Jedi In Training

While doing a little research and planning our trip to Disneyland, I found this fun activity, Jedi Training Academy.  KJ would love this.  Let me introduce to you the "hi-ya."

 

 

 

It is a favorite activity in our house, playing hi-ya.  Pretty much every evening I hear "wanna play hi-ya?"  The answer is always yes, with little reminders to just hit sticks (or golf clubs).   He is a jedi in training and he doesn't even know it.

 

 

 

Let me also introduce the "star hi-ya."  Please do not confuse this with a fairy princess wand, it is indeed the star hi-ya.  The most coveted of them all.

 

 

Disney Bags

This holiday season, we have decided to make a trip to Disneyland.  Another family with little ones will be joining us in the fun.  We are super excited to go and when I saw this post from MADE, I had an idea.  Bags for the kiddos to tote around the park.  Perfect for all the little things they will collect while we are there.  So, here is my attempt.

I bought canvas bags and decorated them and I think they turned out pretty cute.

They have handles and then I put straps on the back so they can use them as backpacks too.

I had fun making them!  Disneyland, we are ready for ya!  And thanks Dana at MADE for the inspiration.

Thanks and Giving

This time of year most of all, I am thankful for the life I have.  I lack for nothing.  I have healthy food for my children, a roof over our heads, generous and loving family and friends and much more.  Teaching this to a three year old is not easy, but as time goes on I hope both boys know how much we can be thankful for.

This time of year also reminds me of how many people are not as fortunate.  As a mom, I can't help but think of children who don't have enough to eat or clean water to drink.  Children without food and water for their little bellies is something I have a hard time with.  It is painful to think about and I wish I could do more.  I donate to my local food bank and to an international organization call Heifer Project International.  A friend turned me onto this organization a few years ago (thanks Britt) and I like the idea of helping families become self reliant with animals. 

So, this Thanksgiving, I am giving thanks and hoping to make a difference for someone else out there.  I hope you give back a little too.

Happy Almost Thanksgiving to you and yours!  Smooch them lots and give bundles of hugs!

photos via swoonstudios.com and apartmenttherapy.com

Oxbow Market

We had a rainy weekend last weekend, so we decided to head over to Napa and check out the Oxbow Public Market.  Let me just say that this is not necessarily a kid place, but we had fun.  We stayed inside for the most part, but got to check out the cool restaurant/lounge areas and there was an array of food to choose from.  Conn went for the oysters at Hog Island Oyster Company.  While he was doing that, the boys enjoyed some yummy ice cream from Three Twins.

And mommy had a cupcake from Kara's Cupcakes.  Seriously, I couldn't pass them by.  Yum!  But shh, don't tell anyone, I'm supposed to be watching what I am eating these days.  Oh well, it was so worth it!  Thanks for picking out the yummiest one boys!

So, we started with dessert, obviously, and ended with dinner at Gott's Roadside.  Sometimes you just have to do dessert first.  Life is uncertain.  Ha!

The boys were getting a little tired by then, so games on the phone were a lifesaver.

Fun was had by all and we went home happy!  Thanks Oxbow!

The Time Change

Before I had kids the time change in the fall meant an extra hour of sleep.  Now, it doesn't quite mean the same thing.  The boys are up early, so no change there.  Extra sleep, um...nope.  But the main thing I dislike is not being able to see their cute faces on our car drive home.

If I haven't mentioned it before, the boys and I commute to and from school for them and work for me.  We have great fun in the car most days.  Eating leftover lunch meat, thanks for the visual KJ.

But with the time change, their laughs are all I can hear coming from the back seat.  I would gladly give up that hour of sleep for another hour of daylight in the evening.

Three cheers for Spring forward!!!  It can't get here soon enough.

Backyard Camping

The weather has been treating us pretty nicely up until a little cold spell the last two days.   In fact last weekend we were wearing shorts.  I don't know if it is the end of nice weather, but this will probably be a bucket list item for next year.

I would love to get out the tents and set them up in the backyard.  Sitting by a campfire, marshmallow roasting and hanging in the backyard all night sounds like a fun time.

The boys know camping, but I look forward to no packing, just playing!  Maybe in the Spring.

Maybe Next Year

There was an article on the front page of the Sonoma Index Tribune this week mentioning that the Garden Park held a month long fall festival every Saturday in October.  Hello, where have I been and why did I not know this till now?

Definitely on the bucket list for October 2012.  I live for fall festivals and this one is a month long, sweet!

I just can't get enough of pumpkins...and tiny feet for that matter.

Well it is only November.  Plenty of time left for pumpkins!

A Very Halloween Weekend

Is it bad when your husband comments that there hasn't been a blog post in a while?

Well, so sorry, we have been busy with Halloween festivities.

Parties with friends...

Carving lots of pumpkins...

And trick or treating of course.

Gnomeo and Benny with the big hat (at times) were a hit with the boys!

Happy Belated Halloween!