Tuesday, February 22, 2011

tag back

Welcome To "Tag Back Tuesday" .. If it's your first time... or you come every week... 




THANK YOU!!!




We have found so many hidden gems with these blog hops.. !


 How it Works

  First rule is..... There are NO rules... Except.. Have fun.. Follow if you want and please NO giveaways or adds .. 

***But a few simple suggestions***






Mommying On The Fly





But ALL optional




  • Add your blog to the list. (NOT your giveaways or adds please!)
  • Grab our button and add to your blog...

  • Follow the first 3 entries which includes your Host Blogs and our Co-Host of the week.
  




Our Highlighted co-host of the week (will be chosen randomly from the past weeks' Linky and MUST have our hop button or blog badge visible on your blog... Pretty sad, but today I had to randomly select 18 /EIGHTEEN/ Linkers, and most not only did NOT have a mandatory badge, but weren't even FOLLOWING us.. bwahahahaahaha)


NOW, follow as many other blogs as you would like. ***Please leave a message so we know you followed.***
PLEASE these are NOT mandatory, but it is polite etiquette to at least follow the first THREE.!!!! I have seen many co-hosts end up with maybe 3 new followers and we have had 60+ link up, and that's just POOR blogsmanship if you ask me!!!
  • After you follow a new blog make sure you leave them a comment letting them know Just how awesome they are and that you are now a follower so that they can follow your Awesome Blog back... 
 **There is NO obligation to follow any or follow back.. Only follow those you truly enjoy....




    and our Co-Host of the week is...... #26





     
    Real adventures from a mom of 3. 






    So, head on over and show some love......


    Sooo, click, like, follow and tell your friends...







    To Be eligible for the Co-Host of the week, our badge must be visible on your page....




    and a Shout Out to our Past Co-Hosts.. of the week........
    1.  Our Crazy Little Life
    2. Live Well Spend Less
    3. The Baby Bottom Line
    4. Mama to 4 blessings 
    5. Bassgiraffe 
    6. Paisley Passion 
    7. Adventures of a Military Family of 8 
    8. A Contest Queen's World 
    9. The Adventures of Goober Grape and Monkey Man 
    10. Mom to 2 Posh Little Divas 
    11. Reflection of Something 
    12. Nine Ninety One 
    13. Veggie Converter 
    14. The Mom Adventures 
    15. My Life as Mom and Wife 
    16. Reasons to Skip The Houswork 
    17. Real Adventures from A Mom Of 3

    Monday, February 21, 2011

    How to you entertain baby and toddler Twins?

