St. Patrick's Day Toddler Play Date

Last year, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a Toddler Play Date with a bunch of our favorite friends.  While we may have missed the opportunity to post last year, it's so nice to catch up and share all of our activity ideas with you this year as the season of green has again rolled around.

We always try to keep things short and sweet, so we had some free play time, music, craft and snack.  I had a story ready and waiting - but the kids seemed a little too busy this time!  Our kids were all around 12-18 month toddlers for this play date but I think they'd even still enjoy most of the activities.  

We started with a sensory bin filled with lots of green things - blocks, shapes from our shape sorter, balls, glitter shamrocks and gold coins from the craft store.  We also included shamrock shaped Mardi Gras beads which the kids loved finding.  To make our sensory bin nice and green, we filled it with green split peas which were absolutely perfect!

While we played, we put on some good uptempo Irish music to keep things lively.  If you don't have any already, iheartradio offers a free Shamrock Radio station that would work very well!

We worked on our St. Patrick's Day craft, which was really simple to bring together.  We started with a piece of blue paper and cut a wide U shape from the center.  Folding the paper lightly in half makes this very easy.  We cut a matching sized piece of contact paper, peeled the backing, and applied it to the paper - leaving the adhesive "sticky" through the rainbow shaped window. 

We had cups of tissue paper squares in all of the colors.  Some kids needed some assistance, but for the most part, everyone had a good handle on this simple St. Patty's Day project.

Even a year later, our finished product still hangs on the white board in our kitchen.  This would also look great in front of a window giving a sun-catcher effect!

We finished our play date off with the traditional snack of leprechauns - Lucky Charms.  We're not one for formalities.  We pretty much pour it on the table and let them graze for the marshmallows. 

   

And while our kids were pretty played out, we had a great little story picked out to finish out the event.  Perfect for toddlers just learning their numbers, this festive book will have them counting along!

What other ideas for St. Patrick's Day play dates have you used in the past?  We'd love to hear from you!

Weekend Update

Just a little update from our little family.  We had such a nice weekend, I thought I'd share!

We started out with the babies much delayed Bubble Guppies Birthday party.  Having Christmas birthdays is such a tough thing and I haven't quite settled on the best way to navigate this.  A week earlier is Dan's birthday, so that makes an early party tough.  We've considered celebrating summer "half birthdays" but that doesn't sit right either.  It's tough for them to have to share a birthday - and then it be right on top of the holiday.  But despite, we thought we'd celebrate this year in February once all the other business and seasonal flu had cleared and we could focus our attention on throwing a fun party.  We'll be doing a whole post about our party details, but here's a sneak preview!

Saturday gave us a nice opportunity to enjoy Phipps Conservatory during their "We Love Our Members" free event for members of reciprocating museums.  While it was quite a bit crowded, it was an awesome day to spend indoors - while still allowing the beautiful sun and blue skies to shine down on us.  Look out for a post about our trip for an upcoming Field Trip Friday post!

Coming home from the conservatory, we decided to pull ourselves together and try to make it to church for the six o'clock service.  While Dan and I have been visiting this church for about a month and am loving almost everything about it, this was the very first time we'd be bringing the kids.  It is HUGE, and while it means we haven't had the opportunity to develop many personal relationships with other members, it means that there are fantastic children's programs, and lots of opportunities for fellowship and learning.  So I was terribly anxious - how would they react?  They've never been in anyone else's care other than family and a few specially chosen babysitters.  I prayed the whole way there that they'd handle it well.

At this point in my life, I should really have learned to stop "worrying" so much and trust that He always takes care of our needs.  Too many times I panic and become consumed by anxiety - only for God to come through and remind me that my worrying was all for nothing.  Saturday was no different.  We checked the kids in with their kiosks and headed to the 2-year-old room.  They opened the half door - and off my kids ran.  Straight to the train table, without looking back.  What an awesome blessing to avoid tears of separation.  We kept watching, but their numbers never came across the screens to alert us that they needed us.  They'd had their first successful church experience, and seemed to have really enjoyed it!  What a great experience and we're looking forward to many more.

So to end our update, I'll leave you with a few "Julie-isms."  Her words are just pouring out and we couldn't be happier.  I can't even list all the ones she uses, since she pop ups every day with new ones!  Here's a few things that have made me smile lately.

• Julie got a new princess dress - with "uh-punul" (Rapunzel) on it.  She is so stinking adorable in this dress, which Brayden likes to bring me to put on his sister.  I loved seeing the look in Dan's eyes when he came home from work and saw her wearing it (over her sleeper) for the first time.  She really looks like a little girl and no longer our baby.
• I just can't get enough of her little phrases - like "ah-hoo" which I believe is her word for "woo-hoo."  Whenever she's having a great time or riding her Rody Horse, she'll say "ah-hoo ah-hoo" and you know she's having a great time.  Interestingly - this is also the word she uses when pretending to sneeze.
• Finally, this little doll is loving to pretend to go to sleep - pulling the covers to her shoulders and "snoring." I just have to smile as I have distinct memories of doing the same as a kid.  I love seeing her discover and grow into this incredible little girl.

