Do you have those memories that instantly bring a smile to your face? Those epic moments that are etched in your frontal lobe?

There are an infinite amount of blow your mind places to visit in this lifetime, so what are you waiting for? Even after visiting 58 of 198 countries so far, I continue to be amazed at the sheer vastness and diversity of each continent.

While I tend to lean towards escapades out in nature and exploring the most remote corners of the wilderness rather than city tours, my joy actually comes from starting any new journey.

The anticipation is palpable.

A bunch of my top moments that no one can ever take away from me:

• Waking up at midnight to attack the 5.5hr summit push to reach the top of the world…. Kilimanjaro sunrise 🏔️
• Car camping on the cliff edge of Capitol Reef NP & opening my van door for the perfect sunrise 🌄
• Hiking 10mi into Havasupai canyon AZ & swimming in the majestic Havasu falls 💦
• Alaska cruise watching ice chunks fall from the glacier, hiking on Mendenhall Glacier, sailing with a school of zealous dolphins & rappelling down snow covered cliffs 🥶
• Visiting Alcatraz prison on my 30th birthday & riding a bike over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran 🌁
• Only a 5% chance of winning the Wave AZ lottery, hiking in the freezing cold prior to sunrise & being the only soul at this once in a lifetime spot for 2 hours 🥾
• Conquering the treacherous Angel’s Landing hike in Zion NP & enjoying lunch on top for hours + sloshing thru the best hike in the US via the Narrows towering walls 🤯
• Seeing Old Faithful geyser & the crazy colors at Grand Prismatic hot springs in our 1st NP Yellowstone 🏞️
• Being the first group to visit the pyramids post COVID (only 3 tourist buses vs. typically 1k+) & sailing down the Nile River on an overnight felucca boat 🕌
• Sleeping in my hammock at Goosenecks SP overlooking the gorge at sunset, driving down the crazy Moqui Dugway into Valley of the Gods & enjoying every second in the Monument Valley area 🏜️
• Getting up at 3am on Maui to get to the top of Haleakala NP for an inspiring sunrise & biking down the volcano full speed 🌋
• Tubing leisurely down the Toccoa River with the best of friends & frozen margarita pops, enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains ⛰️
• Getting out of my comfort zone on a singles, predominantly Spanish cruise & loving every second 🚢
• Driving thru the tunnel & first sight of Yosemite Valley & El Cap – hiking the incredible Mist trail to Vernal & Nevada falls + a bear scare 🐻
• Walking thru the (gold plated everything) Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand & getting a delicious foot massage 🦶
• Seeing the beauty of Horseshoe Bend AZ & finding a loophole to enter the majestic Antelope Canyon slots via launching a SUP at Lake Powell 🏄‍♀️
• The majesty of Arches NP – hiking the fabulous Devil’s Garden trail (sections have only slivers of rock to traverse), Delicate Arch is an absolute MUST do, mountain biking down the slick rock trails & finishing just outside the park at Fisher Towers 🥾
• Helicopter fly over of the impressive Iguazu Falls separating Argentina & Brazil, hiking to the falls & finally experiencing the power of water up close via boat 🇧🇷
• Long hike in Canyonlands NP to the crazy amazing Druid Arch 🏜️
• Hiking thru the magnificent & longest slot canyon in the world at Wire Pass/Buckskin Gulch 🥾
• Day ferry to the Hawaiian island of Lanai & finding a remote beach via scaling volcanic rock & reaching the Sweetheart Rock vista for the perfect day 🌺
• Holding out to do my only hot air balloon ride in the iconic Cappadocia Turkey for sunrise 🇹🇷
• Driving the entire Road to Hana on Maui & stopping at every bridge & waterfall + hiking the remote Pipiwai trail thru a bamboo forest & finishing the circular route via a sketchy, washed out southern island road 🏝️
• In the dead heat of summer, scaling the terrifying Rattlesnake canyon arch & running out of water 😱
• Iceland backcountry hiking adventure, geysers, lava tubes & ending at the amazing Blue Lagoon 💙
• Solo trip to the remote Big Bend NP – staying in a perfect 100 sq ft tiny home, fantastic hiking, walking Santa Elena Canyon separating the US and Mexico & a top 10 sunset silhouette over the distant mountains 🌄
• Flying to the end of the world in Argentina to hike the remote W trek in Patagonia 🇦🇷
• Visiting the remote Great Basin NP in NV & exploring the underground Lehman Caves 😱
• 8 hr layover in Dubai & exploring the city with a mall I walked for 3 hrs and never passed the same store twice 🇦🇪
• Car camping in Death Valley NP with a bleeding sunset over the painted hills & subsequent stunner of a sunrise 🌄
