Favorite: Cities to Visit

I'm still off enjoying a little downtime...but the blog continues.  Here is another one of my favorites...

I get asked a lot as a travel agent what are my favorite cities to visit.  So today, I'm going to tell you :).

First, my favorite American cities to visit and then my favorite non-American cities.

New York City

Do I really need to explain?  The culture, the shopping, the food, the museums, the sports, the theater...New York City has all of that and so much more.  If you're looking for a place to visit in the US and you haven't been to the Big Apple, I suggest it first.  You will not be disappointed!

Boston

And not just because it's the home to my Red Sox :).  Boston is a wonderful city to visit.  There is so much history...wonderful food, great shopping, beautiful fall foliage, an easy subway system, Harvard, MIT, the JFK museum...I could go on and on.  Boston will welcome you with open arms...it's just a friendly place to visit.

Chicago 
To me, Chicago is the friendliest big city.  It is a big city with all of the big city perks but it really has a small town, laid back attitude.  Andrew and I first started visiting Chicago when we lived in Detroit (because it was only a 3 hour drive from home), and we instantly fell in love. Chicago is one of our very favorite cities to visit. Make sure you check out Little Italy and of course, shop on Michigan Avenue (and you should probably visit Wrigley Field too!).

Kansas City
Bet you didn't think I was going to say this town!  Kansas City isn't fancy or splashy...but it is a hidden gem in the Midwest   We have spent a lot of time in KC for various reasons (Andrew's family lived there for many years, Andrew played football at Kansas State and that was a fancy date night for us back in college, etc.), and this city never disappoints.  The shopping on the Plaza is fabulous, the BBQ is out of this world (my favorite place is Jack Stack), and it's just a really pretty town with a lot of history.  I always enjoy a trip to KC.  If you're looking for a fun Midwest city, this would be my recommendation.

Las Vegas

I love Las Vegas.  Does this surprise you?  Here's the thing about Vegas...it took me a few trips out there to figure it out for myself.  I don't stay up past 10 pm, I don't gamble (because the entire time, I think to myself..."I could spend that same amount of money at Gap and buy _____".), I don't like loud, drunk people...I guess you would say I'm not your typical Vegas gal.  However, I do love gorgeous hotels, I am obsessed with yummy food, I adore going to a great show and I consider myself a master shopper...all things  Vegas.  When I get to Vegas, check into my fabulous hotel, book my dinner reservations at some place new and delicious, get me a few tickets to some shows (hello Cirque!) and hit the shopping...I'm in heaven.  Vegas isn't all about the gambling (but hey, if that's what you're in to, then you'll realllllly love Vegas!).  Vegas can be what you want it to be.


My favorite cities outside the US...

London

You knew this would be on my list, right? I love London.  I don't really know why...I can't exactly explain it...but I love it so much.  Maybe it's the friendly people...the weather (this Texas girl likes a little cloud cover and drizzle some days), the shopping on Portobello Road, Speakers' Corner, fish and chips, the royals, the bridges, the double-decker buses, the tube...whatever it is, it's in my soul.  If you haven't been to London, I highly recommend it.  I went for the first time as a young girl and continue to go back again and again.  I love this city so much, that I wanted my kids to have names that reflect it.  I might live in Dallas but my heart belongs in London.

Vienna
Vienna, Austria is an amazing European city that I don't think gets enough credit.  When people contact me about traveling to Europe, they always say the same three cities (London, Paris and Rome)...and while those are wonderful cities, Vienna has a charm about it that's unmistakable.  The food (similar to German food), the history, the museums  the cleanliness, the beautiful parks, the shopping, the proximity to other great European spots...Vienna is the perfect spot to visit if you're heading east.

Bruges

Oh, how I wish I were in Bruges right this minute.  Bruges, Belgium is spectacular   The chocolate, the waffles, the shops, the quaint streets, the cafes...Belgium is a little piece of Europe that is gorgeous...and Bruges stands out to me as the brightest spot.

