🥳 We’ve got a 9 year old (today!) and an 11 year old (last month!) now! I can’t believe how fast time flies but as they say “the days are long but the years are short!” Touché. From cute babies to mini wannabe adults. Being their Mom will always be my proudest accomplishment. And even on the hardest of days, their smiles, jokes, and snuggles are the best energy and pick-me-up. They bring us joy daily and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. Happy Birthday Boys! #thisis9 #thisis11 #benhank #nickyhank #happybirthday #boymom #noballsinthehouse 😂 😘 KLM Jo Mama ✨🦄 @e_hank17
👻 Booooooo! Such a scary good time this Halloween 🎃 that I couldn’t even capture all the fun. A few highlights 📸 for the memory book from your favorite #sparklyunicorn! 😘, KLM ✨🦄 #happyhalloween #family #fun #party #nevertoooldforhalloween #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon
✏️ 🍎 Happy First Day of 3rd and 5th Grade for #benhank and #nickyhank! So excited to start our Orinda adventures at Sleepy Hollow Elementary. Thanks to all of our new friends for the warm welcome! #firstdayofschool #brothers #modernfamily #learn 😘 KLM
☀️ Saturday. 5:30am. ⚽️Soccer. ❤️ this hysterical reminder of the next 10 years of #boymom sports weekends. 🥰 Please still invite me to things! I promise to change before I show up! 🤪😜 #soccermom #dedication #weekendwarrior #wearemagic #calmagicsc #benhank #nickyhank
🪄✨ Sometimes after a lot of churches ⛪️ and mosques 🕌, and museums 🏛️ you just need some childish magic. 🌠🎀 Disney kids forever!!! We had the best time! #disney #disneylandparis #magic #family #gogogo #nickyhank #benhank #disneyparks #paris #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
✈️ 🧳 Morocco Highlights. Bouznika for the beach fun. Marrakech for city adventures. Biggest take aways here are that fear holds us back. Do you know how many people asked me if it was safe in Morocco? It is. Never once did I feel unsafe or scared or worried for my children’s safety or my own. Like any place you have to engage with savvy and awareness. If you’re new to travel get an experienced guide who speaks the language. If you’re more experienced, use your street smarts and make good decisions. The unknown and unconscious biases we’ve been fed about some foreign places really digs deep. Question that. I’ve been to almost 40 countries and only once in my adventures did I ever maybe need a little extra safety help. Morocco is an amazing country filled with history, culture, delicious food, friendly people and unique experiences. We barely scratched the surface so will definitely return. Especially to see our wonderful friends who spend summers there. You rarely regret the trips you take. Only the ones you don’t. So back to my mantra…GO!! Like our cab driver said in Arabic, cleverly using google translate on the car’s bluetooth to communicate with us: “We are all the same.” Yup. #truth Keep traveling. You won’t regret it. #travel #family #adventure #morocco #friends #gogogo #bebrave #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
✈️ 🧳 Paris Highlights. Such a memorable trip. Biggest takeaways from this one and conversations with friends who say “how do you travel so much with your kids!?” Well, if you want worldly self-aware global citizens, you have to travel. Let them see the world, explore, be uncomfortable and learn about themselves. You don’t get that sitting at home in your bubble where everyone is like you. Kids are much more capable than we give them credit for. Let them rise to the occasion. Exposure is everything. Give them a chance. They can carry their own suitcase. 😜 So happy mine love Paris as much as I do. We will be back soon! #travel #family #adventure #gogogo #paris #memories #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🇫🇷 Dream come true! #adventure #family #paris #eiffeltower #gogogo #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🇺🇸My favorite holiday with my favorite people. ❤️💥🎇 Thanks for welcoming us, Orinda! So lucky to have found such a warm community. Happy Fourth! #family #orinda #benhank #nickyhank #happyfourth #freedom #celebrate #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
