My Multicultural Family: The Olympic Summer Games

As a mother in a multicultural family, I'm always looking for new ways to teach my kids about the world. My husband and I work very hard to blend the East and the West in our family. The more you blend cultures, the more you realize how important it is to teach your kids about the world around them.My kids have developed a deep love for their mixed heritage. I didn't expect that love to grow as quickly as it did. My oldest son loves sharing about his culture with everyone around him. Whether it's how to eat Indian food with his hands or his love for our holiday traditions, he's always talking about it.I don't want my children's passion to start and end with their own culture. I want them to see the beauty in the world around them and have a desire a desire to learn more. The more we teach our kids about the world around them, the more comfortable they'll be with themselves.The 2016 Olympic Summer Games are right around the corner. It's a huge opportunity to teach your family about the world!Multicultural Kid Blogs just came out with their Summer Games Activity Pack! This pack is truly in a league of its own. It's 100 pages of history and activities! When your kids have finished going through their Summer Games Activity Pack they'll know about the nations with the most medals, famous Olympians, Olympic sports, delicious recipes, and so much more!This year we decided to throw the Olympic Games into our homeschool routine. This activity pack has been a huge resource for us because it's fun for all three of my kids. I don't know about you, but I struggle to find activities that work well for all their ages. This activity pack is great for any age!This week we pulled it out and started to learn about the different nations. While my kids were coloring the maps, I read through the history portion. At first, I thought it was more for my sake. They get to color and I get to think they're learning about the world. I was greatly surprised when my five and three-year-olds continued to stop me while I was reading to ask questions. They were so intrigued to hear more about popular sports and find out what the Olympic games are all about.Whether you're homeschooling your kids like us or you want to teach your kids about the world, the Summer Games Activity Pack is perfect! Here is a little recap of all the things it offers!

What To Expect In Your Summer Games Activity Pack

History Of The OlympicsInformation On The Olympic GamesOlympic Medal TrackerColoring PagesRecipes For Each NationActivity PagesYou can even take it up a notch and host your own Olympic Games at home! Take what you learn from the packet and make your summer one to remember!

Get your Summer Games Activity Pack here!

 

My Multicultural Family: A Letter To My 5 Year Old

Dear Baby Boy,

Today is the day you've been counting down for. You're 5! You're 5 years old! My little baby is 5 whole years old. Even though you're so excited to be one year older today, momma wishes I could slow it down a little more.

Every night while we're praying, I pray God will make you stay my little boy forever and ever. You stop me every time and remind me God won't listen, with your little frantic voice. You want to be big so bad. You want to skip it all and be a big kid.

I hate to break it to you Baby Boy, but you will always be my little baby in my eyes. Even as you get bigger and don't need to depend on your momma as just as much. I'll always see you as the little baby that changed my entire life. I waited my entire life to be able to hold you in my arms.

You made my little world so much bigger. 

You showed me what it means to love someone so much it hurts. 

You taught me to see the best in everyone like you do. 

You showed me what it means to be a loving unna (big brother). 

Baby Boy you are teaching all of us more than you know. Your little brothers look up to you and I do too. You have such an innocent little heart and remind me every day to love people more. You love everyone around you and would do anything for them. 

I can't wait to see the young man you grow into. You're going to be a world changer. All you have to do is be you because you are enough. You are such a blessing to everyone around you. 

xo Momma

I was recently inspired by another blogger over at Baby Making Machine about the importance of making memories. She interviewed her little girl on her 6th birthday to remember it all and I'm doing that today too!

5 Year Old Birthday Interview

What's your favorite color? BlueWhat's your favorite food? Mac N CheeseWhat's your favorite thing to do? Camping OutWho's your favorite superhero? ThorWhat do you want to be when you grow up? A Grown UpHow many kids do you want to have when you grow up? ThreeWhat do you think makes someone a good daddy?Being nice.What kind of daddy are you going to be? Just like my daddy.

5 Things Every Mom Needs To Hear

"Oh no! He must be freezing without his socks! Did you know he's missing his socks?"

Please tell me I'm not the only one that has heard this DOZENS of times at the store!

My children have always had an unnatural ability to lose one or both socks in the car, never to be found again... It doesn't matter how many times I try to put them back on. I'm not even surprised anymore when we get to the grocery store and I find my baby... sock-less.

I bundle my kids up with whatever's left and we start the "stress-free" grocery trip adventure. Obviously, these trips are easy. My kids never whine for all the goodies they see, toys I refuse to buy, or whatever else they deem fight worthy. I'm sure yours don't either.

Before any of those things even get to happen, were stopped by a frantic "Good Samaritan." This Good Samaritan runs over to our cart and lets us know something horrible has happened! Something catastrophic!

My. Child. Is. Missing. A. Sock.

 

Then the Good Samaritan starts searching everywhere. "Oh my goodness. Poor baby, you must be freezing. Did you know he was missing a sock?"

Instead of dealing with this person any longer I instantly say, "Oh no! Maybe he lost it down one of the aisles." Then I run off without waiting for her response.

Seriously. There is no way my child would ever get hypothermia due to a missing sock! In fact, I don't think a child has ever been hospitalized or taken to the doctor over a missing sock.

