Back to School - Kindergarten Style!

Rowen and I had a fun day last weekend shopping for her back to school items.  As far as clothes go, the girl has grown like a weed over the past four months!  We tried on the pants she currently owns and found only two that fit her properly.  I was hoping I could get by with just buying a few items to get her through the Fall, but it turned out she needed more than that.  So, we loaded up, my sister and niece in toe, and headed to Target to check out one of my favorite brands, Cat and Jack!  

We jumped on the Cat and Jack bandwagon last year when they replaced their kids' Circo brand with Cat and Jack, and I really like it.  A lot of their stuff has a very positive message to it, which I think is awesome!  I don't think it differs much as far as price goes - maybe a few bucks here and there, but I think the quality and prints are a huge improvement!  

Had the shopping been up to Ro, we'd have picked out a plethora of obnoxious skirts and dresses, but that wasn't going to happen.  I was pretty adamant that whatever we bought would be practical for recess, comfortable, and one size up to make sure it lasts awhile.  We ended up with a few shirts and tanks, a couple of cotton dresses, and some of her favorite leggings (anyone else's kids refuse to wear jeans) --- I think we succeeded!

After Target, we ate lunch and then made our way over to Shoe Carnival for their BOGO (buy one get one) sale.  I knew I wanted her to have a good pair of tennis shoes and also a pair of closed-toed shoes that weren't necessarily so sporty.  She can't yet tie her own shoes so we opted for the velcro Nike's and a cute pair of slip-on Roxy sneakers that I hope will last her until Spring.

We've had her backpack and lunch box for a few weeks now.  We actually bought it for her as a birthday present.  I didn't want to spend a bunch of money on one, until I realized how big they all are on her tiny little body.  Rowen will be riding the bus to and from school so she has to be be able to carry everything by herself.  We had previously tried on a Mackenzie backpack (in size small) from Pottery Barn Kids and I loved the size.  It's big enough for a folder and some other items as well as the matching lunch box that clips to the top of the bag!  It's totally worth the money in my opinion, plus I think the quality will last us a couple of years!  I also bought a water bottle for her to use at lunch.  I love the Thermos brand bottles for kids.  They keep things cold all day and are easy for kids to open by themselves - even my two year old loves them!  

That about does it!  School starts in roughly two weeks for us.  I am ready and so is she, fingers are crossed for a great year!  

Summer 2017 Favorites

Our summer months this year look a bit different than in year's past.  Reason being, we decided to hire a nanny!  Normally, both kids spend their summers with their daycare providers.  However, to give Rowen a fun summer before kindergarten, and to lessen the burden of having two kids at two separate daycare facilities, it was the best choice! So far it’s gone very well, and the kids are having a blast!

When we were packing to move last summer I ended up donating a lot of toys we weren’t using.  Included in the donation box was a lot of their summer toys, pool noodles, water guns, etc.  By that point we’d had them for a number of years and they were starting to get gross so I just decided to do away with them to help lessen the load for the move.  Well, fast forward another summer and I realized I needed new stuff to keep the kids entertained!  So today I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite summer items (links for everything in descriptions below)...

1. Intex Wishing Well Pool -  I initially bought this pool because I liked the idea of having two pools in one.  I liked the fact that Wyatt could easily play in the middle portion and Rowen could swim in circles around the outer ring. So far both kids love the outer area the most!  Wyatt loves to put his cars and trucks in the pool and drive them along the edge!  It's the perfect pool for toddlers because they can easily step in and out without assistance.

2. Aruba Mesh Beach Tote Bag -  We use this as our pool toy bag.  It's a cooler/bag combo!  The top 3/4 features a mesh bag (perfect for wet toys) and the bottom 1/4 is an insulated cooler. Whenever the kids visit the pool or splash pad they want to take along toys and it's usually pushing lunch time or dinner time when we are there so this is the perfect solution!

3. WooHoo Toys Big Children Playhouse Pop-Up Play Tent -  My oldest loves to play pretend so I thought this would be fun. Some of the other fold-able tents I found weren't very big, but this one is huge - you can easily fit multiple kids inside!  Unlike other play tents, it doesn't require poles, it simply pops up and folds back down for easy storage.  Bonus is that it comes with stakes so that we can take it outside as well!

4. Splash Balls -  An obvious necessity when it comes to summertime and the occasional water fight with dad! :)

5. Sportspower My 1st Waterslide - We've only put this up a handful of times this summer, but it's a lot of fun, my neighbor kids love it, too!  Much like a bounce house it uses a blower and inflates within minutes.  So far the quality seems to be great!

6. Dew Drop Ocean Beads Ocean Animals Adventure Kit - These water beads are a total hit with my kids!  They're cheap and great for sensory play.  I keep them in a plastic tote out on our deck, under the umbrella and send the kids out to play daily.  This particular pack of beads comes with small ocean animals to play with.  I love to play with these too, there's something very relaxing about them! I bought these Squeezy Tweezers, which are great for little hands, too!

