Compiled with recipes from Bridget Thoreson, kids and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy running amok, amok, amok over William’s Wormy Bed Dirt Cake while enjoying your family movie night. Thoreson shares, “While blondies are no substitute for Bette and no cocktail is quite as funny as hearing a young girl humiliate her older brother by saying ‘Yabos,’ I hope you’ll find the recipes and references fun, delicious, and delightfully spooky, and you’ll rewatch the film again and again accompanied by the goodies in this booo-ooooo-ooook.”
Michelle Branch shared some exciting news yesterday––she’s expecting! The singer took to Instagram yesterday to share the news that she’s already got some cravings because a baby is on the way.
This will be the second child for Branch and her husband, Patrick Carney. The two share two-year-old son Rhys, along with Branch’s 16 year-old-son, Owen, from her first marriage.
While all baby news is exciting, this is particularly joyous for the couple who announced they experienced a miscarriage in Dec. 2020. New baby Carney is due in early 2022, but Branch hasn’t shared whether a baby brother or sister is joining the fam.
Expecting number two (or three or four…)? It could be a good time to prepare your child to welcome a new member of your family! The transition to the role of big brother or sister can be tough for little ones, with big emotions from jealousy to nervousness to excitement and back again! We’ve rounded up five ways to help make the littlest members of your growing family thrive in their new role, from books to games and more!
1. Read a Story That Speaks Their Language
We love the book Original Cat, Copy Cat for its social and emotional learning with a core theme of relationship skills tailored to new siblings. Bonus: Reading Original Cat, Copy Cat, is an ideal way to spend one-on-one time together while working on crucial life skills that will come in handy with a new sibling on the way and beyond!
Pineapple the cat experiences the challenges of adjusting to an additional member of the family. Pineapple loves being an only cat—and then Kiwi comes along. But despite the chaos and the annoyances, Pineapple soon realizes that a new kitten—a new friend—makes everything twice as fun.
Original Cat, Copy Cat is a celebration of friendship and acceptance! For ages 4-8, this book is an excellent tool to help your child adjust to a new family member that speaks their language, told through fun and relatable characters. Sarah Kurpiel's simple use of expressive language and bold artwork makes for an irresistible picture book that's perfect for storytime sharing, siblings-to-be and animal lovers everywhere—Original Cat, Copy Cat is out August 3
Babies cry—a lot! (And sometimes, for no reason at all.) Can you imagine needing something basic like food, some rest or an extra blanket and the only way you can ask for it is to go “WAAH”?! Why not try it yourselves and see what it’s like! Think of things your baby might want; to sleep, to play, to be held and so on. Pick something off the list and try to get it across to the other person without using words—it’s a fun/informative way to put yourselves in your baby’s (very tiny) shoes. Now your child may be just a little more patient next time they hear their new sibling crying.
The best way to get to know what life with a baby is like? Hang out with one! Plan a date to meet up with a friend/neighbor or family member’s baby for a few hours to help your child get a sense of what life is like beyond the bump! It’s a great way for them to get up close and personal with a bundle of joy to get to experience the snuggles and smiles, as well as the poopy diapers, as they get to know their new baby friend.
Time to get out the baby books (or even just the photos/videos on your smartphone)! What better way to get them psyched for their new baby brother or sister than to relive their newborn days! It’s a great bonding experience, too, looking back on how adorable, sweet and cuddly they were before they learned the word “no!”. Talking about how much they have grown and the differences between now and then as they gaze at images of their younger self will help them connect with their yet-to-be-born best bud, too. It helps kids to understand that the new baby in their family won’t be a crying (but cute) little lump forever, but turn into a big kid that’s fun to play with, just like them!
Because we all want to feel included, right?! Take your child with you to the doctor to hear the baby’s heartbeat. Share ultrasound photos of your baby and try to find all the tiny little parts together. Let them help put together the nursery, choosing colors and decor they think their new brother or sister will love. Once baby is here, get them involved in their care (depending on how old they are). Let them get a diaper or wipes for you, give the baby a favorite toy or even help feed them—it’s bonding time at its best!
