1. My kids have the same joyful belly laugh, although Tate’s sometimes sounds a bit more like a growl.
2. Actually, almost everything coming out of Tate’s mouth these days sounds like a growl. If you ask him what a cow says, he growls “Mrrrrroooooorrrr!” and then laughs maniacally.
3. We are pretty sure Tate thinks he is a dinosaur.
4. Lulu’s favorite things about soccer are the parent tunnel at the end, water breaks and snacks. Her least favorite thing is actually playing the game of soccer.
5. My gluten/dairy experiment is over, so I ate bread sticks from the Olive Garden and now I feel like I might die. Apparently I should have eased into it a bit more.
6. I haven’t slept more than five hours a night in over a week due to lots of projects and fun things. I am happy, but very tired.
8. We are contemplating a real change in our home/lifestyle/career path as a family and it is really scary. I am spending way too much time feeling scared. I can’t wait to make a decision so I can just own it.
9. I am currently obsessed with this song. It will make you want to get to work.
10. I think we are entering a fleeting golden period with the kids. Lucy is sweet and hilarious, while Tate is joyful and happy (most of the time). Before I know it Tate will hit the the two-year-old slump and Lucy will start the sassy mid-elementary school stuff and I’ll look fondly back at this period full of bedtime dance parties.
11. Being a “lifestyle” blogger is strange business. All of a sudden this blog is being read by people who don’t know me in real life. I am so grateful for all the opportunities headed my way, but it’s weird to have people who only know you from what you put out there on the Internet. I often wonder if who I am on here is the same as who I am in person. Like I said, it’s a strange business.
I’ve posted in the past about that I get made at Blurb.com every year (you can see more here), but I couldn’t help but share the newest addition to our collection. Yes, I do realize that we are now in the third quarter of 2012, but cut me some slack, 2011 was a huge year for us. In fact, the 2011 book was twice the size of any other year we’ve done so far. I blame a few things, but mostly, I think it was the addition of Mr. Tate. Technically, he’s a part of the 2010 book, but only for a few pages at the end since he was born around Christmas. So the 2011 book was the first book full of both kids, which led the amount of pictures to double. In addition, Lu graduated preschool, started Kindergarten, we went to Disney World…let’s just say there were a TON of photos to choose from. I’m super excited about how it turned out!
Each book is named after one of our favorite songs* from that year, and this year’s was “All I Need” by Radiohead. This has significance for us since we finally were able to see Radiohead in concert (a 2011 Christmas gift from Trent to me!) and because of the words themselves. This little family, plus my amazing friend network, is really all I need.
The cover photo is from our photoshoot with Nicole Coleman last fall. Have I mentioned how much I miss her? Wah! I miss you Nicole.
I love seeing all of my books lined up on a shelf or laying out on a coffee table and pulling them down to remember all of the amazing times we’ve had together. I am pretty freaking lucky.
————————————————————–
*Funny story, Trent was looking through some of our older yearly books and was like, “Where did you get the title ‘I And Love and You’?” [for the 2009 book]. I told him it was from the Avett Brothers song, and he was all, “Oh, I always wondered where that came from and then I heard the song the other day and wondered if that was why.” I’ve been doing these books for years and he never realized where I was getting the titles…he just thought I was a weirdo. And I thought I was so profound!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2012-08-29 08:43:202013-01-22 09:22:44The 2011 Blurb Book
How did people parent before the iPhone? I have been an iPhone devotee since Lulu was about three, and having that magical little box with us on long trips or in doctor’s office waiting rooms has been such a lifesaver. We use the iPhone for everything, from getting directions to recipes for a quick dinner to a white noise machine when we’re staying in a hotel. But my kids’ favorite thing to do on the iPhone is play games. So here, without further adieu, are Lulu and Tate’s favorite iPhone apps.
1. Way Cooler – This app takes your photos and makes them, well, way cooler. Lulu has loved playing around, taking photos of herself and others, and adding googly eyes, crazy noses, little creatures and all sorts of fun embellishments. The aesthetic kind of reminds me of old school Ren and Stimpy, and the gross factor is just fun enough for kids her age. Best part, it’s FREE!
