Have Kids, Will Travel...with all Sorts of Fun Goodies!

If this fam isn't on vacation, then it is a given that this Missus is in the midst of planning the next one! Having three kiddos is a non-issue with us...we are travel nuts! And yours truly is an even bigger planning and organizing nut! Our countdown to the next trip is slowly trickling down...two more months and we are jet-setting across the world to the Philippines!

The last time I set foot in my homeland was in early 2001. TEN YEARS AGO! My hubby and my girls have never met anyone outside of my immediate family (Dylan was born there, but flew stateside early and therefore, does not remember much). So this is a HUGE trip. This is also the longest airplane trip ever! 23 hours and 45 minutes, to be exact. ANC-SEA-INC-MNL.

Keeping the girls occupied/entertained/well-behaved throughout the journey is the big goal here...I have accumulated a list of our travel must-haves and thought I could share for you mommas out there interested in having a peaceful trek anywhere.

1.  Trunki suitcase

These are so stinkin' cute. They come in all sorts of colors and even animal themes. The girls love to hop on and get pulled along the long route to the terminal gates (it is stable so long as you're not trying to run and catch the flight). We get a lot of approving looks and comments, and my attention-hoarding girls love it. They fit under the seat for in-flight storage. (I store one of them in front of me, pull it out slightly mid-flight and use it as a step stool/foot rest of sorts...yeah, my stubby little legs do not comfortably reach the airplane floor. Double duty for petite mommies!)

2.  Trunki boostapack

Isn't this genius? A kid backpack that transforms into a booster seat. Wow, why didn't I think of that? We have not used this yet. Actually, it is currently only available in the UK. But lucky me, I have peeps who love me in the land of high tea and scones, and they are gracious enough to ship a couple my way just in time for the trip! Uber excited!

3.  Ipod touch

Yes, it is a bit extravagant. But Oh-Em-Gee, these things are the biggest and most worthy investments we have made in the name of quiet travel time. No lost game cartridges, app sharing (no need to purchase games twice so both girls can play at the same time), and a load of cheap games to choose from! (To read more about the virtues of the iPod touch for kids, CLICK HERE). Educational apps by Duck Duck Moose (depicted above), Leapfrog, PBS are all to be  had! And let's not forget Angry Birds...my girls are so much better at it than I am.

4. Loud Enough Earphones

These are specifically made for children, with a selection of silicone ear buds ranging from small to really really really small. If they can fit in my tiny girls' ears without complaint, then it would probably fit in any little kid's ears.  They come in a small variety of colors, and a nifty little case to avoid annoying tangles. Best thing? Not only are the ear buds kid-sized, the volume is limited to a safe decibel level to avoid damage to those teeny tiny eardrums. 

5. Pipe Cleaners

Cheap, lightweight, with endless possibilities! If you are lacking on the creative side like I am, it might do you some good browsing some creations online just to get ideas to keep the children engaged.  On a flight to VA, there were a pair of rowdy boys who have just about had enough of sitting in one place. The fighting, screaming, and crying began. Sophia whipped up a bouquet of pipe cleaner flowers and handed them over to the little hellions, and all was quiet once more. My little girl received many many silent thank you's from the rest of the aggravated cabin!

6. Think-ets

This is our first time putting this nifty idea to use.  It comes in a tin container the size of an Altoid can, and filled with random little trinkets. You can play memory games...give the kids a brief glance, secret away a couple items, and ask which ones are missing.  OR, you can play a storytelling game by laying out four or five items and have them make a story incorporating those trinkets. Lots of possibilities. Also comes with multiple game suggestions.

7.  Mouse in a Box

My girls love tiny little toys, and this just takes the prize in cuteness! Each mouse fits in a matchbox-sized "bed". These are one of the "prizes" I wrap up in cheap gift wrap when the girls need something new they've never played with.

8. Bizu Animal Bracelets

These adorable little beaded animals transform into bracelets. A four-pack comes with the beads, elastic bracelets and a threader.  The girls love to mix and match the beads. I have the loose beads, and materials in a Ziploc baggie. 

9.  Lalaloopsy 

Another pocket-sized pretty toy. Polly Pockets, Zoobles, Littlest Pet Shops are also other options. For boys, Lego men, tiny Transformers are alternatives.

10. Wet Ones/Boogie Wipes

For wiping down germy fold-down trays and armrests, sticky hands and faces, and snotty noses (Boogie Wipes). 

When armed with the right supplies, a near 24-hour plane ride, with a pair of restless girls, could actually be fun! (Or so I hope)

Emergencies/Disasters & the Issue of Preparedness

As I bemoan the passing of our short, hoodie-laced, AK summer, the yellowed and already-brittle leaves fluttering to the ground are screaming, "GET READY!" For bone-aching cold, long dark nights, and the occasional extreme winter weather fiasco.  And, with the smattering of natural disasters slash emergencies occurring around the world back-to-back lately, I figure we can all use a little reminding.

