Tag Archives: boys

Sidewalk Chalk Art Mosaic

I’ve been taking my queue from social media and other photos I’ve seen posted by my fellow Mommy friends, as far as activities and things to do with the kids while we shelter in place. An easy, yet fun and creative project is to make your own mosaic with sidewalk chalk! I have also seen this done on windows too.

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It’s a pretty simple activity for any age, toddlers on up…and the only supplies you need are tape – we used blue painters tape, and the chalk! I purchased the $1 chalk tubs at Target and found the tape there as too, but I’m sure you can find these items at the dollar stores or other arts and crafts and school supply aisles! You can use your imagination to lay it out however you please. We decided to create a star. The first thing I did was lay out the outline of a star, then I criss-crossed the tape to create smaller shapes within out star for several spaces to create our mosaic.

Another nice thing about this project is you can do it as a family, or the kids can divide up the spaces that need to be filled in or they can even do it solo.

I really enjoyed seeing my boys take some time to plot out what colors they would use, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. I encouraged them to use all the colors and make it their own.

Plus, after being home for a few weeks, it was nice to enjoy the fresh air and just be…let those creative juices flow!

Perhaps the most satisfying part of the project…pulling up the tape and seeing the big reveal!

Kids Haircuts without the Stress

If you’re a parent who has ever felt a little anxiety when it comes to taking your kid for a haircut, I feel you. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like something that is a big deal, because as an adult having someone else tame my mane is an outing I look forward to, but not so much for the kiddos.

The first time you take your baby for a hair cut, it’s a milestone. It’s like a step toward “big kid” status, a sign of growing up. And while it’s exciting and new, there is also the stress of finding the right place to have the cut done and wondering if your child will cooperate and stay still.

As the years go on, the challenges change, but making the “you’re getting a haircut” announcement is often met with a non-compliant response. My boys are always stuck on having a particular haircut and when I ask when they want to go, they will keep putting it off! For the most part, it’s a chore I have left for their Dad, but “surprise,” he doesn’t make it a priority.

All this to say, that a recent trip to Pigtails and Crewcuts in Sacramento’s Natomas neighborhood, proved to be a success! I first met the salon’s owner and one of their stylists when they came on my show to do a segment about the salon and the services there. They then invited me to take my boys and experience what they offer, and I’m so happy to say it was quick and easy!

The salon is family-friendly and fun. There’s a dedicated playroom for kids to play and hangout whil they wait around. There’s also a full size train table and lots of TV screens with movies and video games for the older kids.

Children can elect to have their cuts done in a number of different vehicle chairs they have…my 7-year old insisted on sitting in the train and he loved it. They also have regular chairs for the rest of the family (mom and dad) to have their hair did too!

One thing that is so great for parents is, it’s a busy atmosphere, so making noise and the chaos that comes with kids is perfectly fine. They are used to it, they welcome it and their stylists can work with it. I was pretty amazed at how quickly they got the cuts done, even with the boys moving around and being easily distracted. Plus the stylists were very personable and easy to work with…and being kid-friendly is key!

I would highly recommend for other parents to give Pigtails and Crewcuts a try. The prices are very reasonable and the service was great. Plus they even gave my kids a little “color” (non-permanent) to complete their looks! After the service was finished, they offered my kids animal crackers and a prize from the treasure chest. And — the salon also offers other items for sale and you can even do a kid’s “spa” party there too!

Top Moments of 2018

The days, months, years as a parent fly by, as much as we focus on just getting through a day and look forward to trips, events and making memories, sometimes those achievements and milestones all start to blend. So, since today is the last day of 2018, I decided I want to reflect on some of our top moments in the past year.

Texas – For Spring Break we traveled to Texas and visited family and friends in Dallas and Houston. We watched a Dallas Mavericks game, went to the Houston Zoo, Space Center Houston and Kemah Boardwalk. It’s great to be able to expand their minds, show them new places and watch as they explore.

Baseball – From our farm ball team, to summer league, taking in several Oakland A’s games and ending the year with winter baseball camp, the boys definitely have a love for the game.

Photo Shoot – We booked our first lifestyle print modeling gig together, as a Mom and two sons! It’s easy work for them…they had to play with toys for the gig.

