Things that have helped us during travel (tip #6)

As many of you know, we are currently on a little vacation. Dh had his Ironman on Saturday. We are currently visiting Savannah on our way home. Anyway, I thought I would post a little list of some things that made this trip (with twins) a little easier.

1. Ergo carriers
2. Step 2, two seater wagon (the kids LOVE to ride around in this!)
3. Smoothies (I put in a baby food container of fruit, one of veggie, and some milk or juice... they drink it up!)
4. Harnesses (makes it so much easier to survive with two toddlers that want to walk and be independent!)
5. Travel noise machine (ours makes rain sound helps kids sleep better in a new place)
6. Folding baby gate
7. Summer travel high chairs
8. Backpack diaperbag (leaves my hands free)
9. Snack traps (especially great in the car!)
10. Mini strollers (the kids spent HOURS pushing them around the hotel!)
11. Juice boxes (perfect amount to split between 2 sippys)
12. Baby Einstein and Elmo dvds and car dvd player
13. Borrowed books and small toys from friends.
14. Hooded towels (great for quick warm up after the beach)

OK, that is all I can think of right now. Off to early bed.

Snappi use #1... Tip #6

As many of you know, we use cloth diapers. Mostly we use pocket diaper, but we also use some contours, fitteds, and Chinese prefolds.

If you don't know this about cloth diapers, pins are rarely used now days. Instead, we use snappis. These are a "T" shaped gadget that hooks on the diapers to keep them snug.

Anyway, being the mom of twins... I have found multiple uses for many things. Snappis are one of those things.

So, I thought I would share some of the uses I have found. This is the first... You can use it to hook blankets onto couches, pillows, or the pack-n-play to create a tent!

You can see the red snappi on the right side of the picture. There is another one (purple) hooking the blanket to the pnp. The kids LOVED the tent!!!!

In addition, you can also see my kids cute, fuzzi bunz diapered butts as they look out the window, which is at the back of the tent. ;)

Tip #5

This one is more for the Mommies' and Daddies' survival of the morning... with kids. Poor Man's Espresso.

I don't know about you, but we often have coffee left over after making a pot. Dh was reheating it in the microwave the next morning, rather than waste it. This morning I tried Poor Man's Espresso.

Take remaining coffee and pour it in the water container. Turn it on and have it run through the grounds from the previous morning again.

It gives it a stronger flavour and heats it all at once. It was actually very very good!

The next day's brew will run water through the system to flush it. Periodically you can run white vinegar through to clean the whole thing (a good thing to do every once in awhile even if you don't make the PME).

Tip #4

While posting on twitter this morning, I remembered another tip. So, I need to post it before I forget.

#4 My kids are always dropping or throwing their sippy cups out of the stroller. So, I used some of those wrist bands (like the Lance Armstrong "Live Strong" ones) and looped it around their cup. Then, I used those plastic links (they are sold in just about any store that sells baby stuff... I think I even saw some in the grocery!) to attach the cup to their stroller.

Now, when they throw it out or drop it... it is still attached! And Mommy doesn't have to pick it up!!!!!!

Wondertwins' Mom Tip #2 and 3

So, I thought I would share some more things that I have figured out. Here are my two new ones of today.

#2 Need an easy way to wash toddler hands without the mess and waste of water? Put a few inches of water in a large pot or bowl. Squirt some foam soap on their hands (foam seems to rinse easier). Help them rub them together. Then, let them rinse their hands in the water! I am so excited to have figured this out!

#3 I am always looking for ways to get my kids to eat "protein" foods. So, today I put a bit of almond butter in small bowl for each of them. Then, I stuck about 5 small pretzel sticks in each. They loved dipping and ATE IT UP!!!!!! (Before they wouldn't eat almond or peanut butter on anything!)

Tips for Moms or Dads

Periodically, I will try to post some tips I have figured out. They may not work for everyone, but it works for me.

Tip #1

Babies often fall asleep in the car. If it is soon to be nap time, and I am headed somewhere, I go ahead and leave early. I let them sleep in the car so they get more of a nap. I check out books on CD. So, if I am driving to get them to fall asleep, or I am at my destination but don't want to disturb them, I enjoy a good book. I am currently listening to "Other People's Children". I am often sitting in my drive way, returned from some outing, listening to a story while the Wonder Twins sleep.