I've been using reusable bags for our groceries for years now. When I remember to get them out of the trunk, that is. I've been wanting to get some bags that could be washed (hello, leaking chicken!) and would last a long, long time.
So I hunted down some canvas bags on Amazon. I picked some that had a bottom gusset, which means they expand a bit on the bottom and were machine washable. The main reason I wanted to get new bags was so I wouldn't be putting produce in the same bag I used for chicken last time. I also wanted to get some that were heavy duty and just the right size. I was previously using some that were huge, but I would overload them and the heavy load caused the straps to start to rip. Luckily, those old bags were 100% recyclable, so I chucked them in my recycle bin as soon as the new ones arrived.
I didn't want to have to wash my bags every time I used them. I just wanted the option in case one got dirty. So that meant I needed to figure out a way to identify which type of groceries to put in each bag. Enter, the trusty paint pen. I had this paint pen leftover from a previous project. You can find paint pens at craft stores or Amazon. Just make sure you look for one that says "permanent" if you plan to wash them.
I ended up getting four bags, so I thought about the four categories most of my groceries could fit in. Produce, Dry Goods, Meat, and Dairy ended up being my categories. While these don't cover everything, it definitely covers most of my groceries. I also bring along this freezer bag for frozen groceries. (I should also mention I shop at Aldi, which means I bag my own groceries. I wouldn't expect a bagger at another grocery store to adhere to my bag labels.)
Once I had my categories nailed down, I just neatly wrote the categories down on each bag. I thought about doing some sort of fancy cursive, but decided to stick with a simple font that can be easily read. Usually I have Archer and Lyla with me, so I need to hustle when it comes time to bag since the snacks are running low by this point in the shopping trip.
The paint pen claimed to be permanent, so I wanted to wash them once to test the claim. The bags came out great and are currently stashed in my trunk! I tried them out the other day and they worked out beautifully!
There's nothing like making grocery shopping just a little easier and more exciting!
Let me begin by saying I share these tips with the full knowledge that they won't work for everyone. Having two kids at once is perfect proof that no two kids are the same and what works one day will likely not work the next day. However, I'm sharing these tips because you never know what might work. Hopefully these tips will work for some poor parents who get the privilege of flying with a squirming toddler on their lap.
The idea of getting to share new experiences with Archer and Lyla is just plain exciting to me. I absolutely love getting to go on new adventures with my kids and see those adventures through their eyes. But getting to the location of those adventures is a whole other story!
Adam and I decided to travel to Chicago with Archer and Lyla a couple weeks ago. We landed on Chicago because it was a short flight (only about an hour) and had tons of fun things to do as a family. When we booked the flight months ago, we told ourselves the kids would be older and better equipped to handle a flight. Fast forward a few months and I was in a blind panic thinking about how in the world our energetic, willful children could possibly sit in our laps for a flight.
So I set out to prepare as much as I could. I told myself tons of people fly with toddlers all the time. We could do this! Here are a few tips that ended up helping us out:
Consider the Logistics
The first thing we had to think about were the logistics of handling the kids and luggage. We planned to get around via public transportation once we made it to Chicago. Adam felt pretty confident navigating the trains and buses. Plus, we wouldn't have to deal with parking in a busy city or bringing car seats. So that meant we would have both kids and luggage to contend with once we arrived in Chicago. Most people would just bring a stroller along, since you can gate check it at the airport. But Archer and Lyla don't like to be confined to the stroller for very long. The last thing I wanted to deal with was a bunch of luggage and two screaming toddlers in a stroller. Or having to push an empty stroller while we run after our children. Plus, I wasn't sure how getting a stroller on the train from the airport would work. After carefully considering our options and our children's temperaments, we opted not to bring a stroller to the airport. Luckily for us, the place we stayed at in Chicago had a double stroller available for us to use once we arrived at the condo.
It turned out to be the right option for us. Now, if I was traveling alone, I would definitely need the stroller to keep my kids from running away. But since both Adam and I were there, we felt comfortable with one person managing the luggage, while the other handled the kids.
Pack as Lightly as Possible
Kids definitely require a lot of stuff. But it was still my goal to pack as lightly as possible. We ended up packing two suitcases (which we checked) and two backpacks. I was pretty proud of myself for not going overboard with a bunch of stuff. I tried to stick with the stuff I knew we would definitely need (diapers, sound machines, snacks) and not get caught up trying to plan for every possible unexpected event.
