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5 Fun Fall Outings for Families

Destinations /

It’s officially fall, yall! Or autumn, if you prefer. This is by far my favorite season, which is kind of odd because I’m cold natured. The colors of the leaves on the trees are gorgeous and the cool, crisp air is so refreshing. When we lived in a house with lots of trees in the yard, we had more than our share of leaf piles to jump into (and rake – ugh) this time of year! Just thinking about sharing a warm cup of apple cider or green tea on the porch while curled up in a chair all wrapped up in my favorite sweater has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. Our oldest daughter still loves pumpkin spice lattes, but has really been into chai tea lattes lately. All of these give you that warm cozy feeling reminiscent of autumn. Fall = Family I find that during this time of year we all seem to naturally draw closer to each other as a family. I don’t know if it’s holiday season kickoff, cold weather, warm drinks, or coma-inducing food, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Why not take advantage of this naturally occuring time of closeness by having some outings as a family? I share 5 of our favorites below: 1. Visiting a local farm’s pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins. This is probably our number 1 fall activity that we do without fail every year. Some of us go for a good ol’ orange pumpkin and some of us go for those pretty white ones. Most times the white ones are gone before we get out there, but if we walk around long enough we find one that’s just right. We take them home and carve or decorate them together. The years we have a toddler, it’s always fun to see their reactions when we pull the guts out of the pumpkins. I wish I had a picture to show you! It’s super fun and doesn’t require a lot of planning. We’ve made it a family tradition that we all get excited for. 2. Wander around a corn maze (but don’t get lost!) So, we’ve been to a few corn mazes and they are tons of fun! This is probably one of the more common fall activities. Once we visited a farm that had multiple mazes: one for adults, one for families, and a really tiny one for small kids who were brave enough. We found it’s a great way to work on your sense of direction! We have yet to get lost in a corn maze, but I have personally been terrified in a haunted corn maze! That’s not one I’d recommend for small kids obviously, but it makes for a great date night. 3. Going to an Apple or Harvest Festival or go apple picking. When we lived in Western Pennsylvania, there was literally an annual apple festival around the corner from our house! They sold all kinds of apples, fresh ground flours, and had craft and food vendors as well. The local library had activities for kids and there was a petting zoo and pony rides. One of the coolest things about this festival is the 1907 antique apple press that they run just once a year to fresh press the cider on site! It is such a sight to see and the cider was delicious. I might have been more impressed than our kids! We have yet to truly go apple picking – fingers crossed it’ll be soon! I’m so excited to do this and I KNOW the family will enjoy it because they all love apples! 4. Go on a camping trip. We personally think that camping is the best during the fall season. If you’re camping in the forest, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to hike and take in the fall foliage. Depending on the location and elevation of the campground, it can be near perfect temperatures during the day. I prefer that over summer time when it can be sweltering outside and inside your tent. The evening temperatures are great for getting out a cozy sweater to sit around the fire. We’ve done this to much the kids race each other to gather twigs and pinecones. Dad starts up the fire teaching them as he builds it. We have hot chocolate and roast marshmallows for s’mores. You could even tell a scary story or two if your bunch can handle it! Find tips for first-time family camping here. 5. Take a drive just to look at the beautiful leaves. Some call it leaf-peeping, but I find it just plain relaxing. It’s amazing the range of colors that you can witness in nature. The yellows, oranges, reds, and browns can be so vibrant. Some of the ultimate locations for this are in the northern New England or upper Mid-West areas of the U.S. and areas of Canada. Really it’s very humbling to see trees change with the seasons. Leaves fall in autumn so new growth can burst through in the spring. It’s symbolic for our boys’ birthdays, both in the fall, and reminds me that they are changing and growing. We usually find that while we’re in the presence of all the natural beauty our minds have time to wander and conversations with our kids just flow. “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” F. Scott Fitzgerald When you see the leaves changing color and falling remember just how fast your kids are growing. That all these moments you are spending with them are a gift to your whole family. These memories are priceless. Does your family have a fall tradition? We’d love to hear about it below!

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Flying with Kids? Ours love Southwest Airlines!