    I had so many people ask me how I was going to keep my Twins entertained once they were able to roll and crawl around. I pondered that thought many times. The solution actually came to me through the evolution of my Twins toy collection. It is hard not to find cool baby and toddler toys. The possibilities are endless. Hundreds of companies all over the world make hundreds of really cool toys. What's not to love about all that cuteness? I ended up getting some superyard and realized that the standard 6 panels it came with were just not creating nearly enough room for my Twins to play within. So I bought the 2 panel extension. I thought that would do the trick but I felt like that was a big joke. So I bought another 6 panels. It was nice for about 5 minutes. I was always buying toys, holidays and birthdays would go by, etc. When you have Twins you end up buying twice the stuff in most cases. When your Twins have a birthday, you don't just buy one of them a toy.  You buy them each a few things.  If your singleton child has a birthday you don't buy them half of a toy, so why would you not treat both of your Twins as equals and buy them say 5 toys each for their birthday for example. So then you have 10 new toys in the house. If you love buying them cute new toys and use your extra spending money on buying more toys for your Twins, then you end up with 2 more toys here and two more toys there.... etc. Same goes for buying outdoor toys for birthdays, holidays, or just for no occasion at all. Well pretty soon you might end up with a whole lot of toys.  I kept having to buy more superyard to accomodate the toys.  I started out wanting to keep my premature Twins in a safe semi-sterile environment. I have older kids and pets. I wanted to make sure the pets did not go near my Twins or their toys. I also wanted to make sure my Twins never somehow got hold of some random thing my older kids left laying around or dropped. You would be amazed at how many small items that older kids have in their pockets and backpacks. Candy, eraser caps for pencils, pencils, stickers, legos, silly bands bracelets, bits of paper that came out of their homework folder and fell on to the floor, a gummy bear that fell out of their hand, . there is an endless list.  Now we all, including my older kids to keep an eye out for anything they might have accidentally left in reach of the Twins, but all it takes is a second for a child to choke.. Imagine if suddenly your 11 year old walks by and a gummy bear falls from their hand or pocket.  You are changing one Twins diaper as the other one crawls around on the living room floor right near you.....suddenly you notice they are choking...... I never wanted to be left in that sort of scenario.  I wanted us to be able to keep the Twins safe, happy, entertained, etc. Plus I wanted to be able to go pee in peace.  How could i trust that my Twins were not doing something to put themselves in harms way if I was in the bathroom for 3 minutes? You can babyproof  your entire house until you are all babyproofed out and still something could happen.  The superyard and the toys together allowed me to create a Twin play area that was fun, safe, comfy, and could accommodate us to go in there and play with them as well as go to the kitchen to make lunch or have a quick pee break in the bathroom. .  I swear by the superyard. It is the only way to stay sane, keep your Twins safe from harms way and common accidents in the home as well as keep the toys all in one neat spot. Ours became pretty large and eventually took over the whole entire living room. We just don't have an extra room for a play room though. Plus it works out better for us to have their play area in the living room. Anyhow without further ado...these are random out of chronological order photos that show my Twins indoor play area. These days the superyard is outside serving a new purpose and doorway gates are in place. They have the living room and dining room to get crazy and have a blast with their toys. I just always enlarged the play area as they grew. I also added and changed around the toys a lot too. 

















    Thursday, February 17, 2011

    Featured M.O.M Annette Carbonell 2/17/11


    • Name: Annette Carbonell
    • Age: 23
    • Marital Status: married
    • Blog: www.tripletsmommy.blogspot.com
    • Multiples names and age: Delilah Marie, Hector Manuel, and Melody Grace (15 months)
    • additional children: none
    • About you: I'm a stay-at-home mommy to wonderful 24 weeker miracle triplets. I'm busy as can be but I always make time to update friends and family about how we're doing. 
    • About your Multiples: They were born at 24 weeks and weighed under 1 pound and a half. They have had a long and bumpy road but are now overall healthy and catching up developmentally. They are great babies and oh so strong! 
    • About your family: My husband and I have been married for 4 years and have been together for 6. We always knew we wanted children but never expected to have TRIPLETS! 
    • favorite items for multiples: Choo-choo wagons and their playpens!!!
    • favorite toys for multiples: Any toy that lights up and has music.
    • advice for other moms of multiples: Take it one day at a time and make sure you take time for yourself. It's important to have your own time to maintain your own sanity. 
    • links: Facebook.com/annecita



     Thank you for sharing, Annette!  They are super cute!!

    FINALLY a section for Multiples at a Children's Clothing Sale in Central Florida!!

    I am very happy to announce that Just Between Friends Children's Consignment Sale of Central Florida now has a section for MULTIPLES!!!!


    The sale starts TOMORROW








    Hey Budget Superhero!!!

    Spring 2011 Event!

    February 17th - 20th, 2011

    Consignor Sign-Up Open Until February 16, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    Tags can be entered until noon on Thursday, February 17, 2011!

    Maitland Civic Center


    641 S. Maitland Avenue
    (corner 17/92 and Maitland Ave. right next to Lake Lily Park)


    Pass it on!!!


    JBF,  


    and 


    commend you!!!!!

    It is so wonderful that you all have taken time to do such a wonderful thing for all of the Moms of Twins, Triplets, or more in Orlando....and Central Florida for that matter!!!


