Organization.....

I LOVE organization!!

It brings me such joy and satisfaction to take/make a big mess (which is a must when truly organizing) and create something clean and functional!

Anyway, currently the top of my refrigerator has become a collection site for art projects.  I LOVE saving the girls important and special papers but didn't really have a space for it so I would just shove things on top of the fridge when things would come up. (which is OFTEN, the girls color for at LEAST an hour or two a day!)  Its quite the eye soar in our kitchen.  There is literally years of art projects up there.  

So yesterday I finally did something about it!

Instead of an unruly pile of papers, this is sitting a top my fridge.

Now when something comes up I just place it in their drawer.

I'm going to get a bigger container for each of them to keep in our crawl space to move the things to once their drawer fills up.

Nothing quite like containers and a label maker!! :) 

A little goes a long way....

Now this may not be true with all children but I'm willing to bet it is with most, all they want is to make us happy/proud. We are definitely not against bribes or rewards but I have discovered something that also works well. Absolute, crazy, unrestrained, eye to eye, one on one attention, over the top praise from their mommy or daddy. Case in point: Awhile back I was helping Bella out of the tub, when out of no where she looked up at me and said, "Thank you momma for helping me out of the tub." The hubs and I were so impressed that we went ballistic! We showered her with praise, love, hugs, kisses, and just plain over the topness (yes, I'm making that a word). We told her how proud we were that she used such good manners and that God was so impressed with what a special girl she is turning out to be. Now, just about every time, ever since that encounter, Bella thanks me for helping her out of the tub. We continue to praise her of course, in a more subdued manner, and even throw in a treat or two to celebrate now and then, but Bella takes it upon herself to thank us because she saw how happy it made us.

Bella has this Princess Flashlight that she got recently. If you know my daughter at all, you would know that she absolutely treasures this princess flashlight. The first couple of nights that she had it she insisted on taking it to bed. So needless to say she wasn't very keen on sharing it with her little sister. Bella has really been struggling with sharing and including her sister lately, so we knew this probably wouldn't be any different. And then the other night after dinner, the girls went downstairs to play and I witnessed Bella handing Brynn her beloved flashlight to play with. The hubs and I were in shock! Quickly, I told the hubs, reward her like CRAZY! We, again, showered her with love, kisses, hugs, and praise and told her how proud we are of her. Just the look on her face will warm my heart for life. Now when she shares she likes to come tell me and get a quick hug and a kiss. Now like I said this won't work for all children but most often they're just looking for your approval. Don't immediately jump to bribes or getting them something, try praising them like crazy, let them know how proud you are, and just give them that one on one attention. You may feel silly or look a little foolish but the happiness in your little one's face will make any embarrassment worth it!

Tuesday's Blog Hop-3 Things you should teach your children....

Welcome to Tuesday's Blog Hop! Todays' blog hop theme is 3 things a parent should teach their children. I know deep, huh? : ) Although I wish I could stew on this for a bit and come up with the perfect answer to this, alas, naptime only goes on so long. In my quick, hurried opinion I would have to say three very important things we should teach our children are:

1. That Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior and to share that with the world

2. Treat others how they would want to be treated (RESPECT)

3. To help those in need (emotionally, financially, physically, etc)

Oh it is so hard to limit that to three! I believe those three would cover most of the things I would want to add. I added respect to #2 because I think this is something that is terribly lacking in today's society. Kids just don't respect others, especially adults, like they used to. They don't treat adults as their elders, more like their equals. Gone, are the days of yes, sir and thank you, ma'am and I think that is a huge injustice. I want my girls to grow up to be Jesus fearing, loving, reaching out, compassionate, respectful young ladies, and the hubs and I are going to do our best, with God's help, to help make that happen!

I'm looking forward to reading what others feel we should be teaching our children! Go and see for yourself.

