I am so excited by today’s post because that means a DISNEY trip is in our future!  For spring break this year we are surprising the kids with a trip down to Southern California for a few days at Disneyland.   This will be Josh’s first trip down there and we are so excited about it!



When we head down at spring break, the girls will be 6 and 10, which are great ages for Disney, and the baby will almost be three.  I know a lot of people think it is too much of a hassle to take toddlers and preschoolers to Disney, but we think the opposite.   We have taken both of the girls to Disney when they were under the age of 5 and the trips have always been wonderful.  At that age, the magic of Disney is even more MAGICAL.  The entire line of Disney parks really does cater to kids of all ages.. even toddlers and preschoolers.

Little kids love meeting the characters and taking in the sights. The other thing that I really love is that the rides geared towards younger kids, as well as many of the characters (like Winnie the Pooh or Eeyore) always have shorter lines.  Not to mention that many of the rides (like the Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean) are great for adults but have no height restrictions, which means the entire family can ride.   Disneyland has a list of height requirements for each of the rides and you can see how few rides are actually off limits to the little guys!


The key to a drama-free trip with preschoolers is being prepared. One of the biggest things you can do is expect anything.  Chances are that not everything will go as planned.  You may end up waiting in a line longer than you expected, someone will spill their Dole Whip, or trip and skin a knee while running over to see Lightening McQueen.  Things happen (even at Disney) and in order to keep everyone on track you want to be prepared in order to prevent little things from becoming big disasters.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly I pack a bag for each of the kids for their time in the parks.  It isn’t as important with the older kids, but for the toddler I find most of these things are essential.

Here is what I include:

Stroller/Ribbon:  Bringing your own is my preference (since we always drive down it is easy to bring our own) but if that isn’t possible, there are strollers for rent.  The problem with rented strollers is that they all look the same.  In either case you will want to tie a ribbon or something around the handle to make it easy to find amongst the crowd.  Sometimes cast members will move and arrange strollers, so it may not be where you left it.  It is much easier to pick out a ribbon in a sea of stroller handles.

Water Bottle: You can get water for free at the parks (from soda fountain locations or from drinking fountains near the rest rooms).  Instead of constantly being begged for a drink, I keep the kids bottles full of cold water.

Sunscreen: Even in the winter, you can get a sunburn from the Southern California (or Florida) sun.  This is always a good thing to pack.

Diapers/Wipes: Even if your child is potty trained a change of underwear is a good idea.  Accidents happen, (especially if you get caught in a long line) and having a pair is always better than not.
Change of clothes: I pack an extra pair of socks, pants, short sleeve and long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt.  Depending on the time of year the weather can go from warm to cool.  Having clothing you can layer is a great idea.  Plus, if a slice of pizza ends up splattered on the front, your child won't have to wear a dirty shirt for the rest of the day.

Towel: I bring a towel instead of a blanket since it does double duty.  If the baby falls asleep in the stroller I can use it for shade, if they get wet on a water ride, they can get dried off, if they want to sit on the ground while waiting in line or at one of the shows, they can sit on the towel.  If it gets cold they can use it as a blanket.

Tattoo (or permanent marker): Nothing will make your heart sink faster than losing sight of your child at a crowded amusement park.  Rest assured that Disney parks have AMAZING protocols in place for lost children.  But to make it easier on the cast members (and give you piece of mind) you may want to get a child contact information tattoo.. or just write your cell phone number on your child's arm in permanent marker, especially if they are too young to know their own phone number. (You can remove the writing at the end of the trip with nail polish remover)

Autograph Book: Often kids will get scared when meeting costumed characters for the first time.   Having an autograph book is a good way to of give them a chance to connect with the character without having to hug or touch them.  My kids like to just hand over the book and let them sign.  it is less scary than having a giant mouse give them a hug.  Especially If your older kids have autograph books, you want to make you have one for your preschooler… even if they don’t want to meet characters.  You may also want to include a few crayons in your bag, so they can color in the book on their own.


1st Aid Kit/BandAids: Disney does have first aid stations in the park, but for simple ‘owies’ like skinned knees or little cuts (even imaginary ones) you won’t want to trek across the park to find one.  Having bandaids in your diaper bag can quickly fix the ouch!

Snacks: Nothing makes a cranky toddler happier than a handful of fish crackers or fruit snacks.  You want to pack things that are easy to eat, and tend to be okay in the heat unless you also want to bring a small soft-sided cooler.  I tend to just bring things like pretzels or crackers and avoid the need to keep them cool.

Books: Giving the kids distractions while waiting in ride lines or for meal service is important to preventing meltdowns.

Souvenirs: Disney can be overwhelming to a toddler since they will want to get their hands on everything they see.  Store after store filled with surprises and treats that they will want RIGHT THAT SECOND. Unlike older children who more easily understand “we will get something later” smaller kids don’t understand delayed gratification.  That is why I tend to pack a few small souvenirs for every day of the trip. Not only is this a great way to encourage and reward good behavior, it is also a fun distraction.  The other benefits of bringing your own vs. buying souvenirs in the park is getting exactly the characters your kids want.  If your child loves Tow-Mater, but you are in the middle of Princess territory it may be tough to find the exact souvenir you are hoping for.  Having small toys picked out and hidden away in your bag  (to pull out as a surprise) is a great trick, plus you will save a few bucks.  It is easy to say ‘no' to the souvenir stand when you know you have a hidden surprise in the bag!

