Baked Omlette-Easy Breakfast Idea #1

No matter how much I try...setting all of the clothes out, getting backpacks ready the night before, getting myself showered and ready before anyone else wakes up, etc, etc...  Mornings still=CHAOS at our house!   I can only handle so many mornings of sending my offspring off to school on a cold cereal, sugar overdose so many days in a row without feeling guilty, so I have been attempting to figure out some breakfasts that I can just put together the night before, refrigerate, and pop in the oven as I am jumping in the shower.  This is a very simple idea that came from my dear mama!  There are really no specifics to this and it's more of the idea than the recipe.  If you decide to give it a try experiment a little on the ingredients and cooking time.   Just blend up your eggs, milk, add meat & veggies spray your pan with non-stick spray and bake it!

This is what the one in the picture has in it.   My fridge was running on empty, so I didn't do any veggies.

8 eggs

milk (approx 1/2 cup)

Season Salt

Lean Ham

I baked it for 30 minutes, covered with cheese and cooked it for another 10 minutes.

*Cooking time will vary depending on altitude, amount of eggs, and other items you add.

Multiples Discounts & Freebies

I had been working forever on putting together a list similar to this one, but stopped as soon as I saw this.  It has everything that I had found and MORE!  Please send me an email or leave a comment if you know of any others.

http://www.raising-twins.com/free-stuff-for-twins.html
Having twins is expensive so we love freebies and good deals! From double the car seats, highchairs, clothes , formula, bottles, DIAPERS, and baby food , it all really adds up fast. I've compiled a list of free stuff and deals here for you.

Planning in advance and saving all those coupons can really help. Here is a list of companies that have special offers available for twin families.

Free Stuff for Twins - magazine subscription American Baby Magazine

Babies "R" Us - they do have a discount for multiples - they offer 10% off two or more of the same item purchased in the same order - 2 cribs, 2 strollers etc. Babies R Us deals for twins

Beechnut Baby Foods You can call 1-800-BEECHNUT ( 1-800-233-2468) to request a freebies new parents pack for your twins. They will include double the normal amount of coupons for products and and you'll get ongoing newsletters with additional coupons. You can also sign up for an online email newsletter. Beechnut newsletter for more coupons

Get a freebies gift here for breastfeeding moms

Newsletter, product information and coupons 1-800-442-4221 Earth's Best Baby Foods

Enfamil( Mead Johnson) - talk to your pediatrician after your babies are born and ask them to contact their local Enfamil representative who can issue a recommendation that free products be sent to the parents. You can also call 1-800-BABY-123 ( 1-800-222-9123) to join the Enfamil Family Beginnings Program for ongoing coupons through the mail.

Evenflo Call 1-800-233-5921 for information on receiving a freebies gift basket for twins. You'll need to send them proof of your babies by mail but call first to get registered.

The First Years Write to them to request being a part of their Multiple Birth Program ( you'll need to send copies of the birth certificates) and get a free gift basket of rattles/toys. The mailing address is The First Years Attention Multiples , 100 Technology Center Dr, Ste 2A Stoughton, MA 02072

Gerber Call 1-800-4-GERBER ( 1-800-443-7237) to sign up for the Gerber Supertwins program. You'll get coupons for free Gerber products- double the amount sent to parents of singletons.

Halo Sleep Sac - These are the BEST way to get your babies to sleep !!! Call 1-888-999-4256 - they offer buy one full price ( $24.95) get one for half price - ask for the twin discount! Get your babies to sleep

Heinz - Call 1-800-872-2229 to receive free stuff for twins - welcome packets for each of your twins - coupons for Heinz baby products and informational literature.

Huggies-they will give you a one time gift of much higher-value coupons for parents of twins and you'll receive ongoing coupons through the mail after signing up for their program. Mail proof of birth to Kimberly Clark Corp. Dept. QMB PO Box 2020 Neenah, WI 54957-2020

JC Penney Portraits There's an online form on the JC Penney website to sign up for their Multiple Birth Program. You can get a pair of portrait sitting coupons for your twins ( offers can vary)- Complete the online form here

Johnson and Johnson - Call 1-800-526-3967 to receive free stuff for twins- a twins pack that includes great coupons and informational literature on their baby products.

McNeal Consumer Products The makers of Tylenol will send you free welcome packs for your twins if you call 1-800-962-5357 ( option #5) and make sure you tell them you have twins !

