Mama Monday: Send me your best Disney tips!

Guys. GUYS! This is big. My baby brother is getting MARRIED!!!

Aren't they the stinking cutest? And they have the most adorable story. These kids have literally known each other their whole lives. Our mothers were college roommates and best friends. We have been visiting J's family and doing things with them for years and years. And then last year, these two decided to start dating! And now they are getting married. And we couldn't be more thrilled. Not only is she darling, sweet, and smart, but she and my brother are just so well matched. They balance each other very well and I know they will be equal partners in all things.

They have chosen to be married in the San Diego temple in August and we are stoked to be making another trip out there!

Since we will be in SoCal again, it seems like a crime to not take Em to Disneyland again. We feel like it's the perfect time - at 2.5, she is old enough that she's really into Disney (especially Mickey Mouse. We watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse every day!), but still young enough that her park entrance is free :)

I'm trying to do a better job planning our trip this time. Last year, we made the decision to go to Disney just a few days before and we kinda winged it. We didn't see any parades or shows or meet any characters or see fireworks or anything. We drove up and back to San Diego in the same day, making for a looooooong day for Miss Em.

I've been trying to get started, but I'm a little overwhelmed, so I'm hoping you Disney fans out there can help me out. Here's what I'm looking for:

• Where should we stay? We were debating one of the three Disney resorts, specifically Paradise Pier, just for the whole Disney experience and for the proximity to the park. But it is so.dang.expensive. I have heard good things about Candy Cane Inn across the street, but don't know if we will be missing out on anything by staying off site. Anyone that can weigh in on this?
• Character dining. Has anyone does this? Which one do you recommend?
• What are your favorite places to eat in the park?
• What are your favorite rides for toddlers? (nothing scary!)
• What is your non-ride favorite thing to do at Disney?

Thanks for the advice, mamas! I appreciate the planning help.

Tot School: Letter I and Numbers

I am so far behind posting this that it's almost my turn to teach tot school again! This was over a month ago, but better late than never, right?

This time I taught Letter I and Numbers. I learned a lot about our kiddos last time and how they learn and felt like this lesson went a lot more smoothly. I also tried a few new things that we loved, and a few that we didn't. Here's our lesson plan - I hope it can help you!

Singing Time

• No More Monkeys Jumping on The Bed - what kid doesn't love this song? It was also a fun activity for getting the wiggles out. I would have them hold up their fingers for each number and shout the number and they got really excited about it.

Story Time

• Ten Apples Up on Top - This was their favorite book! I think it helped that we read it during snack time, but we ended up reading it a couple times. It's a short, easy counting book. And I made flannel characters and felt apples and they got to act out the story. 

Download the felt pattern here

• Chicka Chicka 123 - It was a cute book and they enjoyed chanting along! I think we could have done just the chanting part again if there would have been time. If you like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, this is a great companion to add to your library.
• Very Hungry Caterpillar - Another fun counting book. We read through this one and then did Do-A-Dot marker caterpillars. I did a separate post about Do-A-Dots back here because the kiddos loved them so very much. They are awesome!

Download the Do-A-Dot cards here

Letter I Activities/Crafts

• Flannel board words that start with I - who knew it was so hard to come up with words that start with I? I used ice cream, iguana, igloo, island, insect, indian, and iron man. I got my images from Clipart Panda but I'm not sure they are truly "copyright free" so I'm not going to share my collection. I suggest using that site though because it's easy to search for what you're looking for, just to use for your own personal use.
• Decorating Ice Cream cones - I learned last time that the kiddos really like glue! We also learned that we put the dots and let them put stuff ON the dots instead of just giving them the bottle. I cut cones, scoops, cherries, and "sprinkles" out of colored construction paper and they got to glue together their ice cream cones. This one was really popular.

Download ice cream patterns here

Number Activities/Crafts

• Flannel board counting scoops of ice cream - This was a fun and easy one! We just put a cone out and then they could stack scoops and we counted how many. 

Because laying down and sticking out your tongue makes it easier.

• Apples On Top playdoh mats - They were supposed to roll playdoh into little "apples" and stack them on the characters heads. This one didn't work very well. They all just kind of played with the playdoh. Maybe for older kiddos? Also, laminate these cards. I didn't (ran out of time) and it made them not-so-reusable.

  

  Download Apples on Top playdoh mats

• Pom Poms counting bowls - This one was also not a success. It was just paper bowls with a number and that many black dots. They were supposed to put that many poms into each bowl. Instead they just kind of poured poms from bowl to bowl. Maybe an activity for older kids.
  

Next up, Letter O and Opposites! Stay tuned.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Woo-hoo, what a fun outing!

We have been to Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls twice before, for the fun pumpkin patch and fest they have every fall, but we have never been in the spring!

