Become a 4Moms Insider

4moms has launched a new program where you can sign up to become an Insider . As a 4moms Insider you can test products, get special deals and win stuff. You even get free swag just for signing up. You're also on the inside for all they do and a key part of spreading the word about their products.

About 4moms:
Committed to making routine tasks easier for parents, 4moms is revolutionizing the juvenile products industry with dramatically innovative products. Market research that included a group of 5 moms with fifteen children among them led the company to focus on the juvenile products industry. By leveraging the declining costs of technology, the company is able to develop products that are completely unique and revolutionary, yet would have been cost prohibitive just a few years ago. Today, the moms are still involved in the research and the company has a team of fifteen robotic engineers and researchers (and parents to twenty-eight children), who are focused on applying new technologies to create award winning products that are intelligent and offer real life solutions for parents.

They are trying to get 500 registered Insiders before October 31st. Anyone can join. New parents, experienced parents, future parents, grandparents, anyone who’s willing to help spread the word. If you are interested, just visit www.4momsonline.com/insider .

Please let them know Stephanie @ And Twins make 5! told you about it.

Dream Baby Cable Lock

Bad news for my twins ... My clever duo, when you boys finally do figure out those simple cabinet locks, and I know you will, Mommy is ready for you.

Dream Baby takes baby proofing a step further by the introduction of this combination lock that will keep babies, toddlers, and even older children out of those off limit places.  This is a cabinet lock you'll be able to put to good use for many years to come.

This Dream Baby lock allows users to keep children of all ages out of the medicine cabinet, the household cleansers storage, the hidden holiday presents area, and even the liquor stash.  It also can double as a stroller lock to deter theft of that pricey investment when out and about.

Twin Stroller Quest {News & Request for Help}

We soon will have some news to share in regards to our twin stroller quest (hint! we have a requested stroller review coming) in the meantime we are looking for your help.

Having spent hours trying to find out if a certain stroller would fit in back of my certain car, I decided there had to be an easier way.  Let's face it, those folded measurements are nice but they don't really show you how a stroller fits in the car and how much room may or may not be left over.  Wouldn't be awesome if a site had photos of all the popular twin strollers fitting inside all the popular SUVs and cars?


And twins make 5! is building a database of double/twin stroller photos in the trunks or backs of vehicles.  In order to aid all those mommies in need of a twin or double stroller, we are hoping to show how various strollers fit into the back of various vehicles.

Would you like to help?

Take a picture of your twin or double stroller in the back of your car.  Send it to us in an email to andtwinsmake5@gmail.com subject: Stroller Photos.  Please be sure to include the make and model of both the stroller and the car.

Also, please let us know if it only fit in the car by folding down the third row of seats or by taking off the wheels.  We'd love for this database to be a true asset to stroller shopping parents expecting twins or a second little one.


Example:  Jane 2007 Powertwin fits in back of 2008 Buick Enclave (seats do not need to be folded down & wheels did not need to be removed.)

Do you have 2 cars or 2 double strollers?  Show us the stroller in both of your cars or let us know what car you can not fit it in at all.

Football Fans

I just had to share this picture of my oldest son, J.C.,  who plays on his High School's freshman football team with one of the twins, Declan.

This photo sums up our past month of Saturdays.  Lots of football watching and playing with a pinch of company dance practices and baby chasing throw in for good measure.

Marshmallow Blaster Toy {Review & Giveaway}

Appearing on And Twins make 5! may not be quite as "big time" as it's appearance on an episode of Hannah Montana that included the Jonas Brothers, however here it is the Marshmallow Blaster decked out in it's new snazzy zebra patterned design.

My 8 & 10 year olds saw a version of this blaster on Hannah Montana and couldn't have been more excited to have their turn with it when it arrived for review.  While I'm not a huge fan of guns, this looked like it would be too fun to pass up on.

The verdict?  It is a lot of fun!  This blaster took food fights to a whole new level by shooting mini marshmallows at it's deemed targets.  All 3 of my older children have taken turns with it and I've found it to  a safe form of fun for older kids.

This is just one of the many models of marshmallow based launching toys available from the Marshmallow Fun Company .  Other items include things like a bow & mallow, a blower, and an executive blaster.

Enter:
You can enter to win your choice of one of the marshmallow blasters.  Simply visit the Marshmallow Fun Company website and pick a favorite.  Leave your selection in a comment below and don't forget to include an email in either your post or your profile.

Optional Additional Entries:
1 extra entry if you become a member of the Marshmallow Fun Company facebook group.
1 extra entry if you follow this blog.
1 extra entry if you subscribe to this blog's feed.
1 extra entry if you tweet about this contest and include @andtwinsmake5
1 extra entry if you blog about this contest and link back to this post.

Rules:
An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling us which options you have used. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen.  This contest is open to USA only.

Ends on 10/27/09 @ 11:59PM CST.

Thanks for Entering and Good luck to everyone!

Need a Counter Top Height High Chair? Try the Argington Babylon

Our kitchen has a tiny counter height breakfast bar area and we'd been desperately trying to find high chairs that would allow the twins to be seated at it.  After much research, I found a pair at a store called Fawn & Forest and I could not be more pleased with them.  They were even on clearance because the company is changing the finish options.