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Our family has grown to love Southwest airlines over the years. We fly with them nearly 98% of the time as we have found them to be amazing with our children. They actually care Since we are a blended family, we do have some kids that fly or have flown alone between parents at times. Southwest employees have been so accommodating, especially when there are tears from traveling from home to home. Our kids have reported being cheered up with jokes and smiles from flight attendants to pilots. And for that alone, we are profoundly grateful, and I think we have a sense of loyalty to them. As our kids have grown, the tears have disappeared and love of flying has increased. On a solo flights a few years ago, I watched a flight attendant help a mom out with a little, bitty girl who was nearing a tantrum. This mom was traveling with several kids alone – something I have done before, so I felt her pain. The little girl seemed interested in the snack distribution that was about to go down to passengers. This flight attendant took the time to walk her a few rows and let her help pass out them out. When I say it was the cutest… it was heart melting! She was happy. Tantrum averted. Eardrums saved. Babies on Southwest Stories aside, flying kids on Southwest is easy. Did you know they offer Infant fares for children under two so they can travel in their flight-approved car seat?! I didn’t until recently and wish I would’ve researched that before our youngest child’s first flight. Read all about our experience flying our toddler as a “Lap Child.”  (birth certificate for lap child now required) Check out this link for more details on flying with babies and toddlers with Southwest airlines. Unaccompanied minors Once your kids are between 5-11 years old, they can travel as an unaccompanied minor for a $50 additional fee each way only on nonstop or direct flights within the U.S. Other airlines have charged an additional $150 one way, on top of the fare, for a child to travel unaccompanied. This makes me love Southwest Airlines even more. At a cost like that you might as well go along too! Young Travelers Once our children were between 12-17 years old, they could fly without an accompanying passenger that was 18 or older as a Young Traveler. I think this phase of their flying careers has been the best. They know what to expect, are comfortable, and are gaining more independence. I have truly watched them blossom into Young Travelers. They keep them safe Obviously parent/guardian information is required on file and authorized pick up person specified for Unaccompanied Minors. Southwest will not release your child to anyone except them and only with proper identification. A gate pass is required for parents escorting their kids through security to and placing them in or retrieving them from the care of the flight attendants at the gate. This is optional for a Young Traveler, if they are mature and experienced enough to go it alone from security, they can. Call me a protective mama, but I am going straight to the gate to get my babies, as long as I’m allowed! Our kids love Southwest Airlines We were nervous at first, but as I have mentioned before Southwest employees have been stellar with our kids. We flew enough altogether to get them comfortable before we got to that point. Their first solo flights were pretty short and one of our children started flying this way around 7ish years old. Today she is our bravest little adventurer! Have your kids flown solo before? Who did they fly with? How was their experience? Please share below!

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fly your toddler as a lap child

Should you fly your toddler as a lap child?

Travel Tips /

Imagine boarding the plane with your family to fly across country and wondering if maybe, just maybe you should have forked over the extra money and gotten your toddler their own seat. We have flown with one of our kids when she was 6 months old and that was great, so I think we thought it might work out ok. We found ourselves in is exactly situation earlier this year flying with Southwest Airlines. It was the first time our youngest child, who was about 15 months at the time, had ever flown. We are a large family so airline tickets can add up and he could remain flying on my lap until he is 2 years old. Yes, money was a small factor, but part of me was afraid that if we bought him his own seat, he might end up right back in my lap anyway if he happened to be uncomfortable or scared. So, we finally decided to fly him as a lap child. Did we make the right decision? Yes…and no. Yes, because it was easier to quiet him and get him comfy for a nap since babies have slept on their mommas since the dawn of time. If you didn’t know, not only am I a woman and mom, but I am also a bed. A bed for a tiny human! You also save the cost of a plane ticket for a whole person! We are a full family of 7, but are usually only flying 6 or less at a time. It’s still pretty expensive once you add them all up. Why don’t they have child fares? I think I remember there being such a thing when I was a kid, but not anymore. No, for many more reasons, however. Due to his age and size (he is a big boy), and him riding in my lap, there is much less room in my seat. Which means much, much less room once you let down that tray table right in front of you. I will admit my extra mommy pounds had a little something to do with the lack of space, but I digress. There just was not enough space for the both of us and he really needed “growing room” on that plane. More importantly, he was not afraid at all, so he was trying to investigate EVERYTHING. I spent many hours, minus his nap, trying to keep him busy so he wouldn’t terrorize the other passengers. Let me tell you, you can only do so many coloring pages, eat so many snacks, and play educational games before the kid or yourself nearly lose it being that squished together for five hours. My husband helped too, but you know how it is those times when your kid wants only Mom. It. Was. Hard. So hard in fact, that I have decided to buy this little guy his very own seat from now on! Making the decision to fly your toddler as a lap child can be a tough one. You really have to take things into consideration and be realistic about what you can handle. When your children are small babies the decision is usually much easier. But really consider the length of flight, age and physical size of your child and their demeanor when making these decisions. I can say with confidence since he is our last addition that there will be no more lap child flights for us! Have you ever flown with a lap child? If you have, would you do it again? Leave a comment below to share your experince with us!