It's a bit of a drive - a little over an hour - so I was kind of nervous about that. Plus the forecast was super rainy. Then we hit a bad wreck and came to a dead stop for quite some time. We almost turned around.

But despite the inauspicious start, it was a great trip and I'm so glad we went.

Oh, the Berry Bounce. This is litereally Em's idea of heaven. It was just her and her buddy L on it so they got to stay as long as their little hearts desired until they both came off saying "I tie-yowd."

These two melt my heart.

I forgot my camera and only had my crappy phone pics, but this one made me laugh too much to not share.

And this one. A split second before she fell down.

Then off to pick berries. I've gone blueberry picking for many years so I thought it'd be similar, but it was quite different. The bushes are very low to the ground so you have to crouch. And the good berries are heavy, thus dragging the plant to the ground, where the berries sit and get mushy and moldy on one side. It was much easier to find mushy berries than good ones. But we found some!

L was eating faster than his mama could pick! That kid cracks me up.

Em was only mildly interested. It didn't help that a few feet away there were a ton of goats and horses and barnyard animals. She was so fascinated by those.

She kept running away to look at the goats and I'd have to chase her down. If you haven't seen in her a while, that kid is FAST.

Oh, the goats. Why is she so fascinated by them? Also, we are in a major climbing phase and she would legit get to the top of this fence and start swinging a leg over. I am not loving this.

Despite her lack of interest, we still got about five pounds of yummy strawberries. I was surprised how quickly they were going bad, so we turned them into freezer jam. Never made that before! A yummy way to use up all those fresh berries.

If you haven't been out to Sweet Berry Farms for strawberry picking, I recommend it!

New favorite pic ever. Thanks, Liz!

If you go:

• good walking shoes, preferably old ones. It can get pretty muddy, and you will definitely get berry juice all over them.
• TAKE CASH!! I didn't. Oops. The Berry Bounce was $2.50 and then the strawberries (you pay for the box) were, I think, $2.50 per pound. They also have a little barrel train and refreshments. So cash is a must.
• bring a LOT of water. And a snack or lunch! They have great picnic tables to take a break at and eat. 
  
• bring sunscreen/long sleeves/hats. Most of the fields are way out in the sun and even though it wasn't a super hot day, it gets warm pretty quickly in the fields.
• mamas, I recommend a stroller! Kiddos need a break and you need a place to stash all that stuff I just told you to bring.
• Check Sweet Berry Farms Facebook page before you go to make sure they are open and get a feel for the day's weather.

Mama Monday: Do-A-Dot Review (and printables!)

Last week was my turn to teach Tot School again and I think it went much more smoothly than the time before. But I'll post more on that next week, when I've had a chance to pull together a better resource list.

But as a little preview I wanted to give a little review of Do-A-Dot markers. I had heard a lot about these from various mommy blogs and wanted to give them a try. They were hard to find! You can get them off Amazon (easiest) for about $15, or you can get them from Michaels and use a 40% off coupon. That's for a pack of six.

Bottom line? These were a TOTAL HIT! I think coloring can be a little hard for kiddos this age to stay in the lines. But the dot markers were easy for them to get exactly in the right spot and I could see expressions of accomplishment and satisfaction on their cute little faces. Mama liked it because it promotes great fine motor skills, wasn't super messy, and encouraged quiet, focused attention.

I think we'll be doing a lot more dot marker time in the future. And just for funsies, I made a couple dot marker coloring pages if you want to try out. Enjoy!

A, B, and C dot pages (download)

PIn-tested recipes: Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa and Oatmeal Cups

Remember a few months ago when we did some toddler freezer cooking? I'm overdue for a little update.

Last time, three moms made a total of six recipes to freeze. Em went through all three breakfast items quickly. She did pretty well with the rice and bean cups, though we still have a few of those left. She didn't care for the two recipes I picked (of course), the corn dog muffins and the chicken patties. Oh well, live and learn, right?

Our freezer stock is running low so it was time to get cookin' again. Both of these recipes came from Pinterest and I have actually made both before, so I know Em loves them. I highly recommend these if you're looking for some grab and go toddler eats to keep in the freezer.

Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Bites
From Alida's Kitchen

Ingredients
1.5 cups cooked quinoa
2 eggs
2 cups broccoli, coarsely chopped
1 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, pressed
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a regular-size muffin tin with cooking spray or insert paper liners.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Fill each muffin cup to the top. Bake for 30 minutes or until edges turn golden brown. Allow to cool before wrapping individually in cling wrap, bagging, and throwing in the freezer.

Oatmeal Raisin Cups
From The Wholesome Dish

Ingredients
2 eggs
1/4 cup coconut oil (or vegetable or canola)
1 scant cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. cinnamon
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup raisins

Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin liners (*note: I found that foil ones resulted in soggy bottoms).

