With my health challenges in February, my husband spent a lot more time as the primary caregiver for Mini Muffin and Little Smiling Man than usual. Don't get me wrong; he is always an involved parent, but there's a big difference between being an involved parent who leaves the home to work five days a week before the kids are up in the morning, and being a primary caregiver who spends every waking moment with the kids.
Fairly early in the process (when I wasn't able to contribute to their care at all aside from nursing), I came downstairs for lunch one day. All morning I'd been hearing various levels of whining, interactions between the kids, and general hoopla. As I entered the kitchen and course corrected Mini Muffin from pushing her brother, my husband said "Welcome to my day...", thought for a second and added "Of course you might just call this an average Tuesday...". To me, it didn't sound like an average Tuesday, but it did sound like the kids testing the boundaries to see exactly where they lay while Mama wasn't around. And sometimes, on a not so average Tuesday, that's my experience too. Regardless, it was nice to hear the acknowledgement that parenting is tough sometimes. While my husband has always recognised this, sometimes it's truly powerful to experience it for yourself.
As his time at home continued, they definitely got in a groove and I was able to help more and more. My husband started planning activities more proactively, and also became more strict about screen time, making for lots of family fun time. I think my husband experienced some of the awesome things - the snuggles, the play, the smiles and laughs. He also got to experience some of the tougher aspects for himself - a tough night of teething leading to both parent and baby being exhausted, and still needing to start the day with your toddler and find patience through your own exhaustion.
Last weekend, we also did an impromptu switching of places. We went out for a family brunch, and instead of our usual arrangement of me sitting with Little Smiling Man and him sitting with Mini Muffin, we changed it up. I think the original arrangement was just a remnant from the early days when we couldn't get through a meal without my needing to nurse the little guy, but regardless we'd never changed it! When Mini Muffin's meal came, I cut it up and got her going, and then turned to enjoy my own meal while my husband kept the flow of food going for Little Smiling Man. I didn't think much of it until the end of the meal when my husband said "Well, I think I now have a bit of appreciation for what it's usually like for you when we eat out". I had no idea what he meant until he explained to me that he was used to getting Mini Muffin set and then enjoying his own meal. But, when we had Little Smiling Man in his charge he was constantly needing to stop eating his own meal in order to cut up fruit or toast or cheese, that his fingers were sticky from the fruit, and that there weren't nearly enough napkins. I think I actually laughed, I'd never even thought about it, but it was all so true! I told him to just wait until Little Smiling Man is potty training and desperately needs a washroom break just as you're picking up your knife and fork for a lovely hot meal. It happens all the time to me with Mini Muffin!
On reflection, switching places has been really good for us. It's helped us appreciate each others norms, and has definitely helped improve our empathy towards each other. I know what it's like to be away from the kids for the day and only get a short time with them, and my husband knows how long a day can be with two little ones who need you for everything. He also knows how much fun it is when you get your stride and everyone is having fun; there's truly nothing better!
Friday, 11 March 2016
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Kid's Clothes Shopping Spree for Less
Last week I realised that both kids have gone through a growth spurt. Mini Muffin has grown 2" in the last two months and her 3T shirts are quickly becoming belly shirts. Little Smiling Man's 12 month sized pants are looking more like capris, and he's popping snaps on his 12 month onesies. It truly is incredible how quickly these kids grow!
As I started packing away the too small clothes, and pulling out the gifts, hand-me-downs, and previous purchases of the next sized up clothing, it quickly became apparent that neither Mini Muffin nor Little Smiling Man had nearly enough clothing for the coming weeks or months... or until the next growth spurt strikes!
So, on Friday I headed to my favourite consignment store to shore up my supplies of kid's clothes. I can't even pretend to enjoy shopping, and the thought of consignment shopping has always sent a shiver of fear through me - wading through crowded, disorganised racks of clothing in poor condition, searching for the gems. Thankfully, about a year ago I found my kind of consignment store. It's well organised and spacious, and they only buy new or very gently used quality clothing.
They price according to type of clothing, and regularly have clearance sales to keep their store from becoming over crowded with unpopular items. It's fantastic not having to carefully inspect each item, and the organisation and pricing scheme makes it easy to shop, and even to be picky about brands. When I have lots of time, I almost enjoy sifting through for amazing finds from Baby Gap, Carter's and Children's Place.
