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EP 122: Thanksgiving Excitement
1.7k Plays29 days ago
This week on Mom Group Chat, we’re officially entering the era of pitch-black-at-5PM… and honestly? We have thoughts. Big ones.
We’re talking all things Thanksgiving excitement — the food, the vibes, the outfits, the fact that somehow we’re already planning desserts like our lives depend on it. And then we get into the real mom talk: what on earth we’re doing with our kids once the sun disappears at 4:59PM.
From our current go-to evening activities to the ones that are only happening because we’re desperate (hi, sensory bins at 6:15PM), we’re sharing exactly how we’re filling the nighttime hours without losing our minds.
Expect cozy chaos, laugh-through-the-struggle moments, and the reminder that if you’ve already done one Target run this week simply because it was dark out… you are not alone.
Chill Mom Craft Co: https://chillmomcraftco.com/
Learning with Kelsey Boxes: https://rstr.co/learning-with-kelsey/13284
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
📸 Instagram: @momgroupchat
🎵 TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchat@gmail.com
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Transcript
Introduction to Mom Group Chat Podcast
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up, moms? I'm Whitney Williams, and I'm here with my best friend, Candice, and we're the Mom Group Chat Podcast. Hello.
Thanksgiving Excitement and Traditions
00:00:23
Speaker
Gobble, gobble.
00:00:24
Speaker
Gobble, gobble, everyone. You guys know this is like Thanksgiving is like my favorite holiday. Was it last year where you were like naming everything on the plate?
00:00:35
Speaker
Oh, I almost reposted a reel over the weekend. And it was like It's actually so stupid. But it was like a picture of a plate, like an empty, like, you know, like Thanksgiving three-part plate. And it was like, I'm already planning out my plate. And like, that's how I feel. Didn't you send me it, I think.
00:00:55
Speaker
Oh, did I? Yeah, you sent it to me. Ugh. So good. i love it Thanksgiving food. You love it. It is so yum. And it's actually really funny because we are going to go to my aunt's house, which is what i grew up doing. I love going there. she has her little turkey glove for me, which is actually just a hospital glove.
00:01:16
Speaker
And it says my name from when I was like five years old. And she puts it on my plate. I'm the only one with a name at my aunt's house. Yeah. Oh, this is so interesting. Okay. Going joke. This like hospital glove is my turkey glove.
00:01:30
Speaker
um Anyway, we are going there and my mom was like, yeah, and Diane won't let me like cook anything. So I said, I'll bring dessert. And i was like, oh, you making like death by chocolate, like pecan pie.
00:01:43
Speaker
And she's like, I don't know, maybe like I'll buy some key lime pie. and i was like, mom, that is not a Thanksgiving No, that's not allowed. She was like, do you want to make dessert? Then i was like, well, be on theme, man.
00:01:56
Speaker
ah Yeah. If you're going to make dessert for Thanksgiving, like, I'm sorry, but there's, there's there. You have a slew of options, but keyland pie is not one. It's not it. I said, that is a summer thing. Like, can we take key West out of the picture for like one second?
00:02:09
Speaker
I was going to say, she's just trying to like be key West vibes. She really, that is probably like her favorite thing, but I'm like that there's a time and place and it's not, it's not today. Yeah. And then she got mad at me because I was dictating what she should make.
00:02:25
Speaker
And I was like, well, it's incorrect. I'm sorry. yet No, key lime pie is not Thanksgiving vibes. I'm so sorry. I would be today saying the exact same thing. Okay. And exactly. So anyway, super excited. i just love, um, like what's your favorite dish? Have we talked about this ever? Yeah.
00:02:46
Speaker
ah i'm I'm happy to talk about it again, even if we have. um My favorite thing is stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes
00:02:55
Speaker
We have talked about it because I call it dressing and we've had that discussion.
00:02:59
Speaker
But then that's why that's my dish that i bring most of the time is stuffing. And I'm sorry, but I make the best fucking stuffing. Okay. And I feel very firmly about that.
00:03:13
Speaker
and she we Is it Stouffer's? No. i i we I'm only saying that because in college you liked the the boxed mashed potatoes.
00:03:26
Speaker
Who doesn't? bob i have never eaten those. You've never had Bob Evans mashed potatoes? I mean, like, maybe at Bob Evans, but I have never had boxed mashed potatoes, I don't think.
00:03:37
Speaker
so i just When you say boxed mashed potatoes, um I've never had that. I'm talking about like in, it's like a plastic bin. Oh, okay, okay. I've had those. I'm thinking of like the powdered mashed potatoes. like I don't think I've ever had. Well, maybe was really little. swear to God in college, I remember us talking about this.
00:04:00
Speaker
ah my grand My mom's mom used to make them when I was little, but like i haven't had them since I was five. Okay, okay, okay. what I must have. Sure, sure.
00:04:11
Speaker
sure I mean, I probably would too, for sure. But I no stuffing is my favorite and mashed potatoes, to be honest. Although the mashed potatoes, I'm so sorry if you're if my family is listening to this, but they've let me down the past couple of years.
00:04:27
Speaker
Not buttery enough? Like, what's up? They're too gluey. like to Like, the consistency is not right. Okay. Okay.
