Back in 2004 we lived in FL. We lived there for 10 years and there were many hurricane warnings and a few that actually came our way. For the most part though all of the preparation was just a futile effort to have a little control over an otherwise very uncontrollable situation. The thing about hurricanes is that you sit and watch the swirling blob on the news, coming your way, for hours and hours. You never really know if you are going to be impacted...until you get hit.
Preparations include making sure you have a food supply that could be eaten if you don't have electricity, having batteries in the flashlights, a battery powered radio, cell phones charged, outdoor furniture secured etc etc. And then you wait.
Now living in the mid western part of the country we get tornadoes. Difference between the two is that tornadoes come quick and without warning. If you get hit, you get hit and you probably won't know its coming at all.
My daughters have both been sick the last couple of days. And I know its only a matter of time before my husband and I get hit. I feel like I'm waiting for the hurricane. We don't know how big it will be, but I sense it is coming. So the last couple of days I have been assessing the food supply. "Do we have enough soup, crackers, bread if we can't make it to the store?" How about medicine? When you have a stomach bug or migraine headache, something small, but yet disabling and dependent children suddenly you realize preparation is key to making it through.
As we all get ready for cold and flu season. Here's to wishing you the best in making it through with as little damage as possible!
Sharing Memories
Welcome to Timeless Tales!
Inspiring creativity is at the heart of Story Institute and creatively sharing our tales about our home and family is the focus at Timeless Tales!
We are looking to build a community where others will share their tales as well as work together to inspire each other in creating family memories.
Contact us: teri@timeless-tales.com
Hurricanes & Tornadoes
Back in 2004 we lived in FL. We lived there for 10 years and there were many hurricane warnings and a few that actually came our way. For the most part though all of the preparation was just a futile effort to have a little control over an otherwise very uncontrollable situation. The thing about hurricanes is that you sit and watch the swirling blob on the news, coming your way, for hours and hours. You never really know if you are going to be impacted...until you get hit.
Preparations include making sure you have a food supply that could be eaten if you don't have electricity, having batteries in the flashlights, a battery powered radio, cell phones charged, outdoor furniture secured etc etc. And then you wait.
Now living in the mid western part of the country we get tornadoes. Difference between the two is that tornadoes come quick and without warning. If you get hit, you get hit and you probably won't know its coming at all.
My daughters have both been sick the last couple of days. And I know its only a matter of time before my husband and I get hit. I feel like I'm waiting for the hurricane. We don't know how big it will be, but I sense it is coming. So the last couple of days I have been assessing the food supply. "Do we have enough soup, crackers, bread if we can't make it to the store?" How about medicine? When you have a stomach bug or migraine headache, something small, but yet disabling and dependent children suddenly you realize preparation is key to making it through.
As we all get ready for cold and flu season. Here's to wishing you the best in making it through with as little damage as possible!
Preparations include making sure you have a food supply that could be eaten if you don't have electricity, having batteries in the flashlights, a battery powered radio, cell phones charged, outdoor furniture secured etc etc. And then you wait.
Now living in the mid western part of the country we get tornadoes. Difference between the two is that tornadoes come quick and without warning. If you get hit, you get hit and you probably won't know its coming at all.
My daughters have both been sick the last couple of days. And I know its only a matter of time before my husband and I get hit. I feel like I'm waiting for the hurricane. We don't know how big it will be, but I sense it is coming. So the last couple of days I have been assessing the food supply. "Do we have enough soup, crackers, bread if we can't make it to the store?" How about medicine? When you have a stomach bug or migraine headache, something small, but yet disabling and dependent children suddenly you realize preparation is key to making it through.
As we all get ready for cold and flu season. Here's to wishing you the best in making it through with as little damage as possible!
Happy Halloween!
This years Halloween adventures had us going into new territory...specifically...new kindergarten territory. Yes we are now navigating the waters of public education. A strange and happy place where the goal is to educate the children in a safe sometimes paranoid environment where everything is fair and equitable for the masses. Our school has "high parent involvement" which translates into - every parent attends everything possible and the PTO is always looking for "volunteers" . It is good of course but also a bit difficult if you are a parent who has to, I don't know...work to support your family or something.
