6th Freezer Meal Swap - Feb 2018

Well I'm a little bit late posting this but they say better late then never! This was my 6th freezer meal swap and we are still learning as we go!  

 

Here are some helpful hints and tips for what has worked for me!

 

*post on facebook

*ask friends

*ask ladies at your church

Don't know what to post? this is what I posted:

Freezer Meal Friends: many of you have asked myself or Heather when the next swap will be. If people are interested I'm able to host a swap Feb 27th in Marshall. If you want to participate please comment below or pm me. I will cap at 20. I will also close this at Noon tomorrow (Tuesday 2/13)
All meals are different. You make x amount of participants for the same meal and bring to swap location and swap with moms and bring meals home. Example: 15 moms participate; you make 15 lasagna on your own, come to the exchange and bring home 15 different meals. ***You need to be available to bring meals or have someone bring meals. We don't have the space to swap for people or hold meals.** Once I see that enough are interested I will send a pm and in that message you can “claim” the meal you want to make!

Then you send a private message:

Hey Ladies! You all expressed interest in doing the freezer meal swap. If everyone would like to participate you would make 14 meals. Please read ALL of the notes on this message!

*If you have never done a swap or have but have questions, please feel free to pm me individually
*You make 14 meals and keep one for yourself and bring the other 13 to the meal swap.
*PLEASE make sure the meals feed 4-5 people (9x13x2 pans work best for this, gallon size ziplock for soups, or 2 pint size freezeable containers. Here are examples: (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SXCW0J6?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf or https://www.amazon.com/DuraHome-Storage-Containers-Plastic-Microwaveable/dp/B01FKKDEJI/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1508428381&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=32+oz.+disposable+containers+with+lids&psc=1)
*Please have your meal frozen prior to bringing it.
*Please write the Name of the meal, cook time, and temp on the container with permanent marker
*You can make any meal of your choice pinterest has lots of great options!
*Easiest to transport meals via cooler or laundry basket!
*Please email me your recipe by February 24th so I can upload all to one document!
*Swap will be Tuesday, Februray 27th at 7pm at Marshall Ev. Free Church
*Please ask if you have any questions!! 

**Just make sure to comment on this message the meal you are going to make so multiple aren't made!

**If you decided to not partake in the swap please let everyone know BY Feb 20th so we aren't left with lots of extra meals! Also reminder we don't have space to hold meals and swap for people so please make sure you bring your meals or have someone lined up to do so.

**Again, PLEASE ask if you have any questions!! 

If this is your first time a few tips to help you out:

*9x13 pans work great for casseroles - also buy the tin lids at Sam's Club for a few extra $ to make stacking easier! 

*if you're doing soup - gallon size ziplock bag is generally enough for a family of 4! BUT make sure it is freezer bag.

*remember to label your meal on the actual container

*freezing is a must for easy transport, not only for yourself but for everyone! 

*spend the little extra on name brand tin foil so that your meals don't get freezer burnt and double layer them if needed. 

Okay... now to the meals here is a PDF of the meals and I will list them below as well:

**Recipes Feb 2018 Meal Exchange**

Ravioli Bake

Chili

Tatortot Hotdish (recipe not listed)

Spaghetti Hotdish

French Toast Casserole

Taco Soup

Sweet n Sour Meatballs

Broccoli Chicken Alfredo Roll Up

Taco Bake

Cheesey Turkey Sandwhiches

Cheesy Ham & Potatoes 

Breakfast Sandwiches (recipe not listed)

400 Frezer Meal Swap

This was my 5th freezer meal swap I have done, and let me be real...it was stressful...BUT well worth it! Planning it out went great, until the day of...morning filled with fellowship with other mama's at MOPS(no not what you use to clean your floor, it's a organization; Mothers of Preschoolers) followed by power cleaning my house with a friend so I could host 20 ladies total at my house to do a meal swap! 

