What was I thinkin?

Remember Halter Tops?

Today's Childhood Memory from my Journella:

Halter Tops

My mother made most of the clothes my sister and I wore when we were in grade school. I can remember wearing some pretty "creative" outfits. One of my dresses had a picture of Alice in Wonderland on it. It wasn't a small Alice - it pretty much covered the entire front of the dress. And... when I turned around - you got to see the back of Alice. I think the fabric was meant to make a baby blanket - it was quilted; but, mom decided it would make a great "fashion statement". I never had to worry about someone else wearing the same outfit when I wore my Alice dress.

One of the simpler items my mother made for us was that all popular 70's halter top. I think it was pretty much a triangle with string sewn in the bottom and top to wrap around the neck and back.

My sister and I got a lot of matching clothes too. I remember matching red "overalls,"  matching yellow Easter dresses (with little white fuzzy polkadots) and matching crochet shawls.

 

What kind of "fashion statements" did you make as a kid?

 

No Memory Date

A childhood memory doesn't have to be elaborately described to be valuable.

Here is the latest "childhood memory" I entered into my Journella™ account:

Joann's Guitar

My sister, Joann, taught herself how to play the guitar.

When I was in grade school the younger kids (my sister, my brother, and I) would all sit around her and sing songs that she taught us like: Puff the Magic Dragon, One Tin Soldier, Where Have all the Flowers Gone, etc.

We weren't quite the von Trap family; but, we loved to sing the songs from The Sound of Music.

Singing with Joann is probably the activity I enjoyed most, and missed very much when she got married and moved out. (I was not quite 9 years old when she got married.)

 

Not all memories revolve around a specific event, or date. I didn't have a specific "Memory Date" for this one. Creating a category in my Journella™ (like Childhood Memories) makes it easy to find later. I also tagged this one "music" because I thought it might be nice to create a page of "music memories" at some point down the road.

 Hope you have a memorable day!

Childhood Memories

Do you have any memories of your childhood?

I decided, now that I have a place to keep them all, I am going to start a journal (actually a category in my Journella™) of childhood memories. I don't have hours and hours of time to document my early years; but, as I get a moment here and there, I'll write the memories down.

One thing I love about the internet is how much it can help me with my lack of memory. I used the Internet to find a Memory Date (when the Freedom Train came to my town) and some images, that I do not own, to include in my journal.

Here is a glance my first "Childhood Memories" entry:

 

The Freedom Train

I wasn't sure of the exact day. I found a schedule (on the Internet) that said it stopped in Portland, Oregon on November 11, 1975 - one day only. That is where I saw it.

I do remember the thrill of getting to tour, on a Beaumont Grade School field trip, (after much begging and pleading with my parents) the American Freedom Train.

I remember there was a really long wait to get into the train (lines longer than I had ever seen) and I don't remember how long the tour actually lasted. There was so much to see - including things that were on loan from the Smithsonian Institute, etc. It was a thrill to think I was able to get a glimpse of that much spoken of museum.

Visitors were not allowed to linger - there was a moving walkway in the train (the first time I'd ever seen one) that kept everyone moving forward - like it or not.

The one thing that I never forgot seeing - the Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

 

I hope you can find a few moments in your busy life to think back on some cherished childhood memories and write them down.

It's been a tough morning...(hypothetically)

Let's just say (hypothetically) that your day began 3:15 AM, listening to your husband puke. An hour later, at 4:15 AM, he asks if you can drive him to the airport as he leans over the sink.

You drag your 6 year old out of bed, and tell him to put on his shoes, explaining as he wipes his eyes, "we are taking Daddy to the airport." He responds, "all ready?" as if going to the airport at 4 AM was a pre-planned activity.

On the hour drive to the airport, husband has his pale face burried in a plastic bag. You roll down the windows in the car because the resulting smell makes you think you might need a plastic bag as well. Six year old is in the back seat complaining about the hard air blowing in his face.

You exit off the freeway and tell dear husband, "you can't take him to the airport like this!" He insists, "Lets just keep driving. May be I'll feel better by the time we get there."

You think, "yeah, right!" But, you get back on the freeway and continue driving toward the airport (after a quick stop at a service station to "drop off" the plastic bag.)

You call your sister, realizing she is probably going to freak that she is getting a call at 1 AM (she is 3 time zones away) But, you hope she will be able to help, just in case dear husband can't make it to the destination.

