traveling with small children: tip #3

One of the first things Ella asked when we returned from Southern California was, "When is our next trip?" She loves to travel. But we've had our share of not so great days, melt downs and tantrums too. Here are a few things that have worked for us to help alleviate (or at least lessen) the drama.

A Home Away From Home
The first thing Ella does when she arrives at a new location is "set up" her room. For small children, familiarity makes them feel more safe and secure. Home is a safe place. So we allow her to choose a few "treasures" from home to bring along. When you arrive at your destination, she arranges them in a special place or just keeps them close by. The point is, find something that will make your little one feel safe and secure in an unfamiliar environment.
 

It's a Plan
Let your child know the plan each day, and then follow thru as best you can. Children will feel safer with structure and knowing what's coming. It's as simple as: first we'll eat breakfast, then we'll go the Disneyland and ride the Dumbo ride, then you can choose what we do next. At lunch time we'll leave the park...and so on.

*The first ride Ella and Lynn ride each time we've gone to Disneyland is Dumbo. Won't it be fun when she's 16 years old and they still ride Dumbo first? ;)

 Just Chill
As amazing and wonderful as Disneyland is, for a little it can also be very overwhelming. With the crowds, noise, sights and excitement constantly surrounding them, children can easily become overstimulated. Many times we think little ones are tired, when in reality, they're just overwhelmed with trying to take in everything at once.

A simple solution is to first recognize what's going on, then take some chill time throughout the day and share a snack or just sit in the shade for a bit. It's good for the bigs too! :)

Yep, this is the moment.

I had a major aha! moment on one of our first trips to Disneyland, when after two days of running from ride to show to ride, we decided to just stop and have some ice cream together. For the first time on the trip, Ella said, "This is fun!" Really? Okay, point taken. From that moment on, we've taken our days a lot slower and focused on just enjoying ourselves, not fitting everything in.

Create Traditions
We started a new tradition at Disneyland this year. At home, Ella is allowed one treat per day. (She's gotten very good at choosing to pass up a soda at lunch, knowing she'd rather have a sucker when she gets home. And yes, soda is considered a treat in our home. :)) But at Disneyland, Ella gets two treats per day! This is cause for great celebration for a six year old with an insatiable sweet tooth.

Why? Because traditions are grounding and it's a vacation. And I knew it would make her really, really happy.

Happy Traveling,
Kim

traveling with children: tip #2

Though we don't like to think about our children ever getting separated from us in a large crowd, we all know it's a possibility.

We always briefed our little ones that if they got lost, to stay in one place and find someone with a badge. We also had a secret password that anyone picking up the kids from school, practice, etc. in a emergency had to know before they would leave with them. Kate's was Butterfinger. It was her favorite candy bar. :) Fortunately we never had to use them, but it's good to be prepared.

There are a lot of great products out there kids can wear so if they're separated, parents can be contacted right away. Here's our simple version.

I get out my handy dandy label maker and print some labels with Ella's name and one of our cell numbers. I tell her the same things I told my other kids, but also add, "then take off your shoe." (Usually I stick it under the tongue of her athletic shoe, but she was wearing them. :)) I like that the information isn't "out in the open" this way.

Happy Traveling,
Kim

***I have to say that I don't love the DYMO label maker pictured. I had one that was the same brand years ago that I LOVED, but then it became too hard to find cartridges. This one doesn't print solid lines, they're always broken up. Anyone have one they love that I can find the supplies for easily?

traveling with young children: tip #1

We just got back from our annual adventure to Southern California to visit Grandma and Grandpa Chiniquy and Mickey and Minnie.

My daughter, Kate and granddaughter, Madi joined us for three days at Disneyland. It was Madilyn's first time to the happiest place on Earth. There is nothing that compares to watching little ones see a "real" princess for the first time. Don't you agree? It's magical. If you ask Madi what she did when she saw Tiana in the parade, she'll answer, "I freaked out." She did, and it was hilarious.

