I love LOVE packing for trips! I get excited to make lists and organize! There is some sort of McHale super packing gene that starts taking over a couple of weeks before the trip and it makes sure I have as much packed as I can as soon as possible!
About a month before:
* I start thinking about my list (we are creatures of habit so we travel to the same beach. This means that the list is permanently tattooed on my brain)
* Pay attention to those BOGO and 2 for $whatever deals on cereals, travel friendly snacks, and dry goods and set the extra aside in a special location in my pantry (our dinner is ALWAYS spaghetti because it's quick and easy)
* Check the status of our back up bathing suits (we always take 2 each because putting on a damp bathing suit is the worst! we alternate) then pack the back ups
About two weeks before:
* Check out the sunblock shampoo/soap situation and stock up
* Buy our new tooth brushes and throw them in the suitcase ( I time it so our current toothbrushes are ready to be tossed the morning we leave)
* Pick a color scheme for each kid and then as I do laundry start packing away some their clothes (I do a color scheme because they have TONS of shirts so they get packed first and then totally forgotten about. When it's time to pack shorts I can avoid fashion nightmares without having to go back and look through the shirts each time I pick a pair a shorts to pack)
* We don't really meal plan or freeze casseroles, but we do bring down the basics like oatmeal or pancake mix or my beloved quinao. I start pouring out however much we probably need (labeled with servings or directions) and add it to the pantry stash
* Buy cheese sticks and yogurt squeeze tubes and then raid the 4th of July parade candy for road trip snacks (it's called balance, people!)
* Closer to the end of this week, I start putting my clean laundry into the suitcase (as usual momma does not have nearly as many clothes)
About a week before:
* Pack up a bag with car snacks (non refrigerated kind) baby wipes, new stickers/paper/crayons, hand sanitizers, and gum
* Shop for fruit/veggie sales for trip food and the week
* Pack the rest of the clothes ( we only pack 4 outfits because we do laundry mid week) and look terrible in leftover wardrobe
* Gather make up and medicine in a travel bag, but keep out on the counter so you can still reach them if needed
* Give each kid a backpack to fill with must reach toys for trip
* Set aside a few kids cups/plates if needed and water bottles
A day or two before:
* Lay out clothes for the morning we leave
* Stock up on ice
* Put all the refrigerated things coming with you on a shelf next to each other so you don't have to think in the morning
* Put one set of suits/towels and sunblock in a pool bag (don't bury it when you pack the car! make it easy to reach for when you get there before your place is ready! the kids can swim while you wait!)
* A truly nuts vacation packer *raises hands* starts gathering everything by the door so nothing is forgotten
* Coolers cleaned out and put near the fridge
Night before:
* Charge up kindles and electronics in the evening so they can be put in purses or bags by the door and chargers packed
* Load up the car with AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! even the suitcase because you don't need to wait to pack up toothbrushes and you have the small travel bag of make up/meds for any last minute things
* Set up coffee maker
* Bag up breakfast and pour milk in cups with lids (or get your kids some Snackeez cups! Love them!)
Morning of:
* Wake up and toss every one's pillows by the door and grab the little travel bag
* Gather fans if you are one of THOSE people who need it to sleep
* Grab cell phones and chargers (if you don't have a spare packed already)
* Load up the cold stuff and gather the kids
* Get in the car and eat some candy because you did it!!
This is not a 100% complete guide. Don't just rely on this and blame me if you are missing things. Our extended family divides and conquers so they handle certain things so I never have to think about them! Plus I'm writing this while that super gene is still in control and it's trying convince me to get up and pack something even if I don't need too!
P.S. These days are done for me but if you are traveling with a baby, skip the blow up kiddie pool. Pack all of your food in a medium size (low sided) storage bin. Then once the food is put away in your kitchen, use it on the beach. Clear bins make the perfect infinity pool ;)
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Even The Keep It Real Mom Does The Social Media Highlight Reel Sometimes
Hello My Friends!