I did the math to calculate approximately how many diapers we would use and only packed one extra outfit for each of us. The condo we stayed in had a washer and dryer, so I knew I could always throw in a load of laundry if necessary.
I also didn't pack a ton of toys for the kids to play with while we were in the condo. I only brought along two small cars, a pack of flashcards, two bedtime books they are familiar with and love, and balloons. The balloons are nice because they don't take up any room at all! And Archer and Lyla were perfectly content the whole time!
Another thing that helped with packing was to create little rolls to keep each kids' outfits together. I stacked shorts/skirt on top of the shirt and rolled it up with a pair of socks. That definitely saved space in the suitcase and also made it easy to get the kids ready each morning.
Run While You Can!
Allowing the kids to do a lot of walking and running prior to getting on the airplane helped them burn off some energy. The Kansas City airport wasn't very busy, so they had more room to run around without getting in other people's way. We found some stairs and let them climb them a few times. They found a little ledge that was a step off the ground and let them walk back and forth across it for awhile. We just kinda let them take the lead and move while they could.
Our flight back from Chicago was a little bit trickier. We flew out of Midway and it was definitely a lot busier and crowded than the Kansas City airport. We had to do a bit more monitoring to make sure they weren't getting in other people's way. They loved the moving walkways! Archer particularly enjoyed running full speed across them, so I'm sure I gave a few people a good show running after him before he got to the end.
Letting them move around before each flight definitely helped!
Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks
Lyla and Archer are highly motivated by food and need to eat at least every three hours or else they get HANGRY. I made sure to pack a ton of snacks. I would wager to say 25 percent of our luggage was made up of snacks. I did not want to run out!
I also got some "new to Archer and Lyla" snacks. I picked up some snacks they hadn't ever had before in hopes that they would elicit some excitement. I also brought a few tried and true ones. It was a good thing too! I brought some of those little bread sticks you dip in cheese. While Lyla absolutely loved it, Archer was not at all interested. So I would recommend bringing a mix of both.
Cheese dip aside, I tried to pick snacks that weren't super messy. I also brought along their snack cups to help minimize dropping an entire package of teddy grahams on the floor of the airplane.
I also brought along their sippy cups. We made sure to empty them out before we went through security and fill them up with water before we got on the plane. These sippy cups worked out great because you have to suck a bit to get anything out, which helped their ears acclimate to the pressure changes. And I love them because they don't leak, even if someone happens to chuck it across the room.
Flight-Friendly Activities
I wanted to pack flight-friendly activities that wouldn't take up a lot of space or be too messy. I didn't want things with lots of little pieces that could be dropped and I didn't want anything too bulky. I also didn't want to spend a fortune buying a bunch of new things. So I settled on a good collection of things that miraculously kept Archer and Lyla entertained.
I divided up the activities and put one set in each backpack. So Adam had a set with his backpack, while I had a set in the diaper bag backpack. We switched sets on the flight home and it was like brand new activities for each kid!
Highlights Magazines- We already get a subscription to Highlights magazine (the Hello version meant for ages 0-2), so I kept the latest edition as a surprise for the flight. They always enjoy looking through the new pages. (By the way, if you enter your email address, you can get $5 off if you are interested in purchasing a subscription.) Plus, it's very thin and doesn't take up lots of space.
Indestructibles Books- Lyla and Archer got a couple of these books when they were babies (Thanks, Sherry!). They can't be ripped or torn and it doesn't matter if they get wet. I like them because they are thin and can't get damaged. I checked out a bunch at my local library (for free!) and kept them a surprise for the trip. A lot of them don't have any words, but we had fun finding different objects and pointing out colors.
Water Wow!- These were the two things I did purchase for the trip. These little books can be "painted" on with water and a picture shows up as you "paint." You just fill up the included paintbrush with a little water and you are good to go. And the when the water dries, you can re-paint the pages. Archer and Lyla did enjoy these. And the amount of water used is minimal, so it doesn't make a big mess. At one point, Lyla was just sucking water out of the paintbrush. But she was quiet and sitting still, so I just let her do it.
Kids' Meal Toys- The little cardboard things at the top right of the photo are actually toys that came with a kids' meal at Wendy's. It was just a picture with flaps you can lift up. Lyla and Archer are really into lifting and turning things, so I thought this would be high quality entertainment and it was! I've since started saving the toys from kids' meals for future trips. They don't understand a toy comes with the meal yet, so I'm just stashing them away.