I know I'm not the only one that has dealt with this. People are always more than willing to offer up their opinions and advice. The question I have for you is how do you respond? Are you open to people that start spouting off unwanted advice or do you shut that business DOWN?

After I had my first son, I would look everywhere for advice. I was constantly posting my questions on Facebook or Twitter only to get dozens of completely different answers in return. I always ended up more confused than I was before I asked!

I would ask what people think I should give my son for a terrible cold... Then I would hear things like this...

"Give them Tylenol right away!"

"Medication is terrible for kids, let them drink garlic and ginger water."

"It's probably because you guys vaccinate..."

Am I right or am I right?! I know you're all shaking your heads furiously with me, in agreement! It's hard enough as a parent, trying to navigate through motherhood. Add in some opinionated people and you feel like you're always doing it wrong.

Well, I am here to tell you that you are an amazing mother. Missing socks and all. You make decisions for your child based on what you think is best. It may not always be the right choice, but that's how you learn. The love you have for your child out weighs it all.

Be comforted in the fact that we are all trying to figure it out with you. It doesn't matter how many kids we have all had, kids are all different. You have to figure things out all over again each time.

So, what can we do to encourage moms out there? We can take a minute to tell them a few things all moms need to hear. Find a mom friend of yours and encourage them! They need it.

 

5 Things All Moms Need To Hear

You're doing a great job

Every mom needs to be told she's doing a great job. There's so much pressure on her shoulders. She wants to be the best mom she can be, make the best choices, please those around her... Whether or not your think she knows what a good job she's doing, tell her. Telling her means so much.

You don't have to listen to everyone

As a mom, you feel pressured to listen to everyone. Whether it's a parenting book, doctor on TV, friends, family, or your Good Samaritan. Remind them they don't have to listen to everyone. It's nice to be reminded.

Trust your mommy instincts

Remind them to trust in their own instincts. We all have that mommy gut that tells us what's best for our baby. Sometimes you need to let everything else go and just trust in that. Mommy instinct is a powerful thing!

You can take a break

Moms spend all of their time taking care of their kids and their family. It's easy to overlook time for themselves. Mommy guilt can even kick in and tell you how wrong it is to prioritize time for yourself. Remind a mom in your life they can take a break. A break means she can get the TLC she needs.

Thank you

Take a minute to thank a mom in your life. Thank them for dedicating their life to their kids. Thank them for all their late nights, delicious dinners, cleaning the house, taking care of sick babies, kissing boo boos, and so much more. Every mom needs to hear this one. Thank you.

Take a minute and encourage a mom in your life.

Meet Molly, A Fellow Almost Indian Wife

Today I am very excited to introduce you all to my friend Molly. She’s a fellow Almost Indian Wife and just got back after living in India with her husband. She took some time to share about her experiences in a new culture with all of us!

Molly tell us a little about yourself.

Hello everyone, my name is Molly Elliot and I’m married to my wonderful husband of 4 years, Jim Elliot. Jim and I were married in India, November 2012, and soon after that we came back to the U.S to work and save some money. We just came back to Bangalore, India January 2015 and have lived here ever since.These are pictures of our wedding.

What was it like for you living in India? Can you share a bit about your experiences?

My experiences while living here in India have been both good and bad. I understand each state has their own culture, but I’ll share my experiences living with a Tamil family. My husband and I came here to do ministry alongside Jim’s dad who is a pastor, as well as help raise 11 street children (girls) that they have been running since 2001. We currently live with the girls, my in-laws, and Jim’s two sisters. The boys home (15 boys) is separate from the girls’ home, outside city limits.We live in a three floor house, the ground floor is my in-laws space, first floor is our space, and the second floor is the girls space.

What struggles have you faced while living in a new culture and home across the world?

One of the biggest struggles for me since we’ve moved here is not having our own place. In America, Jim and I lived on our own for two years, we learned how to survive with each other. Here in India, the son has the responsibility of taking care of his parents until their death. This was a huge strain on our marriage because I wanted it to be like America; live in our own house with our own rules, our own privacy, go to the in laws house if not every day then every other day. I wanted our life to be exactly the same as it was, but I learned the hard way that it would never be the same. Usually our day begins with being woke up by our wonderful neighbor who sweeps the outside of his gate at 3:30 in the morning for an hour, right outside our window. That’s one common thing you will see, all the women get up early to sweep the outside because of all the dust, then (if they are Hindus) they will decorate the cement with chalk designs.Then we go downstairs, have our morning tea, you can NOT start your day without having chai tea! we have our Indian breakfast which is usually; Dosa with Chutney, Idli, or Puri, or my ABSOLUTE favorite; Masala Dosa. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day because it doesn’t involve rice.