I've written many a post about this subject (well, maybe one or two), but this is an issue I take very seriously.  There are those who smirk and blow me off whenever I stand on this particular soapbox and foot stomp the virtues of emergency preparedness (ahem, this finger is pointing at you, little sis), but really, try to get over my know-it-all tone here, and just accept and heed the following advice, please:

BE PREPARED!

I am a naturally paranoid/neurotic person. Therefore, gathering supplies to get us fab five plus glorified rat through a freak natural/terrorist/biological event is a no-brainer definite to-do. But all you calm and collected folk need not ignore this sermoning. If in the least worrisome event power goes out in your house, you can easily grab that flashlight, then even that is a step in the right direction.

First step: consider the possibilities! Power outages can happen anywhere. Then think about what you lose with that....running, heated water...heat...cool air...internet...means of food preparation...Don't forget to take your geographical location into consideration. Is your area prone to hurricanes? Tornadoes? Blizzards? Earthquakes? Tsunamis? If you are residing in the U.S., you can visit this link CLICK HERE and it'll tell you the most naturally occurring disasters in your area.

Next, gather what supplies you may need for those possible events. The same link I provided above, when clicking to go to its homepage, can provide you with those necessities.  You can go on a crazy preparedness shopping spree if you wish, or buy a couple of things here and there and slowly stock up!

Even I have some supplies that are still in the to-buy list. But, here is what Fam Och has so far:

-Flashlight
 ---we have a big Daddy one, and cheap $1 ones the kids can play with
-Battery-powered Lantern
-Batteries
-Crank-generated cell phone recharger
-Crank-generated radio
-Portable toilet tripod with sealable/biodegradable yucky bags
-Water bottles with filters
-Water purification tablets
-Jetboil system (portable propane fueled stove)
-Rope
-Knife
-Waterproof matches
-Duct Tape

Each member of the fam has their own 72-hour backpack. In the case we need to evacuate, we have everything we need for the first three days to sustain ourselves.  The Mister has all the above in his gigantic rucksack, plus what we all have packed:

-Whistle
-Compass
-N-95 mask
-Small first aid kit
-Space/Emergency blanket
-Waterproof matches
-Wet wipes
-Hand sanitizer
-Water packets to last 72 hrs.
-Food
  ---MRE's, the kids also have snacks like fruit strips, granola bars, etc.
-Warm or Cold weather clothing
-Activity packs (coloring books, crayons, stickers)

The Mister and I both have thumb drives with scanned copies of our important documents like birth certificates, insurance paperwork, passports, etc.). The children also have emergency contact information in their packs. Olivia, our little miss allergy, has a set of her Epi-Pen in her backpack and another set in mine...and let's not forget the Benadryl. The kids know who to contact (we have a designated out-of-state person to call) in case we need to find each other.

Do you think I'm crazy yet? Maybe so. But let me tell you what....when you hear of a big winter squall coming through my area and see news reports of people panic-buying and emptying store shelves of water bottles and the like? I won't be one of them.  I will be in my home, calm, and just waiting for all of it to pass.  My kids will be comfortable and safe, warm, clean, and fed. And if ever there is a call to evacuate, there will be no frantic running around grabbing what we can get a hold of and forgetting the most important things...Nope, we all just head for our backpacks, grab the kids, dog, and go.

So let me ask you....are you prepared? It sure doesn't hurt to be.

 

We Have a Secret!

 Stash, that is. It isn't any secret that I can be, at times (ahem), obsessive. When studiously reviewing the Anchorage Visitor's Guide upon the fam's arrival here last February, you can imagine the gears of my manic mind turning when I stumbled across the section on Local Activities: Berry Picking! And so began the months-long quest of finding the perfect berry stash...

Alyeska

We've explored the possibilities around the area whenever we could. The Fam has concluded on its fave area: Alyeska! The Winner Creek Trail to be exact. I'm not going to tell you where...because that is what makes it our secret. Teeeheeee. Does this make us bonafide locals now? 

Little Reminders

 There are times, more often than I care to admit, I sink into a woeful funk. Usually, it happens when I come downstairs, freshly showered after cleaning the tornado aftermath that was my house, and step into a mound of crushed sour cream and onion chips. Or when I finally get a hold of a scheduler to set up a doctor's appointment after being on hold for twenty minutes and suddenly the girls decide to throw themselves into a migraine-inducing full-scale screaming/screeching/hair-pulling/pinching/kicking match over who has more Littlest Pet Shop toys at that exact moment. Events much akin to those are usually the triggers. I get annoyed and resentful...and at my darkest moments, I end up asking, "And I abandoned my promising career for this? To serve as a glorified yet unpaid maid?"

And then I stumble across images like this:

Or this:

And this:

Perhaps it's because she's our last baby, but pictures of her this little...they're the perfect little reminder that I, in fact, WILL MISS THIS. 

When it's just the Mister and I, in our quiet little house with a vegetable garden in the back, and gleaming floors and countertops, I know I will mourn for the days of crushed Doritos under the table...of the sound of muffled giggles behind the closet door when the girls sit in there and play with flashlights...the blaring volume from Mister D's PS3...even the fighting and the tears...especially the urgent calls for "Mommy!"