00:04:38
Speaker
Just get the bulb Evans. No one would know. Put it in a bowl. Yeah, that's true. i think I think what's tough, and I've definitely talked about this before, I think, is that my family is so large that the Thanksgivings that are too big, like if everyone is attending, the food is almost like too large of portions to make that like it's good anymore. Like- I don't know how to explain it. It's like you know it's giving cafeteria. it's You know what I mean?
00:05:07
Speaker
And so actually i prefer like when we do Thanksgiving, like just us or a smaller, like if half the family can't come, I'm like, oh darn, because the food's better that way. I'm so sorry, but it is.
00:05:21
Speaker
Yeah. We don't, we, mean I'm hungry. You say that every time.
00:05:29
Speaker
I really am so hungry every time we record though. I had egg whites this morning. Oh, skinny. I'm so skinny. I love them. i prefer them, honestly.
00:05:41
Speaker
um We always go to my aunt's and she cooks majority of stuff, but like I'm happy to bring a green bean
Friendsgiving Plans
00:05:51
Speaker
casserole. I love green bean casserole with the crispy onions on top.
00:05:56
Speaker
yeah And for the first time in years, I'm going to a Friendsgiving this year and I'm beyond thrilled. We are opposites because i am not going to a Friendsgiving this year for the first time in years. want some New York.
00:06:13
Speaker
Okay, so wait a second. For Friendsgiving, are you having true Thanksgiving food? Because some people switch it up. We're having, what did he say? What did he say? We're having a different meat.
00:06:27
Speaker
And then we're all bringing like a dish. Damn. It's like a prime rib or something. Rib roast. Something like that. That sounds delish. I love Friendsgiving. It always gets a little sloshy. The food is good. I just love, like truly I love a potluck.
00:06:46
Speaker
Period. yeah We're bringing dressing because that is like our number one. i can't wait to flex on them hoes with that, you know, and then um no kids. OK, so it's funny. We always have for the past two years. It's a mix. Some people who have kids bring them and some people who don't or some people who have them don't.
00:07:07
Speaker
This is a part of the franchise of parties that we all discussed. like you Nice. So this is one of them, and it's a no-kid zone for the night.
00:07:18
Speaker
No-kid um so it's definitely going to get sloshy. Yeah, we'll probably Uber for sure and throw up all the things.
00:07:29
Speaker
That's the problem. It's like you almost can't get sloshy on Thanksgiving. I know. Okay, that actually
Thanksgiving Experiences and Family Traditions
00:07:36
Speaker
true. Like the people who can get drunk on Thanksgiving, like that's a different. I don't know how you do that.
00:07:44
Speaker
God, thinking about it is making me sick. Yeah. I know I talk about this all the time, but the Thanksgiving where I was pregnant with Alice, my first like pregnant Thanksgiving.
00:07:58
Speaker
it's You guys, I was so ill. i was so ill. So this is a cautionary tale to anyone who is listening to this. And if it is your first Thanksgiving pregnant and you like to go hard in the paint for Thanksgiving, this is your cautionary tale that do not eat as much as you normally do because you will...
00:08:18
Speaker
have that baby up in your ribs with the food, swimming in the mashed potatoes, and you will vomit. Like, I don't know what to tell you. And I was not even like, like, I still had five months to go. Like, I still had a long time. It's actually making me sick, like, remembering that feeling like you like couldn't eat towards the end. It was so bad. Um, I was never pregnant over the holidays though. wow Well, I'll take that back. I found out I was pregnant with Margo on the 23rd of December, which everything came to a screeching halt. But like I got to partake in like December things, but, um, I never like got to fully go hard, like with the food. Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:06
Speaker
I'm lying. when if i When have I ever held back eating what I want on Thanksgiving or Christmas? I have been pregnant for two holidays for sure.
00:09:17
Speaker
And God, it's it's like a it's weird. and maybe Maybe I just knew better when I was pregnant with Evie. I didn't like indulge as much as I did. But that one with Alice, man, I was Well, you had two Thanksgivings and you were in the car and you were like, I'm going to pass out.
00:09:36
Speaker
ah Yeah. ah Like ah two things. That's the other tough thing about us is like, we obviously do two Thanksgivings almost every year. So it's a lot of food and you have to really pace yourself.
00:09:49
Speaker
So. Yeah. It is kind of crazy how hungry you are the next day though. You're like, wow, I made a lot of room in there in my nick for me to be hungry at this point.
00:10:00
Speaker
But So fun. And you always like, I was always jealous of your Thanksgivings because of your big family and you played like flag football and all that. was like, that is so fun. I'm jealous. do a lot. That's the, ah we are very active. We like
Holiday Travel and Shopping Challenges
00:10:18
Speaker
play like basketball and knockout and games and flag football.
00:10:25
Speaker
Yeah. That's like our biggest game we play. What is that? Yeah. Like the basketball game where you all line up in a row and you like do free throws. And if the person behind you gets the ball in before you, you're out.
00:10:37
Speaker
And the last one standing wins. we call that like, what's something else I thought.
