You know a celeb has style when they dress their kids in Wes & Willy t-shirts. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale show off theirs at Thanksgiving. Sporting the World Tour long sleeve tee, Gwen and Gavin’s boys Kingston and Zuma are on their way to a turkey dinner in one of the coolest t-shirts available this fall. See all the pics at CelebrityBabyScoop.com.
Well, summer’s over. Labor Day came and went, school’s started, and the rush of fall activities has begun. Between music, dance, and sports, my kids seem to have somewhere to be every day. I enjoy sitting with the other parents at the games watching the young kids on the field. It is always a treat to see them learning the rules and having fun at the same time. One of the highlights of the time spent at practices and games is watching some of the crazier things that kids do!
One of the team dads told me this story. His son was 5 or 6 and playing goalie for his soccer team. His team had been at the other end of the field for a while, so, apparently, he got a little bored. He had been leaning against the goal post playing with the net when the other team kicked the ball toward his goal. Unfortunately, instead of watching for the ball, he managed to get his shirt tangled up in the net. With the goalie securely attached to the goal post, the other team had had a wide-open shot to the goal. Luckily, the half ended before they could score and the goalie was quickly freed. For the rest of the game, he watched the game a little closer and stayed clear of the octopus-like net.
If you have stories about your kids tying themselves to the goalpost, eating grass on the field, or watching a helicopter as the other team dribbles past, please let us know. I’m sure you have some funny stories of your own!
We would love to hear from you.
With back to school gearing up, everyone is getting ready for the new school year. Sports equipment needs, classroom activity days, and school supplies are just a few lists that will drive you to the local stores. While I can’t make Rice Krispie treats for you or pass out milk to your child’s class, here are a few tips from my own experience that might help you save time and money when shopping for school supplies.
Do you have any school supply tips or stories? Feel free to share...we love to hear from you!
As we reach the hottest months, it is a challenge to keep our kids active and outside. With a little bit of creativity, you can keep summertime safe and fun, even in this heat.
Here are a few ideas to help keep your kids cool in the heat.
Feel free to share any summertime activities that your family enjoys! Pictures, stories, fun games...we love to hear from you!
Last post, I talked a little about some summer activities that you can do with your kids, in particular camping. I hope the few ideas that I posted about the planning and packing steps in preparing for a trip. This post I’ll focus on the meals and activities that you can do while you are out of doors.
Meals
Planning and making meals while camping is another great opportunity to educate your children and get them involved in the trip. Have them help you make the meal plan, but make each meal simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and hobo pies are easy to cook and clean up. You can find some great tin foil recipes at Family Travel and other great food ideas at camprecipies.com. If your kids are at a good age, let them cook or help cook their own food and definitely, definitely let them help clean. Campsite chores like cleaning, collecting fire wood, or filling water jugs can be exciting for little ones. Plus, it gives us parents a little more down time. Finally, don’t forget the snacks. The outdoors has a funny way of making kids have huge appetites. Make them easy to put together and familiar. A child’s tolerance will be pushed on their first camping trip you want them to be as well fed as possible.
Activities
A camping trip should be as fun and memorable as possible. Allowing your children to pick a few of the available activities will keep them active as well as involved. Keeping a video, audio, or written journal of the trip is a fun activity and will help them get ready for the next by replaying their favorite moments. Disposable cameras are a great way for little one’s to help capture the memories. They can snap all the pictures they want of the things that were important to them. Now, if you are a crafty parent, collages are another way for kids to make memories. Take paper, glue, scissors, and crayons and let them pick leaves and pine cones to add or keep in a memory box. Whatever you plan, make sure you have alternatives or back up plans. Unforeseen interruptions such as weather or broken gear can torpedo all excitement and no back up can sink them. Check with your campground. Most parks will have a list of activities in the area, some will have kid friendly ones organized for you.
Above all, camping can be perfect learning experience for your children. In this day and age of electronics and big cities, a quiet and calm weekend in the woods can teach kids much about themselves and their surroundings. Taking time to teach your kids safety -identifying poison ivy and sumac for example- and respect for the outdoors is a great place to start. Remember to take only memories and leave only footprints. While there might be no one around for miles, there is no one and nothing around for miles. Teach them to keep within eyesight, for the little ones, and earshot for the bigger kids. This will help them from getting lost. If they find themselves lost, teach them to find a tree and stay put. If they keep a back or fanny pack with them, make sure a whistle is inside along with a small first aid kit. They should know that three blows is the standard signal for “Help!”
Don’t forget to check out all the rugged shirts and cargos at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy and feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!
Summer vacation can be both a blessing and a burden for parents. On the one hand seeing your children all day is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them. On the other hand, seeing your children all day can be a dreadful experience when you don’t have activities lined up! Over the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some different summer fun that can engage your kids and make the time you spend with them enjoyable and not painful.
Since I’ve been focused on sports these last few posts, I though we could take a break and focus on another outdoor activity, namely camping. I remember fondly taking camping trips when I was young and all the great experiences I had. Making S’mores, taking shelter because of possible tornadoes, and games by the campfire are memories I’ll never forget. If you are a new parent or new to the outdoors, the last thing you might want to do is take your kids into the middle of the woods. At first thought, camping with kids, especially young kids, can seem daunting. However, with a little extra care and planning, a family camping trip can be one of the most memorable experiences for you and your children.