👨🎓 👨🎓 How are these two headed to 3rd and 5th next year!?? Time flies when you’re growing and learning. So proud of all they have accomplished and the interesting young men they are becoming. Another year in the books…taller, smarter, sportier and obviously still the funniest silliest craziest loudest in the bunch! Wouldn’t have it any other way. 💥‼️💥 We love you boys! 😘 #graduation #congratulations #stepup #celebrate #benhank #nickyhank #brothers #family #modernfamily #proudmama ❤️ @allaround_sf
🌎 🚀 May The Fourth Be With You! #maythe4thbewithyou #starwars #disney #family #yoda #doordonotthereisnotry #benhank #nickyhank #papavjm #memories ❤️🖤💛🤍
🥳Jump Up Jump Up and Get Down! Happy Birthday Ben 10!! Best. Time. Ever. 💥 🎤 drop 😆 #happybirthday #benhank #houseofair #friends #celebrate #benis10 🎂 🎉🥰
🎉BEN IS 🔟✨!!! #happybirthday to my smart, funny, sporty, crafty first born! Keep growing and pushing yourself and enjoying life! You light up every room you enter. Always shine brightly!!! We ❤️ you! #benhank #benis10 #birthday #celebrate #family #doubledigits 😘 Mom ✨🦄
🎿 Spring Break fun @palisadestahoe with #benhank #nickyhank and @scubajax. This trip sealed their love of skiing ⛷️ and the snow ❄️! Snow Snow Snow Snow Snow! White Christmas has new meaning now! Until next time…or maybe through July this year! 😂 #family #travel #springbreak #shred #ski #tahoe #staywarm 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🌊 🐚 Sometimes 24 hours away is all you need to reset. Fresh ocean air can have that effect! 🦀 🐠 Great to see so many otters, too! Nick even met Harry Potter, I mean Hairy Otter! 😂 Until next time! Sparkle On, KLM ✨🦄 #benhank #nickyhank #montereybayaquarium #ocean #family
✈️ Teach a kid to travel and he will become a global citizen and want to travel forever, or something like that! They are at such a fun age that we get to do stuff together that I actually like, too! And since travel is my favorite I REALLY want them to like it and want to explore the 🌎 with me. We truly had the best time, learned so much, watched tons of futbol, explored, tried new foods, walked walked walked, played cards, shopped, laughed a lot. Plus, we got to check of my bucket list item of seeing the Northern Lights…twice! And they took the tube, got their own tickets and appropriately minded the gap. I’m constantly amazed at how savvy they are for their age. My kids will definitely not die in the zombie apocalypse. And that makes me really proud. 😂 We learn so much in travel and I’m thrilled to be able to share these amazing trips with my boys. ❤️Love you England and Iceland! Until our next trip! 🇬🇧 🇮🇸 #travel #adventure #europe #london #iceland #gogogo #travelbug #boymom #towerbridge #toweroflondon #harrypotter #wbtourlondon #hydepark #reykjavik #bluelagoon #secretlagoon #northernlights #tatemodern #globetheatre #soccer #worldcup #benhank #nickyhank #justgo #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🎃 I love ❤️ Halloween SOOOOOO much! 👻 Another great one in the books! To quote Alice “I ca’n’t explain myself, I’m afraid, Sir, because I am not myself, you see.” And isn’t that the whole point of the holiday!? Time to start thinking up next years’ theme. Maybe I will finally get #benhank and #nickyhank to do a family costume with me! 💀 #happyhalloween #trickortreat #alice #sandy #bopeep #wonderwoman #minnie #strongwomen #alwaysdressup #whichwayshouldigo #youdbettershapeup #soccermom #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
📷 🌺 Holiday Card Preview! We loved working with @katherinefiordalis to capture our #modernfamily in this yearly tradition. Her energy, eye and coordination were so appreciated and impressive! It’s amazing to see how my boys grow each year, not only in height but also in their personalities and style. #benhank and #nickhank chose our theme of “SF HipsterFancy” and we felt fabulous smiling in the early am light down this iconic #balmyalley. Can’t wait to see the final product! @allaround_sf @fassivale #family #boymom #holidaycards #smile #cheese #staystill #sfhipster #posers #memories 😘 #sparkleon ✨🦄 KLM
