Imagine getting in a vehicle, an airplane, falling asleep, and waking up in an entirely different place, a whole new world. That’s what it must feel like for Athena when we travel to new countries or cities. This morning, she woke up at Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas, our home for the next six days. Although it might have been confusing for her, it was the best kind of confusion. The Marketing Manager left us welcome baskets and what was inside was better than Christmas morning.

We had our own, personalized baskets filled with unique goodies geared towards our favorite things. We both tore into the wrapping carelessly, excited about what was inside.

Sailboats with our names on them told us which basket belonged to whom. I received chocolates, wine, flowers, cookies, and a mermaid. My mermaid was bigger to represent the mommy. It was wrapped with such care that I almost felt badly about how haphazardly I tore it open. I was caught up in the moment.

If I open my basket carelessly, I don’t know what to call what Athena did. She saw the mermaid and screamed with excitement, “Mermaid, mermaid! Mommy! Mermaid!” I didn’t know that she was capable of getting bows untied and wrapping paper off of the basket but somehow she was into her goodies before I was. She rubbed the soft, pink elephant on her face and said, “awwwwwww. Love elephant.” It’s 2 hours later and she’s still entertained by everything that was in the basket.

We’re eating the animals crackers and drinking the apple juice before we head out for the day. This morning when Athena was sick with a cold and tired from traveling across the country, she still found complete joy and excitement. Those two baskets are worth their weight in gold. Even though we ran from the snow and cold in Charlotte yesterday, we woke up to Christmas this morning.