Last summer, my family got together to celebrate the life of my amazing father. We had such an awesome time hanging out and being with each other that we decided we needed to do this every year. Hence the Mexico vacation idea was born. Mexico is a big country and we changed locations a couple of times before we finally landed on Ensenada. Ensenada, La Cenicienta del Pacifico, The Cinderella of the Pacific, is a the third-largest city in Baja California. It is about 80 miles south of San Diego.

We didn't stay at a fancy resort or hotel, we stayed in a lovely home we found on AirBnB that comfortably fit the eight of us. We were totally immersed in the culture. Many people we came across didn't speak English. Google translate became our best friend and our lifeline. We had to go to the grocery store a few times during our week in Ensenada to pick up the essentials, as well as Walmart. Translating menus at restaurants, translating labels on the packages of food, we were translating up a storm.

The kids had a great time. I haven't been able to take them to the ocean as much as I would have liked, so it was nice seeing them play in the sand and the waves. I love how the little things that annoy them about each other seem to melt away when we are on vacation. I was blessed to be able to take them to another land to experience things they can't here at home. Although, they were a little annoyed that we were having tacos almost every day, but who goes to Mexico and gets Italian, right?

While we were there I was able to celebrate my 40th birthday. It is a truly remarkable thing to wake up on your birthday in a foreign land. The best part of my birthday wasn't that I was in Mexico, but that in addition to my wonderful husband and kids, my mother and one of my brothers were also there to celebrate with me. I absolutely cherish every moment that I get to spend with them!