SUNSHINE!!! It was what the doctor ordered. So, with agreeable babysitters for the girls (the grandparents!), Graham and Jack and I headed for the hills figuring it was now or never. Who knew the dessert could be so incredibly beautiful?!
We'd been considering the idea of a family vacation before Graham starts his new job and I head back to work but then we realized bringing all 3 kids would turn the event into more of a trip than a vacation and so plan B was born. It was JUST what we needed after a rather exhausting Fall, adjusting to life with three kiddos. Jack was a dream traveler and allowed us much of the R & R we needed.
We used airline miles to book at room at the Riviera which was quirky and modern and just our style. When we arrived, we checked in at the front desk and were asked if we had any room preference. I told them not really, but that I'd prefer something with a view as "we always seem to get the shaft and get the room overlooking the dumpster." The guy at the front desk tapped at his computer and then told us he had a nice room that he thought would be just right for us. After lugging all our bags all the way across the resort to said room, we threw open the curtains to see a lovely view of......
THE LAUNDRY FACILITIES!!!
We sat there for about 10 minutes weighing our options and finally settled for the path of high maintenance given that we were going to be here a full week and spending a lot of time in our room with a napping baby. We returned to the front desk to request a new room only to be told they were booked solid. Of course they did have a suite we could upgrade to for a few more dollars a night...
SOLD!
I was so glad we chipped in the extra dough. The suite was SO much bigger with a much nicer balcony and a HUGE bed.
And a full sitting area too!
For the most part, we spent our time here (and who wouldn't?):
The pool was gorgeous and we had it pretty much to ourselves on the weekdays. On the weekends, the partying singles from LA joined us and I did my best to blend right in, holding my 3 month old baby in one arm and my book "Positive Discipline" in the other.
We figured out our poolside system, sneaking in picnics complete with wine (in coffee cups!) that we'd purchased on a Trader Joe's run, taking turns with who was "the parent." Let me tell you, it was DIVINE and I read 1 3/4 books over the course of the week! We even had two lucky days days where Jack took marathon three hour naps while BOTH his parents lounged and read.
He was a star and played happily on the pool chairs and on the bed of towels we created beneath. I swear people must have thought we were crazy, leaning down and talking to the cement ground. Then suddenly they'd spot Jack and realize we had a baby down there.
The life...
We weren't entirely lazy on our trip though. We ran three of the mornings we were there and it felt good to introduce Graham to the feeling of running without the layers of gloves and long sleeves! We also enjoyed as many meals as possible OUTSIDE. Some of our favorite restaurants included happy hour at Sidebar (at our hotel), Cheeky's, Birba, Tinto and King's Highway at the Ace Hotel.
I was a big fan of our breakfasts (my favorite meal!) in particular, with views of the mountains and palms to boot.
And coffee. Good coffee.
Can I get on a plane and go back?
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