We limited our Archambault & Wegrzyn summer house search to Massachusetts and at least five bedrooms.
This brought us to the Berkshires with 4 adults, 3 nine year olds, a 6-year-old, a 5-year-old, a four-year-old, 2 three-year-olds, and an infant.
It was our favorite spot since we began this annual tradition 9 years ago, and almost a decade in I'm beginning to appreciate the elements that make it so very special.
It's witnessing my friends invest in my kids.
It is my children delighting in simple pleasures like turning frozen waffles and pancakes into vacation Mickey Mouse ones.
It is my getting-older-every-day-oldest having ample opportunities to play in goofy ways.
It is my oldest son getting to interact with two big brothers whom he adores.
It is finding that river, lake, or ocean each year that they never want to leave.
It is this straight-haired Mama being taught how to care for the hair of her curly babes.
It is late night bonfire conversations about foster care and adoption and how our families have had more (and sometimes less) people in them almost every year of this trip.
It is my introversion and love of cooking at perfect peace making a meal in the kitchen while hearing the laughter of those I love playing in the big back yard.
And new this year, it is a signature drink of A&W Root beer floats.
