We’re back home after a sweet family vacation to the beach ☀️
Okay, let’s be honest, though… “vacation” is a strong word when you’re traveling with three kids under eight 😂
It’s more like adventure parenting.
In a new location.
With sand… EVERYWHERE.
A few years ago, our mentors encouraged us to stop calling it a vacation and start calling it a TRIP.
Because when you set the right expectations (hi, sunscreen duty, sibling squabbles, cramming together in tight spaces 👋), you’re not disappointed when things aren’t relaxing.
You’re just grateful when they are 😅
So, with that in mind, here’s a little recap of our latest trip — and some favorites we thought you might love, too.
We packed up the car for a seven and a half hour road trip (which feels like it could be its own sport in the parent Olympics.)
Make sure they have sandals!
Did you grab the library books?
I can fit one more puzzle!
You packed extra sunscreen, right?
Don’t forget the Cheerios!
We need a vacation… just from packing kids up for vacation 😂
Our Top 5 Must-Haves for Traveling with Kids
For any other parents out there (or someone who knows a parent!)… these are the MVPs that save our sanity on family road trips:
🌙 These blackout curtains with suction cups – A total game-changer for Airbnb sleep-ins 😴
🚗 Collapsible car tray tables – Great for snacks, coloring, and limiting spills on the road
📸 Our Light & Airy Pop-Up Photo Stand – The easiest way we get full family pics without asking strangers or using trash cans as tripods 😅
✨ Hatch Sound Machine – Keeps the kids in their routine (and out of our room at 5:45AM)
📚 Playaway audiobooks from the library – A quiet time lifesaver on road trips AND bedtime 🙌
A Fun Treat For Us 😍
We’ve been alcohol-free for a few years now (and feel so much better without it!) but we still love a fun drink moment — especially at the beach.
These LMNT sparkling waters are our fave summer road trip go-to:
🍋🟩 Amy’s fave: Citrus Salt
🍒 Jordan’s fave: Black Cherry
They’re fizzy, electrolyte-packed, sugar-free and only 5 calories. Plus, they taste amazing. Vacation vibes without the crash ✨
Because we need allllll the hydration we can get!
Embracing the Chaos
Our trip was a never-ending chorus of “Are we there yet?” and “Look! I see a palm tree!” 🌴
Bags overflowing with beach toys, puzzles and board games.
Applying (and reapplying) sunscreen times infinity.
Managing rainy days stuck inside in tight quarters.
Making lots of sandwiches… and also…
Making so many sweet memories we never want to forget:
🌊 Beckett learned to boogie board (and lost his front tooth! 🥹)
🐚 Took the “big kids” seashell hunting
🦀 Caught (and released!) a starfish
💃 Emily and Mom dancing and singing in the waves
👣 Ellie burying our feet 47 times
☀️ Watching the sunset from our balcony after tucking the kids in each night
We were married for eight years before we became parents — and back then, we weren’t sure if we even wanted kids.
We loved our life together, and we weren’t sure if we really wanted it to change.
But life is so rich now.
We couldn’t imagine it any other way.
In a moment of delusion, I packed a book to read on the beach 😂
Turns out… I didn’t read a single page.
And you know what? I’m not even a little sad about it.
Because I won’t always be asked to be part of the digging team.
There’s a quote in The 5 Types of Wealth (which we’re listening to again on Audible right now) that’s been echoing in my heart:
“There’s a devastatingly short window during which you are your child’s entire world. Don’t blink and miss it.”
Whether you’re a parent or not, I think we all need the reminder:
The days we’re living in right now?
They won’t always look like this.
And one day, we’ll wish we could come back… just for a minute… to right now.
So let’s commit together to not miss the moments while we’re in them 💛