00:10:43
Speaker
Yeah. That's our biggest, most competitive game. Sock and boppers and y'all were like knocking each other out. Oh my God. Could you imagine? That's so funny. well It's like giving wedding crashers or whatever. Yeah.
00:10:56
Speaker
That's funny. Um, the, honestly, when it comes to this year's, uh, plans, I don't think they're like really finalized yet. to be honest, there's a couple like moving things this year, people that are pregnant and can't travel.
00:11:13
Speaker
So some family goes to see the pregnant people who can't travel. You know what i mean? So I actually don't know the plans really. It is weird getting older, like tri traditions start to change and you're like, whoa, this is like weird.
00:11:28
Speaker
That's how i always felt about Thanksgiving. It was kind of like, it's been wishy-washy a lot. And then my aunt Diane like started doing it again at her house. So it feels like back to normal. But there was like a few years where we were going down to Chris's, which I love to go do. um But yeah, I don't know. Ever since we've had kids, we haven't like traveled down there too much.
00:11:48
Speaker
It's a lot of work. If we're a seven hour car ride, but yeah. Oh, it's got this convo has gotten me excited about it though. I do love Thanksgiving and I think that's why this like shift from Halloween to Christmas.
00:12:06
Speaker
I feel, i know I talked to this on my Instagram stories yesterday, but like, I feel like the whiplash of Halloween to Christmas has been like really and i know crazy this year. Like, and I don't know if I just don't, if I, if it was like this last year and I just forgot about it, but I do feel like the jump from Halloween to Christmas this year, i and I, sorry, I need to be so clear about this. It's not like, like you putting up your Christmas decorations. I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about the commercial flip to Christmas and like the instant holiday gift guide. You need this. Like, I just feel like,
00:12:44
Speaker
whiplash and I'm like, i've justice for Thanksgiving. I just want justice for Thanksgiving. My mom has been pressuring us on gifts for the kids and stuff. And I was like, I'm like just over the birthday hangover, like for real. Like,
00:13:01
Speaker
And she goes like, well, this is when I like to plan. I have so many people to buy for. I'm like, I get that. But like, I'm not there. Like, I'm not thinking gifts. I'm I just wanted to put up my tree.
00:13:14
Speaker
and that's all I've done is my my tree. and um and I was like, and it makes me happy. And I was like, and that's where I'm done. Like, I'm good. But it is funny you saying that because someone posted yesterday.
00:13:28
Speaker
like a Christmas guide for her daughter and it had like 80 things on this Amazon list and I was like holy moly like how did you find out it was great I'm like perfect she has a two-year-old daughter so do I and I was like perusing but I'm like how is there so many things and like when did it all like shift forward versus like just Black Friday which was such a thrill back then well I heard like a rumor Which again, i have no idea if this is like true or not, but I had read something online that like they predict this being like the most quiet Black Friday of all time that people are going to boycott buying things, I guess.
00:14:11
Speaker
i I think I don't know if that's like a political thing or something. I don't know. But I read that a lot of companies and brands are starting to push Black Friday earlier this year because they anticipate no one purchasing for Black Friday, which I felt was like, okay, maybe that's like the justification of like why it feels like such a big flip.
00:14:34
Speaker
But I don't, I, again, I know i have no idea if that's true or People push forward a lot, in my opinion, just because you get so overwhelmed on actual black Friday. Now that you can shop online, it's like, well, look, we're doing it today. It's our special day. Like by here now before then, and like everyone's out of money by then. Cause they've already done all their shopping.
00:14:56
Speaker
now I'm out of money right now. i felt like So I'm like, I'm like, I'm done with shopping for a second.
Christmas Gift Planning for Kids
00:15:03
Speaker
That's the other thing that about Christmas is, or I guess maybe just with us right now, I'm just like, I'm sorry. i don't have any money to be buying a bunch of Christmas shit right now. Like I have to wait till the, after Thanksgiving.
00:15:15
Speaker
Um, and I also like, to be honest, my girls get so much from family that like, I'm keeping our gifts tight this year. Like, yeah. I feel like i'll I'll get them each five things and that's it.
00:15:29
Speaker
That's tight.
00:15:32
Speaker
Yeah. like a I think I got, I don't even know. I try and do like a ticket item and then it's just like right sprinkled in. who The other thing that's tough is, and I wonder if any other moms with like same gendered kids that are close in age feel this way.
00:15:51
Speaker
They all love the same things that I'm almost struggling with. Like, I think that no matter what I get, either of them, like they're going to love, want each other's things and like play with it all together. I'm not doing that.
00:16:06
Speaker
morgan and rachel doing that Always got the same things every time. I'm not doing that. I refuse. It was double Dutch. Yeah, I'm not doing that.
00:16:17
Speaker
That's crazy. um I probably sound like a Grinch right now. I love Christmas, guys. I do. you were You were way more excited about Thanksgiving. Yeah. Greens, beans, and potatoes, man.
00:16:29
Speaker
then No, literally, I'm ah like, I want Thanksgiving. Justice for Thanksgiving. Yeah, that'll that'll be amazing. We have a lot of like fun things coming up. October was obviously super busy. There's so many activities to do in October, but like Thanksgiving, I mean, it's going to fly because I have this Friendsgiving coming up, and then I'm going to see Candelita and the babies and Vinny, and so I'm so excited to see them, and then it's freaking Thanksgiving, man. Crazy.