Bellagio

I know you might have heard of the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas...but did you know it is based on an actual city in Italy?  This little town in northern Italy is situated on Lake Como...it's small with little hills and a lake view...it has wonderful food and magnificent shopping.  If you're headed to Italy, Bellagio is the perfect place to visit.

Hamilton

I love Hamilton, Bermuda...it's my favorite island town.  Many islands have great resorts but not much off the resort area...Bermuda is not like that.  Situated east of the United States (not in the Caribbean), Bermuda is a lovely little island with the prettiest beaches I've ever seen in my life (and I've seen a lot of beaches!).  The water is crystal clear, the towns are clean and pristine, the food is delicious, there are a plethora of outdoor activities to participate in...it's the perfect place for a tropical vacation.

Bern
Andrew and I often say Bern, Switzerland was our favorite vacation.  When you think of Switzerland...you think of Bern.  It's so stereotypical Swiss but in a delightful way.  The views, the river, the little cobblestone streets, the food, the shopping, the clocks, the history...I really have nothing bad to say about this little bit of the world.

Honfleur
I studied French in school for 6 years...I have been fascinated by the language and culture for a long, long time.  When you think of France, most people automatically think of Paris...which is lovely and wonderful but it's not the only place to visit in France.  Nestled just a few hours away is the wonderful city of Honfleur.  The first time I went there I was 14.  It's charming, it's quaint, it's easy to maneuver...you'll want to grab a baguette and latte and sit awhile there.  The hustle and bustle of Paris is enticing but there is something peaceful and romantic about Honfleur.


This is not where my list ends...I do love so many other places.  But for now...these are my top favorite cities.

 And don't forget to check out my foodie blog this week...I'm cookin' up more fabulous Vegetarian options for you and your family.

Today is the last day to use my 15% off Gooseberry Patch Cookbook promo code!  Click here to check it out!


Have a wonderful day!

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Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks

Today's post is all about Walt Disney World!  Last week, I talked about traveling with your kids in general but today, I'm just going to talk about WDW.  I get so many questions about vacations at Disney, so I thought you guys needed a post dedicated to the topic (with answers to many of your questions from last week at the bottom).

As a travel agent, I do more work with WDW than any other property in the world.  I feel like I know it really well and have several tips and tricks to help you navigate your way.  I obviously feel like you should have a travel professional plan your trip, but if you've already booked one and need a little advice, I'm here.  

 WDW is a once in a lifetime experience for your kiddos (and you too!), so you need to maximize your entire trip, plan ahead, and then sit back and enjoy the magic.

This post is just about Walt Disney World (not Disney Land)...both are fabulous parks, but I'm only going to focus on the Florida park.

Last April, we took our kiddos to WDW for their first time and had such a wonderful week.  You can read all about it here.  The great thing about WDW is that it's not just perfect for young kiddos...it's perfect for people of all ages.  WDW isn't just about Mickey!

Planning in advance:

1. I encourage most of my clients to book their trip at least 6, if not 9, months in advance.  Rates are better, availability is wider, and reservations to the best restaurants are still open.

2. Consider the month you're planning on traveling.

A lot of people automatically think about going in the summer (which I've done before) but I would never encourage.  Summer months are crowded and hot...not the best combination.

Typically September to mid-October and January to mid-February are the least crowded months...which also make them the most affordable months.  The weather is cooler and beautiful too.

Mid-November through New Years Day is extremely crowded too because of the Christmas celebrations that go on that time of year.   However, I do encourage my clients to visit during the holidays because even though it's crowded, the weather is so nice and the festivities are so much fun!  Just know in advance that you will have to wait in some lines.

We went last April and it was ok.  I don't think I would travel there again in the spring though.  Spring Break season lasts from early March to the end of April, so even though the weather is pretty nice, the crowds are high.

3. Book your dining reservations 6 months in advance.

A good travel agent will book all of your dining reservations in advance for you.  You are able to book them 180 days before you arrive in WDW.  I know it sounds crazy to book your breakfast 6 months in advance...but if you want the best restaurants, the best times, and the most options, you need to book those things early on (or have your travel agent do it for you).

