I wish I could say I was a natural at repelling bugs! Alas, I have read a lot about what is the best thing to do to keep those bugs (especially mosquitoes!) from biting me and our kids. Unfortunately, the three of us (my two boys and I...my husband is not as sensitive) have a strong reaction to mosquito bites. So, anything we can do to keep them away (that won't harm us more), we try to do.
The bug repellent we have been using for the last two years is made by Repel. It is an all-natural mix of lemon and eucalyptus oils. It works! I never put it on my baby, though! Now that he is one, we will see how he does.
Your body chemistry has a lot to do with what will work for you. Unfortunately, I have not found a lot of choices at mainstream stores. I buy Repel online. Read up and keep those bugs off (I really wanted to say, "bug off!").
Monday, June 7, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Road Trip
We had taken my six-week-old baby to my husband's work conference in Dubuque, IA last year (I think we were in the car for about three hours). But, at that age, he slept the whole time.
A couple of weeks ago, we took our now 1-year-old and our 4-year-old on our first "official" road trip. We went to Tennessee to visit some family and the trip took about 12 hours from our home to theirs. Ummm...it was a nice trip...but, what were we thinking?? Overall, a good experience for us all...but, not easy.
We departed for our trip shortly after lunch (nap time) and the boys slept in the car (but, not for long)...after about 3 hours, we needed to run around. Since it was raining, we stopped at an exit that looked promising...and, we found a mall to run around in and go to the bathroom. When we got back into the car, it was "snack time"...neverending snack time, that is. The boys played for a bit and started getting antsy again. So, we stopped for dinner at a Cracker Barrel. After that, it wasn't long before they both got tired (we also brushed teeth and put on pjs at the restaurant...er, actually in the parking lot because the bathrooms weren't suitably clean). We arrived in Tennessee pretty late and got everyone settled into bed.
We very much enjoyed spending time with family for three days; and, then it was time to go back home. This time, we left early in the morning (at about 8:30...we had tried to leave earlier) and we were able to stop for a special lunch in Paducah, KY. We went to an amazing bakery, called Kirchoff's...wonderful cranberry walnut bread with chicken salad (no onions!) for me, a cuban sandwich for my husband, a reuben for my sister and the boys had grilled cheese and fresh bread. We saved room for ice cream (as recommended by the lovely lady at the visitors center)...homemade ice cream, that is (peach & banana for me in a homemade waffle cone...chocolate with sprinkles for my son (as always!)....my sister had cookies and cream and I can't remember what flavor my husband had). This ice cream was AWESOME; and, I am embarrassed that I can't remember the name of the place. Paducah was a lovely stop.
Now, we could've just packed sandwiches and eaten them anywhere along the way; but, food is a very important part of our memories (our sense of smell is somehow connected to our memories...which is why smells invoke memories). So, we often try to tie in some special food memories, especially on "journeys".
The rest of the way home was taxing (forgive me); but, I would totally do it again. The experience of the road trip, the memories of being in the car, the places along the way (the food!) and of course, for the destination (in this case, family!).
A couple of weeks ago, we took our now 1-year-old and our 4-year-old on our first "official" road trip. We went to Tennessee to visit some family and the trip took about 12 hours from our home to theirs. Ummm...it was a nice trip...but, what were we thinking?? Overall, a good experience for us all...but, not easy.
We departed for our trip shortly after lunch (nap time) and the boys slept in the car (but, not for long)...after about 3 hours, we needed to run around. Since it was raining, we stopped at an exit that looked promising...and, we found a mall to run around in and go to the bathroom. When we got back into the car, it was "snack time"...neverending snack time, that is. The boys played for a bit and started getting antsy again. So, we stopped for dinner at a Cracker Barrel. After that, it wasn't long before they both got tired (we also brushed teeth and put on pjs at the restaurant...er, actually in the parking lot because the bathrooms weren't suitably clean). We arrived in Tennessee pretty late and got everyone settled into bed.
We very much enjoyed spending time with family for three days; and, then it was time to go back home. This time, we left early in the morning (at about 8:30...we had tried to leave earlier) and we were able to stop for a special lunch in Paducah, KY. We went to an amazing bakery, called Kirchoff's...wonderful cranberry walnut bread with chicken salad (no onions!) for me, a cuban sandwich for my husband, a reuben for my sister and the boys had grilled cheese and fresh bread. We saved room for ice cream (as recommended by the lovely lady at the visitors center)...homemade ice cream, that is (peach & banana for me in a homemade waffle cone...chocolate with sprinkles for my son (as always!)....my sister had cookies and cream and I can't remember what flavor my husband had). This ice cream was AWESOME; and, I am embarrassed that I can't remember the name of the place. Paducah was a lovely stop.
Now, we could've just packed sandwiches and eaten them anywhere along the way; but, food is a very important part of our memories (our sense of smell is somehow connected to our memories...which is why smells invoke memories). So, we often try to tie in some special food memories, especially on "journeys".
The rest of the way home was taxing (forgive me); but, I would totally do it again. The experience of the road trip, the memories of being in the car, the places along the way (the food!) and of course, for the destination (in this case, family!).
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