Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

How & why to travel with kids

February 2, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

We’ve always traveled with our kids. 

Cate, who is 15 now, was born in a hospital four hours away from our home, so her first nights out of the hospital were spent in a hotel while we waited for interstate adoption clearance. We flew across the world to New Zealand when she was 2! 

Both Cate and Ben, who is 13, transitioned from cribs to beds so they could be prepared for an upcoming trip. When Rachel came along, she was along for the ride to all the things, thanks to the six- and eight-year gaps with her siblings. 

They all had passports before they could read and now our two teenagers have their own Known Traveler Numbers. Getting through security quicker and without unpacking as much is definitely one way to make traveling smoother! Our international vacations have mostly been via cruise ships or to Canada. Of course, we don’t always need the TSA Pre-Check line because we certainly don’t always fly. We take lots of smaller trips for a few days to visit family, celebrate holidays, watch basketball, and see places closer to home.

For years, they’ve each packed their own travel bags with electronics, books, and whatever else they want to do along the way. Usually, I give them the number and kinds of outfits they need and they bring their clothes to me so we can consolidate suitcases and bags. Nobody wants to play Tetris or maneuver through the airport with more suitcases and bags than actual people. If we go on road trips where we’ll be in and out of different hotels and accommodations, I like to bag smaller bags to use for dirty clothes or however make sense to pack so we aren’t hauling in and out all the things at every stop.

With a family, we typically try to stay in vacation rentals because the price is usually comparable to a hotel and the space makes everyone happier. If we do need a hotel, I usually try to find a suite so at least we can spread out a little.

I want them to appreciate travel. I want them to see places that are unlike their home. I want them to experience adventures. I want them to have friends in other places. We’ve even taken our oldest two on mission trips to Guatemala. Traveling and serving can certainly go together.

I know traveling is a privilege, but I will always tell you: Take the trip. 

I say this after interruptions and cancellations have messed with us recently. We had to cancel a Disney Cruise to Alaska in July 2022 the day before we left to fly to Vancouver because one kid tested positive for COVID-19 before the cruise lines lifted testing restrictions. Our two-hour flights from Nashville to Miami and back were canceled right after Christmas 2022 when Southwest had its infamous meltdown. But we got refunded, reimbursed, and rewarded, and, yes, I booked Southwest again for an upcoming Spring Break trip. 

Sometimes traveling means early mornings or late nights or canceled flights. It means snack crumbs in the minivan and public bathrooms. Sometimes it means wrong turns, heavy traffic, and more miles than you were expecting to put on a vehicle. 

But, more importantly, traveling makes me appreciate home and let go of the stress that comes with ordinary routines and responsibilities. Traveling opens my eyes to new places and experiences, gives me a fresh perspective, and lets me have different food I didn’t have to cook. I also love documenting our travels with photos – many of which have ended up on the walls of our home. 

Another way we make traveling rewarding is by using our Capital One Venture credit card. There are travel discounts and rewards. We get a higher percentage back in rewards when we make travel-related reservations, can cash rewards in to cover travel purchases, got reimbursed for our TSA Pre-Check application when we used this card as payment, and can book hotels and rental cars with discounted rates directly through the credit card website. Win-win, I tell you. (Learn more here!)

Thankfully, Greg and I are in sync with traveling philosophies and styles. Also, props to my husband for almost always driving all the miles between wherever we’re going and home. 

With our two teenagers and first-grader, we are reaping the benefits of having traveled with our babies. Now we have big kids who appreciate a weekend getaway or major vacation. They have developed their own preferences and it’s fun to see them settle into their own as travelers. Ben and Cate would tell you our Spring Break trip in 2022 to Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and Sedona, Arizona is their favorite. Rachel asks to go back to Disney, but I’m not so sure that’s going to happen! 

So, I tell you, take the trip. It may not be easy or convenient, but it’s always worth it. And always take lots of snacks along for the ride! 

*****

Here are some of our recent trips!

