Schools Out! Are you Ready?

No alarm clocks in the morning

Is that how it is in your house?  Stay up real late (kids included) and then everyone sleeps in?  Do you have to work and kids go to the sitter?  Or do you stay home?  What new schedules do you have?

Messier House

In many cases the kids are home during the day now. Which usually equates to a messier house. People in it more. Beach towels being pulled out for the pool. Summer toys scattered in the yard. How do you handle it?

Schedule

Do you have a summer schedule? Do the kids have to do any reading or math in your home to keep up?  What do they do?

Chores

Are your kids good at helping in the house?  Do you make them? Do you have a chore board or give them things to do?  Do they get an allowance?

These are all things that I am wondering about this morning.  Today is the first day that the kids do not have school.  We will have to work out a new schedule for all of us.

My oldest son is a life guard at our local pool and will be working a lot.  My oldest step son is going to be starting a job at the karate studio in town and taking classes towards his 3rd degree black belt.

This week we are going to discuss these things. I’d love to know your plan.  I’ll let you know some of my suggestions. Fair?

Summer Vacation Planning

Have You Planned Your Vacation Yet?

This was from our trip 2 years ago.  I call this the “Ugly Van”.  I hated the looks of it, but it sure worked great for 7 people to travel in, especially when you come home with this!

Yes…hubby one him on a game. How could I say no to these kids?  Yes, after they had him a few months and realized he was more in the way than fun, they donated him.  But until then…he took up the 8th seat in the van on the way home…and he did make a good sleeping pillow.

Packing

Make a List before you start packing.

1) Write down essentials.  If you are going to a unit that you can do laundry, then plan for that. You don’t have to bring clothes for 7 days, but maybe just 3 days.  At least for the kids. You may know they have on an outfit they wore 3 days ago..but if it is clean and your on vacation…chances are that no one else will notice….or care.

2) Decided if you will need a roof top carrier or not.  Do you have one or can you borrow one?

Pack Activities for the kids

1) Do you have activites in the car to keep the kids occupied?  (books, car games, DVD, ipods)  Traveling with kids wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t fight. Many people leave at night just so the kids will sleep most of the way. I have never done that myself. But helping them to stay occupied sure helps the bordom and decreases the fighting.

2) Pack a bag for each child. It makes them feel special and gives them some “territory” that they can feel is in “their space” in the car.

3) Keep it simple. Remember there are great games you can play while traveling that doesn’t take batteries or power.