Unfortunately, when I went shopping on Friday, Little Smiling Man was not in the mood to stay still, and was very much enjoying wiggling away from me, crawling around corners, down aisles, and generally keeping me nicely distracted from the task at hand.
As a result, my shop was hurried, and I was less discerning than normal so there were more "expensive" (aka $4) purchases in my pile than normal. At the till, I had a bit of a shock when the total came to $75!! That is, until I looked at my huge bag of purchases, all name brand, and started estimating the retail value. I'm confident that I enjoyed massive savings, for a total of 27 high quality kid's clothing items, and was so excited I had to share!
So, for a grand total of $75, I was able to purchase the following -
Girl's 4T:
As I started packing away the too small clothes, and pulling out the gifts, hand-me-downs, and previous purchases of the next sized up clothing, it quickly became apparent that neither Mini Muffin nor Little Smiling Man had nearly enough clothing for the coming weeks or months... or until the next growth spurt strikes!
So, on Friday I headed to my favourite consignment store to shore up my supplies of kid's clothes. I can't even pretend to enjoy shopping, and the thought of consignment shopping has always sent a shiver of fear through me - wading through crowded, disorganised racks of clothing in poor condition, searching for the gems. Thankfully, about a year ago I found my kind of consignment store. It's well organised and spacious, and they only buy new or very gently used quality clothing.
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| Little Smiling Man scoping out the toy section |
As a result, my shop was hurried, and I was less discerning than normal so there were more "expensive" (aka $4) purchases in my pile than normal. At the till, I had a bit of a shock when the total came to $75!! That is, until I looked at my huge bag of purchases, all name brand, and started estimating the retail value. I'm confident that I enjoyed massive savings, for a total of 27 high quality kid's clothing items, and was so excited I had to share!
So, for a grand total of $75, I was able to purchase the following -
Girl's 4T:
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| Girl's 4T |
- 1 sundress
- 1 summer skirt
- 1 overall style dress
- 2 pairs of pants
- 1 fleece jacket (dressy)
- 1 sweatshirt
- 1 hat
- 6 long sleeved shirts
The highlight purchases were:
- Osh Kosh brand dress in new condition - $4
- Dressy fleece jacket from Old Navy in new condition - $4
- Big Hero 6 shirt featuring Honey Lemon - $1
- Disney brand Frozen sweatshirt for my little Frozen fiend - $2
Boy's 18-24 Months:
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| Boy's 18-24 Months |
- 1 3pc fleece outfit
- 1 2pc outfit
- 1 spring jacket
- 1 hooded sweater
- 2 short sleeved rompers
- 2 long sleeved rompers
- 1 short sleeved shirt
- 2 long sleeved shirts
- 1 swimsuit
- 1 hat
The highlight purchases were:
- 3pc Carter's fleece outfit in new condition; we had the same one in the 12 month size and I loved it. So happy to find another for only $4 instead of its original $20 retail price!
- Spring jacket in new condition - $3
- Brimmed summer hat with chin strap, new condition - $1
With the cheapest items likely running around $8 new, and the more expensive items being in the $20 range, I estimate that the average retail price for these items would be around $14, putting the total value of my purchases at about $380 (not including taxes) and nearly $430 including HST.
I must say that an estimated 80%+ savings on items we need is not bad for half an hour's distracted shopping! Next time I'll have to find time to go solo and see what finds I can find!
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Easy Win - Three Food Group Oatmeal Breakfast for Baby
After a difficult February, including the devastating first trimester loss of Little Smiling Man's precious little sibling, March has arrived with all of us on a more even keel.
Yesterday, I spent some time in my favourite baby cookbook - "Better Baby Food" by Kalnins and Saab, looking for inspiration to help dig Little Smiling Man out of his toast-with-Laughing-Cow-cheese-for-breakfast-food-rut. I did find inspiration and made it my own, and so I'm happy to share with you my easy, healthy, three food group oatmeal breakfast for baby! I love slipping veggies in unexpected places like breakfast or dessert, so this breakfast features veggies, dairy and grains.
