Weekend Fun with Goliath

This weekend was a pretty chilly one. Spring is right around the corner but the winter wants to stay in NYC. So when it’s still too cold for the park we have to find other means of entertainment, which isn’t hard when you have Goliath games! 

We got a really awesome package from Goliath that literally saved our weekend! If you know my boys you know getting them outside when it isn’t 70 degrees outside is a mission. So for the most part we stayed in and still had a super fun time just creating and playing. 

March is National Craft Month and I love getting crafty. I’m 100% sure that’s where they get their artsy side! The boys love painting coloring collaging and learning new things to create with a billion different colors. We got this amazing painting easel set called Paint Sation! It comes with no spill paint pods that easily attach to the easel on the side to make it a simple and mess free project. No spills no drips and paint is washable. They even have a cool on the go one that’s a bit smaller but I believe this one is pretty good for on the go too! I know we will be taking it with us to the piers one day to have a fun outdoor day of art. 

We also played Greedy Granny which will have your kids laughing the whole time. Granny has fallen asleep with her snacks on her tray.  Collect all four snacks without waking her up and you are the winner. It was so much fun not knowing if she would pop up from her sleep. The boys loved it so much! We played it over and over again. In this day and age that everything has to do with technology it makes me happy that companies like Goliath Games is keeping it simple and showing the fun of hands on games, that are family friendly but also teach them something within the game. 

There are so many more games and craft sets  that we will share along the way from Goliath, but these two were the big hits for this weekend! You can pick these products up at your local ToysRUs or online! 

What are you going to be making during National Craft Month?! 

Meeting WWE Superstar Emma at The Wrestling Universe Store

If you have been following for quite some time now you know we are on a mission to meet as many WWE superstars as possible! Last year we shared our meet and greet with Daniel Bryan and Big Show at Play Fair! We also got to sit in on a really cool Q&A with them. It was really the highlight of Play Fair for us. Toys are great but anything WWE related is even more awesome to them!

So when we found out that Emma would be at our all time favorite store in Queens, The Wrestling Universe - we knew the cold commute over would be so worth it! 

It was set up so well where we didn’t have to be waiting outside in the cold. It also wasn’t super rushed where we felt like we were in and out. She took her time to acknowledge us, and the boys. She spoke to them and complimented them on their hair, and even asked them some questions. The staff working the event nicely took a couple shots for us on our phone, and then some photos with their camera which we got to see on their Facebook page the very next day. We we’re worried because we completely forgot to bring something for her to sign, but luckily they had it all figured out with very well printed big and sturdy photos of her to get autographed! It was most definitely a night to remember, and the looks on their faces when they saw her sitting there greeting them to come over was just priceless. They couldn’t stop saying how pretty she looked after. Let’s just say Emma now has a very special place in their heart from here on. She was our first WWE women’s division superstar to meet, but hopefully not the last. 

If you are a big wrestling fan and you have never been to The Wrestling Universe store in Queens NY, then you are missing out on something epic! Aside from the arenas where they watch the shows, The Wrestling Universe is the boys favorite place to be. It’s rooms and rooms filled with any WWE superstar you can think of, and great deals! You can check out our youtube video this past summer when we visited! (The Chulo Brothers) A huge plus is the staff is so friendly, helpful and just down right amazing. We make it a family outing atleast every other month to go down and visit, and the boys always leave very happy. They have many different meet and greets every month as well so be sure to check them out on social media to see what they may have coming up soon! 

So thank you to Tenille Dashwood AKA Emma, and The Wrestling Universe for making my boys dreams come true! It was a fantastic night we will always remember. 

I encourage my boys to play with “girl” toys!

My boys are Toy hoarders, and I guess it doesn’t help that Momma knows some pretty awesome companies who send out great toys to them all the time. With that being said I never keep a toy unless I know for sure that they will play with it. You would think I automatically take Barbie dolls and doll houses, more on the girly side kind of toys and put them to the side. But instead I actually encourage my boys to play with them. I tell them it doesn’t matter if it is being marketed as a girl toy, and it doesn’t matter if it’s pink and purple. The great thing about kids their age is they don’t put much thought into it unless they are told otherwise!

One day while watching the Disney channel we came across Vampirina, and automatically they loved it. She was this super cool bat that turned into a vampire, and my boys are obsessed with vampires and bats! We literally sat there and made sure to set every Vampirina to record on our DVR because they didn’t want to miss out on any of them! They couldn’t wait until the toys would start rolling in, and I knew from there on that this show was going to be such a hit for all genders and ages. When Just Play sent us over the Vampirina scare B&B Playset they were ecstatic! They loved all that those three floors had to offer, from dancing Vampirina to glow up Vampirina! She can even hang upside down. It came with so many accessories to add into the play like chairs, table, and a couch. They absolutely love it, and can’t wait to collect all the other figures from the show to join in on the B&B fun. 