Where to stay:

1. I personally only book WDW vacations for people staying on the property.  I know many people chose to stay off property and then drive into WDW for the parks...in my professional experience, you're missing out if you do this, so I don't recommend it.  WDW has a hotel room for every budget...and the accommodations at WDW are part of the experience.  Plus, they make everything so easy if you stay on property.  For me, your experience starts when you check-in to your resort.

2. The resorts are referred to as value, moderate or deluxe.  If you're looking for the lowest price, you should pick a value resort...if you want more amenities (like out of this world resort pools and dining areas), you should pick deluxe...and if you want something in the middle, pick moderate.  WDW also offers campgrounds, condos and villas for larger parties.  I'm just a firm believer in staying on property to maximize your experience.

3. Consider the pool at your resort verses adding the water parks to your Park Hopper Pass.  Last year, we stayed at the Disney Yacht Club because of their wonderful "beach" and pool areas...and so, we didn't include the water parks on our Park Hopper Pass (because we used the resort pools instead).  Or you could do the opposite, stay at a value resort without a great pool area and include the water parks on your Park Hopper Pass...the bottom line is pay attention to the details when having your travel agent book.

What to add:

1. When booking your vacation, make sure you add your Park Hopper Pass (the ability to get into the 4 main parks and then perhaps the water parks as well).  Park Hoppers are worth their weight in gold!

2. Pick a WDW Dining Plan for your food!  This will save you so much money!  There are several different WDW Dining Plans but I always recommend the Magic Your Way Plus Dining option.  This will allow you one quick service meal, one sit down meal and one snack a day...which at WDW, is a lot of food!

Where to go besides the 4 main parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios):

1. WDW offers two water parks that can be added to your Park Hopper Pass.

2. Downtown Disney is a fun little shopping and dining area that requires no pass.  The WDW transportation takes you right there.

3. WDW has 4 golf courses on property for those days when you (or your hubby) want to do something besides visiting a park.  All 4 course are spectacular!  If you have a golfer in the family, I would highly recommend making a tee time.

4. Disney Boardwalk is where we spent a lot of time in-between parks or at the end of the day.  There is shopping, dining, live music, midway games and boat rides.

5. ESPN Wide World of Sports will make the sports enthusiast very happy in your family!

6. WDW offers world class spa treatments at many of their resorts.  You don't have to be staying at that particular resort to enjoy a great spa experience, you can shuttle over and indulge after a long day at one of the parks.

A few other tidbits:

1. If you're flying into the Orlando Airport and staying on property, your luggage and transportation services are taken care of!  Make sure your travel agent books you on the Disney Magical Express and your luggage will go from your departing airport directly to your hotel room...without you having to do a thing.

2. WDW does a great job with shuttles and transportation on property...once you're inside the park, it's really simple to go from one area to another.  All of the places I listed above are on the bus routes, so you don't have to worry about driving, taking a cab or renting a car.

3. Children two and under are not required to have Park Hopper Passes or Meal Plans.

4. I would say WDW is perfect for all ages (infants to people in their 80s) but if I had to pick, I would say between 2 and 6 is the best age group.  I feel like kids this age really believe they're seeing Cinderella or Mickey Mouse...it's so real to them.  That would be my ideal age...but like I said, I plan on still going when I'm 78.

We had the best time at Walt Disney World last year...and hope to revisit again next year too!  I do have a few more secrets and tidbits of info...but, I have to leave some things for my travel clients :).  No matter if your kids are toddlers or teens, I really feel like your family can have a wonderful experience at WDW.  The time spent together is what's most important...and family togetherness and Walt Disney World just go hand in hand.

Now...I promised to answer a few questions from last week's post about traveling with your kids...so, here you go...

1. What do I do if I need to take a taxi?  Do I use a car seat?

A lot of shuttle companies will bring car seats if you call in advance.  If we know we need to take a shuttle somewhere for a lengthy distance, I will call in advance and request (for a fee) that they bring along car seats.  When we travel abroad, most of the time, we rent a car and also car seats...I really can't think of a time when we didn't either rent a car or use the subway system.  When we went to Russia and Thailand, we found shuttle services that had car seats for the kids and then in the other places we've visited, we rented cars.  A lot of people travel with kids, so you will probably be surprised to find more of them with car seats then you might think.  Also consider the subway systems in most major areas...that's a really easy to way to travel with kids.