Traveling with little ones is always a unique experience. :) But there are also some very simple things we do to make it more enjoyable.

Planning ahead is a big one. I package up one outfit for each day--including undies and hair accessory--in a zipper bag. When I get to the hotel, I put them in a drawer and Ella can choose one each morning. It saves time (no rummaging through the suitcase to find items) and tantrums. I noticed the last time my granddaughter, Madi came for a sleepover, Kate had each of her outfits packaged up. Like mother, like daughter. :)

With the summer weather here, it was a great time to declutter E's closet. It was also a great time to implement the same idea above for everyday. It's working wonderfully and we're both happy. I just rotate her outfits from the hangers to the bins.

Note: I have a basket at the top of her closet to gather items I purchase for next year on sale or even clearance. We have a large play room downstairs for the girls, but Ella has a few toys in her room to play with. I find the less there is in a child's room, the easier it is to keep tidy. And they don't become overwhelmed when it's time to clean up.

One last thing. I tend to be a "just-incase" packer (translation: I'd better pack this and this and this just incase), but both Lynn and I decided to travel lighter this year. There's a great article here, on how to pack ten days worth of clothing into a carry-on. The rolling method versus stacking worked well and we actually cut out an entire suitcase this trip.

Happy Traveling,
Kim

a simple teacher appreciation gift

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week at our school. Ella's teacher, Debbie Reiber, is one of those exceptional, amazing and gifted teachers. She's been a huge blessing to all of us. She's loving yet firm, consistent, and her classroom is very structured. These qualities are so important to help children feel safe. But she's also fun and creative, which makes learning a joy for her students. We couldn't appreciate her more.

Today was Ella's day to bring Mrs. Reiber a special gift. I know Debbie's favorite color is red and she enjoys quilting, because I gave her a questionnaire to fill out at the beginning of the year that asked her favorites. (I also passed it along to the room mother.)

I know I broke my own rule about not giving teachers anything apple-related, but this Apple of My Eye line of quilting fabric by Riley Blake I found is delightful! I purchased a fat quarter of each of the patterns the shop had and packaged them up in a simple clear box. I also included a gift certificate to the quilt shop and a heartfelt letter of appreciation from Lynn and I.

Simple is nice. I hope Mrs. Reiber enjoys. :)

Kim

tips for a RS basic quilting class

We had a lot of requests from the Relief Society sisters in our ward to learn to quilt. A couple of months ago, we held a basic quilting class that was very successful. Here's how we set it up:

One of our instructors, Monica, teaching binding.

Instructors
I approached three very experienced quilters to "team teach" the class, so no one teacher would become overwhelmed. We broke the class into a three part series and each teacher was responsible for one part. They were all so enthusiastic and did an awesome job!

Marina's finished table runner.

Project
We started by getting together to throw around ideas and choose a simple project. We decided a table runner was doable and would teach all the basics of quilting. 

Monica designed a pattern and instructions for a runner that included a border. (She teaches at American Quilting in Orem and has designed her own quilts.) Each teacher then took the instructions and made a table runner. It was nice because they all looked so different and appealed to a variety of sisters.

Roxy sewing on her binding. I love that "vintage" machine! Works like a charm.

Information and Instructions
We sent out the details via e-mail and in the RS binders, along with a supply list for the class. Ruth has a gift for choosing fabrics, so she typed up a great handout on fabric selection that was also included.

Fabric Selection
I arranged to have our instructors available at a local quilt shop--Just Sew in Highland--one Saturday morning to help sisters choose fabrics and answer questions. The shop gave our ward members a discount on supplies purchased for the class.

I went in later to thank the shop owner and let her know we had received multiple compliments about how wonderful and helpful her employees had been. She responded by telling me she thought things had been very well organized. We'll be working together again for some other upcoming classes. ;)

Class Schedule
The two hour classes were divided up according to the quilting process.
Week 1: Rotary Cutting/Sewing taught by: Ginny
Week 2: Assembly/Borders taught by: Ruth
Week 3: Binding taught by: Monica

*We had a two week break between weeks 2 and 3, so projects could be sent to the quilter. (We're lucky to have two sisters in our ward who have quilting machines!)

