First Day of School (and toddler interviews)

Today I dropped my boys off in the middle of a crazy downpour and headed off to my first day of teaching.  As much as the rain was annoying, it was a great distraction from all the other emotions of the day.  And the day wasn't bad.  JD ran right into class without a second thought.  O was a little weepy, but he ended up having a great day.

Work was fun.  The kids were (mostly) on their best behavior, and I got a lot of compliments on my shoes.  The part that kinda stinks: I have to get up and do it again tomorrow.  The waking up early, the getting the boys ready and out the door, the daycare drop off, the sitting in traffic... I know the year will go by fast, but right now it all seems exhausting.

The good news: I took some adorable video of the boys answering those interview questions that have been circling around the interwebs.  Enjoy!

(My favorite part of this video? When O tries to physically get "Call Me Maybe" out of his head.  Love that kid!)

Transition to a Toddler Bed: Take 2

After a very unsuccessful bedtime last night, I realized that there was just no way to get O to see the benefits of staying in his crib.  So I gave up, climbed to the attic, dragged down the conversion kit, and I no longer have any cribs in my house.  (sob)

He was super excited to hear that he wold have a "big boy bed", but kept insisting, "new orange bed!" (Maybe I shouldn't have shown his the pics of Amy's kid's bed...)  Since it was already past bedtime, I was hoping the conversion would be quick and possible with just one adult & two small helpers people.

JD was a helpful screw counter.

It was easy and quick to convert the bed, and O didn't seem to mind the lack of orange (Grandma is getting him some awesome orange bedding for his birthday.)

In the end, the night was pretty much a success.  There were a few minutes of O knocking on his door to get out, but he made his way back to his bed and fell asleep faster than I expected.  I did, however, check on him before I went to bed and saw him sleeping like this- very similar to the antics his brother pulled, but more uncomfortable than comical.

I did pick him up and tuck him in after I took pictures.

I was hoping I could put off this transition until after we adjusted into our work/day care routine, but this kid works on his own schedule.  Hopefully today's nap will happen, because I'm looking forward to taking one myself!

Wordless Wednesday: Birdhouse for Grandma

*Plain birdhouses were 70% off at Michael's yesterday.

Best Play Date Ever

I knew this play date was going to be a success from the moment JD stepped out of the car onto the gravel driveway and exclaimed, "They have rocks here?!  I LOVE THIS PLACE!"


A little drizzle didn't stop us from swimming, sliding, and making personal pizzas with our friends.  A great time was had by all!

swimmin' in the rain, just swimmin' in the rain...

Straight-out-the-hose, cold water didn't deter O.  JD wasn't as brave.

Perfect outdoor play date lunch activity- especially when wearing swimsuits: English muffin pizza!  O did a great job all by himself! 

Somebody loves cheese.

It is no surprise that my friend is an elementary school teacher- she was such a fun & patient host to my little guys.  And her kids are equally charming and imaginative.  I have to start thinking of fun things to do when I host them... any ideas out there?  I guess I should go look at all those things I've been pinning.

40 Things To Do With a Toddler on Long Island

It will be beach weather before I know it, and that is when I am happiest to live on Long Island.  And besides the gorgeous beaches, Long Island is full of so many awesome outdoor activities and hidden gems.  Even on rainy days, there are dozens of things to do with toddlers.  I hope the following list gives you every reason you need to come visit me.  And if you already live on LI, let me know if I missed anything!

1. Go camping on the beach. (We love Smith Point Park)
2. Play make believe at Once Upon a Treetop.
3. Enjoy the Long Island Aquarium (especially the butterfly exhibit)
4. Hit the BEACH! (Bonus tips 1 & 2)
5. You can't go wrong with the Long Island Children's Museum.
6. We can't wait for Eisenhower Park's "Let All the Children Play" inclusive playground to officially open.
7. Bounce & climb at Safari Adventure.
8. LI is famous for its stunning golf courses, but don't forget Mini Golf!
9. Eat at a diner.
10. Visit the Big Duck.
11. Root for the home team at a Long Island Ducks game
12. Picnic & enjoy live music at a winery (Most are totally kid & pet friendly!)
13. Sit under the stars at the summer series of free concerts (Many are on the beach.)
14. Shop till you drop at Roosevelt Field Mall (one of many on LI, but one of the best in the country)
15. Explore the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
16. Ride the antique Greenport Carousel.
17. Visit with the animals at the Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park & Children's Zoo.
18. Get wet at the Splish Splash water park.
19. Take in the view from the Montauk Point Lighthouse.
20. Stroll through a state park or two.
21. Get a great deal at the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead or Deer Park.
22. Get back to nature at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge.
23. There are huge Street Fairs & Festivals every weekend.
24. Find a shady spot at Old Westbury Gardens.
25. Go for a ride at Deep Hollow Ranch. (It's the nation's oldest cattle ranch. You can take trail rides on the beach!)
26. Take a break thanks to Hampton Kids. (activities, drop-in care, & family fun center)
27. Run off some energy at a soccer class with Shooting Stars Sports at Fundamental Sports Training. (shameless plug for our family business)
28. The Railroad Museum sometimes hosts Thomas the Train events.
29. Pick your own peaches, berries, or apples.
30. One of our favorites is the Animal Farm Petting Zoo.
31. Step back in time at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
32. Try to visit the Children's Museum of the East End on a weekday when it is less crowded.
33. Nassau County Firefighters Museum is small but great for fire truck fans.
34. Watch the horses at Belmont Raceway.
35. Dance at the Shinnecock Pow Wow.
36. See the singing animals at White Post Farm.
37. Watch some surfers.
38. Take a playground tour.
39. Go fishing.
40. Check out a local Children's Theater.