• Being the 1st off the Disney Cruise at their private island Castaway Cay & beelining for my fav hammock near the bar overlooking the crystal blue waters 🏖️
• Conquering ABC (Annapurna Base Camp) & being above the clouds for an add on 4am hike to Poon Hill 🇳🇵
• Four hidden gems are Chiricahua NM (AZ), Goblin Valley SP (UT), El Morro NM (NM) & Colorado NM (CO) – all have stunning hikes & pure joy to get lost in 🏞️
• Finally achieving EBC (Everest Base Camp) thru a nasty bout of food poisoning after the 1st attempt being thwarted due to adverse weather conditions & crossing the infamous Hillary suspension bridge 🙌
• Trekking into the jungles of Ecuador for a week, sleeping in a hammock overlooking the volcano & hiking a different direction from home base every day 🇪🇨
• Witnessing a perfect sunset over Badlands NP with bison grazing nearby after completing the crazy cool Notch trail 🦬
• Reaching the overlook to the magnificent Machu Picchu after 4 days trekking & camping en route 💪
• Climbing ancient pyramids in Guatemala 🇬🇹 & Mexico 🇲🇽
• Purposely arranging a 15 hr layover in Athens Greece to visit the Acropolis post COVID with only 10 other souls 🇬🇷
• Visiting Madeira island to take on the challenging Pico do Areeiro to Pico do Ruivo trek 🔥
• Drive a high adrenaline ATV route to the top of the Azores highest volcano edge & Sete Cidades 🌋
• First trip to Europe via a Disney Cruise to explore the fascinating history of Rome (my fav the Parthenon), Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, the quaint town of Eze & Marseille 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🇮🇹
• No expectations visiting Jordan & being blown away walking down the Siq at Petra & first look at the infamous Treasury, enjoying every step of the day’s exhausting 45k+, walking in the history of the Jerash ruins & speeding thru the Wadi Rum desert in an open air jeep to see a mind blowing sunset while watching wild camels running past us 🐪
• Ahhh everything Bali…… renting a moped on Nusa Penida island & climbing down the terrifying cliffs at Kelingking to a secluded beach with only 25 other brave souls 🏝️
• Hawaii island hopping – hiking the colorful & intimidating Napali coast cliffsides on Kauai and splurging for a helicopter the next day to see it from a different angle 😱
• Car camping & grilling dinner in Deadhorse SP Utah with the most amazing views 🤯
• Bucket list hike on Oahu the hard & legal 10mi trek along extremely narrow ridges to the Stairway to Heaven 🪜
• Getting lost in the maze of the stunning Angor Wat temple in Cambodia 🇰🇭
• My birthday gift to myself Oct 2021 hiking the ridiculous Grand Canyon 16mi rim to rim challenge in one day 🥾
• Snagging a last minute spot on the inaugural Disney Cruise thru the Panama Canal & enjoying all day on the top dock while maneuvering the locks 🚢
• En route to 3 weeks in New Zealand, scheduling a 32hr layover in Tahiti & renting a moped to explore the island of Moorea 🇵🇫
• Night diving with manta rays on the Big Island of Hawaii 🤿
• Ice climbing on a glacier in Norway & the thrill of jumping over ice crevices 🧊
• Visiting & diving into the history of Mt Rushmore & Devils Tower with my dad to start my nomad adventure year off 🇺🇸
• Everything Sedona is my happy place….. sunset over Cathedral & Bell Rocks, Fay Canyon & Hangover trails are my own personal favs, Boynton Canyon scrambling after the end of the trail & soooo many more 🏜️
• Our bucket list Tongariro NP hike in New Zealand being cancelled due to weather & then miraculous clearing for only 1 day for us to conquer it 🇳🇿
• My long-standing dream of visiting a dude ranch – skeet shooting, rodeo, swamp buggy, mechanic bull & learning to line dance 🤠
• Colorado Springs is magical – Pikes Peak & Garden of the Gods are must sees in this lifetime! ⛰️
• Taking the overnight train from MN to Boston then driving all night to hit Acadia NP for sunrise at the iconic Cadillac Mountain & hiking the iron rungs of the Precipice & Beehive trails 🌅
• Annual best friends trip to the Fl Keys to camp, kayak, bike, jetski & chill 😊
• Hut to hut trekking in the gorgeous Swiss Alps & crossing over into 3 countries 🇨🇭
• Powering thru the Trolltunga multi day trek up a treacherous cliff hanging via ferrata, reaching the famous overlook 5 mins before sunset & glamping under a sea of stars 🇳🇴
• Riding a snowmobile after dark up Vail mountain at full speed to stop at the top for stargazing 🔭
• Multiple visits to Valley of Fire SP – Fire Wave & White Domes trails are must dos 🔥
• Struggling car camping in Bryce NP overnight in below freezing temperatures to wake up to the most stunning fireball in the sky at Sunrise Point & thoroughly enjoying the Devil’s Garden loop trail 🌄
• And on and on……