  • South Florida
  • St. Pete Beach, Florida
  • Hoover Dam / Grand Canyon / Sedona
  • Wisconsin Dells
  • Colorado
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

From snow to sand

January 4, 2023 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I wrote about our Miami trip as we went along (good use of the unexpected car time!), so I’m going to share about it like journal entries from each day we were there. From snow to sand we go!

Monday, Dec. 26

When we left the house at 5:30 am to allow plenty of time for our 9:30 am flight, snow was falling. That made our roads that hadn’t recovered from Thursday’s ice and subsequent freezing temperatures even worse. Interstate 24 was not great but did have one lane mostly cleared. 

Along the way, we learned our flight was delayed and then canceled. We arrived at the Nashville airport a little less than 3 hours later and got in a very long “rebooking” line. Greg tried to book with another airline or rent a car so we could drive down and still fly home Friday. But nothing was available. I inched forward in line for 2+ hours when we decided to leave. I honestly was saying & thinking, “Let’s go eat and then go home.” We ended up eating and then driving … toward Miami. 

We stopped near Chattanooga in the midst of traffic and I had to wait in a line of at least 10 people deep to use the bathroom. But we got some snacks and continued on. 

You can Google the meltdown Southwest has had this weekend and today. I definitely was frustrated we got stuck in the midst of the airline’s issues. But we certainly weren’t the only ones. And I still can’t through on the phone to get a refund for the flight Southwest canceled. Eventually, surely, I won’t get a busy signal. 

(EDITED to add: We got the refund initiated on Thursday night, after I called an obscure “lost baggage” number buried on the website. Southwest sent me notifications to check in for my flight on Friday evening, but, of course, we had to cancel that one because now we had a mini van in Miami! We have since received a full refund to our credit card.)

I know traveling is a privilege and something we get to enjoy. We are going to Miami because this is Christmas with my siblings, their families, and our mom. We decided to go somewhere warm instead of exchanging gifts — and I’m still totally on board with that plan! My sister called between the airport and food when I still thought we should head home. But her encouragement came right when I needed it. I think I was having trouble mentally transitioning from the peace of the last few days to the chaos around me. 

We stopped for dinner at a Mexican restaurant south of Atlanta and we are going to drive some more tonight and stop for some sleep somewhere in Florida. 

I hear Key Lime Pie and sunshine calling my name. That’s my plan for tomorrow with my family, so we’ll see how that goes. 

Tuesday, Dec 27

My kids have been troopers. Seriously. They’ve been kind and patient. Ben even found Sour Patch Kid socks at a gas station yesterday — he’s into tall, fun socks and loves to eat Sour Patch Kids. 

We made it to Miami right at 24 hours later than we originally planned. Better late than never, I suppose. 

We met my family at Black Point Ocean Grill and had a good lunch. Then we went on a boat tour that was really interesting, especially about celebrities’ homes on Star Island. The way Miami sits on so much water really is beautiful. 

We ordered pizza from Steve’s Pizza and hung out at our rental house’s lovely outdoor area. The kids swam, played basketball and pool, and climbed on the swing set. Cassie and Zac brought a Solo Stove (actually an off-brand one that they like better!) and we enjoyed the evening together. 

Gathering together with my siblings is always fun. Our kids get along well and enjoy being together. The house we rented was in Cutler Bay, which was nice so we could do various things in South Florida. The interior of the house was odd and not great, but the outside area was awesome! 

Wednesday, Dec 28

We went to the Everglades Safari Park and did an airboat tour, which was awesome! We saw several alligators and birds. It was such a neat way to see a tiny portion of Everglades National Park. Multiple people in my family consider this a highlight – and it was for sure! 

Then we went to Top Golf for a late lunch and entertainment. It was my first time there, and although I’m not into golfing, it was a fun experience. 

Thursday, Dec 29

We headed even further south to Key Largo, where we spent some time at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where we went on a two-hour boat tour. We learned a lot about mangrove trees, went through some channels in the Key Largo Sound, and saw dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean. Then we had the best meal of our trip! Delicious food and a sunset view at Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill were for sure a highlight. The key lime pie was the wait. 

