{photos by Alisia Thompson }

We leave TOMORROW!  One of the most fun things has been seeing and hearing in their voices how excited they are to go to Spain.  This has been a much planned for and anticipated trip.  I can’t wait for them to start spanish school, and have a new appreciation for a different culture with all that entails – food, people, way of life, etc.  I still have some packing to do, but most of my to do’s today involves picking up around the house for the remodel that’s happening while we’re gone.  This has been a long requested post, I’m glad I finally got it out!  I bought the busy roll for $5 on clearance at Target one day, and time will tell if it’s worth that $5 or not.  I had been eyeing since I first saw it in store … and it’s not the best quality, but it’ll get the job done!  so would zip lock bags though.  Our flight leaves at 7pm, and I’m hoping the boys will be sufficiently tired out by the time we get on the flight and sleep most of it.  But if it takes them, a while – I’ve gone options!  

Here’s my tips for traveling with kids (and a reminder for me!):

• Keep expectations low.  wait a minute …. even lower (:  I feel like this helps me to not be a crazy when things go awry.  Flights still get delayed with kids, people get sick, kids may not sleep … and you just have to roll with it.  Anything above that, is gravy!
• Be prepared for being stuck on a tarmac or waiting on a delayed flight.  You don’t have to have allll the things, but I would recommend bringing headphones for them to watch something, and you can always find surprises at to the dollar store, or repurpose old small toys and sticker books.
• Screen time rules are pretty much out the window while traveling.  My hard and fast rule for an ipad is “if you are sick or traveling”.  Then they think it’s a major treat.  But I also have plenty of fam around to help – and if that weren’t the case, I’m sure the ipad would get more time in our house.
• Snacks!  pack all the snacks.  I love surprise treats like kinder eggs and nutella with breadsticks … but of course keep a bag of healthy stuff to sustain them if you’re on the tarmac for a while, or some other situation where hanger may arise.
• One of the things I wish I knew a million years ago was the value of a good credit card for traveling.  Five years ago we didn’t even have a single credit card, and now I’m kicking myself over all the points we could have racked up.  Both boys flights to Spain were used using points – and part of one of ours.  We have the american express (this is a referral link) that gets us in lounges everywhere we have traveled so far.  I love that they usually have an area for kids and I’m not paying $$$ for things like water and healthy snacks.  The centurion one in Miami is one of my faves.  Even has a spa and a dedicated kids area.  Other benefits include: uber credit, a $200 baggage allowance for the year they will reimbuse you for, and we actually have my father in law on it too so he (+1) can get lounge access as well.  There’s a ton of cards out there – but we love this one for the lounge access especially!  Lounges are so nice when traveling with kids.  This credit card also gave us a credit for getting global entry, so it ended up being not very expensive at all.  TSA pre check and global entry for the family has saved a part of my sanity.
• Hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes are your best friend.  Call me crazy but I’ll wipe down every inch of the seat and trays and buttons before my kids sit down.
• backpacks for everyone!  At my kids ages (4 &6) they can totally handle theirs, and I can have mine on and hold both hands.
• Pack a security item for them.  For wesley, y’all know it’s his beloved bunny bunny.
• I always have a little talk with my kids before a trip.  About our expectations for their attitudes, and manners.  I think that helps!
• Have fun!!  Try hard not to sweat the small stuff.

ps:  here’s my review on the jetkids stokke ride on bed box!