Keeping it Real: De-cluttering Kids' Rooms

I can't believe I am sharing these photos. However, this is my reality. I don't ever want you to get the wrong idea; that I have it all together. This should take care of that.

The mission seemed impossible. Find the floor. It took a few days, a lot of trash bags, and some cooperation from two boys who happen to share this room (and this mess). We did it!

How to:

1. Get rid of stuff. A lot of stuff. I asked the boys to pick two sets of toys that they play with the most. The others went out of the room. Some sold, some donated, a few in storage, and a lot in the trash.

2. Check to see if there is anything else you can get rid of. Seriously, you are on a roll, go with it!

3. Remind kids that if there are toys left on the floor, at the end of the day they will dissapear. For good.

4. Show kids where laundry hamper is located. Ahem!

5. If you find toys on the floor at the end of the day, follow through with the disappear rule! This is where I struggle. I can think if a million reasons to keep something. "It was a gift from grandma", "I spent a lot of money on that," and "it really is his favorite toy" are just a few. Be strong!

One kid room down, two more to go. Then, maybe mama's room. Yikes!


Please share...what are your best tips for keeping kids' rooms clean?

Hurry...Coupons for HEALTHY snacks!

One of the biggest complaints that I hear about couponing 

is that the majority of coupons in circulation 

are for un-healthy, processed foods. 

If you want to save money from your favorite natural brands
you often have to go directly to their site or send them an email request.
This trend is starting to change and many natural food
companies are providing more coupon options.

I was so excited to see these great coupons
for some of my favorite brands on
 coupons.com and had to share!
Just click on the link and print from home. 

Hurry and print these today, they won't be available long!

Larabar is my snack of choice for throwing
in my purse when I am on the go. They taste good
with no strange after taste like some other
bars I have tried, and have simple ingredients.
It is hard to believe you are eating mostly dates and nuts
when you are tasting chocolate! My favorites are
Coconut Cream Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

Food Should Taste good chips do just that, they taste good!
With natural ingredients I feel good serving
 these up to my family and friends.

SoDelicious offers dairy-free drinks and snacks.
We love the ice cream sandwiches!

Harvest Snaps are a great option for snackers
young and old. Baby C loves to munch on these! 

Hope you find some great deals to match with these coupons.
Happy shopping!

Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita, Colorado

Do your kids love dinosaurs? 

 Western Colorado is one of the best places 

to learn about these cool prehistoric creatures! 

Just off I-70 in Fruita, Colorado is a museum filled with life-size dinosaurs and fun activities. It is called Dinosaur Journey, and its name is fitting since it does take you on a journey back through time. 

You enter through a stone arch and follow the yellow footprints. 

The first area allows the kids to touch fossils and see skeletal replicas of different creatures. The boys thought it was cool that so much of this stuff was found locally. Many of the first dinosaur fossils ever found were discovered in Colorado.

We wandered around and the boys found themselves face to face with a stegosaurus. There are buttons to push to interact with the realistic looking creatures. Did you know that Colorado's state fossil is the stegosaurus? Did you know that there was such a thing as a state fossil? I didn't either.

During our visit there was a special exhibit of the Super Croc! 

Seriously, look at the size of that thing.

 Wild J could have become a light snack for him, but wasn't scared. 

More cool robotic replicas to play with around every corner.

Sgt Al liked the Triceratops! 

Its fossils have been found near Denver, Colorado!

 Toward the back of the museum is a water play area that drew the kids in like a magnet. It was a fun activity for all five kids.

They had fun building dams and testing out the water's flow with floating ball and foam dinos.

 Baby C found the blackboard and did his best to draw a t-Rex, I think.

A big hit with my kiddos was the "quarry site" where you can dig up dinosaur bones. It is filled with walnut shells, and there are warning signs all around for anyone with allergies. You remove your shoes and enter the pit filled with tools and uncover the bones buried underneath.

Sgt Al found a big one!

We will warn you about this bridge. 

See the dino that is staring down my boys? 

If you don't move fast enough he will "spit" on you! 

The kids got a good giggle trying to escape his sprays.

We continued to explore and found ourselves in an earthquake. 

You stand on the black mat and push a button to get it started. 

The picture window in front of you shows how the plates shift

as the mat shakes through the different stages of an earthquake.

Learn about the local aquatic creatures. 

Big T is always a great helper for the younger siblings!

The huge dinosaur above Little Lu is enjoying a meal, 

but she doesn't seem to notice. 

She found the dino track activity where 

you use different rubber feet to make prints in the sand.