Three Food Group Oatmeal Baby Breakfast
1/4 c quick cook oats
1/2 c 2% or homo milk
1/4 - 1/3 c roasted butternut squash, mashed
1. Combine oats and milk in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat, reduce heat to simmer.
3. Cook until thickened, about three minutes.
4. Add well mashed squash.
5. Allow oatmeal to cool to baby temperature, and serve.
Makes 2-3 baby servings. Appropriate for babies 8 months and older. To reheat, add a little more milk to maintain texture.
That's it! Super easy, and a healthy way to start the day, or finish off dinner. Little Smiling Man is a fan, and I'm a fan of getting a head start on our daily veggie quota. In future we'll try mixing it up, maybe trying sweet potatoes or carrots. But for now, aside from having to deal with clean up of a little boy with oatmeal plastered in his hair, I'd say this low effort meal is an easy win!
Yesterday, I spent some time in my favourite baby cookbook - "Better Baby Food" by Kalnins and Saab, looking for inspiration to help dig Little Smiling Man out of his toast-with-Laughing-Cow-cheese-for-breakfast-food-rut. I did find inspiration and made it my own, and so I'm happy to share with you my easy, healthy, three food group oatmeal breakfast for baby! I love slipping veggies in unexpected places like breakfast or dessert, so this breakfast features veggies, dairy and grains.
Three Food Group Oatmeal Baby Breakfast
1/4 c quick cook oats
1/2 c 2% or homo milk
1/4 - 1/3 c roasted butternut squash, mashed
1. Combine oats and milk in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat, reduce heat to simmer.
3. Cook until thickened, about three minutes.
4. Add well mashed squash.
5. Allow oatmeal to cool to baby temperature, and serve.
Makes 2-3 baby servings. Appropriate for babies 8 months and older. To reheat, add a little more milk to maintain texture.
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| Three Food Group Oatmeal Baby Breakfast |
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Solution to the Door Dilemma
It's been a little while! We enjoyed our long weekend, celebrating both Valentine's Day and Family Day. We kept our weekend pretty low key; I was pretty under the weather for most of it, but certainly did enjoy some family time.
When I was thinking about what to write today, I decided to share a recent "innovation" I've had to help keep Little Smiling Man safe while keeping my sanity in check. A few months ago, Mini Muffin learnt how to open doors. She had been closing doors for a while, but being able to open them as well was a complete game changer! Now, she enjoys asking for "privacy" and coming and going as she pleases. She also loves that now that Little Smiling Man is mobile, he can follow or sometimes even chase her. Sometimes, we close the gate at the top of the stairs, and the kids free range between the hallway and bedrooms while I do laundry, change bedding, etc. In general it wasn't a big deal - until the door opening situation developed. Now, it is very common for Mini Muffin to run down the hall ahead of her brother and slam her bedroom door (Mama cringes). Twenty seconds later, the door opens so that she can check to see if her brother is at her door, and when she sees that he is, she slams the door again (Mama cringes again). Twenty seconds later, repeat, and so on. The door slamming has been driving me crazy. But, beyond my nerves, I'm scared for Little Smiling Man's fingers! I'm afraid they'll be caught in the door, or worse on the hinge side.
A quick survey of Google told me to get a pool noodle, cut it into foot long pieces with a lengthwise slit. That way, it would fit across the top of the door, and the door would be unable to close. Well, funnily enough, pool noodles are in pretty short supply in February.
So, one day last week as I was folding laundry and found myself yelling that Mini Muffin needed to stop touching doors, it hit me! An easy solution, and better yet, a solution for which I had all the required materials! And just like that, my problem was solved.... I hung a folded hand towel in the middle of each door upstairs. It is easy to remove, very convenient and in ready supply. The thickness and placement on the door dictate how close to closing the door can come, and they're easy to remove when the doors do need to close (like nap time). Mini Muffin hates this innovation since her game is ruined, Little Smiling Man has safe fingers and can get into any room he wants, and Mama no longer cringes at the sound of slamming doors. Of course, I do spend a little more time keeping Little Smiling Man out of Mini Muffin's room when she doesn't want him there, but that seems a small price to pay.
