Hosting Family Over The Holidays

As we welcome the holidays we need to focus on the special moments rather than some of the stress that can come along with it all. Here are a few tips to make sure you enjoy your holidays!

Hosting Your First Christmas

Hosting family for the holidays is something we look forward to, but comes with it's own set of stressors. There are so many things to think about and the last thing you want to do is be completely stressed out during the holidays. The holidays are the time to relax and enjoy the season with your friends and family.

Prepare Something Special For Your Guests

Before your guests arrive, prepare a little gift for them. I like to make a little basket for my friends and family when they stay with me. It's full of water, something sweet, face wash, tooth paste, shampoo, and conditioner. It helps to ensure your guests have everything they need while staying in your home.

Have Extra Snacks On Hand

When you're in your own home, you're comfortable enough to raid your own kitchen looking for something to eat. It's not always the case at someone else's house. Be sure to fill your pantry with simple snacks and let your guests know about it right away. Then they can feel at home without worrying over what they can enjoy.

Keep It Simple

It's always a desire to make sure your guests enjoy themselves. You want them to have a great time and you also want to spoil them. The problem with this is that the holidays are already hectic and adding too much can make it a stressful time rather than enjoyable. Do what you can to keep your schedules simple and relaxing when you can. More often than not it's the simple things people enjoy more than the hectic and busy days.

Plan A Few Structured Events

While doing your best to keep your guests time stress free, add in a few events. Whether it's taking them to a local tourist attraction or going to see Christmas lights. Plan a few events everyone can attend and make the most of your time out!

Develop A Quick 15 Minute Clean Up Plan

Hosting a few extra people in your home means double the mess. Before they arrive, develop a quick 15 minute clean up plan. Then you will be able to sporadically tidy up the house during the day without feeling like you have to clean the whole time.Bona cleaning supplies are just what you need. You can use their dry cloths to pick up anything on the floor and then do a quick mop with their wet cloths. They're great for a quick tidy up around the house! After you're done sprucing up your floors you can spend your time enjoying the simple moments during the holidays.

Giveaway

This year Bona wants you to enjoy your own simple moments with a giveaway! Enter to win today and you can get a $150 SpaFinder gift card or $100 worth of cleaning supplies from Bona!

What are your tips for hosting family over the holidays?

The King Of The Wild Things

The King of the wild things.

Over the years, I've begun to develop an interesting relationship with birthdays. On one hand you're celebrating all the accomplishments someone has had throughout the year. It's a time to encourage that person and let them know how much you care. On the other hand it means you're getting older and as a parent it can mean your little baby is one year older.A little more independent.One year more grown up.One year closer to not needing mommy and daddy as much.Oh boy. When did I become such a sap!? I sat there staring at my little Lucas all day yesterday asking myself where the time has gone. Yes, I became that parent. I fully admit it and I know I'll be in the same mood, asking myself the same question on every birthday my kids have in the future.My husband and I have gone through so much with our little boy over this last year and look at him! You'd never guess! He is one of the bravest and strongest little two year olds I know which is why his birthday theme was easy to choose.He's my little wild thing.

Where The Wild Things Are

Every night my kids and I have the same routine. I tuck them into bed, kiss them, tell them just how much I love them, and then we have an adventure. We choose one of our favorite books and go off into a different land in our imaginations. Lately, it's been the same adventure over and over again. Not that my kids mind at all. They find new things to think about and their obsession for this book grows deeper with each page.

Where The Wild Things Are.

I loved this book when it fist came out, but as a mom it's pure gold. I have three little wild things of my own and I love reading it to them. The relationship between the mom and the little boy is beautiful. The little boy runs wild throughout the beginning of the book and ends up taking it to far with his mom. She sends him to bed without his dinner and he becomes angry.He gets so angry that his room turns into a jungle and he ventures off to the land of the wild things and he becomes their king. He gets to be as wild as his heart desires and realizes it's not enough. He gets lonely and wants to go back home. He decides he's done living with the wild things and ventures back home. When he gets back to his room he's reminded just how much his momma loves him with a warm bowl of soup.The mom was angry with her son too, but at the end of the day she couldn't let him go to bed without a full belly and she wanted to show him how loved he was.There are so many times I get frustrated with my own wild things, but at the end of the day their mine. I love their wild antics and their imaginations. Especially my little two year old's imagination. Everything is so much more unique to him. He finds something fun and beautiful about everything he sees.

Our Wild Birthday Party

Yesterday, we celebrated Lucas's 2nd birthday and turned our home into the land of the wild things!I was just as excited as my boys were to come up with fun decorations for the party and see where our imaginations could take us. The piece I was most eager about was the cake. Growing up, I remember my aunt making the most adorable cakes! She even passed her skill onto her kids. I had no idea how hard it could be until I tried making my first cake!Thankfully I've learned a few things through trial and error. I want my kids to remember my cakes as they grow up and be able to say...My mom makes the best cakes! I was up to the task for Lucas's party this week! After a lot of brainstorming and scouring Pinterest for inspiration, I came up with the perfect idea.

The cake was surprisingly easy to make! Here are a few steps if you'd like to recreate it for your own wild thing.

Chocolate Curls (Tree Bark)

Combine 1 bag of chocolate chips and 1 TBS coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Put the bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir. Continue until your chocolate is completely melted.Spread the melted chocolate on a piece of parchment paper. Make sure the chocolate is spread evenly. Then roll up your parchment paper and put it in the fridge until it's cooled. When the chocolate hardens unroll it and voila. You have chocolate curls.

Assembling The Cake

Assemble your cake and ice it with chocolate frosting. Cover the outside of the cake with your chocolate curls. When the cake is covered with chocolate curls, dust it with cocoa powder.Cover the top with graham cracker crumbs. I added a bit of green food coloring to make it look like moss.

Where The Wild Things Are Party Snacks

Add a few outdoors-ey themed party snacks and your party is complete. These little smores on a stick were my favorite.  

3 Things To Keep In Mind For Christmas With Little Ones

The Worst Part Of Family Vacations

We are officially home!We survived our flight with three little boys and they did great! They love flying and usually don't mind a day at the airport. This trip was a little different because they were so sad to leave my husband's side of the family! It's always the worst part of visiting family... The leaving part.The only way our boys were willing to leave their house was after promising we would Facetime every day. Thank God for technology! It makes it so nice when you miss family that lives far away.They're also extremely excited because we're only home for a few days and then we're off to see my family! Even more cousins, aunts, uncles, and a Harley riding grandpa to spoil them rotten!Since we only have a few days home we thought we'd relax on the couch and do nothing... If only!Now, we're racing around to get ready for baby Luke's 2nd birthday party, dealing with the poor little guy's ear infection, and packing for our next trip! Oh, and how could I forget decorating for Christmas!

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

One of my favorite things to put up this year is our fluffy fake snow! After moving to the Midwest I've developed a strange relationship with the snow. There's just so much here! It's not like the movies! You get snowed in, you do everything in your power to stay inside, and you try to stay under your blanket all day!Luckily my fluffy fake snow is cute and festive without the freezing temperatures!