You’ll send your kids to hog heaven by taking them to Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure, a live, family-friendly musical experience coming to US cities starting in September. The 60-minute show includes singalong songs, dancing, games and surprises.
In this brand-new show featuring life-size puppets of our favorite cartoon crew, Peppa heads out on a camping trip in the woods with her brother George and school friends Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. Daddy Pig is driving the bus, so he’s along for the outdoor adventures too.
Starting in Ottumwa, Iowa on September 11th, the show travels through Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and more states this autumn. Visit peppapigliveus.com for a partial list of tour dates. Additional dates and cities will be announced soon.
For tickets to the show and VIP Meet & Greet packages, visit peppapigliveus.com. And follow Peppa Pig Live on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for exclusive tour content.
It’s fitting that former Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East’s second child decided to make his grand entry during this year’s Games! The East family welcomed their new addition last week and they’ve officially shared him with the world. They posted an emotional video of his birth story, plus some adorable new photos that include big sister Drew Hazel.
Baby boy clocked in at almost 10 pounds (officially 9 pounds, 13 ounces) and his birth is documented in an almost nine minute long video on the family’s official YouTube Channel. The caption reads in part “A moment we’ve been excited to share… meet our perfect little baby boy. We are so in love. Momma and little man are doing really well and are healthy and happy. Drew’s loving her new role as big sister and is loving her cuddle time with her little brother everyday.”
The couple also shared a trio of sweet black and white photos to Johnson East’s Instagram account. The new baby is obviously adored by the whole family!
After marrying in 2016, Shawn and husband Andrew welcomed daughter Drew Hazel in 2019. They currently live in Nashville and document their family life extensively on social media. Another gold-medal moment!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Another addition to the celebrity June baby crew! Ewan McGregor and his partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead welcomed a baby boy, as confirmed by two of his daughters. It’s the couple’s first child together, joining four children from McGregor’s previous marriage.
Both Clara and Esther posted sweet shots holding their new baby brother on Instagram. “Welcome to the world little brother ❤️ congratulations to my Dad & Mary – this is the greatest gift,” Clara wrote. Esther humorously added “Met my little brother looking like a pirate. I recommend! Welcome to the family little Laurie.”
McGregor and Winstead starred in the 2020 film Birds of Prey together and both have established long, successful acting careers. In keeping with many pandemic babies, neither divulged publicly that they were expecting a child. Both were previously married and McGregor has four daughters with production designer Eve Mavrakis.
Congratulations to the happy couple! We can’t wait to see more cute photos of their new addition.
Are you dreaming of snowy scenes, improbable romance, quaint small towns and cheesy but enjoyable dialogue? Then we’ve got the scoop for you! Hallmark has announced its annual Christmas in July event, featuring new movies and binge-worthy classics.
Starting the weekend of July 10, tune in to catch Crashing Through the Snow, starring Amy Acker and Warren Christie. Maggie (Acker) joins her ex-husband and his girlfriend Kate for a getaway to Aspen, Colorado. Before you wonder about the logistics of vacationing with an ex, don’t worry, love is still in the air. Maggie meets Kate’s brother (Christie) and we have to imagine sparks flying on the ski slopes.
Also on July 10, you can binge some of your favorite Hallmark Christmas selections from 2020, including Love, Lights, Hanukkah and A Tree Grows in Colorado. The following weekend, tune in for “Soap Sunday” because obviously Hallmark movies are exponentially better with soap opera stars. Keep an eye out for Cameron Mathison in The Christmas Club and Jesse Metcalfe in Christmas Next Door.
Finally, on July 24 and 25 you can start your countdown to the holiday in earnest with some of the greatest hits from Hallmark. Crown for Christmas,The Nine Lives of Christmas, and Christmas Under Wraps! Similar, but just different enough to keep you glued to the screen. Grab the wine, popcorn and enjoy some self care!
You’re beaming. Your daughter crushed it at her gymnastics meet. Or maybe your son aced that U.S. states quiz. Our instinct as parents is to shower our children with praise in their moments of success. We want to boost them up because, geez, there’s plenty that can bring them down in the day. And we want them to feel pride in their hard work. We want them to continue working hard. Plus, your child deserves to be celebrated.
But do they… completely?