Candy & A Pill Case- I brought along this activity as a last-resort sort of activity. A friend of mine (Thanks, Lindsey!) recommended this activity. They could use their problem-solving skills to get to the candy. I had an old pill case lying around, so I just washed it and brought it along. And the Smarties were leftover Easter candy...it's probably still good right? So it didn't cost a thing. Luckily, we didn't have to pull it out on the flight. But I did have to pull out some of that candy at the zoo when they were both having meltdowns. They rarely get any candy, so it's enough to pull them out of whatever craziness they are experiencing.
These activities were more than enough entertainment for the hour flight. And they didn't take up a lot of precious space or cost a fortune. Adam and I planned to use our phones, if necessary. They are big fans of looking at pictures and videos of themselves. But they did just fine with the other activities.
Hide Their Favorite Toy
My friend Kelsey (Thanks!!) gave me this tip and it was a good one! She told me to hide Lyla and Archer's favorite toy a week before the flight. I picked a stuffed Elmo for Archer and one of Lyla's baby dolls. Then, when they got a bit restless, Adam and I pulled out their toys and you should have seen the joy on their faces! They definitely spent some time just looking at and snuggling their toys.
It Doesn't Hurt to Ask
We had the biggest stroke of luck on our flight to Chicago. As we were boarding, the attendant told us there were supposed to be a few empty seats on our flight. So that meant Archer and Lyla could have a seat to themselves! We didn't even think to ask this question and were so thankful this kind lady told us. So it definitely doesn't hurt to ask if there are empty seats if you happen to have a child who's going to sit on your lap. We weren't as lucky on the return flight, so they had to sit in our laps. There was still lots of wiggling, but we managed.
I should also mention that we couldn't sit in the same row. There are only 4 oxygen masks per row (3 seats, at least on Southwest flights), so Lyla and I sat in front of Adam and Archer. I think this was actually a really good thing. They tend to feed off of each other, so I think they would have been more rambunctious if they had been able to see each other. I think it also worked out to sit next to the window. They could look out the window obviously, but it also trapped them in a bit. I don't think they realized people were walking in the aisle, so they didn't think to try to get up. It also helped to have strangers sitting next to us. They don't mind smiling and waving at strangers, but they didn't want to climb across their laps.
All in all, the plane rides turned out far better than I imagined! Adam and I tried to control what we could, but then just went with the flow for the rest of it. More trips are definitely in our future! Though, maybe not anytime too soon.
We just got back from our very first family vacation! We've visited family before, but this was our first big adventure as a family. A lot of thought and planning went into our trip to make it the best it could be. The first big decision to make was deciding our destination. We wanted to take advantage of flying somewhere without having to pay for a ticket for Archer and Lyla. (Kids can ride on your lap for free up until they are two years old.) But we didn't want to travel too far away because there's no way our kids could handle a long flight at this point. We also wanted to be able to take advantage of a place we could walk around or use public transportation so we wouldn't have to worry about renting a car or bringing along car seats.
So with all those factors in mind, we settled on Chicago. It was just over an hour from Kansas City. Plus, we felt comfortable using the public transportation (and wouldn't need to lug along car seats) since Adam and I have traveled there before. In fact, that's were Adam proposed to me! So it definitely holds a special place in my heart.
The part I was most nervous about was the flight. Lyla and Archer do not sit still. Like, not ever. They will sit in my lap for about 20 seconds for a snuggle occasionally. They can make it a bit longer if we're reading books, but even then we're talking minutes. Not an entire hour. And I wasn't sure if they would have any issues with their ears. So I pretty much thought they would do terrible and it would be a horrible experience.
I am very pleased to say I was wrong! Thanks to some careful planning and packing beforehand, we managed to keep them entertained on the plane ride there! It was incredibly lucky that the flight we were on had a few empty seats, so they actually got to sit in a seat instead of our laps. (I'm working on a post where I'll share a few tips and tricks that worked for us.)
Once we got there, we took the train from the airport to our condo for the stay. We were quite happy once we finally arrived! It was hard work lugging around toddlers and suitcases, but we managed! We ended up booking a place through VRBO. It turned out to be the perfect place for us! It was located along the Gold Coast, which was close to the majority of the places we wanted to see. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom (with a tub for bath time), a kitchen, a washer & dryer, a long hallway perfect for running down, and four flights of stairs. Archer and Lyla are in love with climbing stairs all by themselves right now, so it might have been their favorite part of the whole trip. It also came equipped with two pack 'n plays, a high chair (two were promised, but only one ended up being available), and a double stroller.
