Foxy's Domestic Side

Monday, July 28, 2014

2 Parties, 1 Day, No Naps = Fun, Right?

Guess what we did this weekend? Yep ANOTHER birthday party, but not just 1 but 2, yep, two birthday parties in 1 day.

For those of you that wanted to know what the Pearl Nume Wand did, this is what it looks like.

We got invited to the graduation of the kids graduating at Baby Fox's new preschool, starting in the Fall, sniff, sniff...is it okay that I think/know I'll probably cry when I drop him off?

It left my hair super curly, which I totally loved, but it's super humid (80%) here right now, so by the end of the night, it was just wavy, and by Saturday morning it had come out almost completely. I think I need to figure out some product to make stuff last longer. Usually I just curl and leave, with no product, maybe more product would work?

The preschool had a cute performance, they did a couple of songs together and then each kid got to do something to showcase a talent...

We're waiting for the performance to start.

So cute, and I can't wait for Baby Fox to get out of his little shell, I can't believe next year he's going to be up there performing, I just can't picture it, he's so shy, I hope over the next year will help him with that.

Saturday our first party started at 11, about a hour drive away from us. We got to their house and these guys were there, see that there? It's wood buring pizza stove, how cool is that?

How great are these party decorations? I'll recap this party later in the week. My cousin did such a great job, just walking up was so much fun and really festive.

They had a ball pit for the kids

Someone was excited to get some cake. He wanted me to feed him his cake and kept dictating to me what he wanted, I want vanilla cake with frosting, I want chocloate with frosting, I want chocolate with fudge, he's so funny.

And only my kid leaves half a piece of cake. He was done and didn't want any more. Good for him most of us would finish just to finish. Notice how all the frosting is gone...

Happy birthday little A, we're so happy to watch you grow up and can't wait to see what next year has in store for you!

We were able to put Mini Fox down for a small nap at this party, thankfully! We would have had a bigger meltdown if she didn't get any nap.

Our next party was another 25 minutes north of where we were...it was a gymnastics party. We were hesitant, as was Baby Fox, he doesn't really like stray too far from us, and we've tried gymnastic classes before and he cried the whole time, but this time, this time was different and he participate and my heart beamed with pride.

They had the kids doing various things back and forth on the floor.

They did some stretching exercises and Baby Fox showed us how flexible he really was...yikes, that hurts just looking at him.

Mini Fox just watched, wishing she could participate.

Then they had the kids do an obsticle course, and Baby Fox rocked it.

And then they had a zipline, and Baby Fox was the only one that they just sent down the line. Most of them the lady would run with them and a good portion of the kids fell off. I asked the teacher why she just sent him down without running with him, she said I could tell when I put him up there that he wasn't going to let go, do you have him in gymnastics? Cause you should.

I hope this sparks his interest in going to gymnastics at our gym! I think he would have so much fun.

They had the kids get up for a picture

And this is just after Birthday Girl, Cutie #4's mom (Cousin #3) anncounced it was time for cupcakes

And then more sugar was consumed

Took a cousin and kids picture...love it. Two more cuties on the way, coming this Fall.

Baby Fox loves the littlest Cutie #7, and wanted to help her to the car cause it wasn't safe to walk in the parking lot alone. We made it home safe and both kids slept in the car on the way home, thankfully!

Sunday was pretty chill, I woke up earlier to go grocery shopping, seriously, nothing better than going grocery shoppoing first thing Sunday morning, no lines and produce is full.

Seriously, I never see the produce this full, I used to go during naptime on Sundays and a good portion of this is gone

On our way home from church. He's happy gets more sugar (donuts)

Then Baby Fox made me some food, cause I was "sick" and he was making me food to get better. Nothing cures sickness like ice cream and pizza right?

After nap time we had some friends over for swimming

And some more ice cream making, we were smart and prepped everything last night, so it actually worked, unlike last time.

Checking out the ice cream, or what is going to be ice cream

I can't wait for Mini Fox's hair to grow out so I can do it everyday. I gave the kids bathes and asked Ms. J if she wanted her hair done, she said she wanted braids like Princess Anna.

After dinner, while sitting enjoying being outside, we had the most gorgeous sunset.

Mr. W and Mini Fox (9 months apart, but not much size difference), he's such a little nugget.

I am fully going to use these pictures for these kids if they ever get married.

One last picture, here's Mini Fox wearing those Jammies I bought last week. We ended up not wearing them to bed, cause it was just hot, but thought I was snap some pictures before we changed her.

