Pictures from
Bristol, England Part 1
evening in the cemetery
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Good, the Bad, and the Oh So Hilarious
Some trips can be wonderful, some can be horrible,and some... can just be downright hilarious. Take for instance the trip from my childhood that I spoke of in the earlier blogs... The trip to Holy Ghost, New Mexico... Looking back, it was pretty funny... most of our trips were like that... maybe not at the time. I seem to remember a few choice words that I am sure my mother covered my ears for... but for the most part, we could all look back and say that it was fun, and things like skunks and torrential rain can always make you smile...
That trip to Holy Ghost? The men decided it was warm enough to sleep in the A frame at the campsite and let the 4 women/girls have one tent. Saved work, right? One tent Instead of two. Problem was, a front moved through during the night, rain, sleet, hail, then... I swear, snow.
On top of the cold, there was a skunk seeking shelter in the A frame with the men...
That trip to New Mexico had many such times to look back on. Camping on the Lava Bed was fun and exciting, waking to a blanket of fog, something oh so captivating... The trip into the Pueblo at Taos, such rich history, I am sure that we made fools of ourselves, gawking at the "Indians" that lived so very different from the Natives that grew up with and around.
We had other vacations and short trips that were fun to look back on. The trip to Possum Kingdom lake with my aunt and uncle's dog... We were babysitting their beloved pet but had been planning this trip, so what do you do? Take the pooch along for the ride... Only thing was, the weather changed, dramatically. We had a torrential downpour that left our tent pouring water in, and the dog was terrified of all the wind, rain, thunder and lightening. She was cowed and whimpering, I think I was as well, probably around five years old, cold and tired... we ended up sleeping in the car. Which was not so bad, my father had a huge old Pontiac. I fit perfectly into the back window or curled up in the floorboard of the back seat... but that night the dog got that place. My sister slept in the seat, my parents slept in the front seat. To think of my dad sleeping there makes me sad. He should have stretched out. The next morning, after we ate, my mother had enough of sand, water and sun, so we packed up and started home... um... actually, we didn't. We didn't get out of the parking spot. The car was just heavy enough, and the sand just wet enough, that we were stuck. The tires just dug in. I think my mother cried. My dad just unpacked the shovel, his old army issue, and started digging, piling in sticks and twigs, and soon enough got us out of the quicksand.
I could go on and on... seems like there were many, many trips like this. I'll save some for later.
That trip to New Mexico had many such times to look back on. Camping on the Lava Bed was fun and exciting, waking to a blanket of fog, something oh so captivating... The trip into the Pueblo at Taos, such rich history, I am sure that we made fools of ourselves, gawking at the "Indians" that lived so very different from the Natives that grew up with and around.
We had other vacations and short trips that were fun to look back on. The trip to Possum Kingdom lake with my aunt and uncle's dog... We were babysitting their beloved pet but had been planning this trip, so what do you do? Take the pooch along for the ride... Only thing was, the weather changed, dramatically. We had a torrential downpour that left our tent pouring water in, and the dog was terrified of all the wind, rain, thunder and lightening. She was cowed and whimpering, I think I was as well, probably around five years old, cold and tired... we ended up sleeping in the car. Which was not so bad, my father had a huge old Pontiac. I fit perfectly into the back window or curled up in the floorboard of the back seat... but that night the dog got that place. My sister slept in the seat, my parents slept in the front seat. To think of my dad sleeping there makes me sad. He should have stretched out. The next morning, after we ate, my mother had enough of sand, water and sun, so we packed up and started home... um... actually, we didn't. We didn't get out of the parking spot. The car was just heavy enough, and the sand just wet enough, that we were stuck. The tires just dug in. I think my mother cried. My dad just unpacked the shovel, his old army issue, and started digging, piling in sticks and twigs, and soon enough got us out of the quicksand.
I could go on and on... seems like there were many, many trips like this. I'll save some for later.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Family and friends....
One of the great joys of traveling has always been... seeing the wonderment on the kiddos faces. When you look off a high bridge, peer from the rim of a crater, hike along a trail that the Spanish used hundreds of years ago, or touch lava that cooled millennia ago... it is awesome to see a kids face and know that they are finally 'getting' it! That this country we live in, this earth we live on, is wonderful and amazing.
I suppose you could get that in your own front yard, but it is awe inspiring when you actually see and feel the oldness, the wonderment that is our world.
I was tremendously lucky when I was a kid. My family wandered around the states in our old car. My father was unafraid to take the family on trips. He was after all, a survivor of WWII, why should a little road trip scare him? He was a brave man. Off we'd go with tent and cookstove and the passel of kids, and take off for parts known or unknown.