(I left off the art museums and science centers that may be of interest to older kids, but let me know if you need ideas.)

Wordless Wednesday: We Finished a Project!

Easy & cheap way to display all the priceless art that comes home from preschool.

Bets on how long the tools will stay on my dining table?

I used curtain wire and curtain rings with clips I found at Ikea. The whole thing cost $30.

We Didn't Forget Valentine's Day

I know this post is a week late, but the boys and I had such a fun Valentine's Day that I really want to document it here.  And "VDay Post" has been on my to-do list for a week.  I can't start a new list until I cross everything off the old one. Issues -I know.

I started the night before by filling their hallway with heart shaped helium balloons for them to see when they woke up.  I also made a new batch of heart-shaped snacks for JD's class.

I threaded doilies on the ribbons.

Heart-shaped strawberry pancakes were on the menu for breakfast.  I made the batter the night before because I knew I wasn't going to feel like it at 6am.

O was a little confused.

By lunch, we were on to heart-shaped pb&j.

I gave them the pretty ones, and my lunch was made up of all the crusts.  Add it to the list of sacrifices.

O thought this was AMAZING.

JD played it cool.

I had them in bibs so as to not stain their adorable, matching Valentine's Day shirts, and now I realize I don't have a single good pic of them in the shirts.  Oh well.  Can't have it all.


By dinner, I was all hearted-out.  And heart-shaped chicken cutlets seemed like a step too far.  

Preschool-Approved Valentine's Day Treat

As class mom, I've been stressing about what to send in for JD's class on Valentine's Day.  It has to be fun, healthy, and easy- which, of course, is not easy.  I found this granola bar recipe at Joyful Abode and tweaked it to include more fruit and no nuts or seeds.  Then, instead of cutting them into bars, I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make them a little more festive.

It took me .5 seconds to realize that I was not going to be pushing the cookie cutter through it with my bare hands.  A wooden spoon worked out great!

My plan was to save the scraps to sprinkle over yogurt.  JD had other plans.

1 batch made 19 medium-ish hearts.

I'm going to send them in wrapped in cupcake wrappers, but you could also seal them in plastic wrap with a heart sticker or put them all in a container separated by wax paper.  

Sweet & Healthy

You could make them even more festive with heart shaped sprinkles on top (I went to 2 stores but couldn't find them) or more of a "treat" with chocolate chips.  My mind started to wander with the pretty possibilities of wrapping them, but I didn't want to be cursing myself and my over ambitious ideas the night before Valentine's Day, so I am keeping it simple!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Toddler

Last week we took a quick trip in to the city, and JD has not stopped talking about the "booty truck" and the ICE CREAM CONE!

(Did you miss me? I know I've been MIA around here lately, but I have been busy interviewing mompreneurs for New York Mom's World, talking about our transition to a toddler bed and must-have sleep products at sleep.com, reviewing aps, theater productions and wine tasting rooms for LIParentSource, and kicking off the DiaperBuds blog with tips about getting through the airport with ease.  Now that I'm getting into a schedule with the other sites, I will be posting regularly here again.)


(Oh, and our NYMomsWorld facebook page is getting close to 1000 fans!  We'd really appreciate it if you gave us a like!)

6 Great Gift Ideas for a One-Year-Old

It's that time of year where everyone starts asking me for gift ideas for the boys.  Everybody wants to get them something fun, but I need to save some special gifts for us & Santa, so it's alway a struggle.  This year I'm really at a loss because O just had a birthday, and he has a ton of hand-me-down stuff from JD.


In an effort to help you, I'm sharing some of the cool gifts that O received from our awesome friends & family.  

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Dance And Play Puppy

Both O and JD LOVE this one!  The mechanics are noisy, but you can still hear all the things he says/sings, and the hand clapping excites O every time.  There are over 25 songs & phrases, and he has our favorites: "If You're Happy and You Know It" and the ABCs.  JD is quick to point out, however, that he sings "Do Your Ears Hang Low" & "Pat-a-Cake" WRONG.  You don't throw the cake in the air!  You mark it with a "B"!

