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Hey there! April made quite the entrance this year—sirens, celebrations, travel, and tornadoes (yes, really). It was a wild one. From being jolted awake by blaring alerts to enjoying beachy sunshine at a campground, April kept us on our toes.
So, let’s jump into all the chaos and fun that filled our month!
Tornado Warnings & Late-Night Laundry Room Bonding
For the first time ever, I woke up to that lovely combo of a blaring tornado phone alert and the city’s siren screaming right before midnight. Nothing like being ripped out of sleep, grabbing your kids, the dog, the bunny, and cramming into the laundry room to get the heart pumping. Try falling asleep after that—spoiler alert: I didn’t.
And just when I thought that Monday night was rough, Thursday night was a nightmare. Sirens again—this time at 3 a.m.—and we were back in the laundry room for two hours. Five separate tornado warnings. FIVE. One would stop, we’d exhale for a second, and then… off went the sirens again.
I grew up in Slovakia, where tornadoes weren’t a thing. So this is one American tradition I’m still not used to. But hey—we all made it through. Laundry room crew: 1, tornadoes: 0.
Birthday Fun…One Girl, Three Parties
April also happens to be my younger daughter’s birthday month—she turned 11 this year. Ever since my girls were toddlers, we’ve had a little tradition: a special Mommy-Daughter Day just for the birthday girl. It’s like a mini girls’ weekend, but packed into one perfect day focused entirely on her.
The birthday girl gets to choose the day’s food lineup—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert—and we plan a full day of fun around her picks. Some years we’ve done spa days, shopping sprees, movies, you name it. This year, she chose mani-pedis, Starbucks (of course), shopping, and a movie. We saw Moana 2 and it was actually really sweet. It was a perfect day filled with all her favorite things—and her favorite person. (That’s me. Obviously.)
But the celebrations didn’t stop there. She also had a birthday party at home with her school and Girl Scout friends—complete with an ice cream bar. And we also had another birthday party with our Slovak crew. This year, we painted pottery together, and it was such a fun and creative way to spend the afternoon.
It was a full weekend of friends, sugar, laughter, and one very happy birthday girl.
And since birthday season always comes with a wish list, I wanted to share a few gift ideas for 11-year-olds—these were all on her list and would make great gifts for any tween:
- Small snack spinner – fun, functional, and makes snack time a little more exciting
- YOLOose cozy yoga pants – soft, cute, and lived in basically every weekend
- Spa basket – perfect for girls who love pampering (face masks, bath bombs, the works)
- Nike sneakers – her go-to pick for school and weekend outings
If you’re shopping for an 11-year-old or need ideas for tween birthdays, these were all a hit in our house!
Camping Easter Weekend – Natchez Trace Style
Like every year, we kicked off spring with a family camping trip. It’s our thing—once in the spring over Easter weekend, and once in the fall during fall break. This year, we returned to Natchez Trace State Park, a familiar favorite. If you’d like to read my full review of the park—including campsite tips and what to expect—you can check out the full post here.
This year, I added a new favorite to our camping gear list: this Outdoor Elevated Dog Cot Bed. Bodhi was a big fan—and I loved that it kept him comfortable, cool, and way cleaner than our last camping trip. Definitely a must-have if you’re bringing your pup along.
But back to our camping. Since Easter landed later this year, the weather was amazing—warm, sunny, and perfect for outdoor fun. We walked, played on the little beach, soaked in fresh air, and enjoyed the peace and quiet that only camping brings. It was warm enough that I didn’t need to wear half my closet to bed, though I’ll admit I missed the need for daytime campfires.
My mother-in-law, who is basically an Easter egg-hiding ninja, brought her A-game this year. The girls had a blast hunting for eggs around the campsite—and we spent a lot of time searching for the final few. (She hides them well. Like, too well.) When we got home, the Easter Bunny had made a visit while we were gone, so the egg-hunting fun continued at home.
Growing up in Slovakia, Easter looked very different. No bunnies, no chocolate eggs hidden in the yard. Let’s just say Slovak Easter traditions are…wetter. If you’re curious (or brave), I’ve written a whole post about it here.
A Boston Getaway
I wrapped up April with a trip to Boston with my oldest daughter. This was my first time in Boston, and I loved it! The weather was perfect: sunny, warm, and made for walking. And since Boston is well known for their schools, we did a little college tour and visited Harvard, MIT, and Berklee College of Music. Harvard was our favorite—we even walked the Harvard Bridge and felt very scholarly.
We explored Faneuil Hall, dined at Quincy Market, visited the New England Aquarium, wandered through the North End (Boston’s Little Italy), and ate very well. We even tackled an escape room—just the two of us. Pro tip: doing an escape room with only two people, one of them being a teenager, is no joke. We escaped with a minute to spare (with a generous dose of help from our host).
The only disappointment? I really wanted to go on a whale-watching tour, but they don’t start until mid-May. So, I guess that just means… I’ll have to come back.
If you’re planning any upcoming travel or looking for fun, practical gift ideas for your own adventures, I’ve put together a few helpful posts! Check out my favorite picks for:
- Kids toiletry travel bags
- Kids travel pillows
- Power banks for on-the-go charging
- Luggage for kids
- Backpacks
These are all things we’ve used and loved—and they’ve definitely made traveling with kids a lot smoother!
That’s a Wrap on April
So, that was April. Between sirens in the middle of the night, birthday sugar highs, Easter egg hunts in the woods, and walking what felt like all of Boston, I’m feeling grateful, tired, and maybe just a tiny bit ready for a nap.
Thanks for reading, until next time. 💛
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