This stupid virus was bad enough when it left me stuck at home compromising between less attention for work and completely failing to home educate my kids. But at least at the end of the work day, I was able to lace up my running shoes and get out in the sun beneath the trees in our local state forest for a run. Now, thanks to the virus and even more so, the idiots who can’t follow simple social distancing rules, even that has been taken from me.

Well no one can say it isn’t an interesting time to bring a child into the world. A month ago, when we passed the seven month mark for our third baby boy, the world was still pretty normal. We thought the most stressful part of bringing a child into the world would be the election cycle and finding time to watch the Olympics between diaper changing sessions. Obviously, things have change more than a little bit since then.

After an evening of rides, zoo animals, and of course plenty of chocolate, we realized Hershey Park was the perfect place to take three year olds. Initially we weren’t sure they would be big enough to enjoy it since they obviously couldn’t ride the roller coasters or many of the other rides. But we found plenty to do and they absolutely loved it. Taking them to the park, ZooAmerica, and Chocolate World turned out to make for a perfect weekend together as a family.

Is it possible to practice social distancing and stay six feet away from everyone when running past them on singletrack trails? Going into the third week of continuous time at home and the second with kids home nonstop from daycare while trying to work, I’m desperately clinging to any activity that gives me a sense of normalcy, schedule, and sanity. On the few nights its been warm enough to walk, family treks up the street have helped, but nothing works better than a nice long run from the house.

I knew our daycare teachers didn’t have it easy before. But now, after just a few days at home non-stop with our twin boys, trying to maintain some semblance of a schedule and educational structure, I see just how hard it can be. Especially with both my wife and me trying to work throughout the day, it’s by no means easy. Where the boys were learning Spanish and starting to read words at school, we’re just trying to find a way not to ignore them when we’re both in meetings.

Granada is without a doubt the best place in Spain to feel truly connected to history. With nearly the entire city in view of the Alhambra palace, narrow medieval streets, markets in continuous operation since the Middle Ages, and an impossible to ignore Moorish influence, the whole city feels like taking a step back in time. Verdant gardens hide between ancient palace walls and buildings, offering an oasis from the strength of the Spanish sun.

Ever since my twins were born, I looked forward to the day I would take them skiing. I pictured family trips to Colorado, Canada, and of course the Alps where we would sip hot chocolate in lodges and sit to enjoy each others’ company in our cabin with the fireplace blazing. As much as we love our summer vacations, I couldn’t wait for excuses to travel together over the winter and build family memories together.

They say every age is hard, but just in different ways. From newborn to adult, kids have different challenges at each age. Just when you start to figure them out and get the hang of each developmental milestone, they change and a new one comes along. But for the first time, at three and a half years old, it’s actually not that bad. Maybe it’s just by comparison to the first three years when everything results in a tantrum.

Superyachts, Supercars, and sunburns. Marbella is without a doubt the prime destination in Spain’s Costa del Sol for the jet setting lifestyle and soaking up copious amounts of sun, drinks, and seafood. For two days in Marbella, we enjoyed the lifestyle and hustle and bustle of the town and beaches while later enjoying some more relaxed family time together at our resort. Even though the most high profile tourists may stay in their yacht cabins and hit the beach from a Ferrari, Marbella can actually be an affordable and family friendly destination.

In the last month I’ve run around Central Park’s large loop numerous times. First to mix up my daily run’s scenery on my morning run from my office. Second, in the Big Apple Half Marathon in December. Then, most recently, with a loop that featured a run up the famed Harlem Hill three times for the Fred Lebow Half Marathon. After all these loops, I’m willing to say that Central Park may be one of the best places for long runs in New York, but I don’t need to run it again any time soon.