Oh and because I couldn't have a post with out pictures! Here are my precious little ladies. : )

Having fun coloring with Mormor (grandma), although you wouldn't know from their serious faces. : )

Special thanks to Shoplet.com-Purell Hand Sanitizers for sponsoring this blog hop.

$170 or $59.50?

SO I had to share something with all my bloggie friends.  I just got the best deal EVER!  This never happens to me and I am so excited to share.  Kelli you would be SO proud of me.

So Bella has reached the weight requirement where she can be in a booster (30 pounds).  I did a little research on different booster seats.  In my research I also read that its safest to keep your child in a 5 point harness as long as you can and until at least 40 pounds.  Since Bella doesn't care one way or another I want to keep her in a 5 point harness as long as I can.  Now the Britax carseat she was currently using could hold her until 65 pounds but the Britax that Brynn is using isn't our favorite.  When we did our convertible carseat research we found that Britax has the best safety ratings.  It's definitely the safest but probably the most expensive.  At the time we had extra finances so we just bit the bullet.  That's when we got Bella this carseat.  

Now when it came time for Brynn to move up we just didn't have the money to afford the Britax but still wanted its safety.  I amazingly found one only a couple years old for $10 at a garage sale.  Even though I was assured it was accident free you just never know, so buying from a garage sale just made me a little uneasy.  Also the cover's elastic had loosened and was always coming off.  Well needless to say with tough economic times we worked with what we had, so Brynn has been using this carseat.

The girlies wanted to be in the picture. : )

Now after my booster research I found a Graco carseat, also with good safety ratings but a bit more reasonably priced, $170, that I thought was perfect.  It is a 3 in 1 carseat.  You can use it as a high back booster seat with a five point harness, then as a high back booster used with the seatbelt, and then the high back comes off to use just the bottom as the more "grown up" booster.  Good bang for your buck right?!  Although, its still a lot of bucks.  Since this was not an absolute need for us right now we were just going to sit tight until it got cheaper or we got some extra $. Well now for the exciting story, I know sorry lots of leading up to it huh? Anywho, we were walking through Walmart the other evening getting a gift.  I actually glanced at the carseat I had my eye on and saw it was on sale for $155-getting better.  On our way to the toy section we walked past this display.  On it, it said $59.50 and below it I saw several boxes of the Graco Nautalius 3-in-1, the carseat I wanted!  I told the Hubs, if this is for real we're buying it immediately.  The Hubs continued on to the toy section with the girls and I stayed to ask someone about the carseat.  The lady scanned it, nope $155.  Must have been misplaced she said.  So I said but there are several there (this is why Kelli would be proud, normally I would have walked away already and not pushed it).  So she looks and scans a couple more, nope still $155.  So she asks me if I'd like to see a manager, and totally out of character, I said yes.  Well shortly Assistant Manager Steve came, looked over the situation and said, "Well we've got to give it to her for that price" as he's removing the $59.50 from the display.  Can you believe it!?  I got it for $110 off!  That never happens to me.  I can't even tell you how elated I was.  As I went to head to the toy section to tell the Hubs the good news, while carrying this HEAVY box across the store so fast so they wouldn't change their minds, I happen to glance back at the display and on the other side where there were mattresses was the $155 price!!  What a steal, whoohoo! : ) 

Nightgown Days...

Lord,
So often I'm still in my nightgown at noon. And except for washing a few bottles, the only thing I have to show by the end of most days is a dent in the couch where I sat holding Baby as he fussed.
Lord, you say there is a reason for every activity under heaven (Eccles. 3:1). Maybe this is just my time for sitting on the couch? Help me remember that whatever I do- including what I do with Baby- can be done unto You (Col. 3:17). And even the simplest activity done in Your name counts for eternity. Surely this is one of the good works You've prepared in advance for me to do (Eph. 2:10).
As I am forced to do less (or more (my edit)) busywork and more (or less (again my edit)) sitting, let my thoughts be on You, Father. "Let the morning bring my word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you" (Ps. 143:8). Help me to make good use of this time in my life when everything has somehow both slowed down and sped up.
As the dent in couch gets deeper, may my time spent snuggling Baby be my holy act of worship to You. And as You look down from heaven to see if there are any who seek You (Ps. 14:2), I pray that You would see me. (Forgive the nightgown, Father, I dress for the job.)

