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Thứ Ba, 14 tháng 5, 2013

How to plan a family reunion

With the right research, you can pull off a multigenerational jaunt that will delight everyone from one to 100.iStock

From choosing the perfect destination to getting your clan organized, we offer the ultimate guide to a freakout-free family fest!

They can be the most heartwarming--or the most chilling--words in the English language: Family Reunion. If the thought of organizing your extended clan for a long weekend away sends a shiver down your spine, relax. If you start early, do your homework, and take advantage of new digital tools, you can pull off a multigenerational jaunt that will delight everyone from one to 100. Here, our all-you-need-to-get-started guide to planning the party of the year.

GET ORGANIZED

Start the conversation. At least nine months in advance, start talking to your extended family's "thought leaders"--the ones who typically make the decisions and do the heavy lifting at, say, Thanksgiving. Teresa Plowright, About.com's guide for family travel, suggests that earlier is better when coordinating the schedules of many families. "People like to know 'Next June we're all getting together'--you just have so many work/vacation schedules for adults, seasonal jobs, sports programs for teens, etc." Especially if your family intends something ambitious, like an overseas trip, a popular resort, or a cruise, at least a year is advisable. For more casual affairs ("Let's rent a couple of beach houses!"), Plowright notes that a few months in advance might be fine. Before deciding on your reunion destination, it's best to put together three final options (including sample activities, meals, and a rough estimate of the cost) that the group can consider. (See "Pick the Perfect Destination," below.)

Delegate. If you're the type who's reading this story and already taking notes, you're likely the one who is going to volunteer to do too much. Don't. As with any family get-together, a reunion will require delegating important tasks. Depending on the family dynamic, this might mean choosing a leader to coordinate the event while one person is the reservation-keeper, another is in charge of meal planning, another for activities. If all of this is starting to sound like work, well, it is. Like a well-run business, the reunion will require a staff that works independently and reports back to the group regularly.

Make reservations. These days, of course, reservations can all be made online, which is mostly a blessing. But a slew of paperless reservations (flights, hotels, rental cars, and restaurants) made by a team of far-flung relatives can sometimes spell confusion. Use a reliable app such as TripIt or Google docs to store and share all your important dates, times, and ticket info. In general, you should get a head count and make lodging reservations six to nine months prior to your reunion; buy plane tickets four to six months in advance; book activities at your destination about two months in advance; double-check your head count one month prior to travel; and re-confirm all your reservations and any airport transportation and car rentals one week in advance.

PICK THE PERFECT DESTINATION

Family adventure. If your clan is the type to hop out of bed every morning itching to climb, hike, bike, and explore, "Escorted tours with all details handled and excellent lodgings can be a good idea," suggests Plowright. A number of adventure-travel companies offer "family adventure" packages aimed at multigenerational groups. Adventures by Disney is, no surprise, a favorite choice of many families.

Ski resort. "I've seen many multigenerational vacationers at ski resorts," notes Plowright. "It can be pricey, but the good news is that even if some of the family doesn't want to ski or snowboard, there are more and more non-skiing activities to enjoy."

Disney. "Families with grandparents along seem to be everywhere at Disney World," says Plowright. The park offers a wide--and ever-widening--range of activities, even for those who aren't interested in the rides.

All-inclusive resort. "All-inclusive resorts offer plenty of activities during the day, plus kids' programs," suggests Plowright. "Families can decide to do some activities together and split up for other things and re-group at dinner." Whether you're a partier or just a fan of fine dining, swimming pools, and white-sand beaches, one of the most appealing aspects of the all-inclusive is that you can go for days without ever reaching for your wallet.

Beach house. "Rent a big vacation home, or a few that are near one another, for a relaxing reunion," says Plowright. But remember if your reunion is "self-catered," no one person should be stuck doing all the cooking. Delegate a different cook--or group--for each evening's dinner.

Cruise. "Think of a cruise as a floating all-inclusive resort," says Plowright, "with the same potential to be together or easily break off for separate activities." A cruise might just be the easiest reunion from a planner's point of view, with ample opportunities for age-appropriate activities, easy seating for meals, and special events such as private cocktail parties, photo sessions, and a fairly standard discount of one free passenger for every eight cabins. But because most cruises are not strictly all-inclusive, do keep an eye on extra costs--that glass of wine you raise to toast your grandparents may set you back $10.