What's with her and always sticking her tongue out?

Good weekend, but much too short! Glad that his weekend is a 3 day weekend and we get to see the cousins again, Cousin #9 is getting married!

Hope you had a good weekend, Happy Monday!

Linking up with Faith, Sarah and Heather for Mommy Moments

and with Bella & Lisa

Friday, July 25, 2014

Friday Favorites

Today started out with me waking up at 5am, realizing I am late and jumping out of bed (actually it was the couch because I couldn't sleep last night so I moved to another location hoping that it would help me to sleep, ever do that?). I got dressed, not even sure if I brushed my hair, and then rushed into Mini Fox's room to feed her before I left. Note: I need to leave the house by 5:08, and it takes Mini Fox about 3 minutes to eat...you do the math. So I go in to feed her, and I usually can feed her for 2-3 minutes, but after two minutes I pop her off and put her back down and she starts screaming and searching for me. Of COURSE the day I am late she wants more. I made it to my carpool at 5:16, go me. So I really need to think about my favorites instead of thinking about how tired I am. So here are my Friday Favorites:

#1

I got to work, put the headphones on, turned the iPod on and this song comes on...how can I not get in a better mood after listening to this? You know you're sort of dancing in your chair.

#2

The love my kids have for each other, constantly kissing each other, melts my heart.

#3

I just bought this pajama set for Mini Fox and I LOVE it, I can hardly stand it, ruffle cuffs? Yes please! And the best part, it was only $5.97! ON mega clearance at Babies R Us.

#4

This song. I heard it in my Kettle Bell Class last week and on Monday I walked up to the instructor after she was done teach a completely different class and asked her if she could tell me the name of a song that she played last week. She said oh I put all of the songs in one song that's an hour long, I don't think I'll be able to find it...I told her well it was during the part when we did this (then I showed her what we were doing in the class) and she's like, I actually know what song you're talking about! And she found it for me, and I sort of love her for it...and it's been playing on repeat ever since.

#5

Nordstroms Anniversary sale. I'm sure everyone has jumped on that band wagon...I've bought way too much, seriously everyday I find something new that I want. So many packages arriving at my door. I keep telling myself, I probably won't keep it, so I'll just put it in my cart just to see, and then...you guessed it, I've only wanted to return 1 thing! Oops.

Here's what I've gotten so far and am going to keep:

Mixed Media Tunic
This is the MUST HAVE SHIRT according to Sheaffer from Pinterest Told Me To

I bought the petite and still had to size down and it's a perfect fit.

Peacoat -In White

Unfortunately they are all out, there is only Black Large left, darn. But if they do come back, I got a size medium and it's perfect. Although I'll probably wear this once because it never really gets cold here.

Leopard Scarf

I've been wanting a leopard scarf, but just didn't want to spend that much, and I saw this one, but it was $20, and I just didn't know if I liked it enough to spend $20, but now it's only $12.90, I thought why not, and I absolutely love, love, love it, Mr. even loves it and pairing it with my white jacket from above, well it's to die for. I might just have to take a picture for you guys, just cause I can't wait to show you, I'm willing to suffer in the 95 ° heat for the sake of fashion.

Kate Spade Studs

I admit, I bought three pairs of these. I bought the green (below), pink and the clear ones, although those last two are going to be gifts, so shhhhh, don't tell anyone. For $24.90, I think it's an awesome deal and some lady in your life is going to squeal with delight when she opens it.

And then of course these are the things I'm still waiting for...tapping fingers impatiently.

Black Bootie

Again a suggestion from Sheaffer, I haven't gotten them yet, but Vanessa bought them, and they look pretty cute on her feet, so I figured I NEEDED them too.

Lace Trim Tunic

Andrea from Momfessional suggested this one, I thought she got it and showed us (perhaps it was on her IG account?) anyway, it was super cute, so I decided to give it a whirl.

Grey and Black Striped Tunic

Another PTMT pick (seriously, I need help)

Blue Tunic

This one I actually picked out on my own, yay me, I love the zipper shoulder, I really hope it fits/looks good when I get it.

The sale doesn't end til next weekend, so there is plenty more time for me to shop, in all honestly there are several things in my Nordies shopping cart that are just screaming for me to hit submit. I'll at least wait till after lunch to do so. See that restraint there?

So spill, what did you guys get? Is there something I should add to my cart before I hit submit? Okay even if I do, I'll still probably get it, who are we kidding?

