Noelle's 1st Spring Break

If you are wondering what's happening around here, yep, it's me, just trying to kick this blog back off with catching up on ALL THE THINGS since I've been gone. So now I am posting Noelle's first real Spring Break back in March! We wanted to do something but knew it wouldn't be a big trip because we were headed for a cruise soon. So we decided to head up to South Dakota which was only a 6 hour drive from Denver. We figured we had to see Mount Rushmore sense we lived this close. Never would we ever be moving closer! First road trip as a family of 5!!

Iceland Babymoon

Ok so ya'll know how I do, the more pictures, the longer the blog will take. And this time is just like any other, pictures galore!!

Oh Iceland!! You were good to us. Mostly because we got to sleep in and I didn't have to cook for anyone for 5 full days but also because you were incredibly beautiful. Our baby moon was exactly what we wanted and hoped for. We made this trip at 28 weeks and the flight to Iceland seemed a little problematic at first when we were told that we had to have a doctor's note to travel internationally after 28 weeks. There was no way we weren't getting on that flight. We told them we were 27 weeks and boarded. They didn't want these problems. 

It was cold and rainy for most of the days we were there but it didn't stop us from exploring as much as possible. We stayed in Reykavik, the capital, it's on the coast of Iceland. The airport is about 40 minutes away so we decided to rent a car to get around while we were there. 

Hawaii Part 2

We boarded a flight to Maui and were so excited to continue the fun!

Hawaii Part 1

Ok so when you see how many pictures I'm posting you will understand why this post took me so long to do. First, I needed the motivation to edit all of them and of course I had to wait until I announced my bump that will appear in these photos. SO MANY PICTURES, but I mean it's Hawaii so can you blame me? This trip was incredible not only because it was Hawaii but because we went with our folks!!! Our kids, best friends/travel partners and our parents.  

Ok, lets do this!! First stop, Kauai!! This was the longest trip we'd ever taken with the kids but they did awesome!!

Catalina Island

So yes, this post about a month late (insert eye roll here), but in my defense the weather in Denver has turned cold and now I'm reminiscing. Does that pass for an actual excuse?! Maybe not but I am now feeling motivated to post about this sweet beach vacay we had at the end of September. Tj and I were babies the last time we were here. We lived in California childless and came over just for the day. We needed a little getaway and Tj suggested Catalina. I was all about it and this time we'd actually be able to stay a couple nights. The journey to get there was not the easiest but not as bad as it could have been. 

We flew to LA and spent the day and the next morning we drove to Long Beach where we took an hour long boat ride to the island. Hauling the carseats and luggage the entire trip had to be the most challenging part. Traveling with the kids is a whole adventure in itself. 

Year 7 Anniversary Trip| Belize Part 2

We usually jump around on our vacations to keep from getting bored. We boarded another puddle jumper and headed to Placencia for our last 3 days. Placencia is becoming more and more popular for tourism but it is not yet over crowded. There is a village with great restaurants and lots of shopping. We were met at the airport by one of the managers of the Caribbean Beach Cabanas and the place was just as beautiful as the pictures. 

Year 7 Anniversary Trip| Belize Part 1

Ok guys, I'm finally sharing pictures from our trip to Belize. Many of you know that Tj and I take a trip together annually to celebrate our Anniversary. We've been doing it since year one and it is something we look forward to every year. Picking the destination and planning the trip always builds lots of excitement. This was our first time leaving Lois and it seemed like a very long 8 months. So much has unfolded since her birth and it was a much needed getaway for us. Our actual anniversary is not until the 26th of this month but we were due to be in Orlando for my brother's graduation so we planned the trip around this time. We left the girls in Florida and kept it pushing. We made this a shorter trip due to the fact that I was still breastfeeding, which meant lots of pumping for me. Not how I prefer to spend my vacations but nothing could put a damper on this trip. 

I can't tell you why we chose Belize but I'll tell you that it should be on your list! It was absolutely beautiful!! Our first couple of nights were spent on a private island off the coast of Dangriga or Stann Creek Town. This place was INCREDIBLE!!! The island is 9 miles of the coast and is only accessible by boat. The travel it took to get there was quite interesting. We took a puddle jumper from Belize City to Dangriga and then a very bumpy boat ride to the island. 

Seattle & Vancouver

Our trip to Seattle and Vancouver was a unique one. Our first time traveling with a wolf pack of seven! Our travel gang has never been so large, three kids and one on the way. It was every bit of adventure and relaxation. We came, we saw, we hung out in the hotel, ordered room service and didn't feel any pressure to see every inch of these cities like we normally would. When we are without the children, we are on the move, having late nights and early mornings. Well three kids has a way of slowing you down a bit and not making you feel like you have to do everything. We were totally fine with taking a slower pace and even doing things just for the kids. We loved it!

Arkansas 2017

Old Arkadoo!! This is where my childhood memories live. Every summer spent here with my brother visiting our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Now we bring our children here, making new memories in this quiet town that will always have our hearts. This was Noelle's third time in Arkansas and Lo's first. She got to meet another part of her family and Noelle tried hard remembering everyone's name. Lois did several new things on our visit including rocking back and forth on her knees, someone's ready to move. These five days went extremely fast but I managed to snap some shots to remember it. 

Travel Baby Gear Must Haves

Call me crazy but I decided to travel to Orlando BY MYSELF with the girls this week! I know, I've lost all my marbles but all in the name of love!

