secret weapon

What does this picture have to do with a 14 hour trek across the country including three plane rides, two 2-hour layovers, three kids age three and under, and one completely crazy mom? EVERYTHING! I admit, it wasn't my idea (and isn't my photo) but it may be the greatest stroke of genius I've ever borrowed from a stranger! Pipe cleaners are my new best friend when it comes to secret weapons for entertaining the kiddos during lengthy travels. Our journey to Utah couldn't have gone much better and probably wouldn't have been as pleasant without these colorful and fuzzy little bendy things. We bent pipe cleaners into flowers, eye glasses, necklaces, bracelets and red eye tree frogs! Not only were they handy on the actual plane rides, but during our layovers the kids played ring toss using their pipe cleaner rings and a water bottle! So, if you're planning to travel with little ones soon, grab some pipe cleaners and start bending.