ShOe LaCeS uNtiEd: OUr fAmiLy VaCatiOn Across Canada....to Brandon Manitoba~

As Parents I think sometimes we get wrapped up in the whoopla of providing "the best" for our children..... What is the definition of "the best".... I assume its different for every parent, circumstance and situation... is it the most popular toys, the best equipment, the brand name cloths..... Elaborate holidays, vacations and events..... Or is it simply the basics... Good Food, A roof over their heads, health, love and acceptance......

I try to do a regular reality check... and sometimes I'll admit I fully get wrapped up in the... Only Laken has been on an airplane....we haven't taken them on a tropical vacation... Laken's skates aren't pre ordered from some fancy company..... Mark and I haven't been on a "couples Vacation yet" and then thank the sky above I return to reality..... Laken is four....Brett is two..... what are they going to remember..... Honestly? Event wise....probably nothing..... what they will remember is the basics... that they were never hungry, they had fun, they seen Dad and Mom having fun, they were loved and always allowed to be themselves.......

I try to always remind myself that ~“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou

Because nothing could be truer for our Children... This June we headed off on our Family Vacation~ The full purpose of the trip was to watch one of my best friend's say "I Do" to her best friend... I had big plans for this vacation..... Show my children how important is was to be a good friend.... that cherishing friendships is one of the secrets in life to finding happiness and that family is beyond blood.... I also wanted to prove to myself that no matter if you were on a trip to Saskatchewan and Manitoba or Disneyland it truly was what you made it... and I will tell you.... our little inexpensive trip vs a 10k trip to Disneyworld... was as Laken put it while we were in Regina...." This is the best Vacation of my Life, we need to come back to Begina....(yes Begina).... its the most fun I've had and I bet its better then any Disneyland I know! We have to come back"......Now I had to tell him we would probably choose somewhere else to go next time......I had to do an internal happy dance....Vacation Success!

Before we left I researched the crap out of each city.... and each hotel... My list of had to haves for hotels were.... preferably.. Water Slide, Heated Pool ( a must for little kids), theme room, and a restaurant that was family friendly.. I was successful in finding everything in my wish list... for no extra costs! I also researched the crap out of the cities with fun things to see! We hit the Science center in Regina and drove around the provincial building... along with other fun excursions... Fun was had by all and we got to watch Aunty Amy get married!!