A St. Patricks Throw Back Thursday

St. Patrick's Day is coming and we're looking for new photography ideas for the babies.  We thought we'd celebrate this "throw back thursday" with a St. Patrick's Day picture from two years ago.  At three months old, we were inspired by the When My Baby Dreams photos and thought we'd snap our own version of our Irish babes.

Boy have they grown in two years!  I still see glimpses of the sweet babies they once were.  Happy Throw Back Thursday and St. Patrick's Day!

Swapping Kids Clothes with Swapdom

With twins, our closets are literally busting at the seams each season as we have racks (and piles) of clothes in two different genders, multiple seasons and numerous sizes.  We've told you a little bit about our consignment sale experiences, but we always have favorite outfits that we know would make someone very happy to find.

We'd dabbled in online trading before - but found the previous site we used to have a few problems.  Primarily, the person with a young child needing sizes we'd outgrown, had little to offer us when we were looking for larger sizes to grow into.  It was really a bummer to have to tell someone "no-go" and not clear out my clothing stash - and at the same time - not get what we needed!

I was thrilled then when I was introduced to Swapdom!  It's absolutely the perfect solution.  Here's the basics of how it works:
1 - You photograph and post items you no longer want.
2 - You browse to find the items that you love, and then indicate what items you see as a "fair trade" for the things you like.
3 - You sit back and wait as the awesomeness of Swapdom goes to work like a fabulous matchmaker.

You see, that's the magic of Swapdom.  Their algorithm connects the person who wants your stuff, with the person who has stuff you want - and creates a multi-person swap so that everyone wins!  This video does an excellent job at illustrating the process.



Swapdom - How it works from Swapdom on Vimeo.

They make it easy and affordable to get the things you want - while supporting a sustainable environment by encouraging reuse.  And as any mom with little ones knows, going shopping out of the house can be close to impossible.  This convenient system lets you shop from your couch!  Even when you ship your item to your trade partner, their relationship with UPS allows you to print your label from home, never having to wait in long post office lines.

Getting started, I've uploaded three little gems, and am excited to get my first connection for a swap!

The possibilities of what you can post are really endless.  Here's some things I'm looking forward to adding:

- Last year's kids coat's and swim suits

- Bottles from our baby days

- Hair bows from GiggleBuzz

- The huge box of "baby toys" we've accumulated

Swapdom just launched their kids division, so jump in now and ensure that your items will get tons of exposure as people discover the site.  And spread the word!  This is too cool not to share.  With all of our friends joining us, the variety for kids swaps will get even better.  In the meantime, you can always trade in that pile of outgrown kids clothes for some swanky sunglasses or a new necklace for yourself - we won't tell anyone!  Swapdom has been working with swapping fashionistas for a while so they've got tons of experience in creating happy swapers throughout the country.

As if you needed another reason to love Swapdom - they're giving away a top of the line Phil&Teds Stroller for their facebook fans and members!  Click here to like their page and enter the giveaway, ending 2/28.

Come on and connect with me on Swapdom - check out my profile and make a swap!  Your heaps of outgrowns will be shrinking, while your mailbox will be full of lots of lovelies to fit your little ones.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Swapdom but all photos, opinions and experiences are my own.

5 Tips for Fabulous Beach Pictures

I think you guys must be ready for summer, because lately, you've ALL been reading my post about bringing babies to the beach! Ever ask yourself "how to take pictures of kids at the beach" or look for "beach pictures with kids" or "kids beach photo ideas?"
I don't mind...  I'm right there with you!  While we might not be making it to the beach this summer (we're planning our first Disney Trip I believe), I am always glad to pass on some "lessons learned."  This past trip, I braved the sand a little more with my DSLR Camera, and the results were fantastic.  While I'm only an amateur photographer, I wanted to share some ideas with you for taking great pictures this summer as you take your own trips to the beach!

Pittsburgh Parenting Expo

We're thrilled to share the news that the Pittsburgh Parenting Expo will be here very soon - in March 2014!  If you're looking for parenting resources in Pittsburgh, PA this is definitely the place for you.

Before the kids were born, and even now, I always felt tremendously overwhelmed by all of the parenting books out there for new moms.  From "What to Expect" to volumes about sleep habits, discipline, and sibling rivalry - there's a book for just about everything.  But the problem is, particularly when you have twins, is that there is about ZERO time to sit back and read page upon page of parental wisdom.