Next, we have lunch around 1:30 pm and you can’t miss the chai tea at 4:00, and then we eat dinner at 9:00. Dinner was a big struggle for me, because we eat dinner at 6 in America, and I’ve tried to get everyone to eat earlier (for health reasons) but they just hate the thought of eating early. I get along with my in laws very well. The mothers will do anything for their kids! especially if he is the son. I notice Jim’s mom treats Jim differently than his sister, more in a “respectful” way. That’s another thing I learned, women are less valued then men. Whenever we have guests come over, it’s always the men that are served first. The women have to eat last after the men have left the room. I thought it was horrible at first because in America we always sit together as a family, but that’s not the case here. After I came, they knew how important eating with family is to me, so we always sit together now at the table, sometimes I have to force my mother in law to eat because she insists on being the last to eat.We also eat with our hands, at every meal. The first time I tried, it was a disaster. I had rice everywhere and I couldn’t get it in my mouth without half of it on my chest, but with practice I got the hang of it now.This is how we buy fruits and vegetables, they come right to the door!

Be sure to subscribe so you can catch part 2 of Molly's story! Do you have any questions for her? 

My Multicultural Family: What I've Learned From My Traveling Spouse

While most families are packing up to head out of town for the summer, my family is getting ready for some epic staycations! My husband, Joel travels for work and summers tend to be one of his busiest times of the year for him.As I'm sure you can already imagine, having a traveling spouse is hard. I'd love to say I handle it all perfectly and that things run smoothly while he's gone... but no. That's definitely not the case. Instead the dishes pile up, the house gets cluttered, clean clothes end up in my closet full of other clean clothes (not folded, but piled nicely in the corner), dinner consists of chicken nuggets or cereal, and bed time is strictly at 7 every night so momma can get a break.It's not all bad.

Having a traveling spouse has taught me a lot.

It's taught me to be more comfortable with myself.

My husband and I got married when we were really young. I was only twenty! The reason I will never forget how old I was is that we went on a cruise to the Bahamas and I was so excited there wasn't a drinking age there!Ahh, the little things that bring us pleasure.I quickly learned to depend on my husband. He's an amazing man and has always taken care of our family, even when that consisted of the two of us. I have always been more comfortable with him by my side. It was really hard when he started traveling because I just wanted to stay home. I didn't want to go to events or get togethers with out him. I felt uncomfortable being alone.Then I realized how wrong that was. I didn't want to be so dependent on my spouse that I couldn't do things without him. He was always encouraging me to go and one day I finally listened. Sure, it was uncomfortable at first, but then I gained a new sense of pride and independence.My husband will always bring out the best in me, but that doesn't mean I'm not my best when he's not there. I will always be me whether he's there or not. Having him travel so much has taught me to challenge and love myself more.

It's ok to not be supermom every day.

While my husband is away for work I'm doing a lot. I have to help my three year old cope with daddy being gone (he struggles the most), take care of the house, take care of the dog, do everything needed to be done for the kids, make three meals a day, keep everything organized, fix broken things around the house, take on things my husband normally does, try to live frugally while he's away, and try to find time for myself.Doing it all isn't just hard, it's impossible.I've tried. I've tried doing everything at 100 percent and I broke down. I felt like a failure because I could barely get things done and the things I did do weren't done well. Then a very wise friend asked me a very wise question.Why are you trying to be supermom?I wanted to do everything perfectly and let everyone know I could do it. I could be an amazing mom while my husband was away and I didn't need help from anyone. Instead I found out just how much my family was suffering from my own pride.No one expected me to do everything. No one expected everything to be perfect. It was me. I was the one that wanted to do it all.My family became so much healthier when I stopped trying to be supermom. Now, I'm honest when I can't do something. I spend every morning looking at my to do list and ask myself what actually needs to get done today.This has lead to a closet full of unfolded clean clothes, chicken nuggets for dinner more often than not, sticking closer to the house to avoid getting everyone ready, and me asking for a lot of help. Guess what... It's also made for a much happier family.Now, my family talks about how to make things easier while daddy is away. We've landed on chore charts for the kids, snack boxes so snacks are figured out ahead of time, simple schedules, and mommy time.

All my kids really want is for momma to make time for them

My kids really don't care if I fill up our days with crazy adventures, perfectly clean houses, extravagant meals, and that I do it all on my own. All they really want is quality time. They would rather me make more time for them than to spend more time cleaning or stressing out about things around then house.My husband has talked to them a lot about how much faster things go when everyone contributes. Now, we make it a big game at night. We spend fifteen minutes and see who can clean up the most. Then we have more time to read books together and chat about our day.It's crazy how long it took for me to realize this. It helps me give myself a break on the hard days. All my kids really want is me.

Does your spouse travel? What has it taught you?

Simple Ways To Save Money This Summer

You know it's summer when you can look out your window and see...kids splashing in sprinklers..popsicle stained smiles..and the smell of families grilling all day..It can also mean spendy vacations, multiple trips to pick up fast food while out, and heading to your local kid's store for new summer clothes. Instead of dipping into your savings, let's chat about a few simple things you can do this summer to keep more money in your pockets while having a memorable summer!

Simple Ways You Can Save Money This Summer

Organize Your Kid's Clothes By Season

Take the day to go through your kid's clothes. Then sort them by season and put the clothes you don't need in storage. As a parent, you know how quickly clothes can get lost. By sorting them, you can know exactly what you have available. I can't tell you how many times I end up heading to the store to pick up items, only to find them in my kids closet the next day.Organizing your kid's clothes can also help you get a little extra money by taking clothes that don't fit your kiddos to a local consignment shop.