California Adventure – I had a work trip to Anaheim to check out Pixar Fest at the Disneyland Resort, and I was able to bring the boys along for the ride! It was a quick one day trip for them, fly down to SoCal in the morning, then last flight back home at night… I had to explain to them, that’s not “normal,” and that they were very lucky to have that experience.

Pre-K Graduate – Isaiah successfully completed preschool and couldn’t wait to join his big bro in elementary school.

Hawaii – The Hawaiian Islands are probably my most favorite places to visit, and this year I was able to take the boys to Maui to get their first taste of aloha. They loved it, and they think this will be a yearly adventure now!

4th of July Parade – Every year our city has an Independence Day parade and for the second year in a row, the boys were in it!

School – This fall, both of them started at the same school on the same schedule. I have a kindergartener and a first grader, seriously…this is when I’m thinking time needs to slow down!

 

Green Fish – The local swimming pool association where we live offers free KinderSwim lessons for kindergarteners in the spring and fall. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for the kids to really get comfortable in the water and swim with classmates. My boys each took it a step further by earning “green fish,” which means they can torpedo across the pool, front and back and also tread water for 5 MINUTES! I’m still beyond amazed at the accomplishment.

Disney World – An October trip to Florida gave me the opportunity to make a quick stop in Orlando to take the boys to Disney World and Hollywood Studios. We stood in line for nearly 3 hours and endured 2 rain delays while trying to get on the Slinky Dog roller coaster in Toy Story Land. I think the fact that my boys actually endured the wait and saw it through to actually get on the ride is HUGE in itself.

Turkey Trot – For the second Turkey Day in a row, my boys participated in the Oakland Turkey Trot fun run called, “Stomper’s Stomp.” There was an absolute downpour as soon as the race started, but it didn’t stop my love bugs from being the first to finish!

What a year!! And now- time to do it all again… more memories, milestones and Mom-life!

 

Bay Area Summer Stop: Muir Woods with Kids

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The boys and I trekked over to Marin for a hike through Muir Woods. I had always heard about Muir Woods and the giant redwoods, but I had never actually made the trip, so I figured it would be a fun day trip to do with my boys. My sister and her 2-month old baby boy also joined us for the excursion. I didn’t do much research before our visit, I had a decent idea of where to go and what to expect…so I went with it!

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Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and it’s known for its giant redwood trees! My boys have a thing right now where they’re trying to understand measurements and anything “100 tall” is as big as it gets, so I figured they’d get a kick out of these super tall trees…plus, we’d all get a workout in!

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One of the thing I really appreciated about the main trail is that the beginning is made up of a wood boardwalk and the terrain is easy to navigate. Although it was a very sunny day, once you get inside, the trees provide lots of cover and shade and it can get a little cool, so be sure to layer. However, I loved that it was a comfortable walk with a few different choices of places to hike and 3 different bridges you could cross to tailor the length and duration of your hike.

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I’m not a usual hiker, but I figured I’d sport my favorite Fabletics workout gear. Yes, I’m wearing a fanny pack …and yes, I’m “posing” in the woods. Both of those photos are courtesy of my 4-year old. These pants are great for just about any workout and hiking too, and equal parts fashion and function! I love the mesh panels in the back of these pants because it’s fashionable, comfortable and keeps me cool. I’ve gotten numerous compliments while out and about while wearing Fabletics and the price point is affordable too!

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My guys had a great time on the trail running ahead of me and my sister…the terrain is easy enough where my sister wore her baby and I didn’t have to worry too much about my boys slipping and falling… If you’re quiet (my boys have issues with noise control), you can even hear the water running through the center of the woods.

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They got a kick out of looking for sticks along the way and seeing how many “holes” they could find within the wood fence lining the groves of trees. There was also one tree that was still standing and hollowed out where they could stand inside to get a feeling for the depth and size of the trees.

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All in all, it’s a great day or even half-day trip. The drive out there on Highway 1 is pretty curvy, so be sure to allow for extra time to get out there, and we’ve heard the nearby parking lots can get pretty packed. We went around 11am on a weekday and didn’t have an issue. Restrooms are located near the parking lot and also once you enter Muir Woods near the cafe. Yes, there is a cafe and gift shop there, so it’s a nice place to check out after your hike. We actually packed some lunch and found a nice bench to enjoy our food before driving home. If you haven’t checked it out, make sure to put this one on your list of things to do with the kids!

