Camping with Kids

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!

XO

Meagan

Danner Boots

Certifiably insane.

That's what I would have mumbled, under my breath of course, as I walked away from you, shaking my head and rolling my eyes. That's the box I would have put you in after you told twenty-year-old me that I would spend the first years of my thirties buying, remodeling and building a house. I'd have called you certifiably insane.

I'd shake my head at you because twenty-year-old me didn't know how to do anything. She was afraid of every power tool with the exception of a drill. She spent her weekends at brewpubs and nightclubs and slept in late because she was out late with her girlfriends. She didn't have time for "home projects" and honestly, she didn't want to. She didn't care.

Today, I care. The evolution of the place we've named "Lancaster Land" has been breathtaking, both because of the sheer amount of dollars, time and hands-on work we've invested still surprises me, and also because the end result is something we wanted and we designed. It went from being something I couldn't even picture, to something I can't imagine not calling home.

When you think of the tools required to complete such a project, it's easy to compile a list of supplies. Lumber, nails, re-bar, insulation, drywall, and so much more. You can even tally up the number of YouTube videos on how to accomplish each portion of the project. You think about big purchases, like the yards and yards of electrical wire and the small purchases, like the trusty work gloves that will protect your hands. What doesn't make most lists though, is your footwear. And in my opinion, that's a miss.

We love our Danner boots because they're strong. We know they can handle whatever we put them through, literally, but we also know that they will (and have) last the life of our multiple year project. Plus, I put them on and I'm sure that I'm about to do something pretty bad ass. Let's be real - ballet flats are good for picking up the little girl, but if I'm going to pick up a hammer or step behind a chop saw, I reach for my Danners.

His and hers.

These boots have become part of our story.

• The mud tells us that we've made it through all weather and survived (holy metaphor, batman).
• The scrapes tell us it's okay to get a little banged up along the way.
• The wrinkles and the wear tell us that this project, this place, our home is earned. It's lived-in and worked-for.
• The fading tells us that together, we've worked all seasons, through heat, through rain, through snow. We have worked.

People say that we've build our house with our own two hands. That's a compliment, but this house was built by all of us. Our hands, sure. Our arms to swing, our legs to move, and our feet. Our feet so we keep standing strong. And with these boots, our feet are safe (and stylish). But most importantly, our home - Lancaster Land - was built with our hearts. And in so many different ways, we're still building.

XO

Meagan

Portland Roasting Co.

Some days, I wake before my alarm (which is no longer a cheery beep from my nightstand, but a toddler calling mamamamama from her crib). It's those days where I wake to my still sleeping house, the world around me quiet and still. I stare out the kitchen window, watch the sun rise and feel centered and ready for the day.

Those days aren't the usual. That's probably why they feel like unicorn magic to me. They're the end of the rainbow and feel a little sacred.

Normal mornings are followed by a night of broken sleep. Normal mornings are greeted by coffee.

Sweet. Dear. Coffee. I love you. I need you. Thanks for always being there.

In the mornings of ease or the mornings of chaos, it's important to find something that we can sink into. Something that, even if just for a second, gives us the power to look ahead, face the day and appreciate everything we've been doing. It's silly, but a really good steaming hot cup of joe can do that for a person. Portland Roasting Co. offers all of that, plus is organic and produced in a carbon-neutral facility. So, you're drinking coffee that is doing both you and the environment a favor. Waking up to a big win, right?

So, two things. This coffee. And this cup. Because we don't judge books by their covers, of course, but sometimes the vessel tells an important story too.

If you're ever in Portland, you have got to check out See See Motor Coffee Co. At Lancaster Land, we love their cups (perfect to wrap your hands around) but we also love visiting the shop. Motorcycles, coffee and a little of that Portland hipster sub-culture? I'll take it.

Cheers, friends!

Meagan