Each instructor was responsible for the demonstration and instruction--along with any handouts--for her week. The other two teachers were available to assist.

Set Up
Set up was relatively simple. We used the cultural hall all but the last week. The first night (rotary cutting/sewing), we had one section of tables for cutting and another set for the sewing machines. Our demo table was placed in the center. The following two weeks we only needed tables for sewing machines. (All rotary cutting was done on the first night.)

Snacks
We provided a few bowls of munchies (pretzels, M&M's) on a table for snacking. We couldn't possibly quilt without chocolate!

We have very supportive brethren. Two even made their own runners!

Encouraging Others
We encouraged sisters who weren't taking the beginning class, to join us and work on other quilting or sewing projects, or a quilt we made for a special sister in our ward who was in an accident and bedridden.

It was so rewarding for me to see  so many sisters learn a new skill. As a result of the class, there have been break off groups who have worked on other quilting projects and one of the instructors, Ruth, will now be heading up a monthly quilting group/class.

Paper Coterie: about a girl book

This little package arrived in the mail yesterday.

Ella's teacher, Debbie Reiber, asked each of the students in her class and their parents to make an ABC or numbers book. They'll be displayed at the "Look at our Books" program on Friday, after the children put on a special program. Ella has been bouncing off the walls with excitement.

I took the simple route (after way over thinking it, of course! :)), and used the About a Girl book template from Paper Coterie.

I am absolutely thrilled with the results! The photos look beautiful. And the process to create this project was quite simple.

There's an icon for each letter of the alphabet. You simply download your photos, pop them in the template and add your journaling. This is going to be a wonderful keepsake for Elles.

There were a few things I was a bit frustrated with in the design process though. One was not being able to tell which colors in the frames palette matched the specific book I was working on. I thought the light pink I used was a match, but it wasn't. I doubt anyone else will notice though. Another thing is that you have the option to resize the photo template, but not the photo itself. I would have liked to shrink some of my photos so more would show in the block. Hope that makes sense.

I did love that the template includes a feature that shows when your letter icon and the journaling are centered. That was very helpful. And our book arrived quickly. I ordered it Wednesday and it arrived the following Tuesday.

In the box was also a welcome as a new member of the coterie, which included this darling necklace and a 25% off coupon code for my next purchase. I love little touches like that. I have another project in mind, so that coupon will come in handy.

I wanted to share Ella's entire book with you, but there is some personal information I didn't think would be good to share with the rest of the world. ;)

summer fun: the meadow fairies

Ella saw a penny in the Target parking lot recently. After picking it up she said, "The Meadow Fairies have sure come a long way. They must really be tired." It made me smile.

The fairies live in the meadow behind Grandma and Grandpa's cabin in Butte Meadows, California. There's  even one of their houses on the shelf in the front room. Ella tried her Tinkerbell in it.

Before we visit each summer, the fairies leave Ella special gifts and projects to keep her busy while we're at the cabin. They include things like: workbooks, coloring books, markers, stickers, a glitter globe, piggy bank and sewing kit. (She spends hours playing and working on them not only at the cabin, but on the way home.)

They also left her a note that read:

From the Butte Meadows Fairies. Welcome back, Ella. Enjoy the treasures, they're for you to keep. Any pennies you find, put in the bank--lucky you! We love you.

 

The fairies scattered pennies all over the ground around the cabin. Any that Ella found, she could put in her piggy bank and keep. She loved looking and finding more each day! (I even found myself at times, looking at the ground as I walked around. :))

As the school year comes to and end (I can't believe it's gone so quickly!), I'm gearing up and gathering ideas to keep my little ones busy and happy. It's simple little things like this magical activity that most often create the sweetest memories.

Thanks, Grandma Connie. See you soon!