Tips for Traveling with Kids

Throughout our travels we have learned some tips that have worked great for our family. I hope some of these tips can come in handy for you too! *All families are different so some of these tips may work for your family or they might not. They have came in handy for my family of five.

Tip #1-Backpacks for each kid. Even when the children were little we gave them a small backpack to carry so when the time came to play with a toy they could easily get to it theirselves in their own backpack. 

Tip #2-Set a time frame for playing with toys. We always wait to bring out toys until the last leg of the flight. We make sure before the flight to explain to the kids that nothing will come out of their backpacks until the last half of the last flight of the day. They know what is expected and do not ask about getting into their backpacks until then.

Tip #3-One pair of pajamas. Unless someone isn't night trained we only pack one pair of pajamas.

Tip #4-Use the Roll Method. I get so much more room in our suitcases by rolling up our clothes. This also helps with wrinkles.

Tip #5-Buy lots of sunscreen.  You can never have enough! Buying before your trip will save you money as everything is higher priced in a tourist town.

Tip #6-Socks. Even if it's a beach trip, bring socks. Little feet tend to get cold on the plane and at night in the hotel room.

Tip #7-Wipes. Even if your children aren't babies anymore pack wipes in your carry on. We use them to wipe down surfaces and dirty faces. 

Tip #8-Extra set of clothes. You never know who may get sick or spill something on their travel clothes. Always have an extra set of comfortable clothes in a grocery bag or a Ziploc bag. Use the bag to put the dirty clothes into. 

Tip #9-Comfortable Headphones. The airplane headphones have never been a source of happiness for anyone in my family. Comfortable headphones have been so helpful at getting my kids to sit still through the in-flight movie. 

Tip #10-Hotel Laundry Room. Check to see if your hotel offers a laundry room. Washing your clothes while on vacation helps you pack less and gives you more room in your suitcase for souvenirs. 

Tip #11-Bring grocery bags or trash bags for dirty clothes. This has helped with dirty clothes not being scattered all over the room.

Tip #12-For the Ladies. Pack dresses that can be used as cover ups too.

Tip #13-Pants and a jacket.  Even if it's a trip to the beach pack a pair of pants and a jacket. Hiking up a mountain or a rainy day can cool things down a bit. *It helps if the jacket works as a rain jacket as well. In Alaska, Hawaii, and Korea this was a must.

Tip #14-Sleeping on the plane. Bring a neck pillow and a small blanket. My kids have said they love bringing a blanket from home because it smells like our house. I believe this helps them sleep better on long flights.

Tip #15-Drink the complimentary drink. If it's offered, drink it! On our trip to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines gave their travelers Mai Tais. It set the mood for our vacation off right. 

Tip #16-Snacks. Pack snacks and more snacks for your kids and for YOU. I don't know about you but me and my husband can get grumpier than the kids when we haven't eaten. 

Tip #17- A nice outfit. Pack at least one nice outfit for dinner. 

Tip #18-Parent's Night Out.Check to see if your hotel offers babysitting services. If vacationing with family or friends see if they would be nice enough to babysit. Maybe swap up nights and watch their kids the next night or buy a souvenir for them when returning from your date night.

Tip #19-Sunscreen Alarm. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to reapply sunscreen. 

Tip #20-Pool ready. Have your bathing suits and beach towels on top of your clothes inside your suitcase. Sometimes you may not be able to check in to your room for quite a while. Grab your bathing suits and head to the pool while waiting.

Tip #21-USO. If you are military and have your military I.D. card with you please take advantage of the USO in the airport. James showed his I.D. to the person sitting behind the desk, signed in, and we grabbed snacks and drinks for FREE! They also have nice comfy seats to sit in and relax away from the crowded, noisy airport. 

Tip #22-Pool and beach toys. Buy them before going on your trip for half the price that they sell them for at the tourist town stores.

Tip #23-Gum. When taking off and landing I always give everyone chewing gum. It helps their ears pop. 

Tip #24-Medicine Bag. Bring a Ziploc bag labeled "Meds". I have been lucky enough not to ever have a sick family member while traveling but I always have medicine just in case. 