So if you're anything like me, you'll be excited to hear that the the Parenting Expo will be coming to the Monroeville Convention Center (near Pittsburgh, PA) on March 8-9, 2014.  Why is this so awesome?  Because for the first time, you can come together with other passionate Moms, Dads, grandparents and guardians to listen to insightful presentations and workshops from Pittsburgh Parenting Experts.  Their advice will make your parenting experience a little easier - and make your kids' parents even better at giving them all that they need.

Workshops and Presentations

With discussions that get right to the point, you'll get exclusive advice from the parenting specialists straight from their fifteen minute presentations focusing on a huge array of topics.  Whether you're a new parent struggling with sleep and toddler tantrums, or a seasoned parent with concerns about sport safety and college admissions, the Parenting Expo in Pittsburgh has an expert presentation for you.  Check out the full list of speakers for the Parenting Expo.

Some of the workshops we're most looking forward to include:

Three Ways to Work with Picky Eaters by Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan
"Do you dread the dinner time battle? Have you tried every trick in the book to get your child to try new foods? It's time for a change. Parents often think of dinner as a win-lose situation, use foods as rewards and punishment and think they have to trick their children into eating healthy. But it doesn't have to be that hard! By working together, parents and children can have calmer, happier, healthier meals."

3 Things You Need to Know for Potty-Training Success by Dr. Debi Gilboa
"There is no more talked about, stressed over milestone for most parents than potty-training a child. What age to start? What method to use? How can we have a good experience and get out of diapers? Dr. G will share the biologic truths about physical development and explain what strategies work best for which kids!"

3 Ways to Find Healthy Digital Media for Your Children by Tanya Smith
Technology and digital media are everywhere and seem to be taking over the world! In this workshop, we will discuss your comfort level with selecting and using technology with young children (digital natives). You will learn how to use an exciting new resource, the Early Learning Environment™ and other recommended tools. Ele highlights ways to turn media into language-rich, adult-child interactions and provides a set of fun and engaging activities, resources and other materials for adults that move beyond "tip sheets."

Exhibitors

This will be the place to be for all things "parent" in Pittsburgh.  The resources don't stop with the presentations.  Some of the most important resources in Pittsburgh will be there, including cultural anchors like the Pittsburgh Zoo, distinguished universities like Chatham University, and countless local connections for family fun. The expo will be full of exhibitors sharing thousands of products, perfect for families, giving you hands on access to new technology and developments that meet your needs.  See the full list of exhibitors for the Parenting Expo here.

Need even more reasons to add the Parenting Expo to your calendar?

Family Fun - With free activities for children, and a safe fun environment for families, the Parenting Expo is the perfect way to spend some weekend time together.  You'll find us rocking out to our favorite tunes with Radio Disney.  Stay up to date on all of the activities for kids here!

Kid Accommodations - Facilities to make the experience convenient for families including wide aisles for your strollers, plenty of space to change little ones or take a break from the excitement.

Discounts and Giveaways - You'll go home with tons of perks - like samples and discounts for your favorite products and services.  Parents will also have the chance to enter exciting giveaways to win lots of parent "swag."


Tickets at the door are $10
Children under 14 are FREE

Ready to buy your tickets?  You can purchase your eticket directly through the Parenting Expo site or by clicking here.

Katie's Love Story

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of sharing our love story.  We had so much fun that we thought we'd ask one of our favorite blog friends to share their amazing story for Valentine's Day.  Before there was match.com, this wonderful couple made their introduction halfway across the world with a letter.  What follows is nothing short of incredible.

Our guest blogger is Katie Fair of the It's Just Me blog and we're so thankful to have her sharing her love story!

Here's Katie:

Everyone has a story on how their love story truly began.

Our story actually began about a year before we met. One morning during my senior year of college, I was watching The Today Show. They had a segment about a program called "Soldier's Angels" in which you could volunteer to be an "Angel" for a deployed soldier, sending him or her care packages and letters, helping to boost their morale while they were fighting a war overseas. At the time, the War in Iraq had been going on for just over 3 years. I felt connected to this war, in a way, because September 11th happened two days before my 17th birthday. We watched the second plane crash into the towers on the news in my 11th grade health class. The soldiers fighting this war were my age, many even fellow classmates that had joined the military after graduation. I felt compelled to help.

Right after the segment, I headed to the website (http://www.soldiersangels.org/) and signed up for a soldier. At the time, you submitted only your name and email address, and shortly after you were emailed back with the name of a deployed soldier, a mailing address and an email address, if provided. Sure enough, a few hours later I received the name of my soldier. I was super excited and couldn't wait to write him my introductory letter. That evening during math class, I spent the time writing a handwritten letter (in pencil -- more on that later), which ended up being almost 4 pages in length. (in hindsight, I probably should have been paying attention to class! haha!) The letter was mostly about me, considering I had no idea who this guy was, but I told him all about myself, my family, what I was studying in college, etc.

