I'm so sure that everyone wants to know my strategy for surviving 12 hours in a car with my children, that I'm going to share my "What to Pack in the Car" List with y'all.
FOOD:
*cheese cubes
*clementines
*granola bars
*fruit snacks
*pretzels
*apples (w/ knife to cut them)
*carrots
*water bottles
*nerd candy books
and little snack cups to dole out the snacks
(we'll be stopping for lunch)
THINGS TO OCCUPY:
In the "over the seat" packs:
*activity books with twistable crayons
*mini notebooks/pencils/pencil sharpener
*brain quest packs
*mad lib book for older kids
*magnetic Potato Head book for younger kids
*clipboards w/ Christmas coloring pages
MAMA'S BAG OF TRICKS:
(to be doled out every two hours or so...depending on the severity of the meltdown)
*matchbox cars (to re-enact our current favorite movie, Cars)
*Star Wars' figures
*Legos, big and little (I know, I know, but they can build while sitting!)
*Barbies and clothes (for the girls)
*recently purchased Toobs
(all packaged up in separate gallon freezer bags, where they will be neatly put back when finished... hahahahahahaha)
*reese's cups for DH
*m&m's for me
MISC:
*many many many many books
*books on cd
*music cd's
*personal cd player with headphones
*dvd's and DH's laptop
I think this about does it, besides the toiletries for all (since we'll be chucking them in the car at 4:30 am) so we can get them dressed somewhere in route...
And pillows, blankets and medicine...
Did I miss anything?
Yikes.
I sure hope we have room for the kids!
:)
9 comments:
Hey, I think you might be forgetting Peanut butter crackers. You know, the ones with the orange crackers and greasy peanut butter--the ones that get ALL OVER THE CAR! The kids always want those and I just can't stand them. They are a good trade off for good car behaviour, though!
Enjoy your trip! ;)
Does your personal CD player have sound blocking headphones - the kind that block the frequency of children's voices?
Alas, the cd player is not for me, it is for the kids to take turns with. I figure that DS#1 will get pretty sick of the assortment or frequency with which the assortment is played (especially the Princess cd...) And so he and DS#2 can share the player....
If it is not too late. A throw-up bowl or bucket, and towels. Ginger Ale.
5 kids in a car for 12 hours?! You're officially my hero, Nutmeg! Saying a little prayer for a safe trip! :)
M
Oooo. GOOD call, Cubeland Mystic!
:)
(Maybe we should bring one, as well...)
Ohhhhh, Mr. Cube, don't even go there.
:)
I'm bringing "Tabacum" a homeopathic remedy for motion sickness that worked amazingly well the last time we flew (you know, the "40 mph wind shear" incident?) and so I have high hopes for this trip.
But, it wouldn't hurt to bring a small bucket and a towel....
You are brave, very brave. I will pray for a safe and UNEVENTFUL trip for you all!
In my experience, between DVDs and candy, you can't go wrong. Most parenting rules get tossed for a trip such as this under the "special exceptions" clause and we do whatever it takes to just make it through.
Good luck!
i'm here catching up! how is it possible you haven't been in my bloglines lately...? no idea.
love, love, LOVE the Christmas stocking picture, and the right before Mass picture.
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