When I mentioned to friends and colleagues that I was heading to Madeira for my fall “holiday”, most had never heard of it…..

This under the radar island is called “the Hawaii of Europe” and a wonderful alternative to the hustle & bustle of the European mainland. And seeing that there are direct flights from Newark, you can even save 2+ hours in the air along with a cheaper price tag.

With over 100 miles of aqueducts built into the dramatic cliff sides, there are more than ample trekking paths to get lost in. Did you know the highest cliff in all of Europe is located on Madeira? It’s called the Cabo Girau cliffs towering over the sea at 1932 feet.

Be ready for a heart pounding adventure, as you will be destined to be sucking wind along the endless amounts of stairs that will be staring you down. Our travel group set out to tackle 4 of the laundry list of recommended trails on this oasis.

The quaint town of Santana was our launching point along the north coast, as we conquered the 6.75 mile Larano trail weaving high above. The weather and views were spectacular as we easily slid into full-on vacation mode. Ending in the beach town of Ponta de Sao Jorge, it was a no brainer to take advantage of one of the rare black sand beaches in the world.

Day 2 was a brutal test. The “Pico to Pico” trek is bucket list worthy, as this 6.8 mile path connects Ruivo & Areeiro peaks through an equally inspiring & daunting maze of tunnels, cliffsides, valleys and the steepest steps you will encounter in your life. (For reference, I clocked 125 floors ascended & another 100 floors descended.) And they are seemingly never ending! The dense fog comes & goes in waves keeping you guessing what is around the next bend.

Next we focused on the easternmost point and traversing the “Dragon’s Tail” – 7 miles along the Sao Laurenco trail and another hidden swimming hole. The striking colors of the rippled cliffs were carved from the thrashing of the ocean waves, and truly one of the top 10 landscapes I’ve ever seen.

We ended with an easy 5 mile jaunt along the most important waterway on the island, Levada do Norte, which carries water high up in the mountains of the north to the more populated southern shores. And finishing at Cabo Girau was a sweet ending to cap off another unique trekking adventure!

We’ve all done it….. begging people to let us creep to the front of the plane even though we paid for the cheap seats in the back. Then make the mad dash through an unknown terminal, weaving through the other travel happy tourists and try to hopelessly beg the gate agents to let you squeeze on your connection so you aren’t stranded somewhere obscure to start your trip off on a sour note.

The anticipation of day 1 is always a rollercoaster in itself. Now add in the rampant delays that have become more the norm than the exception, unfortunately, and you have the perfect recipe for undue anxiety.

A quick week escape in September is typically my last reprieve before crazy event season, so I’m overly zealous. Begging a friend to drop me at the airport, I arrive a few hours early due to her schedule needs. No problem. So I try to go standby on an earlier flight & stave off more stress on my already tight connection on a Thursday late night in the always crazy Newark hub. I’m #9 on a long laundry list. Then a northeast ground stoppage starts the domino effect. Due to the delay, everyone is jockeying and I miraculously move up to #2 BUT of course, everyone checks in.

So I’m back on as originally planned. Well, we naturally get delayed too. So my brain goes into proactive mode, since my layover was only originally 1 hour & 5 mins anyways PLUS the kicker is that my connection direct to the coveted Azores was the only 1 for the next 2 days. So I feverishly scour my trusted google flights site and get moved to row 8 near the front of the plane. The game begins….