Linking up with the Farmer's Wife and September Farm and for Friday Favorites with Andrea, Erika and Narci!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Christmas in July

I know another post in the same day. What is going on here?! It just so happened that I'm participating in two different things and they both happen to fall on the same day, so you get me twice, not sure if that is good or bad, I'm going to chose good thing.

The lovely ladies Courtney @ Sweet Turtle Soup and Jenny @ The Chronicles of We put together a Christmas in July Swap. How fun to get something from an awesome Mama in July.

I got a gift from Jasam @ The Opulent Owl. She sent this awesome box:

Baby Fox wanted to open the box with his new scissors...

don't worry he just wanted to take the picture of him using them, I actually opened the box.

Once the box was open, Baby Fox could hardly contain himself, wondering what was in the box.

Water Balloons, he couldn't wait to try this out!

Cheers, margarita glasses for some fun drinks, although Baby Fox has claimed them as his and drinks milk and water from them.

Cheers!

Some silly puddy like stuff, we haven't had a chance to open it, but it sure does look fun!

He kept saying, wow, this is so cool! Look at this Mommy, this is for me?!

Jasam was so generous and we loved everything! Thank you for such a thoughtful gift from a new friend.

He was trying to use his safety scissors to get into it, I suggested his other ones.

Go check out Crystal @ Mason's Mama to see what I go her.

Toddler Communication: How to Help them

Back again for the next topic of "One Year and Beyond", this week's topic? Helping your toddler to communicate (words, emotions, etc).

This is a hard one because every kid is different. Some kids just get it better than others, ya know? So just remember every kid is different and because they don't speak as well as another, doesn't mean they are behind.

Here are 3 tips for what we do with our kids:

1. Early on Baby Fox taught us sign language. Yep you read that right, he started doing some hand signals and I knew he was trying to tell us something, I figured out what he was trying to tell us over the course of about a week. (He would open and close his fist with one hand if he wanted some more of something, and he would open and close both fists if he wanted something to drink, and he would raise his hands in the air (think the signal for touchdown) if he was done with whatever he was doing, crazy right?)

Funny, but Mini Fox, on her own is starting to use the same signals for things too. Must be a baby thing? We just encourage the behavior to keep up with the signals. While we didn't ever set out to teach our babies sign language we follow their lead. It does make it easier when they want something to eat/drink/are done.

Opening and closing her fists

2. What we did for Baby Fox and continue to do with Mini Fox is we never talk in baby talk. We never dumb anything down, we talk to the kids like Mr. and I speak to each other. Basically, we can't stand baby talk so we never did it to our kids. If they say something incorrectly, we never say, no that's not how you say it, we usually just repeat back to him and use the word in the correct way. So if he said "go imming" we would just repeat, "you want to go swimming?" Eventually he caught on to the correct way to pronounce things.

4. We were/are constantly talking to them, when going to grocery store, instead of thinking things in my head, I would talk out loud to them. Like "so what's next on the list? Oh that's right let's go get some paper towels, where do you think they put paper towels? Usually they're over in the corner, let's head that way" or "remind me when we get home to put the sprinklers on" even though you know they can't remind you, I always talk to them like I would talk to a friend.

5. Emotionally we never let his emotions or lack of being able to communicate lead to bad behavior. So if he's trying to tell us something and is getting frustrated and starting to yell and scream/cry we always keep calm and in a calm voice tell him "Baby Fox, stop crying and show us what you want/use your words" When he did have a few words and could communicate to us that he wanted a toy or something to eat and he would start to flap his arms and cry (his signature move), we calmly tell him, "since when do you get anything when you throw a fit? When you calm down, let me know when you're ready to talk" Usually that gets him to stop and think about what he's doing. Occationally when his fits are really bad, we'll mimic what he's doing to show him what he looks like and reiterate, "you don't get anything by crying and throwing a tantrum."


This was Baby Fox's first and only full on tantrum. He literally threw himself on the ground and started kicking. I took one look at him, said this is great, and grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures while laughing at how dramatic he was being. Literally 30 seconds later, he realized, oh I'm not getting what I want. He got up, walked over to me and just gave me a hug and stopped crying.

What are some of the things that you do to help your kids communicate?

Week 1 - Keeping Your Marriage Alive with a Toddler
Week 2 - 10 Fun Summer Activities for Toddlers

Now go check out some other awesome Mama's and their ways to communicate

We are back with week three of our series and hopefully this helps you other mamas to find out how to help your toddler communicate! Make sure to check out the other 10 wonderful mamas who are posting with me this week. And don't forget to write your own post and link it up below!