Passing Down Christmas Traditions

How could I forget my new little nativity scene!Growing up, I counted down the days until my mom would bring out her nativity scene. She would lay down her fluffy snow and set up the whole village. One by one my brother and I would watch her set up each house and then she'd get to the stable. The best part of the whole village! It lit up and reminded us what the whole nativity scene was about.My husband knows how important my mom's nativity scene has always been to my siblings and I, but we've been worried about the kids. Nativity scenes can be pricey and I've never liked to stress about decorations. I'd rather enjoy the season than worry about my kid's touching everything.This is exactly why our tree is filled with felt ornaments, all of our decorations can be played with, and it's all about fun rather than "off limits."Then I found this! I was walking up and down the festive Target aisles, like I would do every day if I could, and found this gem! It's the perfect nativity scene for this stage in our family. The kids can play with it and we can talk about the message rather than telling them they can't play with it.I'd show you the rest of our decorations, but we just got home from vacation and the house is less than impressive!

3 Things To Keep In Mind For Christmas With Little Ones

Having three little boys under 6 has definitely taught me something. Over the years we've figured out a few things that have helped us to enjoy our holidays more!

Avoid The Breakables.

As your kids get older you can upgrade your decorations. While they're little, stick to non-breakables when you can. Look for felt ornaments and decorations that won't break if they're dropped or knocked over. It's going to relieve some of your stress and the kids won't have to worry about what they can and can't touch.

How Can The Kids Get Involved?

One of the reasons kids start touching everything is that it's all novel! They don't see these things every day and just want to play and have fun! One thing we've done over the years is get the kid's their own decorations. We have a little box and it's full of their Christmas decorations! They love it because we let them decorate however they choose. They even have their own little tree!Create your own kid's Christmas box this year! Take the kids to the store and let them pick and choose what to put inside. You can add to it each year!

Enjoy The Christmas Season!

Christmas is about so much more than the stress that can come along with it. To quote a very inspirational person..."The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."Don't put too much on your plate and try to remember to have fun! Take time to just walk around your neighborhood with hot cocoa in hand and look at the Christmas lights. Find simple ways your family can enjoy the holiday season without all the stress.A few of our favorites are holiday movie nights, decorating pre-made sugar cookies, and listening to Christmas music all day!

What's your favorite Christmas tradition with your family?

15 Reasons I'm Grateful For My Multiracial Family

The holidays are always such a good reminder to sit down and think about what you're grateful for. This year I've been thinking about all the reasons I'm grateful for my multiracial family.Our family has been looking forward to the holidays for months now. We were excited to be with our family we don't get to see often, enjoy delicious holiday food, and spend hours laughing about silly things.One of the biggest reasons I've been counting down the days is because I selfishly wanted my family to myself. During the rest of the year I have to share them with school, work, and other daily responsibilities. The holidays are my chance to get them all to myself and I don't have to share them.Parents hear it all the time.Savor every minute with your family. Over the holidays, I plan to do just that. I want to savor everything about them. So today, I thought what better than a list of all the reasons I'm grateful for my multiracial family. There are so many reasons I fall more in love with them every day, but here are just a few.

15 Reasons I'm Grateful For My Multiracial Family

The bond between my children.

As my kids are getting older, I've been able to see a true friendship form between them. At first it was an extreme love/hate relationship, but their love for each other is something else. I love being able to see them encourage each other and stand by each other's sides!

 

The blessing of raising momma's boys.

I never would have expected to be raising three boys, but now that I am I wouldn't have it any other way! I love being a mom to three strong and vibrant little boys. Not to mention they're all mommas boys and beg to cuddle me! I hope they never outgrow it! 

The ability to see how caring my children are.

Every parent wants their kids to care about people around them. Seeing it happen is a different thing all together. This week I witnessed my son encourage his cousin who was crying over a game. I reminded him to give his cousin space so he could calm down, but he wouldn't budge. He had to stay until his chininna was feeling ok again. I love watching this because it shows me that they actually care. 

My husband is an amazing role model of what it looks like to be a great daddy.

One of the reasons my kids are the way they are is because they have a great daddy to look up to. Their daddy has shown them what it means to provide for their family, be loving, take care of them, and how to always strive to be your best. They love their daddy so much and I am so grateful to see how close they all are!

 

I get to help shape my boys into the little men they will grow into.

Sometimes parenting is completely overwhelming. It all adds up and you ask yourself what you're even doing! Then you realize that all the hard work you put in every day is for your kids. It all adds together to help shape your kids into the adults they're going to be. What an honor to have such a special place in their lives. 

My husband and I get to teach our boys what it means to be in a loving marriage.

My husband and I are going on year seven of marriage. We are anything but perfect and have our fair share of ridiculous fights in front of our kids. In spite of our imperfections, our kids know without a doubt that we love each other. They know we'll fight to keep our marriage strong and that they can feel safe. 

 

We get to go on adventures together.

We have been extremely blessed over the years and have been able to go on dozens of family adventures. As I write this we're cozied up in bed in Texas visiting family. I love being able to make these memories together.

We are blessed with two beautiful cultures in our family.

As a multiracial family, we get to give our kids two different cultures and help them blend together to create their own cultural identity. I love watching them process through it all and find new things to fall in love with in each culture.

My kids are healthy.

We've had some pretty big health scares this year with our youngest son. As I look at his sweet little sleeping face I'm reminded how lucky I am that he's here with me and healthy. I'm beyond grateful that I am able to say all three of my kids are strong and healthy. 

We have a huge support system.

Throughout all of the hospital scares this year, I've never had to worry about my two big kids. We've had a huge support system come around and take care of us. 

I have the best partner in life.

My husband is my best friend. Not many couples can say that and truly mean it. The last year has brought us closer together and I am grateful to say he's the one I get to spend my whole life with.

 

My kids want their parents to join in on the fun!

I know it may not always last, but as of right now my kids beg us to play with them. They want my husband and I to be apart of their little games and it makes my heart so happy. 

We actually want to hang out with our kids!

As our kids get older, they're getting to some pretty fun ages! They can actually play fun group games and I have to admit... my husband and I actually want to hang out with them! I love how our family nights have become about board games and fun activities together! 

Our kids teach us something each day!

I love that I can learn so much from my kids. They teach me to have patience and more love in my heart for those around me. They remind me that not everything is as big as it seems. They lovingly encourage me every day that family is what matters.

 

I love my little family.

At the end of the day, I am just so overwhelmingly in love with my little multiracial family. They have made my life something so much more beautiful than I ever thought possible.

What are you grateful for this year?

My Multicultural Family: Our Thanksgiving Adventure

Early flights, skipping children, and making Thanksgiving memories! Combine them all together and that's what our little almost Indian family has been doing the last few days!

My Multicultural Family: Our Thanksgiving Adventure

Our kids have been counting down to our Thanksgiving vacation to Texas for weeks! They couldn't wait to visit their Chininnas, Pinnis, Thathas, and Nanammas. They were so excited that they would even announce their upcoming trip to everyone around them while grocery shopping! Needless to say, they have been ready for a while!As excited as they were, I was worried about them the morning of the flight. We had to wake the kids up around 4 am to make it to the shuttle in time. My oldest, Liam was the first one to start walking around the hotel room.Momma, I'm the opposite of awake...He started to tell me he was going to go back to bed and take a later flight. Then his excitement got the best of him and he shot out of bed when he realized the trip he had been waiting for was finally here!They are the only kids I know that will skip down the the shuttle at 4 am!