Medications: (If necessary) If your child takes any medicines during the day, don’t forget to bring them!

Rain Jacket or Parka: (Optional) Check the weather forecast for the day.. Even if it only calls for a 10% chance of rain, you would rather have some protection from the rain than not!



And if you are looking for other tips and tricks for Disney.. make sure you don't miss these previous posts:

Mickey Bokeh for Night Photography:

For our family, summer is always camping season.   Here in California there are local, state, and national parks where you can camp year round, but typically the summer months are what fits our busy schedules best. While the kids are out on school break and we often head to the mountains or beach and tent camp. The problem with summer camping is that daytime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees.   Unless you head high into the mountains, the inland areas of California can be really warm and dry.

When camping as a family we want to make sure it is a fun and enjoyable experience, which isn't the case if we are suffering in the heat.  Fortunately, even on some of the hottest days, there are things you can do to make your camping adventure enjoyable.  A little good planning, bringing the right supplies and modifying your behavior can make all the difference when it comes to staying cool while camping in the hot summer months.  

10 Tips for Surviving A Camping Trip In The Summer

The start of summer means the end of school and for many kids, the start of the age old tradition of summer camp. 

For many children, this also can mean fear and anxiety about the unknown, especially if it is their first time away from home.   Fortunately, parents aren't helpless when it comes to dealing with these fears and preparing kids for their first time at camp.

If our family, attending local professional baseball games is a rite of passage.  There is nothing like walking into a ballpark and having the bright green field come into view.  Hearing the crack of the bat as the players warm up or hearing the National Anthem echo through the park is a memory you will never forget.

Our hometown team, the Oakland Athletics (affectionately known as the A’s) is celebrating 50 years in Oakland and we are regulars at the park.

And even if you aren’t a baseball loving family, there is still plenty to do to get the full immersive MLB experience.  From food and entertainment, to games and traditions, the Oakland A’s offer so many options beyond the diamond and even if you are a regular you may not even realize how much else is out there.

So I want to share my top 10 things to do at the Oakland A's game that will keep you (and the kids) busy through the entire game.

April is finally here and Major League Baseball’s season opener was this past week! If you follow me on Instagram you know we are a softball family, and our love of the game extends all the way to our Bay Area major league franchise, the Oakland Athletics.

The Oakland Athletics (affectionally known as the "A’s” ) kicked off their season this week, and with it came a huge milestone for the franchise.  This is their FIFTIETH season in Oakland.

The Athletics are actually one of the American League’s original charter teams (originally the Philadelphia Althetics) but moved to Oakland in 1968 where they have been ever since.  That means that for the past 50 years Oakland has been able to call the Athletics “our” team!

In a major metropolitan area, there are often multiple major league sports teams, and in the Bay Area has no shortage..  but the Oakland Athletics are special. They have ALWAYS focused on being Oakland's home team. Not the Bay Area, not San Francisco, not Northern California.. ONLY Oakland and the East Bay.  They have continuously celebrated the people in their home city and are always improving on the experience of attending A’s games in Oakland.

When planning a trip to Disney, there is much to take into consideration. It is no secret that a Disney vacation can take a huge chunk of change out of your bank account. And it is also no secret that a lot of planning can be necessary, to make sure that you are spending your money wisely on every detail of your magical vacation. One of the biggest questions that people have when planning their trip is, Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it? Well, the answer varies by family.

We have taken trips where we paid for the food out of pocket AND we have taken trips where we bought the dining plan, and I want to share what we learned about all the advantages and disadvantages to purchasing the Disney Dining Plan.

Note: I'm talking about the Disneyworld dining plan. Disneyland's plan works differently.. so that will have to be another post.

This summer we took a fabulous trip down to Universal Orlando Resort, which included an excursion to the recently opened Volcano Bay Water Park. The park was amazing and my older kids had so much fun.  The water coasters and slides were thrilling and they couldn't ride them enough.   But those rides were too big for my preschooler.

Before the trip, I had been reading though the information about the park and I was nervous about how much there would be for my 4 year old to do. Most of the reviews and information I found talked about the big headliner slides and rides which all had 42 inch height requirements, but he was only 40 inches.

Universal’s own website doesn’t even list a single “Kids Play Area” for Volcano Bay.  It didn’t sound very promising. Fortunately, when we actually visited, we found out there was PLENTY for a preschooler to do, and he was easily entertained the entire day.  So for anyone traveling with littles and are curious about how exactly to plan for a trip to Volcano Bay, I thought I would share our experiences.

I bet I’m not different from a lot of moms.  Sure, I work at home, and I’m a blogger, but even amongst my non-blogger mommy friends we all have the same run-yourself-ragged schedule.

Working moms, who are trying to squeeze in every moment of quality time they can in the evenings, while also keeping all the balls in the air at work.

Stay at home moms who spend their days wiping noses and sitting through PTA meetings.

Work from home moms who face the questions “what do you with your day?” while trying to set boundaries between where work starts and where it ends.

The one thing we all have in common is that we are SO BUSY.  Running around town doing errands, chauffeuring  our kids to and from sports and activities, driving carpool and making dinner.  Trying to get it all done before our head hits the pillow and morning comes too soon and we have to do it again.

So for mother’s day this year, I wanted to focus on gift ideas that would make life EASIER for the busy moms (which is pretty much every mom.)  I found 12 things that I personal have or wish I had, that focus on taking some of the pressure off the lives of busy moms.