My mother took tons of pictures no matter where the family went. She was born into the era of the 'brownie' and picture taking was the fad. I had tons of pictures to look at when I was a kid. My parents before they had me... my father's adventures in Europe. My parents as new parents... as the family grew... and with me... we had trips across the country and to the lake not far from home. We had vacations with other families and just alone.
I have to say, I liked it when we traveled with other families... and with our extended family. I was the youngest, so my older brothers were already out of the house pretty much when I came along. So it was usually just my sister and I when we traveled with my parents... but when we traveled with say, my aunt and uncle... it was magical
I've been trying to find pictures of trips when I was young. I don't have many, and I'll try to post the ones that I do have, though they won't be that great. I think I got all the old, ugly pictures from my childhood. I'm the end of the kids so maybe there weren't as many from then? Whatever the reason, I didn't get many.
I suppose you could get that in your own front yard, but it is awe inspiring when you actually see and feel the oldness, the wonderment that is our world.
I was tremendously lucky when I was a kid. My family wandered around the states in our old car. My father was unafraid to take the family on trips. He was after all, a survivor of WWII, why should a little road trip scare him? He was a brave man. Off we'd go with tent and cookstove and the passel of kids, and take off for parts known or unknown.
My mother took tons of pictures no matter where the family went. She was born into the era of the 'brownie' and picture taking was the fad. I had tons of pictures to look at when I was a kid. My parents before they had me... my father's adventures in Europe. My parents as new parents... as the family grew... and with me... we had trips across the country and to the lake not far from home. We had vacations with other families and just alone.
I have to say, I liked it when we traveled with other families... and with our extended family. I was the youngest, so my older brothers were already out of the house pretty much when I came along. So it was usually just my sister and I when we traveled with my parents... but when we traveled with say, my aunt and uncle... it was magical
I've been trying to find pictures of trips when I was young. I don't have many, and I'll try to post the ones that I do have, though they won't be that great. I think I got all the old, ugly pictures from my childhood. I'm the end of the kids so maybe there weren't as many from then? Whatever the reason, I didn't get many.
One trip with my mother's best friend and her family was great! I was about four, maybe, and remember it vividly. We went to Davis, Oklahoma, to camp at Turner Falls. The water was sparkling clear, we had great food, slept in a huge tent on canvas army cots, and played in the water until I was a prune!
One trip my aunt and uncle was to New Mexico. I could have been five. We went to Carlsbad caverns, camped in the white sands, camped on lava beds, camped in Holy Ghost! And visited the Pueblos. My first pair of pants were bought in Santa Fe.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Keeping them busy!
When we travel and decide to camp along the way, we carry the bikes where we can get to them easily. Usually that means they are in the back of the pickup truck. Our double cab gets cramped so the luggage is always in the back, so if it is really packed well, there is always a bike rack, or what is even easier for us... a trailer. Yep, if we are camping, it is much easier for us to have a cargo trailer, not big, but big enough for all our luggage and gear, and the bikes!
I know... this is getting out of hand, but when we go, we go for a week or more in what might be more rugged terrain, and there isn't going to be a super market close at hand... though, more and more... you find a Walmart or some sort of big store even in small, out of the way places. Kind of sad...
So, I pack for a week of eating on an open fire, or maybe just a few days if I think we will be near a restaurant, because... if it makes it easier on me, I'm all for it!
With having bikes ready to ride, be sure to have the first aid kit ready! Believe me, there will be blood... This recent vacation, we had the first accident with a fall off the truck, the second was off the bicycle, the third was as well... sigh... and the fourth... So I was glad that I brought lots of band aids, and extra tape. Chances are, the first ride is going to be before we even start to unpack. This really helps, especially with boys I've found, they have all that bottled up testosterone and need to get it dissapated, riding a bike is just hte ticket to get it out of their systems!
Of course if you bring bikes, you have to bring a pump and a repair kit.
Now, this list of stuff that I bring along is getting out of hand. At some point you have to put your foot down and say... we don't need it... And then you do.
I know now that there are plenty of places to get a tire aired up, and patches if needed... those Walmarts come in handy in this case. But I really like to keep just that little patch kit, shoved back to the back of the kit with the balls and badminton rackets.
Helmets are really necessary, especially if the kids are going to ride on pavement, but I want the whole shebang... knee pads, elbow pads... gosh... I am too over protective, and my son just refuses to wear the extra padding. My grandson lives in the city now, and he is used to riding on pavement in traffic, and he's getting pretty adept at checking for traffic, but my son, ever the country boy, will just go headlong and I worry.