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Quick Trips to Kick Off Your Summertime Fun

Destinations /

It’s now officially summertime! Time to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air! We are ready for mountain hikes, camping, and lake days. Maybe a dip in the pool or a full-on beach day is in order. How about a summer road trip? Which ever you choose, it’s time to get out for a much needed break! Kick off summer with one of these quick trips: Hit the Beach One of the most iconic summer activities is obviously going to the beach! Swimming and sea shell hunting, sandcastle building and burrying your toes in the sand. There are so many ways to accomplish this. You could rent a beach house, stay at a resort, or use Airbnb. You can even camp out at some beaches! This might be a little more challenging as a quick trip for those of us who live in the Midwest and not near the East or West coast. However, some lake locations have created a beach area so you can get a similar experience. Depending on the beach you visit there could be crowds and parking could be difficult to find which could result in lots of walking – so get there early! Whatever you do, pack a cooler to stay hydrated and don’t forget your sunscreen! I love sunburns, said no one ever. Camping One of our favorite summer starters is camping because the cost is lower, and we really get to decompress. Being in nature is truly a fabulous way to have all the traffic, electronics, and just plain noise melt away. There are opportunities to go hiking, biking, swimming, exploring natural wonders, tell ghost stories by the fire, and eat a crazy number of s’mores. Our typical camping spots tend to be state parks and we have been to quite a few, but I know we haven’t made a real dent in the sheer number of them. As of 2018, there are 8,565 state parks in the United States according to the National Association of State Park Directors. That’s not even counting the National Parks like Yosemite. Most parks tend to have a minimum stay of 2-3 nights but check with the campground you choose just to be sure. There is nothing like sleeping in a tent under the stars! First time camping? Get some helpful tips here. Theme Parks For the thrill seekers, you can always visit a theme park! This is going to be a loud, fun, busy trip so plan accordingly. Roller coasters, water rides, yummy food, and lots of laughs – you will find all of that here. The length of these trips can vary depending on the size of the park you visit since you may not be able to cover the entire park in one day. Aim for something like Six Flags, Busch Gardens, Cedar Point, or theme parks more local to your area. A great example of a theme park trip that is NOT going to be short is Disneyland or Disney World. You can go, but you are not going to get much done in a day or so. Trust me, we tried this one July when I was about 5 months pregnant. Yeah – never again! Otherwise, it’s a load of fun and your kids will be so excited! Mini-Road Trips Another summer “quick” trip could be a mini-road trip to a nearby town you have never been to. Don’t underestimate this option. You would be surprised the things you end up discovering when you allow yourself to wander. Choose somewhere within maybe 5 hours or so of you and check to see if there is anything interesting nearby. Reserve a room, pack a cooler, and GO. Take time to stop an enjoy things that catch your eye. Be curious. Allow yourself to explore. As they say, all who wander are not lost! There are so many different ways to begin your summertime adventures with your kids. Make the experience even better by letting your kids help plan these trips with you. They will learn valuable skills for the bigger trips you’ll take later in the summer or any time in the future. What are some of the first summer trips that your family takes? Please share below!

