Sing, Sing A Song!

Every night for the past 6 years, I have read bedtime stories to Big-A, Lil-J, and on the rare occasion the two munchkins together.  I think I just might like storytime more than the boys!  It's a time for imaginations to run away, and more importantly, a time for some quiet bonding after a busy day.

As much as we love bedtime stories, we also love singing!  My boys are constantly singing songs from tv shows, commercials, and their favourite movies.  In the car, they sing "Eleanor Rigby" at the top of their lungs (we're a family of Beatlemaniacs!).  And at any time of day, you'll find Lil-J sweetly singing "Tomorrow" from the musical movie Annie.  He slowly shakes his head as he sings it - the most adorable thing in the world!  At night, we sing bedtime songs, and I take the time to teach the boys songs from my childhood.  "Hippo In The Bathtub" is an absolute must - if you didn't grow up listening to this Anne Murray children's album, you really should introduce it to your children.  It's a classic, full of songs that will encourage very sweet dreams!

When Big-A & Lil-J were infants, I would rock them for hours through the night humming a beautiful tune that my great-grandmother hummed to my mother as a baby.  I would also sing "You Are My Sunshine" each and every night.  These days, I'm still singing the same songs to the boys, along with new ones.  If you were a Sesame Street fan as a child, you'll definitely recognize "Sing A Song" in the video below.  We sing this one all together, usually 3 or 4 times before bed!

 

Try something different tonight and instead of reading stories, sing some songs with your little ones.  Bring back some classics from your own childhood, or make up a silly one!  The time you spend together is what's important, but there's nothing wrong with changing your normal routine.  Your kids will love it!

Surprise...I'm A Kinder® Mom! Announcing The Re-Launch Of Kinder® Surprise In Canada!

I felt instant excitement when learning of an upcoming Kinder® Mom Ambassador campaign hosted by Mom Central Canada!  I mean, who doesn’t love Kinder® eggs?  Between the milky chocolate and surprise toy, it's the perfect treat!  Well, I was jumping for joy when I received confirmation that I have been chosen to be a Kinder® Mom!

As much as I believe that healthy eating habits are essential in raising healthy children, I also believe that happiness is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  This means that while I’m making sure that my boys eat all of their veggies with dinner 7 nights a week, there is room for an ice cream cone on a warm evening, or a bowl of parmesan popcorn during movie night.  Kinder’s® nut-free chocolate is made with high-quality cocoa and other quality ingredients, giving it a permanent place in our treat selection at home!

I like to follow the old adage “everything in moderation” when treating my boys.  Kinder® Surprise® eggs are a perfect snack size, not too much and not too little.  And the excitement from the toy inside never leaves them asking for more chocolate!

As a Kinder® Mom Ambassador, the first item on my agenda is to announce the official re-launch of Kinder® Surprise® in Canada!  Although summer is quickly coming to a close *tear*, there is still time for camping trips, cottage visits, and picnics under the sun.  Bringing Kinder® Surprise® along can make these special moments even more special.  Kinder® has been celebrating small wins and creating moments of joy for Canadian families for over 30 years!

Now, onto my second agenda item – THE TOYS!!!  With the re-launch of Kinder® Surprise® in Canada comes an all-new 2012 Toy Collection featuring over 70 new toys!  I checked out the Kinder® Canada Facebook page to view samples from the new collection.  I think my boys would love the 22cm tall Safari Giants (how does Kinder® do it???), inflatable Aniballoons, and Emoty Monkeys stamps!  Make sure to ‘like’ Kinder® Canada on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KinderCanada and look out for the toy collection, as well as family friendly discussions run by Kinder® Canada.

I also encourage you to visit the Kinder® Canada website at http://haveyouplayedtoday.ca/ for nutritional & product information.  You will also find some handy tabs such as Ideas For Creative Playtime, Playful Events Near You, and Development Interests For Parents.

For my first ‘small win’ moment as a Kinder® Mom, I plan to surprise Big-A on his first day of Grade 1 with a Kinder® Surprise® in his backpack!  I can imagine the smile on his face when he sees it J  And as I have already mentioned, Kinder® Surprise® is nut-free making it an ideal treat for school.  I must also note that the FAQ portion of the Kinder® website confirms that their chocolate is gluten free.

Whether you’re adding to an already special occasion or treating ‘just because’, Kinder® Surprise® will guarantee a big smile and an even bigger hug from your little ones.

I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group.

The opinions on this blog are my own.

Indoor Fun - Picnics!

After a long, hot morning on a soccer field, the boys were only interested in relaxing when we returned home.  They quietly settled on the couch watching The Goonies while I prepared lunch.  Instead of calling them into the kitchen to eat, I decided to surprise them with an indoor picnic lunch!  Big-A grabbed a big blanket and set it up in front of the tv in the family room.  I brought them their lunch and they got comfy.  We NEVER eat in front of the tv, so this was a very exciting moment!



Big-A setting up the picnic blanket



I'm not used to this at lunch time...SILENCE...for the next 30 minutes.  It was heavenly!  And the boys had so much fun.  I will definitely treat them to indoor picnic lunches again.  I can't think of a better way to keep the summer fun going, with fall right around the corner!

 

Two happy boys :)



Simple surprises are so much fun!

Kids love life's simple pleasures.  Why not turn a standard lunch at home into an indoor picnic!  It's a fun break from the ordinary, and your kids will LOVE it

Can't Live Without...Sassy Disposable Diaper Sacks

If you have a baby or small child, you have probably heard of Sassy Baby Products.  You can find their developmental baby & toddler toys at most department and drug stores.  I've always loved walking into my local Shoppers Drug Mart and checking out the bright, colourful, musical selection of toys, and we have a rather large collection of the toys at home (even though my youngest is 2 1/2, I can't part with them...yet!).

Toys aren't my only favourite Sassy products, though.  I honestly can't live without their disposable Diaper Sacks, and my diaper bag never leaves the house without one!  These tiny blue bags can hold up to two diapers, have easy-tie handles and a soft baby powder scent.  I use them at home for messy diaper changes, and on-the-go when I can't dispose of a dirty diaper immediately.  Sassy Diaper Sacks add a convenient step to diaper changing, and they also help to keep the situation sanitary.  The mess and smells can easily be tied up in a bag and disposed of.

Check out the Sassy Baby Products website at http://www.sassybaby.com/ for a full list of all of their baby products.  You'll find Diaper Sack Dispensers and Refills that can be attached to a diaper bag or change table for easy access.  You can also shop online for economy-sized boxes of diaper sacks, ideal for families with multiples or home daycares.


Try Sassy Diaper Sacks - you'll be so glad that you did!  And make sure to tell your friends about them.  They would also be a perfect addition to a baby shower gift for a new mom.

This product truly is one that I can't live without!