Le Top Tip: Time Saving Snacks

I like to have snacks at my house for when my niece and nephew come to visit so I’m always on the lookout for individually packaged or partially prepped items. Babybel makes individually wax wrapped cheese that is really mild, so the kids like it (and we can make wax figures from the wrapping). Many grocery/warehouse stores sell pre-cut celery and carrots, so all I need to do is open the peanut butter or put a little ranch dressing in a dish. You can pick up pre-sliced apples in individual packs that are pretty good, but sometimes the ‘individual servings’ are too much for a four and six year old. That’s why my favorite little kid snack source is the 100 calorie snack packs from companies like Ocean Spray and Nabisco– not because I’m trying to keep my niece and nephew on a diet, but because the serving size is more appropriate for kids. (Plus, with things like cookies, it means they can have cookies but I don’t have to worry about them stealing extras when I’m not looking– they’d have to get a whole new package to get extra sweets.) 

The hidden bonus to pre-packaged snacks is that there’s practically no clean up.  If you don’t have to core the apples yourself, all you have to toss is their napkin and the little bag the apples came in.  Individual serving size packages tend to be a little more expensive than buying a whole bunch of celery or a big wedge of cheese, but it means that when my niece and nephew come over to visit, I already have snacks ready for them. No need to spend time cutting veggies or slicing off sections of cheese when I could be spending that time having fun. That extra half hour of snack prep time and 15 minutes of clean up could mean the difference between an afternoon at home and having the time to drive out to the Chabot Space and Science Center. 

Soda companies have also started making 100 calorie size soda cans.  I know that the soda/kids issue is a little controversial, but since Sprite and 7-Up make them too, I at least don’t have to worry about the caffeine…and the smaller cans are easier for kids to hold.

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It’s Mommy and Me Week

I’m at 35 weeks and may have less than a month before my little munchkin arrives. It has been an easy pregnancy for me, despite the gestational diabetes, but it has been very difficult for my daughter. She has started seeing the difference since two months ago. I can’t do the things that I used to do with her. I can’t carry her, help her tie her shoes, or ride our bicycles to the park. Her Daddy has to do all of that. She has also noticed that I don’t have a lot of patience these days. When she has spilled yet another glass of water or has dropped her snack all over the floor, I have to take a deep breath and ask her to go somewhere else before I lose it. She cries because I’ve hurt her feelings, and I cry because I feel guilty for hurting her. (I’m crying just writing this!) It just isn’t right, and I want to make it up to her.

This week is, what our household calls, “Mommy and Miranda Week!” It’s a 5-day event where my little girl and I will do something fun each day – just the two of us! (Daddy’s jealous.) I have been planning and researching our daily excursions for weeks now and it’s finally here! Obviously, this post has been written prior to this week because Momma ain’t working this week so I can devote my time with my precious first born. (I might sneak a post every now and then, if you’re lucky. ;-))

Here’s a list of some of the things that we’ll be doing:

• Miranda loves the “Wizard of Oz” so I’m taking her to San Francisco to see “Wicked.” We’re even going to ride the BART train. That’s an excursion in itself.
• She enjoys learning about how things are made, so I’ve planned a trip to the “Jelly Belly” factory.
• We’ve had a couple of tea parties with her friends before, but she’s never been to a real tea house. For lunch one day, I have made reservations at a local tea house where we will be served sandwiches, crumpets, scones, and, of course, tea! We’re even going to get dressed up for this occasion.
• She has always been fascinated with outer space, planets, stars and rocket ships. She and her Daddy could look at the night sky for hours! So I have arranged to visit the Chabot Space and Science Center and see a show in the planetarium.

Hopefully, spending an entire week together and giving her my undivided attention will help her feel more secure, as well as reassure her of  how important she in our lives. Our family may be growing, but our love for her will never change because a new baby will be entering our world.

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