The Sweetness of Christmas -- Bonus, no calories!

You know it -- another goodie from Seattle's Red Tricycle. This twin-friendly event is especially fun for those that just feel overwhelmed with getting the kids in and out of the car. For this trip to Candy Cane Lane, you can all stay buckled and warm.

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Tree decorated? Check. Gifts bagged and tagged? Check. Next on the list? An evening drive filled with fantasy-like holiday light sightings with the family. Seattle is famous for a Ravenna neighborhood called—what else—Candy Cane Lane. A holiday essential since the 1940s, this fantastic neighborhood Christmas light display is located on NE Park Road, off 20th Avenue NE and Ravenna Boulevard, near Ravenna Park. Make a night of it—stop at nearby University Village for some coffee, hot cocoa and winter treats before heading off for either a drive or walking tour. Virtually every home in this area is adorned with every type of Christmas decoration imaginable — think holiday music, lights-a-plenty, sleighs, reindeer and usually a large display of mechanical decorations in the traffic circle island. We hear Santa makes surprise appearances periodically. Traffic flows in a one-way direction, and back-ups normally last only a few minutes. It is also possible to park and meander through the displays, so grab those parkas just in case. The festivities start this Saturday, December 12, and run through the holidays from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m.daily. If you are feeling like a slightly less crowded event, Seattle’s Olympic Manor (Start at Northwest 85th Street and 23rd Avenue Northwest) boasts a similar but much more spread out array of fantastically decked out homes. For a hilltop view from afar, hit Queen Anne’s Kerry Park Viewpoint— gaze down upon city and holiday glitter, including the Space Needle’s topper.

Summer memories, from Lakes to Ice Cream

You may think of the 164th exit on I-5 as home to Wal-Mart, and with multiple kids, that might be a smart bet for Diapers and more. But think again, my latest Red Tricycle blurb shows some other super-kid-friendly options!

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If winter has you feeling a tad cooped up, yearning for those summer days you spent lingering by the lakes, we’ve got a perfect solution.  Pack up the kids and head to Lynnwood’s Martha Lake neighborhood. First stop, Martha Lake Park. This often-overlooked gem features a serene fishing dock, as well as boardwalks through wetlands where the kids can feed the ducks. Plenty of parking borders the fully fenced play area. Work up an appetite and then cross the street to mom-owned Kidz-N-Coffee. This recently-opened cafe provides affordable on-site childcare for tots while grown-ups sip espresso, snack on goodies, and maybe even get some online holiday shopping done—mention Red Tricycle to save a buck off the hourly rate! Little ones will enjoy kid-friendly fare at pint-sized tables. We love that Kidz-N-Coffee allows PEPS groups or private parties to make reservations ahead of time. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec 19th, when Kidz-N-Coffee has their holiday party—enjoy a visit with Santa, pictures and art projects. Refreshed and ready for more adventures? Teach the kids about gardening and winter plants at nearby Emery’s Garden. Featuring classes and seminars on winter favorites such as wreath making, container gardening and holiday bow making, you just might end up with some holiday gifts! As you wrap up your lake adventure, hit one of the many drive-thru espresso stands peppering the Martha Lake area. Hot Shots espresso tops the list, featuring not just coffee drinks, but also delicious ice-cream, making for a summery trip down memory lane.

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Julie and KidzNCoffee is really a fan of multiple kids, and is expecting her second next year!

A Castle, more toys, and pizza

When it comes to fun, we don't limit our searches to just Seattle. Parents of multiples in Seattle, or closeby, have a sure bet when it comes to a park I wrote about for Red Tricycle. Hope you enjoy the read, and the visit.

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No matter when the urge for a ‘Sunday drive’ hits, the entire family will love a trek up to beautiful Saint Edward State Park, located on the shore of Lake Washington in Kenmore. This parent fave sits surrounded by majestic trees and quaint brick and stone buildings. Kids of all ages will race to the brilliant playground, constructed in 2003. You’ll discover two all-wood play areas, including a totally-fenced area for kids up to age five. Older siblings will enjoy neighboring climbing/hiding structures with a medieval castle theme. Take time to stroll along one of several easy hiking trails winding through the woods, or down near the beach. Next stop, a short drive over to Snapdoodle Toys – they’ve got aisles of fresh-for-the-holidays toys for you and the kids to meander through. You’re sure to find a few holiday gifts in their enormous selection — from indoor, rainy-day goodies like art supplies and books, to get-moving gadgets including Wheely Bugs and Prince Lionheart bikes. Sneak a peak in Snapdoodle’s DoodleZone –a room you can reserve for birthday parties. Grab a free latte or cup of tea at Snapdoodle, or a full meal at neighboring Mia Roma, or local-favorite TaiHo. No time to sit? Plan ahead and give Kenmore’s Jet City Pizza a ring — pick one up to take home (hint: don’t miss the free pizza coupon on their Web site).

