VEG VIBES

Australia!

Published on May 6, 2026May 9, 2026 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

For the past year or so, our family has been anticipating a trip to Australia to visit Mike’s sister. We visited in 2014/2015 for an epic 3 weeks traveling around the country. Now, over a decade later, we’re up 4 kids in the family – for a Party of 10 – and came together again in the land down under. We saw Wendy and kids 2 summers ago when I was pregnant with Kenna (read about it!) but haven’t seen Andy since Spain in 2022 (read about it!).

The timing of the trip ended up coinciding with a house move on our end, which means things were really crazy busy leading up to leaving. But alas, amongst packing up our lives/house, we also loaded up 3 suitcases, some backpacks, so many snacks, our new JetKids BedBox , and set way to The Gold Coast.

First we hopped on a quick flight from SFO to LAX and then boarded the 14 hour flight to Brisbane. We bought the BedBox specifically for this trip and could not be more pleased with the purchase. It was expensive but Cam used it through all of the airport walking we had to do and Kenna was able to sleep 8+ hours on our long haul flights. Worth every penny.

We arrived at 5am local time and felt energized at the allure of vacation ahead of us. We rented a car, repeatedly said “drive on the Left!” for Mike, and arrived at Wendy’s about 2 hours later. Kenna has met her Nana and Papa but this was the first time she got to see her aunt, uncle, and cousins (a more traditional first meeting than Cam had in the midst of the pandemic in 2020).

We enjoyed smoothies on the pool deck and tours of Wendy and Andy’s new (to us) house. They moved from Melbourne to the Gold Coast at the end of 2025 and have an amazing 4 bedroom with a pool, hot tub, and resort-style landscaping. 🙂 After a mashup of unpacking, lounging, a walk to the store for some stables (berries, cheerios, milk), and Kenna napping at a surprisingly convenient time for adjusting to a new timezone, we had the Trader Joe’s viral dumpling dinner and called it a night.

Day Two

Of course, morning came early for Kenna girl – even by Gold Coast standards, which apparently leans heavy on morning culture. Kids and timezones are so tricky, especially when you are traveling and not in the comfort of your home. Mike and I took a walk for a mini, “controlled” nap in the stroller (Kenna wakes up the moment it stops moving so we use this trick when a quick nap is needed) around 9am. Our plan worked and she fell asleep; we were able to enjoy a nice stroll, iced coffees, AND get her on a pretty regular nap/sleep schedule for the reminder of the trip. Whoo-hoo!

After nap, the whole family caravanned down to Broadwater Parklands, about a 10 minute drive. Here Cam got to experience a bounce pillow for the first time!

Day Three

We started the morning with a trip to the mall to try to maximize the good fx and get some shopping done!

In the afternoon everyone went to various water activities (Mike and Cam to the beach we were at the day before but this time to try an aquapark – more on that later!) while I stayed home for Kenna’s nap. ..Kenna’s very long nap that let me sneak in yoga by the pool and an indulgent few chapters while dipping my toes in. I was really hoping to finish one book/a quarter this year – for a whopping, yes, 4 books/year – and am so close to completing this gorgeous one!

We also made a quick dust run to see KANGAROOS! We were there for only about 10 minutes and saw a bunch of them (although it was hard to get a decent picture). Also a bunch of bites from mosquitoes. Why do they love me!?

Day Four

We finally hit the beach! I didn’t snap any great pictures on this day – I loveee the beach and it is chaotic with kids, especially with a toddler. The waves were a bit big at Main Beach, where we were, but Cam got some time in the water. And, importantly, some time with his “best cousin” Ollie. Cam and Ollie were almost inseparable for the majority of our trip. It was really cute to see them bond! They are only 2 years apart and seem to get along really well whenever they spend time together.

Day Five

BLUEY’S WORLD! Ok this one was for the kids but, honestly, also for me and Mike. We love Bluey and SHE IS FROM BRISBANE. We took Cam and Kenna to the 60 minute immersive experience that tours the Heeler family home and oh, what joy. It was done so well. Each group had a magic garden gnome tour you through the “house,” while also on an adventure to find one of Bingo’s lost stuffies. All of the rooms were so impressive, immersive, and fun. It felt like you were in the show. We ended with a proper Aussie sausage roll from the cafe and let the kids play on the indoor playground after. 10/10. No notes. Go if you can!

After Bluey’s World, we met up with the rest of the family at a brewery where we ordered chicken sandwiches and samples of beer. We took the ferry to a public pool that sits on the river that was FREE to use. We commented a few times how unlikely something like that would be in the States… Again and again there were undertones of things just being …more pleasant there. The people seem so kind and just pretty unfussed about most things. Vibes are high down under folks!

Cousin Ella rocking a sleeping baby Kenna about to get on the ferry

Day Six

This was probably my favorite day of the trip. We went to Burleigh Heads for a costal walk and then an afternoon at the beach. The day kicked off right when an amazing parking spot right next to the trail entrance and a bathroom. The walk was about 20 minutes to a place where you could turn around or continue onward at an incline. Kenna fell asleep so Ella and Wendy turned around with her while the rest of us continued up into less stroller friendly sections of the trail. We went from a beach-y walk to almost a rainforest hike as we made our way farther into the hike.

Pastries and smoothies on the beach were next. The older kids played out on a paddle board on a sand dune, which made a small shallow section in the middle of an ocean pass-way. Mike and I also swam across to the other beach across the way, which I’m always a little impressed with myself when I swim in the open ocean so like to document it. 😉

Day Seven

We took a quick drive to HOTA (Home of the Arts) on Sunday, which coincided with food trucks and vendors in the parking lot adjacent. We couldn’t resist buying a loaf of banana chocolate chip bread, fresh squeezed OJ, peaches, and oh yeah, the kids squeezed us for some ice cream too. 🙂

HOTA dubs itself as “the home for all things creative” and/or “a cultural precinct.” We weren’t able to explore much of it but it was a beautiful place – big and modern and airy. The kids were able to do a little craft which is always appreciated. My sister in law seems to visit galleries and exhibits often; and I have to say it has inspired me to try to do more of it back here at home. Until then, I made Mike snap this extremely artsy picture of me and the kids inside the gallery:

Day Eight

Cam and Mike had such a good time at the aqua park earlier in the trip, they wanted to do it again. This time Nana watched babygirl Kenna so I could join too. You check in, get a life vest, and have 50 minutes to go absolutely nuts on a bunch of inflatables in the bay. Mike mentioned Cam was a bit timid the first time and I can see why – you definitely need to get used to the pace out there! People seems to be professional aquaparkers? running around, play tag, etc. I caught eyes with Wendy ~5 minutes in, who was still on the beach, and gave her a huge thumbs down and shook my head. Haha

Luckily, once I got a bit more comfortable out there – looking out for people speeding by and opting to just jump in the water sometimes vs. wrangle my way through a crowd – it was actually a lot of fun. And Cam LOVED it. So that was the really fun part.

We got professional pictures as a whole fam at the beach that afternoon/evening. It was fun to dress up and twirl and splash around in the waves. I can’t wait to see the results in a few weeks! We also had this moody little sunset capping off our time – which hopefully made for some fab photos.

In dramatic sad news, I accidentally left my sunglasses on the beach there; that I have had for over a decade (!) and has traveled the world with me (Bali, my bach in New York), survived a pandemic with me, graced my face on many walks with both of my newborn babies. Ughhh. I’m obviously SO bummed about it. But that’s the rub with special things; you use them and risk losing them or just keep them locked away to collect dust…

At least she had a good life, full of adventure? 😎

Day Nine

We spent the first half of the day mini golfing with Cam and Kenna at a public golf club on a whim. I found this place via Google maps. What a find! There was a decent cafe where we split sandwiches and smoothies on a slopped, shaded little patio WITH A BOUNCE HOUSE for the kids. Cam was entertained (Kenna still too small to go in but had fun enough running) and we were thrilled to have something for him to do while we waited for our food.