It's been way too long again... Transitioning into a "school age" mom has been interesting and not as inspiring. Whole lotta packing lunches and backpacks and driving kids around. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Just using that saying, just so you know, there was not a lot of wash, rinse, and repeat happening for my hair! Ain't nobody got time for that before school!!
While the school year may not be so blog worthy, I'm discovering that summer with kids who have become used to routine and constant learning/activities is blog worthy. The other day, I did a bad thing. I didn't really do it on purpose, but each post looked like we were having a fabulous, fun-filled day instead of a hot mess of a day that was making me lose my sh...... umm poop
How My Day looked on Social Media:
Super Fun mom makes cool cotton ball play dough
Easy Breezy trip to the bank
Peace at the playground
Having a Splashing good time in the pool
Reality:
A battle had begun even before the breakfast crumbs were spilled
WILL YOU GUYS STOP FIGHTING!
*makes play dough*
I WILL THROW IT OUT IF YOU DON'T START TALKING NICELY TO EACH OTHER
20 minutes of fun playing with it while Sydney gives me a guilt trip for being on my phone
I bake brownies for a picnic this weekend and Nathan performs surgery on a dolphin toy, spilling sand in the bathroom sink and counter
I give up on being productive and ask them what they want to do (after Nathan's LOOONNNGG time out)
Someone's hat craft gets pulled apart before we leave the parking lot to get to the bank
Nathan puts on the charm and secures lollipops at the bank drive thru
A few minutes of sanity at the park
Come home to pack lunch
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT'S TIME TO GO! BE NICE TO EACH OTHER! WHERE IS YOUR LUNCH BOX? I JUST TOLD YOU TO BRING IT!
Unlock the door so someone can get the lunchbox I handed to them 30 seconds before
Get to the pool
I'm going down the slide first! No, I am! No, I am! Stop! You're being mean!
BOTH OF YOU STOP! You need to be kind to each other and take turns or we will not swim
Please don't splash mommy until she gets used to water
Can mommy have a little space?
Nathan climbs into my inner tube looks like an overgrown ninja turtle loving leech sealed to my back
Okay, let's go. Mommy is done
I had actually woken up with great plans for myself. I was gonna be soooo productive! We've had playdates, swimdates, a trip to the zoo, a 3 day long blanket fort fest, and VBS this past week. Surely, today would be the perfect chill day. Nothing scheduled except for making cotton ball play dough because they were super excited about this cool new activity book they got. I figured that we would make it and I would get my Beachbody work done on the computer while they played. As you can see, that was not how things played out!
I don't think I was intentionally trying to deceive anyone and I think that most of us are in the same boat. Sometimes I post something funny about the situation because if you don't laugh, you'll cry or hide in the closet eating nasty cotton candy flavored ice cream the kids convinced you to buy for a treat ( I don't know what happened! Just so out of practice with shopping with two kids! I just.....) Other times the activity was so much freaking work that you want your efforts out there FOREVER! Don't we warn teens that once you post something on social media, it never goes away?? If I'm doing a pinterest craft, I want the people 100 years in the future to be impressed because that crap is too much everything.... prep,effort,clean up,blood, sweat, and tears! Or sometimes I post because I'm lonely or am desperate for some social interaction that is not poop related or some random, ridiculous question or the good old classic, Why? But Why? Well, how come? Why? How? Why don't you know?
I'm not saying that every day is really a night mare (that day at the zoo was AWESOME!) or that you can't share your great days (PLEASE POST AND GIVE ME IDEAS! Why did I think I was creative enough for Funday fridays????) I'm just trying to check myself and make sure I don't gloss over all the bad all the time (same goes for sharing all the bad all the time) I want to keep it real. We are in this summer struggle together!!!! Moms who are tired of hearing "I am bored!" unite!! If possible at a play date where the kids will entertain each other so we can chat or at a Mom's night out!