We've been using these high chairs, made by Argington, for a few months now and have found them easy to wipe clean, sturdy, and far more attractive then chairs we have owned in the past.  These high chairs do have cushions and trays available for purchase separately if you need them, but we opted to keep it simple.

While they can reach up to counter (bistro table) height, they can also go as low as coffee table height.  Better still, no tools are needed to make the height changes.  Maximum weight on these is said to be 250 lbs. making them a very long term solution for seating.  These chairs feature a 3 point harness and do not offer any tilt options, so they are best for the 12 months and older crowd.  Another huge plus is that the foot design makes these virtually "tip proof".

I was pleased to learn that environmentally friendly and sustainable materials are used.  These high chairs are made from solid birch wood and seat and footrest are made from birch ply.  Additionally, all materials, glues, stains and finishes are 100% non-toxic and are low VOC.

Isn't it nice when you actually are able to find exactly what you are looking for?

Twin Halloween Costumes

Do your multiples wear Halloween costumes that go together or do they do their own thing?  Do you try to pick a theme or dress as items that come in a pair?  Do you find people expect your multiples to wear costumes that go together?  

Maybe it is just me, but I feel as if my friends and family really want to see the twins have special theme to their costume attire.  It is almost as if they'd be disappointed if I didn't go that extra mile on this one.  And of course it just hit me that Halloween is a month away and while I have a couple ideas, I am without a firm plan.

Last year the twins wore matching monkey costumes from Old Navy and then wore little bibs over them made by Sugarlocks .  One bib said, "Monkey see" and the other said "Monkey do".  The twins were quite comfortable in these outfits and I was happy with how easy they were to put on and take off.

Splitting the Home Gym from the Playroom - Part 2

In Part 1, I explained how we divided the room into two separate areas for safety reasons.  That post with all the details on how this was done can be found here.

In today's post, I'd like to discuss the unique artwork we used in the playroom side of this space.  Many considerations were kept in mind as we hunted for the perfect artwork.  Since this is a kid's playroom for 5 children (4 boys and a girl), ranging in age from almost 15 years to 15 month old twins, this room needed to be durable right down to the wall hangings themselves.

Glass picture frames were not an option, so we turned to a company called Plywerk for help.  Plywerk is the maker of sustainable solid wood panels designed to be mounts for photos, prints, or other art media.  These panels can even arrive with sticky adhesive applied to the front for super easy mounting if you request it.

They are available in almost any size imaginable including custom size requests.  Further more, they are offered in both maple and bamboo.  Each panel includes a keyhole cut in back for easy hanging too.  We were provided with four 8" x 8" bamboo panels for our project.



We then sacrificed a copy of one of our children's books, The Bravest of the Brave illustrated by Tim Bowers.  We just adore the illustrations of the skunks and other woodland creatures in this book.  The illustrations also went well with our color scheme and overall desired feel.  Using pages from a book is a great way to keep your costs down to a minimum.

I selected 4 pages from the book and cut them down to the 8" x 8" size needed.  Next, I peeled the film off the panels one by one and applied my pages.  Super simple!  This whole process took under 30 minutes and most of that time was the cutting and measuring of my book pages.

I was highly impressed with the Plywerk panels and I can see a myriad of other uses for these.  We certainly did not sacrifice style for safety with our use of these, in fact I feel the bamboo profiles added greatly to this space.  These panels would be stunning mounted with black and white family photos in the hallway, darling in the nursery with simple letters, the possibilites are endless.

Keep an eye out for our next post from the Splitting the Home Gym from the Playroom Series.

Zhu Zhu Pet Winner!

#124, Laurey

Congrats! Please email me at andtwinsmake5@gmail.com with your shipping information.

Baby Eggi Fall clothing line

The twins will be sporting lots of great looks this fall thanks to Baby Eggi.  In fact the samples sent of their fall line were so cool, I immediately went online to visit their store and order additional items.  I'm not susprised, I've yet to see a line by Baby Eggi I didn't absolutely covet. 

The above collar button down is made of 100% jersey cotton and comes in Navy (pictured on Cormac) as well as in gray.  The long sleeve peace hoodie is also 100% jersey cotton and comes in burgundy (pictured on Declan) or olive.  The hoodie features the fabulous edgy artwork of Mark Mahoney.

We were also sent the Fall Tree long sleeve T-shirt again featuring an illustration by Mark.  I think the look of this shirt almost speaks for itself.  Very cool indeed! 




Additionally, I loved the zip jacket they sent so much I ordered a second so the twins both had one.  Made of 100% cotton french terry this jack is the perfect fall weight.




Baby Eggi has lots of girl apparel too.  My 8 year old daughter is too big for the current Baby Eggi size range, but I did take a peak at girl fall items and they look fabulous too (as my daughter would say). 

I've been a big fan of Baby Eggi since we had the opportunity to check out their spring items (click here to view that post for further details).