After lunch, we stayed for a round of mini golf while Kenna napped in the stroller. We took our regular stroller with us on this trip exactly for afternoons like this – when we were out of the house but could tilt Kenna back in her big comfy stroller and let her snooze.

This golf course was so pretty without all of the animated windmills and castles. (Which I’m not necessarily against, it was just nice to have a change of pace…) Cam seemed to have a great time and improved a lot since Canada the summer before when he couldn’t really hit the ball and was so frustrated because he also DID NOT WANT HELP.

That evening Nana and Papa braved watching all four of the kids so we “kids” could have a dinner out. We went to a nice beach side restaurant with a gorgeous view of the ocean and a few surfers trying to catch the last waves of sunset.

Unlike Spain 4 years ago, we passed on the shots of tequila this time and we’re back home by 9pm. Less of a hangover the next day but no less good times had!

Day Ten

On our final full day, we went to Dream World, an amusement park 15-20 minutes from Wendy and Andy’s. A good amusement park with kids is gold; there is something to do for everyone! Even for baby Kenna, who found and LOVED a little splash pad area while the others rode rides.

Via multiple combinations of parents and cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles, we finagled our way through the park and had a great time enjoying rides and different attractions.

Before we left for the airport, we had a final brunch at a local surf club. After breakfast sandwiches and smoothie bowls, we splashed in the waves for a bit before smooching our vacation and a glorious 10 days down under goodbye.

Looking back, it is crazy how quickly the days flew by – we were always busy with a beach or a hike or a coffee or a dip in the pool. It was such an amazing time spent with family in a beautiful place.

Legoland!

Published on February 27, 2026 by ashley@vegvibes1 Comment

Last week was ski week for Cam but instead of visiting the snow, we flew south for a sunny(ish) weekend near San Diego! Specifically we visited Legoland on a 2-day pass, staying at the Legoland hotel; conveniently located right near the park entrance. We took Cam to Legoland when I was ~7 months pregnant with Kenna but opted for an airbnb then. With two littles in tow this time, it was fun to stay at the actual hotel. It is VERY kid-centered but that worked well for us this trip.

We arrived on Saturday afternoon after a stressful flight down, having realized we forgot Cam’s booster seat in the car once we were already checked in, through security, and at the gate. Luckily Mike found a carseat rental place that was a 15 minute walk from the rental car place at SAN. But this meant we had to take the airport shuttle WITH ALL OF OUR THOUSANDS OF THINGS to where people rent cars for me to sit with Cam and Mike to walk with Kenna to get the carseat and then request a Lyft to come back and pick me and Cam up; who was then safely tucked into a booster seat for our 40 minute drive to the hotel/Legoland. Whew, what a start.

My mom and stepdad joined us on this trip and were already settled into their room. After we scoped out our room, which had a lot of fun details and surprises for the kids, we hustled to dinner before bath and bed for Kenna. We usually book suites when we travel so the kids have their own room to sleep in while we stay up in the living room. Here, instead, we had one big, long room with bunkbeds in the front, the bathroom, and then the king bed. The bathroom offered some kind of division between the two sleeping areas but I wasn’t sure how we would all do.

While I gave Kenna a bottle, Mike took Cam to the nightly 6:30pm dance party off of the lobby. The hope was for her to be asleep by the time the dance party was over so Cam could come back to the room and quietly get ready for bed himself. However, like when we were in Half Moon Bay, K girl wasn’t thrilled about being going to sleep. Instead of fighting it, I took her downstairs and we explored the lobby with all of it’s Legos for a bit and then all went back to the room together. She went to sleep quickly after our little adventure and Cam followed shortly after. Mike and I sat reading in dimmed lights, eating chocolate and drinking sparkling water in bed. Pretty chill & cozy if you ask me.

My mom was the reservation MVP of the trip and had us a table for breakfast at 7:15am. You get a free HOT breakfast with your hotel stay and it’s actually pretty cute with a kids buffet station short enough for them to access everything on their own, with options like muffins, fruit, pancakes, and pastries to pick from. Cam stacked his plate high with pancakes while I stood in the coffee line with the other parents.

We also got early entrance by staying at the hotel too. Although access to the different lands was a bit confusing and we weren’t able to maximize the perk… Nonetheless, our first ride was fun: a sunny coast cruise through a scenic loop of Legoland.

The rest of the day was a mash up of park play (not my favorite at an amusement park where there are RIDES but seems to be Cam’s preferred thing to do), BBQ lunch, and “digging for fossils” in Dinoland. Kenna was able to go on a good amount of rides, considering she is only one year. This was appreciated although, of course, the lines for said rides were a bit challenging.

The end of the day was gloomy and getting cold, a foreshadow for day two… We walked the short distance back to the hotel for dinner and another dance party for Cam. I’m not sure when you age-out of dancing solo in front of your parents but my guess is it is around the corner for Cam, so I am glad we went now and got to soak in all of his moves!

Mike and I indulged in to-go drinks in bed after the kids were asleep and whispered our way through looking at all of the photos from the day; these small vacations sprinkled throughout the year feel really special because of the amount of condensed time we get to spend with the kids on them.

Torrential downpour threatened day two but we had a few hours in the morning to try to get the most out of Legoland. We were first in line to get in because my mom wasn’t messing around and camped out (having explained to the people behind her that the rest of her family would be joining soon so no one was surprised ha). The rest of us scrambled to get ready and joined her in time to rush into the park before it opened to the public.

Parents – myself included – seem to default to slightly unhinged in these situations; the thrill and anxiety of getting your kids to move fast enough for the promise of a slightly shorter line reduces us all. Despite our best efforts, and constant urging to “hurry up! the line is going to get long” we had disappointing results in our first 30 minutes… first, run/walking to a ride that was closed (uggh) and then having a ride close for maintenance when we were NEXT IN LINE. Cue the carousel. 🙂

My mom and I took Kenna on the same boat cruise we rode the day before, even with the bad weather looming. After a short line, we boarded the boat and immediately felt a few fat raindrops fall. We considered getting off but thought, how bad could it be? Of course, right as our little boat launched, the skies opened. We were drenched in seconds and poor Kenna kept repeating “uh-oh, uh-oh” as rain splashed down on her tiny head. Luckily a very generous dad let us borrow a spare raincoat that I was able to maneuver around her somewhat as a shield. Nonetheless, she was not happy to be trapped on that boat in the rain.

We went back to the hotel after for her nap, and to wait out to storm. While she slept, we decided our best next move was to order rum and cokes and do dance tutorials together as a family!!! Yes there is video evidence and yes it is some of my favorite.

After nap we explored the aquarium – which was the perfect thing to do on a stormy afternoon and just steps away from our hotel at the entrance of Legoland! It was way better than I thought it would be; going on and on with more to explore around each corner.

The rain calmed and we were able to do a few more rides before ending the day with a buffet dinner back at the hotel. We were all starving by that point and, although the buffet was outrageously expensive, the food was already ready so ended up being worth it since we didn’t have to entertain hungry children.

Cam scooped his plate high with mac n’ cheese, while Kenna sampled everything from our plates. It was bath* and bed time after. We had such a great few days, despite some lackluster weather. Next we’re’ hoping for sunny skies on a family trip to Australia to visit Mike’s sister and her family!

