In our family, we try not to make too big a deal out of Easter baskets, since I feel like it could possibly be a distraction to what we're really celebrating, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ! 

And if I'm honest, I kind of feel like I have to do an Easter basket because all the grandparents do them, and all my kids' friends' parents do them, so if I don't...then I'm a jerk.  There.  Just in case you were under any illusions that I was mature, I wanted to be sure you didn't get the wrong idea about me. 

Toddler Talk Thursday is all about bedtime stories this week! 

My sister gave Big E a ton of books for his first Christmas, and one of them in particular has stolen our hearts.  The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson has become our hands down favorite bedtime story.  It has a wonderful rhyming cadence that is soothing to read, beautiful illustrations and a sweet story of adventure and an unlikely friendship.

Super C is on the older end of toddlerhood, yet she still doesn't spend all night, every night in her bed.  I recently blogged about our night time parenting adventures - and not a whole lot has changed from then. 

When we re-did the kids' room, we finally ditched the toddler sized matresses and got Super C her own twin size.  Big E got booted up to the top bunk.  Since this change, Super C is spending a higher percentage of nights in her own bed.

This week's Toddler Talk Thursday topic is about the unlikely treasures you find in your little one's toybox.  These are all the things that you won't find on the shelves of Target, but are still treasured toys. 

I was going through the kids toys tonight anyway, since I was Disney Princess purging.  I kept an eye out for some strange "toys," and I found quite a few!

My kids have always loved to "help" me cook, from breakfast to cookies to mashed potatoes.  If you've ever actually had a toddler help you cook, you know that they aren't much...well, help.  But even though they make a huge mess and there might be egg shells in the banana bread - I love having my little ones in the kitchen.  I find they are more likely to try new foods when they helped prepare them.  My kids also love to help me shop for the ingredients!

Tuesday the kids both napped.  That meant that Tuesday night they did NOT want to sleep.  Actually, Big E wanted to sleep, but 2 year old Super C "was not tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired!!!!!"  In a moment of parental desperation brilliance, I promised to make them kitty cat pancakes if they went right to sleep.  The thing is, I had no idea what I had just promised to make them, it was just the first thing that flew out of my mouth.