In your precious name I say, Amen.


What a great reminder.  Isn't that great?! I got this from a book I'm reading during my quiet times called 'Praying the Bible for your Baby,' by Heather Harpham Kopp. I'm not sure where I got the book (sorry if you got it for me) but I just love it! She has also written 'Praying the Bible for your Children' and 'Praying the Bible for your Marriage' with her husband. Even though the timing is off a bit, 'Praying the Bible for your Baby' is more for when you just find out you're pregnant, I'm still enjoying it!

I couldn't post without a pic! Random I know but couldn't you just eat them up!?

Works for Me Wednesday!

Time for it works for me Wednesday.  Visit here to see the originator of Works for Me Wednesday and here for who hosts it now and to see all the links to other Works for Me posts.

So 6 months is usually when "they" say you can start a sippy cup for your baby.  If you haven't already learned this yet, much like you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, you have to try a lot of sippies (is that how you spell that!?) before you'll find the one you like.  And even if one child likes a certain one there are no promises that the next child will like the same one.  So I thought I'd do a post about sippys (is that better??) that I've tried and what I've learned!  Here goes:

So here is my abundance of sippy cups.  I have multiplies obviously but here is each individual one.  Since pulling them out I've decided to do a little spring cleaning. : )

So first up is Munchkin brand.  *From left to right first we have the lovely Backyardigan sippy (one of Bella's favorite shows).  This sippy has a lid that is suppose to encourage them in the next step of using a regular cup, see how the lid is shaped like a cup but you still have the convienence of a sippy.  I have enjoyed this sippy.  My only complaint is the design has finally begun to chip (but it is one I've also had the longest).  It doesn't leak and the stopper has never fallen out. *Next we have the Dora straw sippy.  I got these sippys because Bella like the straw aspect and Dora of course.  Also due to her speech delay her therapist said she needed to use straws (something to do with her lip placement with a straw has a more developed formation than using a traditional sippy) or a regular cup for drinking.  These have probably been my least favorite.  They leak like crazy, the design is completed chipped, and there are so many cracks and crevaces for milk or juice to get stuck and moldy in. *Lastly this other Dora sippy.  So far I love it!  It doesn't leak, easy to drink from, no design chipping, and stopper stays in.

This is a Nuk sippy.  This one is nice because it is so nice and compact.  This is a beginner sippy because the nipple is very soft and bottle like. Although not often, I have had some leakage if it is left lying down and then pushed on but like I've said its very minimal.
Next I have some Gerber sippys.  I have to say, although some down sides these have probably been my favorite, next to Playtex.  *First the ones to the left and in back.  I used these for Bella to transition out off of bottles.  The nipple is very soft and bottle like, I liked the measurement levels on the side, and it flowed much like a bottle.  Now with Brynn is wasn't so great.  If you have a child that may be a little bit tougher on a sippy DON'T use these.  The stoppers are terrible at staying in!  Brynn would knock it out all the time and end up dumping it all over herself.  *The other Gerber sippys I have loved.  They are nice and small around so small grips can get around them, the one in the front is also curved to encourage tipping for better drinking, and the stoppers stay much better in these.  And I have had no leaking issues with these.

Next we have a modgepodge of sippy cups.  *On the left we have Playtex.  I have to say Playtex sippy cups have always served me well.  This one is insulated which is nice for milk.  Stoppers NEVER come out and they never leak.  *Back right I have the princess cup (I forget who makes it) which so far I like, Bella of course LOVES it and it doesn't have a separate stopper you have to worry about, its built in.  I've had a little bit of leakage if I over fill it but not very much.  *Then the yellow straw one (also don't know who makes it, found it at Walmart) I like.  Its compact, nice to use before they figure out the whole tipping their head back to drink thing, but like the other straw one its hard to keep clean, leaks, and lots of parts.  *Lastly the one in the front was the very first sippy I bought.  It's Advent and those were the bottles I had started with (ended up using Dr. Brown though).  Its nice and small and the nipple is soft like a bottle but I found it hard to suck the liquid out.  So I started giving it to Bella with out the stopper, which "they" recommend until they get the idea of sipping from a sippy anyway, but then not spill proof of course.