The Twinny Awards

Jen over at TwinHappy held the 1st annual Twinny Awards as a fun way to recognize excellence in the field of twin parenting survival.  The award winners were announced last night at 9pm EST and while I knew my site was nominated, it was not until I awoke this morning that I learned ...  I had won in the category of "Best Twin Mommy Blog".  How fun!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank Jen for organizing this event.  Thanks Jen!  I thought I would list the other winning sites for you to check out and as a way to congratulate them all.

Best Twin Mommy Blog:
And Twins make 5!

Best Twin Daddy Blog:
My life with twins

Best Supporting Twin Blog (Grandparents, Aunts, etc.):
Country Way of Life

Best Twin Comedy (Funniest):
I'm living proof that god has a sense of humor

Best Pictures:
My Life with twins

Best Twinfo (Best site for advice/info):
Susan Heim: On Parenting

Best Merchandising (Best product(s)/store):
Double Up Books

Best Twin Production (Parents of more than one set):
TwinParenthood

Best Overachiever Blog (Parents of Triplets, Quads, etc):
Buried with Children

Testing out Stride Rite's new SRT shoes

In August, Stride Rite launched their new Sensory Response Technology line of shoes for new walkers. This line known as Stride Rite's SRT features a patent pending technology designed to improve the way a child learns to walk via a sensory feedback system, an ultra-flexible design that allows for more freedom of movement, and a unique construction that reduces the number of stumbles and falls.

We were sent a couple pairs of the Julian design from the fall SRT collection to test out with the help of our twins.  It almost goes without saying, that these shoes passed the appearance test.  These shoes looked very "big boy" and go with virtually everything.

I was even more pleased with how they look when I learned that this shoe was comprised of eco-friendly materials.  It features a recycled EVA heel cup, eco-friendly linings, and a partially recycled outsole that is stitched to an upper comprised of premium leather and textile materials.

Furthermore, the design of shoe is very light and flexible with just the right amount of traction. It's been my experience with my other children that too much traction tends to trip them up at this stage and not enough of course sends them slipping about.

The flexibility is a result of the SRT model being engineered with ultra flexible materials that allow baby’s foot to move in more than one direction so they learn how to adapt to uneven surfaces.  And can you see those little orange circles on the bottom of the shoe in my picture?  Those are apparently sensory pods that provide the ultimate feedback system because they move independently.

Baby shoes sure have come a long way since the pair of mine my mom had bronzed.

The Aller-ease Ultimate Flip for Fall Checklist is here!

Aller-ease has posted the Ultimate Flip for Fall Checklist with the help of TheMotherhood, 10 selected bloggers including myself, and these selected blogger's readers (like you!).  Did your idea make the list?  You can view this handy index by clicking here.

Since great minds think alike, many of these 10 tips were suggested by several different mommies.  So, Aller-ease is in the process of putting all those similiar tips into random drawings for the 10 checklist prizes.  Stay-tuned, the 10 checklist winners will be alerted next week.

Additionally, here's another chance to win Aller-Ease Products to Help You Flip for Fall.

Aller-Ease is giving away 10 Aller-Ease Deluxe HMT pillow protectors, five Aller-Ease Deluxe HMT pillow protectors with Allergen Barrier Pillows, and one grand prize winner will receive an allergy-proofing bedroom makeover for the entire home (up to four beds). From September 21st through October 30th, interested individuals can enter to win at www.Aller-Ease.com.

Lots of Winners!

The winner of the Pillsbury Back to School Cookies Gift is ...
#117, Tamara B

The 5 winners of a ThinkFun Game are ...
#98, Becky
#61, Jessilyn82
#5, theprophecygirl
#55, Erin
#1, Kaye @SandwichINK

The winner of the Elmer's Glue Backpack with Glues is ...

#38, KarenMed409

The winner of the Flip for Fall / Aller-ease Giveaway is ...

#97, Janet & Maya

If your name is listed above, please email me at andtwinsmake5@gmail.com with your full name and mailing address (and selections if applicable).  Congrats to all the winners and thanks to everyone who entered!

Our latest decorating challenge: Splitting the Home Gym from the Playroom - Part 1

Part 1:  The actual splitting of these two spaces

Our latest decorating challenge involved a big safety concern in our home.  We wanted to be able to start allowing the twins in the basement playroom which also doubles as our home gym.  In order to allow this to happen safely, we knew we had to divide this large room into two separate spaces.

We've kept the twins out of this space up until now due to the many hazards involved with the weights and various work-out machines.  These child safety concerns about our home gym were recently reinforced by the tragic death of boxer Mike Tyson's 4 year old daughter in a home treadmill accident.

Since the width of the room exceeded that of even the largest quality baby gate system on the market, we decided to utilize a couple birch effect Ikea Expedit shelving units bolted to the walls to help narrow our opening and add much needed storage.  We then added Ikea Expedit Drawer and Door inserts in white to the bottom two rows of this units to keep the twins from tunneling through the units.