*as mentioned, the Legoland hotel is centered all around kids! each room included a box of legos that we ended up using as bath toys every night – an entertainment hack I hadn’t thought of before.

and, speaking of hacks, if you’re like me and need rooms DARK to sleep, I discovered band-aids are the perfect way to cover unexpected pesky little hotel lights, like this one:

Ending 2025 [hotel recaps]

Published on January 10, 2026January 22, 2026 by ashley@vegvibes1 Comment

2026! Wow. I used to have time to write reflective posts about what was accomplished in a given year and what I was striving for in the next. Now we have quite a few mini getaways under our belts that I am “late” to posting about so I am going to quickly knock those out right now!

In early September, we celebrated Mike’s birthday at the Silverado in Napa. We perviously stayed there in 2024 when I was pregnant with Kenna. This was a quick trip – only one night – but it was a nice change of scenery. Plus we love a pool day and the warm weather was creeping into chillier days where swimming is less frequent.

We stayed in a one-bedroom suite again, that have a cottage feel (but modern, not mismatch-y) with great access to an outdoor patio. There is a bottle of wine in your room at check-in, which is always a nice touch.

This resort is pretty big, with 2 pools, a hot tub (very important for us), a golf golf course, multiple restaurants, and a gym/spa; however it isn’t walkable to anything outside of the resort. After we were checked in, we went for a dip in the pool. We got pizzas to-go from the poolside cafe and made mac n cheese back at the room for the kids. We splurge on cost for rooms with a kitchen so try to utilize it for meals when it makes sense – like this dinner… since Cam is maybe the only 5 years old in the world who doesn’t love pizza!

I tried to put Kenna to sleep after, while Mike and Cam took a trip to the putting green outside our room. It turns out, our little girl knew there was fun to be had and wasn’t ready to go to sleep at all. So I grabbed a blanket and trekked outside with her to meet the boys. This turned out to be one of favorite memories from the trip – sitting out at dusk, knocking golfballs around, and giggling. Proof that sometimes the best plans are the ones that are spontaneous.

Another highlight of our trip – at least for Mike 😉 – was his birthday golf lessons the next morning! They were booked at the resort so he was able to just pop out of bed and walk over. He mentioned it went really well, while the kids and I had a lazy morning back in the suite. I love morning with the kids; everyone is fresh for the day and there’s always a mug of hot coffee somewhere within reach to sip on.

We hit the pool again before check out and it was a gloriously warm morning already. We were able to sneak in some extra time there by letting Kenna nap poolside. Then it was a quick lunch at one of our favorites, Gott’s Roadside, in down town Napa.

In late September, we booked another hotel with a side of golf excursion. This time South at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel, conveniently located on the Del Monte Golf Course. And this time one of my best friends joined us since Mike was hitting the holes in the morning (does that sound weird? whatever, idk).

We checking into our one bedroom suite and realized it wasn’t as kid friendly as desired… There weren’t any plates, cups, or cutlery (although they were able to delivery us some when we called) and only a small wine fridge (which meant all of my breastmilk and snacks for 2 kids for 2 days were jammed in there and it was like a game of Tetrus to get anything out). There was a motion sensor light under the bed in the room WHICH DOESN’T BODE WELL WITH SLEEPING CHILDREN, and the bathroom had a sheer door so you couldn’t use the bathroom with the light while the kids where sleeping either. Luckily we had the other room / living room that had a bathroom. The door into the bedroom also locked from the living room if closed so that wasn’t great since Kenna was in a pack and play and could have gotten locked in there by herself. Luckily we noticed before shutting the door but ugh, for the $$ dropped on this place… there were some thoughtless setups.

Aside from the rooms shortcomings, we had a fun time – especially with Leslie joining us! We ordered takeout the first night (oh yeah, also the hotel didn’t have any kids menus on site…) and opened a bottle of wine with dinner. Then we strolled the property and found a fire pit for s’mores. Not shabby!

The next morning it was sunny enough for a dip in the pool before Mike’s tee time. Leslie and I spent the day with the kids and it was so nice to have company while Mike was on the course! When he finished, we enjoyed the last bit of afternoon sunshine and warmth in a small courtyard, where we sipped on beers and shared a plate of fries.

The next morning we took the kids to the Dennis the Menace playground, where we first visited almost 3 years ago with Cam. On our way home we got really fancy and met some of our friends at a Storrs winery in Corralitos, a beautiful way to end the weekend.

Early December offered a chance to check something off of our Bay Area bucket list. Our neighbors scored a deal at The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay for half of the normal cost! We couldn’t say no. So we packed our bags for another one-night stay nearby. Expect this time we could not afford a suite…(!) so all four of us in one bedroom it was.

We asked for a crib for Kenna and a cute little bag of baby soap and lotion was delivered with it. I loved that small cute detail but for whatever reason Kenna had one of the worst night sleeps in a long time in that crib…

Since we’ve traveled only with our pack n’ play – what she is used to – and it’s been better.

We ventured outside in the cold (the hotel sits right on the Pacific ocean and it was winter!) with a bottle of bubbles for the adults and snacks for the kids. Iconically there is a nightly tradition of bagpipes at sunset at The Ritz. It was really cool to see it in person and, a few weeks later when I was reading Cam a book about Nessie the loch ness monster, he knew what the picture of the bagpipes were!

We sat around a huge fire pit after to warm up and indulge in s’mores before dinner after. [See above mention of how terrible Kenna slept for a recap of the rest of the night.]

We walked the golf course, that majestically crashes into the Pacific coast, the next morning. Our first time walking this path was in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic with a baby Cam. Wah! This is one of my favorite Bay Area things to do. And we lucked out with sunshine and free coffee from the hotel! What a damn near perfect way to start the day.

Despite the cold, we went to check out the pool before we left. Again, we rarely sleep on a chance to take a dip. The Ritz’s pool was indoors and removed from the main buildings. It wasn’t as lavish as the rest of the property and honestly kind of felt like an after thought. The pool just down the highway at The Beach House is much better in my opinion! Although a small compliant in an otherwise magical stay at The Ritz.

Only a few weeks later, we packed our overnight bags again and stayed at The Ameswell in Mountain View. The Ameswell’s event page has enticed me for some time, with offerings of Sunday morning yoga, lawn games, and a cute Airstream bar on their lawn. For this reason, when Mike got information on his office’s holiday party, that is right down the street from The Ameswell, I booked a room almost immediately. This had the dual purpose of being close to his party and closer to my uncle and cousin, who were coming to watch Cam and Kenna. Again, we got a one bedroom suite. It didn’t have a kitchenette but allowed for Kenna to go to sleep early (in her preferred pack n’ play!) in the separated bedroom.

Thinking about it, that was really the vibe of the whole stay… it fit our basic need but aside from that, it was actually disappointing. Oddly, the staff seemed despondent. The decor was nice but seemed sterile? I can’t really explain it but the place at a weird feel to it.

They did have a Santa in the morning though, so it was sweet for the kids to say hi and get a little toy before checking out.

We rounded out December with a third hotel stay at The Meritage back in Napa. This time with two special guests, Mike’s parents, Nana and Papa! We all drove up 2 days after Christmas for a 2 night getaway. We booked a 1-bedroom suite with a connecting room that had 2 Queen beds. This was by far by favorite accommodation. We stayed in the building across from the Lobby, where I theorize they try to place all families, given it’s proximity to the kid-friendly pool and the fact that it just makes some level of sense to stick all the travelers with children together, away from folks who might want a slower, quieter stay.