Mwwahhhhh!  There is an adorable video of him kissing it as soon as he unwrapped it, but it's buried in a ton of unedited party footage.

Here's a video of O playing so you can hear how loud the motor is.  And see how cute he is.

Little People Peek n Discover Backyard

We love all the Little People toys.  They are still JD's favorite thing to play with, and they keep him busy for big chunks of time every day.  For his birthday, we got O a bunch of his own since it really pisses JD off when O messes with his organization of the people.  And JD totally knows which little person goes with one of his sets or with one of O's. He's a funny little man.

We like this backyard set because it comes with a DOG and a TRIKE- two things O is very into!

LeapFrog My First Book

O really likes things that talk to him.  And he likes pushing buttons- especially when his brother isn't tackling him to do it first.  These talking books are great for the car and for when I'm trying to occupy O at one of JD's doctor appointments.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Screen Laptop

JD has the LeapFrog Leaptop, but I like this one better for O because the buttons are bigger and more baby-friendly.  And it has O's dog friend.  It has a dozen different songs and many more educational phrases in English and Spanish.  For under $20, you can't beat it!

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case

My favorite!  This is a drool-proof, drop-proof playful case for my iTouch.  The boys love playing games, but they are constantly pushing the circle button and losing where they were.  Not only does this keep the iTouch safe, but they can't get to the home button.  This way I can hand it to them in the back seat with a video or game set up, and they can't mess it up.  Sometimes the touch screen doesn't work properly through the case, but we have been using the iTouch 20x more now that I can hand it to them and not worry.
It also has a mirror on the back and teething rings around it.  I can't wait to bring this along on our next road trip! 

Vtech - Explore and Learn Helicopter

One more education toy.  This one also has songs and phrases about colors & shapes, but it has one thing the other don't.  BALLS.  I didn't even have to explain this one to O.  He'll pop the balls in over & over & over.  And it has a string so he can drag it around the house.
JD has been OBSESSED with helicopters lately, so it is just killing him that this is O's toy.  Good thing O likes to share.


The only decent ideas I have for Christmas gifts are a tiny toddler table for in the kitchen (our table is bar hight, and the chairs are just a bit tall for my wiggle worms) and those inflatable toddler beds for when we travel.  I'm looking at the ones that are a full tent, since it's hell to get JD to stay in a bed in a hotel room.


What ideas do you have for your kids for the holidays?


*The links go through my Amazon Associates account.

An Easier DIY Toddler Strong Man Costume

I first got the idea for JD's strong man costume from Good Housekeeping's Halloween issue.  But the article was brief, and the directions were confusing.  I knew I was in trouble when the people at the craft store didn't even know what "adhesive hook-and-loop tape" was.  And I knew I didn't want to open & resew seams.  So I used the patterns and the materials list and winged it. 

Materials:

• 2 long-sleeve T-shirts dyed to a flesh color (I looked all over the internet & couldn't find them already this color.  Also, I used turtleneck onesies.)
• Polyester fiberfill
• Gym shorts (We used an old, size 12 mo. pair to get the right look)
• Red-white-and-blue stripe ribbon
• Adhesive craft foam & letter stickers
• 2-inch diameter suction cups
• Garden shears
• Two screws
• 1.5-inch-diameter wooden dowel
• Plastic Epoxy
• 2 rubber balls (I found them on clearance at Toys R Us.)
• Black matte spray paint

I traced the muscles onto one of the shirts and cut them out.  (I can email you the patterns if you want them, but the muscles are pretty simple shapes.)  

I pinned them on to the other shirt (I tried the shirt on JD to mark where his belly button was & took it from there) and then spent FOREVER hand stitching them on.  I wanted to keep the seam as close to the edge as possible, so I had to pay close attention to each stitch.  The Good Housekeeping article called for opening the sleeve seams, but I sewed the arm muscles right on top, and it turned out fine.  I stuffed each muscle with fiberfill before closing it off.

I used the ribbon, craft foam and the sticker letters to make the belt.


For the barbell, I cut the nub off of the suction cup with garden shears and screwed it on to the end of the dowel.

Then I used plastic epoxy to attach the balls to the suction cup and spray painted the whole thing black.  (The balls were a little droopy when it dried, so I used black ducktape to support them.)  I looked into just using big styrofoam balls, but they're pricey and wouldn't have the same smooth finish.

And lastly, JD practiced his muscleman poses.

The first time I tried it on him, he looked at me and said, "don't like it."  I'd be lying if I didn't say I held back tears.  But once the barbell was done, it was love.  Now he keeps asking to play strong man.  It's going to take everything I have to not be the psycho mom at the Halloween party with a smock trying to keep this thing clean until O's party (which is before actual Halloween, but who cares about stains when you're trick-or-treating).

I also finished up O's costume and will hopefully post it later today if he cooperates for some pics.