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Jet Set Mom

Welcome to Jet Set Mom! Traveling with kids is not easy -- especially when you are alone. Here's some highlights of my trips around the U.S. and the world with my now 5-year-old son, Alex and his new baby sister, Serene.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Bethlehem






Posted by Deanna Armbruster at 10:20 PM
Labels: Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, Palestine, Shepherd's Field
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Flight Map

Flight Map

First Trips are a Joy

First Trips are a Joy

Mommy, Are We There Yet?

Mommy, Are We There Yet?

Jet Set Expert

Jet Set Expert

Mommy! I'm packed...

Mommy!  I'm packed...

Car Trips are Rough

Car Trips are Rough

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2011 (33)
    • ►  September (1)
      • Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Edition Cover Model 2...
    • ►  August (8)
      • When You are on Top of the World, Pack Diapers
      • Skip the Bazaars, Head for the Mall
      • 100 Chicken Nuggets
      • Tips from Mommy's Guide to Istanbul Turkey - Part ...
      • Tips from Mommy's Guide to Istanbul Turkey - Part ...
      • Four Thumbs Up for the California Science Center
      • At Santa Susana Depot the Past Meets Present
      • Lightening McQueen Lights Up Hollywood
    • ►  July (4)
      • I left my heart in San Francisco
      • Riding the Rails....
      • Curiosity @ CuriOdyssey, Coyote Point
      • The best trip is to the pool
    • ►  June (2)
      • Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
      • Americana: Shopping in the U.S.A.
    • ►  May (7)
      • Legoland and Lying
      • In a Galaxy Far, Far Away......Legoland
      • Superheros Take Over the Neighborhood
      • Boys, Girls and Race Cars
      • Alex racing cars
      • Racing Cars Instead of Driving Soccer Vans
      • Garbage Truck Party
    • ►  April (1)
      • Madison Children's Museum is better than brats..
    • ▼  February (5)
      • Tree Planting at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
      • Jerusalem
      • Is Ramallah different than New York?
      • The Big Prison - West Bank/Palestine
      • Bethlehem
    • ►  January (5)
      • Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
      • Innertubing at Snowdrift, Big Bear
      • Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, California
      • The Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
      • San Diego California
  • ►  2010 (17)
    • ►  November (2)
      • Big Brother and Little Sister
      • Farming in the City
    • ►  October (1)
      • Welcome Baby Sister
    • ►  August (1)
      • Take Me Out to the Ball Game
    • ►  July (9)
      • Pixieland
      • Traveling to Outer Space
      • Melbourne Aquarium
      • Melbourne Australia
      • Sydney Opera House
      • Taronga Zoo Sydney Australia
      • Featherdale Wildlife Park
      • Trains and Coal Cars in Scenic World
      • Blue Mountains Australia
    • ►  May (1)
      • Thomas the Train travels on Magic Mountain
    • ►  January (3)
      • Where is Warehouse Mouse?
      • Iceskating in North Carolina
      • Snow Angels, Sledding and Spas in the Snow
  • ►  2009 (12)
    • ►  August (1)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (3)
    • ►  January (2)
  • ►  2008 (16)
    • ►  September (2)
    • ►  August (5)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2007 (23)
    • ►  December (4)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  September (4)
    • ►  August (3)
    • ►  July (7)
    • ►  June (2)

Camel in Morocco

Camel in Morocco

Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Iceland

Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Iceland
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge divides Iceland between North America and Europe. We're in Europe but the photo is taken from North America.

Beijing, China

Beijing, China
Inside the Forbidden City

754 Days before the Opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

754 Days before the Opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Alex greets his fans in China in 2006 as city prepares for Olympics.

Labels

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Star Alliance Gold

Alex logged over 100,000 frequent flyer miles his first year on the planet, which places him in the Star Alliance Gold club. Stories in his travelogue include stops in:

Jerusalem
Israel/Palestine
Madison, Wisconsin
Singapore
Beijing, China
Anchorage, Alaska
Melbourne, Australia
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tokyo, Japan
Boise, Idaho
San Antonio, Texas
San Francisco, California
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Morocco
The Bahamas
Iceland
Sydney, Australia
and more.

Homework Made Easy

Homework Made Easy
Alex Helps Mom Study

Alex Catching Up on Homework

Moms Going Back to School

No one ever said getting a PhD was easy, but for working moms with children at home, it only requires a few superhero powers. Nevertheless, moms seeking a degree should not give up.

Five Reasons Why You Can be a Mother
and Get a Degree

Anyone can become a student, but not everyone can exceed at it the way moms can. With everything moms juggle in their work, family and personal lives, you may think they are too busy to take on course material, but that is just not true. Often the busier someone is the better they do, they just don't have any room to slack off.

In fact, the skills that help moms succeed at this everyday juggling act are the same skills that help them excel as students. The experts at eLearners.com, sponsor of "Project Working Mom", share some of the reasons moms make great students.

For the the tips, check out:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ara_fivereasonswhyyo

I'll add a few of my own:
* Focus
* Organization
* Skip some more sleep
* Take it one class at a time
* And, don't give up!

Mom arrested, jailed for disciplining kids on plane

Calling all Moms!

Whatever you do -- don't spank your kids on a plane no matter how unruly they become, how many glares and rude glances you receive and how much chaos they create. If you do, you'll likely get arrested, jailed for three months, have your children taken from you to a different state to live in foster care, and since you'll end up on probation, you won't be allowed to see them for at least a year.