So...on to the Halloween adventure.
It began a couple of months ago when I was tapped to be a room mom. Thrown into the world of Oriental Trading Co, goodie bags and healthy snacks I quickly learned that a "party" for kindergarten kids involves more than a few cupcakes. One of the biggest lessons involved learning that the menu must be balanced. This is not about candy and sugar. It is about limiting the sugary snack with a good dose of healthy snacks. So our party involved a cheese tray, fruit tray and, oh ya, a cookie. Poor kids... But they did get to dress up, do the monster mash, and do a fun and easy craft.
The day before the party we went on an adventure to the Pumpkin Patch. There were possibly 4 kids in the class who did not have parents there. The poor teacher trying to keep track of the kids when basically everyones parent was there taking them one direction or the other. Very difficult to keep kids all together anyway let alone with these renegade parents :)
But all in all it was a great Halloween! We opted out of the traditional trick or treating for the new "safer" go to the mall style of trick or treating. It was actually great fun and much easier than worrying about traffic but I suppose a bit sad to get away from how trick or treating used to be...when we were kids.
Hope everyone had a safe and "healthy" Halloween!
So...on to the Halloween adventure.
It began a couple of months ago when I was tapped to be a room mom. Thrown into the world of Oriental Trading Co, goodie bags and healthy snacks I quickly learned that a "party" for kindergarten kids involves more than a few cupcakes. One of the biggest lessons involved learning that the menu must be balanced. This is not about candy and sugar. It is about limiting the sugary snack with a good dose of healthy snacks. So our party involved a cheese tray, fruit tray and, oh ya, a cookie. Poor kids... But they did get to dress up, do the monster mash, and do a fun and easy craft.
The day before the party we went on an adventure to the Pumpkin Patch. There were possibly 4 kids in the class who did not have parents there. The poor teacher trying to keep track of the kids when basically everyones parent was there taking them one direction or the other. Very difficult to keep kids all together anyway let alone with these renegade parents :)
But all in all it was a great Halloween! We opted out of the traditional trick or treating for the new "safer" go to the mall style of trick or treating. It was actually great fun and much easier than worrying about traffic but I suppose a bit sad to get away from how trick or treating used to be...when we were kids.
Hope everyone had a safe and "healthy" Halloween!
Road Trip to FL or Bust
Well we made our 3rd trip to the Walt Disney World Resort this year this Fall. This is what I have learned. You can overdo Disney and I think we have. It is time to take a break - oh nothing major - maybe just waiting until next summer or fall. I don't think we could go a whole year without a Disney fix, but doing Disney every 3 months seems to take away a bit of the magic.
However if you are going to Disney every 3 months taking advantage of the different resort options is key. This time we stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort is an adventure in itself. Being able to look out the window first thing in the morning and see the animals roaming the savanna is just an amazing experience for kids and adults alike. And the resort also has great opportunities for the kids to earn beads by participating in various activities including playing authentic African instruments and doing different crafts. Of course these are the activities we never had enough time to participate in but always wish we had more time to do.
One surprising aspect of the trip was the level of crowds. Columbus Day weekend seems to be a new busy time as many schools have fall breaks or long weekends and the crowd level definitely showed it. Still an enjoyable trip, but something to be considered when making next years fall plans.
Want to share your favorite Disney adventures! Send me a message to post it here.
However if you are going to Disney every 3 months taking advantage of the different resort options is key. This time we stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. This resort is an adventure in itself. Being able to look out the window first thing in the morning and see the animals roaming the savanna is just an amazing experience for kids and adults alike. And the resort also has great opportunities for the kids to earn beads by participating in various activities including playing authentic African instruments and doing different crafts. Of course these are the activities we never had enough time to participate in but always wish we had more time to do.
One surprising aspect of the trip was the level of crowds. Columbus Day weekend seems to be a new busy time as many schools have fall breaks or long weekends and the crowd level definitely showed it. Still an enjoyable trip, but something to be considered when making next years fall plans.