We Americans value independence. We glorify the individual who shapes his or her own identity and destiny through choice, ability, and effort.
Yet, I don’t know any kid who hasn’t benefitted from the support (both emotional and financial) of you, their parent. Teachers and coaches deserve Empire-State-building-sized trophies this year, as far as I’m concerned. And there are countless others who propel our children to their fullest potential. How about the pediatrician who ingrained in your son the importance of a healthy diet so he had the mental clarity to remember where exactly Missouri is? Or your daughter’s friend who helped her perfect that backbend? Or perhaps even Mary Lou Retton, who inspired her?
This is not to say that your kid doesn’t deserve props. We, as parents, should be our kids’ loudest and most obnoxious fans. Our children need that in our hyper-competitive, goal-driven society.
But there’s another angle from which we can frame success that isn’t centered on your child’s magnificence.
That angle? Gratitude.
Being grateful is realizing that the goodness in your life has come to you, not only because you earned it, but because of other people.
Study after study over the past decade shows that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and less depressed.
Not only that, but when we acknowledge that success always comes on the shoulders of others, we don’t diminish our child’s worth. Rather we foster a sense of connection in our child. Since other people and things contribute to our good fortune, reminding your child who helped them achieve their win will connect them to others, nature and even something larger than themselves.
Why is this connection important?
A sense of connectedness is the number one resilience-building factor for youth. According to the American Psychological Association, “Many studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family.”
This means we should try and use every opportunity we have to promote connectedness. Our society tells us it’s all about you, the individual. Pull yourself up by the bootstraps. But that’s not the reality of life. So much of our good fortune comes to us, not because we deserve it, but because of forces outside ourselves.
So let’s appreciate that—let’s be grateful—and teach our kids to as well.
It’s okay to say “Your teacher worked so hard to teach you the states, and you worked so hard to memorize them!” Or “You put so much effort into prepping for your gymnastics meet! Your little brother got schlepped to a gazillion practices for you!”
Tell your child how awesome they are after they crush it. And then ask them who helped them get there, or encourage them to think about the circumstances that allowed them to succeed. You’ll double the win.
After losing a brother to suicide, Devin Tomiak was driven to understand youth resiliency. Her personal mission to strengthen her relationship with her children, develop their emotional intelligence, and improve the communication skills of her whole family led her to create The Biggies Conversation Cards for elementary-aged kids.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are officially a family of four! Today Prince Harry and Meghan announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet Diana. She was born Friday morning at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, according to a statement from the couple.
“On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili,” the couple added. “She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
She’s named after the family nickname of her great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth and her middle name honors Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. Lili joins her brother, two-year-old Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The family is settling in together at home.
Buckingham Palace also released a statement on the happy news: “The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
Congratulations to the happy family and welcome to the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild!
––Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of ComposedPix / Shutterstock.com
It’s been a long nine years for iCarly fans, but the wait is almost over! Paramount+ just released the official trailer for the reboot and Carly will be back with her web show on June 17!
The OG show ran for six seasons and followed Carly Shay, whose skyrockets to online fame. Only one problem: her parents are abroad and there’s suddenly a lot of new success (and problems) to deal with. So Carly recruits the help of her friends Sam and Freddie, plus older brother Spencer to help juggle stardom and high school life. iCarly initially ran on Nickelodeon and a 2010 episode was the second-most watched in network history. The two-part final episode took place in November, 2012. But as today’s trailer demonstrates, the gang is (finally) getting back together.
Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor and Nathan Kress will all reprise their original roles, only this time they’re navigating life as twenty-somethings, including dating and love lives. Laci Mosley is a new addition as Carly’s roommate and Jaidyn Triplett joins as Freddie’s snarky stepdaughter. And of course, the web show is back with the same set and familiar pranks that iCarly fans have been missing. Only now it’s shot on an PearPhone!
You’ll get three fresh episodes on June 17 if you’re a Paramount+ subscriber, with new episodes coming in weekly. In total, 13 have been ordered up for the first season of the reboot. In the words of Carly, “I know somehow we’re gonna get there and feel so wonderful!”
—Sarah Shebek
Featured photo: Dooley Productions / Shutterstock.com