DON'T FORGET THE SWAG

Order customized souvenirs. Sending everyone back home with a family reunion T-shirt--or tote bag, baseball cap, or custom-made craft--can help keep the event alive in everyone's memory for a long time.

Display a family tree. No, you don't have to know exactly when your great-grandmother left Palermo, or what her father's name was, to cobble together a nice family tree to answer inevitable questions, like "Who is that dude and am I really related to him?"

Bring photo albums. Sure, you can--and should--trot out those dusty "analog" albums that everyone loves. But don't forget to collect and organize family photos digitally for future reference.

Take a group photo. Book a professional photo session through your hotel, resort, or cruise line. Pricey? It can be--but it's worth the quality of the photography, shot composition, and professional printing.

Make a music video. You may have to leave the tech to the teens, but it's way easier than you think to shoot and edit your own family's take on, say, "Call Me Maybe," or "Good Time." Trust us, the laughter will linger long after you've packed your bags and headed home.

Ask the kids to make name tags or dinner-table place cards. Pack craft paper and crayons and make the little ones feel like big shots by having them create name tags or place cards for themselves and the grownups. It's a colorful way to decorate your dinner table, and the sentimental value of those mini-masterpieces will only go up as the years go by.

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Chủ Nhật, 12 tháng 5, 2013

Taking the Kids -- how much family travel has changed

Beach time at Curtain Bluff.James Callaghan
Tranquil view of Morris Bay.Curtain Bluff
Kids tennis, Curtain Bluff.Curtain Bluff
Curtain Bluff, Morris Bay.Curtain Bluff

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The kids are everywhere.

They're chasing lizards in the glorious tropical gardens, building sandcastles with resort-provided sand toys, paddle-boarding, kayaking, fishing, playing beach volleyball and basketball and doing cannonballs into the pool. They're even getting lessons from the bartender in whipping up mocktails.

"The banana smoothies are the best!" an 8 year old named Brady told me.

Talk about kid vacation heaven -- Caribbean style. "They really cater to the kids here at Curtain Bluff observes Dr. Tania Spenlinhauer, here in Antigua from Maine with her husband and three kids, including Brady, for her sister's wedding at the resort. That the small (just 72 rooms) all-inclusive resort offered so much for the six young grandchildren was a big factor in why the family opted to gather here, they said.

"We could even give the older kids some independence because we knew they'd be safe," said the bride's mom, Peg Spenlinhauer.

Another mom confides that her son who has Asperberger syndrome is having the vacation of his life, trying things he's never done like snorkeling. "He is completely relaxed," she said. "There is no comparison to a regular hotel."

I can't help but flash back 30 years when my husband and I honeymooned here. He had found the place in a book, charmed by the story of how the late owner Howard Hulford decided to build a hotel on this peninsula after spotting the land -- surrounded by reef -- and seeing the two beaches -- one tranquil, one with crashing waves.

Seeing all the kids -- and their parents and grandparents -- having so much fun here recently made me realize that Curtain Bluff is emblematic of how much family travel has changed in the last three decades -- and how the travel industry has changed as a result.

On our honeymoon, we sat on the windswept surf beach outside our room -- every room faces the ocean -- drinking champagne left over from our wedding, watching the crashing waves and talking about the kids we would have and, just as important, the adventures we would share with them. And that, of course, is the sea change resorts like Curtain Bluff have had to face.

"When I was a kid, my parents left us and they went away. This generation takes our kids," said Steven Rosenbaum, here with his family from Connecticut.

Grandparents too. Alida and Rod McRae have been coming here for 30 years, mostly with another couple and only occasionally with one son or another when they were nearly grown. This summer, they're returning with all three sons and their families -- five grandchildren ranging in age from six to 16.

Kids were not a big part of Hulford's equation when Curtain Bluff opened in 1962. Wine was (the resort boasts the biggest wine cellar in the Caribbean), so was food. The resort has long been known for its cuisine. Kids were only here during the holidays and sometimes, spring break; some months they weren't permitted at all. There certainly wasn't a playground or a kids' club. The resort wasn't open in the summer when most families vacation.