A little after 5 AM you arrive at the airport and DH is doing a pretty good job convincing you he feels better. You hope he will understand if you don't kiss him on the lips. You pull the suitcases out of the car - so he won't have to, drag them up onto the curb, and tell him to call you, before you say good-bye.

About half way home you call dear husband to see if he's made it through security. He explains that he had to change his clothes in the restroom (the plastic bag must have leaked.) He is feeling okay, but wants to make sure you check the seat in the car because it probably needs to be cleaned. (*This was just the news you wanted to hear.)  *sarcastic tone

Sometime between 7- 8 AM you are back at home, sound asleep with your 6 year old snuggled up next to you. The phone rings. It's dear husband, he's made it to Chicago. He found some pepto for his stomach and he claims he is feeling better. (No need for the sister-in-law to come and "save" him.)

*Disclaimer: Due to the possible repercussions of sharing, I can neither confirm nor deny that the situation described above was based on actual events.

observation, introspect, and a little creative flair

Keeping a journal requires observation, introspect, and sometimes, a little creative flair.

One of my favorite classes in college was freshman English. The instructor was interesting and, more importantly, he gave constructive critiques. My creative writing skills improved significantly during the semester.

He introduced our class to the use of alliteration and urged students to stay away from commonly used words that lack description, like really and very. Thanks to my professor, I try to remember to use more illustrative words, for example: remarkably, extraordinarily, tremendously, decidedly, particularly, assuredly... and I've learned that when I am stumped while trying to find a fitting word the thesaurus is a fruitful friend.

He gave me the desire to stretch my vocabulary and put more creative energy into my writing. I became an exceptional writer that semester. Everything I've written since 'freshman english' has been a literary masterpiece... ;)  okay, I know you are laughing. Did I just hear a snort?

Okay, seriously - I went though some of my old journals. The pages were filled with "rambling mind dumps." Not that I don't encourage random mind dumping - it is quite therapeutic; however, sadly, even though I was writing every day, I wasn't writing about my life. I missed the opportunity to write memories of activities and events while they were fresh on my mind. I only occasionally shared the things that were truly important to me.

I realized I have pages and pages of handwritten words that would put even the most enthusiastic reader (myself included) to sleep. Until I started going back through my old journals hoping to find forgotten memories, I had never considered how or what I was writing. I was disappointed in my work - I knew I'd been taught better.

I was determined to change my journal writing habits. I made a goal to change the way I kept a journal. Memories are precious and time is precious. The time I spend writing should produce something of value, right?

A few of the things that have helped me improve my journals:

1. Journaling by subject - I began creating Journals to help me focus on certain subjects that I wanted to be sure to write about. Sample Journal Subjects: specific people (I like to keep journals for my children), spiritual matters (gratitude, scripture study), events or activities (travel, vacations, holidays), goal journals (to track progress), Knowledge journals (when you are studying about a specific subject)... well I could go on all day. Hopefully I have conveyed the idea.

2. Story telling - When I am writing memories from the past I think it is helpful to tell it in story form, with a beginning a middle and an end.

3. Keeping Prompt Lists - I don't always have the time to write in paragraphs. I've found that making lists with key thoughts helps me to remember details that would otherwise be forgotten.

 

I'd love to hear what helps you with your journal keeping. What inspires you to write, to scrapbook, to blog...

Do You Write?

What if I told you writing would change your life?

There are many good reasons to write: writing can help bring clarity to your thoughts, writing will help you achieve goals, and writing will help you be a better communicator. However, my personal all time favorite reason for "writing it down" is because the process has improved my relationships with people I love.

I've had a long term relationship with writing. I learned to love the creative medium at an early age. I started out writing poems and short stories. Most were pretty cheesy; but, my mother always told me they were wonderful.

When I was twelve years old, my church arranged for our youth group to go to a musical play about a girl named Debbie. It was many years ago, so my memory may be a bit sketchy; but, I think the play started with Debbie getting a new Diary to write in. 

Debbie sang a song with a line that stuck in my head all these years. Her words were: "I am the one who writes my own story. I decide the person I'll be. What goes in the plot, and what will not, is pretty much up to me."

The play was inspirational to me and probably instrumental to my future journal writing habits. Debbie named her Diary Solomon and wrote in it as if she were writing letters to a wise friend. Each entry she wrote started out with, "Dear Solomon." For a few years I tried the same thing, though I don't remember what I named my diary. Most importantly, I was writing.

After I married Kevin I began writing about our life together; but, it was mostly a "venting" process -  a way to clear the worries and frustrations of life from my mind.