Hot Springs & A Moose Hunt

It was on the to do list to make it to the mountains at least once this summer before the baby came and we finally did it. We made our way to Steamboat Springs for first time and got to enjoy one of the hot springs. I of course couldn't stay submerged above the waist for long but it was still amazing. Besides all the bees, it was the knees. 

The B I G 3-0 in Key West

Thirty!! Wow! It seems pretty surreal that I'm here. When I think about all the life I've lived it makes sense but it's still a bit strange. I am so grateful to God to be here and living the life He has blessed me with and no wrinkles! I know I wanted to do something big with friends and family to celebrate. We actually did this resort with a group of our friends and family for my 25th and we've always wanted to come back again and this was the perfect excuse. My family has always loved Key West and we vacationed there when I was I child pretty often. It is a long drive from Orlando but totally worth it.

 

In The 6 For Our 6th {Anniversary}

Yay!! Finally sharing our anniversary trip to Toronto!!! These last few weeks have been completely bonkers with packing, unpacking, washing and repeating on the to do list. We had never been to Canada and with Zika ruining most of our travel plans, we decided to head north. We started our trip in Buffalo, NY with a visit to Niagara Falls. With such a short drive into Canada we figured why not fly into Buffalo and see the falls. It was breath taking and my pictures do it no justice. It was crazy to see Canada just across the water. 

Thailand- Phuket

Our last stop! I realized only after going through my Phuket pictures that I didn't take as many pictures of this amazing place as I should have! But when Songkran is happening, it limits what you take out of your hotel door. But we'll get to that! Our hotel was incredibly beautiful and my favorite by far. As soon as we put our bags down we headed for the city center. After walking down Bangla road we stopped for food (not the bugs pictured) and of course more shopping and massages. 

Thailand- Ko Phi Phi Island

We were so excited to get to the beach! We got to Phuket and headed directly for our island. I don't think any of us realized how long it would actually take. Our flight to Phuket was just around 2 hours. It was over an hour drive from the airport to the marina, then once on the ferry it took 90 minutes on the to get to the main island of Ko Phi Phi. Then we took a small boat to our smaller island where our resort was located. It seriously took all day and once we arrived, it was mid afternoon. We only planned for two days on the island, so there was one. We hung around the hotel the first evening because we realized once arriving to our part of the island that it would be 200 bahts per person to get a boat to the main island. It was very secluded, which some people may appreciate but we would have preferred to be where the action was. The hotel was not as impressive as we had hoped. The property was beautiful but the rooms were just aight!

Thailand- Chiang Mai

On day 3 we boarded to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and the flight was only an hour and a half. Short and sweet, thank God. Once we got there we checked into our hotel and got recommendations for food. 

Thailand- Bangkok

Hey guys!!! I could not wait to share our Thailand trip with you!!!!! When going through all the pics I knew there was no way I was going to be able to share all of these with just one post, so I decided to split them up into 4 different posts of each place we visited to try and give you the most detail I can. I'll add as many links as I can to the hotels and activities. I'll also be adding in random bits of information as they enter my mind. I have to first start with the flight, although I dreaded every hour of those flights I can say it was totally worth it, every 22 hours of it. It made for some serious jet lag but still it was a once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn't take back for anything. We were 11 hours ahead of Orlando where Noelle was but we figured out we could FaceTime at least twice a day. Traveling with De and Somaiya always makes for a great time but seriously, it's so effortless to get along and I thank God for friends like them!!

Let's get into it! Bangkok was our first stop and originally we were scheduled to stay there for 4 days but from all I had heard from people who had gone, it may have been hard to find 4 days of things to do. So we talked about the possibility of going to Chiang Mai after 2 days but we didn't decide until the last minute which is a great perk about Thailand. Making last minute plans is no biggie. Bangkok is a huge city and from the airport to our hotel took an hour and we only paid 500 bahts which converts to just over $14. Needless to say, we felt like ballers and shot callers with bahts in our wallets. The traffic in Bangkok can get pretty ridiculous so if you get car sick easily I suggest sitting in the front seat (like I did) or keeping Dramamine on you at all times. 

Mountain Getaway

Sometimes life gets complicated, frustrating, disappointing, that's when you go to the beach. But we're not in Florida anymore so it was to the mountains we went. The mountains were calling my name, I was having withdrawals so we went up for a short overnight trip so I could get my life. I really needed this little getaway, work had me feeling a little run down. Being in the midst of God's amazing creations make me feel closer to Him. 

Booked

We are just under a month away from the trip of a lifetime, THAILAND!!! My husband and I are going with our favorite traveling couple as we head to this beautiful country in Southeast Asia. I am so excited to get to some humidity and April is their hottest month. That may sound a little strange but being a Florida girl living in Denver, I am ready for the heat. Thailand has so much to offer, from bustling metropolis cities to secluded beaches with incredible views. This get away is much needed and we can't wait to get out of the rat race for a couple weeks.

Photo from Phuket.com

Aspen

I am a little late posting this but I could not skip posting our Aspen trip a couple weekends ago to celebrate Tj and our friend Natalie's birthday. It was crazy beautiful and we HIKED, in the snow no less. And there was an animal sighting!

On the ride up we took a quick stop in Glenwood springs which we've been wanting to visit for awhile.