Our actual rooms were gorgeous with four-post beds and big marble bathrooms. We had a decent size kitchen and great patio views of the pool below. I really love fancy hotels so just fell in love with this place. It felt luxurious but also family-friendly.

We capitalized on the last ~30 minutes of sun after check in and, you guessed it, jumped into the pool/hot tub. We really don’t let a resort fee go to waste, y’all.

We got sandwiches to-go and had wine back in the room for dinner. After putting Kenna to sleep (again in her pack n’ play, where she slept like a dream) we played a game of family Bingo. Cam recited the numbers and neither Mike or I realized how many numbers we knew by heart. It is so rewarding to see your kids practicing what they are learning.

The next morning we did brunch and wine tastings at Kivelstadt Cellars – what a gem this place is! We all loved the food and the wine and there was a little playground in the back for Cam to run around on. I can see this being a really lovely afternoon during the summer when it is warmer. Nonetheless it was a great few hours there.

We made a stop at Jacuzzi after, where it was too busy to actually do a tasting but they left us walk around their GORGEOUS property, which was almost better considering we had 2 little kiddos with us.

Cam took this pic and I always think it’s so sweet when he takes a picture of me

We got back in time for Cam and Mike to go iceskating at the temporary ice rink the resort had. This was Cam’s first time on the ice and he really seemed to get the hang of it by the end. It was cute to see them out there together!

We left the next day after one last dip in the glorious, heated pool. I can’t wait for the day when the kids love a hot tub as much as Mike and I do – but for now, we’re able to bribe them with snacks while they sit on the side and we boil ourselves in the warm water.

In tradition, we went to Gott’s for lunch on the way out and then made our way back home, where we soaked in the last days of 2025.

Kenna’s first Tahoe trip!

Published on October 16, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

It’s October?! I am loving the cooler weather and cozy vibes but can’t believe how fast the months are whizzing by. Our girl is almost one! We have such little time to do anything extra, like post a blog, but since I want to remember our first year as a family of four, I am going to quickly try to remember Kenna’s first trip to Tahoe (way back in July)! Read on 🙂

We typically go to a resort near North Lake Tahoe to celebrate our anniversary however, this year we took a special trip to Hawaii. So before Mike wrapped his pat leave, we packed up our (new) car and trekked up in elevation to our special place to squeeze in a weekend there.

We left mid-morning on a Friday, wanting to avoid traffic and a 8 month old at all costs. About 2 hours into the drive, we stopped at The Nut Tree, the ideal location for a pitstop with kids! There are plenty of food options for all of the different wants and needs and there is a small train to ride. Not bad.

After another 90 minutes or so we pulled over in Auburn at Ikeda’s, a charming local shop that has such good food. Cam got a monster ice cream and was content until we arrived at our destination an hour or two later.

It is such a whirlwind unpacking with kids… we needed the pack n play, the seat attachment/high chair thing, a diaper changing station, all of the hats, and sunglasses, and where is the hotel card again?! After throwing things around in some kind of organized chaos, we kicked off our vacation with to-go Sandy’s Pub on the lawn and took in the views and fresh air while while burning some energy from our long drive.

We put Kenna to sleep – after her first sink bath (forgot to confirm if the room had a bathtub…) – and after Cam followed, had aperol spritz before going to sleep ourselves!

The next morning I took Kenna down to the rustic little cafe on the property and enjoyed a chilly stroll with a warm coffee and my girl. Once it was a bit warmer out, we all hit the pool. After a small dip in the water, Kenna had a poolside nap while I read a book.

While Kenna took her next nap back in the room, I took Cam to the village across the way, via shuttle. A highlight for Cam because he loves big moving vehicles and he remembered the driver last year* had lollipops. Lucky for us it was the same driver and same basket of lollis!

When we got back, the whole fam went to the lobby for some games and for mom + dad to enjoy a drink. Mike and I have always enjoyed a good lobby drink and it’s fun now to bring our kids and play games!

The next day Cam and I joined my grandparents, who live conveniently nearby, for lunch. And then, the real reason of their visit – aside from seeing them, of course – was so Mike and I could got hot tubbing for one hour by ourselves. I think this is the 3rd year my grandparents have done this for us and I always appreciate it so much.

After we said goodbye to them, we took the kids back to the pool for a final dip and plunge down the waterslide. Which, a story we love, Cam preferred to go down with me vs. dad “because mom goes slow.”

We left the next day, feeling happy for the memories with Kenna and Cam at a place we imagined bringing our kids to over a decade ago. 🙂

*fun fact: we told Cam he was going to be a big brother last year when we visited (it is also where we decided we were going to try for a second baby and where Cam took his first steps)!

our 5 year dating anniversary in 2016 (!) at the same lil spot

Mat leave [May – last month]

Published on September 8, 2025September 11, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I had a tentative goal to finish my mat leave roundup posts around the time Mike went back to work from his leave or before summer was over. We’ve blown past these two things! Cam is now a big kindergartner and Kenna has actually started at her own little school/day care. She’s 9.5 months (which feels like a big deal to be bc of the whole 9 months in / 9 months out trend) and I have other things to post about, like our trip to Tahoe, Toronto, and Napa, but I know I’ll want to come back and read about my final month of maternity leave ever!!! So with my shorthand notes and pictures on my phone as a guide…. Let’s go back.

May

My last month of leave with my baby girl!! Unlike with Cam, when I go back to work, Mike starts his leave so I feel mostly comfort knowing he will be with her everyday and she isn’t going straight to school just yet. (Cam also didn’t go to daycare at this point but we were still in covid so my mom was able to “join our bubble” and watch him at our house, which I absolutely loved.)

We have a trip to Hawaii to look forward to in the middle of the month but until then, I am soaking in my lazy days at home with Kenna. The days blurb together in a way but somehow the weekends are still treasured. Even though I’m not working, there’s still that Friday feeling, you know?

Kenna continues going to PT once a month.. Between Kenna crying and her Physical Therapist hustling through what feels like hundreds of exercises to do daily, I find the sessions completely overwhelming. This babygirl does not seem to be interested in rolling over but physically she is able to do it.

It’s hard to believe I’m going back to work in a few short weeks! The ~6 months away have been a journey. My recovery wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be and that caused a lot of frustration, tears, and worry. Breastfeeding was a bit touch and go but we mostly maintained our rhythm. There were certainly a few dreadfully tired nights – the hardest being when she just wouldn’t go to sleep at all – but they were few and far, which I’m so thankful for. Sleep is >

Kenna and I spent a good amount of time on the couch – her sleeping soundly in my arms, me watching episode after episode trying not to move much. These endless hours of TV time depict something that happens often in parenthood that I am never quite ready for… something that completely consumes your days can suddenly vanish without warning, leaving you missing those days forevermore. I think most of the time this phenomenon is talked about with cuddles, bedtime stories, and other sentimental things but I might cry if I think about all of those! So here is a list of the shows/movies we watched 🙂

Ballers – Mike and I watched this one right when we got home from the hospital; there is just something about “the show” you watch in those newborn days (do I feel like Dwyane Johnson was in the trenches with me this time around? …maybe).
Glamorous on Netflix – this series was so cute. I can’t believe I hadn’t watched it before. Also Kim Cattrall? Icon.
The Six Triple Eight with Kerry Washington – loved this story.
Joy on Netflix – also a good story.
Rewatched Bethenny Getting Married? and Bethenny Ever After – this is revealing a lot about me but I’ll own it; (1) I love shows from that first decade of reality TV, like Laguna Beach and Newlyweds, because they don’t feel as trashy (2) I like Bethenny! Mike makes fun of me for this but he’s dealt with it for over a decade now (The Big Shot with Bethenny was another one I loved)
The Americas narrated by Tom Hanks – I love a good nature documentary.

