March 09, 2012 / Heather Somaini / Source

The Disney Cruise!!!
Our 5-year old twins went on a cruise. I’ve never been on a cruise so my kids actually did something before me. Yikes, what’s next?
Tere and I spent our last night of true, kid-freedom very seriously. First, I went on a quick… — **The Disney Cruise!!!**

Our 5-year old twins went on a cruise. *I’ve* never been on a cruise so my kids actually did something *before* me. Yikes, what’s next?

Tere and I spent our last night of true, kid-freedom very seriously. First, I went on a quick 30-mile bike ride and then rushed home to shower and change before our friends Vickie and Diana arrived to take us on an “adventure”. We had no idea where we were going, what we would be doing, or more importantly, what we would be eating. After 30 minutes in the car and lots of guessing, we arrived at a non-descript warehouse district in Gardena.

I saw it immediately and sort of blurted out – “we’re going Go Kart racing”! And we in fact, did race Go Karts! It was an indoor course with electric Go Karts and loads of fun. We had to strap on helmets and wear these ski-mask looking things over our heads. I was the fastest out of the four of us but we were the slowest out of our entire group. Some 12-year old came in first as if we were standing still. We checked out an amazing Italian restaurant and then settled in for the trip home. Later that night we went to a late night 21+ showing of an R-rated movie with a very happy crowd of hipsters laughing at things that weren’t exactly funny…because they were all drunk! It was fun to be out and about a little bit. READ MORE

tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, disney, disney cruise, dolphins, pirate ship, go karts

February 24, 2012 / Heather Somaini / Source

Quiet House
Our almost 5-year old twins have left the building…like Elvis. They charged out and didn’t even look back, knowing the devastation they left in their wake. I guess this is how it goes as our kids get older and find more and more indepe… — **Quiet House**

Our almost 5-year old twins have left the building…like Elvis. They charged out and didn’t even look back, knowing the devastation they left in their wake. I guess this is how it goes as our kids get older and find more and more independence.

Right now they’re on a Disney cruise in Mexico. They’re eating anything they want, swimming in all three pools every day, sleeping in bunk beds, petting dolphins, snorkeling and generally giving their grandparents a run for their money. I wonder if my parents will come back exhausted and never volunteer to do that again! I’ve been debating about sending the kids twice this coming summer to spend some extended time with my Mom and Dad. This trip will tell us if that’s a good idea or not. I’m sure it’s fine. They’re fine. My parents are probably having so much fun with three kids to dote on and spoil.

I’m not worried about them. I’m worried about US! **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two moms, two dads, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood

February 03, 2012 / Heather Somaini / Source

It’s All My Fault Anyway aka Parenting is Hard!
It’s that time of year when everyone starts asking what school your kids are going to in the fall. Here on the west side of Los Angeles, it’s all about the private schools. Crossroads, New Road… — **It’s All My Fault Anyway** aka Parenting is Hard!

It’s that time of year when everyone starts asking what school your kids are going to in the fall. Here on the west side of Los Angeles, it’s all about the private schools. Crossroads, New Roads, John Thomas Dye, Wildwood, Curtis…the list goes on and on. Picking the right one seems impossible.

Which brings me to the impossible-ness (I know that’s not a real word) of being a parent. This parenting thing is hard. Super hard actually. Every decision we make has an effect, makes a mark and leaves an impression. I was going to say that even before they’re born, we make decisions for our children, which is true. Some parents, like us, make decisions even further back while picking out a sperm donor. Now of course, every mother picks a sperm donor, just most of them marry him instead of selecting him from a catalog, paying for his stuff and taking it to the doctor’s office in a cryo can. **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, school, kids, parenting is hard

January 13, 2012 / Heather Somaini / Source

Happy Birthday To Me!
My birthday was yesterday. I’ve turned another year older and now I have to really think about how old I am when someone asks me. I hate that transition every year when I can’t really remember how old I am; or am I just conve… — **Happy Birthday To Me!**

My birthday was yesterday. I’ve turned another year older and now I have to really think about how old I am when someone asks me. I hate that transition every year when I can’t really remember how old I am; or am I just conveniently confused? I don’t know which it is but it keeps happening.

