8 Reasons Kids Are Better Than Adults

Kids, they're basically the best. They are way more awesome than adults and I think we should be more like them. I mean, why can't I wear my Snow White costume to Costco and be friends with Mandy Moore simply because we have the same name? Omg, side note: "This is Us", you are the best show on television right now. 

8 Reasons Kids Are Better Than Adults

(These are all real life examples of my kids)

1. They can wear anything, anywhere, and look cool doing it. Costumes, pajamas, homemade Peppa Pig Masks, every shade of purple, stripes on stripes on stripes, etc. 

2. They can say almost anything and it be cute. "I need to poop!" at the top of their lungs in Panera Bread. Poop, everyone does it. No shame. 

3. Making friends is like super easy. "Wanna play?" - friends. "We have matching shirts!" - friends. "We both like cats!" - friends. "We have the same name." - friends. "Wanna be my friend?" - friends.

4. They are extremely confident and believe they are excellent dancers, singers, and lyricists. Making up a song about love in Target and twirling their little heart out, totally cool.

5. They just nap when they want! In the middle of a wedding is absolutely acceptable.

6. They are super comfortable in their own skin. Nakey in the car because it's too hot, nakey at a wedding because you got your flower girl dress wet, nakey at Kidspace Children's Museum 'cause you need to change out of muddy clothes, nakey as soon as you get home because...why wear pants?!

7. Mud. They love mud.

8. And most important of all, they don't care what color your skin is, if you like boys or girls, if you believe in Jesus or nothing at all, if you're on food stamps or are a trust fund baby. All they care about is fun times and being nice.

Kids, let's be more like them. Can you imagine how awesome this would world be?!

Sweet outfits styled by them. K - black and white stripped headband, planet wearing headphones tee, polka dot skirt, cat with glasses tights, dirty sparkle pink shoes. E - baby headband with yellow bow, dragonfly tanktop, blue/white patterned skirt, blue tights with silver starts, blue pain splatter toms. 

they became friends because they both like twirling.

princess costumes at the park.

k has declared that this is her best friend...because they have almost the same name.

they were nakey after this.

mud. it's rad.

they come from all different ways of life but still super like eachother.

Me...'Cause I Get 2 Days in May

Happy Mother's Day! Oh shoot, that was over a week ago. Happy Birthday to me! Oh shoot, that was over two weeks ago. *shrug* Oh well, you get a late Birthday/Mother's Day post because I'm vain and I still want to share a poop load of photos from the days we celebrated...ME!

BIRTHDAY

first thing...presents! also, don't you just adore john and his snowflake wrapping paper on the left?

cleanup crew! i didn't even have to clean up my mess!

made my own coffee then went back to bed so they could "surprise" me with breakfast. 

UNIVERSAL! it may seem like we live there but since john switched jobs, we hadn't been in 5 months! which for kids who were basically raised there, it's a long time.

they wanted to go on rides with me! (they usually choose john)

the kids pet chickens...

while i pet the dog from BAD MOMS! did you know i am the most obsessed with this movie?

high fives for spongebob...who they don't know.

chats with scooby...who they also do not know.

they do know minions though.

and gru.

and the cast of shrek! they are the most in love with Shrek the Musical!

studio tour even more awesome since it has the sets from hairspray live! which they are also in love with. (proof on my snapchat)

closing out the day with moped rides in france.

ice cream sweets! ('cause we hate cake)

MOTHER'S DAY

breakfast in bed again! they didn't even drop it this year!

breakfast in bed guests. they ate my food. good thing i love them. (i think john was the one who got the relaxing solo breakfast)

gifts! mamasaurus shirt, mug that says "messy bun and getting stuff done", and la la land.

kinda obsessed with this shirt.

2nd annual mother's day mini golf!

golf master giving lessons. 

that's one way to do it.

love these tiny humans that let me be their mommy!

Donuts Before Dance

Every Thursday, we dance. If you follow me on social media you've probably seen my hastag #onthursdayswedance. We also eat donuts on Thursdays (#onthursdaysweeatdonuts).

Donuts and dance didn't originally go hand in hand. But after watching big sis dance for a couple of months, Eleanor desperately wanted to try. Fortunately, they dance at the same studio on the same day but, there was an hour plus break between their classes and I needed something to fill the time. It started with a walk to Starbucks for lattes, string cheese, fruit pouches, and gummy bears. Until one cold December day, my children spotted chocolate donuts in a window. Noooooooo! It was right before Christmas so I thought, "Sure, a special treat for today only." I should have known that would be the start of...DONUTS BEFORE DANCE.

Do you know what's in donuts? Sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. And maybe it's because of my adorable children in ballet leotards and tutus but, the owner likes giving them extra donut holes to go along with their already giant chocolate donuts. Thank you. Thank you for giving them more sugar. Sugar, on top of sugar, on top of sugar. And want to know what happens when you give a 2 and 5 year old a crap load of sugary donuts before dance? I'll tell you.

