Surviving a road trip with kids

Most people cringe when they think of taking a road trip with kids, but have to say that I kind of look forward to it. I am not talking about the 1-3 hour trips, I am talking about the long "Are we there yet" drives from 5 hours to days. To find the source of this odd desire you have to travel way back in the day (I mean way back as I am starting to get grey hair) to when my parents took us on road trips. They were amazing at this feat! Riding in the car to the place of destination was almost as fun and sometimes more memorable then the actual destination. That is not to say we didn't have difficult times, but in general they were great memories. You have only to watch our family videos for proof.

Anyway I believe there are many keys to success in road trips with kids. In hopes of helping families everywhere who are hesistant to go on a road trip I will list a couple of the things I have learned. I also got a little creative and did a few projects I will show below.

1) Have plenty of snacks & treats. This is important. Everyone gets irritable when they get hungary. The key here is the right kind of snacks. I like to pre cut some sandwich turkey and cheese into slices that fit perfectly on crackers for cracker sandwiches. The protein helps you feel full longer and you don't get the sugar rush. Other healthy things I also pack along are washed and pulled grapes, the pre sliced apples you get at the store in a bag, granola bars, teddy grahms, dried fruit, nuts, and pretzels. The other treats have minimal mess (no chocolate), but a great for a quick fix. I bring things like starbursts, licorice, rice krispy treats, life saver's, and something special like Peachie o's, or gummy bears. I really try and save the treats for the later part of the drive or after everything else doesn't work. Kids, candy, and the car don't always mix well!

2) Save the electronics for the way home or the later part of the drive. They are great for a little while but kids do get bored of them eventually. You want them to be available in the clutch moment.

3) have lots of non-electronic things to do. I will usually buy one new magic marker kit for each kid for the trip and bring it out on the way home. I also printed off and laminated a lot of mazes, crossword puzzles, word searches, connect the dots, and other games and activities. I found washable dry erase markers that worked on the laminate. They also had a lot of coloring pages of their favorite TV characters I printed from the internet. This is where my first project comes in. I wanted a lap table for the kids to color on but everything on the internet was ~20 which is a lot X3. I went a little crazy and came up with my own and they worked GREAT! Even better then I had hoped. I just bought some metal cookie sheets (don't get teflon coated) and glued some fleece fabric on the back side with my hot glue gun. This was the end result.

The best part was since they were metal I could use magnetic stuff on them. I printed off some of their favorite TV characters from the internet, laminated them, and stuck a magnet on the back and the kids played with them for quite a while! The edges on the cookie sheets helped keep their papers and markers in. I also glued magnets to the bottom of water cups and snack cups so they would stay put on the sheet and they did! As you can see in the picture we also bought some cheep reading lights from walmart so they could color when it got dark without bothering the driver. They did this for hours!

3)Bring games to do as a family. We like playing go fish, old maid, and uno. I also found some fun car bingo cards on the internet where they had to look for things out side and mark it on their card. It ended up being a family effort to fill it. I also found a printable license plate game you could mark off.

4) If you have a portable DVD player bring it. Bring several DVD's from home but also stop at Redbox's along the way and rent some new ones.

5) Rent, buy, or borrow some new books for the ride. Amazingly kids listen to them or read them much better in the car. They seem to have a better attention span! My parents did a lot of books on tape and they really helped pass the time quickly. We also read many classics in the car like the Wizard of Oz and the Hobbit.

6) Bring a blanket and pillow for each child. If possible bring a childs' neck pillow. The ones that are C-shaped. Also bring comfortable clothes and a couple of their favorite toys. I will usually bring a small new toy for each child. I also bring a couple of random things like glow sticks, punch balloons, and light up toys.

7) bring water but only in very slow sippy cups. You want those kids to work for a drink. I usually keep all water bottles up front with me.

8) Stop for lunch at a park where the kids can run, or a resturant with a play place. An extra 15 minutes of play time is totally worth it. When you do stop for a potty break make sure EVERYONE gets out and at least tries to use the potty.

9) Try to keep the car as tidy as possible. This will help everyone feel more calm, especially mom. I usually clean out the car really well before we go on a trip so it starts clean. I also came up with a few ideas to help keep the garbage to a minimum.