So bottom line....  I have found Gerber and Playtex to make the best sippy cups. They both have these small ones too that have softer nipples that I LOVE but didn't take pictures of because the girls keep them in their beds!  Hope this helped a little!

It isn't all bunnies and colorful eggs....

The hubs, being a MK (missionary kid) (which if I am being honest I technically am too but that's another post, I digress) grew up in a conservative home.  Where our holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, etc. are about the true meaning of that holiday.  That means No trick-o-treating, No Santa, No Easter Bunny.  Now don't misunderstand I completely and wholeheartedly support and agree with that. Although I also grew up in a conservative home my parents weren't this way with us.  We got dressed up and trick-o-treated (although we were not allowed to go to haunted house and anything with witches or ghosts, I think we attempted the awful Santa pictures, and we always had an Easter egg hunt.  Since we've had children of our own this has been a source of arguments discussion in our home.  I always felt like as long as they knew the true meaning of the holiday and why we truly celebrate it what's the harm?  But lately as I've gotten over more stubbornness grown wiser I'm not sure if I believe that.  When I asked Bella why we celebrate Easter the other day she said, "Eggs!"  That really bothered me.  I think she's a little young to know the full meaning of Easter but I certainly don't want her thinking its just about eggs.  Unfortunately all you see on TV or out in the stores are colorful eggs and bunnies so all kids know is that.  And that is why its our job, duty, priority to teach them that its more than that.  So I think right now our plan will be to let the girls enjoy some of the silly holiday traditions as long as we are constantly telling her why we really celebrate these special holidays.  One of the many bloggers I read was feeling the same way and wrote this.  

What are your thoughts?

Here are a couple of things we've been using to teach Bella about Easter.

These are great and will be super valuable as she gets older.  Right now she just enjoys finding the appropriate color and then we tell her briefly and edited what it symbolizes in the Easter Story.

We've also been reading this to her each night.  A much lighter and simplistic way to tell the Easter story.

Anything fun that you use?

Now I know my ABCs.....

So Bella turned three at the end of February and ever since Christmas she has been able to almost spell her name for me (she occasionally leaves out the E) and point out B's when she sees them, so I thought it would be a good time to teach her the alphabet.  Although having a friend tell me her son has known his alphabet since he was two also was a good motivator.  I know, I know never compare, right.  Oh you know we all do it!  

Well thats not the main reason for me wanting to do this.  I'd also, as a former elementary, like to feel like I'm bestowing some knowledge on to my towheaded princess besides how to push a dolly in the stroller, how to roll snakes out of playdoh, and put together a pink princess puzzle (although all very important as well!).  And so the "lessons" began.  I don't really have a set schedule or plan for my lessons, they're more impromptu. Whenever the situation arrives I go with it. 

Due to Bella's speech delay, although she loves music and singing, it doesn't come easy for her.  One thing that is very hard for Bella is when she's required to speak quickly, so having to say long sentences or singing lyrics to a song is difficult for her.  I know a lot of kids her age can at least sing the alphabet but Bella does not.  We'll sing it and she can get the letters that you pause on (sing it and you'll know what I mean) but can't sing the whole thing.  Poor thing doesn't even know twinkle twinkle or other common nursery songs.  But we're working on them and we are SO proud of the progress she has made in the last year.  So that being said I've had to be more creative than just singing the alphabet with her and here are some of things I've been doing:

I found these post-it letters at Walmart.  Bella enjoys looking at the bright colors and sticking them on things and coloring on them, all the while I sit near by pointing out what letter it is or asking her what letter it is.