We were staying one night in a KOA.. yes, we broke down and rented a cabin for the night when we ran into a heavy storm...The next morning, I sent the boys on their bikes to the convenience store less than a block away to fetch some ice. There was not much traffic on the road, and it was a wide road, lots of room to ride to the side. They hopped on their bikes, rode off and took a bit of time, more than what I thought it should take.. I got worried, but waited a bit. They came limping into the cabin...My grandson had fallen off his bike, scratching his already scratched up hands, but he wasn't hurt. After a quick bandage, off they went to ride in the mud. They were so happy to ride in the mud. It caked thick on their tires and clumped on their shoes, but it was probably the one thing they really will remember of their trip!
I know... this is getting out of hand, but when we go, we go for a week or more in what might be more rugged terrain, and there isn't going to be a super market close at hand... though, more and more... you find a Walmart or some sort of big store even in small, out of the way places. Kind of sad...
So, I pack for a week of eating on an open fire, or maybe just a few days if I think we will be near a restaurant, because... if it makes it easier on me, I'm all for it!
With having bikes ready to ride, be sure to have the first aid kit ready! Believe me, there will be blood... This recent vacation, we had the first accident with a fall off the truck, the second was off the bicycle, the third was as well... sigh... and the fourth... So I was glad that I brought lots of band aids, and extra tape. Chances are, the first ride is going to be before we even start to unpack. This really helps, especially with boys I've found, they have all that bottled up testosterone and need to get it dissapated, riding a bike is just hte ticket to get it out of their systems!
Of course if you bring bikes, you have to bring a pump and a repair kit.
Now, this list of stuff that I bring along is getting out of hand. At some point you have to put your foot down and say... we don't need it... And then you do.
I know now that there are plenty of places to get a tire aired up, and patches if needed... those Walmarts come in handy in this case. But I really like to keep just that little patch kit, shoved back to the back of the kit with the balls and badminton rackets.
Helmets are really necessary, especially if the kids are going to ride on pavement, but I want the whole shebang... knee pads, elbow pads... gosh... I am too over protective, and my son just refuses to wear the extra padding. My grandson lives in the city now, and he is used to riding on pavement in traffic, and he's getting pretty adept at checking for traffic, but my son, ever the country boy, will just go headlong and I worry.
We were staying one night in a KOA.. yes, we broke down and rented a cabin for the night when we ran into a heavy storm...The next morning, I sent the boys on their bikes to the convenience store less than a block away to fetch some ice. There was not much traffic on the road, and it was a wide road, lots of room to ride to the side. They hopped on their bikes, rode off and took a bit of time, more than what I thought it should take.. I got worried, but waited a bit. They came limping into the cabin...My grandson had fallen off his bike, scratching his already scratched up hands, but he wasn't hurt. After a quick bandage, off they went to ride in the mud. They were so happy to ride in the mud. It caked thick on their tires and clumped on their shoes, but it was probably the one thing they really will remember of their trip!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
What to do
With all the extras packed and close at hand, the best of times are to come!
The kids are always ready to go, to explore and to have adventures, the reality is that you hop into the car and start off... and it takes forever to get to your destination...
This is a given with us, we are truly six hours away from nowhere, so each and every trip we take is a long drive or an airplane ride. So, we start out with a quick game. I tell my son that he has to either sing a song or get out the games... and it works. More than likely, he will grab a game faster than the eye can see and start playing... now the younger of the group of kids will always complain, he doesn't like to play so much, he'd rather draw or play on his Ipad... nope! Nothing doing, that is for later on, and believe me... there's plenty of later ons.
One of the recent games is.. "Tough Choices" consisting of a list of questions, posed by players taking turns (but the older always takes over) asking what would you rather do, ie. would you rather ride in a bus or ride in a motor home? Or something equally silly. That takes up about 15 minutes if we are lucky. Move on to "Auto Bingo" that consists of finding stop signs and other road signs that are listed on the 'board', the first one to complete a row or black out wins a piece of candy... or not... maybe ticket to use (if I have had the foresight to make them) for a turn in the front seat or turn NOT helping unpack suitcases...which goes over well.
The games take around 30 minutes to complete. I mean, really, how long can you keep the kids occupied? When we travel, I totally encourage a nap. Blankets and pillows are a must, and I have always explained that if you take a nap now, the trip won't feel so long. Always works, though they wake up asking the proverbial "Are we there yet?" And of course the answer is usually no. So for the remaining two hours, there is always another round of Auto Bingo, or the always mandatory... read a chapter of the book you have in your bucket... and that takes a little bit, but I've found that the older the kids get, they have to have a few more chapters added on to that time to make it last any time at all.
