That’s right, I’m taking a rest…of sorts. What started as “let’s take a two week vacation this summer” has turned into almost a month, at a lake house in New Hampshire.
Yes, four weeks of lakeside living for me and the boys while family (including my husband) and friends come and go for a day or two or a week or two. Needless to say, all of this had my head spinning with…
How?
Will I manage the kids, my workouts, my writing, my life?
When?
Will I do all that I need to do for the start of the school year or anything that involves reality?
What?
Will I spend the majority of my time doing and how quickly can I fill it all up?
You know I’m a planner and a do-er. I need to know what my life is going to look like on any given day and when that balance is tipped, I tend to freak.
But, not this time.
My lake house “to do” list started like this:
– SUP (stand up paddle boarding) must be done!
– Cycling for miles around the lake
– Building up my running mileage because NYCM is “only” 15 weeks away
– Look into local races
After thinking a lot about what I wanted to accomplish this summer, in all aspects of my life, I started thinking about what is truly important.
This is the last summer before the boys start full-time first grade in the fall. They will be separated for hours at a time, for the first time in their little lives…not to mention all the separation from mama. *cue the tears, some of joy* and yes, I have a big race coming up but when don’t I? Almost never.
Who wouldn’t want to spend more time with these monsters? (my adorable nephew in the middle)
This opportunity to spend four weeks of bliss beside a lake with some of the people I love most in the world should not be taken lightly.
My “to do” list now looks more like this:
– Sit the f**k down and relax you psycho (I’m so gentle with myself)
– Go fishing (what? I can fish!)
– Meet up with blogging friends (yes, we will run or hike or bike but that’s what we do for fun!)
– Eat different foods and lots of it, desserts and wine are a must (Sadly, I’m allergic to lobster but not Ben and Jerry’s)
– Watch On Golden Pond, What About Bob and any other movie about or filmed on Lake Winnipesaukee (also learn how to spell ‘winnipesaukee’ without having to Google it each and every time!)
FU to-do list!
– Explore with the boys
– Listen to the Loons
– Kayak
– Be ‘off schedule’ and be ok with it
– Be present
Now, of course I will be biking, running and swimming (in open water, any time I want to!) but it will not be my focus. And yes, I will be writing and blogging, but not on a regular basis.
In the Northeast we only get a few short months of hospitable weather and I intend to make the most of it.
Now, who can recommend a good local race and/or SUP rentals in the Lake Winnipesaukee area?
Are you taking a vacation?
Have you ever seen What About Bob or On Golden Pond?
What do you do to relax on vacation? Clearly I need some help – also, fishing tips are welcome!
Relaxing on vacation is nearly impossible for me. I have to plan it and even when I do I start itching to do something else. Oh boy. Also the marathon is 16 weeks away could you do me a favor and NOT STEAL WEEKS AWAY?! Thanks. Also. You are right. The weather is going to suck around here really soon so yeah–take advantage of the water and the great weather!!
First time separated! Wow! They can handle it though and so can you. 100%.
Oh Nellie you made me laugh berating Allie for stealing weeks from you. xoxo
OMG I am so sorry! I will never do that again but I swore I got an email from NYRR saying 16 last week. Oops!!!!
oh i adore this and long to come and stay with you there.
I ROCK THE RELAXING ON VACATION so theres that and Im in the “oh my girl is growing so quickly I wanna pause and SAVOR every second” so theres that.
What time should I arrive? 🙂
Are you here yet?
You’re in a beautiful, albeit touristy area. “What about Bob?” is really funny; “On Golden Pond”…not so much. Off schedule is when the magic happens; enjoy!
You are right!…on so many levels 🙂
I swear we are the same person sometimes…..not that I am going on a lake house vacation, although that does sound lovely, but the calming down and learning to relax. Oh, and trying to cram waaayyyy too many things into a day. I heard myself through your entire post…..but with different activities. Lets make a pledge to enjoy the time….mine in 3 weeks, yours now. If you do it, I will think of you when my time comes and make myself do it too!
Deal!!! I’m sitting by the lake as I respond and I was reading a book for the last 30 min at least. So far, so good…although I did a bike/run this morning 🙂
We are going to Disney in early August and I admit I just can’t wait, because I haven’t had a real vacation in years now. Like you though, I promised myself this summer to enjoy our vacation and just as much downtime with my husband and my girls, too. So I am truly wishing you that and so much more now 😉
Disney was actually one vacation where I focused on the kids and the parks… Mostly because at the end of the day I was exhausted!! You are going to love it 🙂
I am sooooo glad you are taking this time to sit( alttle bit anyway) and enjoy ur family and summer. You def deserve every bit of it…
Enjoy….. Drink more wine than anything else. It’s the best workout for the arms…..