Today, you can vacation through July and it's a bargain, with rates as much as 40 percent lower than winter and free-night deals on certain category rooms. (For more summer vacation ideas in the Caribbean and elsewhere, check out our new Summer Fun section.)

The best part is that parents are guaranteed a break too -- maybe a massage at the spa or a soak in the hot tub on the bluff overlooking the sea -- because there are some organized kids' activities and the watchful staff keeps an eye on those old enough to wander on their own. Tired kids old enough to be in their room on their own can even order room service for dinner at no extra charge while parents linger over theirs.

The all-inclusive nature of the resort means the family can enjoy any activity -- even scuba diving and deep sea fishing -- and eat as much as they like without any sticker shock, which McRae says he's faced at other resorts when it comes time to pay the bill. (All-inclusive rates for two start at just $625 a night; with kids and teens sharing the room it's $155 a night). That's certainly not cheap -- this is an upscale resort -- but it's a good value when you realize it doesn't cost anything extra, even if you go fishing every morning and snorkeling every afternoon; even if the boys order three portions of French toast at breakfast or a double portion of lobster salad at lunch; no matter how many tropical cocktails you drink or how many smoothies the kids order. (And those add up fast!)

The young general manager, Chris Eastmond, himself the father of a 5 year old, says he wants to preserve "the magic dust" that has made so many guests return to Curtain Bluff year after year, while meeting the needs of today's guests -- whatever their age.

They're ramping up organized kids' activities (think learning to fish and sailing instruction) and special early kids' dinners when a lot of children are in house. There are even plans to partner with a local school so visiting kids can learn what it is like to grow up on a Caribbean island. Already on weekends, when local kids come to the resort to learn to play tennis, they meet the guests at lunch. (The most promising tennis players are awarded scholarships to a tennis camp in Maine through Curtain Bluff's guest-supported Old Road Fund.)

"We want to incorporate what's new with the soul that is here," Eastmond said.

That soul is a long-term staff that hugs each guest when they arrive and when they leave. Hulford's widow, Chelle, still lives on the property and is a constant presence, chatting up the guests and their kids.

"We'll keep coming back as long as we're able," vows Alida McRae.

Us too.

Eileen Ogintz is a syndicated columnist and writes about family travel on her Taking the Kids blog, and is the author of the new series of Kid’s Guide to NYC, Orlando and the just released Washington, DC from Globe Pequot Press.

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Thứ Hai, 6 tháng 5, 2013

Family of Utah soccer referee who died holds vigil

FILE - In this Thursday, May 2, 2013 file photo, Jose Lopez points to an undated photo of Ricardo Portillo, center, his brother-in-law, following a news conference, at Intermountain Medical Center, in Murray, Utah. Portillo, a 46-year-old soccer referee who was punched by a teenage player during a game and later slipped into a coma died Saturday night, May 4, 2013, police said. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)The Associated Press
Alex Flores, left, and Silvia Castro place candles at a vigil for Ricardo Portillo, who passed away after injuries he sustained after an assault by a soccer player at a soccer game he was refereeing on April 27, in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Kim Raff)The Associated Press
Johana Portillo-Lopez, daughter of Ricardo Portillo, who passed away after injuries he sustained after an assault by a soccer player at a soccer game he was refereeing on April 27, is comforted by Antonio Lopez, left, brother-in-law of Ricardo, as she speaks about her father's death during a press conference in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Kim Raff)The Associated Press
Friends and family visit a vigil set up for Ricardo Portillo in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 5, 2013. Police have accused a 17-year-old player in an April 27 recreational soccer league game of punching Portillo after he called a foul on him and issued him a yellow card. Portillo died Saturday after a week in a coma. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Kim Raff) DESERET NEWS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; MAGS OUT.The Associated Press
A mourner light candles at a makeshift memorial before a news conference by the family to discuss the death of Ricardo Portillo, who passed away after injuries he sustained after an assault by a soccer player at a soccer game he was refereeing on April 27, in Salt Lake City on Sunday, May 5, 2013. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Kim Raff)The Associated Press

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SALT LAKE CITY – The oldest daughter of the Utah soccer referee who died Saturday a week after a teenage player punched him in the head hopes to forgive the young man who did it — but not yet.