With the width of our room now narrowed to under 12 ft., we were able to use the Summer Infant's Sure & Secure Custom Fit Gate provided to us to close off the space and still allow easy passage via a convenient, self-locking walk-through door.  Installation of this gate involved bolting it to the shelving units to give it extra security and strength.  This process was quite simple since Summer Infant includes a paper template to make hardware placement a snap to do.  I wish more company's would give you templates like this.

We've been putting this gate to the test the past few weeks by the twins and I can assure you it is very durable and solid.  It even has a little foot on it to aid in it staying upright.  I think the overall "look" of the gate blends nicely in our room too.  Best of all with this new arrangement, we can keep our twins in the safe playroom side while we utilize the workout equipment.

Watch for more posts soon on this And twins make 5! Home Gym & Playroom decorating challenge.

Flip for Fall {Thanks!}

A big thanks to all of our readers for sharing your own "Flip for Fall" hints and tips!  We had many helpful suggestions that we passed on to Aller-ease and The Motherhood for consideration in their Ultimate "Flip for Fall" Checklist.

I will be posting this checklist once completed, so please check back in a couple days.  In the meantime, here's links to all the posts I made on the Aller-ease "Flip for Fall" challenge in case you missed any:

My Flip for Fall Introduction Post

My Flip for Fall - 2nd Installment Post & Giveaway!

My Flip for Fall - Apparel Post

My Flip for Fall - Video

My Flip for Fall - Kitchen & Baths Post

Medium premieres on CBS this Friday

Believe it or not with 5 kids, my husband and I still manage to find some moments to watch TV and chat alone.

A month or two back, we used one of these moments to watch an advanced copy of the Medium premiere to air Sept 25th.  We were not disappointed either, I was left a bit speechless after this intensely enjoyable episode.  Both my husband and I can hardly wait to see what the rest of the season shall bring after watching this opening show that sort of left us wondering ...

Here's an exclusive preview & interview if you too are wondering:


(Warning - this is a bit graphic so you don't watch the below clip with little kids in the room.)

Having fun with the SodaStream Fountain Jet

My older kids have been become carbonation mixologists with the help of the SodaStream Fountain Jet  we were sent for review. This machine carbonates water enabling the users to then add flavoring to create a bubbly beverage.

SodaStream has over 25 flavorings available for purchase including regular, diet, energy and caffeine-free flavors. Each 500ml soda mix bottle makes the equivalent of 12 liters (about 33 cans!) of soda. Regular soda mix contains no high fructose corn syrup and diet soda mix contains no aspartame. You can also enjoy flavored carbonated water with the use of their all-natural MyWater flavor essences. These essences are both unsweetened and calorie-free.


You can even create your own fun carbonated drink combinations by simply carbonating some water then mixing it with your favorite fruit juices. My kids have been using this option to bring diluted carbonated juices in their school lunches. They combine carbonated water with favorites such as Mott's apple juice or Tropicana Orange Juice. They dubbed this drink to be a apple or orange splash.

Aside from being very tasty and loads and loads of fun for the kids, the SodaStream has a huge eco appeal. A family of four could slash their home soft-drink-related packaging usage by over 90%, simply by using a SodaStream soda maker. Their is also a huge energy savings since this machine is only powered by the carbon tank itself. No Electricity, No Batteries, and since it is being made at home there are No Transportation Miles.

Apartment dwellers please note that this machine and it's flavoring options take up MUCH less space then the equivalent amount of drinks in cans.

We plan to take rootbeer float making a step further at our next slumber party by creating the rootbeer from scratch too!

Winner of 1 custom sign from Danielson Designs: The Studio ...

#7, Brooke

Didn't win?

Don't miss these giveaways ending this week:

• Pillsbury Back to School Cookies
• ThinkFun Games
• Elmer's Glue Backpack with products
• Zhu Zhu Pets Toy Hamster & Spiral Slide

A Double Strike

The twins are really putting me (and household objects) to the test lately.  It is like a battle of wits and I'm starting to think it is a little too evenly matched.

They instantly find a source of possible danger or trouble around every corner.  It seems like the moment I put an end to one crazy stunt, another is found.  They clearly feed off of each other's crazy ideas and inspirations.  This unified strike is truly double the trouble lately.

Even at 14 months my two little guys have discovered the power of teamwork.  Without being able to speak more then a word or two, they can look at each other and "know" the plan.  The only advantage I seem to have lately is that I'm taller.

I felt like I was under siege yesterday by a tandem team of precision trained forces.  Or shall I say my desk was under assault?  I guess this should not have been a surprise to me.  It was just a matter of time before they realized that Mommy's desk is the keeper of all things really off limits.

To my twins, breeching my desk is clearly the equivalent of taking over your enemies base camp.  The riches to behold when reaching it clearly out weighing any risk involved.  Desk treasures include scissors, pens, Elmer's Glue, Sharpies, the pencil sharpener, boxes of review samples, hole punches, lots of wires, piles of important papers, and of course the crown jewel itself:  Mommy's Big Mac Computer with a nifty mouse, keyboard, and semi working printer.

It began with the paper attacks, it always does.  A stack of paperwork is placed too close to the edge and the twins grab papers and run.  I catch them, move the stack up close to the wall.  Paper strike done.  Oh but it was not done...

