Trickery at it's finest!

Unbeknownst to Chloe and Max, Naked's Green Machine is actually good for them! I'm finding it harder and harder finding veggies that they like and this is a quick fix! They love it and actually ask for Green Machine!

I put it in their sippy cups mixed with water. It's too thick on it's own to get through the sippy.

Green Machine is 100% juice smoothie boosted with  goodness such as broccoli, spinach, barley grass and wheat grass. The fruits are apples, bananas, mangoes and pineapple. It tastes really good and the kids have no idea there are veggies in it.

With the help of Green Machine, my kids have no problems with the bathroom (TMI) and this is why I love giving it to them! It helps keep them regular and everything running smoothly!

It's great for us Mama's too!

Ombre dyed feather dress- my new obsession!

I am obsessed with this ombre dyed feather collection for Chloe! I love the twenties vibe of the dress- headband included of course! I think this will be perfect for our next photo shoot!

You can find it on Damselfly .  The designer Faith says she began designing children's clothing because it made her heart sing.      

The skirt is equally beautiful so I'm not quite sure which to get for Chloe just yet. Both make my heart sing!

Whichever option I choose will be a win-win situation for Chloe who will be stunning in either choice! I've always been a wannabe stylist-  finally getting my chance through dressing my kids!

Free game download app for leappad!

My kids love their leappads and are always asking for new games! I'm happy to add new apps on for them- especially when they are FREE! I found a free code for Alphabet Stew where you can  play games to cook up 3-4 letter words by touching the letters to spell all the words on the list. You can play at your own pace or try to beat the clock! 

Go to the app center and click on the green box on bottom right that says redeem codes. Add the following code-

5813 0790 4610 4973

Enjoy!

Dos- the licking bandit



When I was pregnant with Max, we referred to him as dos! This wasn't only because he was going to be our second child- we joked that we could never imagine loving another child as much as we loved Chloe and the new baby wouldn't matter enough to be named!  As much as we joked about this, I had actual concerns about equally loving the new baby compared to my firstborn. My concerns all faded the moment I laid my eyes upon my newborn baby boy. I loved him immediately, just as I did Chloe when she was first born. I wanted Chloe to know she wouldn't come second to the second baby and left the hospital 24hrs after delivering Max! I wanted everything to be as it was before he was born for my 2 year old. I gave her a bath the night after giving birth while my family yelled at me. I put her to bed that night. Life seemed to adjust itself to our newly grown family.

Max was and is equally loved- but, there are some differences between your first and second child. Things that killed me with Chloe, just doesn't with Max. I was a germaphobe to the tenth power with Chloe. I still walk around with antibacterial wipes and skeeve just about everything- but don't get as bothered by things that Max does or touches like I did Chloe.

Max is in what I like to call "the licking phase". If Chloe licked half the things I catch Max licking, I would have committed myself! Its downright disgusting and he turns my stomach! He licks the bathtub while being bathed,  our railing walking up the steps, the dining room table while eating breakfast, lunch & dinner. He licks my face- which he refers to as dog kisses- or cat, depending on his mood. He'll lick the kitchen floor when lying on it- or the dog if he passes him while lying on the floor. This is a "dos" like quality in my second child that remains.

I loosened up a bit. Yes, I cringe every time I see him lick a book- but I'm not calling the doctor! If I could have put Chloe in a custom made bubble- I so would have pimped one out for her! Germs, falls, staying up later than bedtime, missing naps are things I wouldn't dare take lightly with my first child- let alone her licking the leg of the dining room table! If we stay out past Max's bedtime- I'm okay with that. He stopped napping before he was two- believe me, I wanted him to nap, he just didn't. I'm (kinda) okay with that. If he falls- we shake it off. If he gets sick- it sucks, but kids get sick. You cant put them in a bubble. That seemed unfortunate to me with Chloe, but I'm happy I'm not constructing a bubble for Max in my head!

The difference between your first child and your second isn't the love you have for either. It's that your more comfortable and at ease in your role as a mama the second time around. Do I want Max licking everything in his tongues way? Hell no!

Dos will be okay, just like numero uno is. Thankfully, the licking remains a habit that's kept in our home. Hopefully it stays that way-and we will all remain okay! If he starts licking outside of our home, I will definitely be rewriting this!

I'm hoping this phase doesn't last very long.

Wish me luck!

Licking lollipops- YES!
Licking the refrigerator- NO!

                                                                                                             

                                                                                      

Our day at The Museum of Natural History

Figuring out a weeks worth of events during the February break isn't always an easy task at hand. Everything is really crowded and crowds is something I don't do well with- usually.