WHAT was I thinking!? Last meal swap was 10 people and we hardly fit, that was only 100 meals. I obviously wasn't thinking until we had set up the 3rd 8ft plastic table and I had my 10ft dining room table extended and hardly any walk way. So I contact our church and asked if we could swap there, they were so gracious to say yes, note they had their 1x a month board meeting at this exact same time. So the whole time we are swapping I'm dying inside because there was 20 - yes TWENTY ladies, 3 guys, and a few kids running around chatting having a good time(as I was trying to enjoy it I was dying because I didn't want to disturb their meeting and get in trouble)! But you know what .. at the end of the day, everything went well, everyone got 20 different meals so that's a total of 400 meals at one place, and everyone got home safe - some ladies traveled 1hr+ from Willmar, MN and Sioux Falls, SD.

Okay, okay ... enough chit chatting... how to start your own group:

*post on facebook

*ask friends

*ask ladies at your church

Don't know what to post? this is what I posted:

"Freezer Meal Friends: many of you have asked myself or Heather when the next swap will be. If people are interested I'm able to host a swap Oct 17 at my house. If you want to participate please comment below or pm me. I've had a request to have a group of 20 vs 10 so I will not limit it at 10 but keep it open to as many want to join up until Oct 1. I will cap at 20. All meals are different. You make x amount of participants for the same meal and bring to my house and swap with moms and bring meals home. Example: 15 moms participate; you make 15 lasagna on your own, come to my house and bring home 15 different meals. ***You need to be available to bring meals or have someone bring meals. We don't have the space to swap for people or hold meals." 

...and then people commented, in less than 12 hours, all 20 spots were filled! - we only had 1 person not able to do it and had a waiting list of others who wanted in so easily filled it! 

Then you send a private message:

"Hey Ladies! You all expressed interest in doing the freezer meal swap. If everyone would like to participate you would make 20 meals. Please read all of the notes on this message! 

*You make 20 meals and keep one for yourself and bring the other 19 to the meal swap. 

*We ask that they feed 4-5 people 

*You can freeze in freezer zip lock bags or tin pans with tin foil over top. (It is easiest to make your meal and freeze it ahead of time so it's easier to transport for the meal swap.) 

*You can make any meal of your choice pinterest has lots of great options! Otherwise look up the book “Don't Panic – Dinner's in the Freezer” on amazon. Don't Panic Dinners Freezer Cookbook

*Easiest to transport meals via cooler or laundry basket! 

*Please include recipe for each meal and baking instructions! 

*Swap will be Tuesday, October 17th at 7pm at my house – MARSHALL, MN 

**Just make sure to comment on this message the meal you are going to make so multiple aren't made! If I left anything out please feel free to ask questions!** 

**If you decided to not partake in the swap please let everyone know BY OCT 1st. so we aren't left with lots of extra meals! Also reminder we don't have space to hold meals and swap for people so please make sure you bring your meals or have someone lined up to do so."

If this is your first time a few tips to help you out:

*9x13 pans work great for casseroles - also buy the tin lids at Sam's Club for a few extra $ to make stacking easier! 

*if you're doing soup - gallon size ziplock bag is generally enough for a family of 4! BUT make sure it is freezer bag.

*remember to label your meal on the actual container

*freezing is a must for easy transport, not only for yourself but for everyone! 

*spend the little extra on name brand tin foil so that your meals don't get freezer burnt and double layer them if needed. 

But seriously, all in all I would give this meal swap a 9/10....the ladies that participated were amazing, the meals look amazing - if you have ever wanted to do a swap start now! It's ok to have 5 people or be crazy like us and have 20 people!

Okay... now to the meals here is a PDF of the meals and I will list them below as well:

**Recipe PDF**

Potato Cheeseburger Soup

Shredded Chicken Burrito Bowls

Cheese Ravioli

Hawaiian Chicken

Chicken Tetrazzini

Ground Beef Enchiladas

Hamburger Hasbrown Casserole

Cheese & Ham Potatoes

Tator Tot Hotdish

Crustless Ham & Broccoli Quiche

Cheesey, Rice, Broccoli, Chicken Casserole

Stuffed Shells

Baked Spaghetti

Chilli

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Egg Bake

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Noodle Casserole

BBQ Meatballs

Lasagna

~~~meals in the making~~~

~~~The swap itself ~~~

This was 16/20 of us! 