Ravenna is ready for us!

One of my favorite multiple-friendly areas of Seattle is Ravenna. I wrote about it for Red Tricycle. I hope you find some useful info here!

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Get revved up and ready to romp through Ravenna with your kids. The renovated Ravenna-Eckstein park & playground (6535 Ravenna Ave. NE) is equipped with the standards, but we think you’ll be tickled by bonus features. There are now ample cement paths for tots to trike before the sunshine becomes scarce. Lure older siblings with the elaborate rock-climbing structure towering over a set of ‘big kid’ swings a few yards away from the littles’ area. Tip: Show your S.O the pix you’ve snapped on your cell while Junior plays, and you’re sure to get some “me” time while he or she takes the kids to do a little climbing of their own. When pesky fall drizzles threaten, head indoors to the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center; the entire playroom has been renovated to include a climber with slides, and oodles of ride-on cars, motorcycles and trikes—perfect for the 0-5 crowd. Starving yet? Zip over to Bagel Oasis, or grab some tasty Mediterranean fare at Vios Cafe, nestled conveniently in the back of Third Place Books.  Let the toddlers snack and then dive into the enclosed, toy-filled oasis while you sip your espresso. Vios features a Kids Meze plate with grilled chicken, hummus and fresh fruit. Visiting on Saturday? Enjoy story time at Third Place.

October is here! Halloween -- trick, or treat?

Fall is in the air, leaves are turning colors, and sweaters are the norm. October is a favorite in my family, but as the kids are getting older, we are finding new tips and tricks for making the month of October, and the kid-marketed Halloween, a 'holiday' for reinventing and redefining what this day means. Can we really have a 'Green Halloween'? How about a healthy one? We think we can, and we will show you how over the next week. Stay tuned.

Sniffles, fevers, what to do? Oh no!

Whether this is your first child, a new sibling, or you feel you're an old veteran with twins or more, it can still be trying when noses start running, fevers start spiking, and Little One just isn't up to par. Relax, and rest assured, that is part of the deal.


I'd like to share what Teacher Tom had to say about this -- I hope it makes you feel better, at least in spirit!

Recycling Baby Gear

Whether you are shopping for your first baby, your first set of twins, or other siblings, it is possible (and FUN!) to purchase gear used in the Seattle area, without having to spend a lot of time or money.

We are interested in where you go, what you buy and how. Thrift Stores? Stores like Goodwill and Value Village? Or are you a Craigslist or Freecycle junkie?

Follow us on  Twitter and let us know!
 

What to be for Halloween? How about Green?

We love that a Seattle-area mom started the 'green', healthier, more eco-friendly path to having a green Halloween! Check out her press release here.


Check out Seattle Thrift stores for ideas for your twins. We recycled old red sleepers, blue ski hats, and used some recycled office supplies to make costumes for our twins.

Our son, however, did get a new Cat-in-the-Hat costume.

Our rule is, do what you can, when you can. If recycling and reusing are not convenient at the moment, just make a promise to yourself, your kids and your family to try again, while staying sane and enjoying the time you have! Happy Halloween.

Swimming isn't just for Summer

Check out Seattle Parks and Rec for great swim classes (parent/child from infants as young as 6mo, and older up to teens).

Starting solids... the path to success.. or not?

The most important thing to remember is that solids, as intimidating and amazing as it seems, might end up just being a lick or two of your painstakingly mixed cereal, and then a closed mouth, a tossed spoon or a gag. Or, it could be (like my first son) a shoveling-in-of-everything at 5months old never looking back (and still drinking regular, timely bottles and sleeping through the night.

As you'll hear, solids are an experiment, a new experience, but not meant to replace milk, or take the place of a bottle. We always gave bottles at the same times, and then in between offered the rice cereal, quickly moving on to other purees and logging them just in case.

With our twins (since we were 'experienced parents',) we were more casual, offering solids when the babies seemed happy and content to 'play' and learn from it, rather than as a 'meal' or timed schedule.

