Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

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5 Essentials for Eas(ier) Family Road-Trippin’

5 Essentials for Eas(ier) Family Road-Trippin’

The following piece was adapted from a piece I wrote for another site several weeks ago, but with those last fleeting weeks of summer on the horizon, it seemed relevant to post here for families looking to do one more trip before school starts!  Not to mention, Diono has offered to sponsor a giveaway of not one, but TWO of the items featured on the gear list!  So get comfortable and read on… Ah, the family road trip.  There’s nothing like an 8 hour car ride to get your family vacation started on the right (or wrong) foot!  If your adventuring…Read the rest of this entry →

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Planning a Family Beach Trip

Planning a Family Beach Trip

If you were wondering about the lack of posting from last week, I had good reason – we spent the whole week at Sunset Beach with my hubby’s extended family!  And after a week of sun, sea, and sand, I realized that a lot of our logistics were learned by trial-and-error over the past few years.  But for those of you just venturing into the “beach with kids” phase of your life, here’s a few strategies that might prove useful when it comes to planning… CHOOSE YOUR VACATION PARTNERS –  This could be a make or break factor, so think…Read the rest of this entry →

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How Parents Can Still Find Time to Mountain Bike…(and a GIVEAWAY!)

How Parents Can Still Find Time to Mountain Bike…(and a GIVEAWAY!)

Of all the recreational pursuits my hubby and I enjoyed pre-kiddo, mountain biking was actually the hardest to get back into consistently, namely because it wasn’t something we could do all together as a family. But I still managed to always read more on it and kept upgrading my bike in hopes that I would take it out soon. Rock climbing was easy, so long as we had an extra person with us.    For running, hiking, and even biking along the greenway, we could simply strap C into the appropriate carrier and adventure away.  But ripping down steep, rooty,…Read the rest of this entry →

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Being Patient with Toddler Fears…

Being Patient with Toddler Fears…

 Sometimes fear happens because of a traumatic event, such as a scary fall, or otherwise bad experience.  But other times fear can creep in without warning and show up suddenly – like at the first swim lesson of the summer for your 3 year old! Let me back up a bit first – as a 2 year old last year my son knew no fear in the water.  Dunking himself underwater, cackling with laughter as his Daddy tossed him high into the air, and gleefully jumping super man style into the water (with my outstretched arms close by, of course!) …Read the rest of this entry →

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Potty Time at the Crag…

Potty Time at the Crag…

…Not to be  confused with “party time,” although getting through it successfully might  very well warrant a celebration!  After packing in (and out!) hundreds and perhaps maybe even thousands of diapers over the past several years, hiking into the crag big boy (or girl) style is a milestone every crag-parent is psyched about.  We’ve actually just recently dove into the potty training arena ourselves, and have been pleasantly surprised to find the transition at the crag happening quicker than we’d expected.   As a little background, I’m a firm believer that kids will hit developmental milestones when (and ONLY when)…Read the rest of this entry →

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