Freezer Meal Recipes

If you follow me or my sister Heather on facebook you would have seen we recently did a freezer meal swap with 10 people, however Heather made 2 different meals so that she would get double the meals back for her big family ;) I started doing freezer meal exchanges about 1 1/2 years ago. It is a great way to get new recipes and try new things. I get the question a lot "you're so picky what do you do with meals you don't like?" well I have a husband and 2 kids that will eat pretty much anything! I'll make it on a night when I'm working or I'll make it on a night I'm home and it's me trying something new!! :) The recipes listed below were the meals that were made for the swap! Each person makes the same meal x amount of times and then we meet and swap the meals, you go home with the same number of meals that you made! 

Added note: Heather and I made 27 meals + 88 pizza burgers in 2.5hrs. 

Easy Chili

2lbs of Hamburger(brown)

1 onion (diced up)

1 bell pepper (diced up)

2 cans of black beans

1 can of red beans

1 can chili beans in chili sauce

1 can 15oz stewed tomatoes

1 can 15oz tomato sauce

1 package of chili mix

Put in crockpot for 4hrs on high

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Tator Tot Hotdish

1.5lbs hamburger

Half small oniion

1 bag of shredder cheese

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 bag of tater tots

1 can of corn

Brown hamburger, add diced onion. Take off heat and add cream of mushroom soup, drain then add can of corn and half a bag of cheese. Put in the baking dish and spread remainder of cheese over the top. Lay out tater tots and bake until warm.

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Stuffed Shells

1 package of jumbo pasta shells

2 cups ricotta cheese

4 oz sour cream

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 eggs

½ c Parmesan cheese

1 jar of pasta sauce

1 tsp oregano

1lb ground beef or Italian sausage

1. Brown meat. Cook shells according to package, rinse with cold water & drain.

2. In mixing bowl combine ricotta, 2/3 cup mozz, ¼ cup parm, eggs, oregano.

3. Pour sauce in bottom of pan, spoon or squeeze cheese mixture into shells & lay in the pan close together

4. Sprinkle with meat & rest of cheese.

5. Cover with foil & bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 mins or until bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

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Southwest Chicken and Rice

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 cup whole corn

½ cup salsa

1 tsp cumin

½ cups cheddar cheese

2 cups chicken, shredded

1. In a large mixing bowl combine rice, beans, corn, salsa and cumin

2. Divide among indicated number of baking pans and top with cheese

3. Cover tightly with foil. Label & freeze

4. Bake from frozen @350 for 1 hr or until cheese is melted and rice is warmed through.

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Lasagna

1lb ground beef

2 eggs(beaten)

½ cup parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 package lasagna noodles(9 noodles)

2 cups cottage cheese

24oz spaghetti sauce

Brown meat, drain off grease. Cook noodles and drain. Combine eggs, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, spaghetti sauce and meat. Starting with noodles layer with meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes covered – 10 minutes uncovered.

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Cheesy Ham and Potatoes

1 Pound frozen hash brown potatoes

2 cans cream of celery soup

½ cup onion (minced)

8 oz cream cheese

1 ½ cups mont jack cheese shredded

1 ½ cups chopped/cubed hamburger

¼ teaspoon black pepper

optional: ½ cup shredded cheddar for topping.

Soften cream cheese, add cream of celery soup. Stir in onions, ham, jack cheese and pepper. Break apart hash browns and gently stir into mixture. (you can freeze at this point). Thaw. Place in greased baking dish(9x13) Bake at 350 covered for 1 hr. Uncover, top with cheddar cheese. Bake until melted.

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Enchanted Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

2 cups chicken, cooked and cut up

1 cup sour cream

1/8 tesaspoon salt

Dash of pepper

12 (5inch) corn tortillas

4 ounces of canned chopped green chiles, drained

2 cups grated Monterey Jack Cheese

Lettuce, shredded

Tomatoes, chopped

Combine chicken, sour cream, salt and pepper. Quickly fry 1 tortilla at a time in hot oil to soften. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of chicken mixture onto each tortilla, spread down the center, and roll up the tortilla. Place seam side down in greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. When all tortillas are filled and rolled, sprinkle the green chiles over all and top with cheese. Bake at 400degrees for 12 to 15minutes or until cheese is melted and enchiladas are hot. Serve 2 to 3 enchiladas on a plate and surround with lettuce and tomatoes. Top with your choice of guacamole, sour cream or both. Serves 4 to 6.