00:17:03
Speaker
Crazy. the The rest of this year is going to fly. It's going to fly for sure. i know. And then you get to have your New York Minute in the fall, which is like, is it does it get any better than that? Like, I don't think so.
00:17:18
Speaker
I already, in fact, this computer right now that I am in a new setup because the light was assaulting me. um It's sitting on my giant Newly bag because I got my Newly yesterday.
00:17:31
Speaker
And it's filled with sweaters, coats, and like stuff for my New York trip. So it's it's a big in is's a big one. And I'm excited. coats? and I don't think like anything gives me more of a thrill than a coat.
00:17:45
Speaker
I love. I got a really cute like plaid one that I'm excited about. was hoping you got a plaid one. Almost like the g Nat Note one, which was gorgeous. It's gorgeous, except this one's more neutral because I needed to be able to wear it with more things, but it is plaid. i'll i'll I'll open it and show to brown plaid?
00:18:02
Speaker
Yeah. I'm quivering. I can't wait. love a coat. I love a gorgeous coat. I love them. I have like 10. And I, I mean, I dabble in them here, but like, it's not like I got to wear them up there and just like change it with my mood.
00:18:19
Speaker
i mostly just wear my like one that I really love here, but o love them. Love, love. I do love coats and I love, I do miss like that layer of my wardrobe when I lived in New York. I feel like I Like I loved like a leather jacket moment and like a trench on a rainy day. i don't get to like play around with that anymore. why I like it so much because I feel like I can splurge on it because you wear it so much day after day. So I feel like I will spend, I will drop a dollar on that bitch. Like I yeah will spend some money. And so I, it's like my fancy items. That's why I love them so much.
00:19:00
Speaker
Well, they also like a good coat, like the, I feel like quality does matter because it has to hold up. And also if you take care of it, like they hold their value. If you wanted to resell it or something like that, like they really do hold their value.
00:19:15
Speaker
My favorite one I own is 10 years old and it's still classic. I would wear it today. Like I'm obsessed with it. Yeah. I need a new coat. Not really.
00:19:26
Speaker
I don't need any more. It's not that cold here. Well, it's been pretty cold there. You're right. It's been in the 40s, but it's creeping back up. It's going to be like 70. I was going to say,
Adapting to Daylight Savings with Kids
00:19:40
Speaker
we're climbing. It was 56 this morning, which is chilly for Tampa.
00:19:44
Speaker
But like let me look at the 73. It's already 73. I should not be in this sweatshirt because it is 73 now. Mm-hmm.
00:19:55
Speaker
I'm here, ho. Woo! It's creeping. It's also, like, I know we touched a little bit on daylight savings in our episode that we just recorded, but I feel like we need to discuss again to talk a little bit more about what we're doing with our kids in the evenings.
00:20:14
Speaker
Yeah, we need to, because we like tiptoed on it. We just had so much to talk about last time. Like we need to give actual ideas because yeah if you're new here, ah new mom, you all a sudden feel assaulted by daylight savings. And it's the first time you want to write a letter to Congress. Like literally you're like, what the fuck? like yeah Literally. Can we not do this ever again?
00:20:37
Speaker
um i I think I've, I have was going to say, and I think one of the things I've pinpointed about why it's so annoying, of course, the mornings are annoying. They're waking up early, but there is a specific annoying thing about the evening.
00:20:49
Speaker
And that is the, like that, especially in this first week, first two weeks, Like, Evie was so tired last night at 530. She's sitting at dinner.
00:21:01
Speaker
She's rubbing her eyes. She's, like, ready to go to sleep, you know? And so she's crankier. so it's not even just like, oh, we feel like we have this extra hour to kill and we're inside. It's like, oh, wait, we're there super tired and cranky doing it.
00:21:17
Speaker
So it's like... It's just adds a layer, man. And I'm tired too. I know. I'm the child. I literally was on the couch and I had the heated blanket on and I'm like, I could pass out. was going to say the heated blanket is like doom. It's doom.
00:21:35
Speaker
Doomsday. But it's so good. I love it. love a heated blanket too. Once I'm under it. I tell Chris, I'm like, don't bother me after, cause I'm going to be in a bad mood.
00:21:45
Speaker
Cause it's like you're in nap mode a little bit. ah You're like a cat. I'm like, don't ask me to get up after this point. I'm turning it on. Yeah.
00:21:57
Speaker
But I did do something a little different yesterday that like made the afternoon go by a little quicker. And we I had to bribe my children, not Margo so much, but like Graydon hates walks. And so I told him, I was like, look, you can watch TV after we go on a walk.
00:22:14
Speaker
And he was like, fine. So we did like a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood and I went a wrong way and it, and it ended up being longer than I expected it to be. But then I told on the way home, I was like ready for him to start like ripping me a new one. Cause that's what he does to me.
00:22:30
Speaker
And, um, I was like, great. And I'm so sorry. This was longer than I expected. And he goes, it's okay, mommy. I'm having fun. And I was like, Oh yeah, I can't get tons of snacks, waters.
