After our really fun first day we took advantage of being able to sleep in. I think it was close to 10 in the morning before we rolled out of bed and it was fantastic.

We decided today was the day to check out the Vatican. It was a hike to get there and hot as hell but such a beautiful site to see.

Along the trek we stumbled across some very good gelato. I later found out that this place is a must-try in Rome. Lucky us. I had the pistcahio and tiramisu and Shane had the chocolate wine and it was all amazingly delicious.

The rest of our day didn’t work out the way we had hoped. After seeing the Vatican we decided to walk all the way down the river to check out a restaurant. Da Meo Patacca has been around for years and one of my moms favorites from Rome. I really wanted to eat there, even if it was just a snack but once we arrived, we saw that it was closed. That was a sad part of the day. We decided to truck on back to Camp De Fiori to check out the farmers market and people watch but once we got there they were breaking it down for the day. Another disappointment.

However, we did see the most awesome police care ever. Check out this Lotus. I can only imagine the ego on Mr. officer.

After a snack we headed closer to the hotel to have a drink and some bruschetta before relaxing in our room

The evening was spent planning our next day and getting some reading and writing done. Tomorrow, skies the limit with a modest 97 degrees and 80% humidity.

After a long day of traveling  we made it to our first destination Rome, Italy. We took a recommendation and stayed at the Aberdeen Hotel. It has air conditioning and is in a good location that is all we really need.

After a good nights sleep we woke up and hit the road with the Colosseum in mind.

The weather is hot, in the high 90s with high humidity.

We walked along the river to the must see’s in Rome. Stopping first at Campo de fiori for some fresh fruit and vino.

After an overdue break we headed out into the heat to see Piazza Navona. Maybe not the best spot to eat lunch but the view was perfect. If you are anything like us, people watching can be just as funny as going to a comedy improv.

We ate a one of the many restaurants in the Piazza, we ordered the cheese plate and pizza margherita. It was good maybe even great but not outstanding.

After lunch we checked out the Trevi Fountain {holy tourist trap}. It is as amazing as I remember it and we will go back at night to see the real beauty!

About 6 months ago, Shane, Kaili and I along with 2 of our friends ate dinner at Il Fornio in Del Mar. Our waiter was fantastic and told us about his friend Marco who lived and worked in Rome. After telling him about our upcoming trip to Italy our waiter wrote down the restaurant his friend served at and told us to stop in for dinner. That is exactly what we did.

Ciampini is located at the top of the Spanish steps. We sat outside and enjoyed a glass of vino while we waited to meet Marco. When I showed him the note from his buddy back in the states he was thoroughly touched and went on to tell us about how they met and the adventures they had together, it was a really awesome experience.

We decided on dinner near the Pantheon, the food was fine, nothing spectacular. I do hope to have one amazing meal before we leave. I threw one more coin into the Trevi for good measure. The day was fun filled and I can’t wait to do it all over again!

Our vacation date is closing in and besides being super excited I am also anxious, a little nervous and  realizing how much there is to think about this time around. In the past, meaning pre-Kaili, trips were a breeze to go on a blast to plan.

Our, meaning Shane and my last real  vacation was 4 years ago when we went to Beijing for the 2008 Paralympics. Since then we have taken a few getaways to Santa Barbara, Arizona and Washington but the past few years we have been stuck close to home while going through our fertility treatments. Once Kaili came we have been on the go, but as all of you who have kids know, a vacation with a young baby is not a real vacation. Gone are the days of sleeping in late, lounging on the beach, late night dining and dancing til dawn…and that is fine. But once in a while I think parents need to escape, enjoy each others company…alone and recharge their batteries. That is exactly what I..ahem, we plan to do.

This time we have 9 glorious days to do whatever we want in Rome and Paris. We might even dance til dawn because  we will be able to sleep in as long as we like, how amazing does that sound?  Packing for a long trip like this calls for some thinking ahead. There are a lot of things that are easy to grab while you are at your destination but others are just easier to bring with, like an outlet converter and face paint { GO USA } and the obvious red while and blue gear for the Paralympics. Where does one buy face paint anyhow?

Since we will be leaving the little Miss with family while we play in Europe {THANK YOU} I am realizing how much more preparation needs to be done before we leave. There are things I didn’t even think about like filling out a medical release form and leaving medicine dosages. I know I will go overboard on information for her caretakers but I don’t care. I spent my entire pregnancy being told to not worry but my gut was right 99% of the time, so I am going to go information overload for my own piece of mind.

Our parents are flying with Kaili to London where we will meet them for the second leg of our vacation. So I also need to get  Kaili’s suitcase packed with her passport inside so it wont be forgotten and make sure all the little things are ready for them to go before we walk out the door. What all that is, I am not quite sure yet, my head is spinning.

All I know is this trip is overdue and I can’t wait to escape with my husband for alone time. I also can’t wait to spend an amazing time in London with our family but the best part of it all will be watching the Paralympics and cheering for our friend in his quests for two gold medals.

Crystal Cove beach is located between Laguna Beach and Newport beach. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle stands a perfect little beach with a nostalgic twist. The historic district as it’s known is a beautiful beach with cottages dotted along the sand. Most of the action takes place at the Beachcomber cafe which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There motto is “where every night is Saturday night and Saturday night is New Year’s eve.”

My dad is a member of the Crystal Cove gallery where his paintings are always on display. He was asked to be a visiting artist for a few days down by the beach. My mom, Kaili and I decided to join him for a day, his cottage wasn’t roomy enough for us all to sleep in but it was perfect for a home base.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the cafe and then headed out to the beach. The sun wasn’t much of a team player today but it is June after all.

I left with a list of all the cottage names and prices for a stay and I must say it’s very reasonable. I want to live in this cute little retro world for a few days.