5 Helpful Tips in Preparing for Family Travel

With 4th of July weekend coming up and Summer in full swing many families are preparing to leave on vacation. We all know how stressful family vacations can be from the planning,packing, and traveling. To help make the process go a little easier I have a travel expert taking over the blog today to share some tips with you.

A little bio about our guest poster!

Kendra Thornton:Travel advocate,TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman,proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have taken my excitement for travel and brought it to you with some of my favorite travel tips and tricks. Enjoy!

Photo Credit: kennymatic via Compfight cc

                 

            

  Helpful Tips in Preparing for Family Travel

 
Spending time on a vacation with family is an excellent way to enjoy the summer. As a mom, I have found that being prepared plays a crucial role in preventing hiccups and ensuring an unforgettable trip. Here are some tips that have helped me as I prepare for summer travels.

1. Wonderful Baggage Options
When packing for your next trip, your first packing essential needs to be luggage. There is certainly no shortage of options, but choosing the right design can make or break your trip. Suitcases can be clunky and heavy duffle bags can really damage your shoulders. For carry-on’s try a backpack that will free up your hands. If you’re traveling to Europe or driving to the beach, avoid rolling bags, as wheels don’t fare well with cobblestone, stairs or sand.

2. A Fantastic Place to Visit
I’ve found that having a fantastic place to go when traveling is truly key. Take time and look at a travel guide for the summer to find terrific destinations to visit. These guides highlight wonderful restaurants, attractions in the area and amazing deals. From the 2016 Olympics in Rio to the best 4th of July fireworks displays, an unforgettable trip starts with an amazing destination. Try consulting Gogobot’s Top 25 Summer Destinations to see which locations sound appealing to your family. Then check to see what fellow parents say about the area. Want to combine culture and kid-friendly fun? Florida’s 500th Anniversary is a great time to visit the magical world of Disney! You can even celebrate by having breakfast with Mickey and Mini at one of Orlando’s top hotels.

3. Practice Firework Safety
Even when traveling, firework displays are usually a big attraction for families. With July 4th fast approaching you should make sure you know how to safely practice firework viewing with children. Unlike many shows, fireworks can be seen just as well at a distance. Watching fireworks from a balcony will still allow your child to see them while staying out of harm’s way. Sparklers are also a fun way to celebrate Independence Day. But most people don’t realize that sparklers can reach over 2,000 degrees. That’s hot enough to not only burn little fingers, but melt some metals as well. A great vacation begins with safety.

4. The Right Kind of Sticking
Another tip I’ve learned, quite possibly the hard way, is how important it is to stick to a routine. It can be quite easy to skip a nap or a meal, but children do not adjust to these changes well, particularly in a new environment. I try to do my best to keep things as normal as possible while on vacation in terms of naps, snacks and meals. Not sure how you’re going to fit in that nap? Let the experts help.

5. Searching for Hidden Airline Fees
Booking airplane tickets online is certainly a popular thing to do. There are great deals that may be found at terrific prices. However, keep in mind that there can be fees that are added to increase the final cost of flying. Hidden costs range from baggage charges to fees for seat selection, a real problem for families with small children looking to sit together. To combat this, take time and research various airlines and their potential fees. The cheapest ticket price may not have the best overall value if there are additional charges.

Summer Bucket List

School is out and summer is finally here! 

As much as I miss the routine that school brings in our day it sure has been nice staying up late and sleeping in but I'm beginning to think that Jayla views summer vacation as one continous play date. That girl wants to be on the constant move and swears she is bored after 5 minutes of down time. I wish I could bottle up her energy and sell it. I would make billions off of that!

I'm trying to keep her busy for my sanity so I've come up with a Summer Bucket List. We've already started on our bucket list. I've been wanting to put this post up for awhile now but our little internet issues kind of slowed that down.

1. Make homemade ice cream

2. Get mommy/daughter manis

3. Master swimming with out floaties. (we are getting there! YAY!)

4. Complete our Summer Reading Challenges.

           -Jayla: read/be read to a total of 24 hours this summer

           -Me: Read 25 books. I'm 13 books in!

