Open Door Policy

Growing up, I recall my parents, especially my dad, constantly shouting to my brothers the tired phrase "shut the door, we don't live in a barn!".  Or something like that.  Which was promptly met with deep eye-rolling from us, thinking that phrase was so silly, and probably confusing to us, since we lived in a neighborhood (albeit in a teeny, rural town).

It's true, most people don't live in a barn, but as a parent now, I can relate to that phrase.  In and out, out and in, the front and back doors are constantly in motion these days.  So much so that I had to oil them, as to reduce that post-winter creaking from the hinges.

While I love that my kids spend so much time outside, especially in the light of reading this article, the parade of neighborhood kids traipsing through the doors is something I have to remind myself to embrace, especially at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when I've had my fill of little voices and shoes.

 

Pre-parenthood, I always wanted to be that mom in the neighborhood whose house the kids always congregated toward. 

Surprisingly, I am still happy to live in THAT house, the one where the kids hang out.  Whether it's facilitating a May Day teepee, filling a wading pool and getting out the squirt guns, or just mentioning the possibility of a popsicle treat, I (mostly) like hosting the kids, and I'm pretty sure they like being here.

It can obviously be exhausting and stressful, keeping an eye out for sometimes 6 small beings and their antics and monitoring behavior, especially sibling rivalry.  It is sometimes funny too, like when Soren and one boy yesterday were peeing in my flower bed and then discussing whether to try pooping in it too.  Oh boys!  Thankfully it wasn't in our veggie garden, which is coming along beautifully, despite an unexpected frost a few nights ago.

A perpetually-busted screen is proof that kids inhabit a house

While I try not to secede my home entirely to children (as evidenced by my plants and decor), I do appreciate seeing the evidence of their existence left behind via their toys, crumbs and dirt.

That is, when there's a quiet moment to reflect upon it, especially during preschool/nap time for the boys.  Which I'm certainly frittering away on the computer right now.  It's hard to muster up appreciation when boys are snapping your lilac bush with swords.

It's still a work in progress for me, this living-with-children, especially boys.  Incrementally, I'm letting go of a tidy house, because when you really confront the fact that cleaning+kids=more cleaning, it's actually easy to let go of it.  You'll never get more neat-freak satisfaction than that 20 minutes of time when all the laundry is done and the floors are clean, so why stress for such a brief moment?

So please excuse me while I throw open the doors, smile when the kids come in, and ignore those sticky fingerprints on the glass.

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Mother's Day and First Lettuce (and a Recipe)

Sadly, this should be a Mother's Day rehash post, full of gorgeous photos of homemade presents, flowers, and a picnic in the park, in honor of my womb.

Oh, well, what the heck, I'm throwing you a bone here with a few photos.  Here I am above on a walk with my eldest.  Coffee was involved in the destination.

Then I went on another on a walk with my youngest later that afternoon, as seen below.

It was a divide-and-conquor kind of Mother's Day.  And somehow my hair manages to darken as the day goes on, same Instagram filter and all.

Those walks were the highlight of the day.  However, Chris did make me pancakes for breakfast and Soren made me a sweet card.  But I was fighting a cold, poor me, and there was a birthday party that afternoon to prevent us from making any grand plans.  Yes, I give up MY one day for the children (poor me, again, huh?).  I did spend a lot of time reflecting on how grateful I am for them, and their healthy, happy lives.  It's truly an honor being a mother, despite the frustration and exhaustion.

Anyway, I did manage to accomplish a lot on Saturday while S was at t-ball.  Vacuuming, cleaning and prepping fruits and veggies, and harvesting our first head of lettuce from the garden.  Having stocked the fridge the night before, I had the makings for a tasty, out-of-the-ordinary (at least in our house) salad dressing for these special greens. 

This is not just a tasty, creamy salad dressing, but also good with tortilla chips, kind of like a thinner guacamole.

AVOCADO LIME SALAD DRESSING

• 1 ripe avocado, sliced
• juice of one lime
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced or smashed into a paste
• 1/4-1/2 cup water, to thin the dressing

You're smart.  You basically just put all these things (minus the water) in a blender or food processor, then add the water until you have the consistency you like.  Drizzle it over a salad with lots of greens and maybe a few black beans tossed in.  Crushed tortilla chips would be a good move too. Dig in!

 Hope you moms out there enjoyed your day yesterday!