Recently, we took a trip with the two boys, my son and grandson, who are just two years in age apart. I tend to think of my grandson as my own kid, since they are so close in age, and since he spent the first five years with us for a huge part of the time. So he and my son have grown up kind of like brothers. When we travel together, people just assume they are siblings. They act like siblings. They fight like siblings, and well... I treat them like siblings. So, we took a trip, a pretty long road trip, that started out kind of like what I explained above, but... well, the first four hours it was just my grandson in the vehicle. My son had gone to camp and we picked him up, which is a four hour drive, after that, it was kind of fun, we drove through driving rain, over bumpy roads, and both boys were wired up, so there wasn't any sleep. They didn't want to play games so I allowed them to play on their Kindle/Ipad so they could play a game together. I think they ended up texting their friends, so off with the electronics. After another couple of hours in the vehicle, naps seemed good to them.
When we reached the point where we were spending the night, Black Mesa, where we had not planned to go but because of the heavy rain, opted for since it was closer to our immediate vicinity, we proceeded to find a campsite. First off, finding the first aid kit, since my grandson fell off the truck onto the asphalt, gouging his hands, knees, side and... well, scaring the daylights out of me. He was crying and my son was saying he had worse places, and my friend was trying to set up camp, and I was hunting for peroxide and antibiotic cream and bandages large enough to cover the bloody mess...
You know, that is the one thing you need to remember... put the first aid kit under the seat of the car, not under all the stuff in the tubs for the kids. I was throwing toys and games and fruit rolls up out of the back seat, trying to find the kit...sigh...
Once bandaged, I started supper. We have kind of an agreement, that the boys set up stuff and I get the "kitchen" set up and cook dinner. I am legally blind so it is easier for me to deal with stuff that I packed, things that are familiar to me, that I can set up and work around and stay out of the way. So this arrangement works.
This trip, I packed extra little lantern, small LED flashlights, and an assortment of glow in the dark games, like Ring-Toss, for the kids to play with after dark and of course, skewers and marshmallows and my daughter sent along a Jiffy Pop for each of the boys. Thing like that are always welcome... and also the packets of 'Astronaut' food... like icecream, or the Scrambled Egg packets that my daughter also included. They love that sort of thing.
Keeping the kids occupied is sometimes tiring, but really, there is so much to do with them...
The kids are always ready to go, to explore and to have adventures, the reality is that you hop into the car and start off... and it takes forever to get to your destination...
This is a given with us, we are truly six hours away from nowhere, so each and every trip we take is a long drive or an airplane ride. So, we start out with a quick game. I tell my son that he has to either sing a song or get out the games... and it works. More than likely, he will grab a game faster than the eye can see and start playing... now the younger of the group of kids will always complain, he doesn't like to play so much, he'd rather draw or play on his Ipad... nope! Nothing doing, that is for later on, and believe me... there's plenty of later ons.
One of the recent games is.. "Tough Choices" consisting of a list of questions, posed by players taking turns (but the older always takes over) asking what would you rather do, ie. would you rather ride in a bus or ride in a motor home? Or something equally silly. That takes up about 15 minutes if we are lucky. Move on to "Auto Bingo" that consists of finding stop signs and other road signs that are listed on the 'board', the first one to complete a row or black out wins a piece of candy... or not... maybe ticket to use (if I have had the foresight to make them) for a turn in the front seat or turn NOT helping unpack suitcases...which goes over well.
The games take around 30 minutes to complete. I mean, really, how long can you keep the kids occupied? When we travel, I totally encourage a nap. Blankets and pillows are a must, and I have always explained that if you take a nap now, the trip won't feel so long. Always works, though they wake up asking the proverbial "Are we there yet?" And of course the answer is usually no. So for the remaining two hours, there is always another round of Auto Bingo, or the always mandatory... read a chapter of the book you have in your bucket... and that takes a little bit, but I've found that the older the kids get, they have to have a few more chapters added on to that time to make it last any time at all.
When we reached the point where we were spending the night, Black Mesa, where we had not planned to go but because of the heavy rain, opted for since it was closer to our immediate vicinity, we proceeded to find a campsite. First off, finding the first aid kit, since my grandson fell off the truck onto the asphalt, gouging his hands, knees, side and... well, scaring the daylights out of me. He was crying and my son was saying he had worse places, and my friend was trying to set up camp, and I was hunting for peroxide and antibiotic cream and bandages large enough to cover the bloody mess...You know, that is the one thing you need to remember... put the first aid kit under the seat of the car, not under all the stuff in the tubs for the kids. I was throwing toys and games and fruit rolls up out of the back seat, trying to find the kit...sigh...