 

 

Spiderman Birthday Party

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Two parties in six days, that was my life this past week. We started with TMNT for my 5-year old, and finished the birthday week with SPIDERMAN for my now 4-year old.

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We chose to have this party at a complex near us, called Bladium. The nice thing about Bladium is that you can choose what activities the kids can do during your party. We chose Rock Climbing as our main activity the first hour, then for the second hour they moved us into another area where the kid’s had use of the basketball court and a giant inflatable slide!

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At this venue, all the parties are done in 2 hour blocks and they include pizza and drinks for the kids. I liked that they allowed us to bring additional food (aside from pizza) to serve to our guests. They assign you a party host who stays with you and watches all the kids during your event.

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When it came to the cake, I got ours at Safeway and elected for the cupcake cake! We had both white and chocolate cake and what I like about these cakes is that you don’t need a knife, just pull it apart!

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I didn’t go all out on decor for this party, I had a themed tablecloth, plates and napkins…but I did make the “happy birthday” banner that I found at this website.

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What I did do though is get a pinata, which was hung from the basketball hoop and it was a big hit with all the kids!

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We also sent pour guests home with their own “Spidey Web.” I picked up Goofy String from Dollar Tree and transformed the cans with this printable. It was super easy and a big it with the kids..I just had to politely ask them to wait until they got home to start spraying!

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So, now I’m birthday party planned out…until next year, I’ll have two very happy super heroes!

 

San Francisco Hike with Kids

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It was definitely NOT a sunny gorgeous day, but it looked like the rain clouds were going to stay away and I had been wanting to take the kids out for a hike in San Francisco. Specifically I wanted to check out Lands End and the Sutro Baths. I was very excited to be making the trek with my boys, because despite being a Bay Area native, I had never been…AND I’ve always wanted to see these historic sites first hand.

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All in all, Land’s End Trail is about a 3.5 mile loop, it’s a very popular (tourist) destination and it offers fantastic views of the Bay/Pacific Ocean and has tons of pretty wildflowers along the trail as well. The day we went out for the hike, whales could be seen in the distance – with the help of binoculars!

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My boys took to the walk right away, there were all kinds of trees, hills and rocks to keep them occupied.

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Our first stop was to the Lands End Labyrinth, which I kept saying was a “maze,” however on this hike I learned a labyrinth has one shared entry/exit point, while a maze may have multiple entrances, exits and dead ends…who knew?! If you’re hiking with smaller children, you’ll want to hold them tight while getting down tot the labyrinth. It’s a pretty steep slope to get down there, and it’s a dirt staircase which can be on the slippery side too. Nonetheless, we made it…however I got quite the work out going down and back up!

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My boys also busied themselves on the hike by looking out for sticks to collect along our route…

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Our last stop of the hike was to see the Sutro Baths. Per wikipedia:

The Sutro Baths were a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex in the Lands End area of the Outer Richmond District in western San Francisco. The Sutro Baths were opened to the public in 1896, as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment.

So, on the hike you can still see the ruins and there is also a cave you can walk through, where the tide goes in and out, that the kids think is pretty cool!

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After the hike, if you’re hungry or want to grab a snack, there are a few options that overlook the (Sutro Bath) ruins, and we chose Louis’..it was a the perfect way to cap off the afternoon hike! All in all, this was about a 2 hour outing, and time well-spent!

 

Steam Train at Tilden Park

 

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On a Sunday afternoon whim, I decided to venture out with my boys the short distance from where we live to Tilden Park. Isaiah had been asking me for the past several weeks to go on a train ride, and while he would’ve settled for a BART outing, I wanted something a little more fit for my little man! I had heard about the steam train rides through the park, we had visited the adjacent Little Farm last year, and on this day, we finally made the trek out to Tilden. And, before you go, always be sure to check the steam train website aka Redwood Valley Railway.

The single ride tickets were just $3 each, so it wasn’t going to break the bank and it’s super safe, even for the little ones, so that made it more enjoyable for me. The ride was about 15 minutes through the tall trees of the park, there were some fun turns and a couple passes through the tunnel too which were perfect because Isaiah was wearing his glow in the dark shirt, so he got a kick out of seeing it “light up” when it got dark in the tunnel.

