…Most of all, there was the time spent. The time spent together in Anguilla.
Long walks on the beach. (below: Kyle and MorFar)
Fun in the sun. (below, probably my favorite 3 photos of the whole trip: MorMor and Meera)
Good times with Sadie, the bambinos’ only precious cousin!
Undivided attention from (and for!) Mama and Papi!
Twin brothers playing under palm trees. Lost in the luxury of a new place.
There is something really extraordinarily good about getting far, far away, together.
There was time for solitude too. But the best kind of solitude— solitude within real close proximity of the people you love best, and the people who love you best.
We were privileged to have had this trip. We appreciated every minute of it. And before we knew it, it was time to go. Our last night in Anguilla we drank our last pina coladas while we watched our last sunset and we did ‘cheers!’ for the last time before we would head home.
The next day we boarded the ferry from Anguilla to St. Martin.
Before heading to the airport we spent just enough time in St. Martin to buy a few little things to remember our trip by. But the truth is, the trip is lodged deep in our memories. No souvenirs needed. People say that big trips like this are “wasted” on young kids; ‘They won’t even remember it!’; ‘They can’t truly appreciate it!’. That is so wrong. It is a privilege, a luxury, and an incredible opportunity for kids to be able to travel like this. It shapes them and lives within them. Their exposure to the world, and their direct experience with it, contributes significantly to their worldview. That is no small thing. It is totally, totally worth it.
Anguilla 2011. A dream come true.
A dream somewhere between the real and the unreal. Like a half-open window of a ferry boat just leaving the dock, with the most jaw-dropping views, hues, breezes, and memories to last a life-time.
Maybe someday we will all go back. That sure would be great. But if we don’t, that’s o.k. too, because we were all in Anguilla on vacation together for a week in March 2011. We’ll always have that gift. Life is fleeting and far too precious to squander.
I just want to say that trips like this are not EVER wasted! When I was 6, we took a HUGE vacation to Myrtle Beach. There were 15 of us total, our family of 4, my 2 grandparents, my aunt ginny and uncle mike and their 3 kids, and my aunt ellen and uncle paul and their 3 kids. It was insane. And while I dont have a ton of memories, I remember running around with my cousins in the hotel and riding the elevator, being thrown over the waves by my dad, riding my first big roller coaster, and making movies with my older cousins. It was also the last big vacation that my Uncle Paul was still alive, and it was so much fun. And I am so thankful that my parents and my family got it all together and we were able to go! You’re kids are going to have the best stories and the best memories. And what a beautiful spot to have them in!!
Beautiful!
Totally not wasted, my kids remember our Costa Rica and Mexico trips more than any other, and Costa Rica was TWO years ago!
Sounds like a great trip!
I would caution you to consider bringing booster seats and trying to find vehicles with seat belts though. Just because it’s a vacation doesn’t mean something bad can’t happen.
What a wonderful trip–the details and the pictures are amazing!!! You are right, it is a blessing. We are off to Disney with our 4 year old and 2 year old with several people making those same comments. I think the kids will remember it on some level but we’ll remember it forever and the joy they experience in those moments–totally worth it.
Thank you Heather for 3 wonderful posts about our trip. It was the best week of my life and I am so happy you’ve captured it so well here in pictures and words. xo
Wow! What an amazing time! So happy your family had a chance to celebrate life together like that!
My family was lucky enough to travel a lot when I was a child and while I may not remember each trip, I can certainly say those experiences have somehow shaped me and my view of the world. My kids are 3 and 1 and we plan on traveling as much as we can with them…we started with NYC this past week and it was awesome!
Love your blog and your family!