First I made a garbage sack for each child that hangs off the head rest or stability bar on the seat in front of them. In this picture it is the blue bag below his tray. I just sewed a simple bag the size of a gallon zip lock bag. I then added a couple of velcro straps to the back and there you have it...the car garbage sack. You put the gallon bag inside and just pull it out and dump it when it is full! (Sorry it is not a better picture)

This is my favorite idea I came up with. I absolutely HATE having all the markers, crayons, and other stuff running around loose on the seats and floor. They always get lost or broken. I went to the store and found these shower cubbies with suction cups and they were AWESOME for keeping everything contained. I got these at Walmart as well. By the end of the trip they were filled to the brim but they hung on and there was nothing on the floor. The kids loved having their own place to put things so they did a great job of keeping them filled.

10) Relax and enjoy. Everyone is under stress including the kids. I really don't think car seats and boosters are all that comfortable so try to be understanding when they complain a bit after sitting for a long time. Remember the drive is part of the vacation so use the time to connect with your kids. If you can go sit with them, they will love it!

Special considerations for toddlers: They are a bit of a special bunch when it comes to car rides and can be a lot more demanding. I brought a lot of those "baby food in a bag" things and that helped prolong the time between meals. I also brought a giant bag of his favorite toys and even bought a few new ones that had flashing lights. They will need to get out of the car more often then older kids though.

Disneyland 2012

In January we decided to go to Disneyland in an attempt to go and return with pictures and the camera in our posession! Hence the reason I have posted so many pictures. The last time we went we had left Kyle at home and we thought he would love it this year. I could just imagine him saying "WOW" to everything all the time. He also loves being tossed in the air so we figured he would love the rides. Well things turned out a little differently then planned!

On Tuesday afternoon we left work early, picked up the kids and left for the drive. The kids had no idea where we were going, they just knew we were driving for a long time. The first even we stayed in St. George with Mike's parents in their trailor (more like a nice hotel room on wheels). We told the kids that night we were going to Disneyland the next day. At first Nick was upset we were not going to stay in the camper for the week but they eventually were excited.

The drive was not too bad on the way there due to all the preparations we made (more on that in my next blog)

We got to DL the next afternoon and checked in at our hotel. This time we stayed in the Ramada Plaza hotel in Anaheim. They had very nice rooms and a free breakfast. We would totally stay there again.

This is our first picture in DL.

Of course our first ride was "Buzz Lightyear." So far so good.

Not sure what face I am making here. I guess I was hypnotized by the flashing lights on the ride. Kyle was super nervous on this ride and whimpered most of the way through it. He did make it alive though.

After that we made our way over to "Autopia." Kyle and I ran up and down the ramps and took pictures while the others rode.

Andi & Grandma. It was great to have them along to help. We could not have done it without them!

Andi touching the water ball rock that Millions, no billions, of other dirty little hands have touched!

Grandma & Grandpa enjoying having their picture taken ;) (It may have been the most painful part of the trip for them!)

Nick and Andi in front of our other favorite ride "Toy Story Mania."

Our second day in the park was a Wednesday and the park was dead. So dead I had to take a picture. This has to be the best time of year to go to DL. The highs are around 70-75 and the lows at night are in the 50's so light jacket weather.

A picture with me in it---proof I was there!

This day we started trying to get Kyle to try different rides, but he hated them ALL. He even hated the Storyboat land ride which is a giant tug boat that SLOWLY glides around and you look at tiny models of the Disney stories. He SCREAMED through the whole thing and clawed me trying to get away. I have the scratches to prove it. He was terrified of every single ride including the train and the monorail. The only one he liked was the Merry-go-round. I probably rode that about 15 times and Mike around that many as well.

This is how I spent most of my time with Kyle....taking his picture. He did say wow to the rollercoasters going around as long as he was at a safe distance. He also made lots of funny faces.

Andi was the opposite of Kyle. She could not get enough of the rides. This year was the first time she was tall enough for California Screamer and she LOVED it. She had to have ridden it at least 10 times!

Kyle, Nick and Myself taking a little break.

We did love all the rides in Bugs land (not Kyle of course)

Our couple of little crazies!

We did run into Buzz Lightyear and he even got Kyle to laugh! Andi was on California Screamer with uncle Mark during this picture.

Kyle and another ride on the Merry-go-round.

Nick showing his mad face as we were no going to stand in line that minute for Toy Story Mania. We saw this face a lot!

At least Kyle liked his stroller and didn't mind sitting in it occasionally.

What? Another picture of me? Wow Mike went crazy this time!

Nick on Pirate Island.

The three amigos on Pirate Island.

This is one little thing that saved our cans with Kyle. I brought some of those fruit bags for babies (basically baby food in a bag) and that ended up being one of the only things he would eat consistantly.