My soldier's name did not come with an email address, and I had no idea what sort of things to send him in a care package, so I decided to see if I could locate him to ask him directly, using none other than Myspace ;) (hey, it was 2006!) I searched for his name, and quite a few results showed up. One of the first profiles that appeared was a picture of a younger looking guy, wearing a military uniform. I wasn't sure if it was him, but I decided to take my chances and friend request him anyway. A few days later I received a response. Basically, he was asking me who I was, and why I wanted to be his friend. I responded, letting him know I had received his name from Soldier's Angels and that I would be sending him a care package (he hadn't yet received my letter at that point). I asked him what sorts of things he could use and what he wanted me to send. Shortly after that, I got another response from him, basically thanking me for helping to boost the soldier's morale and he accepted my friend request. But that was it. He never replied with what he could use or if he needed anything specific.

After that, things in my own life got busy. It was my senior year of college and I had projects and classes to focus on, with graduation looming ahead. I never did get a chance to send him anything else, but I never really forgot about him either.

Fast forward to about 10 months later. It was towards the end of August, and I was done with college. I was fiercely job searching, trying to figure out what next step to take with my life. One day, I logged into Myspace and was surprised to see a message from my soldier. In the message, he said he had never really checked out my profile until that point, and I seemed interesting. He also stated that he remembered who I was, by the letter I sent in pencil. Out of all of the letters he had ever received from an "Angel", mine was the most personal and the least generic. It apparently really stood out to him, and he wanted to get to know me more. So I replied, and our conversation went back and forth through messages for a bit, before we exchanged AIM names (dating myself, again!) At the time, he was still in Iraq, so there was an 8 hour time difference. I would be up super late while he was just getting back from his overnight tower watch duty, but we would talk for hours. I finally worked up the courage to talk to him on the phone, and our first phone conversation lasted four hours (on a phone card, none the less!). I don't even recall all that we talked about, but it was like we had known each other for years. Talking to him was so easy...and natural.

Katie and Ryan - 2007

He returned home from his second deployment in mid-September (the 13th, to be exact..which also happens to be OUR birthday. Yes, we have the same exact birthday). We continued to talk every single day, and the prospect of finally meeting came up. He was stationed at Ft. Lee, which was in Virginia, just outside of Richmond. Roughly, an 8 hour drive. We tried to make plans here and there to meet up, but they kept falling through. One night in the beginning of October, we were on the phone. He said something and I jokingly said we'd probably never meet. He got frustrated and we hung up. That comment must have lit a fire under his butt because he called me back just a few minutes later and said he was packing a bag, and driving to Erie that night -- and he did. He drove through the night  and when he arrived in Erie around 5am, I was there to meet him. Our first "look" at each other was crazy and not at all uncomfortable. I felt like I was seeing someone I had known for years. We marked that day as our official "dating" anniversary, and have been together ever since.

Here we are today, six years later and so many shared life experiences -- our first home, a marriage, his college graduation, first real job outside of the Army, our first child and now, another on the way. I can't say that every day since has been a walk in the park by any means, but I can say with certainty that I have found my soul mate, and I am so grateful I took that chance on him, my soldier :)

Katie Fair is mom of Audrey (with one on the way), fabulous blogger at It's Just Me and amazing Pittsburgh family photographer at Katie Fair Photography.

A Love Story: An Introduction

In honor of Valentine's Day, we're sharing our "love story."  Just as much for you, but as a reflection for ourselves, and to record our tale for our family in the future.

My apologies to anyone who is an email subscriber and may have just had their email notifications go wild with five posts going live at once.  I wanted to keep everything separated into chapters, but realizing that my posts will likely be in discontinuous order, I'd keep this one towards the top to start things off.

Engagement by Craig Photography

So here is our story, in four parts.  Written with love, for and about those I love so deeply...

Part One: Our First Date
Part Two: In the Beginning
Part Three: Whirl Wind Romance
Part Four: Becoming Family

A Love Story (Part 4): Becoming Family

Just joining us on this journey of love? Why not go back and start with part one - here!

Back from Hawaii, we settled into a routine, spending as much time together as possible.  We got the sweetest dog, Duncan, and realized we could take care of something together.

The rest of that first year, we just enjoyed our time together.  Dan's house became "our place" and once empty rooms became filled with furniture and gained a "woman's touch."  I got to know his family, and he spent plenty of time with mine.  My whole family knew I was completely smitten with this Prince Charming.

We both worked a lot, but savored every bit of time together.  Through it all, I was always curious where his baggage was - his skeleton's in the closet.  I'm glad to report that regardless how much time passed, Dan was the same wonderful guy and had no nasty surprises lurking around the bend.