00:22:42
Speaker
We talked the whole time. Like, It was fun. And so then they made the afternoon go by so quick. Okay. so what time did you do that at? At 4.30. Okay. um like It was like an, like a, I guess the sun's been going down at six something here. Yeah.
00:22:57
Speaker
So it's how it was, yeah, it was like later, but it was freezing. i felt bad, but they were fine. They were just, Yeah, i I would like to start doing it doing that and we got to move up the time because like the problem with me is my mom will sometimes keep them till 5 or 5.30 and then by the time that we're they're home and like and then 6.30 it's dark.
00:23:21
Speaker
But so I know i said this in the last episode, but I think I i definitely feel comfortable walking in in our neighborhood at night. I just need to like prepare with a bike light or some glow sticks or something.
00:23:34
Speaker
um And then the other thing I've been leaning into which, you know, Alice's teacher told me I needed to lean into, was crafts and being more open to crafts.
00:23:47
Speaker
And so I have to give a shout out to my girl, Claudia, at Chill Mom Craft Co. Because her craft kit saved my life in that hour. They are so great. They are like pre-cut and pre... Like um you only have the amount of...
00:24:04
Speaker
supplies that you actually need for the craft and you don't have a bunch of leftover crap, yeah which is game changing. um And Alice loves it. She gets to like create a cute craft and then she shows it off and it like kills an hour.
00:24:20
Speaker
Highly recommend. Yeah. We've been loving that learning with Kelsey box. Yeah. Same thing. They will come home and I'll have it like sat out for them. We didn't do it yesterday because I was like, I need to move my meat.
00:24:33
Speaker
um But they ah they love it. They like literally fight over it. I have to like get it set out and placed for both of them or else like it's a freak out town if they start digging in the box.
00:24:47
Speaker
um But they've really been liking that a lot, too. The other thing is I got a roll. I did this. I got this back when I made that banner for um Evie's birthday back in February. But I have a ah big roll of that brown craft paper.
00:25:04
Speaker
oh Dude, I just roll that shit on the floor and tape it. And I let them go to town. That's smart. And I just throw down literally bags of crayons and markers. And I know everything's washable. If it gets on the floor, it comes right up. Like it's not a big deal.
00:25:21
Speaker
And then stickers, those, and they're literally the most and like normal stickers.
00:25:30
Speaker
These dot stickers. Oh. So stupid. So stupid and small, right? But I will literally, on that craft paper, I'll create, like, the stems of flowers and I'll give them these and say, make flowers.
00:25:44
Speaker
And they, like, put them on the stems or, like, I just draw some very simple, like, things for them to do and they go to town with these dot stickers. Like, Keeps them busy.
00:25:56
Speaker
Literally. You know, another thing that I did, which is stupid, but it has worked. I shifted toys around. And all I need to do that.
00:26:07
Speaker
All of a sudden, the old toys are new again. i moved everything around. I threw away some stuff, but like, shifting it around moving it in different places they're like oh my god like I forgot that this existed and they have been playing really freaking good together and like I moved some stuff up to his room and so he's been like playing up in his room and he'll ask Margo to go up there and like I I put his tree in his room and he's like let's go look at the tree and then they end up playing and it's been so lovely actually
00:26:39
Speaker
They've played like four or five days in a row. I'm like, oh. I'm really, I'm really, really due for a toy purge clean out. I feel like we have accumulated so much junk.
00:26:53
Speaker
Like, you know, the little toys that get handed out at like birthday parties and like all their bins. always end at the of the basket. It's just like, shit. Yes. Their toy bins are just like the bottom of it is just a bunch of junk.
00:27:07
Speaker
like I have flutes. have like tiny magnets. i have magnet tiles that have gotten lost from the pack. I'm like, it's just, i know it's so aggravating.
00:27:18
Speaker
The other thing I am definitely going to do in this daylight savings time is prolong bath time. I'm going to let them stay in there and play. If your kids are like mine and they love bath time, just lean in, get some of those like color tabs, add glow sticks, let them have a popsicle.
00:27:38
Speaker
That's like my go-to because if they can kill 45 minutes in the bath, like, and they're happy. ah Wow. That's awesome. Yeah. Oh, well, yours not? No. Oh, mine love the bath.
00:27:51
Speaker
And they play together. They play swim lessons. They do the whole thing. Oh, hell no. They fight. she likes the She likes the jets.
00:28:01
Speaker
He doesn't. She wants the bubbles. He doesn't. He likes to play fight, and then he hits Margo. It's just like... chaos. I hate that. Damn.
00:28:12
Speaker
Okay. That's not, we have completely different situations. So I guess depending on your situation. If I separate them, they're so much better, but then that's like work, dude.
00:28:25
Speaker
Yeah. Well then it's like turned into, if you prolong both bath times, ah you're looking at two hours. honestly, are we on to something?
00:28:37
Speaker
You take one and I'll take the other. um Yeah. I don't know. It's, it's so hit or miss. Like sometimes they're into it. Sometimes they're not like, it's really kind of chaotic.
