WW: SOFT Picnic {Linky}

In July I went to a picnic in support of SOFT, which is a nonprofit organization. They push research for children born with Trisomy 13 and 18. My nephew Emerson has Trisomy 18.

First off I designed their logo. Oh my goodness it was a designer's nightmare. They wanted blue, yellow, and red to be a part of the logo. Many logos are just 1 or 2 colors. They wanted a rainbow and balloons in the logo as well.

After that my sister wanted me to design t-shirts for the event. It was to be in Omaha, so she wanted the SOFT logo to be a part of it, but it to also say Omaha. I worked with the "O" in SOFT, incorporated the Omaha skyline, and a few animals because we have the best zoo in the world right here along with a kid in a wheelchair. I think with all the stuff they kept adding it turned out pretty good.

I just wish I would have gotten photos of some people wearing the shirts. 

Instead here's my nephew Edison who got his arm painted. My sister was so busy with the conference, I did odd things like wait in the face painting line with Edison, help serve cake, and did a lot of cleaning up in the end. 

My Mom had a 2 month old baby before me that passed away from Trisomy 18. My sister and Mom are rare carriers of Trisomy 18. They handed ornaments out to those that lost a child. 

Here's my nephew Emerson that couldn't stay for the fun. He had/has hand, foot and mouth disease. He was in long enough for my brother-in-law to eat, and left.

A few older ones with Trisomy 18. I love with all her problems, she was persistent in pushing the wheel chair around. *Note you can see one of my t-shirts back there.

Part of their ceremony, balloons are let go when their son or daughter's name is called off. I only knew 2 names, but felt like crying with every name.

My nephews:

 My sister Terra:

Balloons that represent people that have passed away.

If you want to read more about Trisomy 18, please read here: https://www.omaha.com/livewellnebraska/health/their-kids-rare-condition-was-long-seen-as-fatal-but/article_418762d4-4528-560b-8528-cfeeca7fd47d.html.

Sharkleap 5-piece Stainless Steel Utensil Set Review

A few things that we really enjoy doing during the summer is camping, and going on picnics at parks. I happened to get Sharkleap 5-piece Stainless Steel Utensil Set to review.

What does it include?

• A handy case that keeps everything together
• A knife
• A fork
• 2 spoons
• A reusable straw

Cost:

$19.99, and on sale for $8.95.

What to use it for:

• Picnics
• Camping
• Fishing
• Work
• College Life
• Field Trips (if you don't need disposable things)
• Road Trips
• Off Location Adventures

I think I want to turn around and get 7 more of these for birthdays in our family. My sister's kids love to camp to. It would be great if everyone of us could have a set! 

The case is wonderful! The material is stretchy to ensure everything fits! I love the design that's on the outside of it.

Each Item is stainless steel. It's meant to last. 

*The knife is sharp! When we go camping we often fire up a grill or fire pit, and have steak. This knife is perfect for that! It's better to get this set for ages 10 and up just because the knife is so sharp. The utensils are best to put in where the handles are by the zipper. Then you don't cut yourself.

I'm not sure if it needs two spoons, but it has them. I get why they have 2 spoons, or forks at fancy restaurants, but when you're roughing it you don't really need 2 spoons. It's good to have one for dinner, and one for dessert.

A stainless straw. This would be something not everyone would use. Travis hates straws, but the rest of us in our family like them. It has a wide opening, to make it easy to clean.

If I had to add something to this set I'd add a little scrub brush to clean everything. 

I'd subtract one of the spoons. 

What would you add, or subtract from this set? 

Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned for a discount in exchange for an honest review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Yummi Pouch Brights Reusable Food Pouches Review

I'm a huge fan of things that can be reused | recycled. I use a cloth lunch box, have cloth baggies, and carry a thermos at work. I'm always on the look out for reuseable lunch box supplies for the boy's school lunches. 

Recently I got Yummi Pouch Brights (Set of 4) to review. 

What are Yummi Pouches?

They are reusable food pouches that are great for kids taking healthy snacks on the go. You can put so many different things in them. We put apple/pear sauce in ours.

They are perfect for lunches, picnics, and breakfast on the go. Mica just started being trained for Safety Patrol. The kids have to be dropped off to school early. They've been give a Yummi Pouch to have part of their breakfast on the go.