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Family of four on the beach

Why You Should Travel With Your Kids

Travel Tips /

My childhood was filled with moving here and traveling there. Visiting places that felt like home and some that felt totally forgein all via road trips, flights, buses and the like. You see, my mom was in the military, so moving was just part of life. I know I didn’t always like moving, but taking a short trip to the beach or our extended family summers in the south were the best! I don’t know about you but going someplace new makes me light up inside! Besides breaking out of the daily grind, traveling with your kids is important for so many reasons. I know you might be thinking that you WANT to get away form your precious little monsters – not take them with you. But let me tell you why it will be far better for all of you to take them along whenever you can: Unplug from monotony and connect with each other Even taking small short trips gives you the opportunity to spend time doing things with your kids without the stressors of work, household duties, and endless social media scrolling weighing you down. You will have the opportunity to spend quality time together in a new environment with new experiences. Your family will have to rely more on each other as traveling will open up lines of communication a bit wider than normal as you move through your adventure. This means your teen will actually have to talk to you and not stare at their phone constantly – hallelujah! You’ll strengthen family bonds Since your family will have to communicate more while traveling, the opportunity appears for thoughts and ideas to be shared. Trust is built as you all have only each other to depend on for comfort or support during travels. Just the act of traveling takes a person out of their comfort zone and can bring out characteristics or interests that were hidden before. Usually you end up learning something more about yourself, your partner, or your kids. It teaches flexibility and patience This one. I am not the most patient person, or the most flexible either if I’m really honest. Our kids are actually better at this than I am! Delayed flights or waiting in long lines at attractions can test both your amount of patience and your willingness to be flexible. Try not to rush through your adventure and take in the details of your new surroundings while you wait. Be willing to try another day or time of day to visit a spot that could normally be crowded. Traveling gives you the opportunity to practice both. Learn real-life problem solving skills So you’ve missed the train, airline lost your luggage, or arrived to mixed up hotel reservations at the end of a long day of travel. These are all major stressors that your kids get to watch you handle. So take a breather and then involve your kids in coming up with a idea or plan that solves your problems. This is a skill that everyone needs to learn how to do, even if they might not do it well at first. If you happen to lose your GPS signal, but have an atlas, they get a chance to learn to map reading skills. Kids are also excellent at seeing a solution that is so simple that adults just seem blind to. Kids learn just how huge the world is Now, I’m not saying they have to hit all the continents by the time they graduate high school, but taking them to a variety of locations help kids understand how much of the world is outside of their local daily area. You want them to understand how enormous the world actually is. Maps and geography studies help some, but nothing beats seeing something in person you’ve read about or seen on tv. This helps them realize that their opportunities are just as vast and helps them learn to think big! Exposure to different cultures and customs This is one of my favorites! Learning about the cultures and customs of other places is so fascinating. You get to discover new foods, see how other people greet and interact with each other, and hear diverse languages. Wait until your kids find out what real pizza tastes like in Italy! Connecting with people from outside of your “normal” can end up producing rewarding life-long friendships. These experiences stretch and grow your family, promote gratitude, and increase compassion and understanding. You’ll share lasting memories You’ve got to make the most of the time you have with your kids because, sadly, that time passes faster than you think. The place I remember most fondly as a child is Italy. Those thoughts have stuck with me and now fuel me to build new memories with my own kids. The adventures you take together, good or not as good, will give you all memories you will laugh about later on. It results in “Do you remember that time that…” and “I can’t believe you actually…” kind of stories, cool pictures, and even sometimes new running jokes or nicknames. Trust me. It’s worth it. I know I literally cannot wait until we can all get out of the house on another adventure so we can continue enriching our kids lives. I’ve given you some of the most important, life-enhancing reasons to travel with your children. Your family will explore, learn new skills, and be more in tune with each other. You will cultivate well-rounded, little global citizens. What better gift to give the world! Your family will have experiences and memories that will last  and it will totally have been worth it. What are some of the places or trips you were hesitate to take your kids on? What kind of experiences did your family most enjoy? We’d love to know! Leave a comment below!

