Counting down

Today is suitcase day. My things to do list:

  • Change the bed linens
  • Put the clean laundry away
  • Pack the clothes
  • Pack the Hambet entertainment bag. I was going to wrap the little books and wee toy airplane, but it occurs to me that TSA wouldn’t like that.
  • Prepare Hambet’s car sear for airline use
  • If time permits, knock out a few Christmas cards

We leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow and should be in Fargo in time for lunch.
Any tips on flying, especially flying with little people, would be most appreciated — last time I was in an airplane was summer of 2000.
My husband never reads my blog, so this is not directed at him. (Plus, I know he’s done with his Christmas shopping.)
BUT if you are casting about for last-minute ideas, some suggestions…
— I was in Staples last week and they had a great deal on Brother label makers. I am totally serious! This is a great gift idea, especially for women who are fond of gadgets. I love mine, and when one of my clients saw it you should have heard the squeal of delight she emitted. (I think she got one for herself that very week.) I got one for my sister a couple of years ago and she was the envy of her workmates. Get the second most expensive one — it’s a little bit larger and will take laminated label tapes. You can even use it to make iron-on labels.
— The Container Store stocks the same model of label maker. It’s a bit more expensive than at Staples, but it comes with a cunning little case that holds an AC adapter and extra batteries. (I wish mine had a cunning little case like that.)
— The Apologia shop is full of unique items designed by yours truly. The newest item is the “uhhh” mug; my favorite is the mousepad. Proceeds go to… well, smock and I haven’t decided yet. But it will be some terribly worthy cause, I assure you, even if it’s just our bandwidth fund. Oh, the shirts have printing on the back.
— Speaking of dear Mr Luse, he has dropped a hint that there are extra-good reasons to subscribe to Touchstone this year. He is also endorsing TSO’s Little Book.
— For an album-maker, perhaps a subscription to the new Creative Memories magazine, Lasting Moments? I don’t have a link at present; I’ll post one if it comes back up. Otherwise please drop me an email and I can help you get it set up.
— Williams-Sonoma has cookie cutters in the shape of dinosaurs! When we get back I am going to try my hand at rolled dino-cookies.
— For the little train-heads in your life: the gift shop at the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum has all kinds of fun train things: train hats, train whistles, train plates and cups, train models, train toys, train puzzles, train cookie cutters…. I stocked up for Christmas AND birthday when I was there. Go visit if you’re around Pittsburgh and have the chance — they have an amazing layout showing scenes on the line all the way from downtown Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland. It is the coolest thing! There’s one vignette set near Yough Lake — if you look closely you can see a tiny model of Fallingwater in the background.
OK, less blogging more packing. This trip is going to be a haul, but I’m so glad that we can go. My mom says that everyone’s really excited that there’s going to be a little kid around for Christmas this year. Maybe they’ll be glad to see Posco and me too!

6 comments

  2. Good luck on your trip! I’m an old pro at flying with kids. My number one rule is to LEAVE YOUR OWN READING MATERIAL AT HOME!!!!! If your wee’un should allow you the time to read or knit or do anything on your own, you should only be tipping your head back (or forward) and getting some rest! (sneaking off to the lavatory might be a good/necessary activity, too).
    Don’t expect any kid to sleep on any flight. Flying is just too exciting for sleep. Plan to entertain Junior for the *entire flight*. Entertainment consists of reading to him, feeding him yummy snacks like grapes (they are worth the space in the carry-on…put them in a disposable glad container to keep them safe), cheese, pretzels and those cheese and cracker snacks…the ones with the little red plastic spreader thingee…keep sa toddler happy for quite a long time! No juice boxes and no sippy cups of juice. Water should be the kid’s only drink. Sippy cups leak with pressure changes and who wants sugary leaky stuff?? Water dries up nicely.
    Keep the candy snacks to a minimum. They don’t entertain for that long and the sugar high isn’t worth it. A cool new lollipop is the exception!
    Also a good time to introduce chewing gum. Yeah, you’ve got to stay on them to make sure they don’t swallow it (not that that will kill them or anything) and keep it in their mouths (if it gets all over the place, *you* might want to kill em or something!). But it’s novel and helps with the pressure changes.
    Walking around the cabin is a great way to kill a lot of time. Just hold those little hands and do that hobble-step as you trail behind him. Hang out in the galley and let the flight attendants tell you how cute he is. As long as you’re not in their way, squeeze as much entertainment value out of their activities as possible.
    Crayola makes that modelling clay. It beats PlayDoh hands down for airplane travel. I prefer PlayDoh for the kitchen table, but that Crayola stuff is GOLDEN for air travel.
    When someone offers to help you out, TAKE IT!!! Don’t let them take the child, but hand off that carseat or that bulging carryon bag. Give a grateful smile and say “Thank you ever-so-much.” People love to help others and whoever you let help you will go home to their husband/wife/mother/father and say, “Oh, I helped this lady with her carseat. Her baby was the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen.” Really, they will!!
    If a baby is crying on the plane, don’t try to stop it….it can be the best thing to help clear those little ears (which are hurting and causing the crying in the first place). Yes, try all those distracting things, but if the ears hurt, let ’em cry. I have no guilt about that kind of crying, even if it annoys other passengers. I disagree with allowing the bratty kind of crying, but when a kid’s in pain, I do’nt really care if others are annoyed.
    Hope your trip goes well!!
    Sandy

  3. Fargo? Be prepared and dress warm, it is cold out here. Our home,Sioux Falls, is below zero, and Fargo always seems to be colder up north.

  4. Fargo? Be prepared and dress warm, it is cold out here. Our home,Sioux Falls, is below zero, and Fargo always seems to be colder up north.

  5. I probably missed your flight, but I hope that the weather hasn’t kept you cooped up at the airport waiting for flights! Toddlers and pre-schoolers do well on planes and if they are the kind of kid that snoozes off in the car, the chances are that they will do likewise during the flight, once the excitement of take off is over.
    anyhow, enjoy your trip and the very white Christmas you are flying into!

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