Buy Snacks In Bulk

The most tempting thing over the summer is to buy snacks in individual wrappers for your kids. It makes it quick and easy to grab while you're out all day, but it's not as nice on your wallet. Instead, head to your local grocery store or a Sam's Club and buy your snacks in bulk.We started using a snack box a few months ago and it's save me a lot of money! My kids know exactly where they can look for snacks and I tell them to put snacks in their back packs before we leave the house. All you need to do is take you snacks and put them in individual and reusable containers. The containers even save you money because you can rinse them out and use them again when you're done.

Label Anything Your Kids Bring Out Of The House

How many times have your brought containers to a friends house or to a local splash pad and mixed them up? I've done it so many times! Then you don't want to be that parent and fight with someone over a container!Well, worry no more! You can start labeling items you bring our of the house! These labels are amazing! Your kids can customize them and you can choose what they say. They don't wash off in the dishwasher and you can choose the size! They have labels for inside your shoes, the tags on your clothes, and items like cups.Labels are a way better idea than using a sharpie because they don't wear off over time.

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How are you saving money this summer?

10 Reasons To Remember Why You Love Your Dad This Father's Day

A Few Things To Remember This Father's Day

During Mother's Day, we talked about things children shouldn't expect from their moms. I mean, come on... It's Mother's Day and our kids expect us to wash their clothes and make them dinner... Nope. It's our one day to be selfish!With Father's Day around corner, I thought it would be fitting to talk about all the reasons we love the dads in our lives. Dads get a lot of smack through out the year, but we couldn't do it with out them.I grew up with many different father figures in my life until my mom married my amazing dad when I was ten. It taught me just how important my dad is in my life. He taught me more than I could ever have imagined and showed me what it meant to put your family first.Now, I'm able to see my husband be an amazing father to my three boys. I love seeing what he teaches them and that they get to have such an amazing leader in their lives.

10 Reasons We Love Our Dads

1. They Put Up With All Of Their Kid's Shenanigans!

Just take a second to remember all of the crazy things we put our dads through as kids.

2. They Encourage Us To Be Adventurous And Are Always There To Keep Us Safe.

They always encouraged us to be adventurous, but were always there to catch us if we fell in the end. Or grab us before the "adventure" turned out to be dangerous!

3. They're Inventive

They never let simple tasks bore them... Instead they found creative ways to get them done!

4. They Have Endless Cheesy Sayings.

Was your dad full of cheesy sayings or jokes?

5. They Want To Impress Their Kids

One of their biggest goals in life is to impress their kids.

6. They Make Sure Their Kids Know They Can Do Anything

They never let us feel like we couldn't do something we put our minds to. They're always encouraging us that we could do anything!

7. They Were Always Your Favorite One To Stay Home With

Staying home with dad always meant a lot of fun!

8. They Never Did Anything The "Simple" Way.

They made everything fun! Which means we were willing to do things we never imagined ourselves doing!

 9. They Always Try

Whether or not it works in the end (watch the clip until the end!), they always try their best.

10. Sometimes, They Need To Be Reminded You Care.

Our dads have always seemed tough, but they need to hear how much we love them. It reminds them they're doing a good job and that we need them.

What is one reason YOU love YOUR dad?

The Perfect Gifts For A New Mom Brought To You By Huggies

This post is brought to you by Huggies, "The first hug your baby will ever feel is from you, make sure the second hug is just as good with Huggies Little Snugglers diapers."When someone special in our life experiences something as wonderful as welcoming a newborn into the world, we want to show them how much we love them. We want them to know how excited we are for them. However, finding the perfect thing can be hard.Well, not anymore! Today, I'm partnering up with Huggies to tell you the perfect gifts you should buy the new mom in your life!

The Perfect Gifts For A New Mom Brought To You By Huggies

Meals

The last thing a sleep deprived parent wants to think about is cooking... Help them out by bringing them meals through out the first few weeks. You can prepare something simple, put it in a disposable dish, and drop it off around dinner time.

Snacks

A new mom needs to be eating regularly throughout the day to keep up her milk production and energy to keep up with her newborn's unusual sleep schedule. You can bring her tasty and healthy snacks like almonds, trail mix, grapes, or apples.

Huggies Little Snuggler Diapers

As a parent, you quickly learn just how many diapers a tiny baby can go through. Diapers are the perfect gift for a new mom! Especially Huggies Little Snugglers. These diapers are great because they have a gentle absorbing liner to make sure your newborn feels comfortable in their diapers and it means no leakage!My favorite part about the Huggies Little Snugglers is the wetness indicator! All you have to do is see if the little line on the front has changed colors and then you instantly know if your newborn needs a change! It makes it as simple as unbuttoning their little outfit rather than removing their clothes and taking their diaper off to check!

Time

The first few weeks as a parent are exhausting. A mother has just gone through labor and her body is trying to recover. She's also up every few hours throughout the day and night to feed and change her newborn's diapers.Be sure to offer her your time. Go over and offer to help her clean or just sit and chat. New moms can quickly feel cooped up the first few weeks. Offering to spend time with her will help her to feel refreshed.

Entertainment

A big majority of the first few months with a new baby is spent feeding them. New moms end up sitting and feeding their babies for hours every day. Bring them some entertainment to keep them busy while they feed their newborn. You can bring them a book, a magazine, or even a new movie.