I don't think everyone was excited as they were about the early morning flight.Momma and daddy followed them around the airport trying to remember about a dozen pieces of luggage.We definitely took traveling without kids for granted. We could do early morning flights in a breeze because we'd end up sleeping the whole flight and we only have two pieces of luggage.Three kids later and you get this...

Momma's Well Deserved First Class Upgrade!

Luckily I've been blessed with a wonderful husband who gets his wife upgraded to first class with the baby! The baby that sleeps through most flights. I wish I could say I felt bad leaving my husband and the two big kids behind in coach, but... no.I figured they all owed it to me for every pregnancy, labor, wiped nose, early morning wake up call, back rub, Indian dinner prepared, and ounce of love I've given them. Yes, I went there.The problem is that I slept through the first class meal and drinks! Ooops.I planned on staying awake, but my first class baby passenger cuddled me right to sleep!

When we woke up we were a few minutes away from Texas. As you can see we were very excited to arrive at our Thanksgiving vacation destination!Be sure to follow us on social media so you can see what we do over the holiday week!

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What is your funniest traveling story?

#AD Surviving Winter With A Winter Toolkit

I have received information and materials from Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WinOverWinter #CollectiveBias)

Stand Up Against Winter This Year

Growing up, I hardly got sick. When I did it was always kind of nice. I'd get one of those down in bed colds and my mom would take care of me all day. She would make me hot soup, tea, and watch Gilmore Girls all day.

Seriously, what could be better than a sick day at home in your own bed!

Now that I'm a mom and have kids of my own I'm realizing it's a whole different ball game! A sick child in my own home is a different story all together. It means trying to do everything in my momma powers to prevent my other kids from catching their siblings illness, but knowing they'll just pass it around anyways.

As a parent, having a sick child can be exhausting! You end up awake in the middle of the night taking care of them, doing everything for them, and it can take a toll on your body.

Stand Up To Winter With Our Winter Toolkit And A Few Family Tips

If you're not careful, the winter season can be taken over by illnesses, aches, and pains! Don't let it ruin your winter plans and be sure to follow our family tips!

Rest

The winter season can end up getting extremely busy. It's full of vacations, family visits, the Holidays, and so much more. One big reason families end up down during the holidays is a lack of rest. When you're not sleeping well, your immune system isn't as strong as it needs to be to fight everything around. Not to mention your body starts feeling all the little aches and pains! Be sure to rest up over the holidays!

Wash Your Hands Frequently

Hand washing is a good routine to have all year long, but make sure your family amps it up over the winter season. Have everyone wash their hands after they get home, before they eat, and anytime they touch your mouth. It will help to prevent anyone from sharing germs and hopefully prevent them from getting sick!

Build Your Own Winter Toolkit

Every year we build a winter toolkit. It has changed over the years to fit our families needs, much like yours will. It's helped us so much because we always have the essentials on hand. Whether you're trying to make sure you're ready to take care of any family members that fall under the weather or for loved ones that come and visit over the holidays.This year our winter toolkit contains tissues with essential oils, disinfectant wipes, immunity tablets, epson salt, tea, and Ultra Strength BENGAY®. Our winter toolkit helps prevent winter illnesses as well as takes care of any aches and pains mom and dad may have.My husband and I have already broken into the Ultra Strength BENGAY® this year. Whether it be from a long day of yard work or a busy day with the kids Ultra Strength BENGAY® always hits the spot. It gets down into the muscles and gets rid of those aches and pains! It gives mom and dad a little pampering at the end of the day just like they need!

Make Your Own Winter Toolkit Today

Make your own winter toolkit today by heading to Target and pick up everything you may need! Don't forget to add in Ultra Strength BENGAY®. It helps with any aches and pains you may have due to taking care of sick kids or staying up all night wrapping presents! It will end up being your favorite thing in your winter toolkit!

What are you going to add into your winter toolkit this year?

The Ultimate Travel Guide For Families

Traveling with kids is hard, but it doesn't have to be impossible. Check out the ultimate travel guide for families to see what you can do on your next trip!

The Ultimate Travel Guide For Families

The Rule Of Traveling With Kids: KISSAs parents we want to try and think of every possible situation that could come up when traveling. The problem is that means we end up taking an obscene amount of things with us. Or you end up like my poor husband and end up carrying it all while waiting for the flight because the kids have decided they can't carry anything and your wife is carrying three kids...Instead of trying to fit your entire house into your luggage remember one thing.Keep It Simple Silly

The truth is you don't need many things to travel successfully with your kids. All you need is a few things to keep them busy, the essentials, and a whole lot of patience!The novelty of the airport is usually enough to get your kids pretty excited anyways. However, many of us have been those parents on the flight with the whiny or crying kids.

5 Things To Do So Your Kids Won't Lose Their *$&# On The Plane

Walk Up And Down The Aisle.

Sometimes your kids could be feeling to cooped up on the airplane. Give them a little break from sitting by letting them walk up and down the aisles. My kids love it and always make a few friends!

Keep Their Toys Novel.

Give them a new activity every so often on the plane rather than everything as soon as they sit down. It keeps the toys novel and keeps them engaged in their toys longer. Or if you're letting them watch a movie, get a brand new movie they haven't seen before. Keep whatever it is novel and they'll be more interested.

Wear Comfy Clothes.

Nothings worse than sitting on a long flight in uncomfortable clothes. Set your kids up for success by putting them in cozy clothes. If it's an early morning flight, pj's all the way. Or if it's during the day think comfortable.

Ignore The People Around You. 

People will inevitably stare at you. If their parents, they somehow forgot what it felt like to have a kid on an airplane. Or maybe their kids were the model of perfection... Yeah right. All you can do is ignore them. If you let them stress you out, your kids will smell your fear and use it as an excuse to lose their minds!

GET GUM!

It doesn't matter if your a crunchy mom that doesn't want their kids chewing sugary gum, you want them doing exactly that while flying. I've made the mistake of not doing this and felt horrible the entire flight as my child cried in pain! Get them some gum to CHEW during take off and landing, a sippy cup, sucker, or a pacifier. Anything you can find to get them to suck on something to pop their ears.   

Must Have Travel Items

As your'e trying to decide on what essentials you actually need on the flight, take a look at these.These are a few of our families favorite travel must haves! The headphones are my favorite! We've tried so many, but these are great! They're cozy and the kids fall asleep with them on all the time!Disney Store Limited Drinks & Snacks Bottle J World New York Sunny Rolling Backpack Disney Store Frozen Fever Plastic Snack Drink Cup Cozyphones Kids HeadphonesMarvel Boys' Avengers 12 Inch Rolling BackpackPhil&Teds Lobster HighchairBRICA Fold N' Go Travel BassinetErgobaby Original 3 Position Baby CarrierContigo Trekker Kids Water Bottle WeeSprout Reusable Double Zipper Food Pouch

 What are your tips for traveling with a family?

This post has affiliate links. As always all opinions are my own. 

If you liked this, you'll love this!

