Birthday Weekend Extravaganza ~ Part 2

We spent Sunday night at the Legoland Hotel, which was WAY cooler than I imagined it would be! I was worried that we would only be spending a short time there, and that the boys wouldn't get the full experience. But the hotel did a great job having activities for the kids. There was a dance party ~ to wear the kids out, no doubt! Another highlight was an outdoor movie on a big screen by the pool when it was dark. 

They were trying to spell Legos with their hands, which caused some confusion... 

 We had a great group of friends, and the boys all had a great time with the birthday boy. No arguing, no competition, just fun!

Team huddle to decide their next move!

The boys were all fascinated with the Star Wars area, where they stayed together and admired the thousands upon thousands of Legos used to recreate each of the Star Wars scenes.

The Star Wars exhibit was a favorite. Where else could you get 5 young boys to sit still for a this long!

It was a day he will remember. We all had a great time, thanks to his wonderful friends and grandparents!  

Birthday Weekend Extravaganza! Part 1

This weekend was...chaotic. We had our youngest turn 1, our oldest turn 7, and my sister turned 30! Friday was spent cleaning the house and preparing for the party. This included icing 72 cupcakes, thanks for your help Sis! 

Pinterest-inspired alligator cupcakes

His birthday was alligator themed (obviously). We had a bounce house for the older kids, and alligator ring toss. It was a casual backyard event. The birthday boy was pretty worn out, and ended up going down for a nap before his guests left. 

Birthday boy, while he was clean (left) and after cake (right). He enjoyed his cupcake!

I was determined to give him a birthday party all his own, for his first birthday. Mission accomplished. I can't believe he's already one! Birthday weekend extravaganza Part 2- Little J, coming soon! 

Best Ways to Stay Cool with Kids this Summer!

This weekend was hot and humid here in Southern California, which is NOT what we're used to! We spent a lot of time outside, celebrating birthdays with friends and family. I wanted to share a few tips on how to stay cool with the little ones this summer. 

1. Go to the pool! This is our favorite option for staying cool in the summer. We spent Saturday morning at the pool, and everyone not only cooled down but also got VERY TIRED :) And the icing on the cookie made Mayhem's tongue a lovely shade...

Little J and Mayhem at the Pool

2. Dress for the Humidity. Loose, lightweight clothing is best. Cotton clothing in light colors will help reflect the heat and allow your skin to breathe. The baby is modeling a romper for you below. 

Wear a romper to stay cool! :)

 3. Make it Fun. While we were at the OC Fair on Sunday afternoon, the boys enjoyed spraying each other (and us) with these mister fans! It really does help you feel cooler.

Image Source: Amazon.com

 4. Stay in the shade, and avoid being outdoors at the hottest time of the day. The later afternoon (around 4 pm) is the best time to be in the sun. So, wait until AFTER nap time to head outside to play with the water table! And be sure to put an umbrella over the play area if possible.

and last, but definitely not least...

Image source: http://www.cmfe.org/

5. Stay hydrated. Be sure to have the kids drink lots of water, so that no one gets dehydrated! Drink before you're thirsty and eat fruit which also helps your body replenish the water it needs.

What do you do to keep cool?

June 2015 - Time flies...

Where has June gone?! We celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary, at a restaurant with our three young boys. We laughed, and convinced each other that we would TRULY celebrate at a later point this summer. We also celebrated graduations, birthdays, Father's Day, and the end of the school year. Mayhem survived his first year of preschool, and J finished 1st grade! He's reading now and tying his shoes- so we've checked those milestones off the list. Mayhem grew about 6 inches this year, from the before and after pictures- I just can't get over it! And of course, the glasses make him look quite different from the beginning of the year.

On the left: First day of preschool. On the right: Last day!

On the left, first day of 1st grade. On the right, last day!

The baby got more teeth... and he's 11 months old today! He's crawling everywhere, and quickly! He also pulls himself up on the coffee table, so I imagine he'll be walking before we know it. 

Teething is hard...