2. What do I do about naps when my kids travel?  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...

...in my opinion, when I'm traveling, I don't want to be stuck in my hotel room while the kids nap (and you know how important naps are to me when we're at home!).  When I'm on vacation, I want to be out and about seeing things and taking it all in...so over the years, I've learned that when my kids are tired, they'll nap...in their strollers.  I would try and just go out and enjoy your day and when you think your kids are getting tired, put them in their strollers...they'll go to sleep.  Vacationing with kids is not about rules and schedules (those things are for home)...vacationing with kids is more about going with the flow and making the most of situations.  Typically, my kids catnap as we push them around (30 minutes to an hour at a time) and that is enough.  Try and relax and they will too.

3. How do I handle time zone changes?

I always find it harder to change time zones, and as a result have jet lag, when we get back home.  That being said, I do the same thing going and coming home...I stick to the normal schedule of the day.  There is nothing worse than coming off a long flight when you're completely exhausted only to arrive at your destination and it's 8 am in the morning.  All you want to do is sleep...and the city where you arrived is just getting started.  What we do in these situations is just persevere!  We really try and immediately get on the correct schedule and stick to it.  If you go straight to your hotel room and nap it off...you'll end up waking up late and then not being able to sleep that night...and then being exhausted the next day.  And so on...

The same rule applies when we arrive home from a trip...we just pick up and move on with our day and try to stay awake until bedtime that night.  If your kids are completely overwhelmed and exhausted, a short nap (1 to 2 hours) will be good but set an alarm!  Don't let them oversleep or else they'll be up all night!

4. How do I sleep in hotel rooms with my kids?

We keep our routine the same in hotels as we do at home...baths, pjs, a little Mickey Mouse on the i-Pad and then they lay down with their sound machine on.  If they talk, I ignore them and do something quiet like read a book or watch a movie on the i-Pad with headphones (if you start talking to them, they won't stop talking to you!).  I find that kids are usually tired by the end of the day on vacation, so as long as their routine stays somewhat the same, they'll adjust pretty well.  The sound machine is great because it blocks out other hotel guest noise and all of our little tossing and turning.

So, that concludes my thoughts on Walt Disney World and Traveling with my Kiddos :).  As always, if you would like more info on me helping you with your Disney vacation (or any other vacation), just send me an email.  You can find all of my contact info here.


And now for the winner of my Stella & Dot giveaway...

Kelly Keitzer!

Congratulations Kelly!  Email me to claim your prize!

For the rest of us, don't forget, you can still shop Stella & Dot between now and next Friday by clicking here.  Your summer wardrobe will thank you...don't delay!


On the foodie blog today, Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats!

Have a great weekend!!

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Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Traveling With Your Kids

Today's Shade of Shay has been highly requested.  I mean...some people have flat out begged me to talk about it (I won't mention any names Ashley Vaughan...), so I'm really excited to share and hopefully, give you some great ideas and tips.  This post is full of info...I tried to cover everything!

Here's the thing...I am not the perfect parent.  I have a lot of struggles with my kiddos...potty training has never come easily, eating all of their veggies is a battle of the wills, my kids hate when I take their picture...seriously, I have a long list of things we are not great at over here at the Shull house...but there are two things I have mastered...getting my kids to take long naps and traveling.  I am your go-to girl for both topics.

Just to lay the groundwork...here are some quick facts about my kids and traveling:

1. They both flew on planes for the first time as infants.

2. They've each been to 13 different countries.

3. They've each flown up to 16 hours at a time.

4. They've both been on cruise ships.

5. We've survived every trip we've taken (you think you won't survive sometimes, but you will!).
6. They travel well in the car too (Andrew's family lives 6 hours away and we always drive)

Mine and Andrew's favorite thing to do is travel...I've been traveling since I was a small child and so, it's just a part of my nature.  We told ourselves that even though we have kids, we are not going to let that stop us from traveling.  About half the time, we take the kids and about half the time, we travel without them.  