Want to share your favorite Disney adventures! Send me a message to post it here.
Hannah Montana Party
Great fun for fans of Hannah Montana!
Decorations: Visit any party store and you are guaranteed tons of choices including banners, wall decorations, party invites, napkins, table clothes, goody bags, pinata and more.
Supplemental Ideas: Create a stage for your Hannah Montana wannabees. Using a plastic or fabric purple gold and black create a backdrop. Party stores also have available play microphones or make your own using styrophoam and glitter.
Also need: Hannah Montana music. Dress up necklaces, bracelets and rings. Anything fun for girls to dress up in.
Get the party started! Have the girls dress up and take pictures as they sing on stage to their favorite Hanna Montana tunes. Host a show for the kids to come up with different acts to lip synch different tunes. Other party ideas include pass the microphone game (hot potato), and freeze dance.
To Utah, FL and Back Again
Wow its been a whirlwind summer! First we went to SLC, Utah to visit my parents and then over to WDW to visit the parks while on a business trip. It was a little overwhelming to say the least! But here's how it ended up...
Utah Trip: Always fun to visit grandma and grandpa, the kids enjoyed playing all day while we enjoyed a little time off. What I love about visiting UT is not only the grandparents, but also we get to eat at our favorite restaurants. Our favorite pizza place Sweet Home Chicago is a highlight of the trip. We also love Chin Wah, Chinese, but unfortunately we picked the only week of the year that they are closed :( And of course a Costa Vida Taco Salad ranks high on the list. Read More »
Utah Trip: Always fun to visit grandma and grandpa, the kids enjoyed playing all day while we enjoyed a little time off. What I love about visiting UT is not only the grandparents, but also we get to eat at our favorite restaurants. Our favorite pizza place Sweet Home Chicago is a highlight of the trip. We also love Chin Wah, Chinese, but unfortunately we picked the only week of the year that they are closed :( And of course a Costa Vida Taco Salad ranks high on the list. Read More »
Back in the Playroom
We're home!
We love travel, but love to be home. The fun of coming home after a trip is that everything is new again. Toys that haven't been played with for weeks are suddenly new again. Its so much fun. Plus, traveling with kids is hard, even if fully prepared so having the freedom to let them run around the house without worry is a great freedom that I always miss when we are staying in a hotel room the size of our living room :) Note to self...look into renting a condo next time!
Returning from a trip also refreshes me as well. I always have new goals and ambitions that tend to get lost in the normal day to day. Right now my goal is to get my home office set up and focus more on getting my travel business going and writing on a more regular basis. As a mom its hard to focus energy on things other than the kids, but it is so important for your sanity and theirs.
So - we're back! Check our travel blog for new posts on our recent Disney trip and travel tips in general. With my experience traveling to the mouse myself, my hope is to help others with their planning. WDW vacations can be overwhelming so I look forward to breaking down the pieces and having a little fun :)
We love travel, but love to be home. The fun of coming home after a trip is that everything is new again. Toys that haven't been played with for weeks are suddenly new again. Its so much fun. Plus, traveling with kids is hard, even if fully prepared so having the freedom to let them run around the house without worry is a great freedom that I always miss when we are staying in a hotel room the size of our living room :) Note to self...look into renting a condo next time!
Returning from a trip also refreshes me as well. I always have new goals and ambitions that tend to get lost in the normal day to day. Right now my goal is to get my home office set up and focus more on getting my travel business going and writing on a more regular basis. As a mom its hard to focus energy on things other than the kids, but it is so important for your sanity and theirs.
So - we're back! Check our travel blog for new posts on our recent Disney trip and travel tips in general. With my experience traveling to the mouse myself, my hope is to help others with their planning. WDW vacations can be overwhelming so I look forward to breaking down the pieces and having a little fun :)
Make a Little Magic
Whether visiting a theme park or another vacation destination, doing a little something extra for the kids to get them excited about the trip is always fun! Here are a few ideas…
Vacation Countdown - Use paper rings to make a countdown to vacation chain or print off a calendar from your computer. Let the kids decorate it and mark off the days as the vacation draws near.