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Pizza Burgers

2lbs Ground Beef

1 can Tomato Soup

1 tsp Garlic Salt

½ tsp Oregano

8oz Cheddar Cheese

8oz Mozzarella Cheese

Onion/onion powder to taste

14-18 Hamburger Buns

Brown the ground beef. Mix all ingredients together on stove top in pot. Scoop about 1/4cup on hamburger buns. Wrap in tin foil. Bake at 350° for 20mins - until warm center. Recipe makes about 14-18 buns.

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Easy Ravioli Bake

2 tbsp Parmesan Cheese

2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

1 26-28oz Pasta Sauce

1 Bag Ravioli

In a 9x13 pan, spread 3/4cup of pasta sauce on the bottom. Arrange the ravioli about 12-15. Top with ½ the remaining sauce. Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with ravioli, sauce, cheese. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 40mins. Remove foil and bake for 15-20mins. Let stand for 10mins before cutting.

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Shepherd’s Pie

1lb Ground Beef

1-1 ½ Cup Frozen mixed veggies

1 Cup Beef Broth

2 Tbsp Corn Starch

2-3 Cup Potatoes

1 Cup Shredded Cheese

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Brown the ground beef and drain grease. Add beef broth and corn starch to make a gravy. Add vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Boil potatoes for 15 minutes. Mash and add 1 stick of butter, sour cream, and cream cheese. Put meat mixture in dish and top with mashed potatoes then top it with the cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes if frozen 30-40 if not frozen; until cheese is melted.

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Freezer Breakfast Burritos

2 cups frozen tater tots

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 links breakfast sausage, casing removed

8 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup half and half*

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 (16-ounce) can refried beans

8 (8-inch) flour tortillas

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.

1. Cook tater tots according to package instructions; set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add sausage and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the sausage as it cooks; drain excess fat, reserving 1 tablespoon in the skillet.
3. Add eggs to the skillet and cook, whisking, until they just begin to set. Gently whisk in half and half; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Continue cooking until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains, about 3-5 minutes; set aside.
4. Spread beans down centers of tortillas; top with tater tots, sausage, eggs, cheeses, tomatoes and cilantro. Fold in opposite sides of each tortilla, then roll up, burrito-style.* Place, seam-sides down, onto preparing baking sheet; cover.
5. Place into oven and bake until heated through, about 12-15 minutes.
6. Serve immediately.

*Half and half is equal parts of whole milk and cream. For 1 cup half and half, you can substitute 3/4 cup whole milk + 1/4 cup heavy cream or 2/3 cup skim or low-fat milk + 1/3 cup heavy cream.

*TO FREEZE: Cover each burrito tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Freeze up to 1 month. To reheat, (1) microwave for 4-6 minutes, turning halfway, or (2) bake at 400 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, or until completely cooked through.

The set up at meal exchange!

4 Months Old

12/12/15

Maverick August

-Weighing 15lbs 3oz

-Eats 4oz every 3hrs (at bedtime 5oz)

-Sleeping anywhere from 5-8 hours at night 

-smiles and laughs all the time!

-Size 1 diapers

-3-6 month clothes

-rolls over

3 Months Old

 11/12/15

Maverick August

-Weighing 14lbs

-Eats 4oz every 3hrs

-Sleeping anywhere from 5-8 hours at night 

-Size 1 diapers

-0-3 month clothes

-smiles and laughs

2 Months Old

10/12/15

Maverick August

-Weighing 12lbs

-Eats 4oz every 3hrs

-Sleeping 4-5 hours at night 

-Loves his mam pacifier

-Size 1 diapers

-0-3 month clothes

-started to coo and smiles a lot

1 Month Old

9/12/15

Maverick August

-Weighing 9lbs 6oz

-Still breast feeding every 3 hours

-Sleeping 3-4 hours at night 

-Loves his mam pacifier

-Size 1 diapers

-Newborn Clothes(some 0-3 Months)

-Has started to smile

life is changing for the better

I haven't blogged for almost two months - here's a little in-site on our last 2 months! 

we have gone from a family of 3 to a family of 4. 

