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BEACH TRIP!

 It was sort of crazy, but after we got back from our three week road trip, we decided we needed to go to the beach. So, we book the most amazing AirBnB and hoped for the best for our stay in Oak Island, North Carolina. Accommodations: Joya's Peaceful Paradise 5/5--She is a Superhost and here is why: 1) She made us breakfast, set the table, and served it to us! The first morning, it was fresh fruit (watermelon, pineapple, and blackberries), waffles, and bacon. The children had grape juice and the adults had coffee. The next two mornings, we had bagels, quiche, and more fresh fruit. Additionally, she made chocolate chip cookies (yum!) and apple pie! Plus there was delicious zucchini bread too! Hospitality overload! 2) The suites were so nice and the game room was so much fun. Typically, I would prefer an AirBnB that did not have shared space, but we had the entire upper floor to ourselves with the aforementioned rooms. The suites gave us plenty of room to move around and the ameniti...
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Chores, Chores, Chores

How to handle chores?  How do you involve your children without making it seem like a chore (or something you have to go behind them and do again)?  I have not the answers, but we did create a system that currently seems to be working.  First, we started with the list of chores that we wanted to do throughout the house (even the ones that might not have been done for YEARS--I see you cleaning the windows and blinds). Then, Chris and I split them into the categories of how often that chore needed to be done (daily, weekly, twice a month, and once a month). Finally, we put all the chores up on a whiteboard by each family members name and tried to dole the tasks out evenly. Each task got a box to check off equivalent to how often it needed done. We are hoping that each Sunday, we could do a draft to change out daily and weekly chores and at the end of the month, we could do the same for twice and once a month chores.  Oh, and now the children know what they have to do B...
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Teenagers and Phones

Admittedly, I never wanted to get my child a phone or allow him to be on social media. We had set up Google Family and TextNow with him on an old phone of ours. He couldn't be on group chats bigger than five people; he couldn't do anything without us knowing about it. Then, he turned 13. He took the Google Family Parental controls and signed up for Snapchat. On his birthday. It wasn't even ten a.m.!  Our plan to take him to get his own real phone was immediately squashed. We tried to minimize the damage that was done and take back control--or some sort of balance to remind him he wasn't an adult yet--just a teenager with slightly more access than before.  We made this contract . He is the type of teenager that needs rules and structures. Help us when the other child turns thirteen. He got an Iphone (it was free with an upgraded plan) three months after his birthday.  
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Itinerary with Attractions/Lodging/Food for Three Week Road Trip

Day One:   9.5 hours Charlotte, NC to Memphis Breakfast: Egg cups and coffee made a home Stops: Tennessee Welcome Center, Buc-ee's Lunch: Ham sandwiches, veggies, fruit (from home) Hotel: Spring Hill Suites Beale Street: pros: free breakfast cons: $39 to valet park Attractions and Dinner: walked from hotel Peabody Hotel and then to Beale Street, ate dinner at Silky O'Sullivan's with the diving goats Day Two: 3 hours Memphis, TN to Hot Springs Off Road Park Breakfast: provided with hotel stay Explored: Mud Island and drove by Sun Record, Stax Record, and Graceland Stops: Arkansas Welcome Center, Little Rock Central National Historic Site (free) Lunch: leftover ham and items brought from home Camping: Hot Springs Off Road Park Dinner: Super Healthy Kids recipe of gnocchi made at camp site Day Three: 5.5 hours Hot Springs National Park to Oklahoma City Breakfast: granola, yogurt, and fruit brought from home Explored: Hot Springs National Park (free) Lunch: Superior Bathhouse B...
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Planning for a Three Week Road Trip

It began with a notepad, a road map, and a Google Sheet. The notepad recorded ideas and thoughts while the road map showed us what could actually be done. Next, we placed different versions of the trip into a Google Sheet. We had nine different versions in tabs before creating a calendar view of the final itinerary.  The hard part was beginning now--to reserve campsites, hotels and what attractions were worthwhile. The biggest money saver was the fourth grade pass to the National Parks and Lands. This little card saved us a bundle--I highly recommend getting this when you have a fourth grader. We subscribed to Dyrt, and I was already a card carrying member of Marriott and Hilton brand hotels. We also went through all our credit card rewards to see what could save us a little. Additionally for gas, Chris made sure to do as many gas apps as possible as well as Upside and IExit. Upside was great about getting some cash back. I loved IExit to see what was on exits that were upcoming....
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