Today I gave away all our toys....

Today I gave away all our toys. Ok, not all of them, but I got your attention, didn't I?

It isn't even Halloween, but the stores are already buzzing with that toy-stocking shelf-luring glitter that will be Christmas present overload in just a few short months.

A few years ago, when I just had 3 children under 3 -- a 2 1/2 year old and a pair of 1 year olds -- I started trying to figure out just what they needed and what they didn't, and I ended up getting way too many things in our house. There were some power struggles over who got to play with any toy, and the babies were often placed in contraptions meant to keep them safe from our then-aggressive 2 1/2 year old son.

Fast forward a few years to 5-year old big brother, 3 1/2 year old little brother and sister, and 1 year old littlest brother and sister. Twins or no twins, boys or girls, the bottom line is I've just simply got a lot of kids.

And the stuff was driving me nuts. Your best friend if you have multiple kids? A big empty room -- even a garage.

I've also discovered by chance that sometimes the littler ones do really well with things that are meant for their older siblings. 

Enter the Goodwill lego table with a box of duplos. Our littlest ones will stand at that table on both sides and drop legos in and out of it for literally hours. Just behind it is a window sill looking out into our front yard. On that silly are a few spaced out legos. Next to that window is an empty bookshelf. Every day a few things are placed on it -- an empty tin can, a wooden spoon, a piece of an old belt, or, more legos! Walk or crawl a few steps the other direction to our leather couch... with shoes tossed all over it. Hours of velcro fun. Hook a few shoes together and give each baby one end... whoohoo!

When older siblings are present, we give them the power to direct, create, interact. They build lego towers for 'twinzilla' to knock over. They set timers for the little ones to move from station to station. They play dress-up clothes and run around the room while the littler ones look on in awe.

The older siblings of course have big kid toys, but they spend a large amount of time in our relatively toyless family room/kitchen doing things like playing a sink full of 'dirty' kid dishes. Add something like a turkey baster for hours of bubbly fun. Also popular is pretending to clean -- rags and water go a long way in our home. For the tool-inclined, a safe-ish screwdriver and an old baby gate to take apart and put back together work miracles.

And, let's not forget actual helping:

In the house - our 3 and 5yr olds load/unload the dishwasher, make their own breakfasts (and ours -- I've eaten toast, string cheese and soymilk with frozen berries in it... ). They help prepare meals, grating cheese, cracking eggs -- buy a Sam's club size egg carton or 2 and let them practice.. scramble the eggs all up, and presto -- they've learned how to crack eggs and you have lunch. A stick of brussel sprouts and a dull butter knife are fun too.
They help fold and put away laundry -- yes, it takes a long time . They dress themselves.  My kids go out often looking like bag ladies, or else my 5yr old wants to wear his 'dress pants' and a tie... usually hooked to a 'fancy' tshirt. People think I make him wear it.

They change diapers, prepare baby food, buckle/unbuckle carseats, fill sippy cups, and entertain babies in highchairs by running/screaming up and down the hallway. 

In these times, you might find that less really is... well... more!

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.

The Colors of Christmas

Holidays, especially if you have more than one child, can make you start seeing dollar signs and shuddering at the thought of spending even one more cent. I wrote about this for Red Tricycle this week and had a lot of fun with my own kids coming up with ways to make our holidays greener. I hope you do, too.