7. Wiggle Car by Lil' Rider - This is by far my daughter's favorite thing to play with outside when we are not in the pool.  The speed she has when she's on this thing is crazy - they are low to the ground, very easy to ride, and come in a bunch of different colors. I highly recommend it for younger kids!

5-6 Month Baby Favorites

Last week I posted Wyatt’s most recent update {click her for that post} and today I wanted to do a 5/6 month baby favorites post...

1// {Fisher Price Poppity Pop Musical Dino}:

This was one of the gifts Wyatt received for Christmas this year {here is that link}.  This toy is pretty brilliant!  Yes, it’s loud and somewhat annoying to listen to, but I can easily get past that given the fact that it holds his attention for long periods of time! I highly recommend this toy!

2// {Hylands Baby Teething Tablets}:

Wyatt is definitely teething.  Now, I am not one for organic, herbal remedies, oils or anything like that.  Sorry, it's just not my cup 'o tea.  However, our daycare center wont administer Tylenol for things like teething, so we send these tablets with Wyatt during the day to ensure he doesn't get too cranky - they seem to work!

3// {Fisher Price Discover ‘n Grow Jumperoo}:

Wyatt LOVES this!  He goes crazy jumping and bouncing as hard as he can!  I like it because the seat is nice and deep and seems to support him well, it's much more responsive to movement and seems to be bouncier than others we looked at!  Great buy!

4// {Chicco Polly Magic Highchair}:

This is the same highchair we used when Rowen was a baby and we still really like it.  My favorite things about it are the fact that it folds up for easy storage, has three different positions making it usable from newborn through toddler stage, and is also very padded!

5// {Baby Boy TMNT Caped Bib and Bootie Set}:

This was given to Wyatt as a Christmas gift. While the "cape" part of the bib is pretty impractical, I love the bib itself!  It's made of a polyester material making it SO easy to wipe clean when we're done feeding him!  I plan to order 2-3 more! Oh and the booties are adorable and fit him great, too! :)

6// {Sassy Wonder Wheel}:

This toy, which I randomly found at a consignment store for $1, is awesome!  We like to have Wyatt join us at the dinner table in the evenings, so I usually put him in his highchair and stick this toy on the tray in front of him using the attached suction cup.  It spins and rattles when he touches it and the bright colors easily keep Wyatt entertained while the rest of us enjoy our dinner!

7// {Breathable Baby Breathable Mesh Crib Liner}:

At about five months (when Wyatt started rolling over), we attached this bumper sides of his crib so his arms and legs wouldn't get stuck between the rails when he moved around.  It's made of mesh material making it breathable and is great buy for parents who are leery of bumpers yet don't want their kids' limbs getting all twisted up in the crib!  Side note, read the directions carefully when putting it up.  I thought I knew was I was doing, but I didn't. HA!

3-4 Month Baby Favorites

I highly doubt I'm sharing anything earth shattering with you, but these are our favorite products at the current stage Wyatt is in!  Take a look...

1// Cheeky Chompers Neckerchew 

Love this bib with attached teether att at the end.  It's great that you don't need to carry an extra item that may get dropped and it's reversible so it's like having two bibs!

2// Sophie Giraffe Teether

A must have for any teething baby.  Made of soft leather, with subtle squeaker that is easy for young babies to squeeze!

3// Dr. Browns Bottles 

Perfect for gassy babies + they don't leak!  Only downside are all the parts you have to clean, but totally worth it!

4//Johnson's Facial Wipes

Love these!  A daily must have for us!  They wipe away the day's germs.  I love them on non bath nights, I usually just wipe Wyatt down from head to toe!  Love the way they smell, too!

5// Bumbo Seat

Wyatt loves his Bumbo.  I love that it gives his neck muscles a little workout and gives us a break from having him in our laps 24/7!

6// Lovey Blanket

As I said in my previous post, Wyatt loves to hold on to something while he's falling asleep at night and this seems to do the trick + it's cute! 

7// Vicks Vapor Plug

Perfect for cold and flu season, which is now upon us...yuck!  I stuck one of these in both kids' rooms.   The plug-in itself is great because you can adjust the intensity of the aroma and it also has a soft green night light.

Toddler Favorites: Springtime 2015

It's Friday again that means more "Friday Favorites".  Last week I showed you some of my favorite items to use with toddlers in the kitchen, and this week I'm posting about five of my favorite Springtime items for toddlers!  Check it out...

1/  Princess GardeningGloves – I bought these at Menards a couple of months ago.  They fit my daughter’s tiny hands perfectly and will come in handy this spring when we start planting our flowers!

2/ Kite – Before this Spring, I hadn't flown a kite in probably 15+ years.  We actually bought this exact Cinderella kite (at the Dollar Store) last year for Rowen's Easter basket, but never even thought to use it until this year.  She absolutely loves it!

3/ Jumping Beans Casual Sequin Shoe – My daughter’s feet have grown like crazy since last summer so about a month ago I set out to find some decently priced shoes she could run around in this Spring.  I came home with these adorable, sequin shoes.  I love that the colors go with everything, too!

4/ Magic Grow Capsules – Rowen received these in her Easter basket from a family member and is fascinated by them! Perfect indoor or outdoor activity!  