Tere’s birthday is next month and then the twins the month after that. We always have a busy opening of every year. Lots of milestones to remind us of our growth. The kids keep getting taller. I’m getting a little grayer. And somehow, Tere keeps getting thinner. **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, birthday

January 06, 2012 / Heather Somaini / Source

Snow Bunnies
Our holidays were a bit more “eclectic” – that’s code for crazed and disjointed – than usual this year. We spent Thanksgiving here in Los Angeles with our exquisite friends Vickie and Diana with a pre-dinner on Thanksgiving Eve of Joe’… — **Snow Bunnies**

Our holidays were a bit more “eclectic” – that’s code for crazed and disjointed – than usual this year. We spent Thanksgiving here in Los Angeles with our exquisite friends Vickie and Diana with a pre-dinner on Thanksgiving Eve of Joe’s Stone Crab flown in from Miami, a fresh corn salad, and key lime pie. We’ve done this before and so we thought we would excel at cracking those hard claws open. We were not. We had stone crab parts all over the kitchen and that was before we brought in the hammer! Our friends came back for what we can easily say was the most beautiful turkey we’ve ever seen. It was also the most expensive…EVER. I swear someone must have massaged it every day with some sort of special oil because nothing you eat, no matter how free-range it is should cost that much. **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, ski, skiing, lake tahoe, tahoe, kids ski lessons, heavenly, heavenly ski

December 20, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

This sounds pretty awesome…if it works!! I’ll do anything to get that daughter of mine to stop screaming bloody murder over her hair.
The Knot Genie
While sitting on the beach this past summer, we heard (re: eavesdropped) about a brush… — *This sounds pretty awesome…if it works!! I’ll do anything to get that daughter of mine to stop screaming bloody murder over her hair.*

**The Knot Genie**

While sitting on the beach this past summer, we heard (re: eavesdropped) about a brush that magically detangles knots without so much as a yelp or wiggle.

Could it be? We wondered. Or are these moms the same women who spread vicious rumors about kids who love Brussels sprouts and bedtime?

Those ladies weren’t spinning a yarn: Knot Genie is very real and very magical.

The cloud-shaped tool fits right in the palm of your hand, so there’s no paddle to yank through the tangle of locks. It has a series of bendable teeth of all lengths — that is what the Knot Genie team says makes the difference between an easy-breezy combing and something that might violate the Geneva Conventions. As the brush makes its way through hair, the teeth bend and give, rather than fight and rip, detangling without tears.

We promise you it works. And our kids are a huge pain in the ass at bedtime.

*Available online knotgenie.com, $20.*

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tags / Daily Candy, knot genie, hair, brush, knots, parent, parenting, parenthood, same sex parent, lesbian parent, gay parent, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, parent of twins, two dads, two moms

December 16, 2011 / Heather Somaini

What’s going on….

I know this has been spreading like wildfire for the past couple weeks but I saw it again and thought I’d post it. It made me cry when I watched it the first time. Hurts to know kids hurt so much sometimes. We need to do more….

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tags / gay, lesbian, parent, parenting, parenthood, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, parent of twins, gay parent, same sex parent, lesbian parent, two dads, two moms, pflag, glaad, hrc, same sex

December 16, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Kinda ingenious to create a crib without a single screw!!!
A Crib That Clicks
Nothing like putting the last bolt in the baby’s crib only to discover an extra nut on the floor.
Kind of makes you want to say screw it. Or not screw it, as the case may … — *Kinda ingenious to create a crib without a single screw!!!*

**A Crib That Clicks**

Nothing like putting the last bolt in the baby’s crib only to discover an extra nut on the floor.

Kind of makes you want to say screw it. Or not screw it, as the case may be.