Right after our first Christmas together, Dan hinted that he'd bought a ring.  Each day I was so eager, waiting for him to pull it out of the cheese in the refrigerator - or have it tied to the dog - or spring it at New Years.

What I wasn't expecting though, was just a few days before our first anniversary, for him to call me upstairs.  I'd been watching a movie on the couch, and he'd been up there for a while.  I hadn't thought anything of it.

He called from the top of the steps, and I came to the staircase to see it decorated with flower petals and candles leading to upstairs.  He popped out of our bathroom with a "well hello" and dropped to one knee.  Obviously I knew what was happening - and was a tearful ball of emotion.  Of course, I accepted and we celebrated by enjoying a bottle of wine brought back with us from Hawaii.  Dinner at the Melting Pot followed and has become an annual anniversary tradition.

Wedding by Craig Photography

We got married a year and three months later in April 2010.  It was a beautiful blue sky day filled with joy and celebration.  When we welcomed our babies in December of 2011, it was a wild realization of how much our lives had been changed.  In less than four years, we'd met, married, traveled, and became parents to two amazing kids.

It's hard to believe that we've now been together for six years, but of course, these have been the best six years of my life.  I pray every night that I get to be with him for at least sixty years, so we've really only just begun our love story.  I have no rose colored glasses when I think about marriage.  It is hard work sometimes, and there's not a couple I know who haven't faced times of struggle in their lives together.  I know without a doubt though, that there is no other person I'd rather work beside, and together face life with, during the challenges and successes.

Moral of the story - never underestimate the power of a "wink" and some old fashioned chivalry.  Without a doubt, I found the man of my dreams.

Our whole story:
Part One: Our First Date
Part Two: In the Beginning
Part Three: Whirl Wind Romance
Part Four: Becoming Family

A Love Story (Part 3): A Whirl Wind Romance (and a cool Cabbie)

The saga story continues - but if you're just joining us, start with part one - here!

Three months into our relationship, Dan and I boarded our plane for a trip to Hawaii.  He'd work most days during our trip, and I'd wander around Honolulu on my own.  We did find time to sneak in some sight seeing, a surf lesson, and a hike through the rain forest.  Each evening we'd enjoy the most amazing meals I've ever eaten.  We would stand arm in arm on the sand and watch the sun set.  It was here that I knew I was utterly in love with this man, and that I'd hoped to spend the rest of my life with him.

...and we were only three months in...

The very last night of our trip we were to leave Hawaii in an evening flight, arriving through Charlotte and back to Pittsburgh in the early morning hours.  I'd be back just in time to make an important meeting.  On our way to check out of the hotel and meet our airport transportation, we listened to the voice messages on our phones telling us that our flights were delayed - as were all of the large aircraft of it's kind.  They were all being checked for some mechanical issue.  Coupled with the fact that this was the same week that Hawaiian Airlines was collapsing, the Honolulu Airport was pretty disastrous.  Our flight finally left around 1 a.m., now heading to LA where we'd transfer to Chicago and then Pittsburgh.  In LA, our flight was again delayed.  Arriving in Chicago, we hit terrible weather.  When we arrived, there were no more outgoing flights for the night and we were sent to a local hotel.  We'd now been attempting to get home for 24 hours.

Our cab driver that drove us to the hotel offered to pick us up and return us to the airport in the morning. He kept his promise, and dropped us off in front our ticket desks.  As I went to get my ID out of my purse - I made a horrifying realization: my purse was not in my backpack.  I'd left it in the cab...

Why is this long story pertinent in our love story?  Well, I'd dated my share of jerks - many of which would have gotten angry and frustrated in a situation like this.  Many would have yelled, criticized - and some would have even left me there to figure it out myself.  I had a moment of panic before I realized that Dan would do none of those things.  Calmly, he helped me solve the problem.  We found a policewoman, who helped us get through security.  The policewoman who actually found a priest who prayed with us for safe travels and for the purse to be found.

And of course, now waiting to get home (36 hours later) our flight is delayed - again.  We're sitting there utterly exhausted, and starting to consider renting a car to drive home from Chicago.  Our gate is changed and we shuffle through the airport like zombies.  And then - a miracle.

In storms a police officer.

"Are you Heather Keefe?"
"yes..."
"Your purse will be coming in through those doors in just a minute."

And there it was - my purse.  Every dollar in place, every tic-tac untouched.  We happily boarded our plane, and finally made it home - almost 48 hours after we first attempted to leave Hawaii.

Although the purse story is fun to tell, it is really very pertinent to "our story."  Despite the misadventure, I discovered that Dan and I could handle a bad situation.  He handled problems calmly, with patience and kindness.  I realized then, that Dan was the guy I'd want to have beside me no matter what challenges life threw our way.

Only one more chapter to go - keep reading here!