I had unknowingly pushed the electric pencil sharpener an inch back when moving the paper stack.  The twins waited for the moment.  It arrived when the phone rang.  Bam!  In one swoop the pencil sharpener, which had clearly not been emptied in years, was on the floor in pieces with pencil dust EVERYWHERE.  Lovely!  While I sprinted for my Dyson handheld, they opened the left top drawer and grabbed Sharpies.  It only got worse from there.

I could go on for another 20 minutes, but ultimately it came down to me exiling the sharpener and putting absolutely everything else in or on my desk into plastic snap shut food containers.  I now have zero food storage containers left, but I think I have thwarted the twins for the time being.

Or have I?

Does your baby need a math tutor?

It might be a tad early for a real math tutor, but the education company, MathTutorDVD.com , that offers math help via DVD video tutorial content from grade school through college level, will launch their new DVD series for babies and toddlers, Young Minds on September 29th.

The series is designed to be an integrated learning platform for: introducing numbers, counting, colors and the sounds of animals, machines and nature. With animation, real video footage of moving objects and classical music, the DVD keeps the attention on the math and learning and puts fun in the fundamentals of arithmetic.

The first DVD, Young Minds: Numbers and Counting teaches young children how to count from 1 to 10 by doing it. They mentally get to practice counting just as if you would put jelly beans on the table and practice counting them.

While I'm a big fan of hands on learning, I did find this DVD to be well done.  It seemed to keep the twins interest for a while and would likely be a nice choice to view before naptime or while waiting for our older siblings in the car.

Flip for Fall {Kitchen & Bath Tips}

Allergens can lurk everywhere including your kitchen and bathrooms.  Here's some kitchen and bath tips I'll be keeping in mind as I continue to "Flip for Fall" this week around my home.

I've learned it's important to use an exhaust fan over the stove and in the bathroom to remove extra humidity generated by cooking and showering.  This weekend I plan to remove the washable filter from my kitchen exhaust fan and give it a good scrub so it continues to function to it's full potential.

I also plan to clean the refrigerator.  Part of this process will include discarding spoiled food and using my steam cleaner on the fridge surfaces.  I find this works wonderfully well and is a chemical free process. When possible, you might want to clean the coils too.

Additionally, I'll be doing a few loads of laundry as I wash shower curtains, kitchen towels, and bath mats.  We try to urge the kids to stretch out the shower curtain after each use to prevent mildew by that doesn't always happen.  Don't forget to wash those decoration only towels that have been gathering dust since last year!

Hmm, this might also be a good time for me to check my grout lines and fixtures for any signs of mold or mildew.  Sounds like a good job for hubby.

---

This is my 5th post in the "Flip for Fall" category.  What is Flip for Fall?  Flip for Fall is essentially about readying your home and yourself for the Fall season.  Since allergies are a common problem at this time of year, Aller-Ease , the makers of Allergen reducing bedding items, and The Motherhood have asked bloggers to gather their own tips (and those of their readers) for possible inclusion in their Ultimate Flip for Fall Checklist.

Please view these for more information, tips, and tricks.  (please note the 2nd installment includes a chance for you the reader to get involved and even enter a giveaway.

My Flip for Fall Introduction Post

My Flip for Fall - 2nd Installment Post & Giveaway!

My Flip for Fall - Apparel Post

My Flip for Fall - Video

Ready, Go Play-Doh Contest

Here's a fun contest for all you Play-Doh artists out there!

Embracing the idea of creating food, Play-Doh has created a "Ready, Go Play-Doh" contest where our kids can come up with their own Play-Doh "food" creations for a chance to win a makeover of both their playroom and their school's playroom. You can visit www.ReadyGoPlayDoh.com to enter by uploading a photo of your child's food-inspired Play-Doh creation along with the "recipe" to make it.

  

The grand prize winner of the "Ready, Go Play-Doh" contest will win $10,000: $5,000 for a playroom makeover as well as a $5,000 "Doh-nation" to their child's school. Contest entries will be accepted through September 30, 2009. On October 15, 2009, the ten finalists will be posted on ReadyGoPlayDoh.com and the public will vote on who receives the $10,000 prize! The website will also feature a gallery of entries, so even if you don't win, everyone can see your child's creation.

Download 4 free songs from Kenny Loggins' new Album

I was recently sent an advanced copy of Kenny Logins new CD entitled "All Join In". The babies and I really enjoyed dancing around and listening to it. I sense they are even developing a few favorites from the collection.

If you think you might be interested in 4 free digital songs (MP3s) off of Kenny Logins new album you can click on the link below. This will take you to a site that has a music player with 4 songs from the album on it to preview.

http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/walt_disney_records/Kenny_Loggins/Microsite%202/

After listening, you can just answer a couple quick questions about your own thoughts on the music and then an email will be sent to you with a link to download 4 FREE digital songs (MP3s) from "All Join In".

Thanks to the One2One Network for passing this info along to us.

The Winner of the Simple Stencil Contest is ...