Huggies Natural Wipes

Babies are messy. They create messes you didn't even know were possible. This means a new mom is always in need of wet wipes.Bring the new mom in your life a pack of Huggies Natural Wipes. They're great because their triple layer material cleans up even the big messes. The most important thing is they're gentle enough for your baby's newborn skin because they're full of aloe and vitamin E.

Something Cozy

New moms are tired, typically covered in spit up stains, and just want to be comfortable. Bring them something to make sure they are! You can bring them cozy socks, comfortable yoga pants, or even a comfortable nursing tank.

Where Can I Get These Gifts

Head over to Sam's Club today to pick up the special gifts for the new mom in your life! I love shopping at Sam's Club because they make it easy for families! They provide carts for big families like ours and have everything we could want from clothes to groceries.Sam's Club is even offering YOU a special deal the rest of this month!

Check out this great offer from Huggies!

Buy any two packages of Little Snugglers diapers and/or Natural Care wipes between 5/9/16-6/30/16, snap a photo of your receipt and email/text it to @Huggies by 7/15/16. You will receive a code and instructions within minutes to get your $10 Sam’s Club e-gift card.

3 Things Muhammad Ali Taught Our Children

We lost one of the greatest heroes in history yesterday. Muhhamad Ali died at the age of 74 from complications due to Parkinson's Disease. When you think of this influential man, you think boxing champion. He won 56 fights through out his time as a heavyweight boxer.Did you know he also risked everything he loved to stand against injustice?

3 Things Muhammad Ali Taught Our Children

You can do anything you set your mind to.

Muhammad Ali was born in a time of servanthood in Louisville, Kentucky. While slavery had ended over one hundred years prior, racial castes still existed. At the time, the most Muhammad Ali could have strived for was to be a teacher in an all black school.As a young child Muhammad Ali knew where he stood in society. While he was with his father, he asked a store clerk for a drink of water. He was extremely thirtsy and instead of getting a simple drink, was called the "n" word. He encountered many similar occasions through out his life, but at the age of 12 years old, he had enough.His bike was stolen and he was devastated. As he was crying, he found a white police officer, Joe Martin and told him he would beat up the people that took his bike. Joe Martin was impressed with him and told he that he would have to learn how to fight first. This was the beginning of his boxing career.He didn't follow the path that society had set before him. He decided to do something different and that he loved. Little did he know the impact his boxing would have on decades to come.

Fight for what you believe in.

In the 60's Muhammad Ali had started voicing his strong opinions about racial injustice. At that time, The Vietnam War was raging on. Most men were being drafted and going to fight against Vietnam. When Muhammad Ali was drafted, he said no. This was unheard of. Fighting for your country wasn't a choice, it was duty. You did it because your country asked you to.

"Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called negro people in Louisville are being treated like dogs and denied simple human rights." 

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali refused to fight for freedom across the globe when black citizens weren't being offered the same rights. In response, he was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison. He didn't end up serving that time in the end, but he didn't know what would happen.

Muhammad Ali stood up against injustice, risking it all. He ended up being exiled from the boxing world. He wasn't only the "wrong race" now, but he was also someone refusing to fight for his country.

He ended up becoming the talk of the town. Everyone was talking about him and his refusal to fight in Vietnam. White and black citizens started to stand up with Muhammad Ali and fought injustice.

Whether or not you agree with his decision about Vietnam, he fought for what he believed in. He thought it was wrong to fight for freedom somewhere else, when black US citizens didn't even have that same freedom.

You can make a difference.

Muhammad Ali fought through his boxing exile and made a name for himself. He never gave up on his dream. He knew it was worth fighting for and had the support of so many people, fighting in his corner.He knew his refusal to fight in Vietnam would have consequences, but he did anyway.He knew society didn't want a black boxer, but he did it anyway.He never let society tell him what he had to do. He stood up for what he believed was right and he made a lasting impression on our nation. He broke the mold society made and taught generations of people, that they can do anything.By teaching our children about Muhammad Ali's life, they can see how strength and determination matter. They can see how hard he fought against injustice and because of that racial castes were broken.When he boxing career ended, he later developed Parkinson's disease. As the world changer that he was, he used his platform to spread awareness for the disease. He never let anyone or anything silence him.Even though his boxing career ended, his fight never did.

Today, let's celebrate Muhammad Ali and the impact he had, not only on my family, but yours.

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Spice Up Your Summer With Bollwood Gak

Summer is here!Which means parents are looking for ways to spend their summer with their families. Not to mention, keep their kids busy!How are you going to spend your summer?

My family will be spending our summer....

SwimmingEnjoying backyard barbecuesCrafting with the kidsSpending time with friendsIndulging in delicious Indian feasts Going on family vacationsPlaying with our homemade sensory activities

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One of our favorite things to do while we're at home with the kids is to make gak. Now, this isn't your normal every day gak. It's Bollywood Gak! Which means bright colors and glitter!Our kids love it because they can cut it up, mold it into fun shapes, let it run through their fingers, and put it all back together.