We planned a day at The Museum of Natural History yesterday, Presidents Day no less- because my husband was off. This is a venture I wouldn't attempt alone with the kids. It was ridiculously crowded and the line for the elevator was the worst, but we had a great day there. The kids loved it!

Max repeated "whoa" dinosaur after dinosaur while Chloe screamed out in excitement, "Ma, look- a window"!  As we walked from exhibit to exhibit, the kids were just happy to be out -taking in all of the prehistoric creatures that surrounded us was an added bonus to their day out.

Max referred to the mammoth behind us (pic on left) as Manny from Ice Age- I thought that was an amazing connection at 2 years old! Chloe's active imagination led her into the story of the dinosaurs chasing us around the museum and pooping on the floor to my parents! So all in all, it was an eventful day!

Our day of exploring at the museum concluded with a meal in Chinatown (sans Max who slept through his meal).

And after Chloe ate her noodles like she never ate before-she followed in her brothers footsteps. Maybe it was the excitement of the "free oranges" the waitress put on the table after we ate that knocked her out!

Spending the day out with my family was a nice break from the daily grind- crowd and all. No one fought, no one argued and best of all, no one cried. I never imagined such an elaborate day out would actually wind up being a relaxing one! Who would have thunk it? Now, coming up with what else to do this week!

Tha fam- Dave, Chloe & Max

                  

A Great Day

When Max turned two in September, he wasn't talking much. Today, five months later, there isn't much he doesn't say. I love that he can communicate with me and I adore our conversations. I understand 99.9% of what he says, not sure if anyone else understands him at all! It all happened so quickly. He went from calling Chloe- Kelly, to loudly expressing his wants and needs, making sure his new found voice is heard.

As I was prepping him for bed last night, he says to me, "I had a great day, mama". I was so taken aback by his words I had to repeat them to make sure that's what he said. When I asked him "did you say you had a great day buddy?" he said, UH-HUH and began listing all the things we did.

He may have meshed all of the weeks events into one day, but it wasn't that he articulated that he had a great day that got me so emotional. What I heard is that he's happy. All of my worries in that moment melted away. I am doing okay. I am a good mommy. If only for that moment, in the bathroom with my baby boy, it felt so good to know I'm getting something right. It was the reassurance I needed.

As I laid him down in his little bed and kissed him goodnight, I whispered in his sleepy little ear, Mama had a great day too, Max.

I couldn't have been happier in that moment.

Love that boy.

Fun shaped ravioli !

Chloe and Max love these shaped ravioli by New York Ravioli. Jolie Ravioli come in a resealable bag with an assortment of shapes. Chloe loves the hearts, stars and teddy bears. Max goes for the cars, dinosaurs and rocket ship. They really are so cute!

The ravioli come in cheese, cheese & broccoli, mac & cheezy, and pizza-roli's. We have tried all but the pizza. The kids seem to really like them- they pick them up like finger food. I have put sauce on or just a little butter and grated cheese.

If you have a hard time finding them, you can order them on line at www.nyravioli.com and they will be delivered right to your home. It's worth a try for your picky eater. If my picky eaters approve, I'm sure yours will too!

An easy must- make dinner the entire family will love

This is such a ridiculously easy, delicious meal to make- you have to try it! I lightened my old version up by excluding the mozzarella I used to stuff in the middle and replaced it with a dash of grated parm.

Start by salt and peppering your cutlets on both sides. Lay the cutlets flat out placing a handful of baby spinach on one side as shown below. Sprinkle with the grated parm. Simply cover the spinach with the other side of the chicken.

I sprinkled a bit more grated parm on top and added some additional pepper before baking.

Bake in the oven for one hour on 350. I paired it with baked sweet potatoes. Hardly any clean up- and I promise this is a crowd pleaser!

                                              Bon Appetit!                                                                                        

Motivation found...a trip alone! Don't be jelly now.

Before having my kids, when I was in my twenties, I took care of myself so well. I worked out 3-4 days per week and ate healthily. I was always a foodie, so I indulged on the weekends- but would always exercise to even it out! When I became pregnant with Chloe when I was 30, I continued to work out well into my second trimester until I began having some problems that put a hold on exercising until after she was born. I nursed both kids so the pregnancy weight came right off- but it also became a crutch of sorts. I allowed myself to eat more. I ate things I wouldn't have eaten before because I knew I wouldn't gain the weight...then I stopped nursing. I have been holding on to 10 extra pounds ever since. I did get back into exercising- somewhat. I get back, and am doing great when suddenly one of the kids get sick or was up all night and it keeps me away. I am not the fitness freak I once was- and I'm okay with that- to some extent. I don't think I'm at the point of no return- but, I have my work cut out for me. It's hard getting back- to be totally devoted to it. With me- there ain't no half steppin- I'm either in, or I'm out. Right now, I'm so in.