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You may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but when it comes to a holiday so full of buying, wrapping, decorating and yes, waste, let’s take a minute to think Green. This doesn’t have to mean skimping on the goodies. Let’s start with the tree—while re-using an artificial tree works for some, you can also teach the kids about sustainability by buying and decorating a beautiful, living tree. Kid-friendly Molbak’s Garden and Home will help you decide on a perfect tree, with advice on potted-year-round, or plantable options. Collect recycled or handmade decorations — kids will love creating garlands of berries or leaves. LED lights use far less energy than traditional ones, and you can even get solar lights. Next, the gifts. Host a toy swap playdate, and enlist the kids’ help fashioning reusable giftwrap from organic linens. Of course, new gifts aren’t taboo, but consider environmentally friendly, kid-safe products—check Top Ten Toys for great ideas.  Instead of sending out cards, consider caroling together to a select group of friends’ houses. For holiday parties, turn to recycled or compostable place settings, and locally grown, organic edibles. If you didn’t get a chance to hit a local tree farm, or you’ve already picked up that pre-cut tree, never fear. Both King County and the City of Seattle offer Treecycling. Wrap up the holidays with an educational trip to a farm that practices green farming, such as Carnation Tree Farm, to learn first hand about recycling your tree.

Time to hit the Tree Farms

I had a lot of fun searching for tree farms, while writing this piece for Red Tricycle. There are many farms in our area, so I hope you'll let me know what other favorites are out there!

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Whether you celebrate a tree-decorating holiday, or just want some good old fashioned fun with the kids, a tree farm is sure to have something for all. The Northwest is peppered with fantastic farmlands, and we’ve highlighted a few favorites. First, there’s the centrally located Christmas Creek Farm. Just 30 minutes from both Seattle and the Eastside, you’ll find it well worth the drive. This quaint farm boasts Santa in a sleigh, and free cider or cocoa around the bonfire. Seattle parents also rave about Trinity Tree Farms, nestled on a hilltop in Issaquah. Their new train rides are a surefire hit. Take some photos near the antique fire engine for some adorably quaint holiday cards. For a fun and educational twist, head down south to Tree’s n Bees—an Auburn farm that also features honeybees year-round. Let the kids frolic in the play area with Mrs. Claus while you pick up some holiday gifts—homemade honey’s always a hit. Feel like heading north? You won’t want to miss hay rides and free candy canes at Holiday Forest. Still yearning for more? Visit the Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association—a non-profit organization that organizes all our local farms, as well as the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.

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Twin-friendly options exisit for all of these farms -- big bathrooms, double-stroller paths and more.

Toys Toys Toys!

We can never get enough of toys for our twins, triplets or kids in general. I wrote about a new annex to one of my favorite stores, for Red Tricycle, and wanted to make sure all of you saw the news!

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Now that the holiday season is upon us, is there anything better than a family-owned eco-conscious toy store packed with all our favorite playthings? You bet—when the parent-owners open up a second shop. Izilla Toys has launched a new Wallingford Center annex, which made its debut last week. Izilla tells us this is a “holiday annex”— what better reason to tackle that holiday gift list? This location isn’t a permanent one yet, but we think Izilla will receive such a warm welcome, that they will keep it open year round. Stocked with oodles of the same enchanting goodies you’ll find at the other location — Playmobil, PlanToys, Haba and more. We were tickled to see the Wallingford Izilla boasts a huge collection of Uglydolls. Of course, they have some traditional dolls, too, and they’ve stocked up on wooden toys galore. Toy selections satisfy kids of all ages — from wee ones to your near-tweens. Stockings will need stuffing soon, and Izilla already has plans in the works for Santa photos. Wallingford Center is transforming one of their outdoor patios into a Christmas tree and wreath store — a perfect backdrop for those not-yet-in-the-works holiday card photos. So get ho-ho-hopping to Izilla!

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What other toy stores in Seattle do you love?

Don't just live, Thrive

November is here, and you might be feeling a little overdone just thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays. I've got some ways to lighten the month up a little, and the first is a short summary of a local shop I wrote about for Red Tricycle.