I took these pictures, as he sat on my stomach on the couch at the end of a very long day. It's very, very hard to make everyone happy with three boys going in three different directions. Liam has found that it works best to crawl on top of me, pin me down, and yell in my face. Can you see his giant new tooth in the middle photo?! It's absolutely crazy how many teeth this child has at his young age! 

Now I'm planning his 1st birthday party, and I can't believe how fast time flies...

Giveaway: Heroes of the City

I discovered Heroes of the City last year, when I had the opportunity to review the new DVD "Ready to Rescue." This show is perfect for preschool and kindergarten aged children. It features police cars, firetrucks, trains and many other great characters. The message in the shows are very positive, and include cooperation and friendship. Mayhem loves this series! They also have a great app, that comes with 9 different games. And now, Heroes of the City has a new YouTube Channel, where you can watch new episodes of the show FOR FREE!

I have a Heroes of the City prize pack to giveaway to one lucky winner! The prize pack includes: a Heroes of the City T-shirt, a DVD and a die cast car.

Enter below! The giveaway starts at midnight tonight (Monday, May 11) and ends at midnight (Monday, May 19). Good luck! 


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Cetaphil Baby Skincare Products

I have been using Cetaphil moisturizer on my face for YEARS. I started using it in high school, when my sensitive skin was reacting to several other moisturizers that I had tried. It works great, doesn't cause my sensitive skin to react. As a bonus, it is also cost effective! 

Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Oil 

Recently, my son, who also has my sensitive skin... developed a red rash on his face. I was hesitant to put ANYTHING on his face, since he is only 8 months old. But I did some research, and found out that Cetaphil has a baby line now! It is new, and it includes products such as: diaper rash cream, baby wash and shampoo, daily moisturizing lotion, and my new favorite baby product- baby moisturizing oil! It is paraben free, hypoallergenic, contains calming organic calendula extract, and is safe to use on infants. I used the oil on his little red cheeks, and it went away so quickly! I think his rash was from rubbing his teethers against his face. 

I didn't think to snap a picture of his red cheeks, so I guess you'll just have to trust me! I can't wait to try out the entire Cetaphil Baby Skincare line. I had previously been using the Aveeno baby skincare products, but they don't have an oil like this! I highly recommend this, and I imagine you could use it for all over moisture after baby's bath. Have you tried this? Let me know!

Disclaimer: I received a bottle of the Cetaphil Baby Moisturizing Oil for no cost, through my sister at www.ihaveadegreeinthis.com 

Easter Basket Ideas for Babies and Toddlers ~ No Candy!

Easter is coming, a holiday where we celebrate new life in all its forms. Even if you aren't religious, this time of year is the beginning of spring! 

This week I have been racking my brain, trying to come up with age-appropriate Easter basket ideas. I will also be doing coins, because they get excited about adding up the money after the egg hunt. But after that, I didn't want to fill up the eggs with ALL candy. 

After we open our Easter baskets, we usually head over to Grandma’s house. We all know what happens there!

Here are a few ideas, in case you are searching for ideas for babies or toddlers. 

1. Bath toys- Munchkin letters and numbers have been a hit at our house. Check your local Target or Babies R Us. 

Boon Bath Appliques

 2. Sand/beach toys- pails, shovels, sandcastle molds… what’s more exciting than looking forward to summer time at the beach! 

 3. Books- Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit is a natural choice, and I like to get the matching stuffed animal. This may be why my older son has about 300 stuffed animals in his bed right now… 

Books available at www.amazon.com

 4. DVDs- you can’t eat those! Baby L will try, though… I’m sure. 

5. Plum Organics Fiddlesticks Snack Sticks- Apple Carrot flavor, of course. 

6. Annie’s Bunny Snacks- if you throw in the Chocolate Chip bunny graham snacks, you aren’t completely passing on chocolate… 

7. Chalk- Crayola washable chalk is great, if you haven’t tried it – you should! In past years, I have found cute bunny-shaped chalk. Let me know if you see that somewhere, I can't find it!

Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk

I have found almost all of these items at Target, and Babies R Us. I have also found that CVS has a good selection of odds and ends for holidays. Happy Easter! 

Please share, and let me know what you are putting in your Easter baskets- or better yet, share pictures!