    Thanks JBF!!!!!!


    Wednesday, February 16, 2011

    Wordless Wednesday - at the park

    A photo from last year at a local playground!


    I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

    We went with North Orlando Sunshine Moms Playgroup to see the new Curious George exhibit at the Orlando Science Center! It was really cute but really overwhelming.  We loved the setup, however I felt that maybe they could have put it in a slightly larger room. My Twins were a little sleepy so it kind of became an overstimulating experience for them, unfortunately. We plan to go back next week though!
    They had a cute little storytime area set up, complete with a Curious George statue on the bench to sit by for a cute photo op! They were so overwhelmed though that it even shows in the pics. They just have not been getting enough sleep the past few nights. I think I will be putting them to bed early tonight so that they can get more rest. Currently they are napping. I hope it is one of their normal 3-4 hour naps.  There were so many things to see and play with. I think a lot of it was geared for the age 5 -8 crowd. Many of the activities were geared towards school age children. It was such a cute set up though. It looked like a little Curious George city. They had little buildings, one looked like a hotel and had an elevator inside that you could open the doors. Behind the doors was a big picture of some cartoon fire fighters. They had a really cute slide. It is this rocket that you climb into from behind. Then you go up a small spiral staircase that leads up to the top of the slide. The slide had padding at the bottom landing. It was super cute!

    In all, we had fun!









    Tuesday, February 15, 2011

    Full of the awesome!





    Here is a big awesome mega list of items that can be combined together to make hundreds of amazing and fun sensory bins, sensory boxes, or sensory tables. So next time you are making one, check this list for inspiration!! These item ideas can be used for: Sensory Bin, box, table, water table, sand table etc.

    Be sure to check this Pinterest board for 500+ sensory bin/sensory bottle/sand table/water table ideas!

    Follow Kristen (Caution! Twins at Play)'s board Sensory and I-Spy Bottles, bags, and bins on Pinterest.



    The List!!