 

i have survived many days alone with not only one child but two! <-- this is huge considering I used to have to send text/videos to Matt having him come home when it was just Mason...

i survived my first trip to walmart with the boys alone.

Matt & I had our first "date" which was a 30minute trip to walmart.

big brother is loving baby Maverick!

Humble yourselves before the Lord

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. • Today's Life Verse from Life 96.5 •

Both pregnancies my iron levels have been low, but this pregnancy my levels are really low. I was told at around 30 weeks that if I didn't get my levels up I would need to go to the cancer institute to get infusions done. My emotions got the best of me, I'm pregnant bringing a new life into this world, and I have to go sit next to other people who are having chemo done and are struggling to hold onto life - how is this fair? I couldn't wrap my head around it, I didn't want to do this. I started to research and find what I could do to raise my iron levels.

** Young Living - NingXia Red ** Young Living - Super B ** Young Living MultiGreens ** vitafusion PreNatal ** Nature's Sunshine I-X ** Prescribed Iron Pill ** this was my morning routine of what I would take. It all made me feel better, I wasn't light headed anymore and I had more energy. My iron levels increased but not by much - as my dad said it's probably more the unhealthy food I was putting in my body that was making my iron levels not improve. 

At my 38 week appointment on Tuesday I found out we would have to go along with the infusions, I was emotional before my appointment and even more emotional when I found out that I would need to get the infusions. But I have a very good doctor who only looks out for the best for me so I knew this is what God wants, it's going to keep me and the baby healthy for when the baby arrives. Matt was allowed to come with me so that was great.

Woke up and read the life verse for today and it was so fitting, I just needed to humble myself to the Lord and quit worrying. We walked into the Avera Cancer Institute and everyone was so incredibly friendly. They took me to a private room(totally different than I thought - praise the Lord) and Matt by my side I got through my first day of infusions.

I am so grateful to have an amazing supportive husband and friends who have been praying for me and my pregnancy. 

PS I'm not sure if you caught it or not but yes, 38 weeks pregnant as of yesterday, 2 weeks until baby is here -- ummm....will time slow down before then because I know it won't slow down after baby comes!!!

Digging Deep Into The Word

I am writing this because I was contacted by a member of my old church(Christ Ev. Lutheran Church-WELS) and was told that since my child was not baptized as an infant that if he died before he made the choice to be baptized that we wouldn't be reassured that he would go to Heaven.

As a parent this is heartbreaking that people would think that way. Deep down I think this was God's way of having me dig into his word more, research, and educate not only myself but Matt, who grew up ELCA. Although it hurt me at first and I'm glad I went through this, I have learned a lot more in the last week than what I remember of the 8 years of a private school setting. I'm not saying it wasn't a good school, I just saying I personally didn't get a lot out of it.

I have so many friends that feel the need to baptize their child as an infant because that's what they were taught, but when asking them why they choose to do so they weren't really sure why they were doing it. I hope this benefits them as well!

Baptism should be the choice of the person not of the parents, as it is the person who is being baptized repenting, fully assured that they have already been saved and a believer of the gospel.

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 8:12 But when they believed, Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Complete immersion is the understanding we have the word “baptize” and is called a “burial” by Paul in Romans 6:3-4 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. and we know that when a dead person is buried, they do not have just a few handfuls of dirt sprinkled on them, but are completely covered/ baptism symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection - our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. As in death, one stops breathing and eyes are shut, so in baptism one stops breathing, and the eyes are shut. Then they are “Buried” in the water, and lifted up again in a symbol of resurrection to new life, to open their eyes and breathe again! Being “buried” backwards is a beautiful symbol of submission, as to allow someone to lay you on your back in water is really to put your life in their hands more so than to go forward/(you go forward after you rise again!) This living illustration can be applied daily as we remember our baptism-we know we are dead to sin and live to the Lord Jesus. Jesus is living His life in us. – http://www.gracelifewc.com/uploads/2/6/7/3/26731815/water_baptism_explained.pdf