Our whole story:
Part One: Our First Date
Part Two: In the Beginning
Part Three: Whirl Wind Romance
Part Four: Becoming Family

A Love Story (Part 2): In the Beginning

If you're just joining us in the telling of "our story" make sure you start with part one - here!

After our first date, we quickly scheduled a second.  It may have actually only been two days later.  We went to Damons Sports Bar and watched a Cowboys football game.  Despite my lack of interest in football or the Cowboys, I was interested in Dan and that was enough to keep me occupied.  One thing that stood out all of this time is that Dan was the most polite guys I'd ever met.  He was a true gentleman, never overstepping boundaries or being too forward.

This time, after our date, he walked me to my car and planted one sweet kiss on these lips of mine.  And I smiled... and smiled... and smiled - the whole.way.home.  I think that was really what did it... he had my heart from that moment on.

Our next date was a little unusual - we went to IKEA with my Mom.  Now, we are a family of mighty faith, so when my mom retells her experience of God putting it on her heart that morning, that that day, she'd meet her son-in-law, I have no doubt.  After our shopping excursion, we went back to Dan's house (now our house) for the first time to watch a movie.  This was the day he asked me to be his "girlfriend" officially.  At first, I said I'd have to think about it, but after about half an hour I realized I was crazy to even consider not accepting, and said that I'd be happy to take that title.

Our Early Dates - Matrix (left) and Bowling (right) 2008

Dates to follow included bowling and dancing at the Matrix club.  We were having a wonderful time getting to know each other.  After a few weeks, Dan told me that he'd told his parents about me, and that they were glad he'd "found someone."  We joked that it was like he "found me under a rock" and that I'd picked him "out of a Russian Bride catalog" but his use of the phrase showed me that he was pretty interested.

As did his next commitment - signing up to take Salsa dance lessons with me.  While I'd planned to take the classes with a guy friend, Dan said he'd really want to do it with me.  In doing so, we set a regular Tuesday night date filled with dancing and usually dinner.  It was so nice knowing I'd get to see him during the week, and it would tide me over to weekend dates.

But we never did get to finish our Salsa sessions.  During one of our post-dancing dinners, we were talking about going on a little vacation together.  Dan said that he might need to go to Hawaii for work, and that maybe I could go too.  I was over the moon, and refused to even talk about it until we were certain we could go.  One afternoon I got the call - three months into our relationship, I'd be going to Hawaii with the nicest guy I'd ever met.  And it was then that I realized, I was the luckiest girl in the entire word...

Keep reading more about our love story here!

Our whole story:
Part One: Our First Date
Part Two: In the Beginning
Part Three: Whirl Wind Romance
Part Four: Becoming Family

A Love Story (Part 1): Our First Date

As Valentines Day approaches, I've been thinking about my own love and the amazing man I've had the privilege to marry.   You see, we do have a pretty special story, yet I'm not sure I've ever recorded it.  We'll be breaking it into multiple posts since it's pretty lengthy, but I wanted to offer as much detail as possible - for posterity sake. I figure maybe you'll be entertained by coming along for a ride.

So our story started in January of 2008, with me living back at home and working (like a dog) for the Girl Scouts.  I'd graduated a year previously, and with my graduation came the close of a two year relationship.  Working in an all female company for an all female clientele - I wasn't meeting any guys at work and really did't have the interest of meeting a guy in a bar.  I'd dated guys from my church before, but their attitudes of women didn't jive with my liberated ways.

It seemed pretty natural to turn to the internet as a potential place to meet someone - although I wasn't convinced that Prince Charming had posted a profile there.  After dabbling with eharmony (it felt like too many hoops for me), I turned to match.com to see who I might find.

I met Dan in January of 2008.  After looking through profiles of Pittsburgh guys, Dan's profile had caught my eye.  His headline read "Looking for a Nice Girl."  He had a handsome smile, and looked like a sweet guy.  Reading through his profile, he seemed so genuine and like a truly "nice guy."  My first impressions were right on.  I "winked" at him, and it wasn't long before he messaged me back.

Our Match.com Profile Pictures - circa 2008

We started talking online, became facebook friends, and just "clicked."  It's been six years, and the first voice mail he ever left me is still saved on my cell phone.  I've listened to it a million times, always smiling at how fond I've become of that once unfamiliar voice.  We scheduled our first date - dinner and a movie.  It all happened so quickly from our first interactions.

We decided to meet at Pittsburgh Mills Mall.  We would see Charlie Wilson's War and have dinner at Houlihans.  I remember walking through the doors and recognizing him immediately - he looked right at me and looked away.  WHAT??? He's lucky I didn't decide to walk right past, but I couldn't resist his really stylish shoes - silly I know, but one of my most vivid memories was thinking that he had some style.  What I didn't realize, was that Dan and I were the same height.  It had never come up, and I towered in chunky heels.  An interesting movie turned into dinner.