I had avoided the extra 3 hrs to Europe and thought I was an absolutely brilliant planner. Jokes on me of course…. So do I now transfer via the closest airport in Lisbon? Or is it cheaper thru Paris? Or is it less time to fly thru London? After being disappointed that I would have to find a quiet, clean corner in the Newark airport for the night, I miraculously found an 11:59pm direct line to Lisbon. SCORE!

So I conspired with the awesome attendants as we closed in on our arrival how to navigate the gates. Should I beeline for my original flight or cut my loss to hit up the alternate plane that still had first class seats? BUT all was squashed when I found out our gate was still occupied.

Not even 3 mins later, I get the alert that my original connection is delayed 10 mins due to a refueling issue. OMG!! As we creep in, we get another refuel 10 min reprieve & 3 of us in the same predicament decide to run for it.

The plane started cheering for us, calls were made ahead and we take off in a sprint as soon as the cabin doors eject. A supposed 4 minute jaunt is excruciating, as my usual 2 carryon book bags are an extra 40 lbs weighing me down. Wish I had trained just a wee bit harder!

Regardless, our worst fears are realized when we roll up (completely dripping & gasping for air) to a closed gate. We are dumbfounded and rightfully disappointed. Five minutes later, as I finally am regulating back to a normal heart beat & with the plane still sitting at the gate (plus begging the staffer to make an exception), we got on that plane!!

Crisis averted…. and the plane was only half full so we got our own rows, immediately changed clothes, watched 2 movies and 4.5 hours later landed on the small (emphasis on tiny) airstrip in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Welcome to the Azores & a week of R&R! Well for me, that means a lot of hiking, adventure and maybe even some beach time tacked on the back end to recover.

So I had 10 hours to explore the capital city of Ponta Delgada prior to my 8:40pm puddle jumper to my final destination of Madeira island. Of course, there is another delay so I arrive at 1am and am FINALLY ready for this new adventure to begin!

Always down for a “hell yeah” moment? Then we can be friends.

I definitely don’t live on the safe side of the mountain and, more often than not, am the problem. But….. I also know my limits and have no regrets. None.

Being a walking contradiction, I thrive on the seemingly impossible feats. The ones just outside the comfort zone that push every button in my psyche. I love the safety of routine and structure, but equally get jazzed over the spontaneity and risk of a new adventure. It’s a constant struggle.

Every trip is a new chapter just waiting to be written. Take a walk along the edge of a cliff or go spelunking deep into a lava tube and you will understand the undeniable lure of the adventure life….. a crazy addiction that captivates one’s core and is impossible to curb.

Bring on a new year of checking off those ridiculous bucket list quests!!

Cheaper than therapy…..

It’s been 2 years since our last girls summer getaway, so we are severely overdue for a new adventure. Within driving distance for everyone but me (because I’m the most mobile & up for anywhere), we pin Gatlinburg on the map & take off for the quiet TN mountains.

I scour for quaint but bougey cabins just outside of town. A hot tub & porch with a view are a “must have” for this group. There is just something about sitting on the porch in the cool mountain breeze with a cocktail in hand & surrounded by some of your favorite people to reminisce over the last 30 years of friendship!

Night one our tradition is making our very own charcuterie board with a colorful array of veggies, fruits, crackers, nuts and anything else that we were craving during the grocery run. The hot tub is fired up and we laugh the night away until the wee hours of the morning.

I was super stoked the girls were up for a couple of short waterfall hikes in Great Smoky Mountain National Park to stretch our legs and enjoy the mild summer temps. Tourists crammed into Gatlinburg in droves, so we stuck to the outskirts in Pigeon Forge for local farm fresh meals and scouring the outlet malls for deals. We even checked off a bucket list item in braving one of the many alpine coasters, despite our other zip line excursion being cancelled due to severe thunderstorms.

The peace & serenity around the cabin was just what my soul needed, including several sightings of local black bears (including 3 babies scaling a tree to stay safely away from us peepers). We even sported a few cleansing face masks for extra rejuvenation.

We ended our weekend at a highly rated tavern “The Local Goat” and a subsequent visit to the outlets. After exchanging our inevitable goodbyes, I fortunately got to enjoy one extra night in the cabin and thoroughly enjoyed finishing some work on the balcony listening to the gentle pitter patter of another rain storm.