The Sweetest Place on Earth

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit Hersheypark in lovely Hershey, Pennsylvania many times when I was growing up.  My family didn't live locally (we were about an hour away), however I probably visited at least once a year during a family outing or school field trip.  We'd sometimes meet up with cousins who didn't live in our town, and I recall one time visiting Hersheypark with my cousin from Georgia.  There's no way she was coming all the way up to PA and not riding The Comet.

My memories of Hersheypark are obviously infused with the smell of chocolate, but they also evoke other senses.  The excited screams from The Sooperdooperlooper, the feel of water spraying from the Coal Cracker flume's plunge, the colorful landscaping, and the taste of the Reese's S'mores from the cart in Peddler's Circle have all contributed to my enduring and endearing memories of Hersheypark.

I recall my parents, aunts and uncles enjoying the time spent at Hersheypark too, mostly because of the food, but for the adult activities like live music in the park, the spectacular views of Hershey from The Kissing Tower, and even the Carousel, which magically transports adults back to childhood.

Speaking of live music, there is a lot going on this summer in Hershey, whether at the Hersheypark Stadium, Hersheypark Arena, The Star Theater, The Hershey Theater or the Giant Center.  Performers include Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, Matchbox 20, The Dave Matthews Band, and more.  You can find more info HERE.

Hershey, PA is an easy drive from most major cities on the East Coast (90 min. from Philadelphia and Baltimore, 2 hours from Washington, DC, and 3 hours from New York) so it makes a great place for a quick (or long!) getaway for your family.  I can't wait to take the boys this summer, especially to play in the new Shoreline Sprayground in The Boardwalk area of the park.

To book your own Hershey vacation, call 1-800-HERSHEY or visit HersheyPA.com.

Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Travel System

Living in town with only one car, we rely on our stroller a lot to get around.  Whether for a quick walk to preschool or the park, or a longer stroll around town, our strollers get a lot of use in our family, especially that Jude is too heavy to carry now.

One challenge of living in town is the number of sidewalks we have to navigate.  Considering that most of them are at least 20 years old, that means that there are lots of cracks, ruts, and un-sloped curbs to deal with.  And even the dreaded train tracks, which bother small-wheeled strollers.

While our previous strollers have done ok with these challenges, it wasn't until I tested out Graco's new FastAction Fold Jogger stroller (their first jogger) that I realized how easy it can be to get around town with a stroller, even in difficult terrain (hello damp, unmowed t-ball field).

The FastAction Jogger is the easiest, smoothest stroller I've ever owned.  It's air-filled, rubber bicycle wheels are comparable to other joggers, but are great at navigating all kinds of surfaces.

The front wheel swivels for smooth turning while walking, but can be locked for jogging for more security.  It also has reflectors on its wheels and body, promoting safety.

I like that the handlebar is high and comfortable, especially for jogging or running.  There's a tether that is stored in the lower basket, so if you are out running you don't have to worry about the stroller getting away from you.

Other features I like include the smart phone/mp3 player holder, which adjusts for various models and configurations and keeps your device secure and close by when using the stroller. It's especially helpful when you want to jog and listen to music, since your mp3 player is accessible and stable.

Underneath the holder is a secure storage container for items like keys or your wallet.

You can also see two cup holders alongside the storage unit which are helpful for bringing along a water bottle.

From this "parent command center", you get a good view of your child when the canopy is up via the mesh "window" in the material.  This can be closed off too with a fabric panel that rolls up and attaches to a velcro tab on the canopy.

I do wish that the canopy did come over the child a little further, like my other Graco stroller (you can pivot it enough that it touches the child tray in the front);  it doesn't shade my son's eyes when the sun is low in the sky.

It's possible that a canopy that goes too low may be a danger when jogging--I'm not sure.

Another feature I like: the generous basket underneath the stroller.

It's held a diaper bag, jackets, drinks, all simultaneously.  I'd say it's the roomiest basket on a stroller that I've owned, and easy to access too.  And unlike other strollers, there is plenty of clearance above it and the ground, so it doesn't wear away the fabric, which happened with another stroller we own.

Like many Graco strollers, the FastAction Jogger has built-in ClickConnect technology that allows parents of infants to easily pop their infant car seat into the stroller. 

The FastAction Jogger comes with the Graco Travel System, including a matching SnugRide ClickConnect 35 car seat

and base to be installed in the car.