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When Little One started solids, you pureed concoctions of the freshest organic produce, but now those delicacies been replaced by Goldfish and Fruit roll-ups. Recommit yourself to a healthy lifestyle, which can be made easier with regular visits to Thrive café. This locally owned shop in Ravenna (1026 NE 65th Street, #A-102 ) promises to re-spark your interest in all things green, with a menu brimming with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, wheat-free, and dairy-free items. Sip some freshly minted water from the cooler and shop for raw nuts and seeds from the bulk bins, or sip a smoothie (Coconutty and the flavored Creamsicle varieties tempt our tastebuds) and peruse the eco-friendly totes. Have time to sit with Junior? Then dig into a salad or a warm grain bowl. But Thrive doesn’t stop with instant gratification. Dreading the overindulgence of the coming holidays? Revisit your menu items by educating yourself with a class at Thrive—Have a Rawsome Holiday, and Pies and Cakes, both coming up soon! They also offer private tours and field trips, and even would love to visit local schools. This might be your ticket to showing your new preschooler, or your PEPS group, that there’s more to life than O-shaped cereal. Don’t just live, Thrive!

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Green Halloween

That time of year is upon us, and every year for the last few years, I've been trying to spread the word about a local trend turned nation-wide. Below is a blurb I contributed to Red Tricycle, and I hope it helps make your Halloween 'greener'...

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For many of us, Halloween conjures up memories of orange and black decor, and sticky-sweet treats. True, Halloween is a holiday heavy on sugar, not to mention waste, but what if it didn’t have to be? Thanks to Seattle-area’s Corey Colwell-Lipson, founder of Green Halloween®, (greenhalloween.org), Seattle is abuzz with ways to make your Halloween a little easier on the environment. Start by escorting your goblins to one of Seattle’s thrift stores—or visit a virtual swap (http://www.mamaswap.com/) to pick out their haunting attire. Feeling crafty? Help Junior whip up a handmade costume, from, say, treasures in the kitchen junk drawer or remnants of your old costumes.

Green Halloween’s Web site offers many resources, including their own marketplace (new this year), where you can purchase costumes, decorations, treats, and more. There are also downloadable action kits to help spread the word. One option is  to organize a playdate to visit a participating local vendor, such as Bellevue’s Whole Foods.

Like the idea, but can’t give up the treats? Tasty organic lollipops (http://www.yummyearth.com/) are better for children and the planet and some come in compostable wrappers. A complete list of greener treats is available too, natch.

RRR tip: When your kids toss aside this year’s costumes, pack them up in reusable bags (http://www.reusablebags.com/), and have a recycled but complete costume ready to hand down to the next little ghoul.

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We were lucky enough to run into Corey at this year's Zoo Pumpkin Prowl! Still a few days left to see her!

Pumpkin Party

This time of year, we are bombarded with Fall and Halloween ideas for the kids. Hard to pick, isn't it?

Do you love the idea of picking pumpkins and Fall-ish photo ops amongst the Halloween and October images you see everywhere, but hate the idea of a full-day event and way too much slogging through mud and bales of hay? Enter Fairbank Farm -- the perfect solution for all your pumpkin patch needs, just north of Seattle. This farm is very small, easily accessible, and for those of us with more than one child -- very stroller and yes, even double-stroller friendly! Wide cement trails wind through the entire area.

Fairbank features affordable weekday tours (minimum 8 students), led by wonderful staff who speak to the children in their most preschool-teacheresque voices, asking simple questions and providing tiny bits of kid-friendly information. Weekends are open for anyone to visit.

The day I visited the Farm, we ventured through animals a plenty, petting some, feeding others, and even saw newborn piglets!

The tour ends in a 'pumpkin patch', which is a delightful field strewn with tiny tot-friendly pumpkins just the right size to carry home and carve, or simply display as a happy memory of this event. Did I mention you'll be home in time for nap?

Get ready for an EEK-O-friendly Halloween

Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier--for parents and the planet. From the discovery of lead in fake teeth and candy, to chemicals in costumes, to the garbage left in the holiday's wake, it's a wonder more of us haven't given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

The good news is, there are loads of child- and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare.