How To Fight Jet Lag Naturally

Traveling with a family is tough work. My husband and I have taken our kids on dozens of trips around the US and each one is equally difficult, hilarious, and exhausting. Even the simple trips can be intense! My last trip with the kids can be summed up in a few words... two spilled Starbucks drinks, a crying baby, an exhausted momma, and jet lag! Jet lag makes it all worse. Even just a few hours can throw kids into a tail spin for weeks! Here are a few ways you can fight jet lag naturally so you can actually enjoy your trip! 

Tips For Fighting Jet Lag

Your first reaction when you want to fight jet lag is to load up on the caffeine. Or maybe you think sleeping all day will help... The truth is both of these will only make your jet lag exponentially worse. The best thing you can do is fight jet lag naturally.

Stick To Your Normal Routine

One of the most important things you need to do when traveling is stick to your normal schedule. It's easy to think you want to let things like nap and bed times slide, but it's the worst thing you can do. It's hard enough to train your body to stick to the new times, but sticking to the same routine during the day will help your body adjust. Timers are your best friend when you want to fight jet lag naturally.

Try To Adjust On The Plane

If you're going to encounter a large time difference, try and adjust on the plane. Whether that means staying awake the whole time or sleeping for the entire flight. Do your best to get it all done and over with while you're flying to you're not doing it your first day on your trip.

Eat Before You Go To Bed

One of the biggest reasons people end up waking up in the middle of the night when dealing with jet lag is that they're hungry. Their stomachs wake them up so they can get something to eat. Be sure to have a snack before you go to bed to make sure you don't wake up hungry.

Keep Your Body Moving During The Day

When you need to fight jet lag naturally you need to avoid things like caffeine. The problem is your body starts to get tired and all you want to do it go lay on the couch. Instead you need to keep your body active. Schedule things like site seeing and different activities during the day.

Limit Naps

When you're exhausted all you want to do is take a dozen cat naps throughout the day. The problem is that your body is trying to figure out what time it is and if you sleep throughout the day it's going to take even longer to acclimate. Resist the urge to nap during the day.

Keep Your Room Dark While Sleeping

After doing your best to stay awake all day, you're more than happy to lay your head down on the pillow at night. The problem comes the next morning. The moment the sun comes out your body thinks it's time to wake up. Even if it is only 5 in the morning. The best thing you can do is to set up a dark room to sleep in. It will help trick your body to adjust to the new time.

Wouldn't You Rather Fight Jet Lag Naturally?

Whether you're dealing with a 1 hour time difference or 13, it's tough on your body. It takes it time to adjust but you can fight jet lag naturally. You don't have to load up on caffeine and energy drinks to try and keep your eye lids open. In the end caffeine only makes you feel like garbage on top of being wiped out.By being willing to fight jet lag naturally, you can spend your trip feeling great and enjoying your new surroundings rather than trying to play catch up on sleep the whole time!

How Do You Fight Jet Lag Naturally?

If you liked this post, you'll love this one!

40 Things Kids Think About During Nap Time

40 Things Kids Think About During Nap Time

Nap time used to be my favorite time of the day.It meant a relaxing break from the chaos of the day. Now, my two big kids think they're too big for nap time. Instead of happily going to bed like their baby brother, they try to get out of it the whole time!Not to mention they act like they've never had a drink of water in their lives.I get tempted to let them drop their nap, but they are so much happier after they finally give in and take one. I've always wondered what goes through their minds while they lay in their beds.What is it that keeps them up for SO LONG!Here are a few things I'm sure go through my kids heads when they're trying to take a nap! What would you add to the list?

1. Ooh I forgot to get a drink of water.

2. Hmm.. I don't think I have to pee, but I'm going to try anyways.

3. Mom said I cant go to the bathroom during nap time anymore!

4. What if I really do have to pee!?

5. I'm thirsty.

6. Bedtime is so boring!

7. I'm too big to take naps!

8. I'll never fall asleep.

9. Only babies take naps.

10. I'm really thirsty.

11. Where is that toy I played with yesterday?

12. Mom's making me so mad!

13. Why can't I just get up!

14. Mom's up.

15. Mom's not taking a nap.

16. I'm so thirsty!

17. I have to pee!

18. Oooh. Mom got really mad!

19. I should go down and tell her I love her.

20. She didn't want to hear it!

21. She's so mean!

22. I'M THIRSTY!

23. I hate naps!

24. I haven't eaten all day!

25. Mom said I just had lunch and I think she's lying.

26. I'm starving.

27. I'm SO THIRSTY!

28. Why won't she just let me get up!

29. OK. I'm going to ask one more time.

30. Mom's not taking a nap because she's not a baby!

31. I'm not a baby!

32. I haven't had anything to drink in SO LONG!

33. I should see if my brother is sleeping.

34. HE'S READING BOOKS!

35. MOM!!!!!!!!

36. I'm never getting out of here!

37. I hate this room!

38. This is why I never play in here!

39. Mmmm. I'm getting really sleepy...

40. I'm thirs........ zzzzzzzzz

Be sure to follow The Almost Indian Wife on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see what other funny things we come up with!

Raising Grateful Children: Thank You For My Siblings!

Have you ever wondered if you're raising grateful children? If your children are grateful for the people they love in their lives? Here are a few things you can start doing today to make sure you're raising grateful children!Raising Grateful ChildrenI don't know what it is, but have you ever noticed that every time you need to make an important phone call your kids go crazy?This afternoon I had to call my health insurance company. I only had an hour before they closed and I figured I would try and call while my two youngest were napping. They usually answer pretty quickly so I thought I could get it all done before my boys woke up.After about 15 minutes on hold I realized quick wasn't in the cards for today.Then my three year old woke up and thought it would be helpful to wake up his baby brother. I went up there, phone up to my ear, to grab them. Baby Luke's crib was full of toys along with a 3 year old big brother.They were both grinning ear to ear and loving their mischievousness!I ended up letting them destroy their room so I could finish my supposedly "quick" phone call. I have to admit, I love that they're getting closer.It's one of the reasons I wanted to have my kids so close together. I knew it would come with it's own set of craziness, but it would be worth it. I wanted my kids to be close.I was worried in the beginning because all my boys would do was fight! My husband and I joked about their love-hate relationship, but deep down I was worried they wouldn't be as close as I hoped. Now that they're a bit older, I'm starting to see how deep their brotherly bond really is.They all look to each other for approval, wanting to make sure their brothers think they're doing something amazing. The best is while we sit down for meals. They start telling jokes and instantly look to make sure their brothers are laughing at them! Even Baby Lucas joins in! No one knows what he actually says, but they love that he's trying and think his' hilarious!I want them to continue getting closer as they get older.I want my kids to be best friends.

3 Ways To Ensure You're Raising Grateful Children

This month, I want my kids to take a moment to be grateful for their siblings. The more they learn what they love and value in each other, the closer they'll be.

Lead By Example

If we want to teach our kids to be grateful, we have to start by being grateful ourselves. Kids are always looking to their parents to figure out what to do. If they can see us being grateful and loving to those around us, they'll follow suit.Parents can model gratitude by verbally expressing it, sending thank you notes, and even giving little gifts.Remind your kids how important to be thankful for people they love and talk to them about it. Let them know why you're thankful for them!

