+Pack with your three-year-old.
Elsie was packed for Mount Carmel four days before we were to leave. But upon investigation, her suitcase was very heavy on the board books and pajamas with very few outfits or underwear. So I got out index cards and wrote the days of the week and drew a picture if we were going to do anything special that day. (Tues had a birthday cake, Sunday had a cross, Friday had a car for going home.) Then I drew a card the moon and stars for pajamas and a card with the sun and waves for beach attire. I laid them on the floor and together we picked outfits for each day while we were away. She loved this system and so did I.
The plan was that we would leave her suitcase packed, as each outfit had a card on top of it. Unfortunately, my super-organized niece Sonna got to her suitcase before I could explain the system and had Elsie unpack all of her underwear into her dresser drawer. By the time I saw what was going on, Elsie's clothes were strewn across the room. I had to take a deep breath. And you know, she had clothes on each day. Just not the outfits we had planned together, but she was dressed! (I am discovering that I am growing in my need for control in some parts of my life as I age. Organization is one of those...which is hard with little kids!)
Also, just a side story on this organization theme. I told Rory when we moved into the lodge room that I really wanted to keep it tidy. That this mattered to me and my peace of mind. So you can imagine how hard we laughed when we came back from lunch the first day we were in our lodge room and found all birthday presents, linens and toys turned into one epic boat/fort.
Okay, on to more tips...
+ Pack your Room Darkening Curtains and Painter's Tape
This is basically genius. I said to Rory as we were about to leave, "What could we bring to use as room darkening curtains?" And he replied, "Room Darkening Curtains." Of course! I ran up to the kid's room and took the curtains off the rod and packed them in the car. Then I threw in a roll of painters tape and guess what?!! Their room was as dark as a cave. So even though they stayed up until 10 most nights, they slept in until 9 most days. I used the tape to adhere the curtains directly to the walls. People! Admit it. This is brilliant.
+ Thermarest in the pack-n-play
I don't know if our pack-n-play is getting old, or if we are just more compassionate for our third baby, but that little pad is so, so thin. No wonder babies don't sleep as great in there! We have been price checking foam pads to cut to size and even tried finding a couch cushion that would fit in there. But then I had an idea. I called my mom and had her measure her base-camp thermarest and wouldn't you know it was the exact width?!! And if it was folded in half it fit perfectly in the pack-n-play sheet and snug in the crib itself. Hattie slept well and we had peace knowing at least she was comfortable in there.
I think I had one more hot tip, but I don't remember it now. If I think of it, I'll add it. Until then, just trust me on that room darkening curtains tip. It's a real winner.
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