My trip to Puerto Rico in 29 days is my main source of motivation. I gave up my pride- twice in the delivery room. I refuse to give it up in a bikini next month!

I have 29 days from today. I started my new regimen as of Monday. Got back to the gym- eating right. I'm upset at myself that it took so long to get motivated to start taking care of myself- when there should have never been a time when I didn't. 

This is a new beginning for me- getting back to me. It's been a while since I did stuff for myself. I'm taking my life back starting with getting back in shape and congratulating my own efforts with a trip to Puerto Rico with one of my closest friends!

I know my body will never look the way it did before having my kids...and I'm okay with that too. Definitely worth the exchange. This trip is giving me the jump start to something I should have been doing all along...getting healthy- first and foremost, not wearing a moo-moo on vacation, the second!

Love the ones you love!

Happy Valentine's Day from our family 
                                 to yours!

XOXO, Max

XOXO, Chloe

Free game download code for leappad

I just came across a code for a free Ebook download for the Leapfrog Leappad! I was shocked that it actually worked! Click on your leapfrog icon on your homepage. Go to my toys and select leappad. Next, go to app center- you will see a green square on the bottom right that says redeem code. Click there and enter the following code-  5813 1140 1518 1413 to enjoy the Ebook "The Book of Super Awesome Stuff".

                                            Enjoy!

Finally- a place to keep all the school artwork that comes home!

I admit to being a hoarder when it comes to anything my kids create! With the amount of artwork Chloe has been coming home with from Pre-K, along with the artwork I had from her previous school year, I knew I had to find some kind of storage solution. The box I was storing it all in was no longer working. A friend of mine found this great portfolio. I will definitely need to order another for Chloe. I believe this one will store 3 schools years worth of art. The other will most likely hold the rest.

This is the box I was shoving storing her work in! I ordered the portfolio from     Leaps and Bounds for $17.99. As you can see, it is a much better solution to the box on the left!  I love that it has a place for her picture on the front and really like the labels on top to separate the work by grade.

Murphy seems to like it- so I'm sure you will as well! Here it is filled with the work from last year and this year (so far). I'm hoping it will fit in Kindergarten as well and then I will order an additional one for the years to come.

Faux Football Fan

Because of all the kid less football Sundays that my husband has gotten to enjoy over the past 4 years, I plan to do the same next season. I plan on becoming a football "fan" next season. I do like food and I would love a Sunday afternoon Mimosa, so why not tag along on his football excursions or go to a bar with friends? Why is it that guys get a free Sunday sans kids, and it becomes an ordinary day for me alone with them? Well, no more my friends. I will learn to cheer when cheering need be. I will learn the proper terminology for the game. I will even go as far as to prepare some game worthy food for my new found Sunday activity. I might not grow to love the game, but trust me- I will love every Sunday eating and drinking away from the kids. I will exude enjoyment, even if I have to fake it. Wont be the first time! Hut, hut, hut!!! For the love of the game (or not), the love of Mark Sanchez and Tom Brady, and last, but certainly not least, the love of a kid free Sunday- GO TEAM!!!

The Pause Button

Every life should come with one. I think its time to press mine. Every now and again, I feel this onset of worry that time is slipping by. Currently, the culprit rushing my life is school registration for Max for the fall. I'm not ready for my baby- to not be a baby anymore. He'll begin school when he turns 3 in September, registration was yesterday. Its kind of like Christmas commercials in October and summer clothes out in stores in the winter. Everything feels rushed.

Max at his 1st birthday party

Every now and then, I hear the comment in the back of my head- the one people are constantly making when referring to life with kids . Enjoy it. It goes so fast. Thing is, I don't want it to go fast at all. I want to relish in every moment. I want to squeeze their little coolies and get wet kisses forever. As crazy as this moment in my life is with a 4 year old and 2 year old, I want it to last as long as possible. When I'm looking in my sons eyes and feel that mutual love without having to speak, and we are both smiling uncontrollably....pause. When hes giving me the tightest, realest hug I ever received in my life while kissing me on the cheek...pause. When I hear him say "I miss you, Mama" when I'm only in the shower and hes on the other side of the glass...pause. When I'm cuddled in bed in between both of them (my favorite thing ever)...pause. Little moments like these, I want to last forever.

Max & I at Max's 2nd birthday party

I complain about not having any time to myself- yet in the back of my mind, know I will miss these moments ...hopefully  that day doesn't come too soon. I know there will never be a pause button, but it would be nice for time to slow down a bit. I know one day, I'll be sitting in the bathroom- alone, and miss someone trying to wipe me! As for now, I will live in the moment the best I know how- capturing all of this precious time in my memory to last a lifetime.