We’re back. I was going to wait until Friday to post about Happy Things but I missed this space and all of you too much to stay away any longer!
Our family returned home in the wee hours this morning from a wonderful trip to Barcelona, Spain. I will be sharing all sorts of details and pictures in the days to come but in summary: the food was delicious, the weather was spectacular, the attractions were breathtaking…and everyone absolutely loved our time away. This was our first international trip with both kiddos and it was a big relief to have things go smoothly. There were very few bathroom emergencies (remember New York City? I try to forget…) and, in the grand scheme of things, relatively limited sibling skirmishes.
Here’s a sneak peak…
While I didn’t attempt to comment while away, I’ve kept up with everyone’s blog posts. In case I missed something – what’s going on in your world right now? Biggest highlight (or lowlight) from the last week? Favourite travel memory from your childhood?
Michelle G.
Your photos are SO gorgeous! What a beautiful place. I look forward to reading all about your trip.
Elisabeth
You may regret saying that – I HAVE SO MANY RECAPS AND PICTURES. I’m a bit embarrassed by the scope, but I want to record it all since I love looking back at the recaps. I will let people know skimming in encouraged – haha.
Grateful Kae
Love love love. These are so amazing. I am soooo happy for you guys that this trip was everything you hoped it would be and more! ❤️❤️
Elisabeth
You’ve had extra sneak peaks 🙂 Your posts were inspirational for our trip. I hope you enjoy taking a walk down memory lane when I post recaps!
Shelly
Welcome back!
When I was in grade 5 we went to visit family in Alberta. We never travelled so it has stayed with me for a lot of years now.
Not as beautiful as Spain. What great pictures and I’m happy to hear you all had a great time.
Elisabeth
I went to the US for the first time when I was 12 and it was transformative. We drove from Nova Scotia to South Carolina and I remember being absolutely entranced by all the changes. It was hot! The trees looked different! The signs looked different (e.g. miles instead of km). I still remember aspects of that trip vividly.
coco
Love all the pics! Your daughter looks just like you!
I’ve spent a little over a week in shanghai, super relaxing stay in my hometown.
Barcelona is quite magical. Can’t wait to know what were your favorite things/places.
Elisabeth
Barcelona was magical and it was really special to have the kids enjoy their first international experience with us <3
Nicole MacPherson
WELCOME BACK MY FRIEND!!! I was thinking of you and your trip all last week and was hoping everything was going well. And isn’t this wonderful – it did! I have never been to Barcelona but now I want to! Gosh what gorgeous photos. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Well, we were in Vegas over the weekend! It was a really great time, and now I’m hitting the ground running – we have houseguests arriving tomorrow (sad reasons, for a funeral), and it’s M’s TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY on Saturday! And our 22nd anniversary! And Rex’s third birthday! And the funeral. So, um, mixed things I guess.
Elisabeth
It went so well! Better than I expected (I always prefer to have my expectations exceeded and not the other way around)! You’d love Barcelona, I know it <3
I'm so sorry about the funeral; it's always hard to lose someone close. But I hope you are still able to enjoy all the happy things, too. I can't imagine having a child turn 20...but I have a child turning 13 next week and HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?? And Rex is three - many happy returns to one of the internet's favourite dogs <3
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Oh those pictures are already promising. I am looking forward to all your racaps.
I did go to Barcelona once about a decade ago. But I have to admit it wasn’t my favorite. So many people…
But I loved Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
My favorite childhood travel memory is probably that my parents included a stop on the way during every road trip. Small towns (Bayreuth, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Konstanz, etc) along the way. Sometimes famous burial sites (Nitzsche). This way I got to see a lot of things in Germany.
Elisabeth
The crowds weren’t bad for us, but we were visiting in the off season and did some things “off the beaten path.”
Sometimes those pit stops are more memorable than the main focus of the journey. That’s so special that your parents made a point to incorporate those interesting side adventures.
Daria
Wow!!! La Sagrada Familia! And, is that Montserrat village? The pictures look incredible, so happy to see and hear you’ve had am amazing time. Looking forward to reading more soon 🙂
Elisabeth
Yes! We went to Montserrat and, spoiler alert, it was my favourite day!
Kyria @ Travel Spot
What great photos! I can’t wait to see more and to hear some stories. Montserrat looks so cool; I did not get a chance to go there but now have put it on my list! I have been getting ready to hit the road, which is better done in stages! In the meantime I am spending some time with my parents, taking walks in the springtime weather and am just trying to get my head back to a normal space where I am not always thinking of the next thing I need to do (I’m not quite there yet!)
Elisabeth
Montserrat was AMAZING. My favourite day for sure.
I’m so glad you have a little breather before you head out on your adventure. Love the image of your taking springtime walks. Our commute to school today was crisp, but the light was so beautiful. It’s nice to know that the “worst” of winter is behind us.
ccr in MA
Oh, what FUN! So many great photos, but especially the white Ferris wheel against the blue sky and the rainbow-colored cars! Perfect rainbow! What an amazing trip, I look forward to hearing more about it.