So here it is... my simple solution to the great door dilemma!
When I was thinking about what to write today, I decided to share a recent "innovation" I've had to help keep Little Smiling Man safe while keeping my sanity in check. A few months ago, Mini Muffin learnt how to open doors. She had been closing doors for a while, but being able to open them as well was a complete game changer! Now, she enjoys asking for "privacy" and coming and going as she pleases. She also loves that now that Little Smiling Man is mobile, he can follow or sometimes even chase her. Sometimes, we close the gate at the top of the stairs, and the kids free range between the hallway and bedrooms while I do laundry, change bedding, etc. In general it wasn't a big deal - until the door opening situation developed. Now, it is very common for Mini Muffin to run down the hall ahead of her brother and slam her bedroom door (Mama cringes). Twenty seconds later, the door opens so that she can check to see if her brother is at her door, and when she sees that he is, she slams the door again (Mama cringes again). Twenty seconds later, repeat, and so on. The door slamming has been driving me crazy. But, beyond my nerves, I'm scared for Little Smiling Man's fingers! I'm afraid they'll be caught in the door, or worse on the hinge side.
A quick survey of Google told me to get a pool noodle, cut it into foot long pieces with a lengthwise slit. That way, it would fit across the top of the door, and the door would be unable to close. Well, funnily enough, pool noodles are in pretty short supply in February.
So, one day last week as I was folding laundry and found myself yelling that Mini Muffin needed to stop touching doors, it hit me! An easy solution, and better yet, a solution for which I had all the required materials! And just like that, my problem was solved.... I hung a folded hand towel in the middle of each door upstairs. It is easy to remove, very convenient and in ready supply. The thickness and placement on the door dictate how close to closing the door can come, and they're easy to remove when the doors do need to close (like nap time). Mini Muffin hates this innovation since her game is ruined, Little Smiling Man has safe fingers and can get into any room he wants, and Mama no longer cringes at the sound of slamming doors. Of course, I do spend a little more time keeping Little Smiling Man out of Mini Muffin's room when she doesn't want him there, but that seems a small price to pay.
So here it is... my simple solution to the great door dilemma!
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| An easy way to keep little fingers safe! |
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Valentines Completed!
We finally finished! 24 Valentine's Day cards from a two year old have been completed!
We started on Sunday, and finished this afternoon (Thursday). Obviously we spent just a little bit of time working on them each day, and it worked out very well since it stayed fun for Mini Muffin the whole way through. She's always loved craft time, and since every time we sat down there was a new component to work on, they made for a pretty interesting project.
Our process was as follows -
First, I prepped the cards and used my Cricut to cut out hearts. I then put glue on the hearts and passed them to Mini Muffin to stick to the front of each card. Some of them are very centred... others not so much.
Next, I addressed the cards, and Mini Muffin "wrote" in them with pink crayon.
And, finally we pulled out my container of dollar store craft goodies (pom poms, flowers, jewels, etc), and Mini Muffin showed me where she wanted glue on the front of each card to finish up decorating them. Luckily for the first two thirds she was happy just putting one thing in the middle of the heart. Towards the end, the cards were becoming pretty heavily adorned (and time consuming as well!).
I love the end result! I think she did a great job, and they're definitely from the heart. Tonight, I'll attach a mini container of bubble solution to each of them, and they'll be ready to go!
Happy Valentine's Day!
We started on Sunday, and finished this afternoon (Thursday). Obviously we spent just a little bit of time working on them each day, and it worked out very well since it stayed fun for Mini Muffin the whole way through. She's always loved craft time, and since every time we sat down there was a new component to work on, they made for a pretty interesting project.
Our process was as follows -
First, I prepped the cards and used my Cricut to cut out hearts. I then put glue on the hearts and passed them to Mini Muffin to stick to the front of each card. Some of them are very centred... others not so much.
Next, I addressed the cards, and Mini Muffin "wrote" in them with pink crayon.
And, finally we pulled out my container of dollar store craft goodies (pom poms, flowers, jewels, etc), and Mini Muffin showed me where she wanted glue on the front of each card to finish up decorating them. Luckily for the first two thirds she was happy just putting one thing in the middle of the heart. Towards the end, the cards were becoming pretty heavily adorned (and time consuming as well!).
