This year we geared up for a family vacation to Mexico with the boys, traveling alongside friends and their two toddlers. With luggage, strollers, and four kids in tow, we set off for our sunny destination of Cancun. It was the boys’ first international trip, so it was going to look a little different from the trips Mike and I used to take abroad. Hopping from city to city, a new adventure and excursion each day, wandering our destinations and making impromptu stops along the way. No, no, no, this trip was much more intentional. It was for some much needed R&R and quality time as a family. With that in mind, we used the opportunity to introduce Mason to the ins and outs of traveling abroad. We spent weeks preparing him: reading bedtime stories about airports and airplanes, going over his packing list, and brushing up on the Spanish he started learning this summer.
When the day finally arrived, we set off for the airport, everyone beaming with excitement and anticipation. We met up with our friends who were already at the gate with their little ones and after a quick greeting and some wrangling of the circus, we boarded and settled in anxiously awaiting a toddler outburst at any moment. And the outburst did come in the form of Miles throwing a full-blown tantrum at take-off, arms and legs flailing. He eventually tuckered himself out and fell asleep but not before he clocked me in the eye (ouch!). Surprisingly, once the ordeal concluded, the remainder of the trip went smooth. The kids were in awe of the resort’s amenities, many of which they were experiencing for the first time. Meanwhile, Mike and I were relieved to relax in a luxe setting where everything was taken care of.
In the end, the resort was the perfect introduction to international travel for the boys. The kids had time and freedom to run around, make noise and take up space in this environment so they didn’t feel uber confined or stifled. Our days were filled with water play, poolside lounging, and activities throughout the resort like a piñata challenge and night time dance party, as well as our evenings with family dinners at its various restaurants. The boys made their return to New York on cloud 9. And Mike and I came back actually feeling well rested with renewed energy.
Through it all, I packed plenty of fun looks to take me from pool to dinner table. As for hair, I started the trip in vacation braids, but quickly (about 3 hours in), couldn’t stand the feel or look of the extensions and took them out. It turned out to be a happy accident since it challenged me to find new ways to play with and style my new bob cut. In any event, you can find details for and click to shop all of my looks below:
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