00:28:50
Speaker
Yeah. Like I almost will like do it just to get it over with. Sometimes I'm like, ah Right after dinner, like we usually wait till like 630. Some days I'm like, just let's get this over with so I can be done with because I know it's going to be like a stress.
00:29:05
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. My other thing that we've done a couple times that is always a hit, and it definitely can't be an every night thing, but it's like for a special occasion or a Friday night or something is to do like a, you know, fort movie night situation.
00:29:22
Speaker
And my advice there is like, it doesn't have to be a full length movie if you like don't if you don't have that much time and you're like oh i don't really want to spend two hours watching a movie choose ah an episode of Bluey choose an episode of something and like do a little like half movie night you know Let me tell you, Margot's still going strong on the Grinch cartoon from like the 1950s. It's on YouTube.
00:29:55
Speaker
What? Well, sorry. Last Christmas, we were obsessed with like the new Grinch. Oh, see. And then it was taken off TV. And now I'm wondering if it's back. Well, the it's on YouTube and it's broken up into six videos. They're like, they all play in a row of if you just hit it. But like, she loves it. It's maybe 20 minutes. It's like the perfect little video. Frosty's on there.
00:30:20
Speaker
Like, all the classics. um And we still call her Cindy Lou Who to this day because she just absolutely freaking loves it. Oh, that's cute.
00:30:32
Speaker
She's a Grinch girl. I have to buy her like There's all those Grinch collabs out with kids' clothes with Gap and Pottery Barn. I'm like, I have to get her. think Carter's has like a cute Cindy Lou Who sweatshirt, which they sell at Target. I'm like, she has to have it.
00:30:50
Speaker
Wait, did you see the news about Carter's? No. They're closing like 180 stores. Hold on Let me look it up. Don't they sell to Target?
00:31:00
Speaker
We've bought Carter's store. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. Oh, yeah. carter's ah Carter's plans to close approximately 150 stores in the North America over the next three years, with left with roughly 100 closures expected by the end of 2026.
00:31:16
Speaker
It's cutting about 300 corporate jobs and cited increased tariffs as a major reason for these cost-cutting measures. I'll tell you what. The tariffs are, like, kicking my ass.
00:31:28
Speaker
I can't order shit from across the sea. It's dinging me left and right. Not fun. Not fun. My favorite brand for Margo this little Oh, from Spain or something, right? Well, it's like, I think it's French. Emily at Ida.
00:31:44
Speaker
Luckily, they sell it here in America, too, so I can find it. But if I ever order directly from the site,
00:31:52
Speaker
I just shouldn't. It's just so expensive. I'm always having to pay to get it sent to me. It's annoying. Sucks. Sucks. ah Yeah.
00:32:04
Speaker
But no, sorry. That was such a sidebar on Carter's. But I saw that the other day and I was like, oh, interesting. um You definitely need to get her some Grinch gear. Grinch gab. Yeah, sure.
00:32:18
Speaker
I think it'd be like, I've always wanted to get them Christmas sheets. And I'm like, is this the year? um maybe I should just wait till she's a little older and gets like an actual bed. But Graydon, I could totally do now.
00:32:30
Speaker
Do you put a tree in their room at all? Yeah, they both. He has my old tree from when I was little. It's like three feet tall. And then Margo's is like a little one that's on her dresser.
00:32:41
Speaker
Okay. i've I've been thinking about doing that to festivize. That's not a word, but I'm making it a word. It's very like wicked of me. Festivus. um ah I've been thinking about doing that to just like make their room a little more festive.
00:32:59
Speaker
um yeah and I got like these little pink trees for Margo's room and Graydon went in there literally this morning and was like Margo has something new and i'm like these are not new she's had these for this is now her third Christmas i was like we've had them since the beginning and you have Christmas stuff in your room and he was just like freaking out he wants a snow globe I'm like oh my god like I'm in that like Do I buy it for him now and make him happy?
00:33:28
Speaker
Or do I wait and give that to him for Christmas? Like a little snow globe.
00:33:35
Speaker
I think I vote Christmas. I know. I'm like, maybe I'll wait because he'll forget by the time he gets home. Yeah. yeah But like getting him like an actual snow globe, I think you'd love it.
00:33:47
Speaker
Oh, yeah yeah, Alice and Evie both love snow globes. When my mom went on vacation this past year, she brought them back. They're like little tiny turtle snow globes. And they're obsessed. They like carry them around my mom's house. like It's their most prized possession. It's so crazy.
00:34:06
Speaker
But um I feel like they love it. Yeah, the one that I have in Margo's room is like a target. It's actually an ornament. And he was like, I'm obsessed. I'm like, wait till you see a real thing, baby. Like, you won't love that. And he used to have that light that would spin and like it would shine on the ceiling.
00:34:25
Speaker
they They stomped on it last year, so it broke. We have, um, Alice still uses like a, we call it her. It's so funny. Cause we call it her DJ light, which is not true. It is. like the I don't know why that's what she started to call it. And we, it just stuck. And now it's her DJ light, but it's a galaxy light. It's like, and it shines purple and pink and like stars on the ceiling. And we use that every single night, but it's become the DJ light. I don't know how,
00:34:55
Speaker
Okay. One other tip that I did yesterday that, to be honest, I felt like was hack.
