What the Blog?

We recently returned from the French Riviera. With four kids under 4 in tow, it was far from your typical visit - more ice cream, nap, and train breaks... less lounging on the beach with fruity drinks in hand. Still, it was a great time and we managed 2 day trips + 2 days in Nice over a 4-day holiday. And here, your three day itinerary: Day 1: On arrival, we were advised to uberX to the hotel. For a mere 16€, we were deposited at our hotel door far more swiftly than a bus, train, or (from what I hear) taxi would have offered. After a small mixup (I booked the  Ibis Nice Centre Gare  but believed I had / wanted to book the  Ibis Styles Nice Centre Gare ), we managed to find a room in the hotel we originally wanted, at an amazing rate (117€ / night with breakfast included, for a huge suite with a sofa bed, balcony, room divider, and large bathroom). Talk about lucky... I couldn't have beaten the rate with vrbo or airbnb, and we could not have been more pleased with the hotel. Esp

Road trip time! Hamburg is about 5 hours (plus kids = 7ish) north of where we live, and we had never seen the region... summer holiday seemed the perfect time. We drove up on a Monday, returning on Thursday, with 2 days in the city and one at a fruit farm in Jork. This region, apparently, produces the most fruit in western Europe! I bet it's gorgeous in spring. Day 1: We tried out wimdu for an apartment just north of the city. The price was right, the location was great, and the owners were incredibly nice. It was a bit tight for four of us (mostly because the kids wanted to stay up late with us / not sleep), but worked fine for the short visit. We had made afternoon reservations for Miniatur Wunderland , so we took our time getting to the city. We drove in, parking at Contipark (max 12 euros/ day, better than other lots that max out at 20 euros/day or so), which are all over central Hamburg. The plan was to walk through the warehouse district and make our way to Landungsb

Ah, vacation. We headed off to Rome a week before the European Easter break began, to lovely weather and manageable crowds. I had done a bit of research before our arrival, but we mostly played the trip by ear. With three kids across four adults, we had no other choice... but what we did in 7 days could probably be accomplished in 4 quite easily. So here's your itinerary: Day 1:  Upon arrival at Fiumencino airport, we took a pre-booked shuttle (with car seats!) directly to the city - we'd been advised it was much easier, faster, and simpler than the train, and I'm so glad we did. We stayed near the Vatican, at a lovely apartment that was way below the cost of a hotel and had everything we needed for the week. Within five minutes, you could be at St Peter's Basilica or any mode of public transportation to get you into the more central / touristy part of the city. We spent the first day stocking up on wine, cheese, and necessities for the apartment... then planning

The last time I posted, I still had one kid. Wow, how life has changed. In the nearly five months since, we haven't vacationed much - in fact, we barely leave the house on the weekends - and the days all seem to blend together. Luckily, we live in a small community with a lot of friends within walking distance. So we don't have to go far to escape isolation. And though this winter has brought us a record of gray, rainy, dreary days, we have managed to find indoor adventures and learned how to dress appropriately for getting wet and muddy when we just needed to get outside. I never realized how lonely it can be to be a parent. We spend so time with small people, who won't remember the moments that we share in a few years. I think often how our older boy won't remember his life as an only child at all. But we had so many special times with just him, moments that are for me and S to treasure and remember - good, bad, and exhausting. I also never realized how all-cons