This is how Baby C and Little Lu measure up to a Brachiosaur heart. Wow!

There is also a viewing area to look into the working laboratory 

where dinosaur bones are prepared for display. 

I have one son interested in archeology, 

he was fascinated. 

End your visit with a trip to the really fun gift shop! 

Wild J give his sister a few quarters so she could ride the "shiny dino." 

As you can see, it was a big hit! 

This shop is filled with fun toys, books, 

jewelry, tourist trinkets and cool collectibles.

I love how hands-on this museum is, it kept my kids attention and had them looking forward to every turn. It is not a huge museum, but still packs in a lot of fun. I think it is a great spot to visit in the Grand Valley for families looking for some educational entertainment.

I mentioned museum membership in a previous post about The Museum of the West. If you do become a member of The Museum of Western Colorado it gives you admission to their three sites (including Dinosaur Journey) for year, 10% off gift shop purchases, as well as other perks. It is worth checking out if you plan on going to any or all of these museums more that a few times in a year. More info can be found HERE.

Also, if you go to their website there is even a schedule of dinosaur digs that you can participate in yourself. I know a few little boys who would love that, so you may see more in a future blog post!

Dinosaur Journey Museum is located at 550 Jurassic Court in Fruita, CO.  

Info for visitors:

Summer Hours
May 1 - September 30
7 days a week • 9 am to 5 pm

Winter Hours

October 1 - April 30
Monday - Saturday • 10 am to 4 pm
Sunday • Noon to 4 pm

Please note: Closed major holidays - New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition sites may close for emergencies. Please call to confirm status.

Admission
$8.50 for adults

$6.50 for seniors

$5.25 for children

$24.50 for immediate family groups

Free to members

First-Timer Tips for Planning a Trip to Disneyland with Kids

Let me preface this by saying, I love Disney! 

I dreamed of taking my kids to Disneyland since before they were born. You've seen the commercials showing bright balloons and adorable, happy children greeting their favorite characters and walking through a nearly empty park hand in hand. Perhaps you have fond childhood memories of visiting The Happiest Place on Earth yourself and can't wait to recreate those memories with your own kids.

When I first told people I was planning a trip with my five kids to visit Disneyland last year, I was surprised by the responses. I received these strange looks of "that poor mom, she doesn't know what she's getting herself into" and "good luck!" To be honest, I thought these people were just glass half empty types, and thought it was too bad they couldn't appreciate the magic of a place like Disney. My trip was going to be wonderful and even if it wasn't going to be simple, I was going to make it fun for everyone.  It turns out they weren't pessimists, just well-seasoned Disney travelers that understood the reality of taking kids (let alone five) to the parks. I have caught myself making the same "good luck" face when a friend now tells me they are planning their first trip. However, with the right planning, no luck is needed.

I don't want to scare you. The work was worth it! It really can be a magical place; seeing my 3 year old daughter's face when she met Cinderella or watching my 7 year old son fight Darth Vader was priceless. Those memories will last a lifetime, and could only have been created at Disney. It can also become a disaster if you haven't planned well. 

We took our first trip this past October and I would like to share what I learned along the way. We did some things right, but still managed to make some mistakes that I would like to help you avoid.

What to do BEFORE you get to the park:

1. Lower your expectations.

It will not be like the commercials. Well, not exactly. There is magic and joy throughout the park. There are also long lines and meltdowns around every corner. You will meet characters, but you will probably stand in line for a while before you get face to face. When you finally make contact with Mickey, your little one might not even lift their head from your shoulder, let alone smile for a picture. As you can see from the picture above, it is also nearly impossible to get a picture of your family in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle without other guests in your shot. Darn. 
You won't be able to do it all. Not all at once. We had 4 park days (which felt like plenty for us) and still didn't see it all. 

2. Stay Away during peak season.

This is an obvious one.  I also understand it isn't always possible. Maybe the only vacation time you have is in the Summer. It is just something to consider in your planning. Parents (and kids) dread the thought of standing in line for hours (yes, you read that right, multiple hours...it happens) for a three minute ride or two minute character interaction. We went in mid-October when the crowd forecast was low, but still managed to land on a busy week. I think the longest wait was 90 minutes, though some were only 10-15 minutes. 
Also, you need to know that during the slower seasons they shut down and repair rides. I was bummed to miss a few of my childhood favorites, but was willing to trade that for shorter lines to the rides that were open. You can check TouringPlan's Crowd Calendar and MouseSavers.com has good info on dates to avoid.