New parents then equipped to burn calories and enjoy some beneficial fresh air with their baby.  Though I didn't use this with Jude, since he's nearly 2, I appreciated how easy it was to snap the seat securely into the stroller.  And if you happen to have another Graco ClickConnect car seat, it's also usable in the FastAction Jogger.

Graco® Click Connect™ infant car seats

If your baby is napping, simply close the canopy on the car seat and the canopy on the FastAction jogger to give your baby darkness and minimize distractions.

From the child's point-of-view, the FastAction Jogger is well-designed.

The cup holder and snack tray keep food and drink conveniently accessible for children.  The 5-point harness system keeps them safely inside the stroller, and the reclining seat allows you to customize the angle that your child is comfortable sitting or napping in.  The tray swivels up so you can easily get your child out of the stroller when the time comes.

As for folding the stroller for storage, it doesn't get any simpler.  I've long admired Graco's ease-ful designs for folding strollers (our reliable Quattro Tour stroller is so easy to store), so naturally I expected that the FastAction Jogger would be easy to travel with.  I wasn't disappointed, as the stroller folds with one hand in a few seconds. 

Plus it stands upright on its own without falling over.  It can be a little large for transporting in a trunk, but with some effort it does fit into our small Ford Focus.

If I could go back to when I was pregnant with my first child, I would have chosen a stroller like the FastAction Jogger one to get me through the infant and toddler years.  It's so much easier to use than a standard stroller, and convenient for accepting an infant car seat.  I think this stroller could have made those early, difficult days as a new parent a little more bearable, knowing I could go anywhere easily with my baby, and possibly have those cushiony tires put him to sleep (remind me to share the traumatic stories of the literal bumps in the road and my eldest's screams during walks).  For $300, you could be done with strollers and travel systems in just one purchase.

You can get more info via the Graco website, and can purchase the Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Click Connect Travel System at retailers online and in store.  The Piazza design, which is highlighted in this review, is exclusively found at BuyBuyBaby.  Follow @GracoBaby on Twitter or on Facebook.
Disclosure: As a member of the Graco Nation Ambassador Program, I received a FastAction Jogger Travel System for review.  All opinions are my own.

A Monthly Art Excursion with Wummelbox

Have you noticed the fun trend of monthly arts and crafts subscriptions for children?  I'm quite jealous that I didn't come up with it, but at the same time I'm happy that these delivered-to-your-door boxes incite creative and imaginative activities for families to engage in.  And it's extra exciting when your child receives a package in the mail filled with actitivies geared just toward him or her.

Wummelbox is the newest one on my radar, and its European-designed, eco-friendly, activities include high-quality materials and everything you need to complete 3-4 projects a month.  The kits are geared towards children ages 3-8.

A Wummelbox arrived on our doorstep recently, filled with activities surrounding the theme of time travel, specifically to The Stone Age.

Soren and I dug in, first reading the story about Wummel and his friend Hedgie (a hedgehog) traveling back to the stone age.  We then tore into the Time Machine project to make our own and get started on traveling to the stone age.

He painted the wooden parts to the machine, then screwed the knobs into place himself (which sparked a great feeling of accomplishment for him).

We added the accompanying stickers, and were pleased at how our time machine came out, ready for imaginative play.

There were a few more activities in the kit, including one to design our own cave painting on cloth.  The project included foam shapes that we stuck to wooden discs, to be used to stamp the cloth.

We'll hang the cloth up in the next cave/fort we make, using velcro tabs provided with the kit.

We also assembled and played a hunting and gathering game using felt animal footprints, which was enjoyed by Soren and his friends.  That activity required more of my assistance in tracing and cutting out animal footprints from felt.

The instructions for the Wummelbox activities are not only very easy to follow, but they're smartly designed too.  I like the whimsical imagery and colors, which appeals to both children and adults.

Overall, the Wummelbox is a wonderful treat for kids and their adult friends to enjoy.  At $35.95, it's a little pricey, however the quality and variety of materials and activities included in the box are well worth it.  Plus the activities can be used over and over again (the time machine will be a nice addition to our dress up/imagination box).

A monthly subscription would make a great gift for families wanting to engage in imaginative and unique experiences with their kids.
Disclosure: I received a sample Wummelbox for review through Child's Play Communications.  All opinions are my own.