Post-Tragedy Trip to Australia

Despite being nervous about flying a few weeks after the Sept. 11th attacks, our family's 3+ week vacation to Australia turned out to be a huge success.

First Day in Sydney

My mother-in-law, however, was dead-set against our going, convinced that we were unnecessarily putting her three-year old grandchildren in harm's way. But, Allan and I did not make our decision lightly.

Twin Parents Save Sanity by Hiking

My husband and I enjoyed hiking before having children, but we craved it after our twins were born. It was the leisure activity that required the least accommodations to most closely resemble our pre-parent lives! We found it to be a real stress reliever, so we started taking a family hike every Sunday. Sure, it required extra equipment, but our babies loved being carried through tall trees by tranquil caregivers, I was happy to be out of the house (and temporarily responsible for only the baby in my front carrier), and Allan was thrilled to finally find a family activity he could relate to!

A Hiking We Will Go

Our first hikes were to some of the fabulous local parks we are blessed with in the San Francisco Bay Area. Allan and I each carried a baby in the front and a pack on the back: one held baby supplies (diapers, wipes, bottles with pre-measured formula, and water) and the other held adult supplies (water and snacks).