It's been way too long again... Transitioning into a "school age" mom has been interesting and not as inspiring. Whole lotta packing lunches and backpacks and driving kids around. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Just using that saying, just so you know, there was not a lot of wash, rinse, and repeat happening for my hair! Ain't nobody got time for that before school!!
While the school year may not be so blog worthy, I'm discovering that summer with kids who have become used to routine and constant learning/activities is blog worthy. The other day, I did a bad thing. I didn't really do it on purpose, but each post looked like we were having a fabulous, fun-filled day instead of a hot mess of a day that was making me lose my sh...... umm poop
How My Day looked on Social Media:
Super Fun mom makes cool cotton ball play dough
Easy Breezy trip to the bank
Peace at the playground
Having a Splashing good time in the pool
Reality:
A battle had begun even before the breakfast crumbs were spilled
WILL YOU GUYS STOP FIGHTING!
*makes play dough*
I WILL THROW IT OUT IF YOU DON'T START TALKING NICELY TO EACH OTHER
20 minutes of fun playing with it while Sydney gives me a guilt trip for being on my phone
I bake brownies for a picnic this weekend and Nathan performs surgery on a dolphin toy, spilling sand in the bathroom sink and counter
I give up on being productive and ask them what they want to do (after Nathan's LOOONNNGG time out)
Someone's hat craft gets pulled apart before we leave the parking lot to get to the bank
Nathan puts on the charm and secures lollipops at the bank drive thru
A few minutes of sanity at the park
Come home to pack lunch
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT'S TIME TO GO! BE NICE TO EACH OTHER! WHERE IS YOUR LUNCH BOX? I JUST TOLD YOU TO BRING IT!
Unlock the door so someone can get the lunchbox I handed to them 30 seconds before
Get to the pool
I'm going down the slide first! No, I am! No, I am! Stop! You're being mean!
BOTH OF YOU STOP! You need to be kind to each other and take turns or we will not swim
Please don't splash mommy until she gets used to water
Can mommy have a little space?
Nathan climbs into my inner tube looks like an overgrown ninja turtle loving leech sealed to my back
Okay, let's go. Mommy is done
 | |
| the worst part is that the kids did not even notice the crazy hair! | They are used to it |
I had actually woken up with great plans for myself. I was gonna be soooo productive! We've had playdates, swimdates, a trip to the zoo, a 3 day long blanket fort fest, and VBS this past week. Surely, today would be the perfect chill day. Nothing scheduled except for making cotton ball play dough because they were super excited about this cool new activity book they got. I figured that we would make it and I would get my Beachbody work done on the computer while they played. As you can see, that was not how things played out!
I don't think I was intentionally trying to deceive anyone and I think that most of us are in the same boat. Sometimes I post something funny about the situation because if you don't laugh, you'll cry or hide in the closet eating nasty cotton candy flavored ice cream the kids convinced you to buy for a treat ( I don't know what happened! Just so out of practice with shopping with two kids! I just.....) Other times the activity was so much freaking work that you want your efforts out there FOREVER! Don't we warn teens that once you post something on social media, it never goes away?? If I'm doing a pinterest craft, I want the people 100 years in the future to be impressed because that crap is too much everything.... prep,effort,clean up,blood, sweat, and tears! Or sometimes I post because I'm lonely or am desperate for some social interaction that is not poop related or some random, ridiculous question or the good old classic, Why? But Why? Well, how come? Why? How? Why don't you know?
I'm not saying that every day is really a night mare (that day at the zoo was AWESOME!) or that you can't share your great days (PLEASE POST AND GIVE ME IDEAS! Why did I think I was creative enough for Funday fridays????) I'm just trying to check myself and make sure I don't gloss over all the bad all the time (same goes for sharing all the bad all the time) I want to keep it real. We are in this summer struggle together!!!! Moms who are tired of hearing "I am bored!" unite!! If possible at a play date where the kids will entertain each other so we can chat or at a Mom's night out!
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