Tip #25-Save the bags! Use the drawers! I have tried putting each outfit in a Ziploc bag before and it just wasn't for me. We always unpack our suitcase the first day we arrive and put all our clothes in the hotel dressers. If there is enough room the kids get their own drawer so clothes won't get worn that aren't theirs. 

Tip #26-Hair Dryer? When going to the beach I never bring my hair dryer. I always take mousse or gel and have perfect beach waves for the entire trip. If you have room and you're hair refuses to curl naturally bring your own hairdryer. I do not have thick hair and it still takes double the time as it normally would to dry my hair using the small hotel hair dryer.

Tip #27-Suprise the kids! Have a new toy, book, or game for the kid's travel backpack. It's a nice surprise and keeps them entertained. 

Tip #28-Husband doesn't care or does he? Wives, if your husband says that he doesn't care what he wears and asks you to pack for him, make your husband take a look at what is packed for him before leaving. James always makes me pack for him and I always make him check afterwards to make sure it's what he wants. It works for us. 

Tip #29-Hair ties and more hair ties! My daughter loves to wear her hair wet and in a braid in the summertime. She also likes to lose every hair tie that she owns. I always bring extra because we will lose a few during our trip. 

Tip #30-Discover the airport. While waiting to board the plane, check out the airport. My favorite airport is in Seattle. They have tons of things to do and see. This keeps the kids occupied while waiting to get on the plane. 

Tip #31-Find a grocery store. You don't have to eat out every meal. Go find the nearest grocery store and stock up on things you can easily make in your hotel room. Sandwiches are always your best "meal" friend. 

Tip #32-Talk to your kids before traveling. Explain to the kids about things like how the plane feels to you when taking off and landing, how long the drive is, and what to expect when you get to your destination. I find with my children that the more they know the calmer they are. 

Tip #33-Romance. Make time for you and your spouse. Whether it's finding a babysitter to watch the kids while you go out to a romantic dinner or having a drink on the balcony after the kids go to bed. Too often we make our trips all about the kids and not a single second about us. It's okay to have adult time on a family trip too. 

Tip #34-Relax. You're on vacation! 

A Letter to My Son

Dear Son,
          People say boys are easier to raise than girls but I think that isn't true. Your Father and I worry about the boy we are helping to raise into a man. How he will turn out. If we have given him all the advice and life lessons he needs to go out into the world and make something of himself. So here's my advice, Son. Here's some things I hope you remember.

1.) Remember that snake is more scared of you than you are of him.

2.) Cherish the moments you have with your father. One day the Old Man won't be here anymore.

3.) One day your first love will break your heart. You will think you can't go on but remember the greatest love you will ever know is the love you give others.

4.) Always give your Momma a kiss and a hug. You will never know how much she loves and adores her boys. She will need this because she will miss her little boy and the love he gave her.

5.) Stand by your word. A man's word is all he's got sometimes.

6.) If you only learn one thing from your Daddy learn to work hard. Work hard for your family. Work hard for the things you want in life.

7.) Take care of your sister. Always treat her with respect. Even though she can probably take care of herself, when she comes crying to you about a boy, be her shoulder to cry on. Tell her she's the greatest and that guy's the biggest Jerk on the face of this Earth.

8.) Don't steal. Don't do drugs. Do what's right. You carry your Father's name, your Grandfather's name, and his father before him. Make them proud, Boy, make em' proud.

A Letter To My Daughter

Daughter,

           When you came into my life I was scared. Scared of being a new mom. Scared of raising a child in this world. Teaching her all I could on how to live a good life. A life she can be proud of. So here's some advice from your mother. I hope one day you can look back on this and remember these words.

1.) Always stick to your feelings, to your gut. There was so many times in my life where I didn't speak up because I thought little girls shouldn't speak their minds. You are so expressive. Never let someone keep you silent. You have a voice.

2.) Be creative. Never have I seen a more creative mind than your own. Make up silly songs, write more stories, and create beautiful pieces of art. There is no limit to what you can create.

3.) Stay young for as long as possible. You don't have to be like the other girls. You don't have to dye that beautiful hair I love to run my fingers through. You don't have to hide that gorgeous face behind layers of makeup.