5. Have a water balloon fight.

6. Frequent the free movies at the theather

7. Catch fireflies

8. Go to a museum

9. Play balloon ping pong

10. Go to the park after dinner

11. Have story time at the park

12. Have Jayla learn 20 new sight words

13. Count to 100 flawlessly. She gets 17 and 70 mixed up.

14. Organize every room in the house. I'm dreading this one

15. Frequent the Farmer's Market.

16. Go ride horses. I found a place near me that has lessons for $10 an hour!

17. Have snow cones

18. Blow up soap

19. Make play dough

20. Make window clings

21. Make lava lamps

22. Make a peach cobbler

23. Cook a meal that is entirely from the Farmer's Market

24. Play in the rain

25. Visit a water park. I think one of the Grandma's has this one in store for the little one.

Bye-Bye Preschool

I no longer have a preschooler but a kindergartener. It seems surreal at how quickly time has flown. 

I am so proud of the "big girl" that she is becoming. She's a little social butterfly and makes friends where ever she goes. She has the biggest heart and has so much empathy for others and is extremely sensitive and tender-hearted. She amazes me everyday.

She has grown so much academically, physically, and spiritually in a year.

She has finally put some weight on her this year which is a huge accomplishment for us! Ever since she was about 1 years old we have struggled to put weight on her and this past year she has made huge strides in that area. Her doctor is even impressed with the improvements made!

Sometimes I am in awe of how much she has grown in just one year.

(left:first day, right:last day)

 

I'm sure I'm in the same boat as many other moms who have been in this situation or are going through it now but I am scared to death of her going to public school.

For the past two years she has been in a private christian preschool. It has been a wonderful experience there and I am so grateful for the teachers and staff at her preschool. If I could I would just keep her in preschool forever.

She will be going from 12 other kids to who knows how many in one class, from 3 hours a day to a full day. To a school where they pray with and for your child to one where God isn't allowed. 

I'm so worried how she is going to adjust to a new big school where she has no friends. All of her friends are going to different schools this year. 

I'm scared of her getting a horrible teacher who is just burnt out, the "bad kids" taking away from her learning experience and exposing her to things I'm just not ready for to be exposed too.

I'm scared of her getting bullied and picked on because she WILL NOT stand up for herself. 

I just want to shelter her and protect her from it all. I know I can't, but I'm just not ready to let her go. 

On a side note, pray, send good vibes, good juju, whatever it is that you do, that Jayla gets into the school I want her in. It's the closest schoool to us but yet we aren't zoned for it. Turns out we are zoned for the worst elementary school in my town. She is not going to the one we are zoned for, one way or another. I am a nervous wreck that the district will deny my request for her to attend the one I want.

Back On The Bandwagon

 

 
Wow guys!  Did you miss me because I sure have missed you!!!

I have been gone way too long and I'm ready to get back into the swing of things and I have a few post already lined up for you guys!

I didn't mean to be gone this long. The craziness just didn't seem to slow down and as soon as it does, I don't have Internet for over a week thanks to the guy that lives behind us. He was digging in his yard and cut the neutralizer wire to our house. Woke up one morning and my power wasn't working right and I was having power surges. The power company had to come out and fix it. Once we got the power up and running I discovered that some of our stuff got fried from the surges and my beloved Internet router was one of the items. It took quite a battle with my Internet company and a few hiccups along the way with them to get up and running! That whole situation was a disaster!

Now that we have that out the way I can fill you in on some other stuff. The hubbs is back in school for his last semester, Jayla finished preschool, we've started on our summer bucket list,Jayla is working on swimming without floaties, and I've been keeping my nose stuck in a book.

Stay tuned next week for some post to show you what we've been up too!

An interview with my child-May is for Moms link up

Today I am linking up with Amy over at Not Your Average Crazy. I've done something similar with Jayla before and I always love hearing the answers she comes up with.

First, let's start off with a picture of my favorite little girl. 

 1. What is your favorite thing that you and I do together? Playing and coloring together.

2. What is something important I have taught you that you will always remember? (i.e. Be nice to everyone, Always make your bed, etc.) To play High-Ho Cherry-O and my phone number.