The new collection of cribs from Gro Furniture may be just what you’re missing. Founders David and Aimee Singelyn put their architecture degrees to work by creating a pair of cribs that hook together without a single fastener or piece of hardware — think of them as puzzles that can be solved in less than two minutes.

The eco-conscious collection is manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee, and uses bamboo or solid-core birch ply and low VOC finishes. No need to worry about safety issues, both the Bam B and P Pod cribs exceed all standards. In fact, every time your Future Engineer of America jumps or tosses in his bed, the interlocking pieces tighten with the force.

Once he outgrows the crib, it converts to a toddler bed, day bed, or play table.

So no one gets screwed by a useless cradle.

*Available online at grofurniture.com, $990-$1,890.*

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tags / Daily Candy, cribs, gro furniture, parent, parenting, parenthood, kids, babies, parent of twins, same sex parent, lesbian parent, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood

December 16, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Christmas Through a Kid’s Eyes
I’m not sure if it really matters if you celebrate Christmas or not. It’s the whole holiday season. It’s awesome and I think we all get into it a bit. I’m a little nicer, more charitable and maybe for a few we… — **Christmas Through a Kid’s Eyes**

I’m not sure if it really matters if you celebrate Christmas or not. It’s the whole holiday season. It’s awesome and I think we all get into it a bit. I’m a little nicer, more charitable and maybe for a few weeks I put away any bad attitude that’s creeped in. In our family, we consume copious amounts of food and I actually think drinking those Starbucks holiday drinks is a good idea. (Oh the calories!) When I lived back East, it was cold and it often snowed for Christmas. There were travel delays, slushy streets, cold feet, and warm fires. But the food – oh, the food! I love the food my mom, aunt, and grandmothers would cook. Although it is great, it doesn’t have to be. Their food – the smells, the high fat content – all tell me I’m home. READ MORE

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, christmas, holidays, santa, santa claus, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood

December 13, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Jimmy Kimmel’s Parent Video Challenge - I Gave My Kid a Terrible Present

Jimmy Kimmel comes up with the funniest stuff and I can’t believe parents actually do it and send these videos in. :)

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tags / jimmy kimmel, christmas, presents, kids, parent, parenting, parenthood, kids, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, parent of twins, bad parenting

December 13, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

I love anything Jonathan Adler does!!!
How to Make Poop Groovy
You don’t need us to tell you there’s nothing fabulous about diaper duty. Everyone knows that shit stinks.
But thanks to a collaboration between design guru Jonathan Adler and the baby g… — *I love anything Jonathan Adler does!!!*

**How to Make Poop Groovy**

You don’t need us to tell you there’s nothing fabulous about diaper duty. Everyone knows that shit stinks.

But thanks to a collaboration between design guru Jonathan Adler and the baby geniuses at Skip Hop, your diaper bag doesn’t have to.

The just-launched diaper bag collection incorporates JA’s iconic mod patterns with Skip Hop’s fail-proof organizational prowess, so each carryall is as fetching as it is functional.

Skip Hop’s full-size Duo and Dash bags have been Adler-ized and include coordinating zip cases and laminated changing pads. The smaller Pronto changing station also gets an Adler-esque upgrade, packing a wallop of whimsy into each pint-size package.

If nothing else, you’ll look good when doodie calls.

*Available online at skiphop.com, $34-$80.*

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tags / Daily Candy, jonathan adler, skip hop, diaper bags, parent, parenting, baby, toddler, parenthood, same sex parent, lesbian parent, gay parent, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, two dads, two moms, twins, parenting books, parent of twins, parenting products, baby products

December 12, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

How cute are these???
Stephanie Elias Murals
You spent nine months agonizing over every detail of the animal-inspired nursery. Cut to three years later. Turns out butterflies are the only creature Sophie can stand.
If the writing is on the wall for … — *How cute are these???*

**Stephanie Elias Murals**

You spent nine months agonizing over every detail of the animal-inspired nursery. Cut to three years later. Turns out butterflies are the only creature Sophie can stand.

If the writing is on the wall for your nursery decor, let Stephanie Elias transform the space with a custom mural.