2. Toca Boca Birthday Party – Pretty much anything from Toca Boca is on Lulu’s list (we also have the Christmas app, the clean-up app and the haircut app), but her current favorite is Birthday Party. You pick each part of the party, things like a cake, gifts, drinks, plates, etc., and then throw a little party. Lu would spend forever with this game if we let her. Cost – $1.99
3. Fruit Ninja – This is a game that is addictive for kids and adults. Basically, you’re trying to slice up fruit with a ninja sword (aka, your finger) before it falls to the bottom of the screen. Lu likes to play in easy mode, but if you play in game mode, it can get pretty intense. All four of us enjoy this one. Cost – $0.99
4. Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App – Pretty much anything from Mo Willems is fantastic, and this app doesn’t disappoint. It’s based on his characters from the Pigeon Book Series, and let’s kids create their own stories and then save them to read later. It’s sort of like a mad libs with a grumpy pigeon. There are other features too, like learning how to draw the pigion and memory games with the bus driver. Cost – $4.99
1. Wheels on the Bus – This is one of the first apps I bought when Lu was little, and Tate loves it too. The Wheels on the Bus is one of his favorite songs, so he gets really excited when the music starts playing. For each verse, there is a new screen where you act out parts of the song, while singing along. Cost – $0.99
2. Peekaboo Barn – This is by far Tate’s favorite thing to do on the iPhone. This app teaches kids about animals, and when each animal knocks at the barn door, Tate gets so excited to hear their noises. He likes to steal my phone and I’ll find him sitting with this game on his bedroom floor. Little rascal. Cost – $1.99
3. Sprout TV App – This is a great app made by PBS Sprout for kids to watch their programming in a safe environment. Tate will yell “Coooookkkiiiieeee” until you pull up this app and let him watch clips of Cookie Monster. This only works well with Wifi, so keep that in mind when you promise your little one they can watch it. Cost – Free
What are your favorite apps or games for kids? Any lifesavers out there I should know about?
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.png00Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2012-08-28 12:27:332012-08-28 12:27:33Our Favorite iPhone Apps for Kids
Truths.
/5 Comments/in Blond /by MeganThis is a list of things that are true:
1. My kids have the same joyful belly laugh, although Tate’s sometimes sounds a bit more like a growl.
2. Actually, almost everything coming out of Tate’s mouth these days sounds like a growl. If you ask him what a cow says, he growls “Mrrrrroooooorrrr!” and then laughs maniacally.
3. We are pretty sure Tate thinks he is a dinosaur.
4. Lulu’s favorite things about soccer are the parent tunnel at the end, water breaks and snacks. Her least favorite thing is actually playing the game of soccer.
5. My gluten/dairy experiment is over, so I ate bread sticks from the Olive Garden and now I feel like I might die. Apparently I should have eased into it a bit more.
6. I haven’t slept more than five hours a night in over a week due to lots of projects and fun things. I am happy, but very tired.
7. I found a new favorite (lazy) hair tool.
8. We are contemplating a real change in our home/lifestyle/career path as a family and it is really scary. I am spending way too much time feeling scared. I can’t wait to make a decision so I can just own it.
9. I am currently obsessed with this song. It will make you want to get to work.
10. I think we are entering a fleeting golden period with the kids. Lucy is sweet and hilarious, while Tate is joyful and happy (most of the time). Before I know it Tate will hit the the two-year-old slump and Lucy will start the sassy mid-elementary school stuff and I’ll look fondly back at this period full of bedtime dance parties.
11. Being a “lifestyle” blogger is strange business. All of a sudden this blog is being read by people who don’t know me in real life. I am so grateful for all the opportunities headed my way, but it’s weird to have people who only know you from what you put out there on the Internet. I often wonder if who I am on here is the same as who I am in person. Like I said, it’s a strange business.
The 2011 Blurb Book
/1 Comment/in Gimme, Photos /by MeganI’ve posted in the past about that I get made at Blurb.com every year (you can see more here), but I couldn’t help but share the newest addition to our collection. Yes, I do realize that we are now in the third quarter of 2012, but cut me some slack, 2011 was a huge year for us. In fact, the 2011 book was twice the size of any other year we’ve done so far. I blame a few things, but mostly, I think it was the addition of Mr. Tate. Technically, he’s a part of the 2010 book, but only for a few pages at the end since he was born around Christmas. So the 2011 book was the first book full of both kids, which led the amount of pictures to double. In addition, Lu graduated preschool, started Kindergarten, we went to Disney World…let’s just say there were a TON of photos to choose from. I’m super excited about how it turned out!
Each book is named after one of our favorite songs* from that year, and this year’s was “All I Need” by Radiohead. This has significance for us since we finally were able to see Radiohead in concert (a 2011 Christmas gift from Trent to me!) and because of the words themselves. This little family, plus my amazing friend network, is really all I need.
The cover photo is from our photoshoot with Nicole Coleman last fall. Have I mentioned how much I miss her? Wah! I miss you Nicole.
I love seeing all of my books lined up on a shelf or laying out on a coffee table and pulling them down to remember all of the amazing times we’ve had together. I am pretty freaking lucky.
*Funny story, Trent was looking through some of our older yearly books and was like, “Where did you get the title ‘I And Love and You’?” [for the 2009 book]. I told him it was from the Avett Brothers song, and he was all, “Oh, I always wondered where that came from and then I heard the song the other day and wondered if that was why.” I’ve been doing these books for years and he never realized where I was getting the titles…he just thought I was a weirdo. And I thought I was so profound!
Our Favorite iPhone Apps for Kids
/4 Comments/in Fun, Gimme, Lucy, Tate /by MeganHow did people parent before the iPhone? I have been an iPhone devotee since Lulu was about three, and having that magical little box with us on long trips or in doctor’s office waiting rooms has been such a lifesaver. We use the iPhone for everything, from getting directions to recipes for a quick dinner to a white noise machine when we’re staying in a hotel. But my kids’ favorite thing to do on the iPhone is play games. So here, without further adieu, are Lulu and Tate’s favorite iPhone apps.
1. Way Cooler – This app takes your photos and makes them, well, way cooler. Lulu has loved playing around, taking photos of herself and others, and adding googly eyes, crazy noses, little creatures and all sorts of fun embellishments. The aesthetic kind of reminds me of old school Ren and Stimpy, and the gross factor is just fun enough for kids her age. Best part, it’s FREE!
2. Toca Boca Birthday Party – Pretty much anything from Toca Boca is on Lulu’s list (we also have the Christmas app, the clean-up app and the haircut app), but her current favorite is Birthday Party. You pick each part of the party, things like a cake, gifts, drinks, plates, etc., and then throw a little party. Lu would spend forever with this game if we let her. Cost – $1.99
3. Fruit Ninja – This is a game that is addictive for kids and adults. Basically, you’re trying to slice up fruit with a ninja sword (aka, your finger) before it falls to the bottom of the screen. Lu likes to play in easy mode, but if you play in game mode, it can get pretty intense. All four of us enjoy this one. Cost – $0.99
4. Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App – Pretty much anything from Mo Willems is fantastic, and this app doesn’t disappoint. It’s based on his characters from the Pigeon Book Series, and let’s kids create their own stories and then save them to read later. It’s sort of like a mad libs with a grumpy pigeon. There are other features too, like learning how to draw the pigion and memory games with the bus driver. Cost – $4.99
1. Wheels on the Bus – This is one of the first apps I bought when Lu was little, and Tate loves it too. The Wheels on the Bus is one of his favorite songs, so he gets really excited when the music starts playing. For each verse, there is a new screen where you act out parts of the song, while singing along. Cost – $0.99
2. Peekaboo Barn – This is by far Tate’s favorite thing to do on the iPhone. This app teaches kids about animals, and when each animal knocks at the barn door, Tate gets so excited to hear their noises. He likes to steal my phone and I’ll find him sitting with this game on his bedroom floor. Little rascal. Cost – $1.99
3. Sprout TV App – This is a great app made by PBS Sprout for kids to watch their programming in a safe environment. Tate will yell “Coooookkkiiiieeee” until you pull up this app and let him watch clips of Cookie Monster. This only works well with Wifi, so keep that in mind when you promise your little one they can watch it. Cost – Free
What are your favorite apps or games for kids? Any lifesavers out there I should know about?