It was still being cleaned when we arrived, so we dropped off our suitcases and took the kids to get some deep dish pizza. This was well after their normal lunch time and smack-dab in the middle of nap time. We fully expected some epic meltdowns, but Archer and Lyla had a blast! I think they were too busy taking in all their new surroundings to think about how hungry and tired they really were. Off to Lou Malnati's we went! It was just as delicious as we remembered it to be and so much fun to get to watch Lyla and Archer gobble up the pizza.
After our late lunch, we headed back to our condo so the kids could take some much needed naps. While they were napping, I unpacked a bit while Adam went to a nearby grocery store to pick up a few breakfast items. Since we had had such an eventful day, we took it easy the rest of the day. Bedtime was a bit rough. We figured they would be fine since they went right to sleep for their nap. We were wrong. We tried to put them both in the same bedroom, but they just set each other off and it was a big hollering mess. Our kids are very good sleepers...so long as they have their own crib in their own room. So this new environment was definitely throwing them off. Eventually, we moved one kid to each room and got them to sleep. Whew! Adam and I were ready for bed that night!
We slept in the same room as Archer. He decided to wake up around 4:50 the next morning. I stuck him in between Adam and I in our bed and he slept a bit longer. Archer apparently rolls all over the place while he's sleeping. I'm not even sure how, but he ended up laying horizontally across my pillow. So, needless to say, I didn't get back to sleep. Eventually he woke up again and I just took him out to the living room to play while Adam and Lyla got a bit more shuteye.
On a side note, I only packed a few small things to play with while we were there. I brought along two small cars, a few books, a box of picture flashcards, and some balloons. And that was more than enough to keep them occupied. Now I'm thinking all those minimalist parents are onto something!
Once everyone was up and had eaten breakfast, we headed off for the Shedd Aquarium. It was just a six minute walk to the bus, so I said, "I think we can get away with not taking the stroller." Famous last words. The kids did enjoy walking around and were pretty good about holding our hands, but they did want to be carried a fair amount. They enjoyed the bus ride, until Lyla ran out of her snack. I'm pretty sure all the passengers were happy when we finally got off the bus.
Adam and I both thought the kids would love the aquarium! They love to look at the fish in our fish tank at home and read books with fish in them. But they didn't seem to really enjoy the aquarium. They did like to see some of the exhibits, but were just generally pretty whiny. I thought it would be a great idea to go to the dolphin show. We sat there for about two minutes until we looked at our two loud, squirming children and decided it was a stupid idea and left. Luckily, Adam and I were able to just laugh it off. We did keep exchanging looks as our cranky children kept having fits and gazed longingly at the other kids sitting nicely in their strollers. I made a mental note to bring the stroller from here on out!
It happened to be Father's Day and I kept wishing Adam a "Happy Father's Day!" whenever one of them screamed. Here's a little video to showcase some of our fun:
We got some lunch at the aquarium, attempted to see a few more exhibits, then decided to head back to our condo. Archer fell asleep in Adam's arms on the bus. Lyla decided she wanted her daddy, so we switched kids during our ride. Once we got off the bus, I carried Archer and Adam carried Lyla. I didn't realize how much they help me when I'm carrying them until I carried my limp, sleeping toddler down the streets of Chicago. We made it back to the condo in time for Archer to finish his nap and Lyla to start hers. Once they woke up, we headed out for an early dinner. We made sure to bring along the stroller this time! Archer and Lyla loved sitting in it and looking at everything. I think they were fully able to take in the sights and it was fun to watch how they reacted. There was one point when an ambulance drove by with the sirens on and it scared Lyla. She was fine once I held her hand. Adam enjoys trying new beers, so we thought we'd give Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery a try. While Adam did enjoy his beer, the food and service was just okay. I wouldn't really recommend it. We headed back to the condo afterwards to turn in for the night.
The next morning, we decided to venture out for some breakfast and then hit up Navy Pier. We tried to go to 3rd Coast Cafe, but it happened to be opening later than usual. Archer and Lyla don't exactly wait patiently for food, so we ended up going to The Original Pancake House. It's just a chain, but it was close by and turned out to be yummy. Usually, Adam and I like to try to eat at unique, local restaurants, but we needed to find a place before Lyla or Archer got too hangry. We made sure to stick them in the stroller as well and they were happy to ride along.