Overall, during my leave, wins for me felt like:

a made bed (preferably early on in the day)
staying on top of the dishes throughout the day, or at least having them all in the sink
having “French dinner music” playing in rooms throughout the house, Taylor Swift and Noah Kahn were also big hits
HAVING THE WINDOWS OPEN!!!! I can’t stand being in a house with the windows closed, esp when I’m in it almost 24/7
Getting out on a walk (extra points for the “long loop” but I was happy with anything really – done is better than perfect, right?)

It was hard when:

the house was a mess and ! was thinking more about what had to be cleaned than being present with my kids
I already talked a lot about this but the pain and healing was just so challenging
little things like my glasses being dirty or my hair being in my face would agitiate me SO much while I was breastfeeding and not able to move freely (it was like a crash course in embodiment sometimes!)
days were my supply dipped, even though I had a stash of frozen breastmilk and sd=he took formula from 3 months

A few closing notes… I found myself comparing this journey to Cam’ being a’s newborn days a lot, particularly when it came to my body and what is was doing. Maybe this is normal, maybe it’s torture?

The support we received in those early days/weeks was so cherished. Especially all of the food friends delivered that trailed on through Christmas. We were so grateful for every single meal.

Overwhelming my months with Kenna were just so incredibly precious. I’ll always treasure the weeks that it was just us during the workweek. Lazy jammy mornings. Long walks. Cuddles. Her laughs and lightning-fast movements. Her interest in things; her quiet way of taking in the world around her. Her little smirk. Every picture and video I have of this time is cherished and will be browsed upon often. It is so true that they are only that small for a blink.

Read about [Nov + Dec] here, [Jan + Feb] here, and [Mar + Apr] here.

Mat leave [Mar + Apr]

Published on August 4, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

March

It is still cold in California. With all of our time indoors, we try to get serious about physical therapy for Kenna, who seems to be developing plagiocephaly (a flat spot). Now mama and baby are both in PT and it’s tummy time and pelvic floor exercises are daily. You know, the fun stuff!

Kenna is just over 3 months, which feels huge; the 4th trimester finito. She is grabbing for toys and bringing them close to her mouth. She coos a lot and I am in love with it. I’m starting to go on daily walks with her, which seems a little challenging because we are limiting the amount of time she spends in “containers” (anything she sits in like a carseat, bouncer, or stroller) but a walk seems vital to my mental health. Off we go! Just like with Cam, I absolutely love this time of my mat leave. I feel like I could contently walk along with my little babe for hours but limit it to 30-45 minutes a day. 🙂

Kenna consistently has one bottle a day, which gives me some flexibility but also creates the complexity of pumping. I’m glad she’s able to take the bottle without much fuss though. Another big development is her trying and being okay (!) with formula. We tried to give Cam formula when he was six months and he said no way. The original plan was to wait until 6 months with Kenna but instead we tried 2 oz at ~3 1/2 months. She gulped it down like nothing was different which was both a relief and …a bit of an ego hit.

We’re starting to explore local restaurants as a family of four. With two small kids, meals are marathons but we typically go early enough to avoid crowds. Mostly because that works best for our schedule but I like the added perk of being in and out before anything gets busy. Notably Kenna and I also go and visit daddy at his office one day for lunch. These are the sorts of things we weren’t able to do with Cam because of the pandemic.

On the healing front, despite starting PT and mentally feeling better about things, physically I am still in daily discomfort. I talk to my new MD and she theorizes using an estrogen cream might help given levels remain low after labor and delivery. I start it and cross my fingers for some relief.

Towards the end of the month, Cam turns 5! Ah. I found out I was pregnant with Kenna 3 days before Cam’s 4th birthday. We celebrate with a park birthday and Kenna sleeps the whole afternoon. Despite some strong winds, it is a great afternoon celebrating Cam.

Kenna is almost 4 months and goes to sleep within 30 minutes of when Cam does (between 7-8pm) and sleeps until 1am. She wakes up for a feed and then back to sleep until 5am for another feed before one last quick doze; usually waking from the day around 7 or 8am. She is always ready for her first nap within an hour of waking up. The rest of the day is starting to fall into place, with her napping around ~8am, ~11am, ~2pm, ~4pm but sometimes it is still a little ad hoc depending on how long she sleeps for.

Every Friday, Kenna and I pick up Cam from school “at the gate” when he is out for the day (vs. sending him to extended care). These few hours are pretty tiring with both of them but also so cherished. We go for ice cream or to the library. Sometimes we just come home and snuggle. No matter what we do, I love this time with both of them and it is a nice way to sail into our weekends.

Towards the end of March, we take Kenna swimming for the first time! It is a logistical quest for maybe 10 minutes in the pool but it was worth it. She seems indifferent to the water but looks so darn cute in her little bathing suit!

April

It’s spring break for Cam! It’s starting to get a little warmer out so we can spend some time outside. Fresh air is just a reset button for kids, isn’t it?

We are still going strong with tummy time and PT for Kenna. She is getting stronger but might still need a helmet for her little flat spot. We’ll see.

My grandparents visit again and I am feeling much better physically than their last visit, 6 weeks after Kenna was born. It is Easter weekend and there is a small egg hunt that my grandma and I take the kids to in a nearby shopping plaza. It is such a fun afternoon skipping around looking for eggs and treats, even scoring a free popcorn and movie ticket at the local theater.

Like when Cam, we decided to sleep train Kenna at four and a half months. Unlike with Cam, instead of both of us being miserable and listening to her cry – we divide and conquer. Mike stays in the house the first night while I am outside with the neighbors having margaritas! He says she cried for ~25 min and then falls asleep. I’m so glad I didn’t have to hear her little sobs and that first night seemed to be the worst of it. She puts herself to sleep in under 10 minutes for naps and bed after. Whoo hoo!

some self pampering now that we know how to put ourselves to sleep 🙂

Mike’s parents come for another visit towards the end of the month. It’s nice to have extra sets of hands for a week. Mike and I sneak out on a date night. My aunt, uncle, and cousin come down to watch the kids so we can take Mike’s parents to a play – which is such a treat! With Kenna going to sleep consistently, I don’t feel too nervous leaving her because we are able to put her to sleep before we leave.

Kenna tries some oatmeal for the first time and seems pretty happy about it. I love giving babies food so I am really excited about this stage and all of the new things she gets to explore.

I only have about one month of my leave and I can’t believe I won’t have all of the hours in the day to cuddle my little girl and to enjoy our slow mornings, afternoon walks, playtime, feeds, and giggles. My little baby!!

Read about [Nov + Dec] here and [Jan + Feb] here.

Mat leave [Jan + Feb]

Published on June 24, 2025June 26, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

January

It’s a new year! Our house hasn’t yet recovered from the Christmas chaos. Cam is still on winter break. I have my 6 week postpartum check up and, despite still being in a lot of discomfort, the doctor says my stitches have dissolved and everything looks good. Huh… But I’m still experiencing a lot of soreness. “Is that normal?”

“Not really… But everything looks fine.”

I think I need a new gynecologist…

My grandparents come for a visit to meet Kenna. For how uncomfortable I am – and because I’ve abandoned my pain meds, tired of taking them when I want to be back to normal – it’s far too early to be hosting. We edge our way through the weekend but I break down a few times and I don’t think anyone really knows what to do with that. Maybe there needs to be a pre-visit checklist moms fill out before anyone comes over so people know how to offer the right kind of support.