Years ago, I experienced a little taste of the mind altering power of writing. I was annoyed with Kevin. I didn't like how it felt; so, I decided to do something about it. I remembered hearing an idea that promised to help. It was a simple exercise to make a list of good things about a person when you are mad at them. Honestly, I wasn't sure it would work. (I was pretty annoyed with him at the time.) But, I decided to give it a try. I spent the next 30 days writing one good thing each day about Kevin. Before the 30 days ended I had forgotten why I was annoyed. (I still don't remember.)

A few summers ago, just before our anniversary, I decided to write the story of how Kevin and I met. I spent the next three months reminiscing and writing. As I wrote, I shared the story with Kevin. It was like re-living "falling in love" all over again - only better. We had an amazing summer - feeling closer and more connected than ever before.

Writing creates a permanent record of our thoughts. When we write "good things, loving things, happy things" we create a record of those things that can be easily reintroduced to our minds over and over again.

"Writing it down" has been such a tremendous blessing in my life. I want to share the joy I've found with you; so, during the coming months, I'll be sharing what I've learned about writing as well as many of my personal stories. I hope you will join me in a quest to create a permanent record of all the good things in life.

Journaling Memory Glimpses

It is funny the things that stick in our minds (or that don't.)

I have memory glimpses dating back into my pre-school years. One of my earliest memories is when I was about 2 years old. My mother had a dried starfish. It was a decoration she set on a end table or shelf in our living room. I remember chewing on it. I liked the salty flavor. I also remember my mother grabbing it away from me and telling me not to chew on it. 

About the same time, I remember wanting to go skating with the bigger kids. They had those metal skates that fit over your shoes. I remember my mom putting the skate key up high on a window ledge. She was probably trying to keep it out of my hands for fear I'd lose it - or choke on it.

image source flicker

The summer I turned four, my mother got a little pool for me to play in. My brother decided the pool would be a great place to keep turtles; so, he filled it with dirt. (It was sort of like an island with water around it.) I liked looking at the turtles; but, I missed playing in my pool. (I learned years later that my mother was furious with my brother for ruining the pool.)

On my 4th birthday, I remember getting a yellow purse with black trim as a gift from our neighbor. It made me feel "grown up" to have my own purse.

I have a lot of little memory glimpses similar to those mentioned above.

What are some of the earliest memories you have?

Have you taken the time to preserve those memories?

Here is the part where I ask you to do something...

Think back to the earliest memory you can. Write it down. You can write it in paragraph form, or just jot a list of sentences.

Did writing that memory bring other memories to mind? Write those down too!

Southern Sugar

In fall 1991 we packed our things and moved away from my home in the Pacific Northwest. Kevin and I relocated to a small town in North Carolina not far from his childhood home. I had no idea what living in the southeast would be like. Not that it mattered. I was ready for an adventure.

There were many things I noticed right away that let me know I was no longer "home." Silly as it may seem, one of the first things I noticed was grass growing right up next to the road. Mowers came through periodically to keep it under control. At home we had dirt & rocks next to our roads. We avoided driving where grass grew. I asked Kevin, "What do you do if you have to pull of the road?" I learned that grass in the South is more resilient than grass in the Pacific Northwest.

Going to the grocery store was a new experience as well. There were things I'd never seen before - like meat that wasn't kept in a refrigerator section. Kevin explained it was cured with salt and didn't need to be cold. I wasn't so sure I wanted any part of eating meat that could be stored at room temperature, until I ate my first ham biscuit at Bojangles. 

When we checked out at the grocery store a nice lady, asking a question, addressed me as 'Shug' - (like sugar but with out the ar.) I thought that was cute. (It took me awhile longer to get used to being called "ma'am" by all the children.)

Living in a small town in North Carolina was more of an adventure than I think I expected. Somethings I learned to love, others (like the big bugs) - not so much; but, I'll always be fond of that sugary way Southerners greet each other, even the folks they don't know.

Do You Journal?

I am passionate about memory preservation. I've been writing in journals for as long as I can remember. As an adult, I began keeping journals in multiple forms.

