A Little Reflection Can Simplify Things

So last week I was already feeling anxious about the upcoming week - I have a business partner coming in town (and staying with us) and my parents are coming to visit for five days.  And I'm still trying to get my website launched - oh and do my full time job and take care of my children and house.  All good things but all things that cause me stress.  So already I wasn't enjoying the weekend, because I was thinking of everything that had to be done this week.
Anyhoo - Saturday night was date night, and my husband took me to see a band play - not just any band, but a band I LOVED in college.  They played the college circuit and were famous in Texas but not in many other places.  They broke up shortly after I graduated from college, and I never thought I would see them play again.   So I was psyched to see them (albeit feeling a little old looking at the crowd who were formerly beer drinking, carefree college students now middle aged khaki-wearing parents checking on their babysitters) and hear the music that totally takes me back to my college days.
As I was listening to the music, I thought about how fun college was but also about how stressed I felt not knowing what was coming after college - Would I figure out what to do with my career?  Would I have the courage to try new things?  Would I get married and have kids?  Did I want to get married and have kids? So many uncertainties.  And I realized how awesome it felt to have figured all of that out.  Yes, that now means I have many responsibilities and I hardly feel like I have time to rest sometimes.  BUT I figured it out and that gave me a huge sense of relaxation on Saturday night.
So my tip for this week is if you are feeling overwhelmed, take note of how far you have come and what you have already accomplished.  Ask yourself if you would like to trade places with the you 10, 15, 20 years ago who had fewer responsibilities but probably still had a lot of uncertainties.  I sure wouldn't and that makes me enjoy today a lot more.

Entertaining a Toddler - One Idea at a Time

Lately, my husband and I have noticed we feel like we survive the weekends to make it to Monday (both our 4 year old and 18 month old go to school full-time during the week).  Seriously, Monday seems like a welcome relief.
We have an adorable four year old daughter who is also extremely extroverted, bright, and intense.  We also have an 18 month old son...enough said.  Anyone who has a toddler, particularly a boy, knows how hard it is to keep them occupied and alive.  But when your toddler is your 2nd or 3rd (or OMG 4th child), well, it's not just hard to keep them occupied, it's ESSENTIAL to keep them occupied or else your older children will start to rebel.
Most parents know the best toys for toddlers are usually not toys at all, so I thought I would share my recommendations of easy household items that can keep your toddler occupied (and by occupied I mean for at least 5 minutes) as I test them out.  If you're like me though, the usual "10 Ways to Keep Your Toddler Busy" is lost on me, because I can hardly remember one thing.  So I'm going to give you one, tested idea at a time.  Here's the first one -- Straws in a plastic bottle.  That's it.  Give the kid 5-10 straws and an empty water bottle.  It's good for home or while you're out-to-eat.  I swear by it.  My son is obsessed with straws, cups, and bottles.

Let me know if you have success!

To What Lengths Should You Go For Good Sleep?

So the past two months we have reverted to the newborn sleeping schedule. <sigh...oops, I think I just fell asleep>  1-3 times almost every night for over two months, our four year old daughter has come to our room and needed someone to take her back to her room to tuck her in.  Now this has happened before, but we have always resolved the problem within 1-2 weeks.  We have never gone two months!  So I have dutifully tried everything I can think of to understand why she's doing this and to motivate her to stay in her bed.   I've tried rewards.  I've tried punishments.  I've tried talking (sometimes a little crying).  We have even barricaded the poor 12 year old cat in her room to keep her company.  But the end result?  She is still coming to our room and we are exhausted.

The one week we had success, I offered her a trip to the local candy store if she stayed in bed 5 straight nights.  It worked!  But once she had the reward, we were back at square one.  And I refused to offer the reward again.  Well, fast forward two months and my husband and I are totally worn down.  Last weekend I asked her if she could have anything that would motivate her to stay in her bed, what would it be.  I'm expecting her to ask for a trampoline or motorized car (both things she really wants).  But no, she says candy.  So I decided, if that's her currency and the price for sleep, so be it.  So in the foreseeable future, if she stays in bed at least 6 nights a week, I'll take her to the Candy Jar EVERY Sunday after lunch.  And you know what?  We are finally sleeping.  SHE is finally sleeping and if takes candy, so be it.  I mean she's still got her baby teeth. They aren't that important, right?

Thoughts?  Ideas?  Should I continue this until she's 16?:)

Amazon, the 8th Wonder of the World

So my last post inspired me to write about one thing I know exceptionally well - Amazon subscriptions and Amazon Prime.  I buy EVERYTHING there.  I mean everything.  We also have their credit card, so I know how much we spend there annually - won't tell you, but trust me, your heart would skip a beat.  Again, I swear I get no kick backs for this...although, Amazon, if you are reading...

Anyway, aside from working from home and not having a commute and wearing yoga pants everyday of my life, the one thing that truly simplifies our family's life is Amazon.  If you don't have Amazon Prime or don't use their subscriptions and you are a busy parent, go to Amazon right now.  Do not pass Go.  Just sign up.  I don't care if it costs $79 or $99 or $129.  Whatever they decided, it is 1000% worth it.  I seriously only shop at the grocery store and occasionally Target now.  (I even look at is as a cost savings plan, because I apparently don't know how to spend less than $100 every time I walk into Target.)  If I need something, in 20 seconds I can buy it on my phone and it arrives in 2 days.  If I can plan ahead, even better.  Save 20% and I don't think about it again.  Done.  No extra work.  No painful trips with two little kids to Costco or Sam's.  Our weekends are still crazy, BUT they are not spent shopping.  And for that, Amazon, I thank you.

Making the pool easier with two little kids

So we went to the pool this weekend - twice.  For swim lessons and for fun.  Then, today, my daughter was swimming twice at school (lessons and free swim) and my son had splash day.  I can't tell you how many swim suits and towels I've packed, washed, dried, repacked.  So I kept trying to think of some helpful way to simplify this process.  You know what?  I came up with squat.  But the one thing that seemed to make things a little simpler this weekend?  Capri Sun flavored waters.  I swear I have no affiliation with Capri Sun.  I don't even know who makes them.  But what I do know is they are convenient, have a lot less sugar, and my kids think they are juice.  So I don't have to fight the battle at the pool of how many juice boxes they can have - I love it!  Now if Amazon Prime could just have them at a decent price, I would be a really happy camper.  Good for birthday parties, too!:)