# 107 -- Kathy Pease

We adore our Sprig Discover Rigs

We purchased these Sprig Trucks, the Sprig Discover Rigs , while on our summer vacation in Colorado and they have been a source of much laughter and entertainment for the twins ever since.  I didn't realize it at the time, but Colorado is actually where the Sprig Toys are designed with manufacturing taking place in Canada.

These trucks include a removable handle making them a lot of fun to roll around.  Better still, while they do talk and light up, they require no batteries!  None.  The only energy required is from your child.  The sounds heard are that of a guide that will lead your child on an adventure.  Additional guides are available for purchase separately for adding additional story lines.

Additionally, this truck is made with recycled sprigwood.  What's sprigwood?  It is a durable, child-safe, bio-composite material made from bits of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic.  The trucks are free of paints too.

Packaging was also done to perfection using only recycled chipboard printed with water based inks.  It should also be noted that we have recently purchased the Baja Scout and the Rally Racer , and are very pleased with those items as well.

* You can read our previous review of the new Sprig Story Builders posted here .

Flip for Fall {In room of my 10 & 14 year old sons}

Just looking at this room may make you sneeze. Just a silly little video taken in the shared room of my oldest 2 sons as we put some Aller-Ease items to work in there as part of our Flip for Fall. Believe it or not, their room is about 20 feet from the laundry chute.

Infant Massage with Earth Mama Angel Baby Massage Oil

A while back I found this great infant massage article on Parents.com and I put it to use on the twins.  I found the article did a great job walking me through each body area in great detail.  They both really enjoyed it when time allowed me to spoil them with this treat.  I apologize for taking so long to share it and the massage oil I used.  Better late then never though right?

We used Angel Baby Oil by Earth Mama during our little massage sessions and I really liked it.  My oldest is allergic to nuts, so this was an ingredient I wanted to avoid with the babies.  This massage oil, unlike many others does not contain any nuts.  Instead it uses a grape seed oil blend that is toxin-free and vegan.  The oil is infused with calming organic chamomile and moisturizing organic calendula, yet it is fairly scent free. 

I was pleased to discover it did not leave myself or the babies with a greasy, oily film after we were done.  The oil was very gently and absorbs wonderfully into baby and mom's skin.

Flip for Fall {Fall Apparel}

This is my 3rd installment in a series of posts on how our household is performing a "Flip for Fall".  Flip for Fall is essentially about readying your home and yourself for the Fall season.  Since allergies are a common problem at this time of year, Aller-Ease , the makers of hypoallergenic bedding items, and The Motherhood have asked bloggers to gather their own tips (and those of their readers) for possible inclusion in their Ultimate Flip for Fall Checklist.  Please read my Flip for Fall Introduction & my Flip for Fall 2nd Installment for more information.  You will want to note that the 2nd installment includes a way for my readers to enter a giveaway by simply sharing their own "get ready for fall tip".

I decided to make my 3rd installment all about allergies as they relate to the Fall Wardrobe.  My daughter suggested I name this post "Project Allergy" but I thought that might be a bit much.  I did find it cute enough to mention though.

If you live in a climate like Chicago, you probably spend time each year flipping your seasonal wardrobe much like I do. Shorts and tank tops are stored away and sweaters, jackets, and other heavier weight fabrics are taken out. I find this is also a great time to donate those never worn items to charity. While you flip your wardrobe this year for Fall, here's some allergy related tips regarding the treatment and care of your Fall apparel.

I'd highly suggest getting everyone in the habit of removing shoes at or before the door to reduce allergens from entering the home. We keep a shoe tray near the front door and have a shelf in the garage devoted to shoes. We also leave coats, jackets, and ponchos in a coat closet instead of bringing them up to the bedrooms. Another tip is to resist the urge to wear clothes multiple times between washings during this season. Once you or your child's clothing has been exposed to the fall elements, it is best to wash it.

Speaking of the laundry, remember to keep your dryer vent clear: The excess lint in the dryer vent will cause extra dust to be released into your home. Also, make sure items such as clothes and shoes are completely dry before putting them away. And finally, never leave damp laundry lying in the washing machine for long periods of time. Flip those laundry loads quickly to avoid mold and mildew.

Baby’s First Word Stories DVD by So Smart!

Baby’s First Word Stories by So Smart! is an interactive experience that encourages parents to view the DVDs with their little ones.  Together, they will explore one of the most exciting developmental milestones for young children – learning first words and the rich use of language involving those words.  Gently paced, with smooth transitions, simple images and minimal camera effects, each DVD starts with words about objects, then builds sentences and stories around them.  The easy-to-follow present tense narrative, combined with the repetition of simple “key” words, ensures that young viewers will be able to grasp basic language at a pace that is just right.

Featuring the animated characters Edward, Iggy, Dee Dee and Larry, the six 30-minute DVDs are “House,” “Pets,” “Outside,” “Get Dressed,” “We Go” and “Nighttime.” Each Baby’s First Word Stories DVD includes a bonus printable Activity Guide with eight pages of games and activities that caregivers and children can do together. The Activity Guide also includes viewing guidelines to give parents ideas for how they can interact with their child as they watch together.

