In the fall of 2018, a couple of my really good friends (M'Liss and Karly) got together and we decided we wanted to take a couples/group trip together. We started watching for good flight deals and decided we would just go wherever we found a non-stop direct flight. M'Liss texted us about a non-stop direct flight to London for less than $600 and we all purchased that day. We were so excited! we had a few planning sessions, but I have to give M'Liss SO much credit for our trip because she planned so much of it. She would just tell us how much to pay for tours, Airbnb's etc.. and we obeyed! ha. It was the trip of a lifetime. It was so fun to experience a European vacation with Friends and with no kids. The 9+ hour flight was a breeze because I wasn't wrestling children and I could just sit and watch so many movies, which I never get to do these days. We went for 8 days, which is normally not ideal for Europe, more days the better, but we decided without kids we can go go go all day and see everything we want. We literally walked 10-20 miles a day, didn't sleep much, but it was so worth it! There was zero drama, lots of laughing, lots of jet lag, and incredible food. Seriously we ate so much good food! We are all ready to go on another trip together, it was that great!
We started off in London and went to dinner that evening. We had a night train to Scotland that night, so we just waited for our train to board and didn't do much else. We got to Scotland and did a 3-day tour of the Isle of Skye. I can't say enough about that tour. Our tour guide was incredible, the highlands of Scotland were breathtaking, the cliffs and coastline of Scotland were equally terrifying and astonishing (felt like we were going to blow off with the wind speed), and the best part of it all? we got to feed baby lambs! There were sheep and baby lambs that inhabited all of the hills and highlands. It was so fun to drive through and see all the babies and their mamas. Made me miss my littles, but then I remembered tantrums and quickly pinched myself I get a small break before going back. We stayed in the cutest town called Portree and it was a quaint, quiet town with beautiful views out of our Airbnb. I still can't stop dreaming of it. I will post a bunch of pictures from our trip, but I mostly just can't get over how fun of a group this was to travel with.
After our time in Scotland, we took a night train back to London. We then went on a day tour to the Cotswolds, Stonehenge, and Bath. I loved that day tour. Wasn't the best tour guide; a bit neurotic and just over the top with all of his opinions and views, but we still learned a lot from his word vomiting. It was fun to drive through the English countryside. Again, we ate some of the best food, but mine was probably some of the Filipino cuisine we ate from a little stand in Bath. We then spent our last couple of days in London seeing all the things. Unfortunately, Big Ben was under construction, so we didn't get to see that (which, UGH! Peter Pan!? I've always wanted to see this in-person!!). It was cool though, the royal baby (Archie) was born a day after we left, so when we were at Windsor castle (really beautiful!) they royal family was there awaiting the baby to be born. It was fun to know we were there when the Queen was as well. One of my favorite things we did was go to the Borough Market. It was really interesting to see all the different booths of food/merchandise from people all over the world. We tried some amazing food!
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. We had a great time! I loved vacationing with some of my best friends and having one-on-one time with Travis without our kids. I did miss them like mad though at the end.
I've been really struggling with the idea of working. It is a double edge sword because it makes me feel good contributing to a company, I love bringing in an income, I love knowing that it makes me appreciate my time with kids more, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't get to me sometimes; the exhaustion of working full time, taking care of two kids and trying to be a good mom, being a wife, being a leader in young womens, doing all the duties. I mean, working moms! We are bad a's! I seriously don't know how I do it sometimes, but I'm trying to realize that the money I bring in is important, it allows me to do what I love to do -- travel (amongst other things). Since I was little, my family has always traveled. It wasn't always extravagant or expensive vacations, but we always spent time together as a family. Those memories I will cherish the most. I guess I feel weird saying this because you don't need money to make memories, but I while I work and feel the need to, I want to use the extra money to see the world and experience culture, food, a different way of life. I somehow always come home so humbled. I mean, even if it is just for fresh tap water! or bathrooms I don't have to pay for. I always want my kids to have experiences that makes them grateful for what they are given and for some reason, traveling does that to me sometimes. But there are also fun trips like Disneyland right? I guess that just makes me grateful to have two legs that I can walk. Haha I'm digging myself a hole here, but you get it. Right? I'm trying to be really intentional with my time. Put my phone down more, find ways to spend fun time with my kids, find ways to show Travis I love him. I'm so exhausted. I am. But I really wouldn't have it any other way. Except for when baby #3 comes (not any time soon!), I may think about this a lot differently. But for now, this is my normal and I'm just trying to justify my crazy busy life and why it is really really good.
Enjoy all of my pictures!
No comments:
Post a Comment