And we vowed to go big for all of our 50th birthdays in 2024…… girls all-inclusive trip to Jamaica!

If you are not only courageous but lucky enough to find your way to the remote, southwest Texas backcountry, savor it.

Twenty miles down a rocky, unpaved road that leads to the US/Mexico border, it is so freeing to keep the windows down & radio blasting on a late March weekend getaway. The road dead ends at the underwhelming Rio Grande river, where a trailhead awaits to transport you to the literal edge of our country.

Fork in the road…. wade across the shoulder deep water 30 yards or hike up the side of the cliff? I opted for the later and enjoyed yet another memorable rock scramble to get further into the high walled canyon. The relatively easy 1.6 mile trail weaved along the green tinted water, illuminating numerous kayaks floating along this popular gateway and creating a serene, yet awe inspiring landscape.

I enjoyed lunch overlooking the Mexico cliffs and really took some time to appreciate this hidden gem that most people don’t have the luxury, time or patience to ever see. It was truly a beautiful blessing!

College athletics rivalries are filled with vicious energy and excitement. So when you have a personal connection to the game, it can be downright crazy!

So I jumped at the chance to see my fav boys in blue take on the Hurricanes. Roadtrip time!

I joined the Johnson clan for an epic pre-game tailgate party in late October and proudly marched into the Hard Rock Stadium with the rowdy fan base behind the Duke benches.

As the son of my college roommate, Brandon #30 was their sophomore starting defensive nickel/slot corner and he truly had a breakout game. He rushed for a few sacks and even caught an interception to run back for a touchdown. And I incredibly just happened to be filming the whole thing, including his celebratory sideline run. A truly priceless moment that I could capture for his devoted parents and, I’ll admit, brought tears to my eyes.

We kept moving seats closer to the benches, as they started running up the score with an incredible and unpredictable win. What a glorious 45-21 victory and epic run that the Duke football team & first year head coach Mike Elko would go on in the 2022 season, including an eventual berth & win in the Military Bowl!

What a great weekend to celebrate life & college sports with my extended family!

A tiny remote cabin for a long weekend getaway is always my idea of a good time. Can we be friends?!?!

Embrace the quiet….. but this was next level.

After an extra long day exploring the vastness of Big Bend, my 51st National Park, I was more than ready to find my own little casita somewhere between the only two towns (I use that word loosely) on this baron highway. And without cell reception, I had to go “old school” and rely on my hand written directions of between mile marker 55 and the big green building.

Being that southwest Texas is a celebrated dark sky area (minimal light pollution & perfect for stargazing), I took a gamble that the one, barely visible, small gravel driveway was for me. Jackpot! A small Piedra Poco sign on the metal fence was dummy locked, so I pulled up to my 10×10 hut. OMG!

I’m sooooo glad that this was a solo trip because I could already hear my friends bitching my ears off. BUT for me, it was exactly what I needed to refresh and be inspired completely off the grid. With only a bunk bed, microwave, desk, chair, coffee maker, fire pit and Wi-Fi, it was 100% my idea of an adventure.

The outhouse was literally a “poo” bucket, but I absolutely loved the rugged outdoor shower. How can it get better than bathing under millions of stars? And I swear the water was actually quite warm for about 10 mins before the heater would crank off. I’m super fortunate that the temps only dipped into the 40s so it was bearable (compared to below freezing the week prior to my arrival).

And for four glorious nights, I would hike all day to exhaustion, witness unparalleled sunsets silhouetted by the mountains and pull into my haven late evening with a big smile. And I should mention I never saw an actual grocery store for the entire extended weekend, so I lived on my stash of granola bars, oatmeal and ramen noodles. Plus one lunch at the lone gas station within 60 miles, that also just happened to make delicious personal pizzas!

And I have to admit, my mind started racing at the thought of me being alone in literally the middle of nowhere. Every slight sound made my heart palpitate a little faster…. crazy mind games going on!

After freezing night #1 and not having enough room in my only bookbag to pack a blanket, I figured out how to fire up the space heater and set it on 90 degrees the rest of the way. (Again, I couldn’t have gotten away with the overly toasty vibe with anyone else).

Plus, I’m notorious for loving to sleep in but I jumped up at every chance to take in the epic sunrises from my own fire pit. That glow was mesmerizing!