Once bandaged, I started supper. We have kind of an agreement, that the boys set up stuff and I get the "kitchen" set up and cook dinner. I am legally blind so it is easier for me to deal with stuff that I packed, things that are familiar to me, that I can set up and work around and stay out of the way. So this arrangement works.This trip, I packed extra little lantern, small LED flashlights, and an assortment of glow in the dark games, like Ring-Toss, for the kids to play with after dark and of course, skewers and marshmallows and my daughter sent along a Jiffy Pop for each of the boys. Thing like that are always welcome... and also the packets of 'Astronaut' food... like icecream, or the Scrambled Egg packets that my daughter also included. They love that sort of thing.
Keeping the kids occupied is sometimes tiring, but really, there is so much to do with them...
Traveling With Kiddos
Traveling
with kids is so much fun, and so tiring. It can be a real chore when you take young kids anywhere, but on an extended holiday, it can sometimes get rather cramped, cranky and frustrating for everyone.
I've always packed extras for the kids so when we travel, it is not so awkward and boring... then again, we live 6 hours driving time away from just about anything...So when we take any roadtrip, it is an extended roadtrip. My motto... always be prepared!
There is always some mishap that will cause tears from either one of the kids or myself... and having extra food, clothing or patience is a must. One of the kids will always have a snotty nose, uneasy stomach, headache, loss of bowel control, or all of the above. That's OK. Got you covered... Skinned knees, no problem... puking all over the car... yea... gag... I got it... gagging a bit more... it's ok.
When we travel, I want comfort, I am not usually really picky about how my kids dress... OK, I lie, when my daughter was young, I kept her frilly and neat and tidy, but when we traveled, I let up a bit. Shorts in the car is pretty necessary since we live where it is hot in the Summer and Winter can get pretty warm...there is no Spring or Fall. I always keep blankets in the car, for when the air conditioner is running cold... and I learned from my dad that you take water no matter what time of the year. You can't imagine how many times over the years that has been a lifesaver.
My list for the car:
Baby Wipes-they can be cheap or homemade.
Gallon Water-in the Summer, maybe two gallons.
Tissues- a cute little packet for each person in the car.
Umbrella
Sun hats- never leave home without a hat!
Sun screen- ditto about the hats...
Bug repellant- especially if you will be in nature.
First Aid Kit- laugh if you want, but it has come in very, very handy even on short trips.
Flashlight- either the wind up kind or keep extra batteries.
Fold up multitool... just in case! I have needed each tool once.
Blankets (those little airline blankets are wonderful and roll up to put in a baggie)
Pillows (the blow up type, same as the blankets... you deflate and roll up and stuff in a baggie)
Assorted car games, including magnetic chess/checkers, Road Bingo, Travel Trivia
Crayons/ Artist pad
Change of clothing-including socks ( I roll up tight and stow in a baggie under the seat)
Comfy shoes-- even if it is hot, mostly when it is hot, a good, comfortable pair of shoes is a must!!!
Snacks-- Fruit roll ups, granola bars, carrot sticks, Mandarin orange slices,Slim Jims.
Books-- Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, nothing old... just good, age appropriate books. My kids love tour books.
One subject notebooks for each kid-- for a journal of their travels.
Pens/pencils/colored pencils & if I am living dangerously... washable markers
Bikes---- I know, this is for trips that a bike is appropriate, but aren't they all?
Most of this can be stowed in a plastic tub that fits neatly in the center, between the car seats. Rectangle tubs at Dollar Store are great!
Now, I know that normally, we won't need even half of that stuff... but it is always handy to have it when you need it, and sad when you need it and you didn't pack it.
My family has always laughed at me for carrying baby wipes... but they have always been the best thing that I keep. One of my nieces who is not that much younger than me came up to me when she had kids of her own, and told me that she understood finally why I kept a supply in the car... There is always, ALWAYS something spilled in the car. Even with sippy cups and tight fitting lids, the
re is always going to be a spill, a spit-up, some sort of bodily function when you least expect it... and it is a good idea to keep a package handy to wipe up, I still use them if I am caught out and feel like my hands are dirty. All my kid are older now, but there are still messes to deal with... and those pesky bodily functions never cease to surprise you.
So, why the water?
