Ninja Mommy Hacks: Life with 2 Minions and lots of wine!

We have season passes and just went on Thanksgiving.   I thought I would post my ninja mom hacks-  we have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. 1) Pack snacks (if on a budget, pack food- they didn't seem to check or mind all that much). 2) The only 2 places you will want to hang out w/the toddler are: Super Silly Fun Land & Dino Play Area (lower Lot) Super Silly Fun Land This is minion-land... and it's amazing.    Across from the store is a play structure with staff!  That is right, park like play structure with slides & full time staff to monitor it (not that you can leave the toddler, but it's nice to have extra eyes).  Across is the store and photo op w/all the minions!  The music is amazing and you will feel like you are in the movie.   (Remember the part where the girls make Gru take them to the carnival place?  Well, this is it!) Summer time?  Bring swimsuits/towels + you MUST have water shoes.  There is a ver...

1) remember, they serve alcohol for a fee! 2) If you are anti-technology, quit reading this now... move on. Here are my exact steps to flying w/littles... 1) determine when you want to fly...  early morn (if your kids are happy morning peeps)  or late at night, hoping (yeah right) they sleep w/out benedryl.   Bring a ball...  run them into the ground in the airport (or connecting airports)  you want to tire them out!  They need to run, run, jump, jump, etc. 2) Take away the Ipad/tablet/technology 1 week before the trip.  Hide it, don't allow it, or just be SO busy they forget about it (forget to charge in on purpose). 3) spend the $30 on iTunes-  buy the newest movie out, download it.   Make it one they saw in theater and are waiting on to come out (my plan next month:  Zootopia & Secret life of Pets).     Spend money on brand new apps (nick jr/Disney jr) they would want and drool over.   4) Go to DollarSto...

Just got back from the 2016 Sacramento Kids Spartan Race- (today) My Do's and Don'ts: 1) Prepare your kid for the race weeks before-  emotionally!  Show videos- explain they are not competing, but just to have fun and finish. 2) Parking is organized chaos (so is everything else).   Plan to get there 2 hours before your event- (as in googled into your smartphone) because parking took us 40 minutes (backed up miles down the road)- so we planned to be there at 8:30am, but did not get a parking spot until 8:50am...due to long line into the parking lot.     As for leaving, same time out... add 40 min to drive time home. 3) take food!  If you are like us and on a budget, we packed pizza, beer, waters, etc.   During daddies race we went back to car- got out the chairs, sat and ate cold pizza. yum 4) If you have a toddler/baby, I suggest you leave them at home w/a sitter. The terrain is rough, so only bicycle wheeled Strollers/wagons will work. ...

We just got back from Spartan Sacramento.   6yo did the kids race, hubby did the Sprint. This was my 1st ever experience going (hubby is on his 4th race). My do's and don'ts 1) Sac is reportedly an easier course.   (compared to Diablo Hills) 2) Parking is organized chaos (so is everything else).   Plan to get there 2 hours before your event-  because parking took us 40 minutes (backed up miles down the road).     As for leaving, same time out... add 40 min to drive time home. 3) take food!  If you are like us and on a budget, we packed pizza, beer, waters, etc.   During daddys race we went back to car- got out the chairs, sat and ate cold pizza. yum 4) if you have a toddler/baby, I suggest you leave them at home. The terrain is rough, so only bicycle wheeled stollers/wagons will work.  (BOB).  It's also a ton of waiting around, and nothing fun for them to do.   DO NOT TAKE PLASTIC WHEELED STROLLERS!    Bring th...

So you have a flight booked at 6am, this means you need to be at the airport at 4am... working backwards some more... drive to airport, waking up, getting kids in car.... this all can take 45-90 minutes depending on where you live.    I am all about sleep... so... finally someone told me the trick and it was so easy I felt dumb for not considering it myself.. Stay at the hotel across the street from the airport the night before!   And you will save on PARKING!   For $95 I got the hotel (across from Fresno Airport) PLUS 7 days of free parking.   We will arrive to the hotel in PJ's (we live 45 min from the airport, so we will arrive after dinner) sleep in until 4:30am, then just walk across the street.  I will keep my kids in PJs!  No driving, just a 3 min walk. Other things I want to consider:  Can I leave my luggage at the airport (check them in) the Night Before?   I plan to research this,  my only concern is lost luggage!  ...

We were just there Saturday August 13th.   It was 90 degrees... Ok here are my "ninja tidbits" for Knotts Berry Farm: 1- the Saloon in the Wild West town has beer on tap!   It's cool, AC, nice tables.. a great place to recharge in the heat. 2.  This place is NOT toddler friendly, in fact even my 6 year old couldn't do too much.  I say skip this park until the TWEEN years! 3.  The roller coasters looked fantastic!   TWEENS and TEENS!      The park is not that big, parents can hang out, drink beer, relax while the teens run amuck. 4.  Snoopy Camp- has a few rides-  more for the 3-4 year old.    It was like my 6 year old was in the "middle" years.... too big for Snoopy Camp and too small for the coasters. 5.  They have a real stage coach ride-  real horses.  WAY cool! 6.  The best place to eat is outside the park at the famous restaurant.   You must get a stamp and exit.  This place...

TARGET Embark Backpack!  I have last years version and my husband and I love it.   He just bought this years version (on sale now $32), I noticed they are all one solid color this year.  Mine below has bright inside green lining. The reason we love this bag: 1) Quality built, it does not feel cheap. 2) EVERY zipper pocket has LOOP zippers and DOUBLE zippers.  Each pocket is easy to access 3) Lots of pockets 4) water bottle outside pocket (or umbrella)  OR A BOTTLE OF WINE! 5) Laptop pocket in the VERY back.  Separate from the main large compartment Head out to your local Target to pick it up-- school section aisle.    Bonus point for 5% off w/Red Card :) ** this bag can be HUGE if you fill every pocket (which I do not recommend).  It would be a great baby bag and we use it for family day trips.  Even a picnic w/ the hubs-- w/wine & beer of course.  Laptop compartment below  ID and place for cards. ...