Overall, this was an unforgettable adventure even out of my extra wide comfort zone and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything! Minimalism at its best.

I knew this experience had the potential to be transformational, but I had no idea how emotional I would become meeting this truly bada$$ group of 19 young, female sports/business professionals.

Over my 25 years in the business world, I’ve attended my fair share of leadership classes and seminars with the high hopes of conquering the world immediately following. Some were reaffirming in my quest to carve out my niche and others fell flat.

Something just felt different this time.

Even the title of our cohort is inspiring…. Women Worth Following! After quite frankly submitting an application at the 11th hour, I had high hopes of being worthy enough to join this group of nationwide candidates and immersing myself fully into a year of self-improvement to ultimately pay it forward.

After only 1 introductory zoom call, we all excitedly carved out 3 days in early October to converge together in the quaint town of Traverse City, MI with open minds…. ready for anything!

What if you could be totally vulnerable without the immediate threat of someone using your words or actions against you? What if you could quietly just absorb the intangible good vibes in the room and completely focus inward for once? What if….

Due to limited (affordable) flight options in the fall off-season, I had to arrive a day and a half early with plenty of remote work to keep me busy and plans to squeeze in a few hikes during prime leaf changing season (oh how I miss it!).

Our fearless leaders, Ryan and Amanda, graciously opened up their country home to me and it quickly became a safe haven. Even though a light rain hovered for most of the week, we took advantage of a few reprieves to opt outside and were excited to revisit the serenity of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore trails.

Renting 3 lovely lakeside cottages, all the ladies started arriving and hit it off immediately. How often do you get to focus on your own development with no outside world distractions and truly be around like-minded individuals? Finding a tribe isn’t talked about often but essential in taking your career journey to the next level.

A professional chef serves up an UNREAL welcome dinner and we cozy up by the crackling fireplace to dive into our first challenge together. And our unbreakable circle forms….

As a natural introvert, it’s always extremely unnerving to be open with complete strangers from the onset but, nonetheless, I embrace it.

For 2 full days, we listen to the most amazing stories of grit and passion. Not only do we have to unpack some of our most resilient professional triumphs, but have to dig even deeper to expose our most dreaded traumas. Any self deprecating thoughts are quickly squashed. A long-standing goal of mine is to become a more dynamic & polished speaker, and I literally get thrown into the deep end without a life preserver from the onset. Holy sh$&!

We laughed a lot!

We/I cried even more.

I talked (which is a feat in itself) until I was almost hoarse.

We jumped in the arctic cold lake at midnight, baked my fav pumpkin cookies, partook in an early pure barre group class, soaked in the hot tub under a sea of stars, feasted on more amazing cuisine, broke into small groups for numerous discovery sessions and enjoyed every last second. Sleep is overrated!

Our time together expires in a flash and we are unanimously sad to leave this refreshing retreat. So I tried to bottle up all the positive energy to help me power through my crazy season ahead, looking forward to our monthly zoom sessions and knowing we will return again to the Michigan shores in just a short 7 months.

How will we each evolve? What nuggets will we weave into our daily lives? What learnings will we impart on others? I truly can’t wait to celebrate everyone’s wins….

I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity to level up and even more excited to be on a lifelong journey with these fabulous ladies.

Remember the name…..WWF.

I’ll find any excuse to visit my five beautiful nieces & nephews. Full of spice & boundless energy, these miracles are living proof that good things come in small packages.

I inevitably get roped into a celebratory jump on the trampoline or being shown the new additions to each of their rooms, but my favorite memory is always the joyful first hug. The embrace that erases all the lost months between visits is like a shot of sweet sunshine.

And organized chaos ensues.

I thoroughly enjoy making dinners, reading before bed, going for a bike ride, watching the same Blippy show on garbage trucks for the 10th time, playing with cars in the potted plant dirt, coloring, carving pumpkins, ice skating, bogey boarding in the waves, watching Paw Patrol, learning about roadblocks, pushing the swings, and on and on…. sign me up for anything and everything!

I try to grab each for a little one-on-one time and hopefully ease the burden of everyday life just a little bit on their devoted parents. But, inevitably, time expires in a flash and I’m again wiping the tears from my eyes as I blow kisses and wave goodbye. And I just hope the memories stay close until I can squeeze in another long weekend visit!