The Luckiest No Matter What!

We've just wrapped up our third time in St. Augustine, Florida and I wouldn't be hyperbolizing when I say we are in love with that city. Seriously. Traveling with small children isn't an easy task and finding things to do with those children can be tricky and frustrating. Thankfully, St. Augustine is SUCH a family-friendly city with kind, welcoming people and plenty to do for families. Here are some of our favorite activities: St. Augustine Beach: Being near water while on vacation is always a plus! It provides very inexpensive entertainment with so many options of how to spend time. This particular beach is special- there is large fishing pier, a wide white sandy beach, a playground, splash pad, and restaurants and ice cream within walking distance. There are events at the beach including a farmer's market, pop up shops, and surfing competitions. There is plenty of room to park and plenty of room to play.  First trip: April 2014, Nolan and Judah  Second Tri...

I am very, super, incredibly into traditions. When I was a kid, I would look forward to the predictability of holiday celebrations, seeing family at certain times of the year, and knowing that at Christmas, my grandma would buy us all the same thing, but just in a different color. I love traditions so much that even when Josh and I first got married, we tried our best to keep up with all the things both our families would do for holidays- we were there for Christmas Eve food yummies and Christmas movie with Josh's family, we would spend the night at my family's house and sleep in the same room as all my siblings just like we did when we were kids. Anything either one of us had always done, we tried to make happen into our adulthood. Even when we first had kids, we shuffled people EVERYWHERE not to miss a single thing. The winter after Nolan and Judah were born, 2013-2014 was a polar vortex. It was snowy and FREEZING! For like the whole thing. With the exception of leaving...

A while back I read a Tweet from a teacher I admire sharing how he does smiles and frowns in his High School English class- it gives his students a time and safe space to share their voice about what's going on in their life; I thought it was great and genius. We began doing it at my house at bedtime and now it's become a staple routine- the boys sharing their smiles and frowns from that day. A lot of times this short reflection is super insightful and leads to other wonderings and talks and sharing. The smiles can show that even if the day is challenging, even if I find myself being a mean mommy, there are things my boys take-a-way and cherish that show me and them that there is good in every day... because there is. The frowns help draw out what may have happened in the day that isn't perfect and it shows me what's been bothering one of my boys. Again, it also shows that there is an ebb and flow to the day to day. Thankfully, even though our Disney trip feels like...

Last week, at this exact time, I was braving a torrential downpour at Epcot with Nolan, Judah, Carter, and my mom. The wind was howling, the rain was pelting us, and we were sloshing around as water soaked through our socks and shoes. Somehow it feels like ages since we've been on vacation! Disney World was magical, of course. But, I also learned a LOT bringing kids here for the first time! I'm a sucker for a top-ten list so here are my top ten reflections from our trip: 10.) Bring help, send help, get help: I have four kids, four YOUNG kids. Most of the time I don't notice that as being atypical because it's our typical. However, the more out in public we go, the more I find myself thinking four kids is a lot.  We could have never EVER done this trip with my kids at their current ages, if we did not have other adults with us. My mom and Josh's parents were GOD-SENDS/ANGELS to us: extra hands to hold onto my children, extra entertainers during the endless ...

My family is a Disney family. On a scale of 1 to completely obsessed, I'd say we are at maybe an 8? a 7.5? While we don't exclusively have Disney Christmas decorations or dress in Disney apparel constantly, or go to the park yearly (although we all totally would), we will massacre you in Disney Scene It! or other any other Disney trivia game, quote Disney movies regularly on our group chat, and rush out to see the newest Disney flick at the movie theatre. We also relish an opportunity to talk with ANYONE about how much we love Walt Disney World. This affinity for Disney definitely came from my mom. She went to Disney World shortly after it opened to celebrate her high school graduation and fell in love. She loved it so much, in fact, that she dragged my dad there on their honeymoon- a man who hates crowds, gets motion sickness on even the wussiest ride, and is terrified of flying in an airplane. I followed right in her footsteps celebrating my honeymoon at Disney World also...