🍎✏️✂️Happy First Day of 4th grade to this wonderful boy! What a great year you’ll have at Peabody with the best teachers and friends. Keep being the curious lifelong learner you are. We are so proud of you! 📚📓🏫 #4thgrade #peabody #sanfrancisco #sfusd #learning #summersover #fancyfirstdayoutfit #msabdallah #benhank #modernfamily @fassivale @allaround_sf
🌊⛺️ Another year in the books for our annual #bodegabay camping trip! So wonderful to see family and friends, enjoy the great outdoors and all that it brings us, run freely and play…We may get cold and tired and scraped by trees and bike crashes with sand in our ears but I wouldn’t change a thing. Wonderful that @diesilva98 brought #margaritasinthehottub in Papa’s absence. #papavjm He was greatly missed but with us in spirit. Playing cards against humanity with @auntpatio @lorisullivan721 Uncle Joe, Maggie, Charlene, Ger and Shane was just the right amount of distraction and laughs! Already planning next year’s adventure and fun plans in between. Great way to end this whirlwind summer! #family #friends #camping #endofsummer #bodegabay #doranbeach #boymom #biking #fishing #sandcastles #cleanthatboat #castfarther #peoplefirst #brothers #benhank #nickyhank #kristafromroseville #justgo #gogogo #youcandoit #sparkleon 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🍉😎❤️ Summer #memories with the family you choose! There’s just something special about #sonoma time. 🏖 🌭 🏊♀️ #family #friends #besties #boymom #pooltime #sun #fun #tiatt #mpsrocks #benhank #nickyhank #margaritasinthehottub #iamjo #posers #tomatotomatoe #thefamilyyouchoose 😘 klm ✨🦄 @melissammoore1 @katisola2160 @fassivale
🇺🇸💥Happy Fourth of July! Oh, favorite holiday of mine…how I love you. ❤️🤍💙 We will always fight for our independence even when all hope may seem lost because that’s when we must fight the hardest. And until things turn around, we always have fireworks. 🎇Loved celebrating with great friends and family! lorrainemulvihill @amber.g99 @fassivale @anniegp @megspencer 🧨 #happyfourth #sonoma #family #poolparty #boymom #friends #froseallday #benhank #nickyhank #merica 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🏀⛹️ … I wish I was little bit taller I wish I was a baller I wish I had a girl who looked good I would call her… (NOPE…No phones for you! 🤪😂They are growing up TOO fast for sure!📵) #sonoma #summer #basketball #brothers #sports #coolkids #boymom #surfsup #funinthesun #staycool #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon 😘 KLM✨🦄
4️⃣🥳I’ve got a 4th Grader! Let’s celebrate! #4thgrade #benhank #celebrate #redmeatnight #fancy #family #boymom #proudmama 😘 KLM ✨🦄
🥰💥Just two brothers being brotherly after a long day…nothing some burritos and silliness can’t fix. They are my everything. Love you, bugs. 😘, Jo #benhank #nickyhank #blackcrowesfromthecar #napa #alwaysbesilly #family #youcandohardthings #bebrave #staypositive #openanewwindow #openanewdoor #sparkleon ✨🦄
🥰Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mamas out there. It’s a hard job but I wouldn’t change a thing. Sending love to those who have lost theirs or experienced challenges with motherhood. We see you and love you. 💕 I feel so lucky to have a wonderful relationship with my Mom and appreciate her even more since becoming a mom myself. Books ARE heavy, Mimi! 😂 I will try to listen to your advice even more and adopt it more quickly. I still have so much to learn! I’m also grateful that I have two unique boys who are my best friends and make me smile daily. I love you both more than you will ever know. Double infinity, and beyond! Parenthood takes a village and I’m so appreciative of mine. 🫶🙏❤️ #happymothersday #boymom #family #margaritasinthehottub #benhank #nickyhank #celebrate #sonoma #beautifulday #love #sparkleon ✨🦄
🪡🧵What an amazing job @ellenenebo of Quilt My Tees in Minnesota did turning #papavjm s old t-shirt 👕collection into these beautiful cool quilts for #benhank and #nickyhank! Such wonderful memories of 🏍 motorcycles, old 🚗 cars, legos 🏢, sports ⚾️ 🏈 games and more. And a great keepsake for each of them. Thanks Mimi #margaritasinthehottub for this amazingly unique gift! Connect with Ellen to turn your goodwill donation into a treasure. She’s so talented!!! #memories #tshirtquilt #creativity #craftsmanship #grandparents #boymom #sparkleon