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Parents sharing beverage while kids play in the background

8 Super Helpful Tips for First-Time Family Tent Camping

Travel Tips /

So, you’ve planned or are planning your first family camping trip! Yay! How exciting and such a fun adventure for your family. Sometimes tent camping with kids sometimes gets a bad wrap and can be seen as more trouble than it’s worth. This can be especially daunting when you’ve never been camping before. “A bad day camping is still better than a good day working.” – John Muir My husband has been camping since he was a little kid. However this would be everyone else’s first camping trip EVER. There I was with my husband and three kids, heading off tent camping to a state park in the mountains. Let me tell you, when we set out to do something as a family, we try to do ALL the things, ALL the way. As a first-time camper, I had many things to learn and was frankly, a bit terrified, but excited to go on a new adventure. My husband and I both knew that camping with kids could be challenging, but we learned quickly what worked and what did not. I am going to share a few tips here that will help you avoid the camping fails we are all afraid of. Try to choose a campsite that fits your needs Many times we are reserving a campsite, sight unseen, when we plan camping trips. You want to try to make sure you choose a campsite that is as flat as possible. Trying to pitch a tent on unlevel ground can be frustrating. If you aren’t careful, water can run towards your tent in heavy rain. If it is going to be super sunny or hot, look for one with trees for shade. You don’t want to turn your tent can turn into an oven. Choose a campground with bathhouses, which I highly recommend with kids. Try to choose a campsite that is close but not too close to one. This makes nighttime bathroom trips quicker, but not so near it’s disturbing your sleep. Consider as well if you will need electric hookups or access to water at or close to your campsite, some places offer this and other do not. Check out your camping gear and supplies before you leave home Open and set up your tent in your yard at home or a nearby park first. Literally drag everything out and set it up how you imagine you might at a campsite. This is especially helpful if you’ve got a lot of kids. Lots of kids come with lots of stuff – that’s just how it is. It’s helpful to see it all laid out before you get out in the wilderness and can’t do much about it. Have good sleeping bags that will cover you for any nighttime low temperatures. Camping gear, especially your tent and bedding, is not an area I like to just take a chance on. Just one hole you didn’t see in the top of your tent and an unexpected rainstorm can really put a major damper on your trip …see what I did there – rain, damper…HaHaHa. Oookkk, moving on. Same thing goes for the bottom of your tent, leaky air mattresses, ripped tarps, etc. And do not forget check your batteries and propane for your camping stove or charcoal for the grill! Store your food and drinks properly This is another category I would pay a lot of attention to. More than once we’ve had food get water-logged from melting ice in a cooler. We have also had food spoil because kids like to open and close coolers a million times a day. It can get expensive quick if things spoil! Our mistake was using those bags of ice from the store – instead of large blocks of ice. Bags of ice are fine for keeping drinks cold, but for storing your food, it is better to freeze water with salt in them into big blocks of ice. It melts a lot slower and water needs to be drained less frequently. You could use dry ice, however it comes with its own safety issues that you can read about here. Try using separate coolers, one for food and one for drinks. When you pack your food cooler, place frozen meats in the bottom on top of ice blocks, then things like condiments, cheeses, and more delicate things like lettuce on top. Have some activities in mind or planned for periods of boredom or rain Kids can get bored and rain can be unexpected. Think about some things you all can do as a family AND some activities kids can do on their own. We really like to explore the campground or go for a hike, depending on the terrain and weather. Sometimes parents need a break or rain decides to fall and you get stuck inside the tent for a while. We keep drawing materials, playing cards, bubbles, and a few travel games (like a mini Connect 4 game) in one of our rubber camping totes. We also bring a book or or a Kindle-like device, if you choose, but remember you will have to have a way to charge electronics. And that is one reason why I’m a physical book kind of gal! Bring lighting for once the sun sets Do not forget about this one! No one wants to be left in the dark with only a small flashlight to be your only way to see in the middle of the night. We have a few battery-operated lanterns, smaller flashlights for each child, and headlamps for us adults. We use headlamps the most when we have to take kids to the bathroom in the middle of the night so our hands can be free to use. At a camping store we found a string of soft LED lights to hand inside the tent to have some light while everyone is settling down for bed. They are battery-operated and just one button to turn off once the youngest ones

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Person tossing globe with rocky land and water in the background

