Memories are funny things. They catch us by surprise: leaving our minds when we want them to stay, and staying when we wish they would move on. They can make us smile, laugh, and cry, sometimes all at once! Since becoming a parent, I find myself paying more attention to my actions, our activities, and the memories we are creating for our children. In trying to create memory making opportunities, however, I’ve found that sometimes the happiest memories just happen, they aren’t planned or organized or scheduled. In fact, frequently, the moments that create the happiest memories take us totally by surprise!
It took a number of years and moving 150 miles away, but Patrick and I finally made it to Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg in December of 2008. We lived in Williamsburg through college and for another two years after college, and just never managed to be in town for the official kick-off of the holiday season, always the first weekend in December. So, when in 2008, my parents invited us to join them for Grand Illumination weekend in Williamsburg, we jumped at the opportunity.
We couldn’t wait to share our love of Colonial Williamsburg, and the Cheese Shop, and all things William and Mary with the boys… and we couldn’t wait to participate in the Grand Illumination celebration. We packed the car, bundled the kids, and headed off to Williamsburg full of excitement and anticipation!
We arrived at Williamsburg Plantation, the timeshare where we would be spending the weekend, and before we could bring the bags in from the car, Connor discovered the unit had a bubble pool! Now, in case you were wondering, a bubble pool is a Jacuzzi tub… but when you’re newly five and little and have proven yourself in the past to be not much more than a fish with legs… a Jacuzzi tub is a dream come true!
Connor jumped in and stayed in… for minutes, hours… days! Patrick ran to the store to pick up bubbles and goggles… and Connor was set.
He swam, ate his dinner in the tub, swam, read a book in the tub, swam some more… and cried every time we left the room. We headed out to see the animals in Colonial Williamsburg and Connor cried. We staked out our space to view the fireworks celebration… and Connor cried. We watched the fireworks… and Connor cried, not a quiet whimper, but crocodile tears and loud shouts of protest “I want to go home! I WANT TO TAKE A BATH!” could be heard up and down Duke of Gloucester Street.
Colonial Williamsburg, Grand Illumination
So much for the holiday spirit, the wide-eyed wonder, the amazement at the spectacular fireworks display… it is the bubble tub that Connor remembers from this carefully planned weekend!
And it is the memory of Connor in his bubble tub that brings a smile to my face each and every time it comes to mind. It was not the memory I thought we’d be taking home from Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination weekend, but as I said, I am learning that sometimes the best times and the best memories are the ones that are unplanned, unscheduled, and unintended.
So, there you have it… my first Making Memories Monday post. Now it’s your turn.
Remember:
- Please leave a link back to Adventures in McQuill-land on your Making Memories Monday post!
- Add your name to MckLinky at Adventures in McQuill-land and enter a 2-3 word subject to give blog hoppers an idea of what we’ll find at your post. Like this: Jennifer (playing dress-up).
- AND… Please be sure to link to your individual Making Memories Monday post, not your home page. This makes it easier for blog hoppers to find your shared memory!