Even though I’m not where I want to be in my healing, I am thankful everyday for Kenna. Ugh. She’s so cute. She still has all of this jet black hair and it makes me laugh when people ask who she got it from?!

I look at my husband and his black (well, now salt and pepper;) hair and smirk, “hmm.. I don’t know!”

Mike goes back to work and Cam back to school the first Monday of the month. My grandparents watch Kenna so I can volunteer in Cam’s class and I’m thankful for their visit.

The year is starting it’s rhythm. Kenna and I spend a lot of time inside. She’s a snacky little eater and I am feeding her almost every hour. It’s hard having a tiny baby in the winter without much daylight and time outside but I really love TV 🙂 and she sleeps most of the day, so it’s a cozy time. We have a lot of those ooey gooey contact naps that make your heart melt even though your body aches because it has been in the same position for hours.

We go bowling and out to lunch with close friends – it still feels so crazy we are allowed to take babies places! Cam didn’t go anywhere aside from our house, outside, and the doctor’s until he was over a year old.

I also adventure up to the city with both kids to visit a friend, while Mike does an all day house project. We have a blast strolling through the streets and checking out a rooftop patio and a nearby beach spot. Seeing your friends with your kids is so special.

Kenna is starting to smile – it’s as cute as when Cam gave his first little grins years ago. Cam is the best with her and asks for “Kenna cuddles.” He copies us too and says things like, “oh girl! you are soooo cute!” or “hi, girl! oh we love you!”

Around 8 weeks we hit a sleep milestone. Kenna is no longer our little late-night sidekick. She’s shifted her bedtime to around 8pm vs. 10pm/11pm when we go to bed. It’s nice to have a few hours solo now but it also means we’re getting even less sleep since the majority of her longest stretch of sleep (~5 hours) is while we are still awake. This means instead of a nice 5 hour sleep, we’re back to only 2-3 hours each night. Her nighttime witching hours have seemed to subside though.

I’m still in a lot of discomfort so book another physical exam with my gynecologist. Everything looks “fine” so I feel crazy and like maybe I will always feel like this. If they don’t know what is wrong, how will it get fixed….? Luckily she refers me to a pelvic floor physical therapist and I’m relieved with at least a Next Step but decide to get a new doctor nonetheless.

I have friends over for takeout one stormy night and I think I scare them with my birth story and how tired I am. They are all sweet and kind and ask lots of questions and take turns bouncing Kenna in her rocker so I can eat my ramen and drink my one beer without interruption. As a favor, they take our trash bins to the curb when they leave so we don’t have to go out in the rain. I am so thankful.

February

The cold weather hangs around and Kenna and I spend a lot of time on the couch. I have a lot of pictures (but never enough) of all of her contact naps. Ugh. She’s so cute.

I start to do yoga a little bit more – aiming to roll out my mat at least once a day the literal minute after she goes down for a nap in the snoo. There is always a lot to catch up on around the house (dishes, laundry) and I know I can easily miss my window for some movement if I get swept up in chores. Kenna’s naps are inconsistent and she sleeps better on me but we’re trying to get used to sleeping solo here and there. Nothing rigid though. She’s too small and precious for rules.

Cam has ski week in the middle of the month and I’m alone with the kids during the day while Mike works. It is daunting. Kenna’s lack of schedule and Cam’s requirement for constant play make things a bit challenging. We spend a lot of time curled up in Cam’s room, which feels a little more contained than the living room / kitchen and, importantly, is cozy warm with the sun facing us almost all day.

We were able to book-end ski week with two small getaways. We kicked off the week visiting some of our oldest friends at their new house in Roseville, about 2 hours from us. They have a son who is one year older than Cam and every time we get them together, they play well. It’s so nice to have the kids entertained with each other so we can catch up! This was Kenna’s first long car drive and she didn’t seem to have any complaints.

At the end of the week, we stole away a bit South to a beach house rental with other close friends who have kiddos. Same story here: Cam gets along so well with their daughter so the kids entertain each other the whole weekend. We are treated with unseasonably warm weather so enjoy the morning at the beach, coming back to the house for a backyard hang in the hot tub and BBQ for dinner.

Kenna is falling into about a 4 nap a day sleep schedule. Her morning nap is the easiest and most consistent. The rest is more unknown – some days are great and she has 4 neat & square naps; other days are more sporadic and spaced out. These days I feel a tinge unhinged but most nights we can anchor ourself back with a ~5/6pm nap and then off to bed for the night about 90 minutes after that.

I have my first physical therapy appointment around 12 weeks and let me tell you, all praise Maureen, my PT!!! Mentally, I feel so much better after this appointment. I was worried that I should have been healed and good to go already but Maureen (also a mom of two) was like, no no no, you are maybe 15-20% “back to normal.” She reassures me things I am experiencing are normal and, importantly, it will get better with time. I do my PT multiple times every damn day and marvel at how my body made a baby!

Read about [Nov + Dec] here.

Mat leave [Nov + Dec]

Published on June 3, 2025June 22, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I’m back to work after 6 1/2 months at home with my little girl. Time will be more limited but I’m committed to recapping my leave with Kenna. What a gift to have this extended time with my new baby. What a necessity to have it to recover, heal, and stabilize (mostly). Here we go.

November

We bring our baby girl home! She’s born 5 days early and after 1 night in the hospital, we are back home with Cam; officially a family of 4. I’m on regular doses of pain meds and generally feeling pretty good.

My milk hasn’t come in by our second night home though. I can tell Kenna is hungry and ready for more substance. Mike goes out on a formula and bottle run at 2:30am while I stay home with an almost inconsolable infant. When he returns she gulps down 2 oz so fast and sleeps for 4 hours. I feel a bit sad I couldn’t provide her what she needed but mostly relieved she is full and sleeping. There’s no ego in those early days.

She doesn’t have more formula as my milk comes in the next morning. Despite finally having supply, Kenna doesn’t gain as much weight as she should have at her 2-day check up. We go back 2 more times to make sure she is eating enough. *Shoutout* to one of my bests, Lauren, who comes over with her husband during one of those appointments and watches Cam. The extra support means everything.

Getting Kenna to feed is quite the ordeal for the next few days. We get a hospital grade pump delivered to us because she has lost more than 10% of her birthweight. To get Kenna to eat, I start pumping for my “letdown” to happen with Kenna at my breast. Mike is armed with a syringe of formula to coax her into latching. On my cue, he dribbles a small amount onto the nipple shield I have to use to entice Kenna to start sucking. We do this for 2 or 3 days until she finally starts latching on her own.

We have a family cuddle on the couch almost every day. Mike, Kenna, and I doze while Cam watches a holiday movie. Cam is getting a surplus of screen time. *Shoutout* to our neighbors who invite Cam over for a playdate to give us some time to nap. They also host us for our first home-happy-hour (parent style); Kenna naps in my arms while I munch on cheese and crackers and sip a half glass of wine.

We spend Thanksgiving at home just the four of us, since Kenna is only 10 days old. Mike makes an untraditional feast of lobster rolls, Cesar salad, and green beans. Kenna’s umbilical cord stub falls off and we don’t keep it so I feel like I should make record of the date here! I am so thankful for this little family of mine.

December

Mike’s parents come to meet Kenna! They are only here for a few days en route to Australia. My mother-in-law kindly cleans our house between baby cuddles and I am so thankful for her. Her ease with our kids and grace in also knowing what Mike and I need in these tender days is admirable. Her and Mike’s dad also sweetly walk Kenna around a local movie theater for almost 2 hours so we can take Cam to see the new Moana movie; this way Kenna is close by in case she needs a feed, but not in the loud theater with us.