Friday, Dec 30

When in Florida, a beach is necessary, so we ventured through traffic to Miami Beach. The streets leading to the sand were upscale and colorful – just what I imagined Miami to be. The beach itself reminded me of lots of other beaches, although they had the cutest, most colorful lifeguard huts. 

We had lunch at Big Pink, which was delicious and had the biggest wraps, burgers, sandwiches, and chicken and waffles … basically everything everyone at our table ordered was huge. 

My crew decided to hit the road this afternoon with full bellies and good memories. Once we arrived, the trip really was smooth. The greater Miami area has so many different things to do – beaches, everglades, seafood, big city things, Key Largo, and boat rides.

Thankfully, the trip home was less chaotic than the trip south. And I got to lunch with my cousin-friend Mary, her kids, and my uncle Tom just north of Atlanta on our way home.

Happy New Year to us!

*****

EDITED 1/11/23 to add: I wanted to give Southwest Airlines a shout-out because its people did what they could to make it right after the fact.

We got a full refund for the flights back to our credit card, were surprised with 25,000 reward points each, and have reimbursement for our alternative travel (hotels there and back, fuel, and food there and back) coming.

Plus this week I booked Southwest flights for our Spring Break trip.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Cheesy, breezy Wisconsin Dells

July 17, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Like so many things in the past two years, our summer vacation plans changed at the last minute. Truly, it’s hard to believe COVID-19 is still interrupting so many things. 

Ben tested positive for COVID the night before we were supposed to fly to Vancouver, where we planned to board a ship on Monday for an Alaskan cruise. We had to present negative COVID tests on Monday and had planned to test on Saturday morning before we left town. Well, the Friday evening test shook up all that. 

We ended up canceling our flights and cruise. Thankfully, we had travel insurance so we got the cruise money back the following week. I had to file an insurance claim, but, hopefully, we’re going to get our flights refunded too. 

Meanwhile, we talked through lots of other trip options and decided on Wisconsin Dells. That seems random, I know. But we had some criteria: We wanted somewhere we could drive to in 6-8 hours that would greet us with cooler, less humid weather. We also thought it would be fun to go somewhere we’d never been. We had both our moms with us, so I had to find accommodations for our party of seven. 

That’s how we ended up spending four nights at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells after Ben quarantined for five days.

I’ll take you through our time there from June 29 to July 3. 

We left Wednesday morning and stopped for lunch at Monical’s in Mahomet, Illinois. When we arrived late that afternoon at the resort, we went to two of the waterparks on the property and ate expensive, mediocre burgers for dinner at the resort.

I decided to fully embrace vacation mode and proclaimed I wasn’t cooking or buying any groceries for this trip, so we started Thursday with a fun, delicious breakfast at Paul Bunyon’s Cook Shanty. Then we learned more about the area on an Original Wisconsin Ducks Tour, which I highly recommend. We spent the afternoon at three of the resort’s water parks. MACS – Macaroni and Cheese Shop – came highly recommended and we all really enjoyed it. We happened upon Kemp’s ice cream and ate it while overlooking the dam. 

We started Friday with another good breakfast at Mr. Pancake. Greg took the big kids bow fishing that morning. Cate was reluctant to go, but we convinced her it would be a worthwhile experience. Sure enough, she made the most of it! She shot a carp right in the mouth with her arrow – something the guide said he’d never seen in his two decades on the job. 

Grandmom, Gran Gran and I took Rachel to the Country Bumpkin Farm Market, which was a great surprise. I expected we’d spend some time there and then maybe find something else to do while Greg, Cate, and Ben fished. But we stayed there for a few hours until it was time to pick up the fishermen. Rachel fed some animals in the petting zoo and then played on all the farm-themed activities and play areas. We all reconvened for lunch at the Riverwalk Pub, which we picked because of its proximity to the river but ended up really enjoying. We walked and shopped around downtown. 