Once again -- flight attendants who think they have superpowers are out to destroy the lives of mothers jetting around the world.

Check it out here:
Mom arrested, jailed for disciplining kids on plane (OneNewsNow.com)

Sun Flowers at Sunset in Morocco

Sun Flowers at Sunset in Morocco

Daddies pay attention!

Taking care of baby means lots of cool high tech gadgets! Beanie babies have been uploaded with web connections. There’s a LoJack that you can attach to your baby so if they try to escape the crib an alarm will sound. And, if you want to test your kids’ language skills, there’s a new techy device that records the child’s words, and after another upload, you can compete with other dad’s across the country to see how your kid is doing against others his/her age.

For more about the robotic diaper changer, you’ll have to check out this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/technology/personaltech/28basics.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Keep Your Laws, Hands and Alarms Off My Body

Here's one that I wish I had written....

Stop Setting Alarms on My Biological Clock
If I'm ever going to fulfill my dream of becoming a mother, I'm going to need some better role models.

By Carrie Friedman

Newsweek, July 23, 2007 issue - I am at a party chatting with a woman I know slightly. As her young son squirms out of her embrace, she slips her hand under my shirt. She's not getting fresh with me. She's touching my tummy with her cold hand and asking me, in a concerned voice, "Why aren't you pregnant yet?" I smile, break free from her touch, and head to the food table to fill said empty belly with her brat's birthday cake.

I love children and definitely plan on having them. Maternal instinct is oozing out of my pores: I've infantilized my dogs; I've gotten down on my hands and knees at the park with babies I barely know. My marriage is wonderful and solid, and we are both blessed with good health. I've been a nanny, a teacher, a youth-group leader. I've taken childhood-development courses solely for the purpose of someday raising happy, balanced children. I have always looked forward to becoming a mother.

So why don't I have kids or even the inkling right now? It's because of you. Yes, you: the fanatical mothers of the world. It may seem like ages ago now, but you weren't always like this. You, too, were sneering at the obnoxious parents who brought their infants to fancy, adult, nighttime restaurants or R-rated movies and let them carry on, ruining things for other patrons. You've been terrible advertising for the club that you so desperately need others to join.

If you want me to join your ranks—and you've made it clear with your cold, clammy hands on my stomach that recruiting my uterus is of paramount importance to you—I need to set some ground rules.

First, please stop asking me when I'm going to get pregnant.

Read on at...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19762056/site/newsweek/

Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center
Rocket Garden

Tips for the Jet Set Mom

Plan Ahead! Make a list even if you are not one of those list-making kind of women. If you make a list, you're less likely to forget what you need.

When traveling internationally, bring plenty of diapers. In the US, you can plan on stopping at any 24 hour market when you run out of pampers or huggies, but don't count on that abroad.

Don't forget the snacks -- lots of them. Plan for the unexpected. The plane will be delayed, the car will get a flat tire, the weather will send you off the beaten track. You'll get through the change in plans much easier if tummies (yours too!) are full.


When flying, know the TSA 3-1-1 for carry-on luggage. Check it out at: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm

Don't be afraid to accept a little help. Let the stranger open the door for you or allow the attendant to carry your luggage. You already know you are superwoman, so let others alleviate every little bit when you can.




Alex and Mom jet set the World!

Alex and Mom jet set the World!

Tips for Tempering Tantrums

“Good Morning America" parenting contributor Anne Pleshette Murphy offered tips on how to calm a crying child.

Focus on Your Child
When in public, every parent's mantra should be this: "I don't know any of these people, and I'm never going to see them again." Just focus on your child, not on the other people around you who are giving you dirty looks. Your goal is to be your child's advocate, to be there for your child.


Don't Scream, Don't Threaten
Screaming at and threatening your child is a bad idea. Do the opposite. Your child is out of control, and the point is to try to help them physically collect themselves.


Hold the Child on Your Lap and Talk Softly
This strategy is very simple but can be very effective. Put the child on your lap, hold him or her tightly, and talk very softly. You should say you understand that they're upset and really sound as if you mean it. You can go on talking about almost anything, as long as you're speaking in a soft, soothing voice. If your child is really thrashing about, you're going to have to restrain him or her. Often, however, this technique of holding and talking softly will calm a child down in a few minutes.


Try to Distract Child
Another way to diffuse tantrums is to distract the child. Come armed with a toy they've never seen, a familiar object like a security blanket, or a candy to suck on. But frankly, when a child is out of control, this may not work.

Baby Sea Turtle

Baby Sea Turtle
Save the World, Save a Turtle

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!
Navigating Tokyo's Subways

On Top of the World

On Top of the World
The city of Moulay Idriss is named for Morocco's most revered saint, a great-grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Idriss established Morocco's first imperial dynasty in the 8th century.

About Me

Deanna Armbruster
I am the Executive Director of the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Arab-Jewish community in Israel, the "Oasis of Peace." Check it out at: www.oasisofpeace.org
View my complete profile

Followers

 

Save the Sea Turtle

  • http://cccturtle.org/

Check out these Awesome Zoos!

  • http://www.australiazoo.com.au/
  • http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/index.html
  • http://www.santabarbarazoo.org/
  • http://www.zoo.com.sg/

Learn more about Pandas

  • http://www.galenfrysinger.com/wolong_panda_research_center.htm