In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, oil, and sugar. Add applesauce, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. Add oats, baking powder, and mix-ins and stir well to coat.

Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 30 minutes, rotating pan 180 degrees halfway through. Allow to cool before wrapping individually in cling wrap, bagging, and throwing in the freezer.

She "marked" about three of these as "hers." I guess she likes 'em.

So far I have found that freezer breakfasts work great, but what I really need help with is lunch/dinner grab and go things. Sometimes I just don't have time to make a whole meal! That's when the cheddar quinoa  bites are great, but that's the only good recipe I have in my arsenal. Hit me up, what recipes do you have that make great freezer lunches/dinners??

In The Trenches

Mama Brain is real, folks. It started when I was pregnant and I (foolishly) thought I'd regain a functioning brain when Punkito popped out. Nope. That placenta? Made of 100% mama brain cells. So I often find myself trying to say something and stopping mid-sentence to look at Hans, scrunch my face, and ask "Word?" until we figure out which one I'm grasping for.

Why am I telling you this. Right. Get to the point, Erika. I've had a blog post itching in my brain for a while now. But I don't know how to do it. Or what it really is, for that matter. Just some thoughts I need to get out. For myself, if nothing else.

I love being a mom. It's the best thing I've ever done and I didn't know I could love anything so much. But I get a little ruffled when I hear people saying "Enjoy every minute of it, it goes so fast!"

Enjoy every minute? Seriously? Who enjoys sharing the bathroom with a toddler poking you while you try to do your business before they start playing with the plunger? Who enjoys being unable to identify the blob on your shirt as dried food, snot (not your own), or goodness knows what else? 

I'll just say it. Some days being a mom is really, really, hard. Heck, sometimes it downright sucks. Unfortunately, I feel like we have had a lot of those days lately.

What do you see in this photo? How sweet. My baby is sleeping in my arms. What you don't see is that it took her almost four hours to fall asleep. Or that there was screaming, crying, hitting, and frustration to get to this state. Or that she only slept for 30 minutes. Or that we do this twice a day. Every day. Almost without fail. And have for several months now. My child refuses to go to sleep. She is never tired. She never falls asleep anywhere, nor can she fall asleep on her own. We have tried pretty much every trick in the book (many books!), talked to our doctor, our friends, searched the internet. It's bad, guys. I think we were getting more sleep when she was a newborn. And it seems to get worse every day.

Another rare glimpse. Also, not long. But I had to document that it actually happened.

I'm not looking for pity. Or advice. Or to complain. I don't know why, really, I am putting this out there for people to pick apart or judge or whatever you may take from it. But I know that a friend recently saw a photo I posted on Instagram and remarked, "Wow, you guys do everything! And you're always having so much fun." And that raised a flag for me.

We have a lot of fun. We do. Our lives are full and wonderful. But that doesn't mean we don't have our challenges. And I wouldn't want anyone to look at what I post on Instagram or write on my blog and think that our lives are perfect and that it's nothing but smiles over here.

Still in pajamas, with my glasses, and our hair
makes us look homeless, but I live for these cuddles.

We are trying. We are in the trenches, trying to get through each day. We fight the fights and while we may not enjoy every moment, we try to enjoy as many as we can. For every tear at bedtime, there are a hundred sweet little baby kisses on my cheeks and lips and eyes throughout the day. For every pea and carrot thrown on the floor, there are sweet cuddles while we read book after book together. For every time she swats at me because she's angry, there are many times where she hears me stub my toe or snag my nail and say "ouch!" and she pokes her head around the corner to ask "Mama, o-tay?"

I'm working on perspective. A lot. That's another battle in my trench. Trying to focus on the hundreds of sweet, wonderful moments each day instead of the bigger, hard moments. It's hard and I'm not particularly good at it. But I'm trying.

I'm working on pushing through, even when I feel like I'm in a fog. I put on the smile, I go to the play dates, heck, I even put on real clothes (once in a while, I swear it happens) and go out in public. I'm trying.

So please be kind. Not just to me, but to all moms who are fighting these daily battles in the trenches. To all the mamas who sometimes feel like they are not people anymore, just moms. To all the mamas who didn't accomplish anything today except keeping themselves and their kids alive, and hopefully, fed. We may not be enjoying every moment, but we are trying. We keep trying because some day, we won't be in this place anymore. We will sleep through the night and shower every day and won't find random spots of peanut butter on our necks. I'm sure I'll miss it. But it's hard to think of that now, when it's so hard. But I keep trying. Because it's also, strangely, wonderful. And absolutely worth it.

But seriously... the kissy face helps a lot.