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Anyhow, we must’ve timed it just right because after out steam train ride, we walked down to where they had the Golden Gate Miniature Railroad and we hopped on one of the last trips of the day! This was a no cost ride, but they happily accept donations. I believe it is run by retired train enthusiasts who are all too happy to share their hobby with the public.

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Since our two train rides didn’t take up much time, we decided to venture over to the Merry-Go-Round. This is not something you can walk to, it’s a little more than a mile away from where the trains are…so we got back in the car and made our way over. It’s an old-school antique carousel with beautiful, carved wooden animals for the kids (and adults) to ride. They also have a snack bar there and seating where you can sit back and relax. Rides on the carousel are $2 a pop.

All in all, I’m so glad we made it an afternoon adventure at Tilden Park. We had a great time and it was the perfect place, activities and day to burn off some Sunday Funday energy.

Let’s Play…T-Ball!

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This Spring our family has ventured into the wonderful world of T-Ball! Yup, this is just the beginning. We’re giving up our weekend and devoting it to practices and games, and so far, so good.

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One of the advantages of having two kids who are a mere 53 weeks apart, is that when it comes to youth sports, they can be on the same team. I don’t know if it will always be that way, or work out (to my advantage) that way, but for now they are on the same T-Ball team, so I’m not being pulled between two locations, times, games, practices, etc… and I think it’s great they can start this experience together.

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We’re about to hit the halfway mark for the season, but I figured I might as well share some of my thoughts, tips and advice as a new T-Ball/baseball Mom…to date!

Plan Ahead and Research – Chances are, there are more than one (little league) for you to chose from in your area. And while many of youth leagues are similar, they are not the same. Plan ahead to find out when to register (early registration can save you money), check on the age requirements and find out when/where practices and games are held.

Talk to other Moms (and Dads) – I know I spoke to a friend of mine who has been pulling double duty with her boys, but she loves it. She gave me tips on what to look for and shared her experiences with me…she also passed on some hand me down gear that her boys had out grown! 😉 I also spoke to other parents who have already played in the league we were considering, so they gave me valuable insight that helped me decide to sign up, and I had a good idea of what to expect.

Don’t Go Overboard – It will be tempting to buy and spend on all the necessities for your ball player(s)…BUT it may be wise to wait – until you’re sure this will be a longer term investment. Sure there will be a few items you will need to purchase, however I suggest checking around for hand me down/gently used cleats and other equipment. A baseball glove is usually mandatory, but when they’re just starting out, it doesn’t need to be a top dollar, top of the line glove. It’s okay to be conservative with what you spend. On our team, we have team bats and helmets that we share, while the hats and team jerseys were covered in our registration fees, and coincidentally the Oakland A’s and Black Bear Diner sponsored the uniforms for all the T-Ball and Farm teams in our league! So then, I found inexpensive baseball pants, and purchased socks and belts to complete the uniform.

Pictures – Have your camera and/or phone ready to start snapping these memorable moments. In this day and age, we are so fortunate to be able to snap away and have all these images and videos instantly. Take advantage of it and enjoy! There will inevitably be the “professional” shots through the organization you join. You can buy their prints at your discretion, but again, no need to overdo it, as it gets expensive…but making sure to capture your own shots is free…you make sure you’re not shooting into the sun and that you frame it just right!

Be Social and Get Involved – I get it, sometimes you’re not trying to give up your free time or be extra social when you’re not on the (job) clock, and that’s fine, BUT be social enough to make sure it’s not only a good experience for the kids, but for the entire family. Parent involvement is key in youth sports, because many times they are just volunteer positions. You will see these families every weekend and we all want to make sure it’s a fun and fulfilling experience for everyone involved. So, be responsive and communicate about schedules for practices, games, snacks. etc… or volunteer to help out at practice. I’m sure the manager and other parents will appreciate it!

I’ll be sure to post again after our first T-Ball season ends..until then, “Let’s Play…T-Ball!!”

 

 

Chabot Space and Science Center

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In my quest for new and fun things to do with my young boys, I came across the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. It’s located in the hills about Oakland, nestled among huge redwood trees! I wasn’t sure if my children would be too young to enjoy a science center, but I knew they do cater to children and my curiosity was peeked to see what they have to offer.