First, you get chocolate all over your pastel pink leotard. Then, when you get to the studio, you are overly exited so you tackle your friends in the lobby, drop eachother, run around like banshees in Studio A (which is not allowed), pee a hundred times during class (because donuts make you pee?), chasse into your friends, arabasque your friends in the face, fall over for no reason, lick the studio mirrors, embarrass your mother by showing everyone mommy's hip hop movies, and scrape your knees/destroy your tights by falling down the exit ramp.

She would never say it because she's the sweetest dance teacher in the world but, I'm pretty sure Miss Kelsey hates me for giving my kids all the sugar before class.

"You give your kid a donut every week? Before ballet? Dancers don't eat donuts. Are they at least gluten free, sugar free, vegan donuts?!" Calm down sanctimommies, it's donut, not crack! And yes, dancers eat donuts. Plus, they're delicious, it's fun, sometimes other dancers from the studio join us, and we're making sweet memories. 

Next year, with our new school and dance schedule, we probably won't be able to eat donuts before dance. The studio instructors will likely prefer it, but me, I'll miss it.

So moms (and dads), if there is a donut shop near your children's dance studio, stop and eat a donut. You won't regret it. Well, maybe you will but, YOLO! Plus, I'm pretty sure donut shops and dance studios are built next to eachother for a reason. 

DONUTS BEFORE DANCE

Age Mid 30-Something Questionnaire (Answers by K)

It's almost my birthday guys! And what do we do right before birthdays around here? Birthday questionnaires! But kids are significantly more fun and honest than adults, so following tradition, I'm going to let Kenley answer my birthday questionnaire questions. 

Age Mid 30-Something Questionnaire

Name: Mandy
Age: 33
Food: I think, maybe, you like spaghetti? Or eggplant?
Color: Bright pink
TV Show: Rapunzel
Movie: Adult movies, but I don't know which ones because they are secret and I can't watch them.
Book: The good night Hollywood book (Good Night Los Angeles)
Song: Moana ("How Far I'll Go" from the Moana soundtrack) and Jason Derulo songs
Toy/Game: Lite Brite and Candy Land
Restaurant: Bob's Big Boy
When I Grow Up/Job: A mermaid princess
Favorite Place to Go: Target
Best Friend(s): Andie and Kelly
What we should do on my birthday: The Ice Cream Museum!
Why you love me: Because you take me to fun museums and give me hugs.

Past Birthday Questionnaires:

Mommy Age 30-Something

Kenley Age 5

Kenley Age 4

Los Angeles' Hottest Club: The Museum of Ice Cream

In the voice of Stefan from SNL: 

Los Angeles' hottest club is the Museum of Ice Cream. This place has everything: ice cream connect four, dessert wall, banana swings, scratch and sniff walls, giant popsicles, thousands of gummy bears, a sprinkle pool, and just when you think the fun is over...a giant ice cream sandwich swing.

Last week, Kenley and I went on a special mommy/daughter date to the most amazing and magical museum to ever come to Los Angeles (thanks for watching our littlest John!). Seriously though, we had the most fun viewing all of the ice cream inspired exhibits and eating more ice cream than should be allowed before 11am. Omg, the pink pancake ice cream sandwiches!

It was tricky to take photos because my kid was in heaven! Sugared up, on the go, wanting to see what awesome room was next! But, here you go anyways. You get the idea.

pre museum lawn games.

she could have probably just played this all morning. working on that softball pitch!

ice cream connect four!

she posed like this herself and i just love it.

first in line! and this pink wall, love.

dessert wall which she seriously asked if she could eat.

how do you use this thing? on the other end was an ice cream elf talking about ice cream facts.

i want this wall paper. no for reals, i'm moving to palm springs and getting this everywhere.

they had these everywhere, so LA (sorry it's sideways, commuter illiterate here)

ice cream round 1, sweets round 2 (chocolate given out immediately when you go thru the entrance)

scratch it, sniff it.

banana swings!

banana room. i'm a little angry at the light shining into the warehouse.

waffle wall duck faces.

helping grow the mint and chocolate soil. we also ate mint chocolate chip ice cream with mochi in this room.

be you kid. pose it. work it.

these boots are made for walking...and eating.

the only place you'll find a popsicle bigger than you.

sure, we'd love more sugar. (kid sister was the most jealous of this)

how do YOU pose in front of a giant gummy bear.

brownies in ice cream cone. i loved, she did not. ("this isn't ice cream")

sprinkle pool angels!

sprinkle pool lounging!

sprinkle pool with mommy!

sprinkle pool sinking!

ice cream for breakfast for reals.

pink pancake with vanilla inside. i died, so good.

and of course, the ice cream swing.

accidental souvenir i found in so many of my...crevices.

Isn't this place just the most amazing?! My photos do it zero justice. I wish you could go too but...unless you already have tickets, you can't. Don't say I didn't warn you HERE. They sold out very quickly, released more dates, and sold out even quicker. If they release more, GO!