Baby Basics: Butterflies & Bees!

This week at baby basics we made adorable footprint Bee & Butterfly canvases! This is a super simple craft to try at home but looks adorable! Check out the instructions below!

Supplies:

Paint (we used sparkly poster paint)

Tulle

Black permanent marker

Small Canvas

Paint baby's foot with multiple colours to make the butterfly wings, press onto the canvas. Paint the other foot to match the other wing. Once you've got two wings, draw the body, head and antenae's on. For a wiggly baby, the bees are a little easier because you only have to paint the foot once, as long as you use lots of paint. Press their foot on to the canvas, cut out teardrop shaped wings from the tulle and glue on with liquid white glue.

As usual, our huggies simply clean wipes saved the day!

We got those baby hands and feet cleaned up before they could leave footprints all over!

My Advice for New Moms - 5 Things I've learned.

Being a mom of many I get asked my advice often, from what car seat to buy to how to make breast feeding work. I unfortunately don't have all the answers, I'm totally flying by the seat of my pants just like everyone else.  But I think it's my duty share the things I have learned in this crazy journey of motherhood so far.    

Get an experienced shopping buddy - I know it seems silly, but sometimes having the right swing, carrier or pump can make all the difference in a new moms life.  Don't pick a mama that had her baby 6 years ago - gadgets change and products evolve. 

Trust your instincts - You're going to get a piece of advice from everyone you know.  Listen attentively to it all, then throw out anything that doesn't sit well with you.   There are a lot of schools of thought on sleeping, breastfeeding, soothing etc.  Listen to your gut and remember that only you know what's right for your baby. 

Don't make decisions at 3am - Once that new baby arrives there will be tough moments.  Moments that require a clear head.  Do everything you can possibly do to get through that middle of the night cry or feeding.  It's all a matter of survival in the first few weeks and making a rash decision you might regret will not feel good in the light of day.

Don't judge yourself - Every single mom makes mistakes.  We've all pinched those little thighs in the car seat or bumped their heads off a wall once in a while.  Babies are very resilient.  Do your best, but if your daughter poops out a dime - laugh about it and carry on.  (please click here for the pooping out a dime story) 

Find your person (or group of people) - Find some mamas that you trust to give you honest feedback and support.  We all need a support network (like momstown) to fall back on when things get tough.  Make sure yours is set up before that baby arrives.  Postpartum hormones + lack of support = one stressed out mama.  

What was the best piece of advice you were given before baby? 

Did you have a support network in place first? 

Top 10 Mommy Tricks I Learned from Pinterest

I know a lot of you mama's use pinterest for craft ideas but momstown arts and crafts is so full of great craft ideas that for me Pinterest has been a godsend to find tips that have made annoying tasks so much easier!  

• Easily de-pit a cherry with a straw - I LOVE cherries but as all you mama's know you can't have anything without sharing it (except for the fudgesicles that I hide in the back of the freezer).  I just stopped buying cherries altogether because they weren't worth the time or the mess they created once they were cut and pit removed.  This post from DIY Home Sweet Home blew my mind!  Push a firm straw through the base of a cherry and the pit pops out!  Also works to hull strawberries!   

• Drip free ice cream cones and popsicles - Stick a few mini marshmallows in the bottom of ice cream cone to avoid dripping or place a cupcake liner around the base of a popsicle to avoid the drips! 

• Bedding Bundles - Store bedding sheets together fold and placed in the pillow case to avoid hunting for all the pieces. Looks great in the closet rather than 1000 pieces spread throughout.  

• Left over wine ice cubes - I know many of you are asking "What's left over wine??" but if you happen to have a splash left in the bottle or have a bottle that you didn't care for, pour it into an ice cube tray and transfer to a freezer bag to use for cooking or even to use in a pinch.  

• Removing heat marks from wood tables - We had a little candle fiasco that left heat marks on our wood table.  After sulking I started googling and found that adding more heat would take the mark out.  I freaked out a little as I applied an iron to an already ruined table but using the link attached the marks came right out! 

• Use a straightener as a mini iron - This one is super simple, but an awesome way to save time in the morning.  Use your straightener to iron the collars on shirts and the wrinkly edges of clothing! 

• Use Marshmallows to soften brown sugar - I've used bread but it only seems to soften the brown sugar that's actually touching the bread. This works much better!

• Baby powder as sand remover - I love going to the park and beach but I hate how covered the kids get with sand! Who knew a little baby powder would take all that pesky sand off their little legs and feet! I tested this out and it really does work! 

