Maine Creative Momma

This week, following our 10 year wedding anniversary, my husband and I took a staycation.

Our anniversary was filled with a wonderful date day; amazing food, wandering the shops, and quite a few delicious libations over an extended lunch. It was the perfect way to celebrate the 10 years that have passed since we said I do. Calm, quiet & just us.

Thank God for daycare!

After that beautiful day, however, it was time to get to work! We each came to the table with a long list of to dos – his: clear the leaves, aerate the lawn, cut back the raspberries, mow multiple times, clean the garage; mine: organize the kitchen, paint the bathroom, go through the kids toys & closets. We each had enough to do that it would have taken us weeks. After a heated debate we came to some conclusions….or rather priorities.

We have lived in this beautiful house for just over 2 years. And what two years it’s been. Shortly after closing in January, we found out that our sweet little Finn was on his way. While it was easy enough to get moved and unpacked in those 9 months, that pretty much was all we got to. Everything else we wanted to get to was placed on a small hold.

Summer 2025 held so much promise – until Matt broke his knee while we were on vacation in another state. So out the window went the plans we had!

Finally late fall we started on some interior projects: painting, hanging photos, cleaning out the baby things our boys had outgrown. Truthfully from November to March we got a lot done inside. Which meant that Matt won the biggest share of the vacation project energy this time around.

For the first 4-5 hours of each day we worked hard outside to get our yard areas cleared, flower beds cleaned out, and the lawn back to a reasonable state. Afternoons were spent getting ourselves cleaned up and then having a relaxing lunch together before picking up the kids from daycare.

This vacation was productive, relaxing, and reconnecting for us. As someone who loves to get away, I have to say I was very surprised with how much I felt like it was a vacation. My mind was able to wander to places that felt refreshing. My body was able to work hard and rest at the same time.

And the reward of SEEING what we had accomplished was the advantage that keeps on giving. Every time I look in the yard or pull the car into the garage, I can see how it had been and all the hard work we put into it.

As we finish up small things this weekend, with two small kiddos in tow, I’m thankful for the time we hard to get through those big tasks. And I feel genuinely refreshed getting ready to go back to work on Tuesday. I hadn’t realized how much of a mental load I was carrying knowing we had so much to do at home. Being active & productive has given me so much clarity and closure this week.

As a bust mom, I sometimes think all I want is to be quiet and not move. but when I get time like this week, I’m reminded that it’s not a sedentary rest I need….its a productive one.