4.) Love is a beautiful thing. Even in small doses. You don't have to be so serious with a relationship until you are older. Love yourself instead of giving all of your time, effort, and love to a boy. If he truly loves you, he will encourage this love for yourself.

5.) Friends will come and go. Don't be too hard on yourself wondering what happened. Sometimes it's not meant to be explained. You are a wonderful person who will always have wonderful people surrounding you.

6.) Know that no matter what your family will always be here for you. Your brothers, your father, and your mother. You bring the laughter into our lives, the beauty. You show us how to be compassionate and how to love.

7.) Be you. Be your confident, creative, beautiful, lovable self. Everything else will fall into place.

An Open Letter To My Grieving Husband

Dear Husband,

I know no matter how old you get you will always miss your Dad. I see that longing in your eyes on more occasions than I can count when a song comes on that makes you miss him. When your kids do something you wish he could see. When you accomplish something in life that you hope he is proud of.

As your wife, it's painful to see you go through this hurt. I wish I could take that hurt away. When you tell me a story about your dad for the millionth time I smile and laugh because I know that's the way you heal. Who am I to darken that memory of a time you hold so dear by saying I have already heard that story?

When you think about the bond you have with your oldest son, I know it's bittersweet for you. When you see your youngest son, who has your father's name, I know it makes you proud and sad at the same time. Proud to call him by that name but sad to know his grandfather can't boast about it either. When you see your daughter, who has you wrapped around her finger, and get sad knowing that your Dad isn't here to get wrapped up in all of her sweetness too. I see the pain in your eyes when you think I'm not looking.

So I would like to tell you it's okay to grieve as long as you need to. It's okay to grieve a lifetime for him. To feel that hurt. To have that want to see him again. It's okay to talk about him as much as you want. Tell those stories of your dad a million times over. Tell them so his grandchildren will know him in some small way. So I can see why you are the man you are today because of that man.

On behalf of your dad I would like to say you are doing it right. You are a great family man who gives all he can and never asks for anything in return. You are teaching your children how to be good people. To be proud of their family name. You are someone to be proud of and I know he would be proud to stand next to you and say "That's my boy."

The Scent Of A Memory

 I have always been a sentimental person. I love seeing an old picture and remembering back on my past. Hearing a relatives laugh, for instance, can bring back so many laughable moments with them at holiday parties and family get togethers. A lot of things can trigger a memory but it's the scent that gets me the most. It's like an old friend has magically appeared to tell a story of another place and time. Every time I smell flowers I think of visiting my great grandmother in the nursing home or holding tight to a young James in his tux at prom. Walking through the baby aisle at the store filled with plastic bottles and baby lotion reminds me of the time I became a mother. The sweet smell of my newborn daughter was intoxicating and I would catch myself smelling her sweet smelling head more times than I could count.

My sweet Gracie Ann.

 This week I had an ache in my heart for my wonderful grandmother we lovingly refer to as "Mawmaw". The smell of bacon and cabbage cooking in my home brought it on. I thought to myself "LaShae, you do this a lot." So I started to think back on more things, more scents. James recently bought a new cologne that makes me think of the younger James that I dated. The smell of a cold crisp morning with a little hint of ice reminds me of all our adventures in Alaska. My new woodsy candle reminds me of our times in the Carolina Pines.

My sweet Mawmaw with her great grandchildren.

We sent a box of Korean goodies to my family in Alabama for Christmas. One of the goodies was a pack of fish sausages. I made sure to tell them all that this was the "scent of Korea". A scent we smell daily because of the Korean love for fish markets and laying out trash everywhere.  It's amazing to me that so many different scents have an impact on my life. From scents that bring up memories of the past to scents we live with everyday that one day will become a trigger to a memory.

I could go on and on about the scents of my life. How the smell of a perm and hairspray remind me of my Momma or walking into a home that smells of cigarettes reminds me of my Great Aunt Verline and family reunions. I know this all would bore you because you have no deep connection with it all. Yet, I would love to hear of your "scent" memories. I find it fascinating to hear other peoples stories. Are your memories triggered more by sight or sound? Or are you like this sentimental gal who bases her memories around smells?

My mother and her perfectly curled hair. 