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| Tada! Beautifully decorated cards for friends! |
Happy Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Simply Delicious - Fruity Oatmeal Bites
Little Smiling Man has seriously been enjoying raspberries this week. It's the first time in a couple of months that we've had them on hand, and he will truly eat as many as I give him. He just can't seem to get enough!
This morning, I decided to make a quick and easy breakfast I haven't made in ages and that Little Smiling Man has actually never had before (and would give him that raspberry taste he loves so much)! I originally came across this recipe on an online forum focused on babies, as an idea for baby finger foods, and have made it many times since. It's a fun way for babies and toddlers to enjoy their oatmeal, and makes a nice change from the usual cereal, bowl of oatmeal or toast. It also makes an easy breakfast or snack on the go since it's a non-sticky finger food. Enjoy!
Fruity Oatmeal Bites
1/2 banana
5 raspberries (approx.)
1/4 cup quick cook oats
1. Thoroughly mash banana and raspberries. The banana should be mashed until the point that it's pretty much smooth.
2. Mix in oats, making sure that they're thoroughly coated with banana.
3. Transfer to a plate, forming the mixture into a square.
4. Microwave on high, for approximately three minutes. You're looking for the oatmeal to be held together enough to lift off the plate as a square, but still soft enough for little ones to enjoy. If it's undercooked it will be too soft to transfer off the plate, and if it's over cooked it gets very chewy/hard as it cools. It may take a few times to find the right time for your microwave.
5. Cut into bite sized pieces and serve once cool enough.
The final verdict? Little Smiling Man thought it was fantastic and gobbled the whole thing up. I suppose it's not really surprising since bananas and raspberries are two of his favourite things! I suspect that I'll be making this one for him many times in the future. We may also start experimenting with a few variations, like adding some nut butter for protein, or using different berries. So many possibilities....
This morning, I decided to make a quick and easy breakfast I haven't made in ages and that Little Smiling Man has actually never had before (and would give him that raspberry taste he loves so much)! I originally came across this recipe on an online forum focused on babies, as an idea for baby finger foods, and have made it many times since. It's a fun way for babies and toddlers to enjoy their oatmeal, and makes a nice change from the usual cereal, bowl of oatmeal or toast. It also makes an easy breakfast or snack on the go since it's a non-sticky finger food. Enjoy!
Fruity Oatmeal Bites
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| Cooked bites, after being transferred from plate. |
1/2 banana
5 raspberries (approx.)
1/4 cup quick cook oats
1. Thoroughly mash banana and raspberries. The banana should be mashed until the point that it's pretty much smooth.
2. Mix in oats, making sure that they're thoroughly coated with banana.
3. Transfer to a plate, forming the mixture into a square.
4. Microwave on high, for approximately three minutes. You're looking for the oatmeal to be held together enough to lift off the plate as a square, but still soft enough for little ones to enjoy. If it's undercooked it will be too soft to transfer off the plate, and if it's over cooked it gets very chewy/hard as it cools. It may take a few times to find the right time for your microwave.
5. Cut into bite sized pieces and serve once cool enough.
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| Ready for little fingers! |
Monday, 8 February 2016
Cutest Conversation
Mini Muffin will be two and three quarters this weekend. Where has the time gone? She's very talkative these days, and enjoys telling us all about the world around her in a stream of consciousness style of monologue. Sometimes she comes out with some real gems!
As I write, she's having her nap. We went through our normal naptime routine, but diverged slightly for a very cute conversation once the lights were out. Normally once the light is out, she knows she needs to be still and quiet. Today however, as we were holding hands and she was settling in to her rest, she said in a very serious voice:
"Mommy, can I talk to you for a couple of minutes?"
I felt like I was in one of those parenting videos - this would be a defining moment where my child would learn that she can always talk to me and that I'll always listen, and it would help her to grow into a confident and well adjusted kid. Feeling like she was about to open up her little heart to me, I replied:
"Of course you can, sweetheart."
"Okay... So, how is your day going on?"