3. Plan to take your own lunch and snacks.
This was a lifesaver! One of the quickest routes to a meltdown is allowing a child to become "staaarving!" Many people are surprised when I suggest this one, but we passed security daily as they examined our bags of food. They do suggest on their website that you enjoy your food in the picnic area outside the park gates, but I saw no regulation of this.
If you have a different experience in your travels, please let me know.

We took two soft sided coolers that fit in the bottom of the stroller. You can also get a locker if you don't want to haul it around. I packed one with sandwiches and the other with snacks (granola bars, apples, oranges, trail mix, cheese sticks). You cannot take glass containers or alcohol. When I started to see my kids' little feet dragging we found a shady bench and pulled out our coolers. This was also a great time to check out the map and our Touring Guide (more about that later) and plan our next few rides. We also found a great spot to watch the parade and found it was another perfect time to refuel. 

I stocked up on snacks and bottled water for a few months before our trip as I ran across coupon deals. We also went to a local grocery store to get fresh items when we arrived. 
We still enjoyed plenty of Disneyland treats (more about that in a future post), but this saved us time and money and made those treats just that much more special. 

4. Get a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland.

This book was full of useful information for a first-timer. No, they are not paying me (or giving me a free book) to tell you this! 

Everything from what shoes to wear to restaurant reviews. What we used the most were the TouringPlans that they offer in the back of the book. You can also get them as an app in your phone with subscription. Basically, it is a schedule of what rides to go on throughout your visit. It doesn't look efficient at all when you first look at it. It sends you from one side of the park, to the other, and back. To be honest, I was skeptical. We used the "small children" plan and were amazed when we breezed through the first half of our plan in just a few hours. The TouringPlans folks have it down to a science, and it works! You do have to follow the plan in the order they give, no matter how tempted you are to go on that ride that is right in front of you instead of the one across the park that the plan lists. You will come back to that ride later, don't worry. Print a copy of each day's plan for every person in your group. This helped us all since the kids weren't asking "now what?" every five minutes. It also helps if your group 
                                     splits up, so you know the next meeting place. 

You can purchase a copy at many online retailers, just click on the photo above to find it on Amazon. My local library also carries a copy, so you may want to check yours. I have also seen deals on eBay, once a trip is over people may not need to hold on to their copy.

5. Book a room as close to the park as possible.

Getting ready for our last walk to the park!

You are going to walk miles and miles. Even if your hotel is just a few blocks (and trust me, those are long blocks) away it will feel like 5 more miles! Especially if you have little nappers, you will be thankful that you can easily get back and forth without eating into too much of your park time. We tried a vacation rental condo that was "within walking distance" so that we would have more room for our group of 8. It was also cheaper than two hotel rooms. The 15-20 minute walk didn't turn out to be as convenient as I'd hoped. We had to cross a busy street and jump a median; it was a little scary with 5 kids. My friend recommends the Best Western Plus Park Place Inn for an affordable option. It is literally straight across from the main gate entrance to the parks! They have suites for larger families and offer a free breakfast. Personally, I would love to save up and stay at the Grand Californian Resort & Spa. It is located IN the park and the spa sounds amazing. Every time I heard that magical voice on tram describe the accommodations as we drove past the building I swore to myself that next time we'd be staying there. Hey, a girl can dream!

6. Start Waking up Early and Walking
Yes, I care about your health and well-being, but this is about being prepared for early morning park openings and a LOT of walking. We are already early risers (well my kids are), and the time change from mountain to pacific helped us with the morning routine. You will need to get to the park ridiculously early to pack in all the rides you want. To take a bit of the shock off, try waking up a bit earlier throughout the weeks leading up to your trip.
We also start taking family walks about six weeks before our trip. We went down local river trails, strolled main street, you can even walk the mall. Obviously, the toddler and infant didn't need as much "training" but it was good for Baby C to get used to sitting in a stroller for a good amount of time. You can see from the picture above, that still didn't happen. Sigh. Thank goodness for my Ergobaby!
 Anyhow, you need to train those legs and feet. We tried extending our walks as we got closer to our trip. You need everyone to be comfortable walking about 6 miles for an average day at Disney. 
It helped, especially with the kids, but I still have never had such tired legs and feet in my life as I did after a full day at Disneyland. 

I have SO much more to share about our Disneyland wanderings in future posts. These are my planning tips, I will get to the tips for when you actually get to the park soon! 
Despite a few challenges, it really did turn out to be a great trip.


Do you have any tips for a family taking their first trip to Disneyland? 

High Value Coupons! Angel Soft, Angry Birds, and more...

These high value coupons are sure to go fast, print them quick!