Mom and Baby Works they offer deals for parents and multiples through their Multiple Births Program. They have buy one, get one free on selected products purchased directly through our 1-866-477-5144 Check them out here!

Nestle Infant Nutrition-Call 1-800-782-7766 to request the address and a registration code number so that you can mail them proof of your twins ( doctor's letter, crib cards, birth certificates), to get coupons for 2 free cans of Nestle Good Start DNA and RNA formula. Take all the freebies offers on formula that you can - it really adds up and you don't know at first which one you'll be using long term! You can also sign up for their free magazine online ( more coupons in here !) Nestle

Oceanspray - Parents of twins can receive a special deal on Oceanspray product coupons in the Multiple Birth Program. Send a copy of proof of your twins birth to Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. One Ocean Spray Drive, Lakeville-Middleboro, MA 02349

OshKosh B'Gosh- they will give you 10% off on all products sold in their stores if you are a parent of twins - ask at the cashier for the discount

Pampers or Luvs - Call 1-800-726-7377 to request a freebie package as part of their Pampers Multiples Birth program or call 1-800-665-3257 for a freebies package from the Luvs Multiple Birth program. You'll get coupons for diapers and wipes and product samples. Sign up for both !

Playtex Diaper Genie - to be part of their Multiple Birth Program and get a coupon for $7.00 off a Diaper Genie and other coupons send your name and address and proof of your twins birth to Playtex Diaper Genie, 20 Troy Road, Whittany, NJ, 07981

Preschoolian Shoes- Fax copies of the birth certificates to 1-866-681-1081 ( toll free) and include your email addy. They will email you back a code which will reduce the price of your by 50% - shoes must be purchased in multiples of 2 ( 2, 4 6) - For more information you can go here

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus - you can get free stuff for twins circus certificates for your twins if you sign up online before they turn one - they don't have an expiration date and kids usually appreciate the circus more when they're a little older - after you're registered send a copy of your twins birth certificates to Baby's First Circus Program , Feld Entertainment, Inc, 8607 Westwood Center Drive, VA, 22182 Fill out the online form here

Similac - Call 1-800-232-7677 for information on their Welcome Additions Club and to receive a welcome kit of coupons and samples. It's too confusing to sign up online for twins so call them and tell them your good news!

White House Greetings - not twin specific but a fun thing to do - send your twins names, birthdate and your address to the White House to receive an official congratulations from the President - nice keepsake! Write to The White House Greeting Office Room 39, Washington D.C. 20500


Sassy , Inc 1-800-633-9111 Buy one, get one free, offer for a feeding utensil set or training cup. Spencers 1-800-633-9111 Growth chart, product booklet and coupons.
Stride Rite Stores - have discounts for multiples - ask for details in store.
Make sure you bookmark this freebies page
and send over any twin mommies you meet - we all need all the help we can get! You can always pass along any coupons that don't apply to you and your family.

Tips for new parents

www.nomotc.org

• Establish a list of priorities. Babies' needs will head the list, including feeding, bathing, sleeping, and cuddling. Resting for you, should be high on your list as well.
• Use a chart so everyone will see at a glance who has been cared for and at what time.
• Accept all offers of help.
• Treat your babies as individuals from the very beginning. They are two (or more) separate beings. Avoid referring to them as "the twins" or "the triplets" and use their given names. YOU set the example for others to follow.
• Be sure to take photographs of each child separately for the time when one will ask for a picture of "me." Put the child's name on the back of his/her picture so that there is no confusion in later years.
• Use care in selecting toys. As your babies grow, play becomes serious business. Toys that are suitable for singletons can become weapons when there are two (or more) in a playpen. As the children become older, try choosing different toys and encourage sharing.
• Build a special one-to-one relationship with each child. Look for special talents and praise each one often. Try to spend some one-on-one time with each child.
• Multiples may have a special bond between them. Try to rear them as individuals without destroying their special bond.
• Read aloud to your multiples in order to stimulate speech development. Speak clearly to your children and encourage them to talk clearly also. Your children may talk to each other in a language only they can understand. Don't be upset at the "twin talk" as they will outgrow it.
• Take walks with the babies. Just getting out of the house may be a morale booster.
• If you are returning to work soon after the babies are born, look for a sitter who will understand the needs of caring for "more than one." Try the sitter a few times before actually returning to your job.