We live in the desert... which should be a good reason, but when my dad kept water in the car, it was for a totally different reason. One... you never know when you will be caught out in the middle of nowhere for hours. Even in this day of instant communication, there is still the chance of being stuck in traffic, stuck in a storm, stuck with a flat, what ever the reason, it is always handy to have water. I have had radiator problems, break overheating, kids puking more than baby wipes can handle... believe me, especially in the Summer, water is the best bet. Even in Winter, that little bit of weight in your trunk can help when it is slippery out there. I would include a bag of sand if I was living anywhere that got snow... or traveled where there is snow.
People have always teased me about the snacks as well... we're just going a short distance... then we had a blowout, hungry kids, crying ensued, and keeping a bag of snacks is always appropriate. The other stuff is just fluff.
No, I take that back... the sunscreen is amazing, so is the bug repellant, ask my ex about
changing tires, or fixing anything wrong on the side of the road... chiggers, mosquitoes, those no-see-ums that bite you, all that scratching can ruin a trip. My favorite is this natural bug repellant, that is totally 100% natural, and it is mild so I don't mind using it on the kiddos... and it even smells nice. Made by the Super Salve Company. Actually, they have a whole line of salves and balms that are soothing and natural... no, I'm not paid to say that, they are that good!
A LED flashlight is always wonderful to have when you breakdown, or get lost... or both. Nightfall comes late to our part of the country, it is flat, devoid of trees and you can see for miles and miles, but when that sun drops... it is awfully dark out there. A flashlight can mean finding that lugnut, or your keys that you dropped when walking around the car. It can also be a wonderful tool for kids to use when they cover their heads with the blanket and tell ghost stories! .... I mean... while they are reading their nice books... Usually a spare bunch of batteries accompanies the flashlight.
An important item... Books! You can read on a Kindle or Ipad, but who wants to when you can touch a book? A real, live book. I don't take expensive or really old books when I travel, but I do take something for the kids to read. While my son was at camp recently, I sent a small book on the Constitution for him to read. I told him he was to read a page a day... which was hopeful thinking, but he did read a lot of it.
This is a time when you have a captive audience. Sing... tell jokes... act silly. I try to find a new CD that has either songs in a different language, or that has kid specific songs, stories or...sometimes I slip in the odd Foreigner or Boston album to break up the monotony. The kids grow up all too soon and when you lose them to video games and Youtube... it is about over with! Take the time to enjoy the trips in the car with your kids.. or on a plane, for the most part, the travel is the same, though singing at the top of your lungs is discouraged on airplanes... but those silly jokes are ok, and t
he ghost stories ( Just make sure everyone understands that there is to be no screaming!!!) But you can have just as much fun on an airplane as you can in the car.
Yeah... screaming on a plane isn't the greatest way to make it through a flight.
So maybe the ghost stories are left for when you arrive at your destination... but books are the greatest time spent while flying.
I have also kept journals for the kids to use when we are traveling. Each day I tell them to spend 10 minutes writing about what we did ... drawing a picture of somewhere we went, and you know, that usually turns into 30 minutes or more. They really enjoy finding leaves to press in the pages, or seeing who can draw a building to look realistic... or an animal that they saw.
Yes, expect tears, frustration and yes, sometimes agony... but it is fun! Don't forget that... it is fun to see the expression on your child's face when they see something for the first time... like looking off the top of Pike's Peak... or looking down into the crater of a volcano, or seeing a deer up close, or when they bike down a really steep hill and DON'T fall down!
It's worth it... hop in the car and drive as far as your money and/or time will allow. See what you can find around the next bend, over the next hill... and teach your kids to love the art of traveling.
O beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful, for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!
O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!
O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
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| Not us... would be too easy! |
I've always packed extras for the kids so when we travel, it is not so awkward and boring... then again, we live 6 hours driving time away from just about anything...So when we take any roadtrip, it is an extended roadtrip. My motto... always be prepared!
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| Recent trip |
When we travel, I want comfort, I am not usually really picky about how my kids dress... OK, I lie, when my daughter was young, I kept her frilly and neat and tidy, but when we traveled, I let up a bit. Shorts in the car is pretty necessary since we live where it is hot in the Summer and Winter can get pretty warm...there is no Spring or Fall. I always keep blankets in the car, for when the air conditioner is running cold... and I learned from my dad that you take water no matter what time of the year. You can't imagine how many times over the years that has been a lifesaver.
My list for the car:
Baby Wipes-they can be cheap or homemade.
Gallon Water-in the Summer, maybe two gallons.
Tissues- a cute little packet for each person in the car.
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| All in a plastic tub! |
Sun hats- never leave home without a hat!
Sun screen- ditto about the hats...
Bug repellant- especially if you will be in nature.
First Aid Kit- laugh if you want, but it has come in very, very handy even on short trips.