Bollywood Gak Recipe:

1 4 ounce Bottle of Glue1 tsp Borax1 cup of Warm WaterFood ColoringGlitter (optional)Two BowlsThe most important thing you need in order to make Bollywood Gak is a little helper!In one of your bowls, mix the warm water and borax. In a separate bowl, mix your glue and food coloring. If you want your Bollywood Gak to be bright you can use neon food coloring. Otherwise you'll end up needing to use an entire tube of food coloring.Add a spoon full of warm water to your glue mixture and mix well. If you're going to add glitter, now is the time to do so.

Pour your glue mixture into your warm water. This is where your little helper comes in. It's extremely important, for the sake of your Bollywood Gak, to have your little helper mix it all together.Crucial.The longer you leave your Bollywood Gak in the water mixture, the more firm it will become. You can take it out when it is firm enough to play with.Now, it's time for your little helper to dig in and have fun!If it starts to get a little too thin, you can put it back into the water mixture to firm it back up.

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10 Tips For Great Family Pictures

The Perfect Family Picture

Getting the perfect family picture is similar to... seeing a shooting star, while riding a unicorn, during a snowstorm in July. It just doesn't happen.We recently got our family pictures taken by one of our family friends. He was incredibly patient and took over one hundred pictures. My husband and I were more than excited to sit down and look through them to find the family picture. We started looking for perfection and quickly realized our idea of perfect looks like has changed since we had kids.Prior to kids we look for perfect smiles, perfect poses, and perfect lighting.After kids, we look for the picture that represents our family best. A family picture isn't supposed to perfect. You want to be able to hang it up in your house and have a picture that truly represents every personality in your family. 

10 Tips For Great Family Pictures

Make sure your kids are well rested. 

Often times, photographers like to do sessions in the morning because the lighting is the best. While it works incredibly well for the photographer, kids may not be as happy. If your kids are like mine, they may take a while to wake up and a photography session will be the last thing they want to do.Be sure they have a good nights sleep and a good breakfast before hand. This is going to help them be in the best mood possible as well as have the energy they need throughout. 

Make it fun. 

The best part about taking a picture is that it captures a moment in your child's life. Make your photography session fun and capture real smiles, real giggles, and their wonderful personalities will shine through. 

Bring toys and books. 

Be sure to pack up a bag of toys and books. Your photographer is going to be taking multiple photos which means your child won't be in every one. If they're left to themselves for too long they're either going to get dirty or worse... get bored. Bored kids turn into cranky kids and cranky kids turn into full blown meltdown kids. Save yourself and keep them entertained the best you can. 

Don't be above bribery. 

Bribe. Your. Kids. It's as simple as that. Bring some goodies that you can bring in your times of need. If you start losing your kids to a bad attitude, bring out a piece of delicious candy! Another option is to plan something fun at the end. Remind them if they can finish the session well they can get A or B. 

Bring water and mess free snacks. 

Aside from the candy, be sure to bring snacks. One problem families run into is they bring snacks that make a mess. Then their outfits suffer. Bring mess free snacks like granola bars and water. They'll help if their bellies start to growl. 

Bring extra clothes. 

Life happens. There's no way you can prevent every mess out there. Especially, if your photography session is at a location other than your house. The best option is to bring everyone a second set of clothes for the "just in case."

Be flexible. 

You're going to go into your photography session with ideas. You've probably scoured pinterest boards and decided on great poses. However, you have to be open and flexible. When you get to the location you need to be open to what naturally happens. Trust in your photographer's judgment too. 

Comfort is key. 

Dressing up your kids in uncomfortable clothes is just asking for problems. Do your best to make them comfortable. Is their shirt as itchy as our boy's Indian clothes were? Put a comfortable shirt underneath it. 

Bring wet wipes. 

Messes will happen. Bring wet wipes and I can guarantee they're going to come in handy. 

Leave the cheese at home. 

One thing I've heard from many family photographers is how frustrating it is when parents yell "CHEESE" at their kids throughout the entire session. Instead, make them laugh! Remember to make it fun so you don't end up with dozens of pictures with fake smiles. 

Do you have any tips to share with us?

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The Wife You Become After Having Kids

The hardest part about adding kids to a marriage is learning how to balance it all. You want to be a good wife, mother, friend, daughter and the list goes on and on. Whether you work in the home as a stay at home mom, or are employed outside your home,  you know that there are some aspects of being a wife that change after having kids. I’ve highlighted just a few:

The wife whose  fashion sense suffers.

I have always loved fashion and been a fashion junkie. I subscribed to beauty boxes, read fashion magazines & followed celebrity gossip just so I could see what everyone was wearing. After a few evenings of sleep deprivation and a C-section, the last thing on my mind was what I was wearing. When it was a concern again, I struggled to find things that fit my new body. Thankfully, I have a husband who encouraged me through the process until I felt like myself again. 

The wife who runs out of things to cook. 

Balancing motherhood and being a wife gets a little tricky at dinnertime, one of the busiest times of the day. If it didn’t go in the Crockpot the evening before, or you’re too tired to run to the store, dinner tends to be a hodgepodge of what’s available at home. Sometimes it’s a great experience, and other times…well…you’re just glad everyone was fed. Your husband gets annoyed by all the time you spend on Pinterest, until you make an amazing dinner inspired by one of the recipes you actually cooked!

