parenting Archives - Page 15 of 18

Our Halloween Traditions and a Spooky Halloween Lasagna

By sunshineandholly on October 18, 2017

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love dressing up, carving pumpkins, taking the kids trick-or-treating, and making fun Halloween-themed snacks and crafts.

However, I’m not a big fan of scary movies or haunted houses. I’m such a scaredy-cat! Although believe it or not, Josh and I saw The Ring on our first date back in 2002. Soooo creepy! (The movie, not our first date. Ha!)

Before we had kids, we’d always either dress up and go out bar-hopping, or host a small Scary-Movie-Night party at home with some friends. The past few years we’ve just had a couple of close friends over for a Halloween themed meal, and then headed out to trick-or-treat either in our neighborhood or at a local trunk-or-treat.

Here are a few pictures from Halloweens of the past:

5 Questions My 4-Year-Old Has Asked Before 7am

By sunshineandholly on October 13, 2017

My son is the most inquisitive child I’ve ever met. Even when he was a baby, he was trying to take toys apart to figure out how they work. He wants to know everything about everything. And when he has a question, it’s a burning question. He’s gotta know the answer right away.

When he was two, he’d pitch humongous tantrums and scream and yell when I didn’t know the answers to his questions. Nothing like making your kid furious because you aren’t sure what’s inside that huge truck you just drove by.

“Uh…socks! It’s a sock truck! It holds boxes and boxes of socks! Now please stop screaming at me!”

He also had no problem telling me when I was wrong when he didn’t get the answer he wanted.

“No mama. The sky isn’t blue. It’s yellow.”

Ok buddy. Whatever you say!

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babies | family | kids activities | motherhood | parenting

3 Tips for Your Kid’s First Haircut

By sunshineandholly on September 20, 2017

Until Saturday, Maddie had never had a haircut. Well, except for that time she cut off a chunk of her hair when she was using kid scissors one afternoon. (Note to self – do not leave kids alone with scissors, even for a second!) But I knew her hair needed a good trim. It’s a lot like mine and starts to tangle easily when it needs a cut.

3 Tips for Your Kid's First Haircut | sunshineandholly.com

Maddie is almost 3, so she’s probably older than most kids are when they get their first haircut. Graham got his haircut when he was one. I was just so hesitant to cut Maddie’s because I kept thinking about how those tiny curls at the bottom were her sweet little baby hairs that she’s had since she was born. Gah! Take me back please. Just for a while so I can snuggle them both.

3 Tips for Your Kid's First Haircut | sunshineandholly.com

Anyway, she did great and her hair looks super cute. If you’re ready to get your kiddo’s hair trimmed for the first time, keep reading. I’ve got 3 tips for your kid’s first haircut below.

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A Tale of Two Temperaments

By sunshineandholly on September 13, 2017

I’ve mentioned before how my children are so different. Complete opposites in a lot of respects. Graham can chow down on some food. Maddie eats like a bird. Graham isn’t affectionate at all. Maddie would crawl back inside of me if she could. Graham loves building things. Maddie loves active play. Graham loves super heros. Maddie loves princesses.

A Tale of Two Temperaments | sunshineandholly.com

They’re so different when it comes to discipline. Graham has so many wonderful traits, and he’s truly an amazing kid. But he is also the most stubborn, manipulative, and argumentative kid I’ve ever met! Needless to say, we’ve tried any and all discipline tactics with him and have finally settled on a few that work…most of the time. I am mentally exhausted every day trying to get him to do what he needs to do. Maddie is a people-pleaser, and already very empathetic. It doesn’t take much to get her to obey.

A Tale of Two Temperaments | sunshineandholly.com

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5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A

By sunshineandholly on September 8, 2017

I love Chick-fil-A. They have some tasty, tasty food, decent coffee, and great customer service. And those milkshakes? Oh yeah!! But best of all, they have an indoor, climate controlled play area where my wild children can burn some energy while I sit and take a much needed mom-break.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

But there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. On Tuesday, we spent 2 hours at Chick-fil-A. I took the kids to play and have dinner since Dada was traveling for work. And I have to say, that 2 hours is too long to spend at any restaurant with kids, even Chick-fil-A.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A:

1. Chick-fil-A is the only place where it’s socially acceptable to let a bunch of young children run around a restaurant barefoot. And go to the bathroom barefoot. #gross

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

2. When another parent walks into the tiny, enclosed play area that smells of toddler sweat, bare feet, and dirty diapers, and has at least 5 ice-cream-high-induced monkeys…er…kids running around, jumping, and screaming, I want to say to them, “Welcome to Hell.”

3. Forget frosted coffee and lemonade. What we really need up in here is some frosty alcoholic beverages.

Me: “Can I get a margarita?”

Chick-fil-a employee: “Of course! My pleasure!”

4. Is that my kid licking the slide? OMG she is!!! “Stop!!! Don’t lick the slide!!” Gag me.

5. When I get to the point in my life where I don’t have to stop, mid-bite, into my spicy chicken sandwich to hop up and go wipe someone else’s butt…that will be a good day.

So I learned my lesson. 2 hours is too much at Chick-fil-A. Unless they really do start serving margaritas…

Do you think that the cows would tell us to eat more chicken AND drink more tequila? Because I’d be all about that.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

Do you love Chick-fil-A?

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