Fun Activities to Engage Kids
00:35:04
Speaker
um And that is bake in the mornings if they are up early.
00:35:11
Speaker
And I know that sounds like, whoa, aggressive. But hear me out. It's like a reward because you get a a fresh baked good at the end of...
00:35:26
Speaker
at the end of the activity. You know what I mean? but And I made pumpkin muffins. Okay. And so it's, I love muffins are a go-to of mine because they like to put the little pumpkin wrappers in the holes, which is like easy, low lift thing for them to do.
00:35:44
Speaker
I use Trader Joe's pumpkin muffin mix, so I'm not doing anything crazy. Okay. I'm not baking from scratch here, but I, it's, it's like just a good activity.
00:35:55
Speaker
And then I get to enjoy like Like fills their cup. I get to enjoy a warm pumpkin muffin with my coffee when it's done. And for me, like that's worth it.
00:36:06
Speaker
Um, a pumpkin muffin sounds so good. So with like a blueberry sounds good. I just like, we buy those trader Joe pumpkin. one I mean mean, banana ones. And I'm obsessed with those, those little tiny ones. Oh my God.
00:36:20
Speaker
Um, But therere we they love muffins. almost like a cupcake. Yes. We are a muffin fam. Like we are having muffins every day, to be honest. Yeah, like them too. Those mini muffins from Publix are probably our most purchased thing, but I try not to get them sometimes because they're so fucking expensive.
00:36:39
Speaker
They really are, but they are good. Like I could make 30 mini muffins from Trader Joe's for half of the price that those Publix muffins are.
00:36:51
Speaker
I don't have like a mini 10 thing. Oh, yeah, i do. It's a good investment if you're interested. Literally, i could easily just go and buy that. Like, yeah, that that's not holding me back, you know?
00:37:04
Speaker
Yeah. What else? I just I mean, last time we talked about still going outside, even when it's dark, just getting the lights on and letting them play a little bit. Like, don't be scared to be outside.
00:37:16
Speaker
and need to, like, remind myself of that, even though, like, we're still in the thick of, like, the time shift where we're still now like, it's actually 10 30, but it's nine 30. You know, we're gonna be saying that for months.
00:37:28
Speaker
Um, but I, I feel like I also am at the, it's time to like put Graydon in an activity, which honestly I do think it is a little too late. Like, you know, we tried the soccer thing.
00:37:41
Speaker
We used to we did swimming until, you know, he learned and now it's like, all right, we've got to sign him up for like basketball or baseball.
00:37:53
Speaker
And I've just been scared because i had he like wasn't that into it before. But I think it's time. I was going to think love it too. I think she would love gymnastics. But we can't find day to do it. And like you have to have a parent on the floor at her age. That's the problem. The only times they had that were open were like 4.30 or 3.30. I'm like, well.
00:38:15
Speaker
What am I going to do if I'm alone and I have Graydon with me? like and I have to be on the floor? I was like, that's not going to work. so I know. We struggled with the exact same thing with the gymnastics thing. It's like Alice could go by herself, but Evie has to have a parent.
00:38:32
Speaker
And then it's like, okay, ah yeah, I don't know. It's just like it's tough. The Saturday and Sunday classes fill up so fast because everyone wants Saturday and Sunday.
00:38:42
Speaker
The other thing is the gymnastics place is far from us. It's like a 25 minute drive. So I would actually, I think I would love having it like after school. I would love to take up some time during the week, but you just never know with Chris. So it's unfortunate.
00:38:59
Speaker
I was complaining about that this morning. Because of family photos, I want to scream. but wait, i know I didn't get to, I was on another call. I didn't get to listen to your voice now but I'll listen after.
00:39:11
Speaker
yeah I'm just being like, it's one of those things that is so stupid, but it's like raining on Friday. So like I'm having to move pictures, but like with Chris's schedule, nothing's working. So it's like pushing it further and further, which I'm like, at this point, why even have the photos? Cause our pictures won't come in time. And then like, I'm just like,
00:39:32
Speaker
I was being neurotic about it and frustrated. would feel the same way though because there's a lot of like thoughts that go and like a lot of planning that goes into family photos between the outfits and the coordinating of the time and the making sure your kids are happy. There's a lot that goes into that and it's all on you and then to have it all be like is so annoying.
00:39:54
Speaker
um It's just so frustrating. And I'm like, I need to relax because I really do just want pictures with the fam. We haven't taken them in so long. So I'm like, okay, who actually cares like what time I get them done?
00:40:07
Speaker
But yeah, it's just been a little hard to try and coordinate schedules with Chris. Like he has a shitty two week schedule and i'm like, well, it's coming down to the wire and then it's Thanksgiving. Like Yeah.
00:40:19
Speaker
What are we going to do? and I threatened, this is not Chris's fault. I threatened, I said, well, maybe we'll just do the kids on Thursday and then I'll hop in some. And if you can make it, you make it.
00:40:31
Speaker
Like, what's he going to do with that? He goes, sure. Like I'll try. And I'm like, I almost said it to see if he would like call out. Yeah.