After years of designing products for the likes of Pottery Barn Kids, LeapFrog, and Maclaren, Elias is returning to her artist roots, creating modern backdrops for kidlet bedrooms.

Big-picture planning starts by conferring with Mom and Dad. Once the parental units have set parameters, the real inspiration comes from a sit-down with the room dweller herself. Armed with your little one’s fantasy and taking cues from Japanese toys, Elias designs a dreamy mural before precisely painting it into place.

Created with zero VOC and nontoxic paint, the wall-size artworks are safe to wash with soap and water and guaranteed to please even the toughest critics.

No betting on the wrong horse.

*Available online at* *seliasdesign.com, $800 and up.*

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tags / stephanie elias murals, stephanie elias, murals, baby, kid, Daily Candy, parent, parenting, parenthood, gay parent, lesbian parent, parent of twins, parenting books, same sex parent, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, Baby's Room, Baby's nursery

December 09, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Parent Teacher Conferences
When did school become so hard? And pre-school none the less! Isn’t pre-school just about finger paint and jungle gyms? Isn’t Kindergarten just about learning how to get through the morning without a nap? I barely reme… — **Parent Teacher Conferences**

When did school become so hard? And pre-school none the less! Isn’t pre-school just about finger paint and jungle gyms? Isn’t Kindergarten just about learning how to get through the morning without a nap? I barely remember pre-school and I went longer than most – two whole years. I have a January birthday so my parents decided to wait until I was 5.5+ to start Kindergarten. Most kids had their first taste of school when they hit Kindergarten and it was a rude awakening that some grown-up in the front of the room actually wanted you to line up and stand still!

Now we live on the west side of Los Angeles and EVERYONE is obsessed with starting their kids in school as soon as possible. There are videos to teach your baby to read and flash cards for numbers. When did we become this way? When did someone decide that teaching their kid to read and do math before Kindergarten was a GOOD idea? When did our aggressive pursuit of advancement extend to squeezing our children’s free-wheeling little brains and spirits into pre-determined silos of thinking and behavior? READ MORE

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, schools

November 28, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

And the holiday gift guides have begun. Here’s a guy-centric one from Cool Material!
2011 Holiday Gift Guide - Cool Material
There’s a point every year when people start freaking out about finishing their holiday shopping. It frequently resul… — *And the holiday gift guides have begun. Here’s a guy-centric one from Cool Material!*

**2011 Holiday Gift Guide - Cool Material**

There’s a point every year when people start freaking out about finishing their holiday shopping. It frequently results in last minute raiding of the 7-11 for gift cards and whatever beer happens to still be available. Don’t be this guy or gal. We’ve compiled our annual holiday gift guide, and this year might just be the best yet. This isn’t just a collection of gear we’re recommending for other guys; it’s our collective gift list for ourselves. Gramma, we love you, but if you’re reading this there’s no reason to buy us anything that isn’t on this list.

1. On-Ice Beer Dispenser – $45

2. Steel Ice Cubes – $25

3. Stuffed Hamburger Press $12

4. Lighter Cufflinks – $90

5. Bullet Space Pen – $25

6. Alarm Dock – $40

7. Lytro Camera – $399

8. Metal Inkless Pen + Key Ring – $35

9. Skull Candles – $9

10. Crossbow Snow Launcher – $40

11. Recycled Inner Tube Toiletry Bag – $32

12. 44 Caliber Pistol Ring – $140

13. iHome iP4 Portable FM Stereo Boombox for iPhone/iPod- $200

Check out all of our 2011 holiday gift picks. **$9+**

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tags / cool material, holiday gift guide, gift, gifts, gift guide, cool gear, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, parent, parenting, parenthood, same sex parent, lesbian parent, gay parent, gay, lesbian, same sex, lgbt, lgbtq, paren, parent of twins, twins

November 23, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

My IzzyB
Everyone writes about being thankful, grateful around this time of year and I won’t be any exception. It’s just too easy and feels like the right thing to do.
It’s been a rough twelve months. Not the kind of rough when you’re diagnosed wi… — **My IzzyB**

Everyone writes about being thankful, grateful around this time of year and I won’t be any exception. It’s just too easy and feels like the right thing to do.

