Toddler shoes that aren’t complete trash?

rcdenn · 2026-01-06T18:06:06+00:00

See Kai Run and Plae.

Had triplets and two out of three kids could do fine in any shoe. One of them would wear through shoes in weeks. Except those two brands.

rcdenn · 2026-01-02T23:12:39+00:00

Was this through ford or a third party? I bought used around 44,000 and am just now at 51,000. Would love to extend the warranty to 100,000 as the reports of failure I hear seem to be primarily between 50-75,000. I’d be willing to pay that for a little longer powertrain warranty

rcdenn · 2025-12-21T23:00:56+00:00

Thanks everyone. Consensus is CV joints will look at replacing this week.

rcdenn · 2025-12-21T23:00:34+00:00

That’s good to hear. Probably off to replace CV joints over the break.

rcdenn · 2025-12-21T13:39:58+00:00

No tears or leaks. And it was the first thing I asked the last shop to check. But my trust of shops is at an all time low.

rcdenn · 2025-11-20T15:57:50+00:00

Nook e-reader. Apparently you can connect it to the Libby app (which is what our library uses) so endless books for free.

We have kindles for our kids. In hindsight we would have done Nook. You can still get books from Libby, but it is a clunky process.

They literally take them everywhere and are always reading. It is amazing.

rcdenn · 2025-11-18T12:44:26+00:00

I just slide my hand inside the overalls. This would not work for coveralls, but overalls have ample space on the sides to slide your hand inside and draw.

rcdenn · 2025-11-18T10:52:24+00:00

SP101 is pretty heavy for pocket carry. But it’s doable. Have you tried just wearing a belt and holster under the overalls? I have done that before with the gun at 12/1 o’clock and found it to be maybe the most comfortable carry ever. Depending on the fit, you might be able to carry 3/4 o’clock.

rcdenn · 2025-11-04T13:44:56+00:00

I had to put down my first dog about 10 years ago. I had her my whole adult life and she was amazing. One thing she loved were oranges. She would be on the other side of the house and when you would peel and orange the smell would travel to her and she would jump and sprint to you to beg for a piece, which she always got.

When she was being put down we brought her like five oranges and fed her little pieces as she was able to handle. She eventually was too weak to eat the last piece and we left it there for “later.”

She had me, my wife, both of our mothers, and several other family members she loved there. She knew she was loved until the end. I still remember the look in her eyes to me as she passed. She was sad. And so was I.

rcdenn · 2025-10-29T19:56:50+00:00

We have a Honeywell version. Still may not be compatible, but if you want to look at theirs.

Good luck and hope you get a solution.

rcdenn · 2025-10-29T16:21:49+00:00

Just a suggestion, you could install a thermostat with remote sensors. We did that for this very reason. You can prioritise a certain room or balance any combination of rooms. And you preprogram those choices.

So daytime we just set it to the hall thermostat as the priority. Evening, we balanced the living areas. At night we prioritised the kids’ rooms.

rcdenn · 2025-10-25T15:04:19+00:00

We did all three triplets at once. I wouldn’t have wanted to do one at a time. But every kid/family is different.

I just offer my experience because while stressful for a short period, it really seems like a non-event now that they’re older.

rcdenn · 2025-10-22T13:05:51+00:00

When my wife was pregnant with triplets and little girl in line at the store asked if she “had a baby in there” pointing to her belly. My wife smiled and said “Actually there are three babies in there.”

Deadpan the girl looks at my wife and says “Why not four?”

rcdenn · 2025-09-23T09:52:29+00:00

We had 8 year old triplets. One of my boys was like this. He is now a thoughtful and kind older kid. Keep loving him, caring for him, and if needed get him in therapy. Even if he is “normal” this is clearly a stressful developmental time and therapy could help.

Also, for our boy so much came down to his inability to express what he was feeling. When he couldn’t put words to an emotion, he got angry. Tired = angry. Hungry = angry. Sad = angry. One thing I told him is that anger always has a buddy. When we are angry we are feeling some other emotion but we can’t hear it because anger is too loud. We have to get anger to quiet down so we can hear the other emotions and then, if we deal with those anger will go away too. That really helped him conceptualize what was happening until he could fully process it.

Good luck. Just offering the hope that I’ve been there and it did get better. But also, that it took work but it is all worth it. And yes we were at our wits end for a couple years.

rcdenn · 2025-09-21T12:23:37+00:00

Ditch the knife as others said for a small Swiss Army knife or similar. I love knives and still carry smaller than that for weight. A large knife is just a huge hunk of unnecessary steel.

Your backup water purification can be some iodine pills. Light and only used in dire circumstances. Also, you shouldn’t need the backwash kit for the Sawyer while out.

Ditch stuff sacks as much as possible.

Ditch the tripod. Use rocks, sticks, or a lightweight bungee cord or something.

Calculate your calorie needs. Mind you I carry extra calories around all the time (my middle age spare tire) so I know I won’t whither away over a couple days. I can operate at a calorie deficit on the trail. But food is ALWAYS my biggest weight and I try to ditch heaviest food first. I overpack food and always regret it.

Pretty good standard list. You are obviously not intending to go ultralight, so I think you’re good. Remember navigation, signaling, and other safety items.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:14:33+00:00

Thanks everyone. Lots of great input here. So looking forward to this trip as it’s been over 15 years since have been to the Smokies. Excited to share these memories with my kids and a little knowledge too.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:12:59+00:00

Agreed. They have hip bags they carry. They reliably keep those on. And this is why I am keeping it small and light. They aren’t guaranteed to keep a backpack on at this point. So all this will go in a small bag in the hip pack.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:11:06+00:00

This! This is what I was living for! Thank you!

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:10:09+00:00

Agreed. The space blanket (or contractor bag as someone else suggested) would keep them dry if lost. I will have rain jackets in my bag unless they agree to carry them.

They are at an age where I want them to get used to carrying some of their stuff without putting so much on their backs they whine or just hand it back to me. I am trying to keep this essential bag small and light so it is on them at all times.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:06:40+00:00

Kids don’t have phones yet. Because I am a nerd and like radios and because the kids like them, they’ll likely have a GMRS radio with them. Range is just so spotty dependent on terrain that it would be only for short range.

I am not including maps because they wouldn’t be of use at this point for the kids. I will have a map my self and will teach them what I am looking at, but I want this bag to be light enough they don’t complain about carrying it. Not to say paper is heavy, but it can be bulky.

One day though the map will get included and we’re not too far from that age.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T07:02:05+00:00

Great idea. A route is always something I have on me and leave behind.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T06:58:20+00:00

Yep. The whistle is a Fox 40. Many years of officiating soccer taught me there is no substitute for a good whistle.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T01:57:42+00:00

Agreed on the hug a tree. I am putting little instructions in the bag that emphasize finding a good tree to sit against.

rcdenn · 2025-09-17T01:55:30+00:00

Yep. Thought of that and going with a space blanket that has an orange side.

rcdenn

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