• Computer - I have a journal on my computer where I write about all kinds of random things. It is a place to sort of "dump" my thoughts.
• Scrapbooks - I think "photo-journal" is a great way to describe my scrapbooks.
• Calendars - I have saved past calendars for over 20 years.
• Calendar Pages - I use Calendar Pages in my "family history" scrapbooks. The calendar page is a great way to micro-journal our family events, appointments, etc. The photos and larger journal spots on the companion page help tell the stories in more detail.
• Mini-binders - I use several mini-binders to jot stuff down. For example I keep a mini-binder in my scripture bag so I can make notes while I am at Sunday School. I also keep a couple of mini-binders next to my bed - one to write those "middle of the night" thoughts and the other to write things I am grateful for at the end of the day.
• Blogs - I have a few blogs. Yes, in addition to the Mosaic Moments blogs, I have a "happiness is a choice" blog - to remind me to think happy and positive thoughts. 

Recently I've adopted the philosophy that "everything" is a journal. Some of the "non-traditional" journals I enjoy are:

• Digital Photo Album - I consider my digital photo album a journal. As I scroll through my photo files, which are all organized by date and event titles, I am reminded of the many things we have done over the years.
• Receipts - How many of you keep boxes of old receipts? Though it is not a "traditional journal" old receipts, expense logs, etc., make great journals.
• Lists - Do you make lists? Every once in awhile I come across an old list and I am always surprised at how much stuff I'd forgotten. If you don't have time for a traditional journal - save your lists!
• School papers - My mother saved several folders of papers from my 1st and 2nd grade years in school. When I look at those old worksheets they take me right back into that classroom. Most moms don't save the kids school work; however, with digital cameras it is easy to snap a picture or two before those assignments head to the recycle bins.
• Wall Markings - I have a wall in my pantry that is a journal of my children's growth.
• Christmas Tree - My Christmas tree is a journal. Each year we buy new ornaments that represent something about each family member during that year. Every ornament displays the date. It is fun to be reminded of years past while we decorate each Christmas.

If you wish you had a journal, but don't think you have time to keep one, look around. May be you  just need to reconsider your definition.  :)

Mosaic Moments

When I came up with the name "Mosaic Moments," I thought it was simply a catchy description for a scrapbooking system. Originally, the system was designed to create photo mosaics. Over time it became so much more, as did my thoughts about the name "Mosaic Moments."

One definition of mosaic is, "a picture made with small colored pieces." Another definition is, "something consisting of a variety of  elements or a number of different types of things." My thoughts over the years have turned more to the "variety of elements" that create our life story.

Story telling has been an important tradition to many cultures throughout history. As a child, I was taught the importance of memories through the example of my mother. She created many things to preserve our family story. Once, she made a blanket using cut up pieces of clothing. She embroidered the name of each family member, onto the cloth patches, along with a picture that represented something about them. 

Another example, from my mother, was a "labor of love" that took many years. When she finished, she had created a book filled with short stories - memories from childhood. When her siblings heard about the book they began to contribute, some offering money to help print copies, others wrote stories from their own memories to be included. My mother and all of her sisters have since passed away. This book is a priceless treasure for their children and grand children.

When I think about Mosaic Moments now, I think of bringing together all the bits and pieces that "color" our lives. Everything we have, do, see, feel, touch, read, hear, smell, think, and say is part of our mosaic.

 It is amazing to look back and see how we have changed and grown over the years; however, it can be more difficult to recognize changes if we have no record of the past.

As scrapbookers we are personal and family historians.Our choices determine which of the "variety of elements" we will preserve. What will our children and grandchildren know about us? What will they remember about themselves? (Most children do not recollect early childhood.) What will they say we valued most? How are we "coloring" our lives? 

The Best Day

Last Tuesday Kevin and I (and two of our children) were sitting in an airport in Denver. It was the best day.

Our day started out at 3 AM. We got up, loaded the car and drove to the Sea-Tac airport. The traffic was minimal; so, even though we took a wrong turn on the way, the drive to the rental car return was easy. Getting the luggage out of the car and into the shuttle is never easy - but, Alexis and Cole were cooperative and helpful (always a plus.)

I am not a big fan of the Seattle airport. The car rental shuttle "drop off" location is one of the most inconvenient I've seen. Passengers are forced to cross the street after being "dropped off" by the shuttle. Then, they have to haul suitcases to the elevators, go up one floor, get out of the elevator, cross a bridge, and then go on another elevator to get to the ticketing level... I am pretty sure the person who came up with the system had never traveled with children or multiple pieces of luggage.  I was grateful the elevators weren't too busy. We all got in - with all of our luggage.

After making our way through the "shuttle drop off maze" mentioned above, we waited in line to check our bags. There were many people ahead of us; but, the lines moved quickly.

