared is so crucial to having an easy adventure, and thanks to these little ditties, being prepared is easy too.

Contigo Water Bottles: Seriously, these are fun for Elsie to carry around and she acts like such a big girl with them in her hand. They hold a good amount of water, so if we fill them up before a hike or a long drive, she certainly won't go thirsty. Plus, they're BPA free, dishwasher safe, spill and leak-proof, and easy for a toddler to drink out of. I own more than a couple.

This Booster Seat: We leave this in the motorhome full time. It's easy to sit right at the small dinette table and with zero fabric, it's easy to just wipe off with a soapy, wet washcloth. It's light, easy to move around, and comes at a great price.

A cuddly and soft sound machine: This is everything. No matter where we are, and what strange sounds are happening outside the motorhome, or even if we're staying overnight at Grandmas, this thing works. It doesn't need to be plugged in, so it even helps give that extra snuggle during car rides.

A kid-friendly camp chair: When we sit around the campfire (or just in camp at the motocross track or even just hanging out in our back field on a hot, summer day) these little chairs are awesome! They're easy to transport, easy to use, easy to clean and of course, they help Elsie feel part of the pack because she's got a setup just like ours.

This Stroller: Man, this thing has seen dirty days on the dairy farm, muddy dirtbike tracks, dusty jogging trails and so much more. It's loved and it's used and it's still in awesome shape. It's like an off-road stroller and handles and seems to ride so easy. And here's an endorsement if there ever was one: It's what our girlfriends always pool togehter to get the latest mom-to-be in our circle. Everyone has a Bob.

I could add a ton more - but these are the five things I'd literally turn around if I was a fair distance from home and realized I left them. So, yeah, they're important. That, and wine.

What would you turn around for? How do you make it through weekends away from home with your little one? I want to know!

Meagan