Yoga Pretzel Cards

We have added a new step in our before-bedtime routine for the kids - we all do yoga together for about 20 minutes.  It has really helped both kids calm down and it helps David and I focus fully on the family for a bit.  The kids love these Yoga Pretzel Cards - almost as much for the fact that they are a bunch of cards as for the fact that they have different yoga poses on them.  The cards have a variety of different poses on them, most do-able by kids, and the instructions are very clear.  Afterward, we all sit together briefly and talk about what good things happened that day.  Even the 19-month old contributes anecdotes, though it is usually “took nap!”.  He has no idea how grateful we ALL are that he took a nap that day :)

Goodnight Moon - A Classic for Kids

In case you didn’t receive 3 copies of this book for your babyshower, I just wanted to remind you how good of a book Goodnight Moon is for kids. My 3 year old and my 18 month old still love it and its usually at the top of the heap for books before bedtime. I’m also glad that we’ve gotten 3 copies since that first babyshower because they are ‘well-loved’ (i.e. torn up) and the extras have been pressed into service. And I think its cool that my parents read it to me and now I can read it to my kids. There’s a reason its a classic!

Cloth Napkins - Easy and Bright

We moved to using cloth napkins about a year ago and even the kids love it. Its an easy way to cut down on the amount of garbage we make and I’ve enjoyed adding new napkins into the collection. I decided from the beginning not to worry if they matched, so I usually ‘treat’ myself by buying the old ones from fancy stores like Williams-Sonoma and Sur Le Table, where I’ve gotten them for as little as a $1 each. They are easy for the kids to access when they help set the table and we have enough that we wash them about once every week or so. They also make great bibs or last minute smocks when the kids want to play in the sink. My aunt has a wonderful collection of cloth napkins she’s built from yard sales and estate sales, so even more green for the re-use!

Next Page »