As far as “you need to be baptized to be saved”

Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gain access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

All in all I feel like this was all part of God's plan for strengthening me as a person and Christian. I still 100% support the decision Matt and I made as parents and could not be happier at the church we are at.

tips & tricks

I am a huge planner, especially for vacations. I like to plan them at least 3+ months out - planning our daily routines and starting my packing list. This was the first vacation I haven't had a checklist by my side when packing. Yes I started one, but then I said scratch that. This vacation, I had just under a month to get ready for so with a toddler turning 20 months I used pinterest to help me find activities to keep him busy. Mind you his first time flying he did AMAZING! 4 different planes and only cried at take off and landing - BUT - he was 12 months old, he is way more active now! Here are some of the things that I packed in our bag! 

1. board book - this specific board book has different animal textures to keep Mason busy - he absolutely loves this book at home - so I put it in his bag, however there was no need for this book, it never came out of our bag.

2. quiet book -  my plan was to make a 10 page quiet book but when my attempt at cutting felt with a cricut failed miserably the book ended up being 6 pages(velcro shapes to match, counting beads, zippers, a road to drive a car on, and mr. potato head) - this was a big hit for Mason, actually the only toy he played with, it kept him busy for over an hour!

3. new toy - I got him a new coloring set from Target's Dollar Isle, he loves to color so I thought this would be a huge hit, even if he doesn't stay in the lines he loves anything to do with TMNT! - this did not make it out of the bag though.

4. Melrose/Young Living Essential Oil - I was told by my dear friend Katie that his would help with flying, however with our short trip I wasn't able to order it so she let me borrow hers. This works amazing, I put it on myself and Mason so that it would help with our ears, let me tell you - this oil works!!

5. Velcro Popsicle Sticks - This idea I also got from my dear friend Katie, a great-easy activity for Mason to do on the plane that would be quiet. I was had so much fun getting this ready I knew he would love it. - however this as well did not make it out of the bag. He has had fun playing with them since we got home!

6. Lavender/Young Living Essential Oil - This is what we put on every night when we go to bed to help us sleep. The first flight we sat next to a flight attendant going to visit her mom, my thoughts - great, this lady already deals with screaming kids and now she may have to sit next to one. My thoughts were wrong, We had a 630pm flight which didn't leave until 720pm Mason had been up since 7am with only an hour nap so at about 830pm we rubbed some lavender on his feet, he cried a total of 7 minutes while trying to fall asleep- yes I timed it to see how long his crying would last. When we got off the plane that lady next to me said how amazing he did -coming from a flight attendant this would make any mom happy! On the flight home, he cried for a total of 12 minutes again trying to fall asleep. I'd say Mason is like his mom and loves to fly!

7.I-Spy Bag - This was a bag that I already had from years ago. I thought great quiet toy, but again Mason never even saw this toy!

8. Zantac - This is the only prescription that we still "use" - Matt has a huge fear of flying - he gets sick for days/weeks before a trip, has night mares and  just doesn't rest. He only takes this an hr before our flight departs but without this we would not be able to take vacations. We are working on testing some Young Living Essential Oils that will be just as effective but until then we keep this in the cupboard until our next trip.

9. Water Bottles -Not Pictured- Must have, empty your water bottle and put it in your bag to keep you and baby/toddler hydrated - water fountains all over the airport and they give you water on-board the plane!

10. Snacks -Not Pictured- although not all toys were played with, all snacks were gone by the time we got home! our snacks we packed were:
--> GoGo Squeez - applesauce on the go - Mason had never had these, he had applesauce before but he thought these were so awesome! - Big hit!
--> Mott's All Natural Fruit Snacks -  Mason loves fruit snacks and they were small and easy to deal with, no mess!
-->Veggie Straws - Mason also loves these and they were also something easy to pack, store and deal with!

Although I didn't have a plan for each day I knew three things we wanted to do and we were able to cross them all off our "list" - visit to the zoo, visit to the beach(aka.giant sand box) and a visit to a children's museum. Mason loved them all! We also all loved the 50degree weather on their "cold days" and the high 70degree weather on the nice days! 

Hope our 10 tricks and tips that helped us help you in your future travel!