Nights are still a blur of waking up basically every 2 hours. We set our alarms to be sure we never go more than 3 hours without feeding her but babygirl wakes us up on her own every time before it goes off.

We go to a Christmas Tree lighting when Kenna is just over 2 weeks old and I can’t believe we are out at such an event with a newborn. It’s a community thing so we see a ton of friends there and it feels good to catch up. Kenna also sleeps the whole time, which makes it easy.

Mike is on the first part of his pat leave and, while Cam is at school, we catch up on chores and do a few fancy lunches while Kenna dozes in the stroller next to us. We didn’t get to do this with Cam because of lockdown. It is mostly really nice to be able to experience eating out with a tiny baby cuddled up the whole time but there is a part of me that is nervous when we’re forced inside because of cold weather… Will crowds always kind of freak me out (covid trauma)?

One particularly fun morning includes coffees at Santana Row and stumbling upon the amazing family room there, complete with plush swivel chairs, a big screen TV with cartoons (for older kids), separate smaller rooms with sinks, a changing area, and a comfortable chair to feed your baby. We hang out in a feeding room for 30 minutes, drinking our coffees and making plans to come back with Cam later.

We decorate the Christmas tree that afternoon and hang our four embroidered stockings. Mike had the foresight to order Kenna’s in advance; locking us in on the decision of her name with that $30 stocking purchase. 😉

At 4 weeks we introduce the bottle to Kenna. She takes it right away and I get back a small about of flexibility now that she doesn’t need me to eat every time. She still only drinks breastmilk so I pump and Mike feeds her. I’m able to go on a 3 hour (!) coffee date with some of my new mom friends while our older ones are at a holiday camp. The conversation is so real and lovely. Friends get your through.

*Shoutout* to my bests, Leslie and Lauren, who also offer to watch Kenna AND Cam so Mike and I can go on a date. We walk to our favorite place for a drink, knowing our littles are safe with two of my oldest and dearest friends.

Around this time, I decide to wean myself from pain meds as well, thinking I am mostly recovered. Everything I read online – as well as advice I get from my doctor – says that 4-6 weeks after a vaginal delivery you are back in action.

Um. Sadly this was not the case at all for me. I’m in an almost constant state of discomfort, often breaking down and crying to Mike.

“Why am I still in this amount of pain?” “How was a c-section a better, faster, smoother recovery?” “Will this ever go away?”

I am convinced the lack of sleep of newborn life is stalling my healing but there really isn’t another road to take. I need to feed her. Around this time, Kenna’ has her’s longest wake window is from ~6pm – 10pm. She is very fussy for these hours and eventually goes to sleep when we do. Mike and I are haggard, asking each other, “she has to be tired now, right?” After whatever magical combination of sush’ing and rocking works on any given night, we get a solid 5 hours of glorious sleep before she wakes up for a quick feed around 3am. Then, with the magic of the snoo swaying her back to sleep, we get another 2 or 3 hours.

Sometimes we take shifts in trying to put her to sleep. Usually I can’t sleep with the TV on but exhaustion overrides old preferences. Mike and I watch Red One in parts; the first half together; the second half just me, awake with Kenna while Mike sleeps and then vice-versa. We tell each other how far we got as we nudge the other one awake. “My turn to sleep.”

Christmas day creeps closer and we take Kenna to meet my whole family. We’re so tired. Kenna sleeps while being cuddled by various family members (all in masks because again, covid trauma?). Cam gets a million presents. It’s overwhelming and wonderful.

We ring in the new year at a friend’s house just down the street, counting down with Nova Scotia because everyone has kids to get in bed!

January and February recaps coming soon…! 🙂

Hawaii 2025 (first trip as a family of four!)

Published on May 21, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

My mat leave is coming to an end. Kenna is 6 months and Mike and I have been married for six years this month. All great reasons to spend a week in Hawaii if you ask me!

I heard on a podcast that traveling with a baby is like throwing a party; there is a ton of prep and a ton of clean up but it’s worth it. I adopted this as my guiding light leading up to our first trip with babygirl Kenna. Packing was encompassing (unpacking still isn’t complete). We weren’t sure how she would do on the plane for five hours and since there’s really nothing you can do once you’re in the air, we were a bit fretful. Amazingly, she – and Cam – crushed both flights. Kenna napped 3 times on the way there and Cam watched movies basically the whole time.

That feeling of looking down at the bright blue ocean mixed with streaks of teal and wakes from boaters as you descend onto any Hawaiian island is hard to match. We stayed at the Aulani, the Disney resort, on O’ahu for the second time. Happily when we arrived our room was ready. Yay! It was time for a quick change into our suits and a dip in the pool.

The time change is 3 hours behind California which meant at 3pm Kenna was ready for bed. Yikes. I took her on a walk to the store across the street to stock up on some basics and to strategically have her fall asleep with a surefire way to wake up – when the stroller stopped moving. This worked pretty well as she made it to 4:30pm local time before going to bed for the night, after her walking catnap. Cam followed a bit later while Mike and I treated ourselves to welcome cocktails and dinner on the patio.

Kenna woke up at 3:30am the next morning! This wouldn’t have been so bad (6:30am for us) if coffee was available at that time but, for good reason, nothing was open until 6am. Finally when the cafes started to open we got coffee and pastries from the Four Seasons next door, a morning tradition that would continue for the next 5 days.

We went to the beach after and it still remains the best beach I’ve visited for kids. It is absolutely stunning, the water is warm, and the waves are manageable. Kenna lasted ~30 minutes before Mike took her back for a nap. Our room was luckily on the ground floor, which made nap time accessibility much easier.

Cam and I stayed at the beach and I mentally challenged myself to play a game of “yes to everything.” Meaning whatever he wanted to do I would say yes to. There we sat making “beach soup” with water I had scooped from the sea. Next we dug a river in the sand to the ocean. Open-ended play like that isn’t my strength so I actually found it a lot easier to let Cam lead 100%. We had a great morning on the beach together and it wasn’t even 9am. Ha.

Mike did a fitness class next while I took the kids to a small splash pad, something that seemed within reason for me to do with both of them solo around water. There we snacked on açaí bowls and danced around in the shallow water before Mike met back up with us.

Our meal schedule was skewed given the early wake up calls. That night we had a very early dinner across the street at Monkey Pod. Just like everyone else who visits Hawaii, the Mai Tais there are our favorite – which made it very disappointing when both of ours tasted different than we remembered from previous trips.

Cam and I ended the day with a spin in the lazy river before both kids were asleep and Mike and I enjoyed dessert on the patio.

After our fancy Four Season’s coffee the next day (and another early wakeup call!), it was my turn for a fitness class. I did a Seaside Stretch on the beach and it wasn’t my favorite class but it was free and under the palm trees so I really can’t complain. Before I left for my class I suggested a nap for Cam when Kenna slept since he seemed to be having a hard morning. Mike got both kids to sleep and we were able to enjoy some 10am Mai Tais after my class!

We spent the afternoon alternating between pools and nap coverage back at the room. For our after-hours entertainment that night, we took shifts visiting the hot tub. What a way to end the night! Of course, we were in bed by 8pm; still not having had adjusted to the time difference.

The next morning Mike did standup paddle board yoga while me and the kids played on a blanket on the sand. It’s crazy to think Cam didn’t visit a beach until he was over a year old because of the pandemic and Kenna has had an entire beach vacation. She did pretty good but it is hard to entertain a baby at the beach. When Mike wrapped his class I flirted with the idea of going for a swim in the ocean. The water was still a bit chilly and I wasn’t particularly in the mood however there isn’t a ton of predictability when traveling with littles so I knew this could be my only chance. Who knew what tomorrow or even the rest of the day looked like?

