Spring Break

Photo above plucked off Pinterest.

In celebration of my husband's upcoming birthday in April and Quinn's impending escape from my womb in June, I booked the family a hopefully-relaxing trip to Maui. By the time we go, le huz will have finished launching a project at work, and I will have wrapped up two of my own. Le sigh. Of relief! A charging of spirits is much-deserved after months of hard work on the part of le huz, and a last-hurrah for the rest of Olive & Co. before the cycle of sleepless nights begins is an absolute necessity.

White-sand beaches and clear waters for Olive. Spam musubis and snow cones for le huz and me. My inner manatee* is ready to be unleashed.

* I've gained 26 lbs to date, but have two plus months to go. Eek! 

Ice, Ice, Baby

Olive at the Harpa in Reykjavik

Traveling with the little ones ain't an easy task, but inspired by stranger-than-fiction blogger mamas - like this one and this one... neither of which I know personally... for let's be honest, all my friends are hot-mess mamas like moi - I've managed to make it work. Since arriving on this planet, little Olive has ventured to Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts and New York. She's already been to Taiwan twice, and dude, her most recent pitstop was Iceland!

Leave it to her fabulous uncles Eric and Chuan to plan a week-long wedding celebration in Iceland, of all places. It was the perfect excuse to expose the kid to, well, MORE. As tiring as it was, le huz and I have no regrets that we brought her along, for anyone with eyes could tell that Olive enjoyed every minute of the trip. A dip in the Blue Lagoon, hike on a glacier, death-defying volcano climb, late-night dancing, and even a hot-tubbing experience into the wee hours of the night. Our monster was psyched to be included in every activity and is now addicted to Skyr (Icelandic yogurt). Kid has taste.

Olive trekking Langjokull Glacier in inappropriate footwear. 

No worries, the munchkin wasn't out for long. She's too young to be losing toes.

Blue Lagoon dip with mommy and her beloved Auntie Jen - the same day we landed in Iceland.

Kvosin Downtown Hotel in Reykjavik.

Munchkin and I have another trip planned a month from now. Mother and daughter are tagging along with le huz on his business trip. He's making stops in Paris, Frankurt and London. Olive and I are staying put in Paris while le huz works and plan to hop the Eurostar (just mommy and daughter) to meet up with friends and family in London. Le huz will meet up with us in London. As always, I'm on the look-out for travel tips from parents. In exchange, I will offer mine in my next post. They may not work for your little one, but they've certainly worked for mine.