• Wooden spoon to avoid over boiling - I tried this the other night with a big pot of potatoes! So cool, just place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot and it doesn't over boil! Who knew? 

• Remove crayon masterpieces from walls and TV's - Use WD40 to take crayon off walls and televisions! 

Have you used any of these tips? 

What is your favourite pinterest find??

Snugabunny Swing a Hit for First Time Parents!

This sweet little angel is my beautiful new niece, Selina.  Her parents tested out the Snugabunny Cradle n' Swing from Fisher-Price.  This swing came together quickly with just a few screws and this little cutie was swinging away in just minutes.  As soon as we put 2 week old Selina into the swing she began looking up at the dome mirror above her. Her parents loved the easy to use buttons and 4 music options. This swing will get great use with this little one!  Something I noticed as a mom with older children in the house was that the buttons were high up, not even my 5 year old could turn it on!  What I love about this swing is it's feels like it's really meant as a cradle swing.  It's so plush and soft and I love the bunny theme, it's great for either gender!  It gently swings from side to side (which I think new babies especially love) and has the options to swing front to back if that's what your baby prefers.

As an experienced mom I'm always asked about the best products for babies.  I always recommend Fisher Price products, especially their baby swings.  My biggest piece of advice for parents while they're swing shopping is - make sure the swing plugs in.  I love the option to have batteries but would much rather use the plug in feature of the Snugabunny Cradle n' Swing.  No late night or early morning runs to the convenience store to pick up "D" batteries for this family.


Thanks Fisher-Price for creating a beautiful swing for these new parents to enjoy!  I'm sure little Selina will spend lots of time in her comfy new cradle swing! 


Doesn't she look just as snug as a bunny?

Tales for Tots: Clifford at the Circus!

momstown loves Clifford! Who is more lovable than that Big Red Dog? Our theme is July was circus so we read Clifford at the Circus but first the kids got to make their very own circus hats! They were happy to design them in all their favourite colours using bingo daubers! In Clifford at the Circus, our favourite red dog finds out that the circus is in need of some help! Clifford saves the day in so many ways, it's a great story about how we can each help out in our way!

 

 

 Each month we do a craft, read a story and give away a copy of the book provided by Scholastic Canada!

Join us next month for Tales for Tots where we'll be reading Wishes by beloved Canadian author Jean Little. It's a great book to open conversations about all of the hopes and dreams our little ones have.

Capital EX - Family Fun for All Ages!

Do you think that Capital EX is just for teens and adults? Think again! The incredible folks at Capital EX have outdone themselves again. There are so many fun options for kids of all ages, even for the under 5 crowd!

On top of all the fun happening on the fair grounds make sure to check out Family Fun Town. Located in the Edmonton Expo center in Hall C and open everyday from noon to 11pm!

Here are some highlights that your kids are sure to love!

• Bixby's Inflatable Rainforest - Enjoy, crafts and interactive play in Bixby’s Inflatable Rainforest Fun Center. Bixby’s Inflatable Rainforest Fun Center includes three inflatable rides: Bixby’s Rainforest Maze, Tiger Big Mouth Slide and the world’s largest touring ball crawl that holds an astounding 20,000 balls.

• Fred Penner - Need I say more?

• Splash'N Boots - Experience the genuine talent and passion that Splash’N Boots brings to children’s entertainment at Capital EX!

• The Farm - Have the chance to be a farmer for the day and learn all about agriculture at The Farm located within the Family Fun Town! Gain hands-on educational experience in barns, gardens and tractor pits while participating in activities such as calf roping, cow milking and potato planting

• Construction Zone - Children will have the chance to learn all about construction and building while using their imaginations to create life-size structures out of colourful blocks!

• Storybook Lane - Watch as live animals illustrate stories from your favourite children’s books! Storybook Lane features pigs, goats and a variety of other animals

On top of all these great activities there are also Meet and Greets with your child's favourite character all week long! 

• Chuck the Dump Truck – July 20 & 21
• Pingu- July 22 & 23
• Angelina Ballerina- July 24 &25
• Strawberry Shortcake – July 26 &27
• Caillou – July 28 & 29

I can't wait to bring my kids this week and experience all Capital EX has to offer! What are you looking forward to most? 

Music for Young Children - A Great Option for Edmonton Parents!

We have found a collection of fantastic music programs within Walters Music Studio on the south side of Edmonton! We love what Music for Young Children is all about.  Their child centered approached as well as their commitment to fun really makes these programs unique! 

