Any parent will tell you that children grow up fast. Really fast! The years fly by when you’re looking after a family, and it’s hard to stop and take it all in. That’s why it’s so important to capture and preserve all the memories along the way. One day, you can look back on them, and remember all the fun you had. Best of all, you can show the children when they’re grown up, and laugh at all the memories. It’s so easy to fly past without capturing those perfect moments. So, here are a few ways you can hold onto them.
Prioritize experiences
The most important aspect is creating the memories. As a parent, you should always try to prioritize experiences rather than material possessions. The more adventures and experiences you have, the more there is to capture. Sometimes, the best way to preserve memories is in your mind. And the only way to do that is by creating memorable moments in the first place. Take holidays, go on adventures, and enjoy this wonderful time with your children. That’s something that you can never forget.
Diary and journals
With photos and videos, you can capture a moment (we’ll come to that shortly). But, it’s impossible to capture a sense of excitement or emotion. It doesn’t always capture how you feel at that moment. That’s why diaries and journals are a great way to write down your experiences as a family. How did it feel to watch them take their first steps, or say their first word? What was it like when your little one spent their first day at school? These are things that sometimes fade from memory, but you can capture that emotion with words.
Photographs and video
Photos and video are the most obvious and natural way to capture every second of your experiences. Try to take as many photos as possible throughout your family life. Even the dullest days are nice to look back on when you’re older. You could even use a professional team like Kiss Photography to capture a family portrait once a year. You can see the progression and growth year after year! Videos are also a wonderful way to capture real situations, and watch them back years later.
The world’s largest time capsule! What would you put in yours? (photo credit)
Keep a memories box
To some, it’s just a box of junk. But to you, a memories box will be your most treasured possession. Try to keep a momento of trinkets throughout your family’s journey. Everything from the children’s artwork from school to certificates. From holiday plane tickets to trophies. Each of these things will mean something to you in the future. It’s always nice to have a physical reminder of a moment in time.
Time capsule
Last of all, you can collect all sorts of memories, photos, and trinkets, and put them in a time capsule! Hide them away, and bury them in a safe place. In twenty years, you can dig them up, and reminisce about all the past memories!
Don’t let a day go by without capturing and preserving those precious memories. You’ll always regret it if you do.
There are so many comfortable places to put your feet up and relax in these homes. The bed I stayed in was so plush and cozy that I feel asleep quickly and slept like a baby every night. There are plush reclining chairs in the home theater, cushy couches in the living room, and lots of chairs out by the pool to enjoy on your down time. When we vacation we’re usually going, going, going so it’s nice to have a place that is comfortable to just relax and enjoy some much needed down time. When you stay at a hotel the couches are usually pretty hard as are the chairs and you have to fight for chairs around the pool. No need to worry about any of that when you stay in a private home. If you stay in one of these vacation homes make sure to leave a day or two free just to stay home and relax. It will be much needed after several crazy days at the parks.
If you stay at an All Star Vacation Home you don’t have to leave the house to have fun. Upstairs there is a full sized video game and a pool table so get ready to rack ’em up! Need to do a little work, there’s even a comfortable desk plus each house has it’s own WiFi.
Want to watch your favorite shows or even a movie? Not only is there a television in the living room area but there is a plush, comfortable media room for everyone to enjoy. I just love how it was decorated with lots of classic movie posters.
One of the things I love most about staying in a vacation home is having a full kitchen with all the comforts of home at my disposal. It is gorgeous and they’ve really thought of everything. I didn’t get to cook at much in the kitchen because we were kept pretty busy on our press trip but I did cook a few times and this kitchen really had me wishing that it was my kitchen at home!
The kitchens at the All Star Vacation Homes are fully stocked with every appliance, utensil, cookware, and dishware you might possibly need. They’ve thought of everything- full size side by side refrigerator with ice maker and water in the door, gas stove, toaster, coffeemaker, blender, electric can opener, measuring cups, and so much more! They even stock the house with dish soap, a roll of paper towel, and detergent for the dishwasher plus containers to save your leftovers! Save money on dining out and cook some of your meals in your home away from home.
My girls are tweens now so we don’t travel with lots of gear anymore (thankfully!) but I was pleasantly surprised to find a high chair and a jumper for children as well as a childproof gate around the pool. Those would have been such a blessing when my girls were younger. While my family doesn’t need the baby gear, the All Star Vacation Homes are so family friendly for all types of families. It would be so nice to stay in a house where I wouldn’t have to worry about my kids being too noisy, as they often are.
Hate trying to find a towel or a lounge chair at a crowded hotel pool? Don’t like swimming with that creepy old man watching you and your kids? Or the rowdy teenagers on vacation from college? That’s not a problem at an All Star Vacation Home. Step right outside to your private pool with ample space for lounging around. Feel like spending a relaxing day by the pool and in the hot tub? There’s even a barbecue if you want to have a cookout.