00:40:41
Speaker
It was me like testing. and Right. you were like poking the bear. Like, are you going to do anything? Would you call out? Like, that's what I'm trying to get you to do. And he's like, I really can't. And i was like, okay, i'm not going to do Thursday. i was just joking.
00:40:55
Speaker
Just seeing what you say. Oh, I'm sorry. That's so hard and annoying. Fine. No, but it's not fine. It sucks. Like, and it's fine that you feel like it sucks because it does. Yeah. Yeah.
00:41:10
Speaker
It'll be done. It shall be done. It shall be done. Yeah. yeah Whatever. Well, I hope you guys are surviving. Make sure your husbands are helping out too, or your partner, because ah you shouldn't take on the brunt of daylight savings yourself.
00:41:30
Speaker
So true. Let's get active. Let's make the dads go outside with them. How about that? And then we stay inside and cook some den hair, which I know is like gender roles, whatever. But like that sounds better than to me. No, literally it does.
00:41:45
Speaker
Have you ever seen that video that's like going to the park is a dad's job? ah I've gotten to where I don't like going there. I hate the park. I really do. Sorry. i do too. It's not fun.
00:41:57
Speaker
It's not We also, i know you and I have been
Parenting and Activity Discussions
00:42:02
Speaker
talking about this. I really do want to do a whole episode on like park etiquette and like park yeah playing with other kids because we've had a lot of, we had another experience this weekend where these kids were mean to Alice and I wanted to fight it.
00:42:16
Speaker
I wanted to fight five-year-old. I had a like, we went over the weekend and i like, I just observed Graydon. There was like a birthday party going on and he like wanted to play with the kids so bad.
00:42:31
Speaker
And he was like really nervous. And like one kid kind of like slid with him for a little bit and then he ran away and Graydon was like, I don't know what to do. It was just like very interesting watching him like interact with the whole situation. But He ended up clinging to two-year-old and I was like really?
00:42:46
Speaker
That's what you pick? The two-year-old? Yeah. Isn't that funny? I feel like Alice ah leans like older. She always wants to be with like the older kids.
00:42:58
Speaker
But Evie in a social setting with all different age babies, like Evie wants to sit next to the youngest baby. Margot baby. It's so interesting. And Graydon couldn't have like really cared less about a baby. don't know.
00:43:12
Speaker
I always um leaned hanging out with younger people. I feel like I always wanted older I wanted to be a part of like the cool older girls. ah Both my brothers played baseball. So at the baseball park, I was like always. and And then my mom would be upset that I was like hanging out with people too old for me.
00:43:32
Speaker
Yeah, ah I always hung out with the younger people. I wanted to be the cool girl. You were. I still am. Wait, speaking of cool girl, this last thing and then well we can wrap up. But um while staying at my mom's this weekend, Alice was shown K-pop Demon Hunters. Yeah, we watched.
00:43:53
Speaker
And now that the girl is obsessed, except she calls them cake pop. Cake pop demon hunters. And so in the car, she's like, can you play the cake pops? Isn't that the cutest? week Margot's very best friend in her class is named Lila Kate.
00:44:08
Speaker
And Graydon calls her Lila Cake. li like Yeah. And so we call her Lila cake. That's so cute. um But I have dabbled. The music does slap. I'm not even going to lie. No, I mean, it's great. Every little girl for Halloween was K-pop. Yeah.
00:44:24
Speaker
Yeah. Roomie with the big braid. yeah. And we got performances like. oh that's fun. I feel like I would like that. I'd be like, all right, i'm ready to judge. Did I tell me your best move? Did I tell you I did the splits with them in the garage and I know.
00:44:41
Speaker
Oh my God. Yeah. And Chris did the worm. Like, of course, like a fun, like classic. ah Wait, can you still do the splits? No, please. No, no, no.
00:44:52
Speaker
oh Oh, it was an attempt. Okay. But I was like, I want to do this. We were just talking about this in my do-day group. Someone asked the question, um what is more impressive being it at this age of 35? What is more impressive, doing a split or doing a pull-up?
00:45:15
Speaker
Like if it was a girl, I'd be impressed with a pull-up. Yeah. But... But I think on the whole it's the split, to be honest. Yeah, that's... Yeah.
00:45:29
Speaker
Both are really great. Both I applaud. Yeah. But if like a guy can do a split and a girl can do a pull up, my mind's blown.
00:45:40
Speaker
Yeah. True, true, true, true. I can't remember what the consensus, what the consensus was in the group. I think it was kind of split to be honest. I've never known a guy that could do the splits.
00:45:52
Speaker
Oh, well did gymnastics and there were guys who did gymnastics. So I definitely saw some man splits, you know? I've never seen one in the wild ever. So like and so that that would be crazy to see. Yeah, that would be spectacle.
00:46:11
Speaker
All right. Well, I love you guys. ah love you. I'm going to cry again like yesterday. Oh my God. About my moon face. Oh, that made me laugh. Okay. I love you.
00:46:21
Speaker
Love you. Bye. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there.
00:46:34
Speaker
All right. Gotta go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.