What I learned this week..

In no particular order...

When sat on, a chocolate chip granola bar looks enough like something else that a complete stranger will come up to you and tell you your 3 year old has an 'issue'.

Sippy cups with straws flow like a river when opened at 36000 feet. Note to self, unscrew lid slightly before opening to release air pressure.

A 3 year old can and will talk for an entire 3 hour flight.

$3.50 for a regular ole (small) cup of coffee is not too much money to spend at an airport for coffee if you are traveling with 4 children.

If your flight gets canceled, run to another carrier as fast as you can. You might be able to get your tickets transferred to another airline.

You can never pack too many wet ones.

Shout Travel Wipes remove smeared chocolate that looks like something else on the pants of a 3 year old.

Do not put an electric kettle on a hot stove burner, the plastic will melt and flames will be seen.

It is almost impossible to explain the concept of homeschoolings to a foreign Asian woman who can hardly speak English.

How to survive

in a car full of kiddo's for many hours...

1. The most important thing: Pack extra patience and refill it often through prayer.
2. Explain the car rules. Children will do best when they know what is expected of them.
3. If you are a homeschooling family, do school work in the car.
   
4. Provide books for all ages of children. Have the older ones read to the younger ones.
5. Before leaving, pick out a new chapter book and read aloud to your family.
6. Let your children take their pillows and a blanket.
7. Print activity pages & pictures to color. Place in 3 ring binders.
8. Pack colors in little baggies, one for each child.
   
9. Play car games... find the abc's, how many different state license plates can you find, eye spy, where are you, I'm thinking of...(give clues about the object), scavenger hunt for items you've printed up on paper before hand (red barn, pond, yellow car, horse, semi with two trailers...)
   
10. Wrap surprises for your kids, pull them out as needed. Examples: new books, travel games, snack mix, new DVD...
11. Take planned breaks. Get out an move a little.
12. Pack healthy snacks and drinks.
    
13. Take along a jar full of coins. Tell your children they get to split the money when you arrive at your destination, but every time there is a problem you will be taking some money out of the jar.
    
14. Give your children their own atlas. Help them mark out your route.
    
15. Take along audio books, Odyssey's, Jonathon Park's, Down Gilead Lane... for everyone to listen to.
16. Use the DVD player. We keep ours 'special' by only using it on long car trips.
    

How do you survive?