One day, they won't need me to clean up their mess or break up fights and have them hug each other until they laugh. One day I will be the one pacing the floor excitedly until my grown up babies come over for a visit with babies of their own. And so I am thankful for those little reminders that set me straight back on the road of grateful living. Yes, that career I left behind pales in comparison to the role I hold providing the way I am doing for these little ones. Yes, it is worth it and more. Thank goodness for little reminders.

Hatcher Pass and the Quest for Blueberries

 Looking at the pictures below, you would think we went back up on a big trip to McKinley. But Hatcher Pass is just down the road from us, an hour or so away, tucked between Palmer and Wasilla. We wanted a nice place to have a picnic lunch and hopefully find some blueberries. (Yeah, I know I'm about a month early, but I wanted to see a real life blueberry bush, ripe or unripe berries.)

We stopped at the Independence Gold Mine, which has been closed down since the 1950's(?). The parking lot had several picnic benches and we discovered we weren't the only one with the idea to picnic. This is the view from our bench.

Up from the parking lot, the Visitors Center houses some pretty interesting exhibits about the conditions of life there when the mine was producing its lode gold.

There are several trails around the area.

We finally spotted a blueberry bush. The berries, however, were far from ready for the taking. 

On our drive back down, we spotted a parking lot with a trailhead that led hikers up a mountainside. We figured to try it out.

And look what we found! We foraged about a ziploc baggie full of them. The kids had a grand ole time gathering up the berries, as I jumped in with them, thoughts of steaming hot blueberry pancakes dancing through my mind.

Couldn't count on this girl to make contributions to the berry stash.  They went straight into her mouth!

We would give it three more weeks for the rest of the patches to ripen. At that time, Fam Och would be there on our newly discovered blueberry fields stocking up for some blueberry jam.

Excursion #2-- Talkeetna River Rafting Trip

 We have mixed feelings about this rafting trip. For one thing, a float down any river in Alaska, regardless of any situation, is simply magnificent.  The views are incomparable. And for that, it was a great experience. But considering that we have done two rafting trips before (one in Colorado and one down the Snake River @ Jackson Hole), we have something to compare it to.  Our two previous guides were chockful of information about the area, the animals, the vegetation. This particular guide, whom we have taken to nickname as Mitch "the Mute" has several more years of reading up to even compare.

 Here we are before we push off into the Talkeetna River. The whole float lasted about two hours, floating down a little under ten miles down the Talkeetna, and ending at the confluence of Talkeetna, Little Susitna, and Chuitna Rivers. The raft holds eight, and we had a single rider hop on with us (no, he isn't my mom's boyfriend, LOL, just kidding, Dad). Not that his company affected us in any way, he was just about as mute as Mitch the guide.

This was Liv's first time on a rafting trip awake.  In the past, it seemed near proximity to water would render her unconscious. We were relieved and happy to observe how much she enjoyed this trip.

 This was also my mom's and niece Maddy's first trip on a raft. 

There's my baby, totally relaxed, she laid down and soaked up the sun. No fear at all, while her neurotic mother looked on.

Cheesy. Somewhere along the course, we stopped by the banks where some bearded old dude sang us two country Alaskan songs. Really? It was a bit gimmicky for my taste. 

But, yeah, Mitch the Mute pointed out some beaver dams, and then couldn't answer why beavers built dams. I already knew why, but asked so he could explain it to Sophie who is fascinated by anything related to animals.  He pointed out some cranberries along the banks and after a long silence, he muttered, "You can grab some to taste them." Ummm, ok, but not if it makes you that uncomfortable, buddy. Most of the trip was silent except for when Sophia and Madison broke out in a fit of unexplainable giggles. 

Oh, well. He did say he was just a high school senior. Perhaps Talkeetna River Guides should hire more knowledgeable guides. The other trip that launched with us seemed to have one of those.  If you ever decide to go on this excursion, insist on anybody BUT Mitch unless you want a guide with a bland personality. In that case, to each their own.

Excursion #1 = Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

 

If you have little ones, esp. little ones who are in lurve with horses, this is one excursion you should never miss.  We were the only group who signed up for the 5pm time slot, so we got the VIP treatment.  Jesse, the driver, and his assistant Colleen (who we later find out is distantly acquainted with the Mister..small world, I tell ya) picked us up in front of the lodge.

Note Miss Soph, who sat like this for the majority of the ride, staring at the horses.

They first took us to a lookout point, where we got a great view of Ruth Glacier and Curry Ridge.  We got our first taste of watermelon berries ( some know it as twisted stalk) and blueberries that were growing wild along the trail.

The kids got to pet the reindeers (domesticated caribou) Baby and Mitch.

 Then we got to try our hand at gold panning. Each little bag of dirt guaranteed gold flakes. The ones we found were laminated onto a card that said "As long as I have this card, I'll never be broke!" Cute.

Then we roasted marshmallows and made S'mores.

Madison and the rest of the gang got to feed the reindeer graham crackers.

Posing with moose and caribou antlers.

And a moose kiss to end the day. Aaaaw.