Flashlight- either the wind up kind or keep extra batteries.
Fold up multitool... just in case! I have needed each tool once.
Blankets (those little airline blankets are wonderful and roll up to put in a baggie)
Pillows (the blow up type, same as the blankets... you deflate and roll up and stuff in a baggie)
Assorted car games, including magnetic chess/checkers, Road Bingo, Travel Trivia
Crayons/ Artist pad
Change of clothing-including socks ( I roll up tight and stow in a baggie under the seat)
Comfy shoes-- even if it is hot, mostly when it is hot, a good, comfortable pair of shoes is a must!!!
Snacks-- Fruit roll ups, granola bars, carrot sticks, Mandarin orange slices,Slim Jims.
Books-- Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, nothing old... just good, age appropriate books. My kids love tour books.
One subject notebooks for each kid-- for a journal of their travels.
Pens/pencils/colored pencils & if I am living dangerously... washable markers
Bikes---- I know, this is for trips that a bike is appropriate, but aren't they all?
Most of this can be stowed in a plastic tub that fits neatly in the center, between the car seats. Rectangle tubs at Dollar Store are great!
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| comfy shoes! |
My family has always laughed at me for carrying baby wipes... but they have always been the best thing that I keep. One of my nieces who is not that much younger than me came up to me when she had kids of her own, and told me that she understood finally why I kept a supply in the car... There is always, ALWAYS something spilled in the car. Even with sippy cups and tight fitting lids, the
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| Personal hand sanitizer |
So, why the water?
We live in the desert... which should be a good reason, but when my dad kept water in the car, it was for a totally different reason. One... you never know when you will be caught out in the middle of nowhere for hours. Even in this day of instant communication, there is still the chance of being stuck in traffic, stuck in a storm, stuck with a flat, what ever the reason, it is always handy to have water. I have had radiator problems, break overheating, kids puking more than baby wipes can handle... believe me, especially in the Summer, water is the best bet. Even in Winter, that little bit of weight in your trunk can help when it is slippery out there. I would include a bag of sand if I was living anywhere that got snow... or traveled where there is snow.
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| snacks! less sugar is better |
People have always teased me about the snacks as well... we're just going a short distance... then we had a blowout, hungry kids, crying ensued, and keeping a bag of snacks is always appropriate. The other stuff is just fluff.
No, I take that back... the sunscreen is amazing, so is the bug repellant, ask my ex aboutchanging tires, or fixing anything wrong on the side of the road... chiggers, mosquitoes, those no-see-ums that bite you, all that scratching can ruin a trip. My favorite is this natural bug repellant, that is totally 100% natural, and it is mild so I don't mind using it on the kiddos... and it even smells nice. Made by the Super Salve Company. Actually, they have a whole line of salves and balms that are soothing and natural... no, I'm not paid to say that, they are that good!
A LED flashlight is always wonderful to have when you breakdown, or get lost... or both. Nightfall comes late to our part of the country, it is flat, devoid of trees and you can see for miles and miles, but when that sun drops... it is awfully dark out there. A flashlight can mean finding that lugnut, or your keys that you dropped when walking around the car. It can also be a wonderful tool for kids to use when they cover their heads with the blanket and tell ghost stories! .... I mean... while they are reading their nice books... Usually a spare bunch of batteries accompanies the flashlight.
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| small books, interesting topics |
This is a time when you have a captive audience. Sing... tell jokes... act silly. I try to find a new CD that has either songs in a different language, or that has kid specific songs, stories or...sometimes I slip in the odd Foreigner or Boston album to break up the monotony. The kids grow up all too soon and when you lose them to video games and Youtube... it is about over with! Take the time to enjoy the trips in the car with your kids.. or on a plane, for the most part, the travel is the same, though singing at the top of your lungs is discouraged on airplanes... but those silly jokes are ok, and t
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| Good music, time to add new stuff |
Yeah... screaming on a plane isn't the greatest way to make it through a flight.
So maybe the ghost stories are left for when you arrive at your destination... but books are the greatest time spent while flying.
I have also kept journals for the kids to use when we are traveling. Each day I tell them to spend 10 minutes writing about what we did ... drawing a picture of somewhere we went, and you know, that usually turns into 30 minutes or more. They really enjoy finding leaves to press in the pages, or seeing who can draw a building to look realistic... or an animal that they saw.
Yes, expect tears, frustration and yes, sometimes agony... but it is fun! Don't forget that... it is fun to see the expression on your child's face when they see something for the first time... like looking off the top of Pike's Peak... or looking down into the crater of a volcano, or seeing a deer up close, or when they bike down a really steep hill and DON'T fall down!