"I will, but not today; it's too soon," said Johana Portillo, 26, speaking Sunday night at a vigil to honor her father, Ricardo Portillo. "He was a father, he was a friend, he was a grandfather; he left a whole family behind. They should think before they do something stupid."

Police have accused a 17-year-old player in a recreational soccer league of punching Ricardo Portillo, 46, after he called a foul on him and issued him a yellow card.

Portillo died Saturday night after a week in a coma.

Nearly 100 family and friends gathered at a candlelight vigil Sunday night on the front lawn of the Salt Lake City home of Ricardo Portillo. Wearing white shirts and holding signs that read, "In loving memory of Ricky," family and friends stood around a table that had a picture of Portillo raising his arms in victory, with flowers and candles surrounding it.

The suspect, whose name is withheld because he's a minor, has been booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of aggravated assault. Authorities will consider additional charges since Portillo has passed away. An autopsy is planned. No cause of death was released.

Johana Portillo said Sunday she doesn't care what punishment the teenager gets — saying nothing will bring her father back.

"When he did that, he took a part of me with him," she said, crying. "He took my daddy away from me."

She added: "I feel sorry for him. I feel for his family. But if he was old enough to do what he did, then he's responsible to pay for it."

Pedro Lopez, his brother-in-law and a fellow soccer referee, said the teenager made a mistake and isn't solely to blame. He said he's been involved in soccer his entire life, playing and refereeing, and seen a troubling trend emerge.

"It's not the ignorance of the child, it's the poor manners of the parents," said Lopez in Spanish, who played soccer professionally. "The yells and insults from the sideline from the parents make kids more violent."

Lopez, Johana Portillo and youth soccer coach James Yapias called on athletes around the world to hold their tempers in check so another family doesn't have to suffer — and to bring something positive from Ricardo Portillo's death.

Yapias, a longtime friend of Ricardo Portillo coach in the same league, said coaches and parents need to do a better job teaching children about sportsmanship and being non-violent. He also called for more police presence at games. Portillo's death is a reminder that life can change in a second, he said.

"We all love this sport," Yapias said. "But we all need to respect the rules."

Johana Portillo said she hopes her father's death leads to more security at sporting events and better self-control from players. She said her father had been attacked by players twice before in his eight years refereeing soccer matches — even having his ribs and legs broken.

Lopez said players need to respect referees and remember it's a sport meant to relieve stress — not cause pain.

"Remember that we are human beings, and we make mistakes," Lopez said in Spanish. "Don't take justice into your own hands."

The former professional soccer player said he plans to continue working as a referee. He said leaving it behind would be abandoning his passion. He said he'll do so remembering Ricardo Portillo.

Ricardo Portillo's daughters had begged him to stop refereeing in a soccer league because of the growing risk of violence from angry players. But, like Lopez, Portillo told his daughters he couldn't quit.

"It was his passion," she said. "We could not tell him no."

Now his three daughters are faced with planning his funeral after he succumbed to injuries late Saturday that had put him in a coma for a week since teenager goalie punched him in the head.

Accounts from a police report, Portillo's daughter and others offer further detail what occurred.

The teenager was playing goalie during a game at Eisenhower Junior High School in Taylorsville when Portillo issued him a yellow card for pushing an opposing forward trying to score. In soccer, a yellow card is given as a warning to a player for an egregious violation of the rules. Two yellow cards lead to a red card and expulsion from the game.

The teenager, quite a bit heavier than Portillo, began arguing with the referee, then punched him in the face. Portillo seemed fine at first, then asked to be held because he felt dizzy. He sat down and started vomiting blood, triggering his friend to call an ambulance.

When police arrived around noon, the teenager was gone and Portillo was laying on the ground in the fetal position. Through translators, Portillo told emergency workers that his face and back hurt and he felt nauseous. He had no visible injuries and remained conscious. He was considered to be in fair condition when they took him to the Intermountain Medical Center.

But when Portillo arrived to the hospital, he slipped into a coma with swelling in his brain. Johana Portillo called detectives to let them know his condition had worsened.

That's when detectives intensified their search for the goalie. By Saturday evening, the teenager's father agreed to bring him down to speak with police.

Johana Portillo said she last spoke to him that night before he fell into a coma. She grabbed his hand and told him he was going to be all right. He held her hand tightly and said, "no." Within seconds, doctors ushered her out of the room and he lost consciousness.

