Friday Things
1. Dominic is walking EVERYWHERE now, it’s so fun! He barely does any crawling at all, though still walking with arms bent up at the elbows and with a definite wobble and stagger, which is just the cutest. He tries to run after Joseph and Duke and screeches like a banshee when he’s having fun and things get crazy. Our life is loud and wild and wonderful :) He also knows how to kick back and relax during a Friday afternoon grocery shopping trip, ha!
Joseph has been coming up with some of the funniest comments lately; earlier this week he was going outside with my husband to do some fall landscape maintenance and while I was helping him get his jacket on, he said, “Going outside with Daddy, going to use the trimmer. Mommy, you stay inside… get dirty.” Apparently he didn’t want me to go outside and get dirty?! He talks non-stop and it’s so fun to watch his mind work! We made bread together last Saturday morning, and he still loves scooping the flour, and he does a great job; our messes have decreased each time he helps me. I can’t believe how tall he looks at the counter now; he was so tiny when he started standing next to me, he could barely see over it!
2. I am one thousand percent convinced that whoever decided changing the clocks twice a year was a good idea most definitely did not have small children. Dominic woke up at 5am on Sunday, but has *mostly* gotten back to his regular schedule (he’s also cutting molars, so there’s that), however, Joseph is still waking up an hour early and he is DONE by dinnertime. Hopefully in another week or so everyone will be back to their normal schedules.
3. Let’s talk Amazon Pantry… do you make regular orders? What do you get? I’ve never used it, but something that I ordered last week (I think OxiClean) showed up as a pantry purchase, so now I’m wondering if it’s a better deal than the grocery store or Costco/Sam’s Club.
4. Have you tried the Mystery Oreos? I bought a package and my husband and I each tried them… I could only eat half a cookie, and he ate I think two and we ended up throwing the rest of the package away. They were AWFUL. Was it just us??! They almost tasted like a creamsicle (which would normally be good, but no); my husband said someone on TV guessed Tang, which would make sense as well. But, bleh.
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5. While we’re talking about food… my grocery store has a massive display of Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop seasonal holiday flavors as soon as you walk in, and I want to buy ALL OF THEM OMG. Frosted Sugar Cookie… Hot Cocoa Marshmallow… Dark Chocolate Drizzled Sea Salt… White Chocolate & Peppermint. I could eat all of those popcorns all day, every day until January 1st.
6. We are currently evaluating new car options because neither my car nor my husband’s can accommodate three car seats, womp womp. We’re mostly looking at large SUV’s since I’m not really a fan of station wagons and my husband isn’t really a fan of mini vans. SO… do you have a car/SUV/something that fits three car seats that you love? (Keeping in mind that Joseph isn’t in a booster seat yet so they’re NOT narrow… we’re talking wide convertible car seats.) We’re starting to make a list of cars to look at, so throw your recommendations my way!
7. Do you follow Oprah’s favorite things every year? I honestly forget about it most of the time, but saw it mentioned this year, so checked them all out… definitely a good starting point for a few Christmas gifts! Loving the Butter London nail set and Julep lip mousse collection, in particular!
8. Did you make your Thanksgiving menu yet? I got my turkey ordered this week, so I feel all sorts ahead of the game compared to last year. What are your must-have’s?! I’m planning to work on the menu early next week!
9. We haven’t watched anything new on TV lately, but we did catch the Jerry Seinfeld special on Netflix… little snippets of stand-up with a look back at his career. Pretty good! I can’t wait to start living and breathing Christmas movies, though ;-)
10. TGIF! I hope you have a cozy weekend!
My husband and I had the same car issue after having 3 boys in 3 years. We found the Acura MDX (or Honda Pilot) can fit 3 car seats across the middle row. Plus it has enough cargo space for a stroller and a third row for friends or family. I didn’t want a tank that drove like a truck so the MDX was perfect for me.
Car thoughts!
My son has 3 small children & drives a Honda Pilot.
As their grandparents, we have a Chevy Traverse to accommodate all 3 car seats.
When my own children were small & growing we had a van. It really was so much easier than the SUV’s. And as an early writer commented ….. you will use it to transport the children’s friends, too…it’s inevitable.