Create A Habit

Instead of being grateful once a year on Thanksgiving, make it a year long routine. Create a habit in your home to talk about what your thankful for. Whether it's over dinner each night, as you tuck your kids in bed, or on the way home from a busy day.It doesn't matter when you do it, just do it. Create those conversations early on so they become normal.

Sibling Dates

As your kids watch you leading a grateful life and a let it become a habit in their own, it will quickly start to affect their relationships with their siblings.You can foster their relationships with each other more by letting them have sibling dates!Do something fun and take them to a movie! Let them choose what they want to see together and their snacks! Or let them come up with their date night on their own. Encourage them to have fun thinking up the whole night and what they're going to do.The most important thing you can do as a parent is to help your children build strong relationships with each other.These relationships are going to last for their entire lives. By helping your kids learn how to be grateful for each other, you're making sure they have a strong foundation that can last through it all.

What tips do you have for helping your kids be grateful for their siblings?

Candy Thieves And An #AIWTribe Challenge

Our Little Trick Or Treaters!

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween yesterday! This was the first year that all of our kids truly got into trick or treating!They were so excited to see all of the kids dressed up as different characters that they knew. Not to mention our neighborhood did such a good job! So many people were sitting in their driveways with little fires, handing out candy and goodies!I love seeing the neighborhood get so involved!What was your favorite house your favorite house you visited last night?The two big kids were in heaven all night! They couldn't get to the next house quick enough!Baby Lucas was so excited to walk with his brothers to the first few houses! Then his big brothers started to leave him behind and he realized just how much work Trick or Treating was going to take.

He happily hopped in the stroller with a PB&J and watched his brothers bring him candy all night. He truly thought it out! All the candy and none of the work!

The Morning After

The morning after Halloween is always interesting. My little candy thief, Levi always attempts to steal the Halloween candy. He usually succeeds! This year my husband and I decided to hide it so they couldn't find it. Putting it up high never works, so hiding it seemed perfect.Then we woke up at 5am to see all of our lights on...The little candy thief snuck downstairs looking for his Halloween spoils and found it!When I asked him why he would do it he said, "Mommy I thought you wanted me to have it. I'll give you one..."He tried to bribe me!Did any of you have any candy thieves this morning? I think it's becoming our little Halloween tradition!

#AIWTribe Challenge

Now that Halloween is over that means we're counting down the days until Thanksgiving!While we're all waiting for Turkey day I thought what better than an Instagram challenge! I love doing challenges with all of you so we can get to know each other better and share what's important to us!Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see the prompts each day!Also tag your pictures with #AIWTribe so we can find each other's pictures all month long!Don't forget to tell your friends!

How To Stay Sane Over The Holidays

 

The holiday season has always been a busy time for families. Last year our family learned just how crazy it could get. Between the months of October and December we have 2 birthdays and 3 major holidays. It may not seem like too much, but keep in mind all five of these events require planning, some of them mean traveling, making elaborate meals, and parties.I feel like we're planning and hosting a part every other week! 

10 Ways To Stay Sane Over The Holidays

This year my husband and I have decided to keep things simple. We want to let go of all the holiday stress and just enjoy it.

Give Group Gifts

When you're giving presents to different families, you can end up getting dozens of gifts for all the family members. Try to think bigger this year and give group gifts rather than all individual ones.

Don't Overextend Yourself

It's easy to overcommit to way too much over the holidays. You want everything to be perfect and take it all on yourself. Be sure to think about what your taking on. Is it possible with your schedule? Write it all out and decide on which tasks you can do yourself and what you can hand off to someone else.

Make A Holiday Budget

This is the perfect time to make a holiday budget. Think about any meals you may be hosting, if you have family planning to visit, presents, travel, etc. Make a realistic budget that you can try and stick to over the holidays.

Remember What It's All About

Sometimes we lose sight of what the holidays are about. We give in to the craziness and stress and forget. This year make sure you remember why you're doing it all.

Be Sure To Rest

The only way you will be able to get everything on your to do list accomplished is by taking care of yourself first. If you're only focusing on those around you and forget to rest you'll end up getting sick. Be your best this year by resting when you can.

Buy Presents Early

Plan out your gifts and purchase them early this year! If your kids are anything like mine, they already have their Christmas lists going. Take a look at the lists and buy something from it every pay check. This helps to spread it out and means you're not doing it all last minute!

Be Thankful

Take time every day to think about what you're thankful for this year. It's going to help you prioritize because you'll be thinking about what actually matters.

Take Time For Yourself

In addition to resting, take time for yourself this busy season. Find time to go out with a friend or go and get a delicious pumpkin spiced latte. Don't get so busy that you only think about those around you for the next few months.

Stay In The Moment

During the holidays a lot of us think about what's next. Instead of just focusing on the holiday at hand, we get lost in planning for the next one. Stay in the moment this year and relish in the holiday traditions, your kids, your family, and you'll be making memories that last.

Take A Deep Breath

At the end of the day, things will get crazy. Things may not go the way you planned, but it's ok. Take a deep breath and remember that no one is looking for a perfect holiday. They just want time with the people they love.

Incredibundles Is Just What You Need To Simplify The Holidays

Today I'm partnering with Incredibundles to make your holidays a little easier. They've done so much of the work for you and just want to help you find the best gifts for the littles ones in your life.Whether you're looking for a group gift for a family, a gift for a new dad in your life, or you're prepping for your holiday gifts early Incredibundles is for you!We got our first bundle last week and our kids loved it! We created our own and included age appropriate gifts for all of them! I love how many options they! They have year long subscriptions, one time bundles, essentials, and so much more!

What Does Incredibundles Offer?

First Time Daddy BundleOne Year Subscriptions (Books, Diapers, or Toys)Create Your Own BundlesLearn and Grow BundlesSleep BundlesBath Bundles

Incredibundles is giving away a free bundle! You can use this as a gift for the holidays, to spoil your kids early, or just something fun for a little one in your life! Be sure to enter in to win your own Incredibundle!

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How To Keep My Culture Alive While Living Abroad

I'm very excited to join up with Lauren from English Wife Indian Life to share our stories. We're sharing how keep culture alive in our multicultural families. I share how we keep my husband's Indian culture alive in the US and she's sharing how she's keeping her English culture alive while living in India.

How To Keep My Culture Alive While Living Abroad

When I married an Indian, I remember thinking how lucky our children will be to belong to two extremely different cultures. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I spent hours researching baby names that would fall easily from both tongues. Then I started to worry, my own cultural identity has been questioned numerous times, from “you should be more Indian now you live in India” to “it seems you are not proud to be British anymore”.Will my child have a similar experience? Will my child feel British at all growing up in India?India is the country I have called home for three years. Since leaving England to start a new life with the man I love, I have been learning about Indian values and traditions. In fact, I made it my mission to learn as much as I possibly could so I could understand my new family and the world around me. There are so many amazing things I want my son to learn and enjoy from Indian culture, but what about his other culture?I thought about the ways I have managed to maintain my culture in India, what parts are so important to me that I couldn’t leave them behind when I took off from Heathrow. I don’t want to force either culture down his throat, but I do want to give him the opportunity to experience both sides of his heritage.

