• All Inclusive Vacations
• Coordinate calendars with your spouse
• Get Organized
• Have a list for everything
• Be flexible
• Follow your gut
• Ask for help
• Get the babysitter 30 minutes early
• Set clear expectations at work
• Practice the 80/20 rule

BIGGEST TIME SAVERS

• Have gifts on hand
• Multiple hampers
• Dirty clothes suitcase
• Diaper stations around the house
• Online shopping
• Gift bags
• Stocking up on household products
• Easy to cook meals
• Never walk upstairs empty handed
• Lay clothes out the night before

TEN THINGS YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF FOR THE KIDS

1. Spit up cloths - no matter how many you have, they never seem to be where you need them, at least having more helps improve your odds.

2. Pacifiers - like the disappearing socks, these things can hide better than anything else I have found.

3. Diaper Bags - I like to keep one in each car, one stocked in the house to give to grandparents or sitters, and one smaller size to stick in the carriage for walks.

4. Blankets - The perfect second, third, etc. baby gift. Every child needs them and often becomes attached. We need to send them into daycare each week for naps there so always good to have a bunch.

5. Diaper Changing Stations - I wrote about this, why have to walk upstairs or down to change the diaper?

6. Books - the best thing you can do for your children is to read to them often. We keep books everywhere in the house to encourage this; family room, playroom, bedrooms, basement, car, etc.

7. Five Minute Meals - anything that can be made in less than five minutes; Budget Gourmet Pastas, hot dogs, cheese sticks, sandwich meat, tuna fish, PB&J, soup. Great things to leave with sitters for them to make for kids.

8. Pre-treater - keep a stick in your diaper bag/purse, one on the hamper and of course the laundry room. The commercials don't lie, kids seem to find every type of stain possible.

9. Balls - like Barney says, "It's the greatest toy of all." Children learn so much coordination from kicking, throwing, hitting or catching a ball. You can never have enough, get soft ones for inside to limit potential damage.

10. Hugs and Kisses - the more the merrier in our household. It teaches kids how to demonstrate their feelings and while making, you feel like a million bucks when you receive one.