Happy shopping!😱
I had the same issue 5 years ago when I had my third boy. Although our oldest boy was already in a booster seat and the other in a booster with back support, we still needed a bigger car than my Jetta. :) We opted for an Infiniti QX60 and we still have one now. All our car seats fit. It helps that for the first 2 years, your daughter will be facing backwards. Gives more room for the bulky toddler car seats. The all-around camera system on the QX60 cannot be beat. And there is an easily accessible third row for when you need it. I highly recommend that car!
I forgot to mention that the Infiniti QX60 is an all-wheel drive. I live in the Philadelphia suburbs so that was a must. As far as mini-vans go, the only all-wheel drive I know of is the Toyota Sienna. But I am not a big fan of mini-vans although they are what we rent whenever we travel and need to rent a car. Ha!
So I get the whole opposition to mini van thing…believe me, I told myself I was going to be sporty Mom (I had a Jeep Cherokee)…but once I made the decision it was a life changer. (I know…a little dramatic). I had two kids in car seats and three big dogs (two 80-100 pound elderly labradors and a 140 pound Saint Bernard with hip dysplasia). The kids (especially my oldest) gained independence by getting into her seat) and the dogs could easily get into the van through the side doors…and oh does Toyota know how to cater to a Mom — who knew you needed that many cup holders?!? I’m on my second Toyota Sienna (which now has 120,000 miles) and my kids prefer my van to the Highlander much to my husband’s dismay. So…not really sporty Mom but a happy one at that :-)
Thought I’d mention I did buy the AWD as we live in Michigan and snow is an issue. It handles like a champ and I feel safe.
I have 3 kids under the age of 4 and have a Lexus RX. The only way I was able to fit 3 car seats was to purchase the Diono Radian car seats for my 2 older kids. They’re super slim and fit perfectly.
We have a Chevy Tahoe and we love it (we’re on our fourth one)! The one I have now is a 2016 LTZ model. I think it has just about every option imaginable, and then some. It works great for us with a 15-year old sophomore and 18-year old college student, as we are usually either concerned about carrying extra people, or extra stuff, but not usually both at the same time. (On the very few occasions we need to do that, we manage). There are captains chairs in the second row, and the third row folds flat (left and right sides separately) if we need to haul more stuff. You may want to consider a Suburban since you will have three little ones, and all the stuff (strollers, etc.) that goes along with them, since there is more storage space in the back. I can’t speak to the Suburban, but our Tahoe is very comfy and rides nice. Knock on wood, we have never had any big mechanical issues. Obviously the gas mileage isn’t great around town, but does much better on the highway. Plus, I love that it turns on a dime (unless in 4-wheel drive, which we really only use in the winter) – makes it really maneuverable for such a big vehicle. Good luck with your search!
As for the mystery Oreos, I am not a fan either. I read online that the flavor is Fruity Pepples. Someone brought them into work along with a box of Fruity Pepples and it seems true. The aroma is the same.
But on the other hand, have you tried the Hot Cocoa Oreos? I think they are terrific. Best one of these flavored Oreos in a long time
The boys are looking good! I can’t believe how tall Joseph is getting. Have not tried the new Oreos…just didn’t care for the “mystery” aspect. Have not decided on Thanksgiving menu yet….will be getting turkey today though…..sorry no clue on vehicle for you…have been watching “Doc Martin” on Netflix……have a great weekend
I can’t speak to the need for 3 car seats because I had only one child and she is 35 now. However, I have had my Subaru SUV for two years and I love the way it handles. The car really hugs the road in rain or snow. My mechanic frequently goes to Vermont and he said a lot of people there drive Subaru SUVs which says something since they have much more severe winters than we do here in New Jersey. The car also stops on a dime. A friend of mine was driving home at night on back roads and a deer ran in front of her. She hit the brakes and thought she was going to go off the road but instead the car stopped immediately and she was literally looking at the deer in headlights until it ran off. This was her first Subaru and after that, she said she will never buy any other car for the rest of her life. I agree with Sidra – car shopping is enough to make anyone lose their mind so take your time and if you get overwhelmed, set it aside and go play with Joseph, Dominic and Duke!
Honda Pilot. I have three kids and the pilot is wonderful! It seats 8 but isn’t huge. I love love love mine!!
We bought a Traverse which holds 7 comfortably. We have 2 captain chairs and the full bench in the last row. It is easy for our 6-year-old grandson to get to the back and buckle himself into the booster chair and the other two car seats sit in the captain chairs. Never thought I’d be buying a family vehicle in my retirement but we live close to our grandkids and get to have them often.