A Korean Christmas

Our first Christmas in Korea was a success. We had such a wonderful holiday and we have really enjoyed our break from school and work. Christmas Eve was filled with Christmas lights and opening our "Secret" Santa gifts for one another. The kids woke up five minutes before seven in the morning which is a new experience since we usually have to wake them up closer to lunch. Christmas Day was filled with toys to play with, new clothes to try on, and lots of food to eat. We ended our day visiting Dragon Hill Lodge so I could try out my new camera. Here are my favorite photos from tonight.

Our Infertility Story

I have been going back and forth about putting our story out there for many reasons. First off, the blog's name is A Traveling Family. No one wants to read about us wanting another child. They want to read about far off places that they might want to visit one day. Then I remembered why I set up this blog in the first place. For readers to have a glimpse into our lives. I want readers to know our good times and our sad times. Another thing is the hurtful comments I might get out of putting our infertility story out there. The ones that say "You already have kids. Isn't three enough?". Or having loved ones call you dumb. (This has actually happened and has burned us from telling everyone) The people that are suppose to be your support system. The ones that know you are hurting but still want to make you hurt even more. I have just told a handful of people for this reason. I am afraid of putting this out there for the public but here goes.

I have always wanted to be a mother. I never strived to be a teacher or a doctor. I knew my calling in life was to be someone's mom.  James agrees with me that his calling was to be someone's father. He always imagined himself being a dad. In 2009, after having our youngest, we decided that James would get a Vasectomy. We were young and naive with judgmental people breathing down our necks telling us three was enough and we didn't need anymore. We were so worried, at the time, about what other people thought that James went ahead with the surgery.

At first, it didn't sink in that we would no longer be able to have another child. We had a toddler, a baby, and the next year Brody would come to live with us. We didn't really have time to think about it.  We went from having one child to pretty much three over night. After moving to North Carolina from Alaska, I started to feel an ache in my heart. I didn't understand what the ache meant at that time.  I started feeling sad and I didn't know why. Our marriage suffered some heavy blows at this time. I was sad and felt like something was missing from my life. From our lives. I really did some soul searching. I finally realized that something, someone, was missing in our family.

I was so afraid to tell James how I felt because he had went through physical pain from the surgery because he thought we were done having children. I was afraid he would think I was crazy for even thinking about having another child. I thought he was like everyone else and thought three was enough. That's where I was wrong. He isn't like everyone else. He is my husband. In some ways, a male reflection of myself. I told him how I felt and to my astonishment he felt the same way. Through tears we talked about how we were feeling and what we could do to try. To try for our family, no matter what others may say.

The next few months were kind of a blur. We drove up north for James to have the Vasectomy Reversal. People were swarming us with questions on why he was having day surgery and when a few found out they still told us we were dumb. Even though we knew this was a long road ahead for us, it was a breath of fresh air to know we were on our way to having another child. A year went by and nothing. Every month was filled with sadness. I felt like I was grieving for a child I had lost even though it never had existed. I finally went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with PCOS. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects your hormone levels, your menstrual cycles, and ovulation. I won't go into all the details but basically I wasn't able to get pregnant as quickly as I was with my other two pregnancies.

My doctor prescribed me Metformin. I asked around about what the side effects were to this new pill I was taking. I got a few answers and a few questions as well. Negative responses yet again. This was not helping our grief, our sadness.  But we kept going forward. We knew that this wasn't going to be easy when we started this journey.  There have been countless tears shed and long talks. There have been days where the negative comments have made me want to give up but James is my motivator. He assures me that everything will work out in time. We will have a child one day. I am so blessed that I have such a supportive partner that is going through the same thing. He gets down about it every month, he gets happy again when talking about our future child, he supports me and makes me feel whole again when I feel a loss every month.

Two years have came and gone and now we have accepted that a pregnancy may never happen for us. Moving across the world has opened our eyes to things. We still have the ache for a child but we aren't obsessing over a negative outcome every month. We have options that we are looking into and we feel that breath of fresh air again. Options. I love that word.

*Close friends and family- While we love if you would like to talk about our story please refrain from talking to our children about this very sensitive subject. They do know we would like to add another child to our family and they are in agreement with it. If the day comes where we are given the chance to have another child we will talk about it with them in an age appropriate manner.