(stifling a chuckle) "I'm having a very good day, thank you. I've been having a lot of fun with you and your brother. How is your day going?"
"My day is good. I got to play, and I had peanut butter bites for lunch... How is my brother's day going on?"
"He's having a pretty good day I think. He got to play with his baby friends this morning. But, I think he's pretty itchy as well, so that's not great."
"He's having a rough day I think, if he's all itchy."
"I guess he is. Now, we can talk more after your rest, it's time to be quiet and still now."
"But, we're talking about our day!"
"Yes, and I love hearing about your day, but it's time to be quiet and still for your rest. We'll talk lots more after you wake up."
What a sweetheart! I thought it was the sweetest thing when she wanted to ask after my day, and she did so in such a serious way; it let me know that it was important to her. I thought it was cute that she mentioned her lunch as a highlight, since I had specially made her favourite lunch for her. And, I thought it was so sweet that she wanted to know about Little Smiling Man's day as well.
The whole thing was just warm and fuzzy and oh so cute. After she finished talking, she snuggled in and drifted off for her rest. It really was one of those parenting moments that you just want to hold onto and play back in your mind as they grow up and change. I am so fortunate to have such a precious little daughter!
As I write, she's having her nap. We went through our normal naptime routine, but diverged slightly for a very cute conversation once the lights were out. Normally once the light is out, she knows she needs to be still and quiet. Today however, as we were holding hands and she was settling in to her rest, she said in a very serious voice:
"Mommy, can I talk to you for a couple of minutes?"
I felt like I was in one of those parenting videos - this would be a defining moment where my child would learn that she can always talk to me and that I'll always listen, and it would help her to grow into a confident and well adjusted kid. Feeling like she was about to open up her little heart to me, I replied:
"Of course you can, sweetheart."
"Okay... So, how is your day going on?"
(stifling a chuckle) "I'm having a very good day, thank you. I've been having a lot of fun with you and your brother. How is your day going?"
"My day is good. I got to play, and I had peanut butter bites for lunch... How is my brother's day going on?"
"He's having a pretty good day I think. He got to play with his baby friends this morning. But, I think he's pretty itchy as well, so that's not great."
"He's having a rough day I think, if he's all itchy."
"I guess he is. Now, we can talk more after your rest, it's time to be quiet and still now."
"But, we're talking about our day!"
"Yes, and I love hearing about your day, but it's time to be quiet and still for your rest. We'll talk lots more after you wake up."
What a sweetheart! I thought it was the sweetest thing when she wanted to ask after my day, and she did so in such a serious way; it let me know that it was important to her. I thought it was cute that she mentioned her lunch as a highlight, since I had specially made her favourite lunch for her. And, I thought it was so sweet that she wanted to know about Little Smiling Man's day as well.
The whole thing was just warm and fuzzy and oh so cute. After she finished talking, she snuggled in and drifted off for her rest. It really was one of those parenting moments that you just want to hold onto and play back in your mind as they grow up and change. I am so fortunate to have such a precious little daughter!
Friday, 5 February 2016
Kid's Books We Love - B is for Breakdancing Bear
Earlier today, we were reading a recent addition to our favourite books - B is for Breakdancing Bear. My sister discovered this book, and gifted it to us for Christmas. I have to say, it's fantastic - it's so much more than your average ABC book! It's been in heavy rotation ever since we received it, and as such I decided to highlight it as the first in the "kid's books we love" series (read more about the background for this series here).
As the cover boasts it's "an awesome alphabet of astonishing animals", so there's a surprise at each turn of the page. You will not believe what these animals get up to - they're DJs, they ice skate, they zip line, they box. It makes for a fun read, full of laughter and surprises. Can you think of a better way to learn your alphabet than through fun and laughter?
Little Smiling Man is still a bit on the young side to be really into it, though he does keep grabbing at the pages so he must be somewhat interested. Thankfully it's a sturdy board book, so it stands up to his attempts to take over our reading sessions!
Mini Muffin loves it. Simply loves it. A typical reading goes something like this; I read the start of each page - "A is for acrobatic..."; then Mini Muffin chimes in - "Alligator!". She's even learnt a few new animals through the process, such as the Officer Orangutan, and the Undercover Urchin. A typical reading session that involves this book often includes at least two readings, if not more, and she has fun with it each time.
