What I learned about my kids while traveling

They say the way to really get to know someone is to travel with them. What else can I possibly learn about my kids?  I mean, hello...I am raising them!  I guess it is being in a different environment and away from the usual routine (yes, it nearly pushed me over the edge, but I did not have a daily routine for 12 days) that made me see my kids in a different light.

*Note...this post may be a little braggy, but hey, I put in time and effort with these gals, I can brag once in a while, can't I? 

1.  They can be entertained anywhere with little resources.

From our basic activities in the van (see previous post) to our hotel room.  The gals found ways to entertain themselves with minimal arguing.  They found *gasp* traditional phones (not smart phones) unplugged them and used the hotel notepads and pens and played "Washington DC" for a long time. They love hotel pools, so they taught themselves to do handstands and flips.  Wherever we went, they used the environment around them to and their imagination to play.

2.  They love public transportation.
The Metro was a huge hit.  Marlee can look at a map and tell you which color line goes where like an expert.  I see these kids flocking from the mountains one day and heading to the big cities sans car.

3.  They are SO green!!

Wow!  I am impressed with myself as much a I am with them!  Going out of their way to throw a container in a blue can instead of regular trash in the streets of DC. Choosing "real" plates and cutlery at the hotel breakfast instead of the disposable ones they offered. Reusing hotel towels, turning off lights when leaving the room, all without my suggestion.  Bragging how good it is not to use our car the whole time we were in the city.  My favorite: Commenting on the wasted food at the hotel breakfast.  They asked me why people would take so much food they would not eat from the buffet and leave it on their table untouched...didn't they realize they were wasting good food? My answer:  I don't know.

4.  They love their extended family.

They were equally excited to visit family in PA as they were to go somewhere new and interesting. They had great visits and sleepovers with their aunts, Karen & Nancie, a great visit with their Aunt 'Pin", and were so excited to play with their cousins: Christine, Nick, Lexi, and Ryan.  Of course my favorite, they have great relationships with all three grandparents, which is something I never had with mine.  They love staying that extra week with Grammy and PopPop, doing crazy things. Spending time with Grandma Margaret is always a treat.  I love how they always speak of all three grandparents even when they are away from them.

**Shame on me!  I did not take one picture of anyone in PA this time around!!  These are pictures from times past.

This turned out to be our best vacation yet.  I think (and hope) things will only get better as we travel in the future.  Next on the travel list:  Long weekend in Hilton Head, SC in September, long weekend in Disney in January, and hopefully, a vacation in SanFran next June.

Traveling light, is the only way to fly...



I wish we were flying somewhere far, foreign, and exotic, but we are driving our mini van to Washington, DC and then visiting our families in Pennsylvania.  The kids have recently taken an interest in our nation's capital and government, so we decided to research the area and visit.

I found some great ideas for walking tours around the city in these two books: Washington DC with Kids and City Walks with Kids, Washington DC





We will be driving 8 hours to DC, then and additional 4 1/2 hours four days later.  We are seasoned travelers in the mini van. We take about three or four long distance trips per year. Both gals love to travel and travel well, so it is not too difficult to keep them entertained.

Here's the top picks for our 2012 traveling season:

We carry most of our items in this nifty travel case. We started using it a few years ago, it is great for coloring and writing. I should also mention that we keep these cases and their enclosed items packed away until we are on the road.  That way, they do not lose their luster before we leave.  These are strictly "travel toys" and are only played with then.

Inside we have some items that will hopefully keep them busy for hours!

-Magnetic toys.  Remember Colorforms?  These are very similar. They have a great selection at Dancing Bear Toys. I thought the gals would be soon outgrowing them, but they still love to play with them when we travel.

Old school activity books:  Yes & Know, Mad Libs, and Sticker puzzle books.

I found these books at local craft stores such as AC Moore and Michael's, near the checkout area.



My friend Abbie made the gals these cool pencil/crayon rolls.  They are great for travel, restaurants, doctor's office, or anywhere you need to keep you kid occupied.  She used to sell them on Etsy, but has not in a while.  Here is a quick tutorial I found on Pinterest.

We also like I Spy books. Our favorites are the I Spy brand and we also like a few from Usborne Books.

One other big hit with us are these Melissa and Doug travel games.  We like them because there are no little pieces to lose.  Everything is secured by an elastic band.

We have hopes of learning a lot in Washington DC and writing one more place on our travel list.  We are excited to spend time with family in PA and relax. Hopefully our traveling toys will make the journey fun and enriching.  Of course, if there is a traffic jam on I-81 or the beltway, we always have our portable DVD player and Annie or MegaMinds on tap ;)