Oh what? Another ride on the Merry-go-round? Weird.

Turns out Kyle does love furniture that is his size.

The ride home was eventful with Kyle crying most of the way. I think by then he'd had it!

We did have a great time but I think it will be a couple of years before we go again. By then Kyle may think it is fun and hopefully Nick will be willing to go on more rides.

Kyle-what can we say?

Oh Kyle...He sure keeps us hopping! Kyle likes the piano. One day I heard him playing the piano which he does a lot. Then the playing stopped for a bit and I got suspicious. This is what I found....

Another night he kept pulling people off our Wii board until we finally let him play. He knew just what to do!

We are never bored at our house.

Christmas 2011

I don't know why but Mike and I had been looking forward to Christmas Day this year more then any other year. It may have had something to do with Nick and Andi both being very excited.

At 7:00 am (I know heavenly right!) we were awoken by Nick and Andi excitedly telling us Santa had come. They then had do wait while Mike and I got dressed. By then Kyle was up and had joined the excited crew.

Here they are waiting...



When it was time they all ran into the living room with screams and yells. Kyle added in the noise and fun but he really had no idea why. It was all very confusing to him.

This year we gave Nick and Andi new bikes which were sorely needed! They loved all their toys and clothing from family and friends! Thank you everyone!

They also got some crash cars that go back together when you push a button. They both loved these!

After presents we had the Moser's over for Christmas breakfast. I guess I was either pretty busy putting it together or really hungary because I forgot to take any pictures. Really, they would probably prefer it that way!

Following that we went to church. I actually LOVED it! Our ward did a music program which brought in a beautiful spirit for the day.

After church we went home and had naps...yep best Christmas ever!

Nick and Andi gave each other bird houses to paint. (I may or may not have helped orchestrate that) so the day after Christmas they spent painting them. They loved painting them and they did a beautiful job!

What bird wouldn't want a house that looks like these two! Maybe I should let them paint my house...or not.

Christopher

This year Santa decided to send an Elf to our house. I have to say it was AWESOME having our visitor. Our elf's name is Christopher and he came with a book explaining why he was here for a visit at our house (another pair of eyes for Santa). Anyway, Christopher likes to hide so every night he would hide somewhere different. This made it so every morning was almost as exciting as Christmas morning. The kids would jump out of bed (usually I have to haul them out crying and whining), and run around the house trying to find Christopher. Some nights he got into things. Other nights he left notes and candy canes for the kids when he noticed them helping each other or someone else. In the end I am not sure who had more fun with it...the kids or Mom and Dad!

This is Christopher Elph-in-kins (search for "Elf on the Shelf" on the internet)

One night Christopher found the tooth paste on the counter and wrote messages to the kids on the mirror..."I'm watching you"...and..."Nick eat your dinner." This was the first message he had written to our family. Nick's eyes about popped out of his head and he nearly licked his plate clean that night! Andrea noticed all the cute little elf footprint on the counter top.

Andrea and Nick were more then willing to clean up after the elf! (wish we could have him all year)

Nick doing his share of work. Notice the elf moved when the kids left the room. He does that as he does not like to be touched by the kids or he loses his magic.

Another night the kids caught Christopher out playing games and eating M&M's with the other toys. He had used his magic to bring them to life.

Another time he tried to make hot chocolate but we think he could not get the water into the pot. He had spilled hot chocolate mix all over the counter top.

One of the nights Christopher got into the kids sock drawers and tried to decorate the tree. The video is below.

When they finally found him.

There he is!! Notice all the socks on the tree!

One of the nights he got hungry and ate an orange. Nick knows he peeled it because the peels were tiny and all over the floor. Christoper doesn't mean to make messes he just gets too excited. On a few nights Christopher wrote tiny little notes (1inX1in) about how happy he was that Andi helped Nick clean up his toys, or how Nick helped Mom set the table so fast, etc. He also left them each a peppermint candy. They were so proud when they read the notes.

The last night he was at our house was christmas eve as he had to go back with Santa of course. The kids were very upset, they didn't want Christmas to come because they didn't want Christopher to leave. The best was christmas morning. When the kids woke up they came out excited with smiles and quickly unwrapped presents, but there was no screaming or running around. Right after they had opened one present from Santa Andrea noticed the candy canes in the kitchen and this is their response.

Christopher definately got a bigger response then Santa Christmas morning! This was so much fun and I highly recommend all other parents out there to ask Santa to send an Elf on the Shelf for their family. The kids absolutely loved it and so did Mike and I! We can't wait for him to visit next year.