Elisabeth
It felt like there were magical photo opportunities…everywhere?! A very photogenic city <3
And yes - that ferris wheel picture is incredible (full kudos to John for capturing that image).
kathy potvin
Pictures are great. We just canceled our Oct Barcelona trip because of the drought impact of global warming. Did you see anyting that supports that, like fountains turned off or short shower hotel postings?
Elisabeth
Yes – ALL the fountains were non functional (drinking fountains mostly worked, but decorative fountains were, without exception, not running) and there were notices about conserving water various places around the city.
sarah
ooooh so beautiful! I always think A looks exactly like her dad, but she’s your twin in these pics– adorable. Love the dress and t-shirt combo especially.
Elisabeth
I struggle to see myself in either kid (I think that’s normal – I see similarities in other people’s kids all the time), but L LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MY BROTHER sometimes. It’s almost freaky!
Isn’t that dress adorable? It was a couple of bucks at a thrift shop but it has already gotten a lot of use!
NGS
Looks beautiful and like everyone had a wonderful time!
We once did a road trip across the US and went to a bunch of the national parks. I was carsick and would spend the entire time in the car sleeping and/or trying not to puke and then rebound as soon as I stepped out of the car. And, honestly, while I would never do this again, I have great memories of hiking the Tetons, seeing the geysers at Yellowstone, and seeing so many mice at the Corn Palace!
Elisabeth
I get carsick in the backseat, too. It’s THE WORST. Ugh.
I would love (love, love) to go to Yellowstone. I’ll admit I’d never heard of the Corn Palace until today!
Ally Bean
I’d like to visit Barcelona and am looking forward to reading about your experiences. From these photos it looks like it was great.
Elisabeth
Barcelona was wonderful. Definitely recommend as a European destination.
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie
Welcome home!!!
My parents made a few trips to the UK around the time I was starting school, so maybe when I was 4-6? I remember one of the hotels that we stayed at and visiting castles. I keep talking a good game about how I don’t like to fly and how there’s so much stuff right in my own backyard to see but…I admit that I’m starting to think about going to Europe.
Elisabeth
I think you would love European travel? But it does basically always require flying (I guess there are cruises?). I don’t love flying, but it doesn’t cause my any anxiety, thank goodness. It’s a bit shocking it doesn’t, but I try not to think about the specifics of hurtling through space so high above the ocean!
Jenny
YAY! So glad you’re back! Your trip looks amazing, and I can’t wait to hear all about it. A suddenly looks SO grown up!!!
Elisabeth
I know…she is like a mini-adult. THIRTEEN NEXT WEEK. How?!
Melissa
Wow, wow, wow! Welcome back and can’t wait to hear all about it.
Elisabeth
<3
Sara
So, SO glad you’re back, and can’t wait to read all about it!
Elisabeth
Thanks, Sara! It’s good to be back <3
Stephany
Ah, so happy you’re back and with such a fun update! These pictures are gorgeous and I can’t wait to hear more about your Barcelona adventure. A looks like an adult in that picture of the two of you!
Elisabeth
I really feel like she has “aged” so much lately. It is that time of life for a tween (ALMOST TEEN) girl.
Lisa's Yarns
I’m so behind on blog reading after being in Charlotte this week and having very very packed and long days! But I am delighted to hear that everything went so well and I can’t wait to read all about it.
My best travel memory as a child was when I went to California with my grandparents in their motorhome. Thanks to them, I can say I’ve visited a ton of states that I likely wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. My aunt, sister, and another cousin came with as well. It was the summer after 6th grade and we were gone for over 2 weeks so it was quite an epic adventure.
Elisabeth
That sounds like an epic adventure. John LOVES road trips and wants to do a cross-Canada (and, eventually, a cross-US/Route 66) drive. I’m less enthused…
Lisa’s Yarns
I have no desire to ever do it again as an adult! It was a dream as a child especially since I had barely traveled at that point of my life. I have great memories of looking through this book of campgrounds and figuring out which campgrounds had swimming pools. I made some really special memories with my grandparents. But now I loathe driving and road trips!! But if my parents want to do that with my boys some day I’d be totally on board. My sister’s in laws drive to Denver to visit their daughter at least once a year and they always take a grandkid with them which I think is super cool.
Kate
Yayyyyyy!!!! I cannot wait for the full travel recap posts as I live vicariously through you!! I’m glad all went relatively smoothly and it looks like you all had a wonderful time exploring in beautiful weather! your photos of Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, and Montserrat make me itch to go back!
Around here we’re gearing up for Holy Week — the girls are off school starting Wednesday and I took Thursday and Friday off so we can spend more intentional time preparing for Easter. it was a busy and culture-filled weekend with a trip to the opera for my friend and I, and then a trip to a friend’s ballet performance of Cinderella for Cecilia and I (it was a student performance but truly top notch — the high school age students are in class for almost 8 hours a week and it shows!).
Elisabeth
Wow! A busy week indeed (complete with getting ink stains out of uniforms 😉
We LOVED Barcelona and I hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane.
Anne
Oh, how lovely. I can’t wait to travel along with you through your photos and recaps. Welcome home. 🙂