    1. ice
    2. water
    3. sand
    4. kinetic sand
    5. moon sand
    6. colored craft sand
    7. floam
    8. modeling clay
    9. clay
    10. play dough
    11. snow
    12. fake snow
    13. acorns
    14. sticks
    15. branches
    16. wood chips
    17. cut pieces of tree branches
    18. pine cones
    19. sawdust
    20. fresh cut grass or fake grass
    21. sod
    22. cedar chips
    23. mulch
    24. pebbles or rocks
    25. wood scraps
    26. aquarium pebbles
    27. corn starch
    28. corn meal
    29. baking soda
    30. flour
    31. jello
    32. uncooked pasta (colored or plain)
    33. cooked pasta (colored or plain)
    34. jelly
    35. popcorn
    36. corn kernels
    37. dried beans
    38. cooked beans
    39. lentils
    40. coffee beans
    41. ice (cubes, chipped, shaved, - dyed or plain)
    42. uncooked rice (colored or plain)
    43. cooked rice (colored or plain)
    44. shredded coconut
    45. oranges (some sliced and some whole)
    46. lemons (some sliced and some whole)
    47. grapefruit (some sliced and some whole)
    48. potatoes (some sliced and some whole)
    49. carrots
    50. green beans
    51. sweet peppers
    52. dry oatmeal or steel cut oats
    53. dry cereal (cheerios, fruit loops, other dry cereals)
    54. cool whip or whipped cream 
    55. loose tea
    56. potato flakes
    57. pumpkin guts
    58. nuts in their shells (for those not allergic)
    59. gum balls
    60. hay
    61. dirt
    62. coffee grounds
    63. used coffee grounds
    64. flowers (real or fake)
    65. fish aquarium gravel
    66. leaves (real or fake)
    67. water beads
    68. water polymers
    69. water
    70. shaving cream
    71. sponges (various sizes and shapes)
    72. bird seed
    73. slime (store bought or home made)
    74. gak
    75. silly putty (store bought or home made)
    76. Easter grass
    77. ball pit balls
    78. sensory balls
    79. packing peanuts
    80. sea glass
    81. marbles
    82. glass plant gems
    83. plastic gems
    84. confetti
    85. oobleck
    86. tinsel
    87. crepe paper
    88. tissue paper
    89. wrapping paper
    90. plastic fishing worms (no hooks of course)
    91. plastic animals
    92. plastic people
    93. floating toys
    94. bath toys
    95. foam bits or foam toys
    96. buttons
    97. tri-beads, pony beads, seed beads
    98. fabric scraps
    99. play silks
    100. corks
    101. pom poms
    102. ribbon
    103. yarn
    104. string
    105. craft feathers
    106. feather boas (cut into sections or whole)
    107. mardi gras beads
    108. hawaiian lei's (cut and whole)
    109. bubble wrap
    110. cotton balls
    111. bubble wrap
    112. finger paint or tempera/activity paint
    113. bells
    114. watermelon (half and slices)
    115. poker chips
    116. fake fruit and vegetables
    117. plastic Easter eggs
    118. balloons (fill with air, water, water beads, sand, spices, rice, etc)
    119. hair gel
    120. Old cd's
    121. bingo chips
    122. yarn
    123. shredded paper
    124. cellophane paper
    125. construction paper
    126. small paper squares or tissue paper squares
    127. coins (plastic or fake)
    128. tapioca pearls
    129. Indian corn
    130. Christmas lights
    131. led tea lights
    132. led finger lights
    133. bubble solution and wands
    134. batting
    135. poly-fil
    136. magazines (whole, pages.  or pieces cut) 
    137. hard boiled eggs
    138. dish soap
    139. body wash
    140. hand soap
    141. bath beads
    142. soap bars
    143. frozen veggies
    144. olive oil
    145. puzzle pieces
    146. fidgets
    147. plastic or wooden cooking utensils
    148. funnels
    149. canning funnels
    150. sifters
    151. strainers
    152. measuring cups and spoons
    153. foam letters and numbers
    154. plastic letters and numbers
    155. old costume/cheap jewelry
    156. moss
    157. garden tools
    158. turkey baster
    159. pipettes
    160. spools of thread (empty or with thread still on them)
    161. ice cube trays
    162. muffin tins
    163. tongs
    164. squeegee
    165. aluminum pie pans
    166. squeeze bottles
    167. cupcake liners (paper, aluminum, or silicone)
    168. Popsicle sticks
    169. chop sticks
    170. small containers with lids
    171. recycled food or juice containers
    172. magnifying glass
    173. spray bottles
    174. safety scissors
    175. cookie cutters
    176. plastic bowls and cups
    177. nets / netting
    178. potato masher
    179. whisk
    180. bucket and pail
    181. clothespins
    182. small plastic containers with lids
    183. dolls and doll clothing
    184. scraps cut from old clothes
    185. small stuffed animals
    186. small unbreakable mirrors
    187. empty spice jars/containers
    188. gel window clings
    189. potatoes (cut in half, slices, and whole)
    190. marshmallows 
    191. dried herbs
    192. play dishes
    193. play money
    194. baby cereal (dry or with water)
    195. tea bags and a child's tea set or plastic cups
    196. paperclips
    197. glow sticks
    198. flower or vegetable seeds
    199. small potted herbs, flowers, or veggies and some plain soil
    200. blocks (lego, wood blocks, plastic blocks, mega blocks, foam blocks, magnetic building toys, etc..)


     http://www.pinterest.com/twinsrock/light-tables-light-boxes-light-panels-light-play/

    Introducing

    THE biggest and best Light Table Resource on Pinterest and on the Internet! This Pinterest board is for playing with light, black light play, light box play, light table play, light panel play, shadow and light play, overhead projector play, light and mirror play, reflections, glow in the dark play, Reggio, Reggio Emilia, Reggio Light Play, etc.

