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A Look Back at 2017

Like many of you, I’m spending today reflecting back on 2017. At this time last year, our family was trying to balance a newborn and toddler while settling into our new home. We also were nervous for our first family trip. To say that it was a stressful time would be an understatement!

However, today I’m feeling very thankful that my kids are healthy and usually have a smile on their faces. My boys have developed a special bond and that makes my heart happy! My youngest is not quite walking, but he is a stealthy crawler and will dart across the room if he thinks food might be available.

And in terms of my blog, things are going great! If you haven’t already, follow me on Instagram and Facebook. It’s the best way to find out about upcoming giveaways. And subscribe to my blog!

Here are some of my favorite posts from 2017:

Pacific Northwest Adventures

San Juan Island, WA Trip with Kids

Washington State is known for the gorgeous scenery. San Juan Island is one of our favorite places in the Pacific Northwest.

We brought our baby and toddler there last year to explore the island and look for whales!

Semiahmoo Resort & Spa in Blaine, WA

For our first adventure with a baby and toddler, we headed to Semiahmoo Resort & Spa near the Canadian border.

We were thoroughly impressed with all the amenities for families with young children. We’re hoping to head back with other families for an epic trip later this year!

Long Weekend at Seabrook in Washington State

Our family had been hearing about Seabrook for the past few years. It’s the new “it spot” for Seattle-area families. Let me tell you, it lived up to the hype!

Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR

Have you ever seen a Rhino? We got to see 2 Rhinos for the first time in our lives at the Oregon Zoo. They are currently expanding the exhibit area, so we can’t wait to go back!

Girls Trip to Bellevue, WA

I grabbed some of my closest Mom friends for a weekend getaway to nearby Bellevue, WA. We stayed the W Bellevue and watched a Bad Mom’s Christmas.

It was the perfect way to bond before the holidays!

Top Family Trip Experiences

Paris, France with Young Children

My favorite trip from 2017 was our trip to Paris! I spent my 18th birthday there and hadn’t been back since.

The trip was everything I had hoped it would be (except for the biting cold) and we made the best memories!

The highlight was watching our son play with the toy boats at Luxembourg Gardens!

Disneyland Resort with a Baby & Preschooler

We had a family wedding in Malibu, CA last summer so we decided to head down a few days earlier to hang out at Disneyland!

We brought my Mom along for her first family trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth and it was the smartest decision!

Hawaiian Cultural Tour on Maui

I’ve taken my kids to Maui 3 times and by far the coolest thing we’ve done on a family trip is the Maui Nei Tour of Old Hawaii.

My kids got to make their own ink for wooden stamping, pound taro root to make poi and weave their own lauhala bracelet. Well, we had to help our baby quite a bit, but our preschooler held his own!

Warehouse 3540 on Kauai is a Hot Spot for Moms

My Mom lives on Kauai and I’ve visited 30+ times. Just when I think I’ve been everywhere, she suggested we check out the fairly new Warehouse 3540.

Let me tell you, I was blown away! Not only did I get to peruse the adorable boutiques set up for Moms and kids, but I devoured the tastiest burger I’ve ever had.

Plus there was amazing shave ice and they offer story time for kids!

Coolest Products

Panda Village Bamboo Blocks by Lakeshore

Lakeshore sent my son this set of Panda Village Bamboo Blocks for him to try out. It quickly became his favorite item.

We ended up donating it to his preschool so even more kids could benefit from learning spacial awareness. It’s at the top of my list for preschooler gifts.

Inglesina Travel High Chair

With my oldest, I tried feeding him on my lap when he was a baby and we were traveling. That was messy and quite frustrating for both of us.

This time around, I tried out Inglesina’s travel high chair. It’s amazing! Not only does it fold up to make it easy to pack, but it’s good for babies AND toddlers!

Gunapod Luxury Bamboo Duvet Sleep Sack

If there was one product I’d encourage any new parent to get, it’s this sleep sack. My son has used it every single day for the past 8 months. We just upgraded to the next size up.

I kid you not, he holds perfectly still when I zip him in it. I think it’s because it’s incredibly soft and cozy. We always pack it for our family trip.

Board Books for Your Tiny Globetrotter

I love kid books. We may have a problem at our house of too many books.

However, the ones I reach for the most are the My Little Cities board books. We have the San Francisco, Paris, New York, and London books in the series. They are brightly colored with fun graphics and simple text.

My preschooler likes to “read” them to his baby brother.

Lumaprints Metal Photo Print

We love displaying photos of our family trips around our new home. Out of all our photos, this metal print from Lumaprints gets the most attention. And it’s not just the family trip photo in front of the Eiffel Tower.

I’ve had friends take this print off our wall so they could marvel how lightweight, yet durable it is. People love the crisp/clean look. And we love it, too!

Did I miss one of your favorite posts? Tell me in the comments below!