5/ Marshmallow Fruit Salad – Love making this in the Springtime!  It’s so good + Rowen loves it and is an easy way to get some fruit down her throat (after she picks out the marshmallows, of course).

Shared with:

Oh Hey Friday with: September Farm & The Farmer's Wife

Friday Favorites with: Momfessionals Little Bit of Everything & Grace and Love

Five on Friday with:  A. Liz Adventures Carolina Charm Hello! Happiness and The Good Life

Cold and Flu Must-Haves for Toddlers

This past week Rowen has been battling a nasty upper respiratory infection aka a bad cold.  Her poor eyes are glazed over and watery, her nose is chapped and cracked from all the wiping, and she’s just plain miserable looking.  I feel so bad for her, but she’s been a trouper and I think she’s finally on the mend!

To go along with the “sick” theme in our house this week, I thought I’d share my Cold and Flu Season Must-Haves!  Here are the remedies we keep on hand just in case…

1// Llama Llama Home with Mama – This is the perfect book to save for a sick day at home!  The rhymes are playful and so easy for little ones to remember (Rowen recites it often)! 

2// Crane Cool Mist Humidifier, Elephant – We actually run this humidifier every night while Rowen sleeps, but it is especially handy for when she’s sick!  Just knowing that it’s allowing her to breathe easier at night when she’s congested gives me peace of mind!

3// Boogie Wipes – These are a godsend when you have a kid whose nose is a faucet.  I love the smell and the aloe on the wipes helps to reduce redness (see #6). 

4// Wet-Ones – I went out last night and bought a large container of these.  They’re great for wiping hands and surfaces when your little one is sick.  Knowing I am at least trying to keep the germs at bay (even though it’s probably inevitable I’ll get sick) makes me feel better!

5// Children’s Dimetapp – Yes, we use medicines on our kid and yes, they work!  Growing up with a pharmacist as a father I’ve always known medicine to help ease my pains when I’m sick and I won’t keep Rowen from knowing that ease, too.  I’m not opposed to things like Essential Oils, but honestly I prefer to go to the drug store!

6// Burt’s Bees Lip Balm – Rowen’s poor nose is being wiped so often that its become red and swollen.  We’ve been using this lip balm to help ease the redness, and so far it’s working!

7// Dr. Teals Bubble Bath – Nothing beats a warm bath when you’re sick and this soap makes your bath that much more enjoyable!  A friend of mine gifted us a bottle when she found out I was pregnant and ever since we’ve been using it on Rowen.  It smells wonderful and is so relaxing – perfect for sick days!

8// Honest Kids Juice – We don’t do a lot of juice in our house (it’s mostly water and milk), but we usually make an exception when she’s sick just so we can ensure she’s getting enough fluids.  I love this juice because there are only 9 grams of sugar compared to the 16-20 grams most juice pouches/boxes have (seriously, you might as well just give them a can of pop)!

9// Nutri-Grain Cereal Bars – We keep a lot of these breakfast bars on hand.  I figure it’s a decent way to get some food into her system when she’s not very hungry, plus she loves them!

10// Vapo Rubs – Vapo rubs like this one are my “go to” when I am sick with a cold.  Because the scent is so strong, instead of rubbing it on Rowen’s chest or under her nose, I put it on the bottoms of her feet and on her humidifier so it dispenses throughout the room…works great!

2014 Meal Plan Monday Favorites

Happy 2015!  How was your New Year?  Mine was very low key.  Ryan spent the early part of the evening attending the ISU basketball game with friends while Rowen and I hung out with a neighborhood friend and her kids in their bounce house!  It was a total hit...we might have to look into getting one!

After Ryan returned home from the game it was lights out for Rowen and for me, too!  I barely made it to 11:00 before I passed out on the couch...does that mean I'm getting old?

The rest of the weekend was spent running errands, doing a few house projects and seeing a movie with my sister!  I hadn't seen a movie in months so when she suggested going to the new Flix Brew House for dinner and a movie I instantly jumped at the chance!  It was so much fun!  There was a full dinner menu, complete with drinks and desserts to choose from.  We dined on Lime Chicken Quesadillas and sodas while watching our movie...loved it!

Speaking of dinner...

With this being the first Meal Plan Monday post of 2015, I thought I'd go ahead and share my 10 favorite meals out of all the Meal Plan Monday's I've posted!  I've been blogging for almost a year now (crazy) and these Meal Plan Monday posts continue to be one of my highest and most requested on the blog, so thank you! 

These 10 meals are meals that were easy to make, kid friendly, and delicious!  If you haven't had a chance to try any of these I highly recommend you do!  YUM!

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups 

Baked Chile Relleno 

Crockpot Onion BBQ SmackedChicken 

Beefy Mexican Lasagna 

Buffalo Chicken LettuceWrap 

Slow Cooker Creamy RanchPork Chops 

Hawaiian BBQ Quesadillas 

Ramen Noodle Stir Fry 

Cheeseburger and FriesCasserole 

Bubble Up Pizza 

Shared with 

Org Junkie