They are best for little kids, but we use them to. Costco sells apple sauce in pouches for any age. We'll use these reusable packages for any age as well.

You can combine style and convenience in an eco-friendly container.

Fill it Up With:

Smoothies

Blended Snacks

Apple Sauce

Easy to fill and clean through the top zipper opening and enjoyed by drinking from the side spout.

Keep Your Kids Safe:

Freezer safe - Make a big batch of your child's favorite blended snacks or smoothies.

Dishwasher safe - Simply rinse with warm water, expand the pouch and stand upside down in the dishwasher.

Easy to fill - Pour or spoon in food though the wide top zipper opening. Holds up to 6 ounces.

BPA Free

PVC Free 

Phthalate Free

Reusable

Recyclable

Comes in 4 Fun Colors and Patterns:

My favorite color | pattern has to be this one:

Cost:

$9.99 for 4 pouches. 

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned for free in exchange for an honest review. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote Reivew

I'm always looking for the perfect picnic tote. Something that holds a family of 4 breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've finally found what I've been looking for! I got the Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote to review. It's $39.95, but on sale for $29.95.

I have an old picnic basket downstairs. It doesn't keep our food cold. My new tote does the job.

I fit two 9x12 pans in there, and had plenty of room to spare. It measures 16x15x10 inches.

The top lifts up, so you can get out water, wine, or whatever you have in there to drink out.

There is a front pocket. I can see me using this pocket for directions, maps, brochures, recipe cards, invitations, or wet wipes.

There's also a side pocket. It too is good for small things, but big enough to hold a cup, or a jar of sauce.

It comes with an additional strap. That can come in handy to help carry the tote when we're walking long distances, or if it's heavy. So far I haven't had to use this strap. I know there will be times I'll use it. When we go camping I need this strap.

There's one more tiny pocket. I think I'll use that for car keys. 

I took our Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote to the park to have a breakfast for Mica's family birthday party. I fit two 9x12 coffee cakes, a knife, 2 spatulas, and 1 serving spoon, and other random party things in the tote. It kept our food cold.

We had a great time! 

This tote would also be great to take to places like the grocery store. Any frozen treat will stay cold in this insulated bag.

Where would you take this Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote?

 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Date Night

I had a date night with Isaak tonight.

I asked him this morning, "What do you want to do tonight? It's going to be just you and me tonight. Mica and Daddy are going out. So you get me all to yourself. We can go to a toy store, out to eat, go swimming at the Y, whatever you want to do. So what do you want to do?

Isaak said, "I want to have a picnic in the living room, and then play games all night long."

I said, "Ok we can do that. Do you want me to make something, or do you want me to pick up something from somewhere to eat?"

Isaak said, "You can get something at MickerDonalds."

So I got a Southwestern salad for me and 4 piece nuggets happy meal for Isaak. Then chopped up some veggies for him at home. Then it was time for our picnic and games.

He had fun.

Daddy and Mica came home.

Daddy said, "Mica why don't you tell Mom what we had for dinner?"

Mica said, "We had sandwiches at Jimmy Johns." Jimmy John bought them."

Daddy said, "No I bought them."

I think Mica thought Jimmy Johns is a person, not a place.

Spring

Summer is the new spring around here. It's been shorts weather.

I decided it was a good day to go to the park. The one we went to is in our neighborhood, but also a ways a way. I packed up PBJ's, carrots, clementines, water and off we went.

Isaak said a handful of times, "Mommy why can't we just drive instead of walk? It's so far..." We walked anyhow.

We ate lunch and then the boys played.

Mica saw a few girls close to his age. He struck a conversation with them. They seemed to like him back. Mica thought the two girls were sister's. They said, "We're not sisters! We're BFF's." Of course Mica has no clue that BFF stands for Best Friends Forever.

A boy that was just about to turn three kept following Isaak around. Isaak kept saying to me, "Mommy this boy keeps following me." Then he'd move away. Isaak's pretty anti social with strangers. At preschool I guess he's just fine with being social.

Then I came home and made these dirt cookies for Isaak's preschool:

See how to make them on one of my other blogs here.