Enjoying a Full English Breakfast

The food we eat says a lot about who we are, our lifestyle and our heritage. In a couple of weeks, I going to start weaning my son, which has put the emotional aspect of food in the spotlight. I can’t predict what his tastes will be, but I would hate for him to have the same problem I have.I’m so attached to English food that I daydream about it! It has a huge sway on my emotional wellbeing when I am unable to indulge in cheese or bread. Finding quality cheese and bread in the city I live has been a struggle. I want my son to enjoy a variety of cuisines, give him as much choice as I can. I would hate to be visiting England and have to make something separate for him because he has the same emotional attachment to Indian food as I do to English food.

Celebrating Christmas, Easter and Pancake Day

Every Christmas morning I woke up with a stocking on the end of my bed, stuffed with small presents from Father Christmas. If we were living in the West, we would be surrounded by Christmas, but living in India, it’s my job to cultivate the spirit.I don’t want to lie to my child about Father Christmas, for starters we don’t even have a chimney, but I don’t want to lose one of the very few family traditions I have (especially when my husband’s family have hundreds). I still remember how disenchanted I felt with the entire world when I found out Father Christmas wasn’t real. It broke my heart. I’ve thought about this extensively (probably too much) and found a solution.There is a ten day Hindu festival celebrating the elephant God, Lord Ganesh. The tradition is that families bring a clay idol of Lord Ganesh into their home, bringing his spirit into the house, and enjoy their time with him. I thought of Father Christmas, and he is the symbol for the spirit of Christmas (jolly, giving etc.). I’m sure my children will understand it this way, and avoid the minor breakdown I had when I was about seven.

Please and Thank You

When I first moved to India, everyone laughed at me for saying “thank you”. Hysterical laughter that made me feel uncomfortable and insecure. Still, I continued to say thank you, it’s not only a habit. It’s a compulsion. It’s not that Indians are rude, concept of politeness is vastly different in India. I would say by Indian standards, I can be (unintentionally) very rude sometimes. I want to encourage my son to say please and thank you, avoiding the disapproving looks when we visit England.

Making the Most of Trips to Britain

We may not have as many traditions and festivals as India, but our little island has beauty, history and fun things to do. It dawned on me as I was flying to India, my son’s childhood will be drastically different from my own . There are so many things I remember with great fondness, and I want him to have the opportunity to experience them too. Therefore, I have promised myself that when we do visit England, we will not waste a moment.

Bring my Culture to India for my Son

When I started to write this post, I thought about the ways I have brought British culture to India and it made my stomach turn. Britain ruled India for almost 100 years before India achieved freedom in 1947. After all the bloodshed, enslavement and stolen wealth, the British retreated after the independence movement, known for its nonviolent philosophy. The actions of some of my ancestors in India were awful and inhumane. I feel ashamed when I read about the brutalities and injustice.That being said, I believe that people cannot be blamed for the actions of their ancestors, religion, nationality or race. It’s also important we don’t wipe away history from our consciousness, to learn from mistakes and treat everyone equally, regardless of race, religion, gender or nationality.In the end, that is what I hope most for my son (and any future children we are blessed with), that they are kind, open minded and respect all living things.

Be sure to follow Lauren on English Wife Indian Life

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Multicultural Corner: Raising Global Citizens

My husband and I made the decision to homeschool our kids for so many different reasons. We both loved the idea of having flexibility to fit around my husband work schedule, the ability we would have to teach them the way they learned best, and the fact that we could choose their curriculum.Since we've started we've been able to do studies on butterflies, nature, and the ocean. I love seeing how excited my kids get when we start a new study. They want to soak everything in and they always have so many questions. My favorite part about homeschooling has been our discussions!We cozy up on the couch and talk about our study for the month. Often times it goes off on tangents where we daydream actually experiencing what we're learning about. Which of course leads to giggles and silly kids.I will always cherish these conversations with my kids. I do everything I can to teach my children that I'm there for them. I want them to know they can talk to me about anything. This is why there are no silly questions in our house. I'll be teaching the kids about butterflies and my three year old will ask me if he'll ever become a butterfly himself...I love it. I love their little questions.As a mother, it's my privilege to be able to teach them about the world and everything inside of it.[tweetthis display_mode="button_link"]As a mother it's my privilege to be able to teach them about the world and everything inside of it. #aiwtribe[/tweetthis]

Our Very Own Multicultural Corner

Last month, I sat down and tried to brainstorm different ideas on how I could get my kids excited about our diverse world. I want them not only to be raised as biracial children loving two cultures, but as global citizens who love the whole world.Then it came to me. Multicultural corner. Every month we're going to focus on a new multicultural resource. The goal of this is to get our kids excited about the world and to learn more about different cultures.Along with our multicultural resource we're going to do hands on activities, prepare delicious food, and share what we learn together.

Mixed Me

This book has been an amazing addition to our little library. It does a wonderful job of teaching kids the beauty in their biracial identity. There aren't many books out there that discuss multicultural families and Tay Diggs has taken his own experiences in teaching his son and has given us a great resource.Mixed Me walks us through the life of Mike. He is a little boy trying to figure out his biracial identity. Throughout the book he asks questions about his parents and himself. He wants to understand how he can be a blend of both of them when he looks so different.While my kids and I read this book I could see the excitement in their faces. My oldest son instantly felt a connection between the Mike and himself."Momma, he's like me!"

How You Can Join Multicultural Corner With Your Kids

Whether you're homeschooling your kids or you just want to create opportunities to encourage them to learn about the world around them, join us each month for multicultural corner! We will post new activities and ways for your family to join us!This month, we're starting off by talking about biracial identities. Pick up your own copy of Mixed Me from the library or get your own. We can't wait to hear the conversations it gets going with your family.

Get Featured!

Use the hashtag #AIWTribe when sharing your multicultural corner experiences and get featured!

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Share Your Own Multicultural Corner Resources, Activities, and Recipes!

Leave one link and be sure to share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!

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Your Complete Guide To Diwali And A Few Must Haves

As a multicultural family, it can be hard to present both cultures to our children and family. There are so many aspects of our culture and it can feel impossible sometimes for couples to highlight everything that's important about it.Whether you are an expat or a multicultural family, one way you can feel connected to your culture is by celebrating important holidays you grew up with.Diwali is quickly approaching and today I want to break it down so you can teach your family about this beautiful holiday and maybe even celebrate it as well!

Diwali: The Festival Of Lights

Diwali is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in India. It's known as the Festival of Lights. This holiday is all about the victory of good over evil.There are five days of Diwali and in addition to different religious ceremonies, there are different things families do on each day.Day One: The first day of Diwali is spent cleaning your home and purchasing a lavish gold or silver item for your home. This is the prefect day to look through your home and purge anything you don't need. Think of it as your day of spring cleaning then you treat yourself with something nice.After your home is cleaned, you can decorate with rangolis! They are a beautiful design made in front of your home.Day Two: This is the day to exchange sweets with your friends and family. You used to have to stay home on this day and relax, but it's changed a bit over the years. You can also continue to make rangoli designs.Day Three: This is the day to light all of your diyas, lamps, and festive lights. Most families also attend their local churches and then go home and light fireworks to celebrate!Day Four: This is the day couples celebrate their love and give gifts to each other.Day Five: Day five is such a special day. Sisters invite their brothers to their home, make them a big meal, and pray for them.