I think you will be able to stick to your bottle/milk schedule and toss the solid experience in when you are all ready for it. If you try to force it, or schedule it, you might end up with unhappy group all around.

Some of the most important things we thought helped were to let the babies play with the spoons, bowls, food even at that very early, and very messy, age. Sometimes a hand in the food and then in the mouth might prompt curiousity, leading to letting you feed them the next time, if they are reluctant.

We used a bumbo seat on the floor on towels at first and let it be part of playtime for one of our reluctant twins.

The other skipped the whole pureed food rice cereal stage and went right to smooshy bananas shoveled in by hand...

Again, this is just my experiences, not any real advice. I wish you stress-free success and hope you'll share your stories!

Seattle Parents of Multiples - Got Twins in Seattle?

Whether you live in Seattle, in the US, or somewhere far away from our tiny community online, we'd love to share some of our parenting tips with you. This week, we talk about strollers. Our advice? Don't invest a lot of cash until babies are at least 6 months old. You can get by with a double snap-n-go style stroller, just drop the infant car seats with your twin babies in the stroller and you are good to go.

Later, we will talk about various types and styles of double strollers, from jogging styles to fold-up lightweight shopping styles. Tandem or side-by-side? Stay tuned.

Indoor Fun at the Movies with Babies

With Winter here, I'm reminded of a story I wrote for Red Tricycle -- bring your twins to the movies and enjoy!

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As the Summer months become a distant memory, and record rains soak through even the sturdiest Seattle Gortex, many a seasoned movie viewer may be kicking the diaper pail in frustration -- especially after learning the local AMC 'Reel Moms' movie showings have been discontinued. If a jaunt over to the eastside isn't out of the question, Kirkland's Parkplace Cinema and Bellevue's Lincoln Square Cinemas offer satisfying indoor outings during their Parent/Baby movie days.

Parkplace runs all of their regular showings for their Baby Day (every other Friday morning) leaving excited parents the freedom to pick from any of the latest new releases. After the film, if Junior is zonked out from nursing through the entire film, zip over to one of the snack shops or get started on your holiday shopping at the neighboring boutiques.

Long to be waited on hand and foot? Lincoln Square Cinema offers you a bit of pampering with comfy, rocking stadium seating, and a full row where Moms can bring in strollers and park them to watch the movie. The 'At your Seat Concession' service assures you won't go hungry -- you'll receive a menu and a tiny pencil on the way in -- just fill it out and a concierge will take your order, and serve it at your seat promptly. The lights are raised a tad and the sound is lower at both venues, but the movie experience is a fantastic reminder that you can have a social life and keep up on the current flicks with Little One in tow.

Hint: Whether breast or bottle-feeding, consider bringing a nursing pillow -- you'll have plenty of room to toss it on the seat next to you when not in use!
Kirkland Parkplace Cinema
www.kirklandparkplace.com/cinema.html
Doors open at 9:15 am, shows start at 9:45 am every other Friday, $6.00
Lincoln Square Cinemas
www.lincolnsquarecinemas.com/
Doors open at 9:30 am, shows start at 10:00am every Thursday (excluding Thanksgiving)
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Getting out with your newborn twins

Now that your babies are here, out of the hospital, and home with you and your family, how can you overcome what might be one of M.O.M's biggest fears -- getting out and about with 2 babies?

What goes up might come down!

Let's face it -- you spent some time this holiday season at the mall, along with groups of midriff-baring teens. Never fear, your Little One won't be caught with his pants down -- or her shirts creeping up. We've found a trendy Seattle solution to baggy drawers that will keep Little One covered up and looking sharp. Enter Tinybigs.com. These magnetic works of art literally defy gravity by holding bottoms up and tops down. During the holidays, Grandma is sure to have lavished Junior with chic outfits, all guaranteed to be a size or two too big. Don't go digging for those gift receipts -- Tinybigs to the rescue! Dive into those designer duds now and secure them in place with Tinybigs.
Tinybigs come in both an ornamental magnetic style that clips pants to shirt, and a Creeper style (think onesie with attached suspender). No more tucking in Junior's shirts or donning yet another pair of overalls (yawn) to keep skin from showing. Like the best of inventions, Tinybigs was created out of necessity by Seattle Mom Keri Schroeder. Keri tells us that Tinybigs should be in Seattle stores soon and even tougher toddler models are in the works! Hip (covered) hip hooray!
http://www.tinybigs.com
Tinybigs Accessory: $16 plus $6 shipping
Tinybigs Creepers: $18 plus $6 shipping