Aimed at the 1-3 year old crowd, my twin 14 month olds were the perfect test group for this educational baby DVD line.  The twins and I have watched the "House" themed DVD a couple times now and they seem genuinely interested.

I found the format to resemble that of an animated flashcard.  Each episode seemed to repeat certain "key"words in basic sentences and conversation, making the "word" come to life.  Each illustrated character is done in a soft likable nursery style, making them almost seem familiar to you.

I think this will continue to be a hit in our household for quite some time and would definitely suggest this to friends seeking an educational DVD product.

Flip for Fall {More Info & Tips, a Giveaway, & a Contest!}

As promised, I have more details on the "Flip for Fall" going on around my home. I also have some info on how you can get involved by simply sharing your own tips. By sharing these tips, you may win some Aller-ease products to aid in your own Fall flip.

First, here's a bit more about my own "Flip for Fall". As I discussed in yesterday's post found here , I change my bedding from a spring/summer look to a fall/winter look each year. What you couldn't see was what was under the bedding.

Our pediatric allergist has always stressed the importance of limiting the exposure to common allergens in the bedroom. Keeping the sleep zone free of irritants can give an allergy and asthma sufferer a place to escape and hopefully breathe easier.

Some ways you can reduce allergens in the bedrooms is by keeping the pets out of the bedrooms to limit dander and by keeping the humidity level below 50% to limit mold growth. You should also make an effort to limit items that gather dust such as decorative pillows, stuffed animals, carpeting, and heavy upholstery. When cleaning, vacuum the room with a HEPA equipped model if possible. Additionally, wash your sheets, pillow cases, blankets and other bedding approximately every 2 weeks in hot water.

Adding hypoallergenic pillows and covers is also a wonderful way to reduce allergens in the sleep area. This year we have been provided with some Aller-ease products that include a cotton zippered mattress protector by Aller-ease. This protector is designed for allergy and asthma sufferers such as my own children. It features breathable material, a microscopic particle barrier, a pollen barrier, a pet dander barrier, and a fungal & mold spore barrier. Since dust, mold, pollen, and dander are all triggers for us this is a wonderful fit. We are also using Aller-ease pillows and pillow protectors to further aid us in sleep comfort.

Are you ready to share your "Flip for Fall" tips?   I have a few ways you can possibly win some Aller-ease products.  There is an Aller-ease giveaway on my blog and a second way to win Aller-ease items on TheMotherhood.  (Please note: All TheMotherhood entries should include the code ATM5 to indicate you were sent from our blog.)

First, here are the details for the giveaway on my blog:

Enter to Win:
Simply leave a "Flip for Fall" allergy or non-allergy related tip in a comment below for a chance to be entered into our giveaway of 2 aller-ease pillows, 2 aller-ease pillow covers, 1 aller-ease mattress protector.

Additional Option Entries:

• You can leave as many hints or tips as you want.  Please limit them to 1 per comment though.
• You can also tweet your tip to @andtwinsmake5 including the hashtag #flipforfall for 1 additional entry.
• You can make a blog post about this contest that links back to this post for 1 additional entry.

Rules:
Leave extra comments below to indicate if you have done either of these. Don't forget your email address.  The giveaway is open to USA residents age 18+ and ends this Sunday, 9/20/09.

Additionally, here are the details for TheMotherhood contest: 


Submit your Flip for Fall tips to TheMotherhood Flip for Fall Circle.  TheMotherhood and Aller-ease are creating a Flip for Fall checklist and want help from us bloggers as well as our readers. For those people whose tips are selected for the Ultimate Flip for Fall Checklist, they will be sent: 1 pillow, 2 pillow covers and 1 queen cotton mattress protector. Submission deadline is this Sunday, 9/20/09.  

Please use the code ATM5 in all submissions to indicate you heard about this contest here on And Twins make 5!

Please note that both of these contests are being made possible by TheMotherhood and Aller-ease.  This Sunday, September 18th is the last day you can enter either contest.

Now this is a Twins Diaper Bag, the BabyMel X2

It's a bag for two, it's a bag for one ... you decide.  The problem with twins or two babies born close together is you need to carry around twice the stuff.  This situation gets even more complicated when half way through the outing, Mommy heads one way with one baby and Daddy heads the other way.  Who gets the bag and who proceeds on survivor style?

Well this challenge ended for me when I received the Babymel X2 a couple weeks ago.  This bag is essentially two smaller bags with two diaper changing pads that can be strapped together or split apart as needed.

Someone over at Babymel is very clever indeed, because this bag was exactly what I needed for my 14 month old twins.  It has a strap for each bag complete with easy to use stroller straps, a side zip pocket on each bag that fits a bottle or sippy cup, wipe clean linings, and a plethora of elastic pockets for all the baby goods.

Gone are the days where we had to take the twins in one a a time for a diaper change, we can now divide up and finish in half the time!

It comes in a couple different colors including black and red, army and sand, camo & brown, and orange and brown, & both black.  I should mention all of these bag colors received my husbands "guy acceptable to carry" approval as well.  Bravo!