He was such a quiet guy - I honestly wasn't sure how the date was going!  We talked about work and our families.  I remember him first mentioning his brothers, moving from New York, and discovering that he had been an Eagle Scout.  "Maybe we can go camping together sometime" he suggested.  In my mind I was thinking it would never happen.  I can't put my finger on why, but that first date, I didn't think he was interested.  I actually didn't think that we'd ever see each other again.  Maybe it was because he seemed so "put together" and 23 year old me (still living at home) didn't feel like I was in the same league.

He walked me to my car, hand in hand, and said something along the lines of "I had a really nice time tonight, and would love to see you again soon."  Who would have thought that this simple but polite statement would melt my heart and be the very start of a lifetime together.

Our "Love Story" continues here!

Our whole story:
Part One: Our First Date
Part Two: In the Beginning
Part Three: Whirl Wind Romance
Part Four: Becoming Family

Moving from Surviving to Thriving

When the ball dropped to ring in the new year, I always feel like it's an awesome opportunity for a fresh start.  Personally, I like the hopefulness about it - it's like you can shed the previous struggles and open your fresh wings in the new year.

I really appreciate Coach Jenn who I had the pleasure of meeting at last year's MomCon who recommended for 2014, setting a theme vs a resolution.  For me, this year's theme will be moving from "surviving" as a mom with twins to "thriving."

What does that mean for me?

- Getting a handle on the physical chaos that our home can be in - from messes to heaps of laundry and household maintenance put off for the tenth time.

- Doing more than just getting through our days, but having intentional play and activities to enrich the kids development.

- To work on our personal well being, which for me means showering more than once every three days and occasionally using all the fancy shmancy makeup that I've collected.  It also means getting enough rest, drinking enough water, and eating better.

So where has that left me and how are we doing?  I have to say that I think we're really on track here a full month into the new year!  I've been using the flylady system (with some adaptations) to get a system in place to control our chaos.  I've been working on "theme weeks" for the kids that will bring together our crafts, field trips, songs, books, activities and more to help us develop some recognition and stay occupied.  And I'm doing quite a bit better with the personal well being, by trying to get dressed every day* and being more conscientious in what I'm eating.

I did cancel my weight watchers membership last night - and it's not because I don't want to eat better - but for me, in this moment, shifting my focus to these other elements really takes away from my time to do some other things, including track food.  Like I recently mentioned - I haven't been making many hair bows, nor have I been blogging a WHOLE lot (still working on that) but I think part of thriving is taking time to reevaluate the daily priorities.  Today, we're still in survival mode, but slowly but surely - I think we're going to make it there sometime in 2014!

Carnegie Science Center: Field Trip Friday

During these super cold Pittsburgh days, I'm longing for something to get us out of the house and keep us busy.  While Dan might think I'm collecting new museum memberships just as fast as I'm collecting new ribbons, I have no regrets in our recent purchase of a Carnegie Museum Membership.

One of my favorite things about their membership in comparison to some others is that the membership can be in the name of one adult for a two adult pass.  Which means that I can take my husband, my mom, OR a girlfriend.  As children aged two and younger are free, we luck out only needing a Dual membership to cover our needs.

While there are TONS of things to do at the science center, for right now, we hang out mainly in the Exploration Station Jr. on the fourth floor.  This one area is enough to keep us busy for at least an hour or two, which is about the extent of our outings.

One of the main highlights of the activity area, for kids aged 3-6, is the giant water table. Complete with fountains, streams, lots of balls, funnels, scoops and more - it's the first place my kids run when arriving.  I hustle to strap them into the provided smocks before they get their clothes soaked.  If your kids are like mine though, smocks don't offer much protection.  I dress them in layers to keep long sleeves from dipping into the drink, and bring extra clothes all the way down to alternate shoes.  SUPER fun and worth the drive down all on it's own!

Other amusements include a GIANT Operation game, letter blocks, lots of books, miscellaneous building materials, and a favorite bin full of stethoscopes and otoscopes.

Above our heads, a climbing apparatus reminiscent of your local playground gives kiddos a view from the top.  No slides necessary, but lost of portholes and stairs for little climbers.

There are more ball gizmos than a kid can handle at the Science Center.  Load them into buckets, shove them into a suction tube, or crank them through a tunnel - all path leads to a holding area above you.  Once enough balls have been loaded, the bell will ring and you'll be showered by balls from above.