After breakfast, we hopped on a bus to Navy Pier. We were a little unsure how getting two toddlers on the bus along with a stroller would work out, but it turned out just fine. I got the kids on while Adam wrangled the stroller aboard. Luckily, it wasn't very crowded.
We made it to Navy Pier and walked around. It was pretty chilly, so I'm glad we all had jackets. We let the kids get out at several spots to run around. They had a blast climbing on railings and benches and playing with the buckles on the stroller while Adam and I enjoyed the views.
Adam actually proposed to me at Navy Pier! So it holds a special place in my heart. It was even more special that we got to bring Lyla and Archer to that very spot and snap a picture.
Even though we'd eaten breakfast not too much earlier, we grabbed a quick bite so the kids would stay happy. We walked around a bit more and then took the bus back to our condo just in time for nap time.
When they woke up, we took advantage of happy hour at Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery. They had a nice selection of craft beers and delicious food. Lyla was especially fond of the beer cheese dip and chips. It had a very nice atmosphere, fun decor, and our server was very kind and accommodating to our crazy kids. Luckily it was early, because Archer and Lyla decided to be very vocal. They were happy, but they were loud! We walked back to the condo for the evening with full bellies.
The next morning, we decided to hit up the Lincoln Park Zoo. We considered going to the Chicago Children's Museum, but figured Archer and Lyla still might be a bit young to truly enjoy it. Plus, the zoo was free!
We stopped by 3rd Coast Cafe again for breakfast and luckily it was open. It was delicious and definitely worth a visit. We walked through Lincoln Park on our way to the zoo. It's a super nice park! We walked around this pond that had a nice boardwalk all around it. Archer and Lyla loved running around it and looking at all the flowers, birds, ducks, and geese. I think they actually had more fun there than at the zoo!
We made it to the zoo and Lyla decided to promptly fall down and scrape her hand and knee. It set her off and kind of set the tone for the rest of the day. It was a really nice zoo, but we didn't see many animals. And it got pretty crowded. Plus, Archer and Lyla were just crabby! They didn't want to ride in the stroller, but they didn't want to hold our hands or go where we told them too. I think all the people around didn't help. I think they tend to get overwhelmed when we're in big crowds, Lyla especially. So we exited the zoo with two screaming toddlers. Once we got back to the park area with fewer people, they calmed down. Or it might have been the Smarties I gave to them to get them to stop screaming so people would stop looking at us.
So after their candy, we decided to go get ice cream for lunch. We are wonderful parents. But I must say, Lyla and Archer's spirits soared once we got to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. It was super cute and the ice cream was delicious! After we got the kids all sugared up, we headed back to the condo so they could crash.
When they woke up from their naps, Adam had the idea to take them to see Lake Michigan. The weather had been pretty chilly and cloudy, but the sun came out and it seemed like the perfect excuse to go check out the water. Our condo was located a block away from the coast, so we didn't have to go very far to see the water. There's a nice path all along the coast. Walking along the path was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Archer and Lyla were happily gazing at the water. There were pretty views of the skyline to take in. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. We passed by some parents with newborn twins along the way. It helped me remember how far Lyla and Archer have come! And how far Adam and I have come as parents.
We stopped at one of the beaches so Archer and Lyla could dip their toes in the water. Archer was excited to get into the water, but as soon as the chilly water touched his toes, he turned right around. He found a stick on the beach and was quite content to drag it around in the sand.
Lyla, on the other hand, loved the water! She kept her feet in until Adam had to take her out because she started shivering! She also enjoyed the sand and even tried a mouthful of it.
We wrapped up our last evening eating some more pizza at Giordano's. While it was good, it doesn't top Lou Malnati's in our book. As soon as the pizza arrived, both Adam and I said we should have eaten at Lou's again.
Despite Archer and Lyla having their moments, it was an awesome vacation! Adam and I feel so lucky we have our sweet little family and the ability to give them new opportunities. Our vacation also gave us the confidence to think about planning more vacations in the future. It's a big, beautiful world out there full of all kinds of places and people and experiences. I'm pretty excited it's my job to expose Archer and Lyla to this wonderful world of ours!
