DUBAI | PART ONE – Parrish Place

Where things didn’t go AT ALL as planned . . .

Plans changed real quickkkkk at the ticket counter on our way to Dubai. Juan’s passport was expiring within 60 days of coming home – – – it had to be 90.

I had a choice to make. We had a choice to make. Head back home + try again another time, or hop on the plane Jon-less for 20 HOURS. Jonah is our logical son, he likes a plan + needs to keep to. He was sitting on the airport floor by the kiosks opening a rice krispie treat for Jack as we explained to him what was going on. I thought he’d have a hundred questions, but he didn’t. He looked up at me + said “We can do it Mom”. AND THAT WAS IT.

The airline kindly gave Jon a pass to help us get through security + onto the plane. We kissed Dad goodbye at the security desk so he could figure out what he was doing, called my mom, choked back the tears, + dug deeper than I knew I could. We walked onto that plane without him.

I was grateful I was prepped for the flights (wish I would have packed their (skuprises) in a rolling carry on. I wrapped gifts for them that I picked up at the Dollar Store. Here is also a list of our favorite quiet activities, but you can find all my travel must haves, or things I wished I had packed right here:

Jon was delayed a full 24 hours, ended up routing through Atlanta for a same day passport + then on to Amsterdam. We didn’t add on an international phone plan before we came, so I didn’t have wifi until we got to the hotel. We landed just before midnight. My only mental break down was once we got the run around + they couldn’t find our stroller right as we landed in Dubai.

About the same time as I started to panic, we found the Atlantis desk + the driver was waiting for us. We’ve got an itinerary planned, memories to make + no room for doubt. I don’t know that the boys will comprehend the love for the world until they are older, but seeing the world through their eyes is the closest thing to real magic I have ever witnessed.

Believe it or not, getting the kids to bed when we got to the hotel mayyyyyy have been harder than the 20 hour flight. #jetlag

Buuuuuuut, we’re all so stoked to be here at Atlantis Dubai. It’s un-freakin-real. Like INSANE! We try to find kid friendly resorts when traveling, it makes all the difference + Atlantis is above + beyond my expectations.