10 Ways to Explore the World With Your Kids When You’re Stuck at Home

Travel Tips /

I know recent pandemic developments have many of us home with our kids right now for longer periods of time. Given the rapid spread of this disease, it is best to keep our families safe at home the best we can. You are probably feeling “stuck” when it comes to travel right now, but you don’t have to lose hope! There are certainly things you can do in the meantime to continue exposing your kids to cultures of the world. Here are 10 ways you can still explore with your kids when you just can’t get out: Order a Travel Subscription Box Little Passports or Little Global Citizens have fun and educational cultural material in their subscription boxes. Little Passports gives your child an overview of a different country each month with activities and sometimes a souvenir. If you don’t want a box every month, Little Global Citizens has bi-monthly boxes available for subscription as well as a few country-specific single purchase options. I also discovered country-themed subscription boxes of snacks and candy you can’t find locally, like Universal Yums or SnackCrate. I mean, who doesn’t want a box full of international snacks delivered to your door?! There are reviews available on both boxes over at My Subscription Addiction so you can check those out before you pick one to try. Read Travel-related Book Series with Your Kids A great series to read is titled The Greetings From Somewhere Collection: Mysteries Around the World. These chapter books follow twins Ethan and Ella as they travel around the world on adventures and solving mysteries. Many libraries offer access to some of their material online, digital books and magazines you can access for free. Reading travel related material with your kids fosters curiosity and a desire to travel to boot. Go on virtual tours of galleries and museums around the world This is a real cool one and shows just how much technology makes our lives easier. Google Arts and Culture partnered with many museums and galleries to offer virtual tours and access to online exhibits from the comfort of your home. Now you can literally tour the British Museum in London, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, or the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to name a few – for free. Write to Pen Pals From Other Countries If you’re into writing letters, whether by email or snail mail, having a pen pal is such an amazing experience. This allows for real connection to others who might have a different cultural background from you and your family. You can find pen pals on a website like Global Penfriends. They have been around since 1995, are totally family friendly, and really make security and safety a priority. Listen to World Music Stations Online Experience new music and work on your dance moves when you check out World Music radio stations on Pandora or iHeartRadio. You will get in some exercise and definitely some laughs, plus music and dance are proven mood lifters! Recreate Arts or Crafts From Another Country If your crew is creative, then making a craft from another country is a great way of learning about other cultures. If authentic materials are available to you and you’re up for the challenge, that could be really interesting! KinderArt has tons of multicultural art ideas to keep everyone busy and entertained for a while. And then there’s always Pinterest! Cook a new recipe from a foreign country If you enjoy food as much as I do, this is a fun one! Pick a country and search Pinterest for a new recipe to try for dinner with your family. There are literally thousands of them to choose from, so don’t get swamped! Maybe pick one of the most common dishes from the country you choose with ingredients you can easily access. This also gives your family the opportunity to cook together which is such a great bonding experience. Watch travel-related movies, tv, and videos One of my favorite travel-related movies of all time is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and it is a must-see movie for those of us filled with wanderlust but let life get in the way. I love that it’s family-friendly and funny, yet gets across the point that we shouldn’t spend our whole lives waiting to travel. Last I saw this was free to watch on Netflix! If you’re into documentary style entertainment, you can always watch family travel vlogs on YouTube. A few good examples are The Bucket List Family, Knorpp and South, and Travel with Kids TV. For something mostly for the kids, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego is an world adventure cartoon from back in the day. I know there was a reboot of this show on Netflix in 2019, but I think the original is better! Annnddd…now that I’ve shown my age…let’s move right along. Learn a new language Learning a new language is very beneficial as it allows you to the opportunity to interact with native speakers effectively, especially once you are able to travel internationally. Babbel and Rosetta Stone are two very popular language learning platforms that many people have great success with. Currently, Babbel has made its service free to all US students this Spring in light of the current pandemic. Just imagine your family being fluent in the language of your choice as you step off the plane to one of your future destinations! Che meraviglia! Talk to family or friends with a different cultural background Have a multicultural family or diverse pool of friends? As you connect with and check on them during this time, use this time to respectfully ask questions about their culture. Maybe an elder would tell you more about a family tradition they wish to pass on. A friend could share more about their cultural holidays that you might not have realized. I know it’s hard given current events in the world to think about the next time we’ll be able to

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