MYC offers a unique parent-child learning opportunity. Parents and children work together to learn new ideas and practice their piano at home! Group classes offer children a fun environment to learn music.

Their philosophy is that learning should be fun; the studio integrates lots of music games into their lessons. Children play games to learn and reinforce concepts.

In MYC, children meet in small groups, in their own age category, once a week for an hour, accompanied by an adult (parent, grandparent or caregiver) who participates in the program.

One of our very own momstown mama's Terrie M. checked out the Music Pups classes at Walter's Music studio and was so impressed she wanted to share her experience!

How old are your children?

Rebekkah was 18 months and Declan was 6 months at the start of the class.

What class did you attend?
Music Pups Wednesday morning class @ 9:30 - The Monkey Collection.

What did your child learn through MYC?
She learned to clap to the beat and dance, she loves to dance!  She learned to share and follow instructions (sometimes) and she learned to explore her surroundings, to her mothers dismay :)

What was your favourite part of the class?
I loved watching both of my babies develop a love of music and to see them react and show their distinct like or dislike for a certain song, activity or person.  It was awesome to see glimpses of the people they will be. 

What was your child's favorite part?
I think Rebekkah's favorite part was dancing with Miss Hetty, well dancing and clapping period and finding new instruments.  Declan certainly loved the interactive songs and chewing on the sticks!

Did the class meet or exceed your expectations?
By far exceeded them!

What was different about this class compared to others?
In previous classes that I had attended with both babies it seemed like we miss out and I always struggled to keep both babies calm. Miss Hetty created a space where I felt like it was okay for my babies to explore and if they went beyond what was allowed there was no disapproving look. She was able to help and engage Rebekkah and focus her attention to the current activity.  It was wonderful to not have to constantly chase a child and leave another to do so.

What was your impression of the instructor?
There are not enough hours in the day to write how warm, inviting, engaging and wonderful Hetty is. She is by far the friendliest teacher I have found. It was a pleasure to be in her class and we are certainly looking forward to joining again in the fall!

To learn more about Walters Music Studio & Music for Young Children check them out on facebook or online by clicking here!

How to Host a Brave Themed Birthday Party!

We had a great time celebrating my daughters birthday and incorporated a Brave movie theme into the party since we ended her special day with a trip to the movie theatre with her big kid friends! I love the spirit of princess Merida and the struggle in the relationship between mother and daughter felt genuine and hit very close to home for this mama of two girls. It was so refreshing to see a princess with more interest in blazing her own path than falling in love with prince charming. I loved that the kids felt all grown up going to the movies at night with their friends, it was a first for all of them and the birthday girl felt pretty special!

Here are some ideas to host your own Brave themed party!
  

Activities: The kids made themselves bear ears at the party, we used black foam, grey felt and black pipecleaners. We painted noses on all our little bear cubs to finish it off!

Food: You can stick to Scottish food for the party if you want to keep with the theme, we did a delicious Rainbow Shepherd's Pie, great for feeding a crowd!You could also make scottish breads and cakes like the the one Merida uses to put a spell on her mother! We put out bear claw cookies as a snack for the kids when they arrived.

We used candy to make target cupcakes, it was definitely trial and error! We tried a few different kinds of candies until we found one that would work for the rings of the target. For a yummy cupcake icing check out momstown meals for this great recipe!

Blue Wisp Hunt: We called all the kids to the table for cake but they were in for a big surprise! Instead of cake they found a blue wisp with a note attached, it read:

The cake is missing! It's hidden from view.

If you want your dessert, then here's what you do:

Follow the clues; they'll lead you to more.

To find you're next clue, look by the front door!

The kids leaped from the table and ran to the front door, there they found another Blue Wisp with another clue attached! The wisp hunt brought them all around the house to the backyard and back to the table, where they found the cupcakes magically returned!! 

 

Click here for wording for the clues for your wisp hunt!

  

We made our wisps using styrofoam balls, tissue paper,
gems for the eyes and pipe cleaners for the arms and legs!

We gave our daughter a Merida dress to open at the party and used wash out coloured hairspray to give her the red hair to top it off! Little Merida and her three little bears got a lot of attention all dressed up at the movies!

What Do The Neighbours Think?

Sometimes I wonder what my neighbours think happens in this household. My husband walked in the house the other day and said "What's happening in here? All I can hear is screaming!" I'll break down the meaning of each crazy sound so that no one calls child protective services on our happy little family. Stand outside my house for an hour and this is what it sounds like:

Screaming! High-pitched, ear drum bursting squeals. My sweet angels feel the need to test out their lungs often. They scream in fear when they see a mosquito, in delight when they see a butterfly or at anything at all....all day long.