Love you,
You know it!! Thanks Aunt Laurie. Love you!
Amazing! This time sounds like it will be full of sweet memories for the boys (and you!) to look back on. I do love New England in the summer. 🙂
There’s really nothing like it and YES so many memories and we’ve only just begun!
Yes!! Take the time to enjoy the month with your family. But you really do need to get a SUP and/or SUP yoga in there as well…. I’ve done SUP in a marina a few times, and SUP yoga once, and each time it was just amazing and I kept having to take in my surroundings and what I was doing….
All this triathlon talk, I didn’t realize you were doing NYCM…. jealous!
There are quite a few places for SUP around here and I found a great yoga studio but, so far, no combo yoga/SUP but I’m on the lookout!
YES NYCM in 16 weeks 🙂 It’s my first New York and I’m giddy!
I love it!!! Lake Winnie is so nice. I can’t wait to finally meet too. And a race? I know of one nearby – a 10k that’s at the end of July. It’s the Summerfest 10k – you’d love it. And I could be your cheerleader!
You sweet talker, you!!! Off to Google… :-))))
I’ll be at Summeriest 10K:)
Not racing just running for fun…want to run with me??;)
YES! We will talk!
this is awesome, and totally like looking into my own brain and thought process! like when we spent 2 weeks in Chile, my list of things i wanted to do looked so much like your first list. then i realized HELLO YOU FREAK you’re on your honeymoon. LOL my hubby gets it. plus i was still recovering and injured, but i had thought oh, i can do cross training and all my PT exercises and blahblahblah. shut the f up, yeah. i relaxed and embraced it thank god. it was amazing.
anyhow, we’ve taken some little trips and planning a few more… i’m getting really freaking good and vacationing now. i think it should be considered cross training of some sort: vacationize. lol
have a marvelous spectacular and FUN time!!! love this post, thank you!!!
It absolutely should be considered cross-training! There’s a lot of hard work that goes along with vacation planning and “vacationing” with kids is really no vacation at all 🙂
I am giving you a bit ‘ole pat on the back right now! This is time you will NEVER regret. Can’t say the same for time spent on social media. And your boys will look back on this will all kinds of love and thanksgiving for a mom who did this. Don’t look back, just move forward with these new, fabulous plans and enjoy every loving minute of it!
My lake time in the Adirondacks is approaching quickly and I CANNOT wait! We go to a place that has absolutely no connectivity and not even electricity. The forced unplug is the best thing we do every year and can I tell you that it is my kids absolute favorite place in the entire world? Even the teen and in this day and age, that’s a testament when kids are so damn plugged in.
Yes it is – wow!!
And, I think that will be my new mantra – “don’t look back, only look forward!”
Thanks Amanda.
A month at a lake sounds so amazing. I get anxious about what to do on vacations and getting my workouts in (running is not only good for me, but for my husband so I don’t drive him crazy with my excess energy), but once I get a good run or hike in, I realize all I need is some wine or beer and a few good books and somewhere to nap.
I haven’t been fishing in years but it’s so fun, especially when you can eat the fish!
That is exactly what’s happening! I’m having a lot of post-run drinks, desserts, etc. all in the name of vacation.
I went fishing for the first time today in years. The boys are loving it…the fish, not so much!
SUP, Allie?? Hahahahaha!!! Enjoy your vacation, the lake sounds amazing!! What About Bob is one of my favorites. “Mm mm… Fay, are these hand-shucked?” I watched On Golden Pond when I was about 7or 8 and remember loving it but I couldn’t tell you anything about it now. I’m going to revisit. Have fun ladycake!!
SUP! HAHAHAHA! Yup, thinking of that each and every time 🙂
I also haven’t seen OGP in about 20 years so this should be interesting!
xoxo
Ahhhh, I can feel the relaxation already. A month at the lake? Absolute heaven! You are going to have the BEST time enjoying your boys!! Run, fish, hike, SUP, relax… have the best time!!
Thank you! I’m on it… 🙂
Gah!! I can’t believe we were only off a few weeks. My parents live like a mile from the lake!! If only we had gone a few weeks later! Such a bummer!!! I hope you enjoy your time there and soak it all in. You are totally right, once school starts, that time is gone. I didn’t even think of it that way. Here I am wishing the summer away so they can get back to school. Not any more!! I’m going to embrace it now thanks to you….well, embrace it with a large bottle of wine 🙂
YES embracing always comes easier with a nice wine!