When we bought duck tour tickets, we actually got a dual ticket also good for a jet boat tour. We did that Friday evening – and got very, very wet! There were lots of feelings from certain people about this adventure, but, in the end, it was a fun time on the Upper Dells portion of the Wisconsin River. While I washed and dried some clothes, Greg brought Moose Jaw Pizza back to our condo. 

Our last full day started with breakfast at BJ’s, which was good food for good prices. We did the Take Flight simulator at our resort and enjoyed “Aloha” as if we were flying above it all. We played at three waterparks at the resort. Monks was another dinner recommendation and it was a great meal that started with delicious cheese curds and included amazing burgers. 

Overall, it was a fun time, especially on the heels of having to change our summer vacation plans. Wisconsin Dells is a touristy destination that reminds me of a smaller Gatlinburg or Branson. Our resort definitely got more crowded on Saturday, so I would recommend going on weekdays and leaving town before a holiday weekend. We were happy that’s how our Plan B vacation worked out. 

*****

While in Wisconsin Dells, I shared daily posts and pictures, so take a look at those, if you’d like more peeks into our vacation.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • How to enjoy motherhood
  • How & why to travel with kids
  • From snow to sand
  • Books of 2022
  • How to enjoy winter days at home

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished t I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished this book today. Yes, I’m fully invested in this Cuba saga involving the Perez family. “The Last Train to Key West” by @chanelcleeton is the third in the series. I have the fourth on hold at the library for pickup on Monday. 

I wasn’t sure I was going to love this one as much as I did Cleeton’s first two, but it was a slow-building story that turned stormy. I loved how the three women were in Key West for their own reasons, developed meaningful relationships as they navigated their lives, and managed to survive the storms of their lives and an actual hurricane. 

The historical fiction story offers hope:

“It’s strange how your life can change so quickly, how one moment you can barely eke by, desperation filling your days, and suddenly, out of the unimaginably horrific, a glimmer of something beautiful can appear like a bud pushing through the hard-formed earth. There’s so much broken around us; maybe all we can do is try to fix each other, do what we can to preserve these precious moments in a world where there is so much sadness and loss. … Maybe some would say my dreams are too small. Perhaps they would dream of railroads that go over the sea, great, wonderful things. Maybe others want riches and jewels, a chance to travel the globe. For me, this is enough: A corner of paradise in this wretched world that I am able to call my own.” — Helen in “The Last Train to Key West” by Chanel Cleeton

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #historicalfiction #weekending #favoritethings #choosingJOY #bookquotes #bookreview
This morning there are three “holes” in Wright This morning there are three “holes” in Wright Road after the creek flooded it overnight. The Calloway County road department responded quickly and is working to pack in various kinds of gravel so it will passable again soon. I’m thankful for their work, but these Band-Aids aren’t an actual solution. 

Wright Road needs a permanent solution for when Wildcat Creek rises. A bridge seems to be the best idea, so the creek can rise and flow beneath the road rather than flowing across it and washing out the gravel on top of the culverts. 

I know it’s an expensive fix and would take local government working with state government, but I wonder how many times the road has to break before it can be truly repaired.

#callowaycounty #kyweather #kentuckyweather #countyroads #countryliving #reallife #murrayky
In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, God has provided conversation with friends who understand, new mercies, a few walks and talks with a friend, and cinnamon rolls on a rainy Friday afternoon. I’ve been reminded when we are vulnerable and share our real lives, friends bring truth and goodness — often in ways we don’t expect but bless us anyway. 

#bettertogether #createdforcommunion #reallife #momlife #weekending #parenthood #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully
People ask when I have time to write. The truth is People ask when I have time to write. The truth is I like to make time to write, but sometimes it happens in the cracks of my days — at Panera, in the Notes app on my phone, at the library before I pickup my kids, or while I’m waiting on kids at activities. This week I edited my manuscript while Rachel practiced soccer. 

#momlife #writerlife #selfpublished #bloggerlife #authorlife #soccermom #thirdchild #createdforcommunion #bettertogether #favoritethings
I needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM