My Amazing Cousin: Travel With 5 Kids Using Only Backpacks

I have an incredible cousin who has five kids(4 girls and 1 boy, just like me!)
She has always inspired me to travel and have fun with my kids. Last year she traveled
to Europe with her kids and they did it all with backpacks! This year she has another
big trip and I loved learning how she does her packing She was willing to share some
pictures and answer some question on how she accomplishes this big job and
simplifies her traveling so she can enjoy her trip more with her kids.

The last year few years we've traveled to Florida for a week and accomplished it
with only backpacks. This year we'll be doing California and doing backpacks again.
It is amazing how it simplifies traveling, no waiting around for luggage, no worries
about lost luggage and kids can normally carry their own bag. I think it's a huge
help if you're changing accommodations too.

Maybe one of these days my counsin and I can do a trip with all our kids together.
That would make quite a site. 2 moms + 10 kids with only backpacks:)

Amber: How long are you traveling for?

Nancy: 22 days

Amber: What types of activities will you be doing on your trip?

Nancy: Activities include sightseeing in big city so lots of walking and parks for
playgrounds of Vancouver. Hiking a bit in mountains around lake Banff.
Alaska cruise panning  for gold in little creeks/river , touring port towns,
possibly visiting glaciers. Pools possibly on cruise boat.

Amber: How many adults, how many kids(ages)?

Nancy: How many adults and kids All of Canada there is 3 adults
5 Kids Emma 17, grace 13, Kennedy 10, Charlotte 5, Nicholas 18 months.
Alaska cruise Dan heads home and it’s a girls trip plus Nicholas

Amber: How often do you plan to do laundry while traveling?

Nancy: Total length of trip is 22 days so we plan laundry approx every
7 days local laundromat. So twice during the trip. Spot clean if needed
in sinks and hang to dry in room

Amber: Do you have your kids wear once and then wash or wear
until they are dirty?

Nancy: Kids wear clothes approx 2-3 times each. Depending on spills and dirt.
This trip has cool climate so they don’t sweat as much. I’d take a totally different
type of clothing to Caribbean. More dry fit stuff for that kind of trip

Amber: What types of layers do you pack?

Nancy: All things can be mixed and matched. Every single piece goes together
no matter the combo. Can layer leggings under the dress or the jeans if needed.
Shirts can also layer or cardigan over shirt then the jacket for warmth. Jacket has
a hood and is water resistant so good in case of rain. Jacket also folds up into its
pocket so when out exploring we use 1 backpack to take jackets in and pull them
out as needed

Jacket is from Land's End called a Packable Primaloft and it's on sale right now!

Amber: How many outfits?

Nancy: How many outfits. So 3 shirts 3 bottoms potentially 9 outfits not counting
layering leggings under the dress for a new look which makes 10 outfits you can
make. Pants and leggings can also be rolled to make capris if it’s warmer

Amber: How many underwear, socks, pjs, shoes do you pack?

Nancy: pack 7 underwear 7 socks 2 shoes 1 pj. A tennis shoe and some sort of
sandal probably some sort of crocs for this trip. I plan to spray tennis shoes with
waterproof stuff because Vancouver gets a lot of rain.  Also the reason for the crocs.
Lots of rain

Amber: Are there any extra things you pack in your backpack that the kids use?
If so, what items and how much?

Nancy: Extras is a biggie. My bag and my husbands and oldest daughters bags
carry extras.
We carry the:

toothpaste 1-2 tube travel size
Leave in conditioner
Lush foot powder amazing for smelly feet!
Deodorant travel size
Makeup and face wash
Brush and hair ties
Sunscreen travel size
Travel documents
Passports
Sunglasses
Wallets

We use hotel shampoo and conditioners and soaps and use leave in conditioner
to help with tangles from not great shampoo. Also I may take baby soap for the baby.
I have organic soap pieces instead of liquid so no spills and smaller. If we run out
of toothpaste we get it from hotel as we go or grocery store. Diapers and wipes.
I only take enough to get me there and through first night. I buy as I go so never
have to carry a ton.

Amber: Do your kids hate only have a few things to wear?

Nancy: Kids have no problem wearing same things. It’s easier on them and
me because there is no other options. It’s all they have.

Amber: Have you always been this way with packing?

Nancy: No haven’t always been this way with packing. The more kids I had the
more hands I needed and it became necessity. I can’t carry and move 5 tons of
luggage. Also depending on travel arrangements last year we did a ton of train travel
in Europe with quick changes of trains up and down stairs and platforms. It’s too hard
to move even small rolling luggage for 7 people and not forget one. Kids carry their
own backpack and I have hands to strap baby on and carry my own. Also I take a
stroller still.

Mesh Bags from Rick Steves

Backpack is a 31 One and the first time she is using this style.

Before & After Closet Makeover

Every mother I speak to says that the greatest encouragement is seeing how other mother's lives are transformed by minimizing the amount of stuff they deal with every day.

I recently had a mom come over to see how my closets look, and believe me they are far from perfect and I'm always looking for ways to improve. But I know being able to see the simplicity helps us to be able to realize that tackling these projects is worth the effort and it's possible!

Here is a before and after of someone from one of the Mother's of Preschooler's Groups where I spoke recently.

Amber T. "I actually went through the clothes 2-3 times. The first time I went through them, I got rid of anything that she hasn’t worn all month, had a stain, or was getting tight. The second time I went through them, I had my sister help me. Having a second set of eyes REALLY helped! And then, once I had all of her clothes cleaned and hung up, and the closet organized, I went through them one more time "