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How to Pack for Family Vacations – Tips from a Quad Mama

Travelling with kids is no easy task, but the memories are sooooo worth the days of packing and planning. Many of you have hounded requested me to share some tips we’ve learned as we’ve traveled with quadruplets. I by no means feel like an expert, but I’m happy to share some of our experiences that could be helpful to you as you prepare for your own family vacations.

Make a List and Check it Twice

I created a Packing Checklist on Google Docs for our first family trip to Nashville, TN and I’ve kept adding/deleting/revising it ever since.  There’s some great ones online too. Travel Mamas has a comprehensive list of “What To Pack for Babies and Toddlers”. I used the All Ears “What to Pack for Your WDW Trip” packing list for our recent family vacation to Walt Disney World.

Research Your Destination

Prepare for pit stops along the way by using Mapquest or Google Maps. Get familiar with your lodging destination via their website and the amenities provided before you start packing – this saves room in your luggage when you do not have to pack items like towels, hairdryer, crib, etc. I like to check out sites like Trip Advisor to help plan out the activities in advance, so I can pack only  what is necessary. And be sure you plan for unpredictable weather with appropriate clothing!

Start Stockpiling

Head to your local Dollar Tree for road/flight distractions.  The boys LOVED the travel doodles that I found in the dollar section of Target. Your local library can be a free source of travel entertainment with new books and DVDs for the road.  Check for sales on diapers, wipes, and other supplies to stockpile for less.

Packing Supplies

I really find packing to be easier by using large Ziplock storage bags and packing for each day of the week.  (Thanks to Suz for teaching me this trick long ago!) For instance, for Tuesday I would pack 4 shirts, 4 shorts, and 4 pairs of socks in one zip lock, press out all of the air and label it “Tuesday”.  This makes it sooooo much easier to stay organized and make sure you aren’t missing any important items. (Plus it helps Dad to know what goes with what and helps the getting ready for the day a much smoother process!)

I also prefer packing things in clear plastic tubs vs. suitcases. Things are easier to find and you can stuff more in each container.

Feed the Children

Make sure you pack plenty of snacks for the trip and even for your hotel stay.  It saves a TON of money to have breakfast supplies and snacks on hand, and keeps you from making extra stops. There were multiple times when our boys started hitting a wall and I would get out a snack and it was like a restart for the entire van. Having breakfast supplies and in-between meal snacks helps stretch your budget and your time. Things I liked to have on hand: Bottled Water, Granola Bars, 100% Juice Boxes, Peanut Butter, Bread, Cereal, Crackers, Fresh Fruit, and Yogurt. Serious Eats has some great travel snack ideas as well.

Alright it’s YOUR TURN!  What are some of your best travel tips and packing ideas?  Or what other questions can I possibly assist you with? I recently posted some tips for travel safety that you might want to check out before you hit the road!

Safe Travels and Happy Memory Making!

Is There Cheer in Your Cheerios?

  

… Life gets overwhelming from the get-go of the day. Maybe we were up too late the night before to start the day in the Word. The laundry basket is overflowing, the To-Do List is running off the page, and the week has just begun.

I'm not sure what your morning routine looks like, but mine consists of getting 4 little boys dressed, supervising bathroom duties, filling 4 sippy cups, pouring 4 bowls of cereal, distributing fruit, refilling cups, wiping up spills, wiping off 4 little mouths and 8 little hands, cleaning up 4 booster chairs, sweeping up the floor, cleaning their dishes, and trying to "keep the peace" at the same time. I find myself going from one thing to the next, completing tasks without little thought to rejoicing in the freshness of a new day and a new beginning. His mercies are new every morning, but am I too busy to thank Him for fulfilling His promise?…

Keep Reading at The MOB (Mother of Boys) Society.

 You’ll see me writing monthly at The MOB Society. It’s a community for Moms of Boys by Moms of Boys (and One Dad who I happen to have a huge crush on).  The heart behind this site is to reach the hearts of boys for the Gospel and prepare a generation of men to love the Lord. So I really encourage you to check it out.

Because Walgreens Is Never Lacking In Entertainment Value with Quads

We thought we could kick this nasty virus once and for all, but the boys were up coughing most of the night and Isaac woke up complaining about his ear hurting. So we paid our favorite doctor, Dr. Kersteff (Brooks refers to him affectionately as  Dr. Curse, which Isaac likes to correct him and says “No Buddy, it’s Ker-STEFF!”) and Nurse Kim a visit this morning.  The boys LOVED going to the doctor today and put on a comedy act while they were there.  They really are growing up sooooo quickly.

I’m so glad we had them looked at because the boys have some serious deep wheezing going on that we weren’t aware of…

So now they are all on steroid treatments to boost their lungs. Can you imagine what our house is going to be like with four 3 year olds on ‘roid rage? Yeah, me neither.

We decided to take all the boys in to get their meds at Walgreens.  I don’t think they’ve all been in a drug store at the same time before – such deprived little dudes.

We embraced the reactions, one liners, and comments for the pure entertainment of taking 4 curious, energetic, noisy BOYS into Walgreens. (Although we got quite the chuckle from another customer who just HAD to call someone on her cell phone one aisle over and tell them all about these 4 boys in the store who all look exactly alike. “No, I aint kiddin’ you. They were right next to me.” And the guy who asked if they were “Cooplets” was pretty priceless too.)

We even thought about buying one of these to add to the commotion, but we refrained. 

After waiting for our meds, and practicing the “One Finger Touch Rule” over and over and OVER, and of course taking a bathroom pit stop, we were on our way.

Just another ordinary adventure in our not so ordinary lives with “Cooplets”.

Prehistoric Rabbit Repellant for Gardens

Somehow Peter Rabbit snuck into our garden a few nights ago, even though we have a raised bed surrounded by chicken wire.  The little furry pest ate one entire row and a half of green beans, all of the cucumber plants but one, and trampled the peas. 

I looked up a natural deterrent for rabbits while Brad and I were out the other night and found out that rabbits are skittish and can be temporarily scared off by a rubber snake. 

We were lacking in the rubber snake department, but we had plenty of dinosaurs to spare, and believe it or not, they’ve done the trick!  They’ve guarded our garden quite nicely until Brad had an opportunity to put another layer of tinier holed chicken wire up.  They might have just earned their way out of the toy box for the summer. 

 

Take THAT, Rabbit.