This was a GREAT find.  Once again at Walmart, I found this Disney Princess (which made her happy) Alphabet book for only $3(which made me happy)!  The great thing is it came with a CD and on the CD they sing the alphabet song and then read the princess themed alphabet book out loud.  Bella loves the thrill of having someone else reading the story and loves all the princess correlations obviously! Its also great to take on the road as well to keep the kiddos occupied, and educated, in the car!

Back when I was teaching I had used my scholastic points to purchase these.  This is how I first introduce Bella to the letter.  She loves the fact its a balloon and I feel like since she has the opportunity to have a tactile experience with the letter is really allows for her to "experience" the letter and in returns helps her to remember it.  That could be totally bogus but she loves it and its something we've tried!

And this we just did tonight!  Found them in the freezer isle at Jewel.  How fun are they!?

Look her potatoes say Bella!

So any other fun ideas on how to teach the alphabet?!

P.S. so far we've worked on A, B, C, D, and E.  She also knows O, M, and S for some reason. : )

Works for Me Wednesday!

Member my post a few back about how I love unconventional toys? (if you missed it just click here)  Kids always love the things that were never meant to be toys.  Well I've got more to add.  Here are couple things that, strangely enough, the girls enjoy.

First thing is..... mini bottles!  

What you say?  For some reason Brynn really enjoys carrying around mini shampoo bottles or sample size lotion bottles.  You know the ones you'd find in a hotel.  Thankfully her daddy sells anything found in a hotel, including.......bottles!  She will literally just walk around carrying her bottles (think some of the joy is the thrill of finally being able to really walk).  I think she enjoys these bottles because her precious hands can close easily around them.  I believe she also enjoys how it feels on her teething little gums!  Now since Brynn enjoys these bottles Bella also insists on having bottles of her own.  We'll just find these bottles around the house and the two of them will run around playing with them for quite some time!  WARNING: make sure they are tightly closed!

The second unconventional toy is..............music cards!

You know the hallmark cards you open and then it plays a song for you.  The girls LOVES these. (Thanks to Mormor Domier for supplying us with them!)  They both enjoy music and I think the novelty of it being in a card and them being able to make it go on their own is very exciting to them.  Bella's favorite thing is to stick it in the middle of the room and run and dance circles around.  I have no idea. : )  Brynn likes to sit and open and close it, open and close it, while rocking in a rhythmic fashion.  It also helps if the card's theme excites them as you know the "Pink Princess" one did!

Also good for encouraging letter recognition and eventually reading!

Some other ideas that the girls enjoy are bags or purses just filled with trinkets.  Bella LOVES her accessories as you know, so she enjoys having a purse with things inside  (play phone, pretend keys, we have a lot of those barbie or princess kits with little makeup things and stuff that she loves).  She'll carry around and play with things inside.  Brynn also enjoys just going through the bag or purse and just inspecting the treasures inside.

Another "toy" I like to offer up in a crunch is brushing their teeth.  For some reason both girls have always loved to brush their teeth.  I know good thing, right?  Bella would see us do it and always wanted to do it to.  So I allow her to brush herself and then we finish with mommy or daddy brushing.  So if I'm trying to get ready or something and they're getting antsy or bored I just say, "Let's brush our teeth!"  I stick Brynn in the excersaucer so she doesn't walk around with it in her mouth (I think she enjoys it because it feels good on her gums) and Bella will just stand in the bathroom watching herself in the mirror!

So those are just a couple of things that have worked for me!  Do you have any unconventional toys you'd like to share!?

Be sure to check out the originator of Works for Me Wednesday here!

How far we've come...

So I haven't felt right or led to write lately.  With sweet baby Stellan so sick, I just felt wrong about writing my senseless posts.  I really just want word to spread and the number of people praying to grow!  So keep praying!