3. What is your most special memory about me? Going to the beach

4. What is something nice I always say to you? I love you.

5. How are you and I the same? How are we different? We both have brown hair. You are old.

Infertility Sucks

I have debated so much on wheter I should post this or, not but it's my blog,and I blog for myself so I'm just going to put it out there.

I've been some what private about this situation.Only a small handful of people know what we have been going through so I'm just going to put it out there. 

The more people that know, the more unsolicited advice you tend to receive, and trust me I've had plenty of it. The main one I hear is,"Just quit trying and you will have a baby." "So and so quit trying, and they were pregnant the next month." Oh how I wish that statement were true. Of all the unsolicited advice, that is the one that pisses me off more then anything.

It will also give some insight as to why my poor little blog has been neglected lately.

I know tons of women struggle with infertility and have had a much harder time then what I am going through, but it's still my struggle and it doesn't make it any easier at times.

We have been trying to have a baby for 2 years now and never would have thought we would be experiencing this struggle after already having a child.

Ever since I had Jayla my body has been out of whack and my doctor could never tell me what the issue was. He would always just shrug his shoulders and hand me a script for a years worth of birth control. All the issues went away while I was on birth control but you can't have a baby while taking it. 

The first year of trying my body seemed to be ok and didn't have any issues but we still weren't getting pregnant but then it a took a turn. The issues were back with a vegence and I put off going to the doctor for so long. I really didn't want another shrug of the shoulder and him not even trying to figure out what was going on. I don't think I was even ready to find out. I was scared as to what it could be. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes.

I finally went and saw another doctor in December. He walked into the room and pretty much knew what was going on and had a game plan from looking at my past medical records. He started asking me questions, told me what was going on, and it all made so much sense. He said I have PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I broke down at the news. It was such a huge relief to know what was going on and to finally have answers after everything I had been through.(I will spare you the details of the issues, it's a bit TMI)

He put me on hormones for a month and if we weren't pregnant in 3 months to come back in and see him.

The hormones helped the issues alot. There was signifiant progress made but we weren't quite there yet.

Last month was the 3 month mark. No pregnancy yet so I went back to my doctor and did another week of hormones and he gave me script for Femara to help me ovulate.

The hormones(Provera, just in case you were wondering) that he puts me on are crazy! I have it so much! I'm moody, tired, and it makes me feel depressed. I know it's the medicine so my mind and body are waging a constant war with each other. I just can't snap out of it. I pretty much kind of check out from life.

I just finished the round of Femara last night and I hope it's the only round I have to do. It was almost as bad as the Provera but add in some pain. My body just hurt on that stuff. I felt so stiff. 

This whole infertility crap is for the birds. Sometimes I wonder if all the crap I'm going through is even worth it. I take a look at Jayla and instantly know it is. What I am having to go through is nothing compared to the reward I will have for the rest of my life. Jayla also desperatly wants to be a big sister and I think she would make a great one!

I've had my bad my days with this whole situation but it is what it is and I know we will be blessed with a baby when the time is right. All I can do through this is just have faith and treasure the moments I have with Jayla.

So with everything that has been going on in everyday life and this situation I just haven't had the energy or the desire to blog. Hopefully I will feel normal again soon and be back to a regular blogging schedule. I do miss it.

         




   

Chewy Peanut Butter Bars

The other day I let Jayla stay home from school. I think we both just needed a break from the craziness that has been going on. After we lounged in bed all morning she wanted to bake something. I didn't want to go to the store so I had to figure out something to make with items I already had on hand.

After scouring the pantry for supplies we decided to make Chewy Peanut Butter Bars. They are quick,easy, and so addictive. The only thing I don't like about these is, they just never seem to last long enough.

What you need:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs,beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large saucepan, melt butter and peanut butter. Remove from heat. Add sugar and flour. Mix well and then stir in eggs and vanilla. Spread into a greased and floured 13x9 baking pan. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and the edges start to pull away from sides of pan.

You may have to bake yours a little longer. My oven tends to cook a little quicker. Start at 20 minutes and then keep checking every few minutes if needed.