Less than perfect

Some tips for traveling with little ones

2011-03-28T17:03:00.001-04:00

After this weekend's trip to Virginia I got to thinking about how many times I've made that drive, and how much of a trial and error process it was to make the trip successfully! So here are a few tips I've picked up.

Be choosy about what time you leave. Traffic is worse at certain times of day. Kids get cranky if you are driving during a regular meal time. And if your kids will sleep in the car, driving during nap time is a great way to minimize fussiness. Something else to always take into account is the weather. People forget how to drive when it rains or snows, so be prepared for inclimate weather to add more time to your drive. So if you need to be somewhere by a specific time, plan ahead for it!
Bring food with you. I know what you're thinking...won't that make a mess in your car? Well, you may have a crumb here or there, but you can minimize spills for toddlers by investing in something like this: http://tinyurl.com/4jff7u2 The one step ahead spill proof snack cup is perfect for things like cereal for your kids to have in the car. As always, only give age appropriate food.
Stating the obvious, but bring things for your kids to do! Small toys like cars, stuffed animals (or as my kids call them "snuggies") and magic doodles. Keep them in a basket or a bag hanging on the back of the front seat. Bring several just in case they drop a few so you don't have to stop for toy retrieval.
Music is a lifesaver. Have music that is kid appropriate that they enjoy (and that won't make you crazy) to distract when boredom sets in. Just be prepared for loud singing. ;)
Always have extra clothes, and bags to put "accident" clothes in. I've had kids wet, puke, and spill things on themselves. It happens and usually without warning. I keep an emergency towel in the car on long trips in case a carseat gets messed up on the way home as well.

I'm sure there are several other tips that I've forgotten, so please leave your lifesaving travel tips in the comment section! Travel doesn't have to be too stressful. All it takes is a little planning ahead. :)

My 4 year old "baby" boy

2011-03-05T17:54:00.000-05:00

He's not a baby anymore! He's a little boy with emotions, opinions and plenty to say.

It's been an interesting 4 years, I'll say that. Watching him grow has amazed me. Kids learn more than you ever intended to teach them. And that is something I am reminded of every single day. The older both of my children get, the more important I find it that I teach them things they should know, and guard them from things they shouldn't know just yet. You never know how responsible you have to be as a parent until you are one.

The good news? You get to have fun while being a parent too. Cole and I have some of the best conversations. I love hearing about what interests him, and what he's learned from friends. I love playing games with him. And I absolutely love the snuggles. Guess I should enjoy those while they last since he's growing up so quick!

Even through the hard times of having to be the responsible parent (can't always be the fun one!) I know that everything that Rob and I try to teach him will matter later on in life. So the most important thing we will teach both of our children, is to know what love is. Everything else is secondary.

My son is a blessing and I'm thankful for the last 4 years. Happy birthday Cole Jacob! Mommy and Daddy love you.

"You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." ~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

Stay at home mom guilt

2011-02-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I went there. I've had many cases of this "syndrome" over the past year. Sometimes it's because of a financial hardship, and those are the times I allow it because it has some merit. But other times it stems from things I hear people say. "SAHMs don't want to support their kids." "SAHM's are lazy and don't want to work." "SAHMs sit around and do nothing all day." WHOA. Hold up a minute. Where do people get these ideas? Clearly they have never been a stay at home parent. The last thing you can do is be lazy all day.

With two active toddlers I have to get them outside to play, come up with project ideas that they will learn from and enjoy, and teach them basic skills they will need through out life. Other times they just want to talk, or snuggle. And I try to make sure I'm available for those times too. On top of that SAH parents have to clean, often cook, plan appointments, play chauffer, create budgets, and do about 9 million other things that working parents do together. So do I think SAH parents are lazy? Absolutely not.

I think we're just a misunderstood group of people. I want to work. I want to finish school and have a career that will support us. But I want to put that on hold a little bit longer so I can be with my kids before they start school. Will I be able to not work that long? Only time will tell. But I'll enjoy every second with them while I can, because I will miss them so much when I have to work. We aren't lazy, or selfish. We are putting our lives on hold so we can be there for our kids. As long as you can reasonably afford to do so, I think its about the least selfish thing you can do.

So working parents, ease up on the SAH parents. We are hard workers too. And SAH parents, ease up on the working parents. They don't love their kids any less just because they have a job. It takes all kinds of people to make this world go round. So lets quit putting each other down and learn to appreciate each other's choice to do what works best for our families.

Ahh, I love this man!

2011-02-03T10:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a pretty good day. The rain let up and the temp actually hit over 50 degrees! So naturally, I got the kids outside. We spent quite a bit of time out there, so my time for doing things inside was cut down drastically.

By the time Rob got home from work I managed to have dinner in the crockpot, the kids bathed, and the muddy floor quickly mopped up. I still had piles of unfolded laundry laying around waiting to be put away, and the kids rooms weren't picked up.

Even though I didn't get everything done, my wonderful husband noticed that the kids were happy. He wrapped his arms around me, kissed my cheek, and told me that the house looked great. I knew there was more to be done, and he knew it too, but just hearing him say that made my whole day.

I'm grateful that my husband knows how important it is to make me feel appreciated sometimes. I try to do the same for him, and I try to do my part by keeping up with the house. That little bit of encouragement makes doing the day to day tasks more enjoyable. Knowing its appreciated makes me want to keep up with everything. I love him for understanding that.

Locks of Love

2011-02-01T22:35:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I am super excited that my husband is being so supportive of me participating in Locks of Love. Several people I have known and loved have faced various forms and stages of cancer. The treatments made them lose their hair. And while in the grand scheme of things that seems like no big deal, it really is like kicking them while their down. Now imagine a child going through those treatments. Already suffering and then being made to feel different because they have no hair. Breaks your heart doesn't it?

Well this past week I went to Great Clips and asked my hair stylist about Locks of Love. Imagine my delight when she told me not only do they participate in it, but they will give me that hair cut for free since I am donating my hair! I'm so glad I get to do this. I figure I have about 2 1/2 years to grow it to the length I will want to donate at, but it is still nice to already have a location set up. Rob is just thrilled that my hair will be long for a few years.

For more information see this website: http://locksoflove.org/donate.html

If at first you don't succeed...

2011-01-31T15:01:00.002-05:00

try, try again. I keep playing with this blog's background and just can't figure out what I want it to look like! Anyways, this is a blog about the Horner family for any friends and family members (and bored strangers) who care to read it.

My name is Melanie, and I am a PROUD Navy wife to my husband of 4 years, Rob. He's been in the Navy for 9 years this February. We have two amazing children: Cole Jacob, who will be four in March, and Olivia Danielle, who is two. We are currently stationed in Southern Maryland, where I think we will be taking up permanent residence after Rob gets out of the Navy in 2014.

I am currently a SAHM. Being a stay at home mom keeps me rather busy. Entertaining and teaching my children, keeping the place clean, cooking, and of course loving on my husband all gives me purpose. And right now, I think its what I am meant to be doing. There is no greater responsibility than bringing up children- especially in today's world.

We are a Christian household, and we are learning every day how to be the family (and individuals) that God has called us to be. It's an interesting journey we're on, and we don't always get it right. Which is why if we don't succeed the first time, we'll just try, try again.

~Melanie~