Well finally today (actually two days ago now, took me awhile, to finally finish!) I felt like writing again for all my 3 wonderful readers out there!  Today I had the pleasure of visiting with a dear friend from high school (which to me feels like yesterday not, oh um 10 years ago).  She just had her second baby.  She now is the proud mother of two beautiful girls.  Rebecca Joy, better known as Becca, is going to be two years old shortly and Abigail Grace was born on March 16th.  Seeing my friend Brittney with her two girls brought back so many feelings and memories for me.

First of all, its so funny to me to see Brittney and me as mothers!  It was just yesterday ten years ago we were drowning in high school drama, hanging out at parties together as the only non-drinkers, and that we went to Florida for spring break.  I know what you're thinking, wow Florida huh?!  Oh no, we didn't go to that Florida.  Nope. While all our other friends were having an unruly nice time in Daytona, we went to the Florida where my grandparents lived, cost us nothing to stay at, and had an unruly nice time hanging out at the pool, besides getting seriously sun burned!  And now here we are, each with two sweet baby girls.  Although its funny to see us as mothers its definitely not surprising.  I think if you were to ask anyone from high school they'd tell you they knew we'd be mommies pretty quickly!

The other thing I found myself feeling was reminiscent of the time when I went from one baby to two.  In my opinion, it was a much harder transition for me than having my first.  At least for me.  Bella was 10 days shy of her 2nd birthday when Brynn was born.  Although she was almost 2 I really feel like her speech delay, although it didn't effect her cognitive ability, effected her ability to communicate with us as maybe other two years olds could have.  I remember very vividly times where Bella would get hurt or just want to be held and I would helplessly look at her, while having a child latched on to my body, and just feeling an ache in my heart because I couldn't scoop her up.  Or her begging me to play but I had to get Brynn's diaper changed.  With each excuse my anxiety, that Bella would be forever scarred,  grew.  When I would have to say I couldn't hold her right now I thought for sure she would forever resent her sister, or me, or both.  I would try to tell her to come sit next to me or wrap my legs around her, but you know what?  When you're sick or just got a booboo that just won't do!  I think that was the absolutely hardest thing for me, more than around the clock feedings, more than lack of sleep, was the heartache I would feel when Bella wanted me and I just couldn't be there the way she wanted.  Does she resent me or her sister for that lack of hugs or holdings? No.  She's getting along just fine. : )  

Nursing too also took a toll.  In the beginning nursing a newborn can take a good 10 years 45 minutes from beginning to finish.  And when you've got a toddler running about, that's tough.  Luckily, Bella was not one to get into mischief so before I would sit to nurse I would turn on the answer to all prayers, Dora, or else grab a book I knew she enjoyed and we spend special one and one time (minus child attached to me).  

I think as new mommies we can become overcome with mommy guilt.  Am I spending enough time with her, am I disciplining right, am I feeding her the right foods, should I not vaccinate, when can we start peanut butter, is that plastic bottle ok to use?  Oh my goodness!  You can make yourself sick with worry about all there is that could be dangerous or may not be the right thing to do for your child.  You know what I've learned, well at least, think?  I know, wise one here, right?  No not really.  Just take it from someone who use to spend nights worrying for hours some times before she could fall asleep.  As mommies we all have mothers' intuition.  I know you've probably heard it before but honestly its there, and God is behind it.  When you're wondering what to do or what action to take, take a minute to pray about it and do what you feel is right for your child.  You can drive yourself mad worrying about all the dangers there are out there and really that's no way to live and its not fair for your child.  You do what your heart, God, is telling you to do and stay strong in your decision.  You know what's right for your child and God will take care of the rest!

Anyway, I've gotten completely off topic but that's what happens when you're not really a writer you try to post at 10:30 at night.  Well it was a real treat to see Brittney and her precious baby girls (we'll be taking pictures of them this Sunday, perhaps I'll post a couple for you to see!).  It was fun and brought back such precious memories of my own.  I've heard through other friends that, although no transition is easy, the transition from two to three kids is easier since the two older kids have each other and such.  Here's hoping! (no that is not announcement)

On that note time for bed!  Keep praying! 