So, all in all, this is a kid's book we love - it's fun, educational, surprising and silly. And, with a title and cover art that feature a breakdancing bear, how could you go wrong? If you choose to search this one out, I hope your family loves it as much as mine does!
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| Available for purchase via Amazon (and other great retailers) |
Little Smiling Man is still a bit on the young side to be really into it, though he does keep grabbing at the pages so he must be somewhat interested. Thankfully it's a sturdy board book, so it stands up to his attempts to take over our reading sessions!
Mini Muffin loves it. Simply loves it. A typical reading goes something like this; I read the start of each page - "A is for acrobatic..."; then Mini Muffin chimes in - "Alligator!". She's even learnt a few new animals through the process, such as the Officer Orangutan, and the Undercover Urchin. A typical reading session that involves this book often includes at least two readings, if not more, and she has fun with it each time.
So, all in all, this is a kid's book we love - it's fun, educational, surprising and silly. And, with a title and cover art that feature a breakdancing bear, how could you go wrong? If you choose to search this one out, I hope your family loves it as much as mine does!
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
A Sprinkle of a Celebration
Over the weekend we enjoyed getting together with some good friends to play, visit and celebrate. My two best mommy friends have daughters who are within six weeks in age to Mini Muffin, so we've always had fun getting together. One of them also has a son who is only two weeks younger than Little Smiling Man, so we have also very much enjoyed getting the boys together and spending time together during our maternity leaves. The third friend is due with a little boy in just a few weeks, so we will all have "matching" families!
We took some time for the girls to play (which we all wish would happen more often), and to celebrate the little man that will soon be joining us. Since showers aren't a thing for second babies, we had a little "sprinkle" to surprise her. We had snacks, cupcakes, lots of fun, and sent her home with meals for her freezer to help during those first few hazy weeks with a new baby. She was surprised, and very pleased with the home cooked food she received, and, well, everyone loves cupcakes. Especially chocolate ones with creamed cheese icing!
My original vision was a bit grander... there would be nicely decorated cupcakes (or even a cake!), the girls would do a Valentine's Day craft, and not only would I have food for my friend's freezer, but would also send her home with fresh baked muffins. I held fast to this concept... until about 9pm Saturday. At that point, the Thai Coconut Chicken I was making for her was about 75% complete, the cupcakes weren't started, and I had no craft planned (let alone set up). Thinking forward, I realised that to have my husband, myself, and both kids fed and dressed, a snack set out, and the house play date ready by 10am the next morning when our guests would arrive, would be a feat in itself! I quickly readjusted my priorities.
First, the chicken supper for my friend's freezer. Sending her home with delicious and easy suppers was the big driver for getting everyone together. Once it was cooked, the pot was relocated to the garage to cool overnight. My original vision of giving the meal in a foil pan over rice was dashed when I realised that I forgot to get the pans. However with hindsight I realised that gifting the meals in freezer bags would make for smaller storage in what would hopefully be a freezer full of good food! And, it was super easy to finish off in the morning. Phew!
Second, the cupcakes to celebrate with! I used a mix (gasp!), and got them baked before bed. Icing waited until morning, and instead of fancy piped decorations with blue tinted icing, I used some blue candies I'd picked up ahead of time just in case. It was a super quick alternative that gave almost the same effect. As a bonus, everyone seemed to enjoy the contrast of sour candies with sweet cake and icing.
In the end, we were ready and waiting for our guests. The girls had a blast, and after playing in princess dresses we even had to do a thorough de-glittering of our basement (surely, that's the sign of a good party!). We all enjoyed a healthy snack of cheese, crackers, apples, grapes and milk, and then indulged in cupcakes. The cupcakes were definitely a hit - both of my mommy friends requested to take some home! And, everyone left just after noon to head home for nap time.
Looking at the morning as a whole, I think it's fair to say that it didn't match my original vision, but the most important elements were there. Friends both little and big, fun, laughter, and a cause to celebrate. We didn't need fancy cupcakes, structured activities, or bags and bags of food to send home with our friend. We needed to take some time out, enjoy our children, and gift what we could to our friend in celebration of her growing family.