 The wife who craves alone time. 

Everyone mom gets this one! Being a mom and wife is fantastic; the pros definitely outweigh the cons. However, having alone time is like setting a reset button. Dealing with the everyday rush, accidents, tantrums & routines can make any sane person crazy. There’s something about a little quiet time that makes you start thinking rationally again. 

The wife whose love language may change. 

Before having kids, my love languages were acts of service & quality time. Now that I’m a mom, I’m always thinking of my family when I’m going shopping, even if the trip is supposed to be for me. So it’s a nice feeling when my husband takes the time to buy me a gift, one that I’d like for myself, but am too busy buying for my family to purchase. 

The wife who forgets her purse. 

Can I tell you how many times I left my wallet in the diaper bag? Really, I’m ashamed to admit it. It doesn’t help that I drive 80 miles a day to work. Thankfully I’ve never done that on an empty tank of gas. Even the most type A, organized mom forgets her purse (or wallet) on occasion. 

The wife who chooses sleep over sex. 

It’s not that we don’t want to have sex, it’s just that if we get more sleep, we’ll feel like having sex. The more children we have=less sleep. It’s a vicious cycle. A date night every now and then usually helps the mood. 

The wife who goes above and beyond for her family. 

Despite the craziness of family life, you love every second of it. You put yourself last to make your family a priority. Hats off to you! 

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5 Things Moms Teach Their Kids

5 Things Moms Teach Their Kids

As a mom, you're always on the go.You wake up in the morning thinking about everything that needs to get done all day, what you're going to make for dinner, the tower of laundry that needs to be folded, the doctors appointment that needs to be scheduled, and the list goes on. You have been given one of the most amazing gifts in the world. You're a mother. You've been given a beautiful child or children to raise and help become strong and powerful little people that will maybe change the world one day. 

5 Things You're Teaching Your Child

It's ok to lose your cool sometimes

As much as you'd like to be calm and loving at all times of the day, it's impossible. You will inevitably step on a murderous lego, have a hard day at work, or deal with a self-righteous person. Your child is going to see you lose your cool and it's ok. The most important lesson is what comes afterwards. After you lose your cool, you need to be able to rebound and move on. Kids need to see that their parent isn't perfect so they can accept their own imperfections. 

How to take care of people

Your child sees you take care of them everyday. You make them lunch (even if they don't eat it), you make sure they're safe, you tuck them in to bed at night, you help them deal with disagreements with friends... Even though they don't tell you, they know you're taking care of them. This is why you're the first one they go to when they're in trouble.You're teaching them how to take care of others just like you take care of them. 

What he or she deserves

Your child looks to you as their example for everything. They watch to see how your spouse talks to you, how the impatient driver behind you treats you, how your naive friend jokingly makes racist comments to you, and most importantly they watch to see how you respond. Your response teaches them how you let people treat you. Kids watch how their mom let people treat her to determine how they'll let people treat them. 

How to have hope in an imperfect world

As much as you'd like to prevent them from seeing all of the evil and imperfections of this world, they see it. They see how the justice system doesn't always let good guys win, they see things aren't always fair, and sometimes they see things that could make them lose hope in the world they're growing up in. You teach them to see the hope in it when you don't give up.Your child will fight for change in the world when they grow up seeing their mom making a difference.

How to love themselves

As a mom, you and your body have gone through more changes than you can count. It's easy to focus on the negatives. You look in the mirror and see stretch marks, extra weight, or imperfections you can't see past. Your child watches to see what you say about your changing body. As their body starts to change or they see how different they look in comparison to their friends, they'll look to you to see what they should think. Moms teach their kid to love their bodies, imperfections and all, when they love their own. 

A Promise To You Mom

You may not see everything you're doing for your kids and what it means when you're up to your neck in dirty dishes and laundry, but I promise you're changing their lives. You're teaching them how to be world changers by loving and taking care of yourself. It's easy to feel guilty over putting yourself first sometimes, but your kids learn more from a well taken care of mommy than a burnt out one. 

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Kids Say The Darndest Things

Kids Say The Darndest Things... Every Day Of Their Lives

Living in a house full of little boys is chaotic to say the least. I spend my days sword fighting, wrestling, telling my children to stop picking their noses, fishing toys out of the toilet, catching my three year old peeing in trash cans that are right next to the toilet, being told I'm not very good at video games, and so much more. I love having people over and seeing the look on their faces when they enter into our chaos. It's loud, crazy, full of energy, and I love it. I've grown accustomed to all of it and while I thrive on a few minutes of peace and quiet at the end of the night...I love it. 

Here are some of the things I've heard my kids say this week... 

I was reading my kids one of the new Bharat Babies books and my son saw the momma had on a bindi. "Momma! Was she shot!?""Blah blee do utha ca see do." When I asked my son why he was saying that he told me he was speaking in Spanish like his friends at the gym..."Momma, one day you'll be good at video games, but for now I think you should stop playing and just get me dada.""Momma why do you get to marry dada and not me? It's not fair!""You have poopy eyes like dinosaurs!" "He's peeing in the garbage!!""He's hitting me!" Then I told Levi he was in trouble for hitting his brother. "Mom, it's ok! I liked him hitting me. He's not in trouble now.""How dare you!" My son's response after I told him he was in trouble for coloring on the walls. 