📍✈️🌎Spring Break Part 2 Day 9: We really ended our trip with a bang! After breakfast we toured the city to hit all of the best sights with the boys, Tom, @fassivale and his friend Julie from Córdoba who is an #aupair in the Philly suburbs (she’s amazing!!). They got some time Friday to catch up without crazy kids around and we all hung Sat and had a blast diving deep into US history and enjoying a Jim’s Cheesesteak for lunch. Another swim in our giant bathtub of a pool with our party crew and we made the last minute decision to go to the playoff game to see the @sixers kick some Raptor tail feathers. #benhank and #nickhank absolutely loved it and couldn’t stop yelling some pretty funny things. Let’s just say the Philly fans are at lot more “enthusiastic” and crass than the SF sports teams. 😂 It was a fabulous end to the trip that left us already planning our next adventures. There’s so much more to do and see. And there always will be. How lucky are we! 😘, KLM ✨🌈🦄 #adventureawaits #springbreak #gogogo #gosixers #benfranklin #independence #revolution #history #fightforwhatyoubelieve #refyousuck #catdontjump! 😂 #memories #happy #grateful #travelrocks #sparkleon
📍✈️🌎Spring Break Part 2, Day 8: Philadelphia! Another amazing reunion with an oldie and goodie Tom! We’ve known each other about 33 years and our friendship is still going strong. Wonderful to get a tour of the city by a local who knows all of the secret haunts. The kids loved eating by the water and seeing a submarine and other cool sights. They got some great lessons from this east coast gentleman. They will be pulling out my chair at dinner from now on! 💕 The giant outdoor heated pool was also an added perk after a long day of travel. We do love our swimming pools on vacation! Relaxation is a must when your default is #gogogo! #springbreak #philly #reunion #twolawyerswalkintoabar 😂 #adventure #fancy #dressup #elevatorselfie #friends #boymom #fullmoon #howl #benhank #nickyhank @fassivale
📍✈️🌎Spring Break Part 2, Day 7: Emotional visit to the World Trade Center Memorial where we paid our respects and reflected. Wonderful catching up with one of my oldest and bestest friends @heatherdmatthies. #soutsisters chatting away as if we never missed a beat! Shopping 🛍, a breezy walk on the High Line followed by checking out two fab Argentinian restaurants for empanadas, steak 🥩 and Malbec. We will turn @fassivale into a wine 🍷 snob yet! 😂 We packed a lot into our days in #nyc but it was well worth it. A little something for everyone…and LOTS of steps! 😘, KLM #travel #springbreak #remember911 #friendship #soulsisters #booksareheavy #feather #kreessduh #fancy #boymom #argentinefeast #malbec #gogogo #adventure #benhank #nickyhank
📍🗺✈️Spring Break Part 2 Day 6 am: #statuteofliberty @serendipity3nyc @amnh @brooklynbridgeig. I’ve been to NYC many times but it was always to visit friends so we did local stuff, not your typical touristy activities. So much fun to check lots of boxes off my list! #springbreak #gogogo #adventure #frozenhotchocolate #yumyumdumdum #family #boymom #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon
📍🗺🚙Spring Break Part 2, Day 5: #nyc never disappoints! #centralparkzoo #carriageride #moma #foodies #wineos #fancy #brightlightsbigcity #springbreak #family #adventure #gogogo #benhank #nickyhank #rainwontstopus @fassivale
📍🗺🚙 Day 4 Spring Break Part 2: #plymouthrock , #Breakers #newportcarmuseum @ Newport, RI, #yale and into #nyc. #springbreak #roadtripininarentalcar 😂 #adventure #eastcoast #fun #stopwhereyouwant #gogogo #sparkleon #studyhardsoyiucsngotoyale #wemissyourorygilmore 😂 #benhank #nickyhank @fassivale
❤️✈️📍More #boston fun with @fassivale! Part of the cultural exchange nanny program is showing him our country. Hope you enjoyed it!! #outtakes #benhank #nickyhank #fancy #photoshoot #roadtrip #springbreak
