Happy Noon Year 2016

5,4,3,2,1... HAPPY NOON YEARS!!!! We did it! My sister in law and I were able to keep our littles up from nap time until noon. That's when the new year starts right? We partied hard last night celebrating Christmas with our Manhattanite cousins and couldn't get ourselves out the door this morning for the ball drop at the children's museum. The littles have boogers dripping out of their noses anyway, so it was best to keep them contained. We threw on some 2016 sunnies, shot off some "fireworks" ( confetti poppers) and dropped some balloons on their heads at noon. I taped a plastic table cloth to the fan and filled it with balloons and just turned the fan on after the count down. It was epic and now we are pooped and ready for a nap. I hope everyone's night is filled with as much excitement and love as our noon years eve was.

2015, The year we got Shay Bae Bae

Life is good.

Grocery Shopping Hacks

I came across the greatest parenting video on grocery shopping today. You would think that since I have three small littles I would know all of the tricks and tips to shopping with them by now, but I never thought of these! Here is  The video , but if you want the cliff notes here ya go:

✔️ First off, park by the carts, not the entrance. It makes getting the kids in and out easier.

✔️ Bring a cut up pool noodle to act as a safety buffer for the baby and it will stop them from trying to bite that nasty bar. I would put the cart cover over that so they don't pull it off or take bites out of the noodle...

✔️If you don't have a mommy hook (you should get one) grab one of those plastic bags in the produce department and tie your reusable bags and a diaper bag to the front of the cart. You will save up space for the food.

✔️ Tie cherrios to a long string and put it around the babies neck. They can snack without making a huge mess when they drop the cup.

✔️ Have the butcher chop up the meat and put it in separate little packages so you can freeze some for last minute dinner options.

✔️ Leave a laundry basket in the trunk so you can carry multiple bags into the house at once.

✔️Open the front and back of 12 packs of drinks and then just push them all out into the fridge at once instead of one at a time. 

✔️ Lastly, make a container in the fridge for food that is going to expire soon, so everyone knows to eat that first.

Christmas Shut in Ends

Our Christmas shut in ends today as the Alaskan Assasin goes back to work. Three days of 24/7 family time at home was just what we all needed.  There were lots of naps in our new Grinch sleeping bags ( thank you Aunt Kirsten) and lots of Lego building, Calico Critter mansion decorating and ball pit diving.  I think the candy snacking will probably continue until the new year, but the home cooked meals are going strong! Now it's time to give the house a good cleaning before Christmas with our NYC cousins starts on Wednesday. 8 more days of Christmas right?

Santa brought Shay her two front teeth this Christmas and she just loves to show them off with that delicious smile.

Free 2016 Calendar

2015 is almost over and you need to get your 2016 calendar ASAP! I made mine while it was free on shutterfly. Get on it before the code "giftme" ends tomorrow.

On the Third day of Chirstmas

On the third day of Christmas we played in our jammie jams with our neighbors. Pretty sure we have enough toys and games here to not have to leave the house all winter. That is, if winter ever comes.

Let it Simmer

Christmas Day was epic. The presents were all gratefully accepted and given with the greatest love. The littles shared everything they opened with each other and seemed to enjoy the gifts even more because they got to play with them together. As the wrapping paper, empty boxes and wrappers started littering the floor I felt a pull to start throwing everything away and organizing the toys and storing the Christmas decorations in the attic. But then I went to church and the Preist reminded us that this is the beginning of the Holy Day, not the end. He explained that the word holiday comes from Holy Day. That we have pretty much taken something holy and made it into a one day celebration that comes with great anticipation and then ends abruptly Christmas night. Let Christmas last 12 days. Enjoy each other and try to live the moral life that Jesus showed us how to. Don't rush to put everything away. Let it simmer.