Here are some benefits of traveling with your kids:

1. They learn patience.

2. They learn about how airports, security and flight crews operate (it's way more educational than just watching a Bubble Guppies episode...they really absorb this stuff!).

3. They learn to eat, nap, be quiet, etc. in other locations than just home.

4. It's great bonding!  You really feel like a team when you're getting from A to B together.

5. You're removed from the distractions of every day life.

I know that my kids will never remember going to Russia with us...but Andrew and I will always remember taking them.  Don't travel for your young kids to remember things, travel because you want to enjoy their company and experience things with them in tow.  My kids might not remember exactly where they've been...but they have a sense of family, a sense of togetherness that formed by them being away with us.  And Andrew and I have some amazing memories...


I'm first going to cover traveling in the car...and then I'll cover traveling by plane.  Here we go...



Traveling in the Car

1. Bring blankets
For whatever reason, my kids are much more quiet and content on a long car trip if they're snuggled beneath a blanket.  They also nap longer in the car if they have a blanket.

2. Try and leave early in the morning or late at night
I find that my kids nap more and are more content if we load them up early in the morning or late at night.  It might be more work for you but it will help your little ones.

3. Dress them in comfy clothes
As a grownup, the worst thing is sitting in the car for a long time in tight, uncomfortable clothes, so the same is true for your kids.  I let my kids travel in their pjs.  I'm just trying to keep them happy!

4. Limit their beverages
I'm not saying dehydrate them but don't hand them a Big Gulp either.  Kids get squirmy and whiny when they have to potty...and you don't want to have to stop every hour for a restroom break, so limit what they drink and everyone is happy.

5. Pack some candy

Or pack some kind of treat...traveling is the time to indulge, so if they're being extra good...or extra cranky and you need to make them smile, pack something extra fun (but not too messy) like jelly beans, Sweet Tarts, etc.

6. Bring a ton of wet wipes and plastic grocery bags
Nothing is worse than a big mess in the car while driving 70 mph through the middle of Oklahoma...carry a ton of wet wipes.  And carry those plastic grocery bags for your wet wipe trash (or any other trash).

7. Use movies and/or music
If your car doesn't have a DVD player in it, you can buy one like this for road trips and airplanes...

...or you can use a i-Phone or i-Pad.  I've learned that my kids like a few familiar things to watch and a few new things.  You can buy the headphone splitters that allow two people to use headphones and watch the same movie or of course, you could play it in the car without headphones.

My number one tip for packing for car road trips is this...don't over pack.  If you're traveling within the US, then whatever you forget at home, you can find where you're going.  Trust me.  At first, Andrew and I would over pack to drive to his parents' house in Missouri until I realized that....hey, they have a Walmart too!  If I run out of diapers, or wipes, or baby wash...I can pick some up in Missouri, I don't necessarily have to bring a year supply from home for my short weekend stay.  Don't fret about not having what you need when you get there...you will be able to find it or something close to it...relax.


Things to consider packing:
1. A pack 'n play or other type of crib
2. A sound machine (so baby can't hear others and others can't hear baby during nap/sleep time)
3. A light weight stroller
4. Garbage bags to bring your dirty laundry home in
5. A few of your kids favorite toys, books, or blankets (it's good to have a few familiar things)
6. Clothes you can layer for your kids (to accomodate any type of weather)

And if your kid screams for a while in the car...don't worry...at least your not on an airplane full of annoyed strangers...which leads me to...


Traveling By Plane

The first time we flew to Europe with our kids, Smith was 5 months old and Kensington 21 months old.  Because they were under two, we didn't have to buy them an airplane seat...so, it was just me and Andrew holding them in our laps the entire way there...if I can survive that and live to blog about it, you can too!  Here are my best tips, tricks and ideas for flying with your kids...

1. Bring umbrella strollers instead of anything bigger.

I have all sorts of fancy big strollers, but when I travel, I always bring one umbrella stroller for each kid.  They're light weight, they're easy to fold up, you can take them right on board the flight with you, and if you want to separate with your hubby (or other traveling partners) you can, and each one has their own kid with their own stroller.  Plus, airlines are hard on things like strollers, so don't bring your nice, expensive one.  Just bring one like this...

