Last weekend I started the path down accomplishing a lifelong dream.

We booked our plane tickets to Europe… and there is no emoticon or stock photo that will effectively capture that emotion.

I’ve dreamed about, planned for and wanted to go to Europe, Paris specifically, since I was five years old. When my dad used to come home from work and I was in kindergarten I would greet him, “Bonjour, papa”.  I started taking afterschool french lessons in first grade, continued with extra-curricular before-school French classes in middle school, and continued classes through high school and college. As recently as a few years ago I would drive around with “Learn French” CDs playing in the car to brush up on my French so it wouldn’t become rusty.

And last weekend, we made the first steps along this very bucket list item – we booked flights! We’ll be celebrating our five year anniversary with this trip, the only way we could justify the extravagance, and it will be unlike any other vacation we’ve ever taken.

Three countries, two people and another stop on our awesome journey.

Right now the plan is to visit Germany, France and the Netherlands.

What should we see, where should we stay? We’d love your advice as we get more into the weeds with this exciting trip!