We leave in a few days for our trip around the country! I feel pretty ready considering the year of planning I have put into this thing. I went to shopping this weekend and found some fun things:
- I am making brown paper bags with little toys/games/crafts inside that the kids can only open when we reach certain destinations- I’ve purposely put these right outside of the areas where we will be staying so they can be excited for something early in the day. Brain teasers, a portable checkers set, a medicine box with beads and buttons in it for Judah to “organize” with his tweezers, a bracelet kit for Elia, lots of coloring, a Lego pack.
- At LIDL, I found trays $3 the kids can have on their laps for all of these activities. They have rubber grippies on both sides so things won’t slip.
- Also at LIDL, I found little sturdy backpacks $4 for Elia and Judah. I told them they have to put EVERYTHING they want bring in their little backpack. If it doesn’t fit, they can’t bring it. Elia said it was going to be hard not to have her toothbrush. I told her I would handle the necessities. 🙂
- At the dollar store, I found 6 small metal bowls for cereal, chili, soup, etc. and I bought 6 metal pie tins that we can use for plates! They have a perfect lip so no one will spill (theoretically). I bought a fork and spoon for everyone and a pack of steak knives. We will be camping for about a fourth of our time this trip and the thought of going to these amazing parks and leaving a bunch of trash made me feel gross so these metal utensils are perfect!
- Adam got a big present for Father’s Day- a YETI cooler on wheels! I took the littles with me to DICK’s (Dominic’s favorite store in name only) and carried the giant cooler to the front register, it was so heavy! I realized it would just get heavier with things in it and Adam would have to lug it around so I got the one with wheels. I love it- we are going to put it in the way back with the big boys, we are putting one seat down so they can access it for everyone during the trip. This cooler should keep everything cold forever so we can bring a lot of meals with us: cereal sandwiches, spaghetti, snacks, tacos, etc.
I have also decided to bring a few things to make this trip easier and cheaper:
- A crock pot! We started doing this a few trips ago. We bring/buy the ingredients for a crockpot meal and cook it in the hotel overnight. The next morning we pack it up and it is just the right temperature to stop for lunch somewhere. Eating on the road gets pretty expensive, unhealthy, and not fun. This is easy, fast, cheap, and healthy. I have picked out some great places to eat in most of the places we are going but if I am spending money on a meal, it will not be Subway or Chipotle, it has to be something I can’t get in Richmond, VA.
- A small chest of drawers. We are staying a max of two nights in most places, 3 only in El Paso, TX. I don’t want to haul 6 bags of clothes into every places we are staying. If I pack all of our clothes into drawers that I leave in the van, I can select the clothes we will need for that stay, put it in one bag, and only have to carry that bag around. I think it will make camping less chaotic and make it far less likely that we leave things behind.
Our packing list consists of about 5 outfits each. We will be at places with laundry for most of our stays, other than camping of course. I’m bringing a pretty minimal first aid kit, a lantern, bear spray, basic things. We each have a sleeping bag, pillow, tent, tarp. Lots of electronics and chargers although I’m really trying to limit our electronics exposure during this thing.
Our Airbnb guests check out today. This has been so nice to have that little bit of extra income for the trip and have our house so clean!
Bourne Family Travels 