🌎✈️🧭 “All that is gold does not glitter✨, Not all those who wander are lost.” 🗺 For those who want a little #book #trivia, it’s a line from a #Tolkien poem whereby #Gandalf is trying to help Frodo determine whether Strider is indeed Aragorn. It’s also a great line for self reflection. #Traveling is my passion so when the boys’ spring trips were different weeks with a week (well, 5 days!) in between well of course we would take two #springbreak trips. I know many of you think I’m crazy but I don’t care. I love it. In travel we find ourselves. Discover new adventures and connections. And have time to find our own glitter and shine ourselves up. Reset, perhaps. Some don’t enjoy it but my soul would die without it. With not much of a break to prepare for Part 2 I decided to just enjoy my time and not do my typical nightly chronicles. I enjoy connecting with friends and creating a log of the memories of our life which is why social media is so much fun. It’s also draining. Sitting back in the moment is a useful tool. I’m not good at it but in working to stay present a lot of peace and calm washed over me. Outside of the chaos I could see clearly. So…life lesson of the day, follow your gut even if it propels you to take two crazy road trips in a three week span. Don’t worry about what others think. You only live once. May your life and choices glitter brightly for you. 😘, KLM ✨🌈🦄 #sparkleon Here we are leaving the Philly hotel this am Day 10 and our signature elevator selfie and our adventures Day 1-3 in #boston. Enjoy, albeit a bit belated. #vacation #roadtrip #eastcoast #family #adventure #followyourgut #gogogo #bebrave #1 rule of vacation #dontdie #havefun #benhank #nickyhank #frozenfour #boymom #youdoyou
🥳🎂🎊HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEN!! Stay cool and fancy in your sweet rides. I know you’ll be driving me around in one of your own soon! 9 will be the best year yet! We love you so much! #happybirthday #celebrate #thisis9 #racecar #obsessed #benihana #benhank #buggatiferrarilamboohmy #modernfamily @allaround_sf
🎂🥳🎊 #happybirthday #party to #benhank!!! #footballislife #thisis9 #family #friends #beautifulday #touchdown Thanks to everyone who came to #celebrate! Ben had the best time! @allaround_sf @beccarozell @brady1murray @darleen.franklin.99 @diesilva98 @fassivale @keithnottonson @crawlwalkrunclimb @chrissyc1112 @kristenmarshchristensen @joshclemm
🗺🚦🖤❤️💛Spring Break Part 1 Day 7: Some life lessons from our trip to @disney. Feel the Magic. Spread your sparkle. Adventure near and far. Open your mind. Do the right thing for your family, friends, community, the planet and yourself. Take risks. Feel your feels. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Have a conscience. Be honest. Act with integrity. Don’t be fooled. You have to hold the mirror up always. Love. Have fun. Dream. There are lots of ways to be heroes. Princesses come in many different packages. Laugh often. Make memories. Have faith. Thanks, @disneyland. I love you. I think “you know.” 😂 #springbreak #roadtripininthemoose #disneyland #lifelessons #family #benhank #nickyhank #memories #budgetblown #boymom #welovevalentin #iloveyou #iknow #youcanneverhavetoomanyears #gogogo #sparkleon @fassivale Thanks for being a fab travel companion. We hope your first California road trip adventure was memorable. You’re a natural #disneyfan! XOXO, KLM 😘✨🌈🦄
🗺🚦❤️🖤💛Spring Break Part 1, Day 6: We made it to the happiest place on Earth 🌎 @disneyland! With @fassivale and @k_l00m in tow, #benhank and #nickyhank had the bestest most super duper trooper time exploring the parks, showing first-timer Valentin the wonderful magic and craziness that is #disney, eating too many churros, experiencing the new #spiderman and #starwars rides, and watching @karen4urfitness do impressive handstands in front of all of the major attractions, all the while being #brave and #fun and #flexible and #adventurous. We took a quick break for dinner and hot tubbing before heading back for fireworks and some great rides after the lines died down. And Nick became a #disneymountaineer after doing Splash, Thunder and Space Mountains all in one day! Watching the fireworks from our hotel window wasn’t so bad either. 12.3 miles under our belts today. After breaking through the ropes this am we definitely don’t need to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow so I’m ready for some well deserved sleeping in. Time for magical #tinkerbell dust #memory making dreams for this #disneymom! Inside Out me, Mickey! 😂 #springbreak #roadtripininthemoose #disney #epicday #californiaadventure #disneyland #friends #family #boymom #beflexible #pintraders #onlyhadtwochurros #feelthemagic #gogogo #sparkleon 🌈🦄 XOXO, KLM