I know I'm not the only with with a crazy life that I completely adore. Comment and share some of the crazy things your kids have said or done this week!

A Letter To My Younger Self

Dear younger self, There are a few things I need to tell you. You're life is going to be amazing. It's going to be so different than what you're expecting right now, but believe me...  you're going to love it. To help us both out a bit, please do a few things for me us. 

Watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Even though you will not being marrying a Greek man, this movie will give you a taste of just how chaotic it can be to blend two cultures into a family. Also, the level of comfort you'll feel while watching it during your engagement will bring you more satisfaction than you think. It'll comfort you knowing it's supposed to be this crazy and it will remind you how amazing it's going to be. 

Sleep as much as you can

Sleep while you can because you're about to live off 4-6 hours a night... on a good day. 

Start learning about Indian culture 

This will save you many awkward situations because your husband will forget to tell you little things about his culture that will lead you to saying and doing the wrong things. Don't worry though. Your new side of the family will laugh with you... then tease you about it relentlessly. 

Enjoy using the bathroom alone

While this may seem like something little... it's not. Enjoy every time you get to use the bathroom and take a shower alone. Soon, you will have little ones banging on the door every time you try and hide use the bathroom. "Momma! I want you!"Not to mention showering. Somehow, you and your spouse will end up throwing the kids into each other's showers to try and get a few minutes of alone time for yourself. 

Start using a calendar

Your memory is at it's prime right now. You don't need a calendar because you'll just remember what you need to do. Well, soon your brain will no longer work properly and you're going to forget everything. You will have your children to blame for this. Get into the habit of using a calendar now because it's going to keep you sane in the future. 

Use a timer while cooking

If you would like to prevent dozens a few burnt dinners... start using a timer. You're going to think you're such a good cook that you don't need one, but you're going to get distracted by everything around you.Then your husband will love tormenting you over the fiascos, while reminding you he told you to use a timer. 

Don't buy nice things

It may seem like a good idea to buy nice, breakable things right now, but don't. Unless you want to see it broken, scratched, sharpied, etc. just leave it at the store. 

Learn Telugu

Stop everything you're doing and learn Telugu right now. Today. You're about to get married into a family that constantly speaks Telugu and unless you want to be left guessing what's being said, learn. Otherwise, you will only know the word Thella, which is just enough to know they're talking about you!Then your children will start to learn and about one month in, will surpass you... 

Learn to let the little things go

The little things may seem important in the moment, but trust me... they usually don't matter in the big picture. Give yourself a break and learn this early. The more you let the little things go, the less stressed out you will be in the future. 

Your life is going to be full of sticky fingers and chaos...

and you're going to love every minute of it. Nothing can compare to the love you will have for your little family. They will become everything to you and you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. 

If you could write yourself a letter, what would you tell yourself?

Things I Never Thought I Would Say Until I Had Kids...

After a full week of going to the gym every day, my children are finally excited to go. It started off a struggle every morning because none of us wanted to go, but I knew we needed to. After they started to make new friends and realized how much fun they were having, they started to anticipate it every morning.Now, we're all excited to get out the door in the morning to head to the gym. Okay, I still have my days where I have to listen to my trusty Instagram friends and sleep in my gym clothes to motivate me to go, but I'm having less and less of those days. This morning, my kids were racing to the Lifetime Kid's Activity Room (fancy name for gym childcare). Liam beat us to the door and the only logical move that came to Levi was to bite him. "Levi, we don't bite!""Mom, he won and I hate when he wins! So, I bit him.""Well, I don't bite my brothers when they beat me at something."As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how silly it sounded. Sometimes, the things we have to tell our kids is completely nuts. I never would have expected I would have had to tell my kids half the things I do on a weekly basis. Another mom over heard me and started laughing. She knew it too. We gave each other the look. You know the look I'm talking about. The "I'm right there with you," look. This post is to all of you moms out there. I'm right there with you! Here are just a few of the things I've had to tell my kids....

Never in a million years did I think I would have to say to my kids...

It's not nice to pee on your brother. Why are you licking him!?Stop licking the floor!Don't eat that! It was in the garbage!Stop licking the dog's water!Take the underwear off your head!Stop putting underwear on your baby brother's head!Don't clean the toilet with your tooth brush!You can't put your sandwich on the toilet!Stop trying to fart on your brother's face!No, you cannot put your brother in your toy box.No poop is not a bad word, I just don't want to hear you talk about it. Be a good example and stop eating your boogers!

I definitely didn't expect them to say this...

Mom, I had to pee and I couldn't wait so I peed in the tub.Mom! My brother is outside naked!Do you see that? That man has a towel on his head. I think he was just in the shower. Mom, you're tummy is big again. Is there another baby in there?How did my baby brother come out of your belly button? It's really small...Mommy, if you don't let me stay up I won't give you any money... but I will give you money...Did the dinosaurs eat Jesus?Mommy, when I get big can I marry you?Mom, Levi took my bed skin (bed sheet) off!--Life with kids is one of the craziest things, but it's never dull.

What is the craziest thing you've found yourself saying to your kids?

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