P.S. By the way do you like my fancy strikethrough technique! I learned it from my fellow blogger, MckMama!

Something my momma taught me...

You may not know this but a HUGE mess .....

....comes before success (in organizing that is, quess that could work for potty training too... : ))!

Transition between sizes is quite the undertaking.  My life is so exciting. : )

Works for Me Wednesday!

So I got this idea from this lovely blogger, although I don't think she does it anymore, but every Wednesday she would post some great idea that worked for her.  I would like to share one of my ideas.

This precious beauty...

And this cutie pie...

don't usually enjoy veggies.  I know shocker.  So I have tried many creative ways of trying to get them to eat it: mixing it up in other foods on the plate-both of them literally will pick through it and eat everything put the greenery on their plate, I've tried pureeing it and mixing it in whatever we're serving, such as spaghetti sauce- I will admit this does work but there are flaws in this method, first of all it only works if what you're serving has some kind of sauce to mix it in, a serving of chicken that has mysteriously become green, ain't gonna fly.  The other problem is I was reading some where although this is a good method it doesn't really teach children to eat/enjoy vegetables, which is a good point.  So after all my failed attempts I may have discovered away.  

My answer: discover fun things, you know they'll love, for them to dip them in or to be sprinkled on top.  Although it may add a little fat to the meal, the nutrients they are getting from eating their vegetables far out weigh what little fat you may be adding (plus who doesn't love a little chub on their babies!), unless of course your smothering them in chocolate syrup or sprinkling them with pure sugar. : )

Some of my creations:

I have added parmesan cheese or shredded mozzarella to green beans.  I have also allowed Bella to dip her green beans in Ranch. (not pictured)  I know sounds disgusting to me too but she loves ranch and it gets me a clean plate!

And look all gone!

I rolled cooked carrots in seasoned bread crumbs.  

And again ALL gone!

Bella will eventually eat her vegetables since we force her but Brynn is still too young to be forced and will hardly ever touch her vegetables except peas occasionally.  I did this to her carrots the other night and it was the first thing she ate and she ate it all.  I was shocked and so proud of myself (oh and her too)!

Hey and when all else fails, I am NOT above bribery.  There's nothing this girl won't eat if a precious roll is at stake!

What works for you!?

When you've got nothing else....

What can you do when you're trying to make dinner, you've got two babies that are locked in the kitchen with you so the littlest baby doesn't head straight for the stairs, and you're trying your hardest to get dinner on the table????

My suggestion: Work with what you've got!!

So this was the scene in my home a couple of nights ago. Bella wanted to NOT be trapped in the kitchen anymore (but I needed her to try to help entertain Brynn) and Brynn was yanking at my legs to be held. UGG, right?! I didn't have any toys readily available to me in the kitchen at the time so I noticed an empty Carnation Breakfast box on the counter, so I gave it to Brynn hoping that it would at least distract her with the bizarreness of it long enough to, perhaps, stir the pot that is bubbling over. To my surprise (although when I think back now I shouldn't have been too surprise, if sis has it she wants it too) Bella asked for one too! So I empty a half sleeve of Ritz crackers and handed her that box. Although at first they both wondered what I wanted them to do with these boxes, it didn't take Bella that long to find the joy in the simplicity of an empty box! So Brynn followed suit.

This just proves you don't need to go all out to entertain their little minds, something as simple as a box can bring excitement so you can.... not burn dinner!

Here are my pictures from our box extravaganza:

Here I had just handed them the boxes and they're wondering what in the world they were suppose to do with them....



Soon enough Bella was having a ball with her box! (Yes, I am aware Bella is wearing a bathing suit over her t-shirt. Grandma D. had sent Bella a princess bathing suit that day and she wanted it on immediately!)



Soon enough Brynnie was joining in on the fun with her sister!