🗺🚦🦌Spring Break 2022 Part 1, Day 5: the sun was shining as we enjoyed a beautiful day at the @gettymuseum overlooking LA. More art classes, interesting discussions and culture exposure along with the typical 💲shake down in the Museum Store. 😂 🖼 🎨 I typically don’t mind when it’s for “smart” or “sporty” things but they are getting way too good at it (pan to their doe 👀…). After a lovely lunch near the Santa Monica Pier, we made it to Anaheim for some yummy burgers 🍔 and @disneyland prep. Another shakedown ensued but how could I say no to the #magic and excitement in the air?? #benhank was styling @fassivale in #starwars head to toe while Nick was helping with my selections. When I put on a #rainbowunicorn 🌈🦄tshirt and asked my stylist if it had TOO many sparkles on it, my day was made when #nickyhank responded “you can never have TOO many sparkles✨, Mom!” You’re right, child. There are NEVER too many sparkles. That’s my son! They do listen to me! The two room suite was worth the slight splurge so everyone could have their own bed before the mayhem begins tomorrow. Excited to see @k_l00m and get her Disney sparkle. Cuz’ you can never have too much ✨✨✨sparkle! XOXO 😘, KLM #springbreak #roadtripininthemoose #family #gettymuseum #museumlovers #art #roadtrip #disney #theyonlyranoffonce #nevertoomanysparkles #gogogo #sparkleon
🗺🚦🌧☔️Spring Break 2022 Part 1, Day 4: The rain came down so we entertained ourselves inside. Cars, cars and more cars to #benhank, #nickyhank and @fassivale’s hearts’ content at the @petersenmuseum. We then had a quick bite and visited the @thelabreatarpits for history and a mammoth’s 🦣 worth of fun! When near the @lacma you can’t not stop in for the great exhibits and so many teaching opportunities. So many thinking 🤔 moments. New art and old abounded. Picasso, Hockney, Pollack…oh, my! My little cultured explorers really enjoyed teaching me about art from their school lessons. After a rainy rooftop swim we headed to Santa Monica for a fabulous dinner @eatnorthitalia dressed to the nines in our fancy outfits. No kids meals here. Makes me proud…and broke. 😂 Almost done with @bridgertonnetflix Season 2 so apologies for excluding many of our antics. Gotta see how Shonda deviated from the fab books again! I’m addicted. Sleep tight, fair readers. Mama needs some alone time while getting snuggled. XOXO, KLM 😘 #springbreak #family #roadtripininthemoose #art #history #physics #touriststuffisfun #boymom #fancy #suitup #datenight #gogogo #sparkleon ✨🦄
🗺🚦🦌Spring Break 2022 Part 1, Day 2. We finished off our fun in Monterey with some morning exercise on the buggie bike thingy, hit up the @montereybayaquarium 🐟🐠🦭and a super random but very fun and funny mirror maze) and walked around @carmelbythesea for lunch and shopping. Then off to @solvangusa where we swam, did our best @cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹⚽️imitation and started to explore this super cute quaint town. A lovely steak 🥩 dinner @coastrangerestaurant was the perfect end to an overall great day. The kids are sleeping. @fassivale is off to be young and meet new people, @fernetbranca in hand. And I get to enjoy @bridgertonnetflix Season 2 on my phone while getting snuggled by #benhank (my bedmate for the night. V gets #nickyhank!) Everyone gets what they want on vacation, am I right!? Can’t wait for fancy pancakes in the morning and some Santa Barbara fun before we head to the City of Angels. 😘 xoxo, KLM #roadtripininthemoose #springbreak #solvang #monterey #carmelbythesea #boymom #family #gogogo #sparkleon ✨🦄
