FOUND IT, NOW USE IT!

I have been a total slacker on this blog as of late.  However, this doesn't mean that I have been slacking at home.  Well, I am always a slacker when it comes to cleaning because I can't keep up with constant ideas/brainstorm screaming my name.  I actually wanted to be at Lee University's Homecoming or a retreat with my church, but I am a make lemonade out of lemons kinda gal!  What lemonade am I making this weekend?  Planning for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and everything in between.  I am searching Christmas PJs for the family, planning our annual Christmas brunch, rummaging through old magazines, kissing the babies, eating donuts (had to slide that in),  and ATTEMPTING to get our basement cleaned up!  While rummaging through old magazines, I came across something that you guys (all of 3 that may still read this) might like to use.  There is an artist in Cincinnati that is often featured in Family Fun Magazine.  She has a really great lunch survey and a new thankful survey.  Check them out!  Love, love it!

Since I mentioned the lunch survey, I should mention that I have become crazy mom when it comes to packing the kids' lunches.  My Dad (you read that correctly) packed the most amazing lunches for me as a school gal.  He would write notes, use a sandwich puncher that said "Have a nice Day," and made me egg sandwiches any day I wanted.  I can proudly say that I only bought school lunch one time as a child.  That one day confirmed packed lunches weren't for me!  Last week, I had a blast with the Fall/Halloween theme.  My Little Mr. and Miss seem to love finding out what I have packed because they are quick to share with their grandparents when I drop them off!  I keep forgetting to take some pics!
I have found some really creative blogs that have sparked some serious creativity.  Check out these websites:

BENTOBLOGGY
LUNCH PUNCH
ANOTHER LUNCH...my absolute favorite!!!

Sensory Table...of sorts

Last year, while Little Man was in preschool, he would come home excited about playing in a sensory table.  I tried to figure out how I could make one and got to talking with my friend, Colleen.  She gave me the great idea of using a flat storage container.  I change the "sensory" material every so often.  The possibilities are endless...flour, rice, beans, shredded paper, pebbles, pasta, etc.  In the following picture, we were using Moon Sand.  I love it!  I throw in some tools that they can use to explore.  Rules are that no tools can be taken out of table and "sensory" item must stay inside.  This makes clean up super easy...pop the lid on and forget about it.

Top Mommy Blogs

So, upon chance, as most things happen for me when playing on the computer...I came across this website about Top Mommy Blogs. You must check it out! I love being a mommy and finding new ideas to make my life just a bit easier and add some flare. You must check it out! I have already added several of the sites to my blog list. Yes, that means there is more for me to try and accomplish while my house looks like a war zone! Happy searching!

Traveling with Kids

Not too long ago, a friend ask for some traveling tips for flying with small children. I am no expert, but have been traveling with the kids since they were super small. Let's see, LM was 8 weeks old on his first plane trip. Miss Peanut was 4 weeks old when we made a 15 hour road trip. Since I just got back from a trip to see my family in Oklahoma, I thought I could relay some of those tips.

1. Create little goodie bag or presents for kids to open up. This last trip, I had little Halloween bags filled with little trinkets (necklace, flip bracelet, tattoos, gummy Lifesavers, etc.).
2. Bring lots of snacks/drinks and when you think you have enough...add some more. You can NEVER have enough! Security lets you bring small drinks through if they are for kids.
3. Have Clorox wipes and antibacterial wipes handy. I'd wipe everything down!
4. Bring activities and books that revolve around a theme.
5. Blankets are a necessity, so the kids don't get cold!
6. Extra clothing/socks for YOU and kids! Trust me...you may need them for yourself. Miss P threw up one time all over herself, Brian, me, and the man sitting near us! We didn't have extra clothes for Brian. YUCK!
7. Make sure the shoes you and kids are wearing are comfortable and easy to get on and off quickly. Security check requires everyone take shoes off and it is awful when people are rushing you to hurry up. You may also want to make sure you all are wearing socks...just seems gross for everyone's bare feet germs to be everywhere.
8. Take a stroller...even if your kids are bigger. Most airports I have flown out of have a special line for this! IT IS SHORTER and helps you avoid standing in a long line with small children. The stroller also makes it easier to keep track of kids because getting distracted will happen in an airport filled with chaos!
9. Take pics of the people you are going to see...builds excitement for kids.
10. DO NOT take any liquids that are more than 2 ounces. You must have liquids in a plastic bag too!
11. Have gum, pacifier, bottle, or chewy candy ready for landing and take off. This helps release tension in their little ears when the air pressure changes.
12. This was my first time on a plane with a DVD player and it would have worked out great if I had charged it! :)
13. Minimize your bags into 1. That means no purse...put important stuff in the big bag and pack purse in suitcase. You can switch it over when you get there!
14. Be prepared to deal with flight personnel and passengers that don't love kids. I hate this, but it is so true! Smile, but remember to protect your kids!

***Couple of funny things that happened on this trip...

• While working with Little Man, Miss Thing spilled a tiny bit of water. She was taking her clothes off when I turned around to check on her! Nothing like a streaker on a plane!
• LM accidentally spilled his drink all over the man sitting next to him. Keep in mind that he was asleep! Ha! What a way to wake up. The guy was totally awesome about it, but I was super mortified!
• The above weren't so bad! I have been on a 12 passenger plane's restroom with two kids. LM was using the restroom while I had Miss Peanut on my hip. She began vomiting all over the lavatory door. That was a mess! Never a dull moment!

HAPPY TRAVELING!

Family Fun...Halloween Party?

If you are a parent of young children, you MUST subscribe to the FAMILY FUN magazine! It is like Christmas for me every time it arrives. I like to pick and choose a few activities that I can do with the fam and/or my students. I have been getting it for the last several years and I KEEP EVERY SINGLE ONE! It is filled with wonderful ideas.

Today, I got the Halloween issue. Now, I am not into all the ghosts, goblins, witches, and demonic stuff...BUT...I love to dress the kids up and love FALL activities. For the last two years, we have had a kids' costume party. I was thinking this year that we wouldn't do it, but LM saw all of the Halloween decor in the stores and wants to do it! What to do?

It actually is a lot of fun. We work together to do a goodie bag invitation. Then we dress in black and deliver the invites...only we never let anyone see us! We run to the doorbell, drop the bag, and speed off in the car. SO FUN and quite an adrenaline rush! At the party, the guests bring their own spooky treat to share, we play games, and then have a Halloween parade (trick or treat at designated houses). The kids and adults love it. Now, I just have to decide if we should go for it or not? I want to have the Christmas Brunch again too, but don't want people go get sick of us!

HELP ME DECIDE! SHOULD WE OR NOT?

MOMMY TIP: Mini Ice-Pack

There are a couple of mommas that have been reading this mini-blog. I want to be the first to admit that I am no Wonder Mom. I do, however, have a great passion for being the very best mom that I can be. One way, I try to climb the Mommy Mountain is by picking up little tips along the way and using them to make our lives a bit easier. I thought I could try and pass on some of that knowledge to those of you reading this blog. So, every so often, I will try to drop some of my favorite little tips or new tips I pick up! You guys can e-mail me some of your tips and I can post those too!

MOMMY TIP: Use a fast-food condiment packet as a mini ice-pack for kiddle wounds.

Snag a few next time you're out...pop it in the fridge and viola. They are the perfect size and my kids love them!