Weed Number Three…

June 30th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (19 Comments)

is a HE!

Allow me introduce our newest addition, Baby Casimir!

Weed Number 3

Casimir, who shall also be known as Kaz, is the little man who has filled our hearts to the very brim with gratitude and love. He made his grand entrance on Thursday morning, June 28th (via VBA2C, 10 days after his due date!) weighing in at 8 lbs 14 oz and 22 1/2 inches long.

Just a quick post to announce that he’s here! We are getting settled into our new life as a family of five, I’m off now to eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.

Divide and Conquer

October 5th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (Comments Off on Divide and Conquer)

An evening ride was in store for us after dinner tonight. The big one went with dad so they could go further and faster. The little one stayed with me for an easier and shorter ride around our neighborhood.

Sometimes it’s nice to not have your bossy big sister around. Sometimes it’s nice to not have to wait up for your pokey little sister. Sometimes it’s nice to give each child some undivided attention.

Evening Ride

And sometimes it’s nice to give two kids a blast of cool, autumn air at the end of the day – practically guaranteeing a swift and gloriously easy bed time.

Last summer I wrote about Ava learning to ride a bike with the “balance bike” approach.  I’m here now to sing the praises of this method once again.  It’s worked just as well for Thing 2 – but this time two years sooner!

The balance bike approach is exactly that; no training wheels.  It’s about learning to balance first, pedaling comes later.  A “real” balance bike has no pedals – but we just used a regular, very small bike for Ava.  You don’t need a special bike, what matters is that they can easily catch themselves when they lose their balance.  Ava was 6 when she learned, so her legs were long enough that the pedals didn’t get in her way while she was learning to balance.

More Melon Madness

August 18th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (8 Comments)

Peas. Coffee. Popsicles. Pajamas. What the heck time is it anyway?

Peas Coffee Pajamas

Why it’s time for breakfast, of course.

What? You don’t eat peas and watermelon for breakfast? Well then you haven’t lived!

Actually, it’s time to tell you that this popsicle mold has paid for itself.

Popsicle Molds Pay for Themselves

This is especially true because our neighbor gave it to us and I didn’t pay a dime for it.

And this is especially good because the handles break off pretty easily.

Thaw Slightly Before Twisting

And if I’d have paid for it, that would be especially annoying.

Yes Mom

August 7th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (2 Comments)

Ava and Zak have been off on a Daddy/Daughter Adventure this weekend, giving me and the little one an opportunity for a Mom and Max Staycation of our own.

Together Maxine and I made a plan to do all the fun things she likes to do. How often do you have to say “no” to your kids and their stream of demands from that well that never seems to run dry?  It was nice to be able to say “yes” a bit more than usual for a couple days here.

I Hate To Burst Your Bubble

August 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (5 Comments)

This is the only time you are ever going to see a recipe here with corn syrup – so this is serious business. It’s time to sit up straight and pay attention.

Karo Corn Syrup for Making Big Bubbles

(aren’t I bossy?)

Actually, if you don’t have kids – never mind. Skip this post.

On second thought – wait. Don’t go just yet.

I suppose if you don’t have kids but are yourself sort of playful and/or laugh a little too loudly/hysterically/obnoxiously with your spouse/partner/friends/dead goldfish when you’ve had just a little too much to drink/smoke/eat – keep reading. This recipe/activity has the potential to be pretty entertaining.

Velocimom

June 4th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (8 Comments)

Remember Banana Whip?

YAY!  Banana whip!

Well this would be Fruit Whip.  Banana Whip plus some frozen strawberries and blueberries too.

Fruit Whip

And remember that part in Jurassic Park where the scientist dude explains how the Velociraptors systematically test the electric fence by attacking it, trying to find its weaknesses?

Raptor

Well I am the Velociraptor and Maxine is my electric fence.

See, we’ve always loved Banana Whip as an awesomely delicious healthy snack, but of course “we” means everyone but Maxine.

Let Them Eat Cake

March 20th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (11 Comments)

I’d love to be able to tell you that my kids are vegetable chow hounds. I have blog with “vegetables” and “kids” in the tag line after all, shouldn’t it follow that I get to tell tales of my little posse begging for broccoli, beans and beets? Shouldn’t I be writing posts about how easy it is to get your kids to eat fruits and vegetables? I could even use lots of exclamation points!!! I could say “all you have to do is try!!!!”

That’s what some people might like to call “Irony”.

Movie Night

February 23rd, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (4 Comments)

Recipe for an hour of peace and quiet.

Ingredients:

3/4 c Arrowhead Mills Organic popcorn
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp salt
Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale

Movie Night

Directions:

Pop popcorn in your ancient air popper from the 1980’s, top with melted butter and salt. Insert Barbie DVD into laptop, plop two small children in pajamas (or not) with popped popcorn on the couch.  Back slowly out of the room to dash up the stairs with your yoga mat in hand.

Serves one mother an hour and twenty three minutes to do as she pleases at the end of a long day.

You Got the White Stuff, Baby

December 13th, 2010 | Posted by Alison Spath in Parenting - (12 Comments)

This was one of those “Homeschooling Rocks the (Gingerbread) House!” kind of days.

Clipboard

For the third year in a row, the girls and I hit up the annual Gingerbread House exhibit at The George Eastman House – a local museum that hosts this high fructose architectural extravaganza every year.

Gingerbread days of yore, we’ve come to this event with friends – but this year it was just us three Weeds gals, which meant we were all a bit less overstimulated, not quite so bossy and a lot less screamy to boot.