Even though Kensington is almost five, I still travel with a stroller for her.  Her little legs just can't keep up all day long traveling...it's so much faster to stick her in a stroller when we need to move quickly.  And don't feel like you have to buy more than one umbrella stroller if you have more than one kid...borrow one from a friend (sweet Erika's stroller has traveled with us all over the world...it need its own passport!).

2. Don't worry with car seats! 

I get a lot of emails from people asking me how to travel with their car seats.  In almost five years as a parent, I have yet to travel with a car seat.  Car rental agencies let you rent them out, so that's what we always do.  The last thing I need is to lug car seats through a crowded airport with my kids and luggage.  And again, airlines are hard on baby gear...I don't want them damaging my kiddos' nice car seats.  Reserve a car seat from a car rental agency right there in your arriving airport and you're good to go.

3. Put your kids in easy clothes

And by easy clothes, I mean something that looks like this...

...it's soft and comfy, it has a pattern (so spills and messes won't stand out as much), and it would be easy to take her potty in (unlike jeans).  Also, make sure you put them in shoes that are easy to come on and off (and not for security, young children don't have to remove their shoes any more while going through security...it's for when she takes them on and off on the plane and you're wedged in a small, confined seat trying to put them back on her).  I love these for traveling...

...Toms.  They're just so easy.

It's also smart to bring a light weight jacket just in case the airport or airplane is chilly.

4. If your kiddo is at least 3, give them their own back pack of stuff to entertain themselves
My kids love having their own bag on the airplane.  We load it full of coloring books and crayons (not markers!  Markers will make your life miserable on a plane!), stickers, candy, small toys, and their little blankets (again, bring their own blanket!).

5. Bring snacks, snacks and more snacks
I almost always bring my snacks from home for our plane trips.  If it's not a liquid, you can take it past security.  If you wait and purchase your snacks when you arrive at the airport, you'll end up paying $5 for a Kit-Kat...and who want to do that?!  I'm all about eating in moderation and limiting a child's sugar intake.  I provide healthy, balanced meals for my kids every day...but on a plane, when I'm trying to keep them happy and quiet, all rules go out the window!  I keep my bag loaded with suckers (because it takes longer for them to finish it than a bag of M&Ms) and candy.  In an emergency situation, it's amazing what a sucker can do.

6. Load up on the $1 aisle at Target
The dollar aisle at Target is the perfect place to buy plane goodies (or the $1 Store).  I load up my kids' back packs with all sorts of stuff the occupy them while they're in their seat.   Don't spend too much money on this stuff because let's face it, the odds of you making it back home with everything is slim to none...that's why stuff that's only a dollar works best.

7. Bring something for them to eat as a meal
If you're on a flight that is long enough to warrant a meal, I would go ahead and pack something for your kids just in case the meal that is served isn't what they would like.  (We were on a flight six months ago and my kids' options were cold fish or Curry something...needless to say, they passed.)  Bring a sandwich, piece of fruit, bag of chips...simple stuff that will pack well.  Better safe than sorry in the food department.

8. Let everyone know you know flying next to a kid sucks
When my kids were little, the very first thing I would do when we boarded a flight was apologize to the people sitting around us.  I would tell them that I know flying with kids is awful and that I'm so sorry that they had to sit next to us...and you know what?  Ninety-nine percent of the time, they would tell me how they have their own kids/grandkids/niece/nephews and that they love children and don't mind at all.  I think by you recognizing what a pain it is, makes people feel sympathetic towards you and extra nice about the situation  Trust me, try this...it works brilliantly!

9. If you're flying with an infant, ask for a bassinet
Who knew they had bassinets on airplanes???  Until I had babies, I did not know this!  Many, many airplanes reserve seats that have a clip on spot for a baby bassinet.  When the plane is in the air, the flight attendant can attach this little bassinet and your baby can sleep right inside.  When you make your reservations, ask about this!  Now that I know about it, I notice people doing it quite often.  This is a great tip if traveling with a baby.

