Recipe: Lucky Charm Bird Nest Treats

Ever since Squishy started school we've been doing a lot of cooking.  While it can be time consuming, and messy, to try to cook with a three year old, it also has a ton of benefits.

• Teaches her how to cook
• Teaches her how long it takes mommy and daddy to make the food she refuses to eat
• Teaches basic math skills (counting, measuring, fractions)
• Teaches patience
• Teaches how to follow directions
• And helps to teach kitchen/oven safety

Last week we made some delicious apple muffins that I'll probably share with the blog later on.  I forgot to take pictures this go around :(  It corresponded  with reading Apple Farmer Annie.

This week we read Who Took the Farmer's Hat so we made bird nests.  Her teacher supplied a suggested recipe to make bird nest snacks but I of course had only two of the gazillion ingredients and I avoid taking both small children to the store unless absolutely necessary so we had to make do.  Instead, we made a slightly less healthy version with snacks we had at home.

Click below to find the recipe!

Five Tips for Surviving Life with a Toddler & a Baby

Currently, we have two daughters (2.5 and 9 months).  We did this 100% on purpose and will probably do it again with another baby.  For the record, we are not as crazy as our friends and family might think. This is how we've survived...

The Squirrels in Question (aka Squiggles and Squishy)

1.     You have to LAUGH.  Some days will be utterly and completely ridiculous.  Some days they will only want to go in opposite directions.  Some days the big one will hate the little one.  Other days she'll be pretty sure she's the mommy and she loves the baby ten times more than you ever could.  Some days they'll fight.  Some days they'll love each other.  You will only survive it if you're willing to laugh with them and, let's be honest, sometimes at them.

2.     Some days the older one will come first.  One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was pregnant with #2, was that sometimes you need to just let the baby cry to help your older child.  It's advice I've followed and passed on to more than a few people. Your instinct will likely be that the baby should always come first, because baby; but, baby will survive and when you devote some time to your older child when they really need it, they remember that they are sometimes more important than the baby.   

3.     Some days will be really, really freaking hard.  Do as Elsa and learn to Let it Go.  I'm not saying let kids get away with whatever they want or turn on the TV for hours on end.  I'm just saying, don't be too hard on yourself.  If you need some quiet time, turn on a movie.  We're partial to Doc McStuffins.  If a little person misbehaves, follow through with your normal consequences, but then move on with your date.  Don't let it stress you out.  I've found that if I don't let it go, even small instances can wind me up.  I'm learning to deal with it and then just moving on.  My "favorites" lately have been when the two year old decided that carpet was a good place to color the day after I rented a rug doctor and when she colored all over her sisters new push toy in the matter of 60 seconds.

4.     Try to Organize.  When Squiggles first came home things were chaotic.  I felt like I was pulled in too many direction at once.  I quickly realized that it wasn't just the challenges of the new baby sending me spinning, I figured out that I wasn't organized and it was making me crazy.  I took steps to keep the house neater and found ways to work in the housekeeping aspects of parenting and it allowed me to feel more relaxed with the girls.  I know it sounds impossible and like the least of your worries; but, it does make a difference.  I'll try to do a little write up on how I manage that and include a link here soon.

5.     Remember they are only this age once.  This is a great reminder for both your best days and your worst days.  On your worst days you can remind yourself that this chaos will pass sooner than you think.  Soon they'll be able to entertain each other, communicate with each other, and they'll be more independent.  On your best days you can remind yourself that this magical time won't last forever.  On those days take lots of pictures and give lots of hugs.  It really does go by so very fast.  Someday I'll have two dramatic teenage girls.  I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling I'll be longing for these days in 14 years. 

Morning Adventures

One of the many reasons I've chosen to step away from Facebook this month is so that I can spend some more time unplugged with my girls.  I only tend to get on the computer at night once their both asleep; but, during the day I check my phone A LOT.  Usually for absolutely no reason. 

As part of my goals this month I'm trying to make a point of just doing more fun stuff out and about and at home.  So this morning I gave Squishy the choice of hike, zoo, or park.  She chose zoo and we did some park anyway. 

We are members at the local zoo and can go whenever so we wandered around for a bit (and I got some cute pictures I'll share under the cut) and then we went to the park up the hill a bit.  Squishy loves playing with other kids so much.  And it was extra cute because the little boy she was playing with said "bye" to him mom and tried to leave with us.

It was so nice!  Other than checking my phone for the time I didn't take it out once.

Pregnancy Update

As usual I've been MIA.  Life has been fairly hectic and I have been utterly exhausted.  Blog has had to drop by the wayside a bit. 

Squishy has swim four days a week at 8am, I watch a friend's 6 month old four days a week, and I pick up big kids from school five days a week.  Throw that in with being 17 and a half weeks pregnant and I am exhausted.  I have not slept past 7am in over a month and I don't think I've slept through the night in at least that long.  I need to be up by 7 for one reason or another every. single. day.

Too Smart for Her Britches

Squishy is 14 months now and she's already too smart for her britches.  I've worked with kids for a long time.  I taught two year olds for a good portion of that time.  I'm used to sneaky kiddos.  I'm used to grumpy kiddos.  But heaven help me, I didn't know it could start so soon.  I have two quick stories to share (quick post before bed), that I think are hilarious and make me wonder what the teenage years will be like.

Gratuitous cake picture of my silly girl

1. Hubby has some little ninja toys he's had since he was in elementary school.  A few years back when I helped him clean his mom's house we rediscovered them and they came home with us.  For a long time they say on his desk at work but when he changed offices they found their way home and into some drawers that sit next to our computer desk. Squishy discovered them a few weeks ago but we've discouraged her playing with them as she shouldn't be going through the drawers. 

Follow the cut

Fitness, Birthdays, Move Outs, & House Purging!

Well, we have had a rather busy week.  An amazing week really.  Let us address the subject of this blog in order with the most awesome topic at the end.

Speed Round Update w/ a Photo Bomb!

Squishy is 9 months old!  Ahhh!  I can hardly believe it.  We are desperately trying to figure out what we're going to do for her first birthday.  Party at our house?  Party closer to family?  No big party?  I have no idea.

Updates and photobomb after the cut.