It's worth it... hop in the car and drive as far as your money and/or time will allow. See what you can find around the next bend, over the next hill... and teach your kids to love the art of traveling.
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| San Isabel National Forest |
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| Garden of the Gods |
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| Royal Gorge Railroad and the Arkansas River |
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| snaky road up to Pikes Peak |
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| Monument to Katharine Lee Bates and the Song, America the Beautiful |
Lyrics to America the Beautiful
~~~By Katharine Lee BatesO beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
O beautiful, for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!
O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!
O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
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| Looking down on Pikes Peak cog railroad and the snow and fog |
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| Pikes Peak visitors center on the top of the peak |
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| Pikes Peak Cog Railroad in the fog at the top |
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| Middle of July and there is an abundance of snow, people stop and write in it! |
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Packing for seasons, or how to pack everything you own for a week away from home.
The packing to me has always been the whole problem. Packing for seasons, packing for surprise changes in weather, packing for a trip to a different climate, packing for a working vacation...How do you do it?
I don't have a clue. We traveled to Great Britain the first trip was for a three week holiday and talk about over packing. I took clothes for what I thought was a reasonable trip. I didn't know what to expect, so I took shirts, t-shirts, undershirts, over-shirts, sweaters, two jackets(I needed two different colors of jackets), a rain coat, a couple of dresses, a couple of nice dresses, regular high heels, nice high heels, tennis shoes, sandals, flip-flops, and flats. I took pants, shorts, 2 bathing suits, and all my toiletries. I took jewelry for each outfit and couldn't decide on what necklace for the nice outfit, so I took three to choose from. I took books to read on the long flight, I took sketch pads and pencils, charcoal and an assortment of snacks. That was for me... My son was packed pretty much the same. This...
This is the problem. I have no idea how to pack.
So we went for three weeks, and we had a great time, and we didn't wear nearly half the clothing. I found that I did wear all my undershirts and t-shirts. I did wear my flats, tennis shoes, and one pair of heels. I never got the chance to wear my really nice dress, nor did I need any of the snacks. I did use my sketch pad and charcoal. I did not need the books... I wore very few pieces of jewelry. I used very little makeup. I did wash my hair a lot, but not so much to need a huge bottle of shampoo.
You don't want to know what I packed for the 7 week holiday!
I learned a lot from that trip.
First:
If you are going to a different climate, you should find out what the average temperature is for the season you are traveling in. Dress appropriately.
Second:
Be realistic... Will you be dining in a fine restaurant? Going to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen? or will you be driving around the countryside, tromping through cattle pastures, and through streams up and over hill and dale? Yes, there might be an occasion to dress up, but really? Tea with the Queen? I didn't at least.
Third:
We ended up riding in a car for the longest time while in England, Wales and Scotland. We toured all over the place, not just London. We went from large cities to small out of the way villages. and everything in between. Whilst in the car, one really doesn't need to be in tight clothing, no need for high heels, and there is nothing better than having comfortable, easy to slip on sweaters to make you feel cozy and comfortable in changing weather. A good pair of Wellies are a nice addition as well. I bought a pair of Wellies for myself and my son while in Carlisle. We were embarking on a venture in Scotland, to visit cemeteries (yes, my morbid love of cemeteries). It had been raining for a couple of days, with a short break in the weather, but we went prepared. We needed them. While visiting the cemetery at Blacket House and the old ruins of the church at Kirconnel. The rain had caused the river to race and the fields to be muddy. That is another thing that makes or breaks a trip. If your feet are uncomfortable, you are miserable. Ask me how I know...
I took sandals to England, thinking that was a good thing. And for a couple of days out of the trip, it was. We spent the day in Edinburgh at the zoo for my son's 7th birthday, and it was 80F. That is an oddity for Edinburgh I understand. It did rain a bit, but it was wonderfully warm. The rest of the trip to Scotland was pretty cold. Or cold for a person from West Texas. When we left home it was right at 100F . We drove to Dallas where it was hot and humid and then there were torrential rains when we went to the airport, so we were wet and cold for the flight. I think it would have been wonderful to have a change of socks for the
flight over, and a baggie for the soaking wet socks so my feet would
have dried out. My son didn't seem to mind his, he had on some really
good tennis shoes, his feet seemed to be pretty dry. I think I got the
brunt of the water though, packing and unpacking the car. I waded
through the water, so I was soaked. I never got warm the whole time. Not even the day we were in Edinburgh. Comfortable, dry shoes are a must, no matter where you are traveling. Feet first is my motto! 
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