Another toy we got was from the WWE, and it was their WWE superstar entrance 2 in 1 Playset that comes with a Nikki Bella action figure. My boys love everything WWE, even the women’s division. I rave about the WWE women’s division so much that they basically had no other choice but to love it as much as I do! Strong women showing they can do the same, or better than your regular big tough men wrestlers. They love the backstage and how it came with a couch, vanity, and closet. They come up with the most epic women matches ever, and set them up so strategically! They even set them up backstage getting ready for their entrance. They have such a huge women’s division figure collection, and I am sure it will just keep on growing with all the up and coming ones! I love that they know how strong women are, and that gender means nothing even when it comes to wrestling. 

I wanted to share this story with you guys because there has been one too many times when I have gone to a toy store and I see a three year old asking mom and dad for a “girl” toy and they are told no just because it is pink or it’s a doll. It breaks my heart because our kids just want to play, they don’t see gender or color in things and it should be our job to keep it that way. So when my son asks me for a pink stroller for his stuffed animal that he calls his baby I say yes without any hesitation, and to heck with whoever doesn’t like it! 

Some of these toys were sent to us, but all opinions are of our own. Always keeping it real with you. 

You can find both of these toys on www.ToysRUs.com ! 

Party Time at Chuck E Cheese!

I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that my beautiful baby boy is now four. FOUR! I have a four year old. How the heck did that even happen! I swear I remember him just being two, and wobbling around trying to repeat words we said. Now he’s a full on four year old with a wide vocabulary, spelling out his name and sharing his strong opinions with us. It has been quite an adventure with him, and it’s been fascinating just watching him grow and grow every day. Seeing his personality shine through more and more. Truly one of the best things about parenting, but also the hardest, or should I say saddest. Makes me miss when he was so little, and relied on me for everything! 

When it came down to where we were going to have his party we knew Chuck E. Cheese was the way to go! Not only because it has been his all time favorite place for years now, and his last two birthdays were done there. But we needed something that wasn’t going to stress us out too much. February was already very chaotic and eventful for us so we had many things going on, and things that we had to get done, so having a place that would let us breath a bit and do all of the work for us was a must! Chuck E Cheese made it all happen for us with their very easy birthday packages that include play, food, and cake! We got to just enjoy everything as much as the kids did, without worrying about a trillion things. If you haven’t had Chuck E. Cheese pizza then you are truly missing out. They also made sure that he felt like a birthday superstar. His face lit up when Chuck E himself came out to sing him happy birthday and he was able to hi 5 him and take a photo. He was the happiest boy in the room. 

It was such a great day, and the smile on his face made it all worth it. Chuck E. Cheese is a big parenting win when it comes to party planning. If you want it all done for you, for a reasonable price & tons of fun for the kids then you should go with Chuck E Cheese! 

This post is not sponsored. Just sharing our experience, and all opinions are 100% our own!

Eating can be fun too!

The biggest struggle on our home besides homework time has got to be dinner. I have two outrageously picky eaters. Like to get them to try something new is a definite no go! They even analyze food I make that they usually like. We all know that the favorite food from last week, will somehow be hated the next week. When it comes to getting these boys to eat anything that’s not donuts it  is a struggle! I have tried just about everything too! Cod liver oil to help their metabolism. Not giving into snacks during the day. It all just doesn’t seem to work!

I randomly was searching through Zulily one day and found these really cool Fred & Friends Dinner Winner plates. As a desperate momma who was worried that her kids were quite possibly malnourished, I ordered two and waited very impatiently for them to be delivered. They are not only super cool and colorful to look at, but very sturdy and well made. It looks like a super fun race to the treasure kind of game. Of course I told the boys it’s not really a race to see how fast you can it. It’s just a race to see if you can eat all that is on the plate to get to your ending surprise. 

Did these plates completely fix their bad eating habits ? No. But it’s not to say they didn’t work at all either. I believe it all matters on your child’s age, and just the kind of kid they are. I have noticed it fully works for my six year old, but I can’t pack it full with food. So I put very little in each space! I am hoping that each time I can add just a tad bit more, and we will make it work. For my youngest it must be a food he likes, because if it isn’t he can careless what the ending surprise treat is. But if I put some chicken and rice for the most part he will make it all the way on a good day, or atleast half way - which is honestly a huge improvement from ordinary dinner time chaos.

I would definitely suggest parents of picky eaters from 4 years old & up to give them a shot. They might not fully work but some progress is better than no progress at all. At every meal time now they always say they want their special dinner winner plates, and I am very happy I decided one stressful 2am night to order them and take my chances. My kids no longer go to sleep with empty bellies, and that’s a huge mom win right there. 

Valentines Day Interview with My Kids

I wanted to do something special with Valentines Day approaching. As some of you know I went into labor right after Valentines Day, and then two days later Caleb made his grand entrance into the world. I have always been a big fan of Valentines Day, with or without a partner. But now as a mom I love it even more, because I have seriously never felt a love like this one before. It has been such a beautiful yet tiring experience, but I would not trade it for the world. I wanted to do something a bit different that I can look back on in a few years. Maybe it will be something  I can do every year just to see how much their answers change. I decided to interview my kids about the topic LOVE. It was pretty stinkin' cute if you ask me.
 ( Jace: 6 years old, Caleb: 3 years old )

Q: What do you think the word love means?