It felt good to be 4 jumbo suitcases and a car seat lighter as we wove through the line to the security check point. Checking through security with two children can be quite an adventure. Cole wasn't feeling especially cooperative; but, after taking care of my personal items, I managed to get his shoes and coat off and put our bags on the conveyor to be scanned. He refused to go though the metal detector on his own so I carried him through. I was grateful not to be the random "step aside" pat down.

When I looked back to see how Alexis was managing she had her head hung over a big trash can (yes she was puking) and a man at the security gate was calling for backup. Kevin was busy grabbing bins, getting the computer out of its case, taking off his shoes, belt, jacket, etc. and didn't notice his daughters situation. As he walked through the metal detector, I called out to him, "You need to help Alexis get through."

Kevin began directing Alexis to take off her shoes etc. and put them through the scanner. Security asked Kevin a few questions which he answered like a typical dad (obliviously) and they let her continue.

I was worried that Alexis may have caught the flu; but, she seemed fine as we walked to the gate. We decided she had probably eaten too much of Aunt Carla's candy (and was over heated from the sweatshirt she was wearing.)

After all of that we got to the gate just in time to board the plane to Denver. We all slept on the flight.

When we arrived in Denver we discovered that we had a four hour layover. That may seem unfavorable, but we were too busy being grateful that even though 95% of our flights take us through Chicago, somehow we had been scheduled to go home through Orlando on this return trip. Every flight to Chicago was canceled that day (which could have meant a layover much longer than 4 hours.)

Thankfully, we had everything we needed to stay entertained for 4 hours: snacks, movies, game players, and a moving walkway. Kevin and I made great use of the time - taking a 2 hour conference call. Cole made sure I got plenty of exercise walking around and around with him on the moving walk ways.

The flight was full and it was long but, it was so good to arrive at our home airport. The next morning it began snowing and we were grateful to be home.

The best day is a matter of perspective.

Trendy or Beloved

Crafting has been around since the beginning of time, in some form or another; but, this is an ever changing world. In the 70's women learned macrame, in the 80's we did cross stitch and purchased brushes to tole paint. I don't think anyone would argue that the past decade of crafting has been heavily dedicated to scrapbooks.

Is scrapbooking simply a craft trend that will go the way of macrame, and decoupage?

I created scrapbooks, for my family, long before it became a fashionable hobby. Of course, those early scrapbooks don't closely resemble the current ones. I am grateful for all the wonderful new scrapbook supplies: fabulous archival papers, adhesives, and all of the cute decorative elements. Who would've dreamed scrapbooks would take such a turn, becoming so main steam and popular?

Well, I didn't have that vision; but, I am certainly grateful to those who did. I guess you might expect me to be grateful because scrapbooking has been my business for over a decade. That is not entirely incorrect, I am grateful for the opportunity; however, I am most grateful that so many people are scrapbooking because I know scrapbooks are a wonderful blessing to those who create them and those who they are created for. 

As a young girl I loved looking through my mothers "Book of Remembrance." I especially loved any tidbit of information she had written about me. I suppose that was my motivation for keeping a scrapbook. I was aware, from an early age, how valuable they are. The fact that my mother took time to recognize me in that book was burned into my heart as proof that she noticed me and loved me.

Being the youngest of 8 children, there isn't exactly a lot of proof that I existed as a child. When my own children came along I wanted to make sure it was not the same for them. I may even be recording some "bad hair days" they wish they could forget. They don't always appreciate my efforts; but, I will continue to take photos and journal memories because someday, they will enjoy remembering.

I hope, as time passes and the thrill of the "trend" subsides, you will continue to record your memories - be it through books or blogs, handmade or digital.

Happy Scrappin'

Tami

OH MY WORD! ... Secret

I've discovered the secret

to a fabulous Anniversary. The best thing is, you don't need time or money for a fabulous gift or weekend get-a-way.

The discovery began when Kevin and I were scheduled to work at the Chantilly GASC on our anniversary. We tried to think of something we could do in the evening, after the convention, but, it came down to knowing how tired we would be at the end of the day. We didn't want to "force" a celebration; so, we decided not to make any big plans.

Kevin had a wonderful gift for me. His part was done. I, on the other hand, had no gift.  My mind was in a bit of a frenzy trying to think up something special, but, nothing seemed to be coming to me. In the meantime, I had an "Oh my word..." post to write.

With our anniversary on it's way, I decided to use the word "remember" and write a little something about the first time Kevin and I met. At the end of the post I couldn't leave the story "unfinished"; so I decided to continue, and then continue, and continue again... okay, I am actually still not completely finished with the story.