Looking forward to meeting your newest addition.
Re: cars — check out The Car Seat Lady (she has a website, Facebook, Instagram, etc). She has a vehicle guide for getting three car seats in. It is a large chart, but great for helping you make a decision that you won’t regret. Also just great tips in general. We were about to buy a Honda Pilot, but there is a funky plastic piece in the center of the second row that protrudes and will not allow three seats to fit across safely. We got our seats in, but it was not safe. We ended up with an Odyssey (never did I ever think, but practicality won out). We both appreciate it’s utility now. Plus we have two dogs to fit and lots of gear when we travel, SUVs have tiny trunks once you squeeze in that third row. All that said, The Car Seat Lady recommended the Nissan Murano because it has a super wide back seat, you can safely fit three car seats across, you still have trunk space, and you can get it in AWD (if you are concerned about winter). All the best!
Also — read the manuals! A 4Runner cannot fit three across safely (at least ours cannot per the manual). We have a 4Runner and love it, but cannot use it for our three kiddos. Most Toyotas are like this — the Rav4, Highlander, 4Runner. The Car Seat Lady has all of this info on her site, you just have to search and dig around.
One more plug for Car Seat Lady — she responded to my emails and gave personal recommendations. I am not sure if she always does this, but we lived too far for an in-person consult. She is a pediatrician and used to work at Columbia in NY. She wants kids to be safe. http://thecarseatlady.com/2017familyvehiclebuyingguide/
You ask for car suggestions: I bought a
chevy traverse in the fall of 2012 so I could take my son and his wife and 3 kids places with utilizing only 1 vehicle! I simply loved it, but Buick makes a similar car (Enclave)! The car body and style are almost identical, but the Buick interior may be just a tad fancier. I’ve been in both cars and you really can’t tell the difference in performance!
We recently had our third child. We have a Volvo XC90 that fits 3 across but it is CRAMPED. Also the baby seat only fits in the middle, and it’s hard to reach across and pull out the car seat.
I was anti minivan but we did end up getting one. It’s a Honda Odyssey. I really do appreciate the space and convenience! I recommend at least test driving one.
Have you looked at Diono car seats? They’re supposed to have a much more narrow profile. A friend has an Equinox (so no third row) and can fit her kids (4.5, 2.5, and 1) all in the backseat. Food for thought, as investing in new seats might be more economical than a new car. :)
I have two friends with 3 children – one drives the Subaru Forester and the other a Nissan Pathfinder and both are happy with them. I have 2 children and we have a Toyota 4Runner that we purchased used and it’s been so reliable so I would highly recommend the Toyota brand! We also tried out the Honda Pilot and it’s very spacious in there -was our second choice. Best of luck – car shopping is fun and trying at the same time : )
I tried 3 in a car but the poor child in the middle was pushed all the time. She’s on my side. Make life easier get a van .trips where so must better an the 3rd child would sleep an be happy..Good luck
With the birth of our third child, we finally bought a van. The real benefit is the automatic/push button sliding door feature. Very helpful when dropping off/picking up at school. And yes, do get bucket seats in the center row.
We have a Chrysler Pacifica – my husband wasn’t a van person at first either, but we both love this one. We stow one of the captain’s chairs in the second row. The older two sit in the third row and the youngest is in the other captain’s chair in the second row. With one stowed seat there is a lot of room to climb in and buckle kids, and a it provides a space for emergency car diaper changes or feedings. The sliding doors are the biggest advantage! You don’t have to worry about getting a bucket car seat in and out in a tight parking space and you don’t have to worry about little ones banging a car door into another car or wall next to you. Don’t write off the van without checking one out!
You should at least try out a mini-van. We have three kids in car seats and I am in LOVE with our Honda Odyssey! The back side doors open with a key fob or button on the dashboard which is amazing for carline, grocery shopping, any time your hands are too full to open a door. There is so much storage and head room. We have one kid in the very back row in the middle seat and the other two in the middle row on the sides with that middle seat down. Every kid has space and Can’t Touch Their Brothers! We’ve done several long road trips and every time has been so nice having so much space.