Morning beach visits meant the beach was mostly ours!

After my swim I played “crocodile” with Cam and it was another moment for me of just tapping into fun with him. So often I won’t get in all the way in the water because it is too cold or I won’t get my hair wet because I just showered… this trip felt different. I likely won’t be this person all of the time (I really don’t like cold water!) but love the idea of some wild abandonment every once in a while; fully swimming, really playing, hair wet, sand everywhere. Let’s just have fun.

Later that day we rented a car to travel to the Dole pineapple plantation. Looking back, the cost was a bit extreme for one outing but it would have been more difficult to take a ride share with carseats, etc. The few hours we spent there was a lot of fun. We wandered through a giant maze while it drizzled on and off (Kenna’s first experience feeling rain so it was cute and funny to see her little body respond to the drops, arms and legs flailing). Then we took the Pineapple Express train to explore the plantation / let Kenna nap in Mike’s arms. We stubbled upon some pineapple bushes before heading back to the resort, which was a fun way to end our excursion.

That night we had our least exciting dinner; rushed take out on the patio since we were all ravenous when we got back. Cam wasn’t tired when we tired to put him to sleep so we had an extra little patio guest with us too. 🙂

We kicked off our last full day on the beach for another swim out to sea, this time with Cam joining me! We played a round of crocodile again and then Mike and I alternated taking Cam to the pool while Kenna napped. Somehow I convinced him to spend like 30 minutes in the hot tub with me during my time, which never happens. Ah, what a treat.

Midday we needed a pick me up so we ordered a round of rums and cokes for us and OJ for Cam (milk for Kenna girl!). I rarely drink soda but it was the best call; refreshing with a hint of caffeine. We tried to go back to the hot tub after but Cam’s affection had drifted. Instead we went to the pool as large gray rain clouds rolled in. Uh-oh. Mike took Kenna back for a nap when the rain started but me and Cam stayed and swam in the rainstorm. Swimming in the rain has to be one of my favorite activities. I don’t know why but it is so fun.

Despite the Mai Tais not being what we remembered, Monkey Pod still has some of the best food. It was a treat that the day/nap schedule unfolded in a way that we could make it there for happy hour!

It was sad to know our vacation was coming to an end. Mike and I have been counting down the days for almost a year (in the thick of winter and newborns days, we would often look at each other and ask, “is it time for Hawaii yet?”). Before the trip I made a vow to not spend so much time fussing about tidying or meal prep. I wanted to be there and be present with Mike and the kids. I am proud of myself for letting our hotel room be in a perpetual state of chaos. We did the dishes and threw our dirty clothes in the same general direction, but aside from that, sunscreen and hats, toys and shoes were everywhere all of the time. This is very unlike me and how I like to exist in my environment but committing to this challenge allowed for space to get out of the hotel on time, enjoy more of my family’s company, and really tap into vacation mode.

A rainy, cloudy last night didn’t bother us

On our last day, we had the morning to spend doing our favorite things one more time. We got coffee and pastries at the Four Seasons. I was supposed to do another Seaside Stretch but got the time wrong and almost accidentally did a bootcamp (when I saw the medicine balls instead yoga mats I quickly inquired and then got out of there before anyone asked me to do a squat or a burpee). We pushed Kenna’s “wake window” to the limits and spun around the lazy river multiple times. Cam and I walked to get French toast, bacon, and açaí bowls to bring back and enjoy on the patio. I did a patio yoga sesh with beach towels stacked as a makeshift mat to makeup for my missed class. Mike was able to take Cam to the water play structure that was closed our whole visit until that morning and Cam went down the waterslide over and over again.

Then it was time to shower the last sand off of us and pack our things. The trip was an absolute dream (although, to be candid, it wasn’t all sunshine and pineapples on the way home – Kenna had a blowout before our flight and we left her milk on the plane).

We can’t wait to visit again; to swim and play and soak each other in. A little lovely family of four.

We aren’t huge character-picture people but if we see one, we’ll stop and pose!

Quick and easy meals

Published on April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 by ashley@vegvibesLeave a comment

I don’t have the bandwidth right now to create cute posts on some of the noshes we’ve been having regularly but want to share / remember them myself. So, I’m stealing a nap session to jot down a few easy meals we’ve been enjoying:

Arugula and sugar snap pea salad – I love arugula probably the most of the lettuce fam. It is peppery, has a bite, and I feel like I get the most of it compared to other bagged lettuce. Sugar snap peas are also almost always in stock at our house. They are a quick snack and Cam loves them. Lately I’ve been combining these two top-picks with a creamy dressing (the VEGAN CREAMY DILL DRESSING from Trader Joe’s is another number one). Sometimes I’ll add some cherry toms and sliced cukes if I have them on hand or, more importantly, have the time to do so. I can see bell peppers and carrots being nice here too. Maybe some chickpeas for protein.

Sweet potato and black bean quesadillas – Cam loves black beans but interestingly seems to eat more of them when they are straight out of the can and strained vs. the leftover refrigerated ones I try to get him to eat over the next few days. This means we end up with 1/2 cans of black beans in our fridge often. The creative juices were flowing one day when I combined the leftover BBs (probably ~3/4 cup) and smashed a sweet potato I had (just peeled, chopped, boiled, and smashed the thing) with a small amount of cheddar cheese. I actually then froze this mixture and used it a few weeks later when we had tortillas. Defrosting it the night before and then scoping between 2 torts and pan frying in a bit of oil. They turned out way better than I imagined and had a boost of protein from the beans and whatever is good from sweet potatoes (vitamins? fiber?) so it wasn’t just a meal of cheese and carbs (which I can get behind too). I can see a world where I batch make the mixture and freeze as a friendly gesture for my future self to make a very quick dinner. 🙂 Also, serve with salsa and guac!

Cozy or chilled chamomile – I love Philz, the Bay Area coffee chain. There is a location walking distance from my house, you can pre-order your beverage, and I like that they use mint in some of their drinks. My afternoon go-to (when I have to avoid caffeine so I can sleep) is a medium chamomile tea with medium oat milk and medium honey, add mint please. I like this one hot or iced. Either way it cost be $6 for every cup. Usually I just spend the $6 (my credit card charges are like Philz, Philz, therapy charge, Philz, Philz, Amazon, therapy…) but I have once or twice had it so together that I’ve made a batch of this on my own and it actually tasted as good as the Philz version. In a dream state, I have a pitcher of this in my fridge at all times and people know to except a glass when they come over; with freshly picked mint from my organic herb garden (one day…!).

Caesar salad wraps – this is the easiest! Buy a Caesar salad kit and some wraps (I like lavash wraps), mix salad, scoop onto wraps – consider adding chicken or beans, if you’d like – and wrap it all up. Slice in half and serve. We like to eat these with chips and guac or salsa too (mmm mango salsa would be real nice)!

Goat cheese wraps with whatever veg you have – same idea here. Take your wrap of choice, spread goat cheese on it, add veg (I usually have arugula and bell peppers and have considered adding sliced turkey but get weird about lunch meat sometimes), and wrap.it.up. Bonus points for a chilled chamomile accompanying it on a warm spring day.

Goat cheese on crackers – my go-to snack right now; specifically the “ritz” crackers at Trader Joes. Ugh so good.

Mezcal and grapefruit sparkling water – I’m don’t drink a ton anymore but if I want something easy and refreshing, I pop open a spindrift grapefruit sparkling and add a shot of mezcal. I can see elevating it with maybe some muddled jalapeño and a salt or Tajin rim, garnished with cucumber maybe?

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