Resurrecting Childhood

I am doing my best recently to make my son get really creative in his play.  I realized that when I turned the TV off and left him to his own devices he was able to create all kinds of things to play with. Usually the most simple things work the best.  Baskets, large cardboard boxes, blankets for forts, and rocks - yes rocks.  Sometimes the TV seems easier... and can be a great tool, but letting them get bored in order to be creative while they are young is sure to help patterns when they are older.

Be careful what you teach

Just Read : Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne

Get on the bandwagon.  It's good stuff.  http://www.facebook.com/Simplifymyhomelife

October Craft - Footprint Art - Candy Corn

Gotta do this... this week.

Pumpkin Patch Options

Something overtakes me when the weather changes and Fall begins to show.  Halloween may be my favorite holiday... even more than Christmas.  Before I had children I always dressed up and went out with my friends to the best house parties around.  Now that life is over... but I make the whole month making pumpkin everything and going out of my way to drill everything Halloweenie to my little ones.  We go to at least 3 pumpkin patches for a fun run around that isn't the typical park situation.  I also like  to take pictures in their Halloween costumes in the patch.  The final pumpkin patch trip is the whole family and we've been making it tradition to go with some friends of ours and their kids.  LOVE this month.  Here are some of my favorite patches in San Diego....

TLC Pumpkin Patch in Tierra Santa - This place is small and rustic and I really like it.  Best of all it's not on the "pumpkin patch" lists when you google or look around for them which means limited people.

 http://tlcpumpkinpatch.com/storytime-in-the-pumpkin-patch.html  

This year I also like Summer Past Farms in the Foothills of East County in the community of Flinn Springs.  I went on a weekday- the 18th and there was nobody there which is kinda amazing since it is totally badass.  http://www.summerspastfarms.com/

Still need to check out Suzies Farms Pumpkin Palooza.  http://www.suziesfarm.com/index.php?/site/orderOnline/#ecwid:category=917666&mode=product&product=15582962

Annual Touch a Truck event at Qulacomm Stadium San Diego

http://www.maxsringoffire.org/touch-a-truck/

San Diego’s Original Touch A Truck is geared up and ready to roll! This family-friendly car show is a sure hit with kids and parents alike, as all the vehicles are open for you to climb in and honk the horn! From the Wells Fargo Stage Coach to Robosaurus, military vehicles to monster trucks, Harley's to HumVees, classic cars to emergency vehicles, big rigs to construction rigs – we’ll have it all and more. Touch A Truck will please your palate, too, with 20 gourmet food trucks, an old fashioned bake sale, lemonade "experience", plus two live music stages, roving entertainment, Star Wars Characters, Shamu and even Ronald McDonald. The funds raised at this event go to childhood cancer research. Join us!

List of Things You Need to Prepare for a New Baby

When I was pregnant with N - I kept searching for the ultimate list of everything I would really NEED for a baby.  I mean I wanted to know what I needed beyond the obvious stuff on the typical registry.  I am finally going to break down some of the essentials  and skip some of the obvious stuff  .  The ones that may not be on your typical baby list but were definitely helpful for us with both kids....

• Nose Frida
• Swaddle Blankets ( Aden + Anais muslin style)
• wipe warmer ( those wipes are cold on a lil baby bum at night )
• bouncy seats x 3 - one for every main room if possible - search CL they are cheap
• stretchy wrap ( Moby / Ktan up to about 12 weeks or so then upgrade)
• Soft structured baby carrier such as a Tula, Ergo, Boba, WCMT
• Twighlight Turtle ( great for getting a good latch at night without waking everyone up and it's relaxing)
• White noise machine that makes ocean, heartbeat, rain sound  (mostly used with our 1st)
•  Nipple Shields & Lansinoh (very helpful with my 1st  while learning to BF- didn't need for my 2nd it all came much easier)  
•  Handsfree Breastpump bra (Simple Wishes or something similar) .  Very helpful if you pump,  makes it a lot easier
•  Nursing stool / glider
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