Happy New Year! It’s the first week of 2025 and I don’t know about you, but I always find this week to be one of reflection and gratitude for the year just completed as well as dreaming and anticipation of what’s to come. This year, we’re kicking off the new year in Hawaii and celebrating a 6th birthday. I’m hoping for a little time and space in between sunscreen applications to really reflect and set some goals and intentions for 2025.
One of the things that I’m celebrating the most is the launch of The Singing Suitcase and all the travels that our family experienced in 2024. I talk a lot about making core memories with kiddos that shape their development and the importance of shared experiences as a family. Even if they don’t remember all the details of each trip, I’m seeing first-hand how our travels are impacting the girls as they grow up.
In preparation for this post, I did a few family interviews and these are the things that stood out from 2024:
- Our first international trip as a family to the Cayman Islands. It was that vacation to the Kimpton Seafire that inspired The Singing Suitcase. The girls talk about spending Easter in a hotel, the mediocre desserts at Easter brunch, the frog at the splash pad, the Capri Sun happy hours, and the little girl they made friends with.
- Our first trip as a family of four to Disneyland. Savannah finally got her ears and likes to tell the story. They talk about seeing Mary Poppins riding the carousel and Alice on the teacups. And how much they loved riding Dumbo (Savannah) and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Eloise).
- Our first weeklong trip in our tent trailer to central Oregon and the literally freezing cold mornings and Bill working from the tiny table.
- Experiencing New York again with the girls being two years older, especially the Rockafeller tree, playgrounds, a ferry ride, and seeing the city views from the Top of the Rock.
- Several really wonderful long weekends and a 10-day adventure to Italy of Parent’s Only Trips. The girls remember special times with their grandparents and I am grateful for days with Bill to recharge and scout out future family destinations.
For some of our trips, it was the big things that we all remember, and for others, it was the smallest detail that kept coming up over and over. I was reminded, even as we did our airport routine and boarded our flight to Hawaii, how easy it has become to travel with the girls. They know what to expect and are comfortable and confident travelers. I’m looking forward to all that 2025 brings and the many more memories that will be made through not only our travels but in helping others make their travel dreams come true as well.
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