She said Sunday night, with tears streaming down her face, that her father will always be in her heart.

"It's going to be very difficult," she said. "But I know he's going to help us from heaven."

Follow Brady McCombs at https://twitter.com/BradyMcCombs.

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Thứ Hai, 8 tháng 4, 2013

Family, 2 missing Florida boys in Cuba

Published April 08, 2013

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. – Officials believe a Florida couple suspected of kidnapping their two sons from the woman's parents are in Cuba.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reports that it received information Monday that the Hakken family had arrived on the island nation. Investigators say they're working with the FBI and the U.S. State Department to verify their reports.

Authorities say Joshua Michael Hakken entered his mother-in-law's house north of Tampa early Wednesday, tied her up and fled with his young sons.

Authorities had been searching by air and sea for a boat Hakken recently bought. The truck the family had been traveling in was found late Thursday, abandoned in a parking garage in Madeira Beach.

The boys had been living since last year with their maternal grandparents, who were granted permanent custody Tuesday.

Authorities have previously characterized the Hakkens as "anti-government."

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Thứ Năm, 4 tháng 4, 2013

Flight diverted after family raises concerns over PG-13 inflight movie

A family's criticism of inflight entertainment allegedly prompted a United flight to be diverted over "security concerns."

In a story published in The Atlantic, one family recounts traveling from Denver to Baltimore with two young sons, ages 4 and 8. During the flight, the PG-13-rated detective film "Alex Cross" was shown on drop-down monitors across the plane.

The family worried about their young children seeing inappropriate content in the film.

"Alarmed by the opening scenes, we asked two flight attendants if they could turn off the monitor; both claimed it was not possible," the family said, according to The Atlantic.

After some back and forth between the family and the flight crew, the family reportedly relented to the movie being shown and did their best to engage their children to keep them from watching the movie.

"We asked if the captain has the authority to address this issue, but received no response," the family said. "Throughout these interactions the atmosphere was collegial, no voices were raised and no threats, implicit or explicit, of any kind were made. The flight continued without incident, while my wife and I engaged our children to divert their attention from the horrific scenes on the movie screens."

But shortly after that, the captain announced the flight was being diverted to a Chicago airport due to "security concerns."

When the family disembarked, they were questioned by law enforcement officials then booked on a new flight.

"United flight 638 from Denver to Baltimore diverted to Chicago O'Hare after the crew reported a disturbance involving a passenger," United Airlines told FoxNews.com. "The flight landed without incident and the customers were removed from the aircraft. We reaccommodated the customers on the next flight to Baltimore and have since conducted a full review of our inflight entertainment."

The family argues the captain overreacted to the incident.

"We understand that airline captains can and should have complete authority," the family said. "However, when this authority is used for senseless, vindictive acts, it must be addressed."

The family also contends that United should reassess the movies they screen to ensure they are appropriate for all audiences.

"Had this been in a cinema or a restaurant, we would have simply left if the content were too violent," the family said. "Cruising at 30,000 feet, leaving was not an option.

Click for more from The Atlantic.

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Thứ Sáu, 15 tháng 3, 2013

Taking the kids for a family reunion on snow

Spring brings excellent snow and bluebird ski days to Breckenridge, Colo.Liam Doran
Winter pool at Breckenridge, Colo., BlueSky Breckenridge, a Wyndham Vacation Rentals property.Wyndham Vacation Rentals
I'm a fan of condos or houses for vacations with extended family. At one point, the shuttle driver at Blue Sky Breckenridge even ran down to the market to get us butter that we needed for the recipe we were in the middle of making.Ben Blankenburg
That we live on the opposite coast from my husband's family made us enjoy the hanging-out time in "our" living room in front of the fireplace at the Condo at Montaneros Lodge Vail.Montaneros Lodge Vail
The pool at Hilton Carlsbad.Darren Edwards

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What's for dinner?

No, we're not scrambling on a weeknight after getting home from work. We're on a gondola in Colorado Ski Country admiring the spectacular scenery on a bluebird day while having a spirited conversation about whether we want pasta, grilled steaks or fajitas. We've ruled out going out, though there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Vail, including right at Lionshead Village where our condo at Montaneros Lodge, a Wyndham Vacation Rental, is located.