BOGO - Buy one Angel Soft 12 double roll or larger and get a 4 double roll free

$2.00 off St. Ives, Vaseline, or Vaseline Men

 

$5.00 off any one Hasbro ANGRY BIRDS GO! game 

$5.00 off 1 POINTING FINGERS or FUNNY OR DIE game

The Wandering Minivan's Blog Re-Launch Party & Giveaway!

Woohoo! Welcome to the party!

I am so excited for the path this blog is taking. 

We are now The Wandering Minivan (formerly Makes Mama Smile) 

and I am so happy that you have wandered over 

to join the party as we launch our new look!

I chose the name The Wandering Minivan because
it is a great description of my life. 

I do drive a blue minivan full of five kids every single day. 

People who know me best will tell you that I am not the most organized 

person in the world, and I do tend to wander.
In the wandering we find adventure, 

and I want to share that with my readers.

I can't wait to see this blog grow, and have big plans for the future.

To celebrate I am giving away a Wandering in Style Package!

I put together a few items that are essential 

for any wanderer, minivan or not.
Enter using the Rafflecopter below!

The Wandering in Style Prize Package includes:

$10 giftcard to Starbucks - Because wandering makes you thirsty.

$15 giftcard to iTunes - Because wandering is more fun with good music!

1 Pair of Panama Jack Sunglasses - Because the future is bright, and so is the sun.

Yankee Candle "Clean Cotton" Car Jar Air Freshener - Because your wandering ride should smell nice.

Travel Shopping Tote - To hold all the awesome things you may come across on your journey!

Total package worth $50

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our winner has 48 hours to respond to the email sent, or we will draw another winner.
 
This giveaway is not sponsored by anyone other than The Wandering Minivan.

Thanks for visiting the party and good luck!

Museum of the West in Grand Junction, Colorado

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Western Colorado. There are several fun museums for you and your kids to explore, including the Museum of the West in downtown Grand Junction.

We wandered over for a visit. Before we even got in the door the kids found something interesting to climb on, and mom found a photo opp!

 We made it in the door and were greeted by a friendly volunteer at the front desk. She gave us info about a yearly membership which turns out to be a great deal for families, especially big families!

After paying admission we started through the exhibits. There are many interesting facts about the Native American history of this area.
 
We found our way back to the old schoolroom.

  The kids had fun playing school and taking turns being the teacher, and cleaning blackboard erasers.

 They also loved this room, though they weren't sure what it was supposed to be.

It explained the Alferd Packer Lost Camp Expedition and the investigation that followed. When my older boys read the information on the wall they got a little freaked out. We kept moving.

The boys loved the gun room.

We have a long line of law enforecment in our family and it was cool to see the guns of all of the local sherrifs over the  years.

Next it was time to head through the saloon.

 The boys put on a good can-can show for me. Unfortunately, I did not get a good, non-blurry picture. You get the idea.

The next exhibit was the uranium mine. There is a short tunnel that you can walk through, only my bravest two children made it all the way. It is not frightening, but dark and mysterious for younger, timid kids.

I would have to say the highlight of the exhibits was "flying" a 1958 Cessna from Walker Field.

You can actually sit in the pilot seat and go through a check list for take-off. They could have played in that plane for hours.

There was also a little flight simulation game. Leave it to my tech kid to find the only video game in the place!

As we walked through the rest of the flight exhibits we found a hot air balloon,

and a weather balloon!

Sgt Al measured himself up with a propeller. 

We also enjoyed taking a "ride" in a stagecoach as it shakes and makes noise.

Little Lu was slightly disappointed there weren't real horses. 

After our tour it was time to climb up to the Sterling T. Smith Education Tower.
 
You can take the stairs all the way, or take the elevator part of the way and finish with a few flights of stairs. Again, I have a few timid kids and this was a challenge. We eventually all made it to the top, and the view is amazing. You have a 360 degree view of the Grand Valley.

There is even a picnic table if you are ready for a snack.

We made our way back down and paid the gift shop a visit. The kids all earned a reward after a fun day of exploration.

I recommend a visit to the Museum of the West for any family looking to learn about the history of this area, or just a fun place pretend you are back in the "old days."

Here is some more info to help you plan your visit, you can also visit their website HERE.

They are located at 462 Ute Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501

Admission

$6.50 for adults

$5.50 for seniors

$3.75 for children

$20 for family groups

Free to members



Summer Hours
May 1 - September 30
Tuesday - Saturday • 10 am to 5 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday


Winter Hours

October 1 - April 30
Tuesday - Saturday • 10 am to 3 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday