Sunday Entertainment Ideas

With the summer in full force, one would think that the kids would be so occupied with swimming and other outdoor activities that there would be virtually no need for mom to get creative with entertainment ideas.

WRONG!

This is exactly the time that we need to be sure we are coming up with fun ideas, so that the kids don't have those moments of,

"I'm bored."

"There's nothing to do."

So, I thought it might be fun to give some of my favorite ideas for keeping the kids busy, particularly on those rainy summer days, and ideas that even the pickiest of teenagers will still find entertaining & fun.

1. Tie-dyeing: I have found that even when all else fails, this is one of the favorites in my house and my kids are happy to tie-dye ANYTHING and everything, esp. pillowcases.

It is really super easy to do and so easy to just keep the supplies on hand for those occasions you need something quick.

2. Baking cookies: Nothing better than taking the time in the kitchen together to make something and then actually get to eat it as well. YUM! My kids LOVE to make all sorts of cookies and we always have the supplies on hand. As long as you have your basics & flour, sugar, butter & eggs, you are always good to go :)

3. Making things from home-made clay: Kids love to make things from clay and what is more fun than actually making the clay first? My kids LOVE to make their own clay: create, bake and paint their items.

These are just a few of our favorite ideas.

Each week, I will try to share some of the fun things the kids and I do together :)

Playing along with Sunday Entertainment Ideas

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Potty Training time...again

You would think that after doing this three other times I would be a pro at the dreaded potty training. But see in my defense I was doing one at a time with the other three. And two of them were girls that were so easy I could've done it blind folded! With Connor and Colton, I have been "introducing" them to the idea of the potty. Bought a nifty little potty (for $1 at the 99 cent store! and yes it's a real potty), started letting them sit on it, put them in under-roos, you know all the normal do's of potty training. Now as they get closer to 3 I want to really get into this. So I thought I would share with you some of the tips I have been getting from other moms of twins or more and some things I have figured out through trial and error.

Watch and listen for clues that your little one is ready to start on the road to potty training! Things like sleeping through nap without wetting, pulling at the diaper when they pee, verbally trying to tell you that they have peed or pooped. Your little one or ones are your best gauge to when to start potty training.

Always have a treat for doing a good job going potty. Now please don't think I am comparing my kids or yours to dogs, I am just throwing this out there. When you train an animal...how do you get it to do what you want? You reward it with a treat for following through. With potty training you can implement the same thing. When they see that they will get a sticker or piece of candy like an M&M, our personal favorite, the little one will start to go just to get the treat!

Make it fun! That is right, make it fun. Make up your own potty song, potty dance, or whatever. Just make it fun! We have a silly song that ends with a high five for a job well done. And of course you know I am gonna share it! LOL

"Connor went potty! Connor went potty!

Connor went pee-pee in the potty!

YAY!"

Yes, these little round circles that we all know and love are key to training the stander-uppers. I have always started out with sitting down, I think that once they get the idea of going then you start on standing, but either way, you want the little dude to ring the where he is aiming. Put a cheerio in the potty and let him try to hit the target! It goes back to making it fun!

Now that you have the best tips I know of for the getting to go, how bout if you have multiples and it is stressful trying to get them both to go. You can tell they are ready, they just don't go. Well, one thing I picked up from "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More" was competition! That is right. Work with one. When the other(s) see the attention and the rewards racking up then they will start also. They will all want the attention that their brother/sister is getting. This is what I am going through with Connor and Colton. Connor is eager to get up in the morn and put his under-roos on. Eager to sit on the potty. Eager for the potty song. Colton, not so much. He likes wearing the under-roos, likes the potty song, but isn't to keen to actually use the potty! So I am going to keep working on my boys and let me know how your adventure in potty land goes!

My New House Rules

1. There is no child in my home named "not me", nor will there ever be, so stop blaming everything on him.

2. When you go to the bathroom, everything should land INSIDE the bowl. If you miss, clean it up.

3. When you are told to put your clothes away, that does not mean take it into your room and throw it into the back of the closet until the next laundry day. (I do not enjoy washing clothes that are clean already)

4. Saying you are finished your dinner by spreading it all around your plate does not count, nor does squishing it underneath your plate or wrapping it in your napkin.

5. Your bed is not made if your pajamas are rolled in a ball under your covers and I find a half eaten sandwich under your pillow.

6. Do not set the DVR to record 84 episodes of Sponge Bob Square Pants without asking permission.

7. While traveling in the car, please keep your hands to yourself, do not ask to go to the bathroom 5 minutes after we have gotten on our way and please, I can not stress this enough, do not tell me you are bored or hungry every five seconds.

8. If you ask permission to do something and I say "no" do not go to your father to see if he will say "yes".

9. There is a reason I call it an outside voice... keep it outside.

10. If your father & I are trying to have time to ourselves, please...pretty please, let us be. We love you, kids, but we need our time too. (this does not mean hide in a corner and giggle because you see us kissing, this means Go.To.Bed)

6 un-important things? Is there such a thing???

This is a first.
Our blog has been tagged by Kim @ Dirty Diaper Laundry

At first, I wasn't exactly sure how to do a post for this one, as this isn't my family blog, but instead, a blog written by a bunch of mamas to many with the intention of sharing all of our best parenting dos and don'ts.

But, after looking at this meme, I thought maybe I could make it work....

The rules:

List six unimportant things that make me happy.

Tag six other bloggers.
Link to who tagged me.

So, the only problem I had with this is, what is unimportant?

The dictionary defines it as: not basic or fundamental, devoid of importance, meaning, or force, having no meaning or direction or purpose

So then, the question begs, what do I, as a mom, consider unimportant?

1. Spending money on myself, rather than my kids.

I will gladly spend the last $20 in my pocket on something non-essential for the kids, before I spend it on something non-essential for myself.2. Having a moment to myself on a Friday evening.

I much prefer spending Friday nites surrounded by my kids, enjoying Family Movie Night.

3. Going out for a cup of coffee.
It is more my preference to have a nice, quiet cup of coffee with my husband in the evening, with the kids all tucked in their beds.4. Staying in a 5 star hotel.
I would so much rather go tent camping with my family.5. Having a gourmet meal.
As long as I am surrounded by my kids & husband, I can be eating hot dogs over the fire and be content :)
6. Eating an entire box of chocolates all by myself.
(ok, who am I kidding? I don't want to share my chocolate with anyone. LOL)

The last 6 people to become followers of this blog, consider yourselves TAGGED :)

6 Words

My best advice.... Savor Every Minute.

Be a Doer, Not a Viewer!

The end of the school year is just around the corner!

If your house is anything like mine, the kids are really starting to get excited and there is an elevated sense of "insanity".

The last thing my kids feel like doing right now is school work and they each let out big "yippees" when they come home from school without any homework. (of course, next year, mine will be home-schooled, but that's another post...)

Anyway, as school comes to an end, after the initial euphoria, we parents sometimes go into a panic.

What the heck can we do with our kids for 3 months that doesn't involve video games and TV shows????

Well, start by....

TURNING THE TV OFF FOR THE SUMMER!

Last year, that is exactly what we did and we have every intention of doing the same again this year. I still allowed us to have Family Movie Night on rainy days and Fridays, but other than that, the TV was off 24/7 and It.Was.Great.

At first, the kids complained, but within the first week, they quickly realized we were having way more fun together as a family and they enjoyed themselves.

So, what are some of the things we did???

Of course, we spent many days swimming in the pool, but we also did some pretty cool things together as a family....

1. Vacation Bible School

2. Picnics together, both inside the house, on rainy days, and outside

3. Hanging out by the fire pit, singing songs and roasting marshmallows

4. Night of beauty for the girls while the boys went out with their dad

5. Fishing & crabbing

6. Exploring local parks (esp. in PA)

7. Ice cream Sundae Party

8. Playing Whose Line Is It Anyway (where the kids act out things that Russ & I assign to them. This is a favorite of the kids. You might want to watch the show to see some ideas. It's an awesome creative outlet!)

9. Karaoke

10. Lots and lots of BBQs with friends and family, where we play outdoor games, have fireworks, & of course enjoy yummy food and great conversation.

And, these are just 10 ideas. There are so many great things that you can do to really enjoy the company of your kids and really build fantastic memories for each of you.

Just remember to have fun and live each summer day to the fullest!

We Have a Winner for the Tuesday Blog Party!

Family Gift basket

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Congratulations Terri!

Thank you to everyone for donating and making the 1st Tuesday Blog Party a huge success!

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