    This awesome collaborative light play filled Pinterest board from 40+ bloggers! You will find hundreds of educational, fun, interesting, beautiful, and even therapeutic light play ideas!!!

    To be added as a collaborative pinner to this board email twinsrock@cfl.rr.com 

    Check out the FB page for this board too!
    https://www.facebook.com/LightTablePlay

    Here is a preview of the board!!  Go check it out!!

    Follow Kristen (Caution! Twins at Play) Light Tables, Light Boxes, Light Panels & Light Play on Pinterest

    Click HERE to go to the board!!


    Sunday, February 13, 2011

    Attn: Mom, We are Big Boys now!!

    My Twins will be three years old in April. The almost three year olds in them is really shining through lately.
    I have noticed they are really on top of talking in full sentences, changing their preferences, & exerting their independence. They have been using phrases lately that show they are making changes and growing up some.
    It is pretty strange seeing them turn into three year olds. I have three "singleton" children who are much older (almost 15, almost 11, and almost 13), and they were much different when they were two-going-on-three.

    I know a kid is a kid. and all kids develop differently but I feel like things are much different with Graham and Parker than they were with my older three kids.I don't even know how to explain it. I think it is just that everything they are doing is amplified by 2.

    My oldest daughter was 2 and a half when my second child was born. My second child is only 15 months older than my third child. So I have experienced having a baby and a two year old toddler. I have also experienced having a not quite one and a half year old and a baby. Both of these age groups together had challenges. Once my third child was born I had a newborn, a fifteen month old and a nearly four year old.

    One of the most common phrases that a mother of Twins hears from another mother is a combination of one of these phrases.....

    • I have a baby and a toddler.... I know what it is like to have Twins.
    • I have a baby and a toddler.....It's harder than having Twins.
    • I have more than two children under age 4, that is much harder than Twins
    • I have more than two children under age four, that is just like having Twins or even Triplets.
    Some combination of those phrases have been heard by most mothers of Twins. I know I have heard them on more than one Occasion. I know that most of  the mothers who are saying them usually do not try to start an argument or make light of the challenges they face as opposed to yours, but sometimes they do.

    I enjoy cutting in on facebook posts that a Twin Mom is kind of in a light hearted debate with a Singleton Mom who is trying to make her believe that her job as a Mother of a baby and a toddler is so much harder than having Twins. I really enjoy cutting in and saying  "HA...you are wrong!!!  I have had a baby and a toddler TWICE and one of those times it included a PRESCHOOLER!! I have Twins now and IT IS VERY different than having a baby and a toddler. So TRY proving your case now!!!!"   It usually makes the other Twin Mom quite happy that I ended her argument for her with proven evidence that the Singleton Mom is dead wrong. I speak the truth though. I have been there and done that and lived it.

    So, anyhow I have thought lately how having Twins who are almost three years old is much different than having my older three so close in age. I do think some aspects of parenting Twins at age three are a little easier than some other stages. One positive note is that they can both walk. I can walk with them and hold their hands. They can now tell me if they want or need something. Sometimes they can tell me what is wrong if they are not feeling well. They really enjoy being more independent. They keep asking me if they can use the toilet. I am not really trying to potty train right now, but when we are at home they often go and use the toilet.

    They listen better at this age, and they are really getting to be great with the alphabet, numbers, some signing, speaking in sentences, mimicking, pretend play,  sharing, using manners, helping to clean up their toys, and many other little things.

    The downfall to them becoming so independent is that I have to really make sure I am well rested and full of energy to keep up with them. They like to be a little more independent than they can handle at times. They get somewhat frustrated about not being able to walk with me through a parking lot without holding my hand. It is hard for them to understand that if we are walking through the park or from the car to the door is different than in a parking lot.  One of my Twins is really not mature enough to walk along with me without holding my hand but in certain places, I let them both. Usually it is just Graham who gets to walk with me without holding my hand. Parker tries to run off sometimes because he thinks it is fun to decided that suddenly I need to chase him.  He had two brain bleeds in the NICU at birth and a tonic clonic/grand mal seizure at almost age two. So he is maturing at a slightly slower rate than his Twin. 