Some families gather for reunions at the beach or a favorite theme park, for us it's the ski slopes. And cooking is always a big part of the equation, as is the time on the mountain, including this year on snowshoes. (Read more about our snowshoe adventures in my trip diaries)

There were round-robin emails in the weeks before the trip in which we discussed the menus and shopping lists. My husband, raised in Texas, brought his "famous" chili, frozen from home, and my British sister-in-law the ingredients for Shepherd's Pie.

The fully-equipped kitchen at the Montaneros Lodge Vail and later at the slopeside Blue Sky Breckenridge where we spent the second half of our trip (and the obliging staff who brought up whatever kitchen ware we were missing -- everything from an extra-large pot for the chili, a pan to bake cornbread, and a potato masher -- and the space to spread out is why I'm a fan of condos or houses for vacations with extended family. At one point, the shuttle driver at Blue Sky Breckenridge even ran down to the market to get us butter that we needed for the recipe we were in the middle of making. (I tipped him well!)

(Whether you are thinking of spring break on the slopes or early summer on the beach, you will find plenty of deals from Wyndham Vacation Rentals, which offers more than 100,000 professionally managed properties around the world. (Think upwards of 25 percent off for mountain digs or 20 percent off Gulf Coast lodging in May or June.)

This year in Colorado we were joined by two of our three kids, my husband's brother, his wife and their grown son. The extra space came in handy when the unexpected happened, as it often does on family vacations. First, friends of my youngest daughter (they all attend college in Colorado) were stranded by snow in Vail and couldn't drive back to school. Then my son got sick. The roomy condos allowed us first to host and feed the college girls and then give my son plenty of room to rest up with soup I cooked in the kitchen.

That we live on the opposite coast from my husband's family made us enjoy the hanging-out time in "our" living room in front of the fireplace all the more, too. The best part: Grown kids willing to share precious vacation time with their parents. "I never get time like this with my son at home," my sister-in-law whispered one night.

We're no different than most families who vacation together, according to a new survey on family vacations from the U.S. Travel Association, with which I partnered. The majority of parents -- and kids -- recently polled by Harris Interactive report they've taken a trip with extended family in the past five years. The adults polled explained they are seeking to create long-lasting memories, like those from their childhood vacations.

The vast majority of the kids polled agreed that some of their best memories are from family vacations. I'm glad to see that a family vacation is money well spent.

That's not to say these trips are perfect. Things never are when kids -- whatever their age -- are there. But in my experience, the missteps and hiccups can become the most treasured memories.

Spring, by the way, is a great time to hit the slopes with your favorite snow bunnies. There are great deals, plenty of sunshine and seemingly nonstop festivals. (A good resource is www.ski.com.)

The historic mining town of Breckenridge, for example, is touting the biggest spring celebration in the Rockies with more than 40 events in 30 days, starting on St. Patrick's Day and lasting through closing day on April 14. (Think Park, Pipe and Big Mountain camps for adults and kids, Easter egg hunts on the mountain and in town and the Annual Ripperoo Mascot Winter Olympics.)

Look for Ski Free Stay Free deals the first two weeks in April at Vail (www.vail.com). There are plenty of deals in New England too. Kids 17 and younger can ski free at Stratton Mountain Resort when two adults purchase a lift and lodging package starting at just $111 per adult after March 17. (Check here for more deals). Two adults can even ski free with a Waterville Valley package in New Hampshire.

It's not too late for a spring break deal, wherever you want to go. (Check out our Spring Break Adventures section that lists dozens of ideas.) The brand-new website www.getgoing.com, says it can reward travelers with up to 40 percent off airfare when they prove that they're traveling for leisure.

How? You plan two "perfect" trips and then allow the website to choose one for you. Hilton Hotels and Resorts, meanwhile, is touting a new Family Fun Package that offers daily breakfast for two adults and two children -- and I'm glad to see kids aren't limited to the kids' menus -- and free high-speed Internet access along with appealing rates.

As for us, we're already talking about where to meet for our ski trip next spring -- and what we'll be cooking.

The kids, of course, will do the dishes.

Eileen Ogintz is a syndicated columnist and writes about family travel on her Taking the Kids blog. Follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.

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