Caleb: I love you!

Jace: When people hug and love each other

Q: How do you know if someone loves you?

Caleb: They cuddle with me.

Jace: Because they give you besos.

Q: What do you love about mommy?

Caleb: That she gets us lots of packages, you are a packager lady. That's what I love about you.

Jace: She makes me laugh

Q: What do you love about your brother?

Caleb: When he does silly farts, like I did three farts right now.

Jace: He always makes me laugh with  his dancing.

Q: What do you love about your daddy?

Caleb: When he comes back from work

Jace: When he rips his shirt like Hulk Hogan

 

Q:How do you know you want to marry someone?

Caleb: I don't know what that means.

Jace: You just pick them, I guess so.

Q:What is your favorite kind of candy?

Caleb: Trick or Treat Candy

Jace: Hershey Kisses

Q:What do you think daddy will get mommy for Valentines Day?

Caleb: A WWE Divas book

Jace: Makeup

Q:What do you think mommy will get daddy for Valentines Day?

Caleb: IT Shirt

Jace: Stranger Things shorts

Q: What do you think makes mommy happy?

Caleb: When I play with you.

Jace: That she has us!

Q:How much do you love me?

Caleb: A lot of times!

Jace: A billion jillion.

 

 

 

Kids Night Time Routine.

A couple months ago I shared with you all my very own night time routine so I felt I should share the routine I have with my boys ALMOST every night. Cus let’s face it, sometimes I let them stay up later than usual so they won’t hate me as much. Sometimes I let them go one night without a bath because kids can get away with a night or two, no?! I pick my battles, and I know when they just need me to wing it a bit. But for the most part my kids strive on consistency, like many children.

After a long day of school and work we both need the night to bond for the most part. So I try my best to do everything we have to get done while making it fun, and lots of talking and reflecting. Bath time has always been something they have both enjoyed since babies and I truly believe it’s because I have never made it feel like just something we have to do, but a fun play time in a different room. Whether it’s bringing in some action figures, or playing a simple mind game. We have made up so many games in the bath, and silly songs that bath time is something we are always looking forward to, even if I have to tell them 1000x times to stop splashing! 

Once they are out and smelling fresh, it is beyond important that I make sure their body is very moisturized! They both have eczema that is either mild or terrible due to weather change. During this frigid NYC weather right now, it usually gets worse, so I was very happy when Triderma sent us over their Eczema itch and dryness healing cream. It has been our holy grail night time cream that helps dry patches no longer appear. It feels good to no longer worry about my son scratching off his skin, and feeling uncomfortable throughout the night. Now he can get the rest he needs every night. 

After they are dressed in their cozy pjs I let them pick out some books to read from our impressive collection. I have always been a huge book lover, so it was no surprise to anyone when I started collecting children’s books at 2 months pregnant! I knew I wanted it to be a huge part of their daily life. So being consistent with it and helping them find their passion for literature was important to me. So I try to keep it alive each night by finding books I know will inspire them, and make them laugh. I also make sure we enjoy some time at the library to pick out some new books. I usually stick to books that will teach them kindness, empathy, courage or motivate them to be good human beings. I feel that is the best thing for them to read at the end of the day so it gears them up for an even better day to come. Also now that my six year old has learned how to read I give him the chance to choose a book that he can read to his little brother, and they enjoy it just as much as I love watching him do so. 

As soon as teeth are brushed, and potty time is over I start getting the bedroom ready by making it a peaceful and stress free space. I get my ArtNaturals oil humidifier ready with some drops of lavender and eucalyptus essential oils. I also spray some on the pillows, and ask our Google Home Mini to play some nature sounds. It’s time to wind down and say our I love you’s and affirmations for the day to come. I remind them that they are safe and that today we had some lows (with two boys running around trust me we always have our share of time outs, and tantrums)  but it was a good day, we count our blessings and thank God for the space and love around us that  he has given us. Some nights last longer than others... I will not sit here and lie to you and say they go straight to sleep. Some nights I will lay their for hours as they giggle away, but then theirs nights were they can’t fight it and fall asleep within minutes, and I just give them a little bit of time to fall into a deep sleep so I can  move them over to their bed. Yup, they fall asleep on our bed- mostly every night. A bad habit that every one will tell you not to start.. but it’s what works for us so I won’t hide it, instead I embrace it. They are only little once, and we will get our bed back soon and absolutely miss seeing their little bodies in them. 

A night time routine is definitely much easier said than done. So if you are a parent who is still struggling with it, don’t beat yourself up about it. We all just have to find what works for us, and it won’t be the same for everyone so I have learned to never take for granted what works for us, or compare our routine with others. As a parent you start to realize just how much you miss sleep when it becomes something you barely get to enjoy, so making the last minutes of your day with your kids at the same time enjoyable but productive is key! Do your best, it’s all that matters.