It’s been a rough twelve months. Not the kind of rough when you’re diagnosed with cancer or your world gets turned upside down because someone close to you dies. It wasn’t the earth shattering kind. It was just the normal, life comes at you from lots of angles kind of rough.

In early December last year we started to get a sprinkling that would soon become a full blown hurricane. **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, pre-school, speech therapy

November 18, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Family Home Destroyed by Avalanche…Kids to Blame!

Hmmm…what would you do if your kids did this? :) Hysterical but then, maybe not.

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tags / kids, parenting, parent, parenthood, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, gay parent, lesbian parent, same sex parent, two dads, two moms

November 18, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

PENN STATE
In the past week or so we’ve all read about the arrest and shocking accusations made against a coach of the Penn State football team. Coaches and school officials have either voluntarily stepped down or been forced from their positions f… — **PENN STATE**

In the past week or so we’ve all read about the arrest and shocking accusations made against a coach of the Penn State football team. Coaches and school officials have either voluntarily stepped down or been forced from their positions for the choices they made in this situation. Students have rioted on campus and tearfully supported their football coach. Suddenly today, a 39-year-old man has come forward accusing a Syracuse University basketball coach of similar molestation.

*Full disclosure, I am a Syracuse University alum – happily spent four years in that rainy, snowy city…well, town and played in the marching band including the 1988 Sugar Bowl. I am an Orangeman.* READ MORE

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parenting, parent, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, penn state, syracuse university, paterno, boeheim, football, basketball, child abuse, child abuse scandal, sandusky

November 11, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

This girl likes her Biggie….have you ever seen a baby only stop crying for the Notorious B.I.G.?

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tags / parenting, parent, parenthood, parent of twins, lesbian parent, same sex parent, gay parent, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood, twins, two dads, two moms

November 11, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

Kid-less People & Birthday Parties
I feel really badly. I did a terrible thing. I ruined some nice couple’s perfectly good Saturday afternoon. Well, I don’t know if I totally ruined it but I sure did put a damper on it. Tere on the other han… — **Kid-less People & Birthday Parties**

I feel really badly. I did a terrible thing. I ruined some nice couple’s perfectly good Saturday afternoon. Well, I don’t know if I totally ruined it but I sure did put a damper on it. Tere on the other hand, totally ruined it. We were bad.

It all started this past Saturday. We went to the 4th birthday party for these twin boys we know. We hadn’t heard of the place – a Mexican cantina – and as we rounded the corner, we knew we were in for some fun. There was a Go-Kart track set up, a live Spiderman and Tarzan, and someone making balloon animals. But the best part was inside. **READ MORE**

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood

November 04, 2011 / Heather Somaini / Source

An Interview With Heather Somaini…that’s me!
The Next Family thought it would be fun to begin conducting interviews with our writers to get to know them a bit better. If you have any questions of your own, feel free to ask Heather in th… — **An Interview With Heather Somaini…that’s me!**

The Next Family thought it would be fun to begin conducting interviews with our writers to get to know them a bit better. If you have any questions of your own, feel free to ask Heather in the comments section.

*TNF: How has it been blogging for TNF for over a year now?*

Well, it’s been scary and exciting and somewhat torturous. I never realized how much time and energy it takes to write 500+ words. And I’m rarely happy with what I write.

*TNF: What aspect has been scary for you?*

Putting everything out there for everyone to see. I have to focus on not thinking about what other people will think about my writing or me or my weird thoughts. Otherwise, I turn into a pool of mush on the floor worrying that everyone will seriously laugh at me.

READ MORE

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tags / gay, gay parent, lesbian, lesbian parent, lgbt, lgbtq, parent, parenting, parenthood, parent of twins, same sex, same sex parent, twins, two dads, two moms, mom, dad, mother, father, motherhood, fatherhood

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