Diwali Must Haves

Here are a few Diwali items you should be sure to pick up this year! My kids and I sat down and made a list of our favorites!

1. Happy Diwali Cards
2. Rangoli Stencils
3. Sari Patchwork Throw Pillows
4. Votive Candle Holders
5. Lantern
6. The Diwali Gift Book
7. Diya Candle Holder

This post contains affiliate links which I do make a small commission on. I only recommend items my family truly loves and thinks you will too!

The Legacy My Husband Is Leaving For His Kids

The Legacy My Husband Is Leaving For His Kids

Today is my husband's birthday and we're spending it celebrating him and everything he is to our family. He woke up this morning to three anxious little boys and homemade birthday cards! My boys love their daddy to the moon and back and couldn't wait to wake him up with birthday wishes!Being a dad is hard work. You're always trying to figure out how to be exactly what your kids need. You want to make sure you're being a great example while also inspiring them to be world changers.It's a lot to carry on your shoulders.Through it all, my husband is leaving a legacy for his children. This legacy is going to teach them what it means to be young men, a dad, and a husband.

3 Lessons My Husband's Legacy Will Teach Our Children

How To Take Care Of Your Family

I talk a lot on the blog about my traveling husband. He's gone frequently throughout the year for work, but what you may not know is that it's hard. Part of the traveling is fun and exciting. He's been able to experience so much because of his job, but he also has to miss out on a lot.However, his kids know how hard he works for them. He even books his tickets so he gets back in the middle of the night so we all get to wake up with him in the morning.My husband is always taking care of us. He works hard to provide for us and always makes sure we're taken care of.

What It Means To Be Vulnerable

As a man and father, you want to teach your kids to be strong. My husband has taught his kids to be strong, but more importantly he's taught them how to be vulnerable.My husband has shown my kids what it means to be imperfect. They know they don't have to do anything to prove themselves to him. All he wants is for them to be real and honest with him.If they're feeling scared, he holds them.If they're feeling discouraged, he empowers them.He's done this by being vulnerable with them. He's the first one to let them know if he's feeling down discouraged. This not only brings them closer together as father and son but will help them as they grow into the men they're becoming.They'll bring this vulnerability into their friendships and even their future marriages.

How To Love Their Future Wife

My husband and I got married when we were really young. We've grown up together over the last seven years. Our marriage has been anything but perfect. We've had our struggles and out triumphs. Throughout it all, he's always loved me.My boys have been able to be blessed with parents that truly love each other. They've never had to worry if we're going to stay together because even while we're fighting, they know we love each other.My husband has shown my kids what it means to truly love their future wife. Love is a feeling and choice. My sons have seen my husband love me through every season without fail.They've seen him love me, even when I'm being crazy.They've seen him love me in the midst of scary times.I know they've seen it because it even affects how they love me, their mom.

----------------------------------

My husband has truly changed our family. He's loved us without fail every day, he's chosen to be vulnerable with us, he's always taken care of us, and he's the reason our kids will grow up to be amazing fathers.

Let's take a moment to celebrate the fathers in your life. Remind them how much they mean to you and what they've done for your family.

Spooky Ghost Garland

Our Spooky Halloween Decorations

Over the years, my kids have always been excited about Halloween, but this year has been completely different. My boys have been watching Halloween movies, begging for Halloween decorations, and counting down the days until they get to go trick or treating!We even decided to decorate our home for Halloween this year!When my boys first started asking me to make our home "spooky," I had no idea what to do. I was ready to buy all the decorations and just hang it all up! Then I noticed the price...Halloween decorations get expensive!I ended up going home and started racking my brain on simple and cheap ways I could decorate my house to be sure my kids had the spooky Halloween they had asked for!It ended up being way more fun coming up with fun decorations than it ever would have been to buy them all. Not to mention, my husband was much happier with the cost of homemade decorations!

Spooky Ghost Garland

This year, I am partnering up with Hefty to bring you simple Halloween decorations for your family!One of my kids favorite Halloween characters are cute and spooky ghosts. They are spooky enough without being scary and they are so simple to make!I decided to take it up a notch by turning our ghosts into a garland that we could hang up!There are so many ways you and your family can personalize your spooky ghost garland. You can draw faces on them, you find fun twine to use when hanging them up, or you wrap the garland in a tree outside!

Materials

Hefty Garbage BagsTwineScissorsPermanent Marker (If you'd like to draw faces)

Step One- Cutting

Ghost Body: Cut a strip from your Hefty garbage bag. You can make your strip as big or small as you'd like. Keep in mind this strip will be making your ghost. I made mine about 6 inches.Cut your strips into large rectangles.Ghost Filling: Cut up the rest of your bag into small pieces to use as stuffing.

Step Two- Assembling

Grab a small bunch of your ghost filling and place it in the center of your rectangle.Gather up each side of your rectangle, keeping the stuffing in the middle. Then pinch your garbage bag, around the stuffing, and twist.Once your bag is twisted, lay it on your twine. Tie your twine right underneath your ghost's head and voila. Your first ghost!Continue the process until your ghost garland is as long as you'd like!

Your Very Own Hefty Helper!

Hefty trash bags aren't only a must have for Halloween decorations, but they can stand up against anything! We use our Hefty trash bags every day!Our family needs our trash bags to stand up against toddlers dragging them out to the trash, strong odors, and a mom putting way too much trash inside. Regardless of your families needs, Hefty is here to help!They've even partnered with John Cena this year to show families just how strong their new Hefty Ultra Strong bags are!Have you ever experienced a torn trash bag and ended up with trash everywhere? I've had it happen too many times, but then we switched to Hefty. Now, I don't have to worry about tears or even smelling our trash!

Pick up your Heft trash bags today and don't forget to use this great coupon!

How Purging Toys Has Made My Kids Closer

Our Massive Purge!

I recently went through our home and did a massive purge. I've wanted to do one for a while, but continued to put it off. I'd get rid of a few things here or there, only to replace it with something else.Then I finally did it. I spent an entire weekend going through our clothes and toys. I ended up donating 10 bags to Goodwill.... I didn't even know we had accumulated so many things. Granted some of it was clothes the kids no longer fit into, but there were so many toys.Do you want to know the kicker?My kids haven't even noticed...I spent so much time trying to find toys that would help them to stay entertained, teach them important skills, and to play with their brothers that I went a little overboard.Our purge has been amazing. I spend half the time cleaning up after they're done playing and the most important thing is their imagination has exploded! Instead of dumping out all of their toys and playing with one for five minutes they grab a few and go outside!We've been extremely blessed this year with a park in walking distance from our house. Right next to the park is a fun wooded "fort." My boys have been all about it!Now that we've gone through and donated a huge chunk of our toys, they've wanted to go to the park every day. As soon as we get there, they run to their fort. I tried following them in today but was rudely denied by a five-year-old Iron Man.I still snuck in to snap pictures of them playing together! I love seeing how close they're getting.Having three little boys under six has been crazy at times, but I remind myself we did it for a reason. I wanted my kids close together because I wanted them to be best friends. Now, it's actually happening. They love spending time together.Yet another thing I've seen after getting rid of so many toys is that they play together more. Before, they'd all get their toys and play alone. Now, they find each other and play together!Ok, we're almost there. This little one got kicked out of the fort for throwing dirt at his big brothers. This was his response when I asked if he was throwing things at them.He's got no shame.Try it for yourself and purge some of your kid's toys! You'll be amazed at the results!