    They are very busy and like to be doing something engaging at all times. They enjoy playing independently and with each other but often want me or Dad, or an older sibling to be playing along too. They enjoy certain activities with certain family members. I take them to playdates usually five days a week. They are really enjoying making friends. They are getting really acquainted with their playgroup friends and talk about them a lot at home. They talk about going to playdates and asking about when they will see their friends next. They know some of their playmates Mommys by name. They are really enjoying the activities we do. They love to be busy. They still nap 3-4 hours once a day so it is really nice to get that break. They can really wear you out!!

    It's a wild ride but I would not trade having Twins for anything!

    I am in the process of planning their birthday party right now. Many decisions to make and then I have to get the invitations out!  I think it will be a lot of fun for them this year. They are always talking about party hats, birthday partys, and singing the happy birthday song!!




    Thursday, February 10, 2011

    Escalator Issues

    Thought I would take them to the mall play area to burn off some energy cause it is rainy and yucky out. I usually park in the parking garage of Nordstroms', but on the lower level. The lower level is where the play area is. Today the lower level of the garage was packed (probably due to the rain...) I parked on the 2nd level.

    When we got into Nordstroms we came face to face with the escalators. The girls and I have managed escalators before so I asked them if they wanted to take them down. They both said yes. Avery stepped on before I could think. So then Emerson and I are both at the top watching Avery go. I kind of panicked thinking I did not want Avery to be alone at the bottom. I hop on and and Emerson does not hop on with me. Now I'm headed down and Emerson is stuck at the top. She starts crying. I turn around and try to run up the escalator that is headed down. I can't do it. I had to have looked like a cartoon character getting no where. This very nice lady with a toddler and a stroller asks me if she can help Emerson on. I say, "YES, please!!! thank YOU!!!" Emerson immediate jumps away from the lady like she is the devil. The only option I had was to ride down, then ride up and retrieve Emerson all with Avery in tow as well. It was rather amusing. Thankfully this set of escalators were side by side. SO GLAD I cannot even imagine having to run to the other side of the store to catch the up one and then running to the down one again.

    Needless to say We all took the elevator once I had Emerson. The nice lady that had offered to help stood there with Emerson while I made my way back to her. Apparently it was a memorable experience for others as well. About an hour and a half later we were headed through Nordstroms and this guy commented that Emerson wants nothing to do with the escalator now!

    To add insult to injury as we past through the lingerie section Emerson ran up to the most slutty, loud nighty and yelled, "I like this ONE!!!" Praying her tastes change before puberty.

    Patty
    Mama to Emerson and Avery

    Wednesday, February 9, 2011

    All you need is love my Dinosaur Valentine

    When I got Graham and Parker dressed this morning, Graham looked down at his Tee Shirt, examined it for a minute and then said "Dinosaurs!".  I almost corrected him but, then I thought for a moment and he is kind of right. The Beatles are kind of Dinosaurs in a way.  :)

    Their shirts say "All you need is love".  



     Today we had a Valentines Day Party with our Playgroup!

    Some of the Moms made Valentine Boxes,. 
    we all handed out Valentines to the little ones. It was really cute!



    Some of the sweets that we had at the party, Graham was really enjoying them!
    Parker did too b ut he was more interested in playing!


    Parker wanted to sit in Lori's lap. SO I put Graham in her lap too in order to get a good pic of their Valentines Day Tee Shirts. This is about as good as it gets sometimes when taking pics of your Twins (or more). Sometimes a cute look or a quirky smirk make the best pic. 



    All the kids had fun with blocks, slides, balloons, ride-ons, and coloring!

    Group Pic, we actually only had 13 Moms show up today, it seems many are sick and on vacation.


    Sometimes they put themselves into the stroller just to take a break.