Tarzan. I don't know how else to describe my oldest daughters new version of singing. It's really lovely. The Tarzan song has no volume adjustment, it comes in loud and louder.

Crying. (lots of it) I have two girls aged 5 and 2 who struggle to get along, share toys and space. Most of the time I can't even tell who started it, I just know that someone needs a hug.

Giggling. This one is my favourite, there is a lot of giggling that happens in this house but it usually ends in with either screaming or crying when a super fun game is no longer fun for one of my kids.

Music. We love music here. At any time of day you may hear my daughters and I doing our best rendition of any Little Mermaid songs or the radio turned up as loud as it goes (you'll hear giggling here too because we're probably dancing around the living room). 

This house is never quiet. Even while the kids are playing alone I have the radio on and I'm singing along. I'm realizing as I write this post that maybe it's to drown out the crazy happening around me. If you hear country music blasting through my windows you'll know that mommy is trying to stay calm (thank you Reba, for your help) I may need a glass of wine too.

I know you didn't take me seriously when I talked about the Tarzan singing earlier. Check out the sample below. Now, put that on repeat 6 hours a day...yep, you'd think your neighbours were crazy too.

My Son's Train Themed Birthday!

My hubby and I had a great time planning our sons 2nd Birthday!  We decided on a train theme this year as Nolan loves anything that has an engine.  

The cute train display to hold the fruit, veggies and dip we made was a hit!  We bought small containers from the dollar store, glued paper wheels to them and placed them on a train track mat on our island.  We also made some cute train sandwiches for the kids.  Stick the pretzels and crackers on with jam or tuna and they make a yummy, fun snack!  

Add an adorable Thomas the Train cake and we had a great time celebrating 2 years with our baby boy!

Enter to Win Tickets to Sesame Street Live!

We're giving away a Family 4 pack

of tickets to Sesame Street Live!

How to Enter:

Take part in our Sesame Street message board thread, every post is an entry!

Click here to join in the fun!

Not a momstown member? Sign up for a free trial membership at http://edmonton-south.momstown.ca/user/register before July 31st, 2012 for one entry, then jump into the discussion on the message board!

For bonus entries, watch our facebook page for posts about this contest - click share for an extra entry! Be sure to like us on facebook to keep up with everything happening around the neighbourhood!

Contest closes July 31st at 11:59pm MST.

Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music”

Edmonton, AB; The Edmonton Expo Centre

Friday, August 3 through Sunday, August 5, 2012

Mark your calendar for this once-in-a-lifetime event—monsters becoming musicians! Elmo, The Count, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie and all their funny and furry friends are taking to the stage to share the magical world of music with children. When Jenny, the new Sesame Street music teacher, moves into town, her instruments get lost. Jenny’s new Sesame Street friends quickly come to her rescue, and they all discover "instruments" that they never knew existed…rubber duckies, trash can lids and even their own laps! The characters teach children, and themselves, that everyone has the ability to make beautiful music, whether they realize it or not. Don’t miss this opportunity to count along with The Count, visit Elmo’s World and do the Crumb-A-Rumba with Rosita and Cookie Monster at Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music."

Come and Play BEFORE the Show! VEE Corporation introduces Play Zone at Sesame Street Live - a fun new way for children to experience their favorite street! Imagine your child sitting in Big Bird's nest, popping up in Oscar's trash can, twirling in Zoe's dance studio or visiting Elmo's World. You never know who'll make an appearance! Families won't want to miss a single picture-perfect moment. Play Zone opens one hour before the show - best of all, Play Zone is FREE with your Sesame Street Live ticket!

·         Six (6) delightful performances!  Tickets on-sale now at the box office and all Ticketmaster locations. 

·         To charge by phone, call 855-985-5000.

Ticket information

·         Ticket prices: $15, $22, $28, $40 (Gold Circle) & $75 (Sunny Seats). 

·         Opening Night (Friday, August 3 at 7 PM)—All seats $15 (excluding Gold Circle and Sunny Seats).

·         Group savings available.  Groups 10+ call 780-409-2595.

·         Additional fees/surcharges may apply.

Get the ultimate fan experience with Sunny Seats!
Sunny Seats include VIP seating, a Meet & Greet with Elmo and another Sesame Street Live character before the show, plus access to the Sesame Street Live Play Zone before the general public!