No picky eaters at this house

No mac & cheese, hot dogs with a side of PB & J at this house.   My kids do eat them occasionally, but I have never made them a meal separate from what my husband and I are eating.  Of course we started them out with rice cereal and a some baby food a little bit at a time to check for allergies.  After ruling out allergies I started giving them whatever we were eating, putting it through a food grinder if necessary.   It was also less expensive and probably healthier than whatever is used to preserve those squished up chicken & dumplins in a jar (sorry to call you out on it Gerber & Beech Nut)!  My kids all like Mexican food, seafood, fruit, vegetables, and just about everything in between. I am not writing this post because I am a professional on this subject, but because it is something that I often hear a lot of comments about.  Whether we are at a restaurant  and someone comments on what my kids are eating or a friend asking how I have gotten my kids to eat so well.

When I was pregnant with my first I read an article in a parenting magazine that said that kids are introduced to something before age two they are more likely to like it.  I liked that idea and I think there is something to it.  I have noticed the foods that my kids don't like are also the ones that I don't like probably because we don't ever eat them.  Today for lunch we had Tomato Basil soup and multigrain chips with roasted garlic hummus for lunch and my three youngest ate until everything was gone.  It's not always that healthy.  We also manage to eat our quota of junk food.  Unfortunately, my seven year old has been poisoned by the kids in the school lunch room and is getting pickier by the day.  I have got to figure out how to get a handle on that one before she no longer asks for broccoli when we go to the store without strangling all of the second graders.

Beware:  There is  a flip-side.  They all really like a good filet mignon.

And bless his heart...cute, little Hudson decided to help me out with this post by sneaking an orange bell pepper while I was writing it.  The picture isn't the greatest because he kept putting the pepper down to say cheese!

Document the things they say...

I love Becky Higgins website.   She has great ideas for kids, crafts, recipes, etc.  If you are not familiar with her.  I highly suggest you take a look www.beckyhiggins.com.  My version of this is having a journal or notebook for each child and having easy access to write down those things you don't want to forget right away.  You could do the same thing making a file for each child on your computer if you prefer.  I am definately going to be "interviewing" my kiddos and adding this to their books.

www.beckyhiggins.com
February 3rd, 2011

There is a plethora of ways to document what your child says. Today I’m touching on two of those ways.
And by the way, this isn’t just for kids. Of course the ideas are applicable to adults just as well. Perhaps to David’s dismay, I have been known to document his exact words once in a while, particularly in those years before our children came along. I may or may not have made him answer a full list of interview questions once or twice. In the name of personal & family history of course. (He must love me?)
{ interview style }
First I’m going to pass along an idea from reader Meggan in Sequim, Washington. Perhaps you’ll relate.
Meggan wrote, I was trying to recall the last time I actually sat down with my kids and just had a conversation with them. Well to be honest, it’s been a while. I’ve been so busy with errands, taking kids to school, meetings, etc. that I haven’t spent that one-on-one time that each kid deserves with his/her parent. So, I put a hold on our morning activities, and sat my kids down & talked.

Meggan’s creative twist on the activity was to treat her child like a star and she was their fan and they set up an interview. The key is to write down their answers exactly as the words come out of their mouth. That’s what makes it so precious, so real, so accurate. For example, her 4-year old stated that he likes candy as his favorite food, and it came out “Can-knee” so she wrote it down just as that.

Meggan added, It was such an amazing moment with each of them. I enjoyed hearing their cute little voices & mispronunciations. To tie it in with my POTD, I set my camera up across from us, set it on “self-timer” and took a picture of us conversing.
Meggan is adding this interview page to her Project Life book. She continues, I am truly enjoying the POTD idea– it’s allowed me to look at my life more in depth rather than just scratching the surface. If you’re interested in seeing how she set up her document to include, here it is:

……….

{ capture the quote }

It’s as simple as that. Your child says something you don’t want to forget because it is so precious, so funny, so witty. Write it down immediately while it’s fresh & as accurate as possible. Same principle applies when someone (a friend, a sibling, a teacher) tells you something your child said or did. W R I T E   I T   D O W N .

For those of you doing a picture-a-day with Project Life, including a funny quote or story is always a great idea. You can accompany the story with a picture of that child or something related to the story. Or not.

Example. This is a POTD from one day last week:

The journaling for that day reads: Got the following email from our friend/neighbor Steph: “So today after school Claire saw Shane and I walking and asked if she could come over to play. After I explained to her that Shelby was home under the weather, she finally cut to the chase. “Well, could you bring your dog over then?” This is Classic Claire. It’s all about the dog for her. Another Classic Claire thing right now is how she signs her name with a flower or a heart or both. Such a girly girl.