I seriously cannot believe we keep missing each other like this…however, my husband mentioned a biz trip to DC so stay tuned…
Do NOT tease me. Seriously, don’t tease me.
I wouldn’t dream of it! I’m not positive when his trip is – late August or early Sept. I’ll give you as much notice as he gives me which, typically is not a lot!!!
Well, we’ll be around so just let me know! I am NOT missing you this time!
Bahaha, I love “sit down & relax you psycho.” I bet it’ll be an awesome vacation, and it sounds like you have some fun activities planned! I’m heading back to the Northeast to visit family and friends and be in my friend’s wedding in a few weeks. I’ll be gone for 3 weeks, which is a long trip, and it is a little weird getting totally knocked out of my routine for that long, but I’m very much looking forward to it!
I still can’t wrap my head around the time frame but I’m sure I will settle in nicely. Your trip sounds so great and FUN. Enjoy it!
Yay! Good for you Allie! I whole heartedly support your laid back vacation self! My “vacation” this summer is really a working vacation since I’m teaching 4 days a week and still blogging but I’m loving every second of it. Definitely definitely definitely try SUP. You will LOVE it! It’s so fun! Also, I dare you to try a tree pose while you are at it!
Challenge accepted and I’m almost certain I will be wet afterward 🙂
I’m so glad you’re enjoying your summer though teaching and writing. Sounds like a dream to me!
PS – I found a Barre class!!!!!!!
That does sound relaxing. I always struggle sitting around personally but I think you will really enjoy it. I’m happy for you!
It’s usually a struggle but, between my workouts and keeping up with the boys, I welcome the rest!!
There are some great SUP rentals in Wolfeboro: Full Moon Paddleboard she does yoga and workouts and lessons. http://www.fullmoonpaddleboard.com/Full_Moon/home.html
Thanks so much Sarah! You’re like my personal tour guide 🙂
I looked into Summerfest 10K and I like what I see!! We’ll have to chat more…
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love this and love that you are doing this. You know that I’m a big proponent of vacation time 🙂 It does seems so impossible and all the “How am I going to handles” but when it comes down to it, it’s totally doable and everything can be managed. I’m SO looking forward to our upcoming vacation and unplugging and spending this time with my kids too. Have so much fun!
You are absolutely right. Somehow everything that seemed so important becomes small once you’re actually on vacation. If it lasts for a month, remains to be seen, but I’m going to try!
Good luck making it to vacation and enjoy every moment!
I just never take vacations. Maybe a long weekend, but I can’t remember the last vacation-like getaway I’ve taken. It’s not work or time – it’s funding!
I’ve seen “What About Bob?” but not “On Golden Pond.” I’ve also seen a few “Cheaper by the Dozen” movies which take place on the lake. Good stuff.
When I do get away, I read. I nap. I don’t check to see what time it is. It’s a sweet escape.
Sometimes all you need is a long weekend!
On Golden Pond is an oldie but a goodie…complete with a young Jane Fonda and an old Henry Fonda 🙂
I’ve been trying to not check the time at all. Thanks Eli!
Allie, I’ve missed you…I’ve been off on my own vacation and have been very bad about visiting. I’m happy to hear that you are going to be taking it easy (for you, anyway). My friend’s parents have a house on Lake Winnipesaukee and they go there every summer – maybe you’ll run into them! I have no idea how big the lake is – that may be a ridiculous statement.
Anyway…have a great time!
HAHAHHA um, yep it kind of is. The lake is over 44,000 acres! It’s seriously gigantic.
I absolutely loved all the pictures I saw on FB of your amazing vacation!!! You must be seriously depressed to be home. Those pictures of the mountains just blew me away! It looks like it was the trip of a lifetime and I hope you blog about it. I will definitely step away from the lake to read all about it!!
I think that’s great that you’re spending the time with your family! So important. I will say though SUP is so much fun!!!! If you do get the chance, it’s so worth it;)
It is great that I get to spend so much time with them, especially the boys because they are loving it! I think we’re doing SUP this week and I cannot wait! Thanks Bre. Good to hear from you!
I loved going to Lake Winnipesaukee in the summer. I grew up in New England and the only reason it is spelled correctly in the first sentence is because of auto correct:) enjoy your vacation you are right New England summers are very short-lived!
LOL, don’t I know it! It’s beautiful here and I’m trying to soak up each and every sunny day!