Easter Road Trip: Packing for a Pre-Schooler & Baby

Every year since I met Chris, we have always gone to Bakersfield to visit his cousins for Easter weekend. It's always fun, because Chris is essentially a really big kid who still loves playing. This year, there's a bit more planning with a brand new person to think about and less luggage space. So, here are a few key things we're packing for the kids (and for our sanity).

From top left to right:

1. JVC Tiny Kids Stereo Headphones, Amazon.com
Love, love the color of these. They're small enough for little heads but also expands enough for adults.

2. BabyBjorn Travel Crib, Babies R Us
Modern and good-looking. Admittedly, not the playard that we own, but I wish we did.

3. Mod Guitar Ring Rattle, Smiling Tree Toys
How rad is this?! There was a peace sign version of this as well.

4. Bright Starts Lots of Links, Babies R Us
These are so perfect for millions of reasons. We first got them for Dianna and now they've been handed down to Dean for keeping his favorite toys, like the rattle, close at hand. And honestly, he loves them on their own, too.

5. IPod Touch, Apple.com
I admit it, Dianna loves this thing. It's not an everyday toy by any means, but it's so perfectly portable, non-messy, and convenient for us and her that it's hard to say "no" for a long journey.

6. Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo Audiobook, Barnes & Noble
We love listening to fantasy audiobooks during long road trips--we're the Harry Potter generation, can't help it. There's actually a Witches and Wizards Anonymous group for teens at our library that I would have totally joined as a kid, because I am an absolute geek. We got started on the Leven Thumps early and it's good.

Our Easter Road Trip preparations will continue through the week as I share Dianna's Easter Basket of In-Car Entertainment, a gluten free bakery in Las Vegas (there's just not enough time in a day), and gluten free desserts and snacks that I'll be bringing along with us.

What are your road trip essentials?