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Unexpectedly, my kids had a blast, from the moment we walked into the first room, they quickly took to the exhibits, standing in the black light – learning about “nebulae,” to gazing into telescopes and getting their first peek into outer space. The thing about museums or centers like this, is that while there’s always lots of signage with instructions and info – that my young sons can’t read yet, everything is hands on. And, even if they don’t quite understand the universe, it’s not a bad idea to introduce these things early, and just let them explore!

Stacks on stacks… #raefthomas #isaiahjoaquin #chabotspaceandscience #blocks #toddlers #discoveryroom

A photo posted by Aubrey Aquino (@fifty3weeks) on


We visited on  Wednesday morning in early June, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. There was at least one school field trip group there, but the place is big enough that we still felt like we had our run of the center.

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There was also a fun “discovery” room, where school group are not allowed. My boys gave their hand at building with huge lego blocks and spent some time with hard hats piecing together wood construction pieces too.

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One of their favorite attractions was this huge scream box where you could stand inside and just let it ALL out! Scream at the very top of your lungs and watch the sound waves on the screen while your “screaming” photo is captured.

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Other highlights of this Bay Area summer stop were the astronaut and space station exhibits – I was surprised to hear my (2 year old) younger son use the term astronaut and show me that he already was familiar with astronauts!

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Overall, it was a fun ride. We spent little more than 2 hours there, capping our visit off with a movie in the planetarium. It was a cartoonish video about kids who journey to outer space in a cardboard rocketship…and we visited all the planets!

Our Favorite Rides at Disneyland

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On our family’s recent trip to SoCal, I was the only family member who had ever been to Disneyland before. It was a first for our two boys and  first for Daddy too! And — it was then a FIRST for us as a family, I mean it felt all new to me since the last time I went was many moons ago for grad night when I was a senior in high school! LOL!!

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I think we lucked out with weather and picking a good day to be in the park. We beat the Spring Break rush and temperatures were in the mid 70’s! I downloaded the Disneyland app before we got there so I could see how it worked and how it might help us when it comes to ride time (highly recommend doing this), but we didn’t really need to use it too much. Typically we had to wait 5-15 minutes for most rides, with our longest waits being about 30 minutes. Ride-wise we pretty much got to experience all of the ones our kids were qualified for…we skipped any big rides like Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Haunted House or Space Mountain, but had plenty of time to jump on the rest. The only one ride I wish we could’ve done was Peter Pan, but hey, save something for next time, right??

Thinking back, one of the things I can appreciate about the majority of the rides there that simply require the shorter set to be accompanied by an adult is that for the most part you get on the ride and it’s taking you through a maze of attractions telling a story, something we can all enjoy. I will say Alice and Wonderland and Pinocchio’s Daring Journey were a little dark (kinda scary) for the boys, and Roger Rabbit is way before their time, but everything else was lots of fun.

All that being said, these were each of our “first time” favorites.

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Raef loved the Astro Orbitor. It was the first ride we went on after enjoying our character breakfast at Plaza Inn, and at the end of the day he still proclaimed it as his favorite ride of the day. I think he liked being high in the sky and able to control going up and down!

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My favorite was the Mad Tea Party, you know teacups! I liked this one because we all got to sit in one teacup together and spin around and around…

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Isaiah’s favorite kept changing throughout the day with Dumbo the Flying Elephant being his most consistent pick, BUT for sure, his highlight was meeting Pluto in Toon Town. Toon Town was a lot of fun. We got to meet Mickey at his house, hang out with Goofy, ride a roller coaster and more. However, when Pluto showed up, it made Isaiah’s day!

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T (Dad) says he had no preference. I will say he beat us all at Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters though… In this ride, you have these laser guns and there are targets along the ride route that you can aim for and earn points…well I only discovered that halfway through, so when I realized how to make my score go up the ride was already half done! HAHA! However, when we disembarked I say that T had amassed the most points, clearly he was in the competitive spirit of the ride.

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Other favorites included It’s a Small World – Raef keeps re-watching a youtube video of the ride and singing its signature song. The carousel is always a big hit and the daytime Mickey’s Soundsational parade was also lots of fun. We didn’t do any of the Star Wars stuff this time around, but I know next time we visit, that will be a main attraction.