We have a Toyota Highlander XLE and although it’s a little pricey, it has so far been worth every. single. penny. We absolutely love it. We got the captains chairs and then there’s the 3rd row — it fits 4 kids comfortably (boosters and baby/convertible car seats) or 3 kids and the dog (we have a golden too!) so I highly recommend. Also good is the Honda Pilot. It is basically the same as the Highlander, our only reason for not getting it was my sister-in-law already has one and we didn’t want to match ;-) Best of luck with your search!
My sister has a highlander and LOVES it. And my Dad liked hers so much, he bought one for himself!
I don’t have a vehicle recommendation but for super narrow carseats, take a look at the Diono brand. They are convertible and could work for your boys. We fit 2 Dionos and an infant seat in my Honda Civic!
Yes! I second the dion recommendation. We have a radian that is quite narrow.
I third the diono radian rxt!
I fit 3 across (1 chicco infant bucket, 2 dionos) in my subaru outback with those. They’re perfect and though they are pricey car seats, they were cheaper than a couple years of car payments! (though I hate car shopping, so I might be biased)
Congratulations!! So exciting. I had a Yukon years ago that was wide enough for all the car seats and I absolutely loved it but trucks are tough when you are dealing with loading kids up and infant carriers…..Once my kids got a little older but were still in car seats and or boosters I opted for the Toyota Sienna. I missed by truck at the beginning but the mini van is awesome when you start car pooling for school and sports….its all wheel drive and has all of the amenities. Believe it or not its also great when 3 couples are going to a concert ;)
Concerning the large SUV… make sure it fits in your garage if that’s important to you.
It’s easy
to forget about when focused on other features.
I agree about a van. When I had small children, it was the best for children, golden retrievers, aging grandparents and groceries. My kids are grown up now and I have a Suburban which is great for camping (and moving college stuff and now their apartment stuff), but let me tell you it gets harder and harder getting into that huge car. Miss my Dodge Caravan.
We were in the same boat as you, car wise. My kids are 5, 3, and 5 months. I was adamant that I did not want a van. Deal was that I had to test drive at least one before writing them off. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they drive. If you’re used to driving an SUV, they drive the same. We went with the Chrysler Pacifica and I’m so glad we did. It’s so much easier to get the kids in and out and it can hold a ton more stuff in the ‘trunk’ than our SUV. I wish we had bought our van sooner.
Ohhh Amazon Pantry! I order Bai Peach Tea and Passion Fruit Teas by the case. Best price I can get, especially because I drink so much of it. Have ordered a few other things, usually hard to find products that I need for baking or candymaking, but the Bai teas are a regular order.
Good luck on your vehicle search. I drive a Ford Explorer, but not sure that that could handle What you need, although it’s been a fantastic and very reliable SUV.
I have to weigh in on the car – take a minivan out at least twice on test drives before you write it off. It is the EASIEST way to handle children in car seats. Plus, when you have another child to add to the mix (and you will be taking friends places), it’s no problem. I drove a minivan for ten years. Was not a fan when I started. So glad I did it because it made my life easier. Part 2 of my comment – flipping through my recipes for T-giving, most are from you. You are so generous sharing your recipes and techniques (and life!). I love your website and your FB page. Have a wonderful, blessed holiday season!
Hey Linda! I totally agree with you! I was reluctant the Toyota Sienna is so much easier and comfortable. The other challenge with a truck (unless you go w an Escalade XL) is once you get all the car seats in you are lucky if you can get 1 stroller in the trunk and 1 bag of groceries!
I haven’t seen those popcorn flavors yet, but I just bought the butter carmel corn and it was delicious! The kettle corn flavor is another favorite. I will be on the lookout for those holiday favors!
Oh, good luck with the car search! My husband and I just spent the last nine months dealing with that. We just had our third baby so we have three under five. We thought we would be able to swing it for a little bit in his car with three across but it was too tight with two car seats reverse facing. Honestly, there is no car that will be as comfortable or easy as a van but we are in the same boat as your husband and didn’t want a van. Whatever car you get you will need captain seats so it is easy to get to the back seat to buckle whoever is back there. We ended up getting a Lexus GX, which is good in all aspects but the trunk is totally useless! So…you have to pick and choose your battles. Subaru is coming out with a nice seven seater this year as well. Your best options are probably Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The new Ford Explorer is really nice too! The other big SUV options are the Seqouia, Tahoe, and Expedition. Good luck with the search! I almost lost my mind haha.