🗺🚦Spring Break 2022 Part 1: California Dreamin’! Welcome to Road Tripin’ in the Moose. For those of you who followed us last year for #roadtripininthechicken 🐓, the truck we lovingly called “The Chicken” met an early demise and made its way to the metal graveyard late last year. So welcome to #thehankzels Road Trip Adventures 2.0 in our new SUV we named The Moose (but more on Moosey later…) Tonight we made it to our first destination @cityofmonterey and enjoyed the hot tub @portolahotel and a yummy Italian dinner before walking the old wharf for some candy snacks. Our nanny Valentin @fassivale is joining us on our adventures and as a friendly reminder he is our wonderful au pair/nanny and NOT my boyfriend! (You may remember the famous confusion over our fab prior nanny Diego that lead to the hilarious #notaboyfriend post so yuck it up and get your giggles out now!) We’ve only had three meltdowns, two pee on the side of a road / port-a-potty stops, one beautiful yet windy detour to avoid terrible accident traffic, a competition to see the 🌊 ocean first, and a forgotten pair of pajamas so I’m sleeping in workout clothes. But we are here and smiling and got all fancy for dinner so all is right in the world. And a glass of good cab 🍷 never hurts. Join along this week to see all of the fun. We can’t wait to share it with you! Send us your suggestions and ideas. Heading South tomorrow through Santa Barbara to LA to Disney! 😘 #springbreak #roadtrip #monterey #justgo #boymom #benhank #nickyhank #ourvalentin #gogogo #roadtripininthemoose 🦌(⬅️this is the closest animal emoji I could find to a moose!) #wishmeluck 🤞🍀😉 #sparkleon. ❌🅾️, KLM
⚽️🏟🥅 #goooooooaaaaalllll #benhank #glens #sanfrancisco #citykids #boymom #proud #ronaldo #goals
#datenight #boymom #fancy #love #family #sundaydinner #redmeatnight #shopping #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon ✨🦄💖
🥩 🍷 🥗 #fancylike #steak #redmeatnight #dressup #brothers #boymom #posers ❤️🥰 @fassivale #benhank #nickyhank
🌲🎿 #skiing #roadtrip #southlaketahoe #kirkwood #beautiful #boymom #gogogo 🏔 @fassivale @kirkwoodmtn @visitsouthlaketahoe. First road trip in the Moose!! #benhank #nickyhank
❤️Love from my boys, Lady and the Tramp style! #margaritasinthehottub and #papavjm sent me a great card, too! They made me feel so loved. Happy Valentine’s Day!❤️ #happyvalentinesday #family #boymom #benhank #nickyhank #love #ilovecardssomuch 🥰
🥤 So we were headed to pick up drinks around the corner and I hear my 6 and 8 year olds having a full on tween conversation in the bathroom as follows: “Hey Nick. Let’s get dressed up to pick up Boba.” “OK bro. I’ll wear my hoody jeans jacket. You wear your new fancy sweater and layer your jean jacket. Smart shoes. And cologne”. “OK but don’t overdo it. Mom says one squirt ONLY of cologne. You don’t want to stink. And less accessories are best. You don’t need your man bag. Mom’s paying.” Ha yes she is. Cutest mini date but what am I in for when they are actually teens!?? 😂 So much fun, I think!! #benhank #nickyhank #citykids #bobadate #boymom #family #theydolistentoyou #proudmama #youdontneedareasontogetfancy #sparkleon
🏖 Beach days are the best days! Lots of fun with #papavjm #margaritasinthehottub #benhank #nickyhank @fassivale at #bodegabay #doranbeach. #family #saturday #picnic #sunnyday #minitoadtrip ☀️ 🌊 🎣
❤️👍😍Legos are in our blood! Friday night out with #benhank #nickyhank and our fab au pair (aka nanny) Valentin @fassivale. “Build your imagination” as #papavjm the Legomaster always says! #legos #family #fridayvibes #adventures #sanfrancisco #artofthebrick #boymom #earningmywings #sparkleon
#family ❤️🥰 Some fun adventures over the last few months. #memories #calistoga #papavjm #margaritasinthehottub #benhank #nickyhank #boymom #gogogo #fearthebeard #sonoma
🥳🍾⚡️ #thisis44 ✨🦄🎉 #happybirthday #celebrate #fun #memories #family #adventure #gogogo #gobigorgohome #triplehoot #sparklyunicorn #liveyourbestlife #sparkleon #benhank #nickyhank
🚙 💚 Today was a good day! Happy Pre-Birthday to me! 💚🍾But it was more for the smiles and excitement on my boys’ faces when I pulled up! Dreams can come true! 😆⚡️💥🏎 #vegas #vegasbaby #lamborghini #greenmachine #vroomvroom #boymom #family #gettheextrainsurance #gogogo #sparkleon #nickyhank #benhank
🇦🇷 Welcome to San Francisco, @fassivale Valentin! We are so excited to show you our country. #benhank and #nickyhank have already planned your next six months with us! Get ready for lots of adventures to come! @diesilva98 is ready to show you the ropes and share the secrets of these crazy boys!! 🇺🇸 #welcometoamerica #aupair #nanny #argentina #sanfrancisco #culturalexchange #adventures #boymom #family #modernfamily
