London’s National Gallery with Kids

Look. The art appreciation class I took in college doesn’t make me an expert museum-goer. I enjoy looking at art. I enjoy discovering art I like. I’ll choose to spend my time at museums or galleries when I travel alone. But I wouldn’t call myself “passionate” about any of it. At least not enough to…

Picking Apples from the Queen’s Orchard

For all your questions about picking apples from a royal orchard.

Here We Go, Again

The kids have each grown 2.5 and 3.25 inches since last June, when we were last here living out of our suitcases on our return from Italy. Now we’re with my family in Indiana enjoying the comforts of a home while we don’t really have our own. Cozy beds, couches, a fully stocked kitchen, family……

And we shift

I haven’t written here in over six months. My custom theme renewal notice sits here, asking me if I want to spend a little to keep this blog like it is. What it’s really asking me is, “Hello, have you forgotten me?” A handful of drafts wait with thoughts about repatriating, about careers, about memories…

Mountain Summers in Avoriaz, France

The pangs of wanderlust linger, even now that our friends in Europe are done sharing photos of their gorgeous summer holidays. All summer Facebook reminded me of our adventures in the past few years. Now I’m tackling a photo book to recap our 2017, which is a bittersweet task. We traveled a lifetime’s-worth that year.…

Top 5 Surprises of Living in the U.S. After Italy

We’ve been stateside about three and a half weeks, which means we’re each about 10 pounds heavier from all the delicious junk food we’ve indulged in as we wait for our household goods to arrive. We can’t know how much for sure, though. Our scale is on a moving truck somewhere. There are the things…

The Long Italian Good-bye

If I see you in the U.S. and greet you with a “Ciao!,” please don’t be annoyed. It’s reflex now. At the bus stop, at preschool drop off, at the bakery, at the grocery store, at the cafe, walking through town… every hello and good-bye has been “Ciao!” for the past three years. (Unless we’re…

Modena, Italy

You already know that Italy is famous for incredible food and sports cars. Did you know that Modena is the place to enjoy it all at once? It’s perfect if you’re ~meh~ on sports cars but !HECKYES! on amazing cheese, or all about sports cars, or even just interested in seeing a part of Italy…

Tooth Fairy Around the World

We took our first step into Jerusalem and our youngest said, “Hey, look! My tooth is a drawbridge!” Indeed his wiggly tooth was able to fold forward. We secretly tapped “toy store” into Google Maps as his brother raved about the awesomeness of the Tooth Fairy’s present for first lost teeth. He was very concerned…

Rome with Kids

Last year we visited Rome just after Easter. The weather was just what you expect at the cusp of spring: cool in the mornings, warm enough in the afternoon sun to melt the residual winter chill. If you’ve been there, you already know that it’s a magnificent, historic city with tons to see and do.…