It really was a perfect morning to remember.
We took some time for the girls to play (which we all wish would happen more often), and to celebrate the little man that will soon be joining us. Since showers aren't a thing for second babies, we had a little "sprinkle" to surprise her. We had snacks, cupcakes, lots of fun, and sent her home with meals for her freezer to help during those first few hazy weeks with a new baby. She was surprised, and very pleased with the home cooked food she received, and, well, everyone loves cupcakes. Especially chocolate ones with creamed cheese icing!
My original vision was a bit grander... there would be nicely decorated cupcakes (or even a cake!), the girls would do a Valentine's Day craft, and not only would I have food for my friend's freezer, but would also send her home with fresh baked muffins. I held fast to this concept... until about 9pm Saturday. At that point, the Thai Coconut Chicken I was making for her was about 75% complete, the cupcakes weren't started, and I had no craft planned (let alone set up). Thinking forward, I realised that to have my husband, myself, and both kids fed and dressed, a snack set out, and the house play date ready by 10am the next morning when our guests would arrive, would be a feat in itself! I quickly readjusted my priorities.
First, the chicken supper for my friend's freezer. Sending her home with delicious and easy suppers was the big driver for getting everyone together. Once it was cooked, the pot was relocated to the garage to cool overnight. My original vision of giving the meal in a foil pan over rice was dashed when I realised that I forgot to get the pans. However with hindsight I realised that gifting the meals in freezer bags would make for smaller storage in what would hopefully be a freezer full of good food! And, it was super easy to finish off in the morning. Phew!
Second, the cupcakes to celebrate with! I used a mix (gasp!), and got them baked before bed. Icing waited until morning, and instead of fancy piped decorations with blue tinted icing, I used some blue candies I'd picked up ahead of time just in case. It was a super quick alternative that gave almost the same effect. As a bonus, everyone seemed to enjoy the contrast of sour candies with sweet cake and icing.
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| It's a boy! Chocolate cupcakes with creamed cheese icing... mmm... |
Looking at the morning as a whole, I think it's fair to say that it didn't match my original vision, but the most important elements were there. Friends both little and big, fun, laughter, and a cause to celebrate. We didn't need fancy cupcakes, structured activities, or bags and bags of food to send home with our friend. We needed to take some time out, enjoy our children, and gift what we could to our friend in celebration of her growing family.
It really was a perfect morning to remember.
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
We love books!
Books have always been a huge part of my life. My father was an elementary school resource librarian and (as you'd expect) a huge lover of books, so from a very early age I had 'appropriate literature' readily available to me at home. As I got older, my father knew the librarians at every school I attended, so I always had dedicated and passionate resource librarians looking out for me and suggesting fantastic books for me to read. As an adult, we regularly exchanged books as a family, reading and discussing and enjoying great literature.
Now that I'm a parent, I'm doing my best to ensure that books are a huge part of my children's lives. My father always said that adults should read picture books too. I never really understood it, but now appreciate that a good picture book can have strong meaning, and a well illustrated picture book has a work of art to share with every turned page. We have books all over the house, so there's always a book close at hand. As a result, we probably read a dozen or so books a day and cuddling up for a story is definitely one of Mini Muffin's favourite pastimes.... and favourite ways to procrastinate on actually going to bed!
All of this got me to thinking. We've been discovering so many fantastic books lately, I think that in the near future I'll start writing a few posts that share some of our favourite kid's books. With so many books to love, and so many choices in the bookstores, I might as well put my two cents out there as to the best and brightest offerings out there! I hope you'll enjoy the series - stay tuned!
Now that I'm a parent, I'm doing my best to ensure that books are a huge part of my children's lives. My father always said that adults should read picture books too. I never really understood it, but now appreciate that a good picture book can have strong meaning, and a well illustrated picture book has a work of art to share with every turned page. We have books all over the house, so there's always a book close at hand. As a result, we probably read a dozen or so books a day and cuddling up for a story is definitely one of Mini Muffin's favourite pastimes.... and favourite ways to procrastinate on actually going to bed!
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| Morning reading requests - nine books! |
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