10. The flight attendants will keep your bottles cold 
I've learned that flight attendants are really great with people and babies...because they don't want to hear your baby cry either!  If you have something that needs to be kept cold, just inform your flight attendant.  They will handle it for you.

11. If you have young kids, you can board your plane early
If you are traveling with a young child (even if that child is old enough to have its own seat), you can board your flight when they first start calling passengers (like with the First Class people).  You should board early if for nothing else, to secure as much overhead compartment space as possible.

12. There is a changing station in the airplane bathroom
Yes.  There is.  It folds up against the wall, but there is a place to change your baby on board the plane in that tiny little bathroom.  Ask a flight attendant if you need help.

13. Load up on movies and games for your kids (and practice wearing headphones!)
Make sure you bring some i-Phone, i-Pad, DVD player or something with headphones for your kid.  Most flights these days even have places where you can charge these types of electronic devices.  Also, make sure your child practices watching their movies while wearing headphones because on a flight, they'll have to.  Give your kid a movie and a snack and watch how well they behave.


Ok...and my number one tip for flying with your kids...

RELAX!  Yes!  You really should!  Let's say it's the worst case scenario and you take a long flight with your kid and he/she screams the entire way...who cares?  You will never see those other passengers again.  You might think it's awful but once it's over, it's over, and you've arrived.  Believe it or not, most people aren't paying attention to you anyway.  If your kid screams, they scream.  You just stay calm and keep chanting to yourself, "This is ok, I'll never see these people again".  The more worked up you get, the more worked up your kid will get.

I have received some questions about medicating kids prior to flights.  I've tried this a couple of times and it has never worked for me...so, I don't do it.  (You know, given them something like Benadryl before a flight.)  I wouldn't if I were you, just because I don't think it works well.  My hubby always says, just leave them alone.  When your kid is on a flight, if they're quiet and content, just leave them alone.  Don't bother them, don't try and pull out a million toys for them...if they're quiet, just leave them alone.  I think that's great advice too.

Things to pack in your carry-on bag:
1. extra sets of clothes for each kid
2. an extra shirt for you
3. 10 large Ziploc baggies (for dirty diapers, soiled clothes, holding toys and books, leaky bottles, etc.)
4. snacks
5. bottles, pacifiers, diapers, wipes (and more wipes...you can never have enough!)
6. Identification for your child (a passport is required if leaving the United States, a birth certificate if you're staying within the US)


Next week, I'm going to do a completely separate post on just taking your kids to Walt Disney World...because I get a lot of questions about that!  At the end of that post, I will answer any questions you might have from this post.  So, if you have questions, leave me a comment and I'll answer it next Friday, April 19 on my Disney post.  I will also do a Shade of Shay in a few weeks about preparing and planning for vacations...saving for them, determining which destination you should go if you're going just with your spouse, with your kids or with friends.  Look for that post April 30.

And next week...it's Fifty Two Shades of Shay: My Fitness Routine :)

Here are just a few pics I have of my kids traveling...

Have a wonderful day!!

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Belgium & Holland Days 9 & 10: Amsterdam

We finished off our vacation with one last day exploring Amsterdam.

 

While Andrew studied his map...

 

...I took a few more pics of the front of Anne Frank's house.  Can you believe that in the back of that building, 8 people hid for over 2 years?  Amazing.

 

 

 

I found a Christmas store!

 

 

 

 

 

About to eat our last pancake :(

 

Look at mine!  (Yes, that was just mine!  I didn't share!)

 

Love!

 

Up early, about to head back home on day 10!

 

And look what was waiting for us at the airport!!

 

We had the best vacation together.  Andrew and I downplay how hard we work but we both wake up before 5:00 AM, work hard all day and go 90mph.  We needed this time to spend together, recharge and relax.  We could not have done it with Papa Jay and Lovie though!  They are such a blessing to us.  We missed traveling with them and with our kiddos. 

 

So, what's next for the Shulls?  Well...next stop, Spain.  The kiddos are excited!  More adventures in our future.



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