Globetrotting

Now that I've been at my current job for about 2 years, the travel is starting to pick up ... in the best way possible. Last year, I went to Madrid, Vienna, and Washington DC. This year, I've already been to Barcelona and have a trip to Paris scheduled for April!

The work trips are usually pretty intense -- long days filled with meetings and then a few hectic hours each evening to meet deadlines. But there's almost always time for a little sight-seeing at the beginning of each trip, and plenty of time for dinner and drinks with coworkers.

It was so cool going BACK to the Sagrada Familia to see the progress they've made since Jason and I were there a year and a half ago

I also love having the time to myself on the flight to relax and watch TV. I really took advantage of the Netflix and Amazon download options on this last trip and watched the entire first season of The Crown (loved it!) and checked out a few episodes of Black Mirror and Goliath (enough to make me want to watch more!).

My travel didn't stop after Barcelona. Immediately after landing in Chicago, I jumped in my car and drove straight to Holland, Michigan, where we had a weekend rental with another family. Molly was having so much fun with her friend, she hardly even reacted when I walked in the door after being gone for a week.

Molly and her friend Larry on the beach. We had gorgeous weather last weekend. On the beach in February?? Crazy!!

The O'Grady fam :)

It's SO much easier to travel now that Molly is older. I used to feel so guilty when Molly was younger -- partly because she made me pay for it with tears and/or the cold shoulder. I would do anything to get out of having to travel for work. Now, Molly enjoys the alone time with Jason and we have fun sending each other videos back and forth while I'm gone ... She knows I love her. And, since I'm not the only one in the family who travels, I get a chance to be alone with Molly this week when Jason goes to Boston :)