Teaching My Multicultural Kids What's "Normal"

My Little Explorers

One of my favorites part of homeschool has been watching my kids explore. My little boys are curious about everything around them! If you look into their eyes, you can see they're always pondering something.Momma, why can't I marry you?Why can't we spend your grocery money on our toys? Aren't toys more important?Why doesn't everyone speak Telugu like daddy and me?I love hearing the questions their little minds come up with. While I may be assuming they're only thinking about the toy in their hand, they're actually processing life going on around them. They want to figure it all out.Sometimes, these questions are centered around what they want in the moment, like going toy shopping rather than grocery shopping. Other times, they're thinking about something much deeper. I'm always surprised to hear how deep their questions can become.Lately, my oldest son, Liam has been pondering the differences between him and those around him. As a biracial child, he's not new to the idea of being different than some of his friends, but he's starting to identify how they're different.

I Speak Normal

This week, we went to the store to pick up a few supplies. While we there, Liam overheard a few employees speaking in Spanish. He's fascinated with other languages because this is the first year he's had a personal desire to pick up more Telugu.He immediately started talking to me and asked if they were speaking Spanish. I said yes and he started to go off in his own version to show off for them, throwing in a few real Spanish words.He was so proud of himself. Then I became the mom that reminded him most of what he said was made up. Luckily, he just laughed and he started listing off all the Telugu words he knows.I love that he wants to explore languages, but I don't ever want him to come off as mocking someone else. I want him to know the difference between a made up language and a real language. Then he brought up one of his cousins who grew up in India.Momma, why doesn't he speak normal like me?Hun, there's not really a normal language. People across the world grow up speaking different languages and he grew up speaking Telugu. It's normal to him.  Mom... Listen to me. See.. I'm speaking normal. It took some time to explain to him that normal is relative, but it got me thinking. I don't want to raise kids that think they're way is the only "normal" way. Right now, he's young and he's trying to process the world around him. I love that he's able to talk to me about everything he sees and wants to know more about.

Diversity Is Normal

I want my kids to grow up knowing diversity is what's normal. I want them to be able to look around and see the beauty in the differences between cultures.The more I can talk to my kids about the differences they see, the more normal it becomes. "Normal" is relative. It changes for everyone. However, one thing that should always be normal is a love for different cultures around the world.As my kids continue to question and figure out the world, I'm going to be right next to them. I want to help them as they figure it out.It's our role as parents to teach our kids the beauty of diversity. How can you do that? You do it by pointing out racial inequality, talking to your kids about what's going on the world, encouraging them to ask questions, and teaching them that all lives matter.Sometimes, I look at the news and for a moment, I wish I could hide it all from my kids. I don't want them to see how terrible people can be. I don't want them to know that some people are so hateful that they see their race as better than another.It's my job as their parent to talk to them about the hard things. I'd rather be the one to tell them, so I can also be the one to remind them all lives are important and diversity is what makes our world so beautiful.

Potty Training: Top Methods And Tips

Potty Training

The moment in parenthood, we all dread.Potty training means double the amount of dirty clothes, constantly keeping an eye on your child to make sure they don't pee everywhere, and frantically looking for bathrooms in public before you become "that" family...I love hearing from other parents to find out how they potty trained their children. Some parents use the same techniques all the way through and others do it different each time.I potty trained my oldest at 18 months, my middle child at 2 and a half, and my youngest... Well, I haven't gotten to it until now.I potty trained my oldest at a young age because he literally asked me to get him big boy underwear and to use the potty like daddy. By the time my second child started showing the signs that he was ready, I was pregnant with my third and tried to hold him off on the whole process. He had other plans.Now, my youngest is practically begging me to potty train him. You don't believe me? All week he has been coming up to me.. naked.. diaper in hand. Then he goes on to tell me he's poo (the word he uses for both deeds).It doesn't matter what type of outfit he's wearing. He manages to get it and his diaper off and proudly finds me to show off his accomplishment.

3 Potty Training Methods

The first step to potty training your child is to choose the method that fits your life and child best. Here are the top three methods around.

The Child Oriented Method:

This method is designed to let your child decide when they're ready. Watch for signs that they're ready to be potty trained.When you see the signs, you begin the potty training process. First start out with your child, fully clothed on the potty. Get them used to the potty without the pressure of using it. As they get more comfortable, have them sit on the potty while they're wearing a pull up. Then encourage them to sit on the potty without a pull up.As they get more comfortable with the potty, they will start to try using it when they're ready.The slow process is designed to encourage your child to take it all at their own pace. If they start to resist the process, this method suggests you take a break.While this method can provide a positive experience for your child, it also ends up taking much longer. It can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year.

The Weekend Method:

This method has become increasingly popular over the years. When you see a few signs that your chid is ready to be potty trained, find a weekend that you can completely devote to the process. Clear your schedule and get ready.This method takes about three days to complete. It's much messier than the other two, but effective.The morning of day one, start pumping your child full of fluids. You want as many opportunities to practice as possible. Then strip your child naked. It's important to keep your child naked on the first day so they can feel what it's like to need to use the potty.Take them to the potty every thirty minutes and have them try. If you catch them in an accident, immediately take them over to the potty and have them sit down. Remind them to go to the potty if they feel like they have to go.Day two is a little different. Today your child can wear underwear. The routine is still the same. Pump them full of fluids and take them to the potty on a schedule.Day three is the last structured day of the method. By this time, your child knows they need to use the potty and has has plenty of experience with it. Today, your child can wear pants and be fully dressed. Day three is more of a maintenance day. Watch out for accidents and continue the routine.My husband and I used this method for our kids. It worked for our oldest two and will be the same method we use for our third. It's crucial to completely clear your weekend. It helps to make sure you're completely focused on the process and catch accidents before or during.

The Potty Party Method:

This method is also one of the quicker ones.Get your child a doll that "goes potty." Introduce the doll to your child and explain that the doll us becoming a big kid and only uses the potty now.Spend the morning teaching the doll how to go in the potty. Make sure you let your child help teach the doll so they can understand the concept as well. Let the doll have a few "accidents" and use it as an opportunity to talk about what happened.Before your child begins their potty training, find the biggest incentive possible and use it to encourage them to use the potty. Once your child successfully uses the potty, get all of their family and a few friends to come together and celebrate.This is their moment. The party is more of a commitment they're making. They now know how to use the potty and as a family, you're committing to the process. During the party, take a moment to gather all of their diapers and throw them away. Then they can put their underwear in their drawer.The potty party is a 1-2 day process, so you will still be doing a fair bit of maintenance afterwards. However, by throwing all of the diapers away, you're locked in!

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