What else can you do with your toddler at Carnegie Science Center?
- Meet a friend in the lot tunnels (top left)
- Brush a set of giant dentures, sit on some molars and pose next to a huge toothbrush (top center)
- Pretend to be a farmer (top right)
- Play a tune using unusual percussion instruments (bottom left)
- Visit the resident reptiles (bottom center)
- Get building with these gigantic lego-esque blocks. (bottom right)

We also enjoyed a trip through the miniature railroad and had a bite to eat in the cafeteria.  Definitely enough fun for (at least) a monthly trip to keep us entertained - we can't wait to go back!  Hopefully we'll be able to share more of the fun in a future Field Trip Friday post!

*Thanks to our friends Katie and Audrey for joining us!  Check out Katie's blog at http://b00kends.blogspot.com/!*

The Science Center is also offering special activities on Muchkin Mondays!  Who's joining us next time?  




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GoldieBlox: Good for Girls?

The internets are all a twitter about GoldieBlox - whose superstar Super Bowl ad has put them at the top of facebook's trending topics.  But the buzz is not all positive, criticizing GoldieBlox for their targeted marketing of "gender normative" girls.  Criticisms about product quality, copyright infringement, Chinese labor, and the need for "girl friendly" products drawing the interest of young girls into the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

While I can't speak about the product quality or the politics of the product, I just can't help but add my two cents about the need for "girl friendly products."  So many critics, including many female STEM professionals and strong minded feminists are sharing their beliefs that our girls don't need gendered building and technology toys in order to be interested in STEM.  Generally, the perspective is that we should bring these general building and technology toys out of the "boy" rhelm, and into one of gender neutrality, where girls can engage with these toys in the same manor as the boys do.  Some have even gone as far as to call GoldieBlox's toys "sexist."

And while I am a passionate feminist, with a background in sex and gender studies, I also worked for five years for the Girl Scouts - for a number of those years focusing in STEM programming.  I couldn't agree more that we should be working constantly to "de-gender" many of the toys our children play with, I'd also argue that we don't have the time to wait until these changes are made.

The Girl Scouts have done tremendous research in the past few years about the opinions and experiences of girls in STEM.  There have been two major conclusions that I think speak to support GoldieBlox's attempts to make a unique toy appealing to today's girls.

First, the research is showing that girls enjoy different type of activities with their STEM experiences - primarily in "creation" or "helping" experiences.  So for instance, one of the programs I helped develop while working for the Girl Scouts were those that allowed girls to tell their stories through digital design such as with the ALICE programming software.

Secondly, we know that girls who consider themselves "into" STEM also have much more support from their families, are more likely to be high school and college graduates, and more likely to believe that they deserve equal wages.  Those elements all make it seem like liking STEM make a girl more likely to succeed - but I argue that it actually is the opposite.  I would consider this data to show that girls who are supported, confident and been exposed to egalitarian ideals, are the ones who are most likely going to perceive themselves as "STEM-Girls."

But what about the rest of our girls - those who don't have the same supports and exposures?  Don't they too deserve every opportunity to stretch their mental wings and become our nations best innovators?

And so I argue, just as a mother would, that sometimes we need a "stealth approach" to help our youth have those things that they need - even if they aren't savvy enough to choose it themselves.  When I ran a STEM Conference in my former position, I avoided dry workshops about algebra or physics - but instead - we learned the chemistry of cosmetics in making lip balms and bath bombs.  We learned about solubility in tie-dying with sharpie markers.  We taught them about digital media and programming with iphone apps.  We learned about carbon footprints and had a fashion show out of recyclables.

Some might think that we "dumbed down" the science for these girls - but that's not it at all.  We made science fun and accessible to ALL girls, not just those who thought they liked science.  If the CSI workshop inspires them to take biology, or if making a candy model of a nuclear reactor sparks their interest and empowers their confidence to further explore their interests, I have no regrets in "pinking things up."

As a mom, I work my absolute hardest to limit the gender defining influences by which my kids will undoubtedly be influenced.  I know though, that from the moment we turn on the television, read a book or play with friends - I am powerless to block all of the world's influence on how my children "should do" their gender.  That's not an excuse to lay back and not fight the fight, but a sensible acknowledgement that today's girls ARE influenced by the world's media.  They may not be confident enough to pull out a box of Kinex or ask for a Lego Robot for their birthday.  I hope that someday, they all get there.

But in the meantime, if GoldieBlox's Spining Machine or Parade Float gets one more girl interested in STEM - if one more disease is cured because a girl inspired by a GoldieBlox product becomes a scientist - have they been so damaging to the landscape of STEM Girls?  I used to tell my program partners, "while you're the expert in your field, I'm the expert at girls."  While there may undoubtedly be higher quality building toys that can teach more complex concepts, if they're unattractive to the "everygirl" are they helpful?  I'm so glad that there are many girls out there who are comfortable with neutral toys for building and innovating, but lets not forget the rest of our girls.  The ones who are a little less confident and a little less exposed, just might need GoldieBlox to "pink it up" to get their attention.