So, how does this all relate as "the secret to a fabulous anniversary?" All the time I've spent thinking back, writing the memories, remembering how completely wonderful Kevin is, etc., has been better than the best gift I could have ever dreamed up.

Writing our story, a little each day, and sharing it with Kevin, just one "chapter" at a time, has made this the best anniversary week ever. I get tingly just thinking about him!

So there it is, the secret - spend time writing your love story. Remember every detail you can (as you write, more details will come to you.) You may not want to write everything down; but, write everything you can. Then, share it with your significant other. Enjoy the smiles and laughs that will come. Embrace the memories that brought you together. It will be worth it.

Tagged by Parri -

My niece tagged me on this list - I love lists so I am tagging all of you! (to be nice, this was 56 questions - I edited down to 35.)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 3:15 AM
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? High School Musical 3
4. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cold Cereal.
5. What food do you dislike? slimy/chewy seafood like squid or clams.
6. What kind of car do you drive? a not really all that mini van.
7. Favorite sandwich? Hot Salmon Sandwich from the Cheese Shop.
8. Favorite item of clothing? Jeans.
9. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? India.
10. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't have a favorite brand. I generally like clothes that are simple & classic.
11. Where would you retire to? ditto on Parri's suggestion - I would live in Disneyland if they'd let me or someplace tropical.
12. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My sister threw me a surprise party when I was 15.
13. Are you a morning person or a night person? morning
14. What is your shoe size? 6
15. Pets?  a cat
16. What did you want to be when you were little? an artist and writer
17. How are you today? a little tired from a long drive.
18. What is your favorite candy? I think it would be easier to say what is NOT my favorite: sugar-free stuff.
19. What is your favorite flower? If it is a flower it is my favorite.
20. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? December 13 - my daughter arrives home from college.
21. What are you listening to right now? the 3:53 AM silence.
22. What was the last thing you ate? Sushi and Chicken.
23. Do you wish on stars? No
24. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? a box of 64 colors
25. How is the weather right now? cloudy and chilly
26. Favorite soft drink? Rootbeer
27. Favorite restaurant? Cheese Cake Factory
28. Summer or winter? Summer
29. Hugs or kisses? chocolate kisses - real hugs
30. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate- the darker the better.
31. What is under your bed? a leaf from my dining table.
32. What are you afraid of? Spiders and deep water.
33. Salty or sweet? both
34. How many keys on your key ring? 6
35. How many towns have you lived in? I've lost track.

Accept my tag and leave a comment with answers or a link/address to your blog so we can all read your answers : )

Listing Chattanooga

I love lists - they are a great and simple way to keep up with all we do with our time!

I made this list while I was in Chattanooga this past weekend.

Friday September 19, 2008
What I did today...

• Took a shower
• Got Cole and Alexis out of bed
• Cleaned up puke.
• Took Alexis and Cole to convention center
• Gave Kevin a break for lunch
• Raced with Cole and Alexis to catch the electric shuttle.
• Went to the Children's Science Museum
• Walked to the aquarium
• Noticed a "smell"
• Cleaned up an Oops!  (threw spiderman "unders" in trash. Thank goodness mom's usually have spares!)
• Rode electric shuttle back to hotel
• Ordered Dinner

If I were really "on top of things" I suppose I would keep a travel journal; however, when I am traveling the days always seem to be so "full." At the end of the day I am tired and at the end of the trip I sit there wondering "where all the time went." If I make a list at the end of each day, it takes just a little time, and it helps me to remember the details later... Like my "not so compassionate moment" when Alexis threw up on the floor and the Octopus show we watched on the History channel (while waiting for Alexis to "feel better.")

Sometimes a "list can help create another list - like... Went to Children's Science Center becomes -

Our Day of Fun at the Children's Science Center:

• Introduced Cole to science.
• Chased Cole from area to area - his favorite was the "water play. "
• Watched Alexis play - her favorite was the microscope. 
• took pictures (my favorite subject.)  : )
• Went up and up and up the tower stairs - saw the anti-climatic view at the top.
• Saw Clifford the Big Red Dog
• Went to the outdoor roof top play area.
• Tried to get the bubble goo off of hands - finally wiped it on leg of pants.
• Took Cole to the bathroom and tried to wash the "face paint" off his cheeks.
• And finally, drug a crying Cole out of the science center..

Memory Lists are great "no pressure" journal helpers - don't you think? And, most hotels have a bedside notepad handy! Next time you are away, and too tired to keep up with the travel journal, get some use out of that notepad. : )