I was able to take a little anecdote, as shared by a friend … and a picture of Claire’s current way of signing her name … and blend them together in a “Classic Claire” entry for that day.

Streamline Your AM Routine: 9 Strategies for Getting Out the Door Smoothly

If your house is anything like mine our morning routine can use any help it can get.

www.circleofmoms.com
Breakfast messes, arguments over clothing, painstaking pokiness…sometimes simply getting out of the house is the toughest part of the day! Thankfully, Circle of Moms members have shared some great strategies for hassle-free morning routines.

1. Embrace PM Prep
   Countless Circle of Moms members recommend prepping each evening for the following morning. This entails everything from laying out clothes for your child (and even yourself!) to preparing lunches and breakfast, packing diaper bags and backpacks, and even putting certain things in the car. Maggie V., a mother of three, is one of many moms who use this strategy: "We try to get everything ready the night before: kids' clothes, lunch bags, and everything the kids will need the next day."
   
2. Double-check Backpacks
   If you have a child in school, do a thorough backpack check in the evening to avoid missing homework and forgotten permission slips. As Southern Californian mom Jennifer L. advises, "Sign those school papers and de-clutter the backpack, go over anything she may need to bring with her the next day (i.e., special book/toy for sharing, etc.) and have it in the backpack already."
   
3. Give Yourself a Head Start
   "I myself get up early," shared Sue C., a mother of two children. "I have to be able to get ready before they get up." Waking up just a half hour before your children can make your own morning prep more efficient and less stressful.
   
4. Create a Child-Friendly Checklist
   Angela W. is one of multiple Circle of Moms members who suggests posting a morning checklist: "A list (words or pictures) of all that needs to be done before you leave could be posted in the kids' rooms so they can see what they need to do, instead of you having to repeat it 50 times."
   
5. Play Getting-Ready Games
   Making morning tasks into a game can motivate children to get through their tasks more quickly. "I do the counting game once breakfast is over," shares Kristi S., a mother of three children. "She tries to hurry and be ready by the time I get to 50." Lynn R. also uses a racing game: "In the mornings we have "blast off to the front door," where we get ready as fast as we can. First one there gets a rocket sticker...My kids have never gotten ready so fast...I have found that if you can make any routine fun then kids are more likely to do it."
   
6. Delay Dressing Your Child
   If your child is prone to spills, delay dressing her until you're about to head out the door. Krista E. uses this tactic with her young son: "My toddler stays in his PJs while he eats breakfast…Once he's done, I wipe his face and hands while he's still captive in his booster seat...When I get him dressed, it's basically 10 minutes before we have to leave."
   
7. Use TV Strategically
   Several moms, including mother of two Lucy W., completely avoid TV in the morning: "On no account does the TV get put on in the morning! That is the one thing that spells disaster." Other moms, like mother of two Sheila M., find TV can encourage children to get ready quickly: "If my daughter gets ready in time, she gets to watch a little TV before we have to leave."
   
8. Allow Yourself a Time Buffer
   "I schedule myself to leave for work a half-hour earlier than I actually need to," shares Krista E. Giving yourself extra time can make the morning less stressful.
   
9. Have a Backup Plan
   "I always have an extra $10 hid away in my vehicle to hit Tim Horton's for breakie," admits Kelly B. in Ontario. No matter how hard you try, occasional rough mornings are inevitable. With a small stash of cash in the car, you can treat yourself to a vanilla latte en-route to work. After one of those mornings, you deserve it!
   www.circleofmoms.com
   

Whiter than White

Here's another great laundry trick:
Pour 1 cup Cascade Powder (Dishwasher Detergent) & 1 Cup of bleach in with your whites and they will be whiter than ever before!

Best Stain Remover Recipe

I come from a family of folks that are tainted by OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).  I have been "healed" of it myself.  One of the miracles that comes with twins.  I have a feeling it has to be that way; OCD+twins could quite possibly equal insanity!  Anyway, they can get stains out of everything, I mean everything and have lots of tricks for fixing things that I will pass along from time to time.  This "recipe" comes from my aunt and has worked miracles on many articles of clothing.

Aunt Bev's Miracle Laundry Stain Remover

Equal Parts of:

• Wisk (Laundry Detergent)
• Ammonia (All-purpose cleaner)
• Water

I keep this mixed up in a large, heavy duty squirt bottle and squirt it on most of my kids clothes as I am putting them into the washer.  It can get anything from berries to dirt out of just about anything.