Diego's Arctic Rescue {Review & Giveaway}

In the Go Diego Go: Arctic Rescue  release available September 15th, Diego embarks on the journey of a lifetime to save the baby polar bear in the all-new feature-length adventure.  The DVD also includes two bonus episodes, as well as a “Diego’s Animal Adventures” featurette. It will debut on DVD prior to its TV premiere on Nickelodeon.

What a perfect find to get you ready for the colder months ahead.  I thought it was really quite a cute DVD and really liked all Diego's new arctic pals.  This is a "must" for your little Go Diego Go fans.

We are giving away 1 copy of this DVD to a lucky reader. 

Enter: You can enter to win this DVD by simply leaving a comment below.

Optional Additional Entries:
1 extra entry if you follow this blog.
1 extra entry if you subscribe to this blog's feed.
1 extra entry if you tweet about this contest.
1 extra entry if you blog about this contest and link back to it.
1 extra entry if you stumble, kirtsy, or digg this post.

Rules:
An email address is required to enter. Please leave it in your comment, or make sure one is visible for me to find in your blogger profile. If you qualify for additional entries please comment separately telling us which options you have used. A winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen. This contest is open to USA only.

Ends on 10/14/09 @ 11:59PM CST.

Thanks for Entering and Good luck to everyone!

Flip for Fall

We are flipping for fall around our home this entire week with the extra help of some products sent to us from Aller-Ease .

Fall is my favorite season of the year despite the fact that 2 of my 5 children suffer from fairly severe fall allergies and asthma.  I love the changing colors of the leaves, the cooler temperatures, attending football games, visiting the pumpkin patch, and all those other fall greats.

As the Fall season arrives each year, we ready our home for maximum safety, comfort, and enjoyment or "Flip for Fall" if you will.  These changes include things like checking the batteries in our smoke detector, swapping a summery door wreath for a fall one, and changing our bed linens to a more Fall / Winter look.  Here's some photos of my Master Bedroom being flipped:

While we flip the house for fall, we are certain to take allergy issues into account too.  Some of the allergy related "Flip for Fall" tasks we perform include changing out air filters, cleaning the vents, laundering window coverings, and this year we'll be adding some new Aller-Ease allergy bedding protection items to our pillows and mattresses.

Check back this week for more updates and tips on the "Flip for Fall" including a giveaway for my readers and a more detailed look at the Aller-ease products we are using.

Additionally, you can browse TheMotherhood.com for even more "Flip for Fall" information.  You can also visit the site's of the 9 other bloggers invited to participate in this Aller-Ease event.

Kimberly @ Pretty Pink Momma

http://prettypinkmomma.blogspot.com

Caryn @ Rockin Mama

http://rockinmama.net

Bing (aka icefairy) @ Icefairy's Treasure Chest

http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com

Dianne @ Something Snappy

http://somethingsnappee.blogspot.com

Whitney @ It's Gravy, Baby

http://www.itsgravybaby.com

Stacie @ The Divine Miss Mommy

http://thedivinemissmommy.com

Tonya @ A Family Completed

http://afamilycompleted.blogspot.com

Robyn @ Robyn's Online World

http://robynsonlineworld.blogspot.com

Angie @ My Four Monkeys

http://myfourmonkeysproductreviews.blogspot.com

Yoplait Whips Winner!

#53 Peg42

The Mommy Hook

Here's a fun find ...

I've been putting this contraption to good use lately.  It is designed to help lessen your shopping bag burden which is an essential need when you are shopping with twin 14 month olds.  Made of a lightweight yet durable aluminum, the Mommy Hook is the perfect add-on holder for all your bags.  

Among it's many uses are the ability to attach this to the stroller and connect all your shopping purchases or to attach this to the grocery cart and connect your purse.  You can even use it separately as a rubber gripped handle to ease the challenge and discomfort of carrying multiple bags.

How simple yet completely clever is this?

Eating Right Kids

I was recently informed that Warner Bros. Consumer Products has partnered exclusively with Safeway to offer a Eating Right Kids food and beverage line featuring the Looney Tunes Characters.

This Eating Right Kids line was specifically developed to meet the children's dietary standards recommended by several federal and state agencies.  Purchasing items from this line will help insure you and your child are making "better-for-you" choices.

I was impressed when I heard that Warner Bros. Consumer Products even went a step further by clearing retail shelves of the majority of foods featuring Looney Tunes that do not meet with these standards.  This means Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Tweety, Taz, and the gang will now be characters your kids can associate with healthier eating.

This combination of tasty healthy foods adorned with packaging featuring popular characters might be just what school lunches needed to keep kids from trading for more attractive options.

Team Mom sent us a few of the over 60 current items in this line.  These items included a whole wheat O style microwavable pasta, a mixed fruit cup free from high fructose corn syrup and containing only natural sweeteners, a bottle of Juice with no high fructose plus 10% of the daily value of calcium and 100% of the daily value of vitamin C,  and a chewy mixed berry granola bar half coated in milk chocolate.  My children enjoyed all the samples sent and I enjoyed knowing they were "eating right".