Before you begin planning your
trip, I think the most important thing to remember is to involve your kids
every step of the way. Having them help
plan the location, meals, and activities will ward off the complaints and make them feel like their opinions
count
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning and packing for a camping trip with children.
Planning
As mentioned, a little extra care needs to be taken when preparing for your family camping trip. If this will be your first family camping trip, make it a short one. One or two nights will be about all little ones can handle. Plus, if there is a major inconvenience such as bad weather, much more than a few nights can be unbearable. Your first trip should be a fun as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to get yourself or your kids motivated for a second. It’s also helpful to pick a site with running water and facilities. I know most dads think they are Bear Grylls or the Survivor Man, but having running water and restrooms will ease your children into camping. Any state run campground will have this information readily available.
Packing your gear
Pack light, but be prepared. If you are not renting a cabin, make sure you have a sturdy, waterproof tent. If you’ve never pitched it before, try it out in your backyard. This will make sure that you have all its pieces and if you make it to the campsite at dusk, you’re not flying blind while in a hurry to get it built before dark. Every one should have a sleeping bag and pads. Air mattresses are nice for the kids, but I find them a little bulky to take one for everyone. There should be a battery powered lantern for each tent if possible and a flashlight for each person. Light sticks are always a good back up and can also double as entertainment. Finally, a basic first aid kit, bug repellent and sun screen are all must haves with kids. When I was younger, I neglected to put sun screen on my feet while on a three day canoe trip. Let’s just say shoes were optional for a while after that trip.
The right clothes are important on any camping trip. If you are going to be hiking or taking nature walks, make sure each child has a good pair of boots. Although rain may not be in the forecast, rain gear is also good to have on hand, as well as an extra set of warm clothes. Children get colder faster than adults. Keeping them warm and dry will go a long way for their morale. I find that organizing their clothes by day into zip lock bags makes it easy for them to dress. They can also put their dirty clothes back into the dirty bags when they are done (although this doesn’t happen all the time). If this is your first trip, it is especially important to have a few familiar items. Make sure you take their favorite pillow, Mr. Blankey, or stuffed animal to comfort them at night. It is also helpful if you limit extra items to one backpack. Not only is it easier for parents to pack, but it will help teach your children to pack light. For a good checklist of supplies, try this list from KOA campgrounds.
Next time, I’ll talk more about meal planning and what activities are kid friendly. Until then you can find many more ideas at kidscamping.com. If you are looking for some great boys gear, the shirts at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy are durable for any outdoor activity and are cargos are perfect for carrying all the goodies your son may find on a hike.
Feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!
When it comes to boys clothes, the holiday season is a time
of excitement. Moms and dads are rushing
to find their kids new, quality clothes for gifts while stores are marking down
their inventory as the winter shopping season begins to wind down. So parents, like me, are able to find
clothing are bargain prices as well as get a sneak peek at some of the new
styles. Fortunately for fans of Wes and Willy clothes and Red 21 Boys, you’ll get the same treat.
Right now, Red 21 is giving their customers great prices on Wes and Willy fall styles for the holidays. Whether it is a jacket, dress shirt, or a pair of comfortable jeans you’re looking for, you can find them on discount at Red21boys.com. Best of all, there is still time to have your gifts delivered by December 24th and Red 21 boys are shipping it for you for free!
But Red 21 also has some great spring styles for sale. There’s great swimwear and matching tees for those fortunate enough to be living in a warm climate. If not, these new styles are perfect for a holiday vacation. So check out the sale at Red 21 and the new swimwear for boys by Wes and Willy.
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Although Halloween isn’t for a few
weeks, with the new Halloween
items at Red 21, I am reminded of
the cool October weather, walking the neighborhood for a trick or treat. I would ready myself for a night of running
through a friend’s neighborhood, trying to collect as much candy as possible while
avoiding the houses that we knew didn’t hand out our favorite candy. We had to make sure we made the most of our
few hours out.
Perhaps less fondly, I remember the cold nights after an early October snow. On these frozen nights my mother would make me layer on the clothes both under and over my costume. I never could seem to fit a stuffy sweater beneath my favorite super hero’s suit. The costume’s arms and legs would bulge from the strain of too much clothing and I would constantly squirm beneath the sweatshirts on top of t-shirts beneath sweaters feeling like I was drowning in fabric. Well, at least I never caught a cold on those nights, just a stomach ache.
With my boys, I do the same thing now. Fortunately, thanks to Red 21 and Wes and Willy, I don’t hear the same complaints that my mother did years ago. You can find comfortable and warm shirts and pants for boys that they don’t mind wearing. This makes the trips around the neighborhood a little more enjoyable on those cold nights. I can watch them run up and down the streets in search of the house with the best candy instead of hobbling along because they can’t bend their knees. With the internet and Red 21 Boys, I won’t hear my boys complain about being and itchy, just that they didn’t get enough candy.
Happy shopping and happy Halloween!
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