The most important point when planning to green up any holiday or celebration, especially those involving children, is to get their "buy-in." And of course, your approach makes all the difference. Telling kids, "We're going green this Halloween--that means, no candy," isn't helpful. What can be is a discussion about the challenges that Halloween brings. Obviously, what you say (or don't), depends on the age of your children. But helping them to see the wider ramifications of their actions can help make transitioning to healthier choices more appealing or at least understandable.

Many kids are learning about eco-issues in school. They often want to do something about them, but need guidance on where to begin. Talking to them about the excess and waste associated with Halloween (and all holidays and celebrations) and discussing how they can make a difference, may spark their altruism and inspire them to act in positive ways.

A great way to start a discussion is to list each aspect of Halloween (costumes, treats, decor and activities), and brainstorm child- and earth-friendly choices to what you've done in the past. Then, encourage your kids to choose one or two of the ideas to implement this year. After Halloween, talk about what worked, what didn't and what you'll do next year.

Costumes

In the "olden days," (the eighties?), many kids made their costumes, often with help from parents. Making the costume was actually an enjoyable, bonding activity. Today, millions of people spend millions of dollars on costumes that are made from non-sustainable materials (like petroleum), that are worn once, then discarded. 

But there are earth-friendlier alternatives. If you usually buy costumes, consider:

• Making them. Kids are incredibly gifted and creative when we encourage them. There are almost no costumes that cannot be handmade. If your children are stuck on turning a popular TV or movie character into a costume, brainstorm how you can make it happen with items you already own or can get at no cost by borrowing or making. Be sure to check online for ideas.
• Purchasing costumes made from more eco-friendly materials or at least not from plastics. Choose cotton, organic cotton, silk or hemp, for instance. Unfortunately, these alternatives are not yet widely available, but if you're interested in them, ask local stores to consider carrying them next year. And check at the end of this post for some great online sources.
• Trading them. Arrange a costume swap with neighbors, check online at swap sites like Green Halloween, or see if you can interest a local child-focused organization in sponsoring a swap.

When Halloween is over, don't throw costumes away. Save them, dismantle and hold on to the "parts," trade or take them to a thrift store.

Treats and treasures

Halloween may be all about the treats, but happily, there are great alternatives that kids, when given the option, will happily embrace. You can't do much about the sweets your children receive on their foray around the neighborhood (although you can have the "Halloween Fairy" replace the confections with a wonderful gift when the children are brushing their teeth...shhhh...), but when it comes to what your family hands out, planning ahead so that you are not making a last-minute dash to the grocery store, will help you avoid limiting choices to what's on the shelves at the moment.

If you have a local natural foods store, check out their offerings. Take your kids along and choose a few items to sample if you don't normally shop there. Honey sticks are a favorite and are very inexpensive (never give honey to children under age 2). Many natural food companies make small "bars" in flavors kids love like peanut butter and chocolate. Assuming you have the time to order online, check out www.GreenHalloween.org for dozens of alternatives.

One issue that often comes up when discussing organic or green choices is cost. While it is true that many healthier items cost more, there is a simple solution. Instead of handing out fistfuls (or allowing kids to take as much as they want, which has become the norm), try this: Fill a bowl with a variety of great choices, whether sweets or "treasures" like sparkly stones, feathers (yes, kids love these), hair decorations, temporary tattoos, stickers etc. Cover the bowl with a cloth. When children come to the door, get down to their level and whisper, "At our house, we have some very, very special treats and treasures. You may now choose your favorite." Then with a flourish, whip off the cloth and let them sift. Compliment them on their choice afterwards.

If you're not yet ready to totally embrace greener treats and treasures you can still help cut down on expense and waste by choosing one of these options:

• Put out two bowls, one with conventional candy, the other with "treasures." Let kids choose one item from either bowl.
• Hand children whatever you are giving them. Do not allow them to take as much as they want.
• Let older children know that unwrapped candy can be composted. 

Whatever you do this Halloween, taking time to plan and implement will make the holiday a lot less spooky!

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net 

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.

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.