4th of July

Yongsan had a wonderful Independence Day celebration on post. There were tons of bands playing, vendors set up everywhere, bouncy houses, a softball tournament, and lots more.  The MWR was having a scavenger hunt for people to get involved and really check out all the vendors that were there. We participated in the hunt and had a great time. The vendors all had free things to hand out which was a great bonus. We watched a 20 minute fireworks show that was by far the best I have ever seen. We had an amazing time yesterday and look forward to more MWR sponsored events on post.

Play Time

  While James was at work today we decided to go check out our apartment playground.  It was small but we were the only ones there so it was just the right size for my two kids. Gracie and Jack only could stand the heat for about 15 minutes and they were ready to head back inside.

A South Korean Father's Day.

  I woke up on Father's Day to our new wake up call which consists of Koreans yelling,scooters going way too fast, and loud city buses zooming by. I quickly realized it was Father's Day and ran to Jack's room where I had hid our card for James. The kids were less than pleased that I had woke them up so early on a Sunday but did as they were told and slunk to our bedroom. After giving James his card we all went back to sleep for a few hours. After waking back up for the second time I felt like a new person. I guess we are finally getting our much needed extra rest from the time difference and traveling.

  We wanted to end our Father's Day by adventuring out into our block of the neighborhood and surrounding areas.So away we went,off to explore new territory. We discovered that Seoul is a city of stink. Not only can we smell sewage but there is trash everywhere. This is mainly on the side streets and you do get some amazing views and smells in different areas but the kids aren't fans of the smell we happen to catch ever so often. 

We walked through side streets containing fruit and vegetable stands and even a homemade soap stand.Gracie quickly pointed out the irony of a soap stand right next to a smelly pile of trash. There were tons of restaurants to choose from and a coffee shop about every ten feet.  The heat and all the walking really made us tired and hungry. We stopped about five minutes from our house at a pizza place called Pizza School. The menu was in English and and it was ready in under 10 minutes.  We hope to be a little more adventurous next time we order a pizza. Gracie would love to try the Irish Potato pizza while James would like the Chicken Filet pizza. I am a little more adventurous when it comes to food and would like to eat a Bulgogi pizza next.

Jesus Coffee

This is on the street where we live.

One of the fountains in our courtyard.

Pizza School.

It was very yummy but small. Thankfully they knew we were Americans so they didn't put corn on it. Koreans love corn on their pizza.

Our New Home.

  After almost two months of being homeless we are finally able to call someplace "home". Living in a hotel for a little over a week was about to get the best of all of us. We are so thankful to be able to move into our new place of residence for the next couple of years. We have a beautiful view of Seoul Tower and live on a very busy street with lots of restaurants,barber shops, convenience stores and a local Farmer's Market. It is only about a 10 minute walk to post and a 15 minute walk to the PX.

  We were allowed loaner furniture that we can have the option of keeping the whole tour or sending back when our things finally arrive from the states.  Unless James goes on a dream shopping trip(his dream,not mine) to Ikea,we will be keeping most of the furniture because we left what little furniture we had behind in storage. I have been in such a hurry with everything I almost forgot to take any pictures. I have left some things out because I am so scatterbrained with this move. When our things finally arrive and I can make this house a home I will have an updated home blog post.  Enjoy the pictures. *After looking through the pictures I have skipped over things in the house. After we start putting things together in the house I will be making a video so you can see more.

A decorative rock wall is the first thing you will see walking through the front door.

To the right you will see lots of cabinets,to the left is a big walk in closet.

This is most of the kitchen.

The built in Korean washer was too small to hold but one pair of pants. We had to ask for  a loaner American washer. Thankfully we still have some storage and counter space to get to.

Our spacious living room with a great view of Seoul Tower.

The Master Bedroom.

My vanity area. To the right is our walk in closet. The opposite side is more cabinets and our linen closet next to the Master Bath.*I am too tired to rotate the picture. Deal with it. :)

Our Master Bath which includes a separate glass shower,a jacuzzi tub,and a Bidet toilet. James is a fan and the rest of us are not.

Master Bath Sink

Gracie's room.

The Boys Bedroom.

The Kids Bathroom.

The Kids Playroom.