Do Your Homework - Have the kids help out with the planning of the trip. Give them brochures and websites to visit to see where you are going and let them pick out at least one activity to do during the trip.
Make Some Money - Give kids a few extra chores to do around the house to raise money for their upcoming trip. Make this money special money just for vacation and any treats they want that mom and dad wouldn’t normally be willing to get.
Create a Packing Checklist - And let the kids help gather the gear to make packing easier…but limit the items to only those on the checklist. (My kids get a little creative when packing - I don’t know why we would need 20 of their bedtime books on vacation, but that seemed perfectly reasonable to them the last time they were packing.)
Get them Writing - Give each child a vacation journal to write about their adventures during the trip. Have them decorate it before the trip begins.
If visiting a Disney Destination:
For little prince and princesses… Write a letter from one of their favorite characters that appears in the mailbox a few days before the trip telling them how happy they are that they will be visiting soon. Or deliver a special dress or costume for them to wear to upcoming character meals.
Its No Fun to Fly Anymore
Flying used to be fun. Granted I'm not a business traveler and I usually average about 2 flights a year, but it used to be fun - an adventure to look forward to. I loved packing to get ready, spending time at the airport with friends and family who would hug you good bye at the gate and be there to greet you as you exited the plane. Watching the movie and in flight entertainment was fun, even eating was fun. The food was usually not good, but it was interesting to see what you got to eat, and to open all of the packages.
Now, you have to be interrogated going thru security. Take off your shoes, don't carry liquids, don't dare think of bringing a drink on board!! Don't pack too much because you will be charged by the bag, don't bring too large of a carry on and only one please. If you're hungry you can now buy some food on the plane, if you want to watch a movie you can now buy that too. And when you land, there is no longer the fun and excitement of seeing your friends and families faces as you exit the plane after a long journey. Now you have to wind thru the airport to the baggage claim area where you can finally meet up with your pick up ride, although most seem to opt for just being picked up at the curb. Why pay to park??
Flying is no longer an adventure, but just a means to get from here to there. I wish my kids could have known a different world.
Now, you have to be interrogated going thru security. Take off your shoes, don't carry liquids, don't dare think of bringing a drink on board!! Don't pack too much because you will be charged by the bag, don't bring too large of a carry on and only one please. If you're hungry you can now buy some food on the plane, if you want to watch a movie you can now buy that too. And when you land, there is no longer the fun and excitement of seeing your friends and families faces as you exit the plane after a long journey. Now you have to wind thru the airport to the baggage claim area where you can finally meet up with your pick up ride, although most seem to opt for just being picked up at the curb. Why pay to park??
Flying is no longer an adventure, but just a means to get from here to there. I wish my kids could have known a different world.
But Mommy Still Needs Naptime!!!!
Its gone...so gone... I think the days of a 2 hour semi break in the middle of the day are over. My 3 year old won't nap anymore.
I am mourning the loss of this time. There are 5 stages right? Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I have been in denial for a couple of weeks now. I started to see the writing on the wall just prior to our last vacation, but I still wanted to believe it was only temporary. The bargaining began about that time as well. "We can have ice cream when you wake up if you take a nap". Today I am dealing with the anger. Most likely because the darling was up until 11:30p last night because she fell asleep around 5 yesterday afternoon watching TV. So today as I was insistent that she "TAKE A NAP" which only resulted in her laying in her bed for an hour and having an accident (which hasn't happened for quite some time now). Now on to depression...
I am mourning the loss of this time. There are 5 stages right? Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I have been in denial for a couple of weeks now. I started to see the writing on the wall just prior to our last vacation, but I still wanted to believe it was only temporary. The bargaining began about that time as well. "We can have ice cream when you wake up if you take a nap". Today I am dealing with the anger. Most likely because the darling was up until 11:30p last night because she fell asleep around 5 yesterday afternoon watching TV. So today as I was insistent that she "TAKE A NAP" which only resulted in her laying in her bed for an hour and having an accident (which hasn't happened for quite some time now). Now on to depression...
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