❤️🎄🎅MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 🎁💚❤️ #merrychristmas #happyholidays #family #christmascrackers #originaljoes #alwayswearthecrown #knockknock #santascoming 🛷🔔🎄🎁✨ #benhank #nickyhank #papavjm #margaritasinthehottub #hohoho
🎶 🏡 A night out at the symphony for Home Alone fun with my #citykids. Good manners. Trying new foods. Not kicking the chair in front of them. And they even dressed themselves! Happy Holiday fun! 🎄 #happyholidays #homealone #sfsymphony #clevercello #johnwilliams #keepthechangeyafilthyanimal 😂 #benhank #nickyhank #sparkleon
🦃🍾Happy Thanksgiving!! 🍂🍁 #thanksgiving #family #turkey #gobblegobble #stuffed #benhank #nickyhank #boymom #sparkleon #gogogo #onlymadestuffing #boughttherest #winning 🏆 @diesilva98 @chrisfeeny #sonoma
❤️👏🤪🎤🎶Witnessing #benhank and #nickyhank jammin’ with #papavjm made my weekend! #family #hankzelfamilysingers #weekendvibes #playgoosebumps #mamadj #alwayshavefun #boymom #margaritasinthehottub is awesome too! 😘
🕷🕸Happy Halloween, school edition! 👻 🎃 #happyhalloween #hansolo #policeman #boo #nickyhank #benhank #parade #brothers #boymom #celebrate
🎃🕷🕸🧙Pumpkin Patch Day!! ❤️🤗Half Moon Bay Fun! #halloween #pumpkinpatch #family #haybalemaze #boymom #pumpkins #facepainting #benhank #nickyhank 🎃
🏖 I had a dream last night that I was running down #doranbeach a la Maria in Sound of Music as the waves crashed over my feet…I woke up smiling. All of our crazy #gogogo trips are exhausting but they are also super fun, memorable, connecting, and food for the soul. And they are a choice. And I love them. We had a wonderful end of Summer yearly ⛺️ camping trip and the boys are already talking about what’s on our camping agenda for next year. In all of our fun I forgot to post the memories so here you go. Always wonderful spending time with Mimi #margaritasinthehottub and #papavjm as well as the Aunties @auntpatio @lorisullivan721 Maggi Shane and Joey! Can’t wait to 💨 breathe in the bay air again soon! #bodegabay #camping #doranbeach #family #benhank #nickhank #campingmama #gogogo #sparkleon #justbreathe 🚤 🎣 🏖 🌊
📸♥️💚Holiday Photo Shoot yesterday with @carly_tabak_photography @carlytabak. She always picks the best spots, styles me to the nines and secures cherry shots in 30 mins. These are the pre-shots on my camera and they turned out pretty great. Our “fancy” red black and white theme selected by #nickyhank was a hit! #benhank even wore his fancy outfit. And #papavjm was with us so the boys got to pose with Papa. As always the incomparable @diesilva98 stole the show with his red center stage look. Can’t wait to see the professional shots from Carly!! Check her out and her shop on @onekingslane! So proud of you and all of your accomplishments, friend!!! ♥️💚📸🍾 #family #photoshoot #holidaycards #sanfrancisco #modernfamily #posers #fancy #boymomsparkles
📚✏️🖍Happy First Day of Third Grade to Ben! He’s 8 and already planning to own a car dealership when he grows up. Way to aim high, my little entrepreneur! Great things are ahead this year at Peabody! Knock um’ dead! 📓📆📝 #benhank #peabody #sfusd #sanfrancisco #thirdgrade #thisis8 #cars #motorhead #lamborghini V. #ferrari #boymom #proudmama #modernfamily ❤️
💞♥️🧡💙Customized Back-To-School @nike sneakers 👟 courtesy of #benhank and #nickyhank . Their first venture is born. Always knew I’d be their first paying 💵 customer. Cost me a pretty 🤑penny but totally worth it! DM me if you want a pair! #customizeit #art #entrepreneur #beunique #justdoit #becoolforschool #bennickinc #boymom #supercoolmom
❤️🎣My little fisherman is getting so good at the catch and telling his “big fish” stories to go with it! 🎣 #benhank #fishing #uppersac #mountshasta #catchafish #peaceful #patience #naturalist #conservation #nature
🚤 Boatin’ ⛳️ Golfin’ 😎 Chillin’ #vacation #lakelife #lakesiskiyou #mountshasta #onapontoon #justjump #bebrave #getwet #gogogo @chrisfeeny #benhank #nickyhank
🏔🏞🛶I’m gonna soak up some sun! #lakelife #mountshasta #lakesiskiyou #paddleboarding #herecomesthesun #friends #family @chrisfeeny #benhank #nickyhank