Lately, a few people have left comments asking about our gang and the California sun. I figured we'd share our routine and thoughts on sun safety, as the summer is already here!
- Before the kids and I leave the house, I drench them from scalp to toes in spf 50. I do the same for myself. We ALL reapply every 1-2 hours. I am religious about skin protection and pay close attention to the kid's and my own.
- Despite the pictures, we don't spend prolonged periods in the sun and do wear hats often! We take lots of walks with breaks in the shade. That's why we love the river trails, never far from a cool spot for a water break!
- My father is Mexican, Native American and Italian. I tan VERY easily and in a healthy way. So do 3/4 of our kids. We are only going to get darker, it's in our blood. Thanks for the notes of concern, but much of this is genetics!
- Molly, Ally and Russ tan like I do. Little Libby is very fair - poor kid is going to have to explain that for years to come! As you will notice, she is NEVER red or burnt. NEVER. I think most of it is credit to #'s 1 & 2 above.
- That's why we love Waterbabies SPF 50 Instant Dry Spray - its great protection for the gang, and easy to apply quickly. The kids actually think its fun to be sprayed and wiped down as part of our routine!

- Most of all - moderation is key. We love being active and outdoors - but only in healthy amounts. We're enjoying the weather now, because in a month it will be too hot to do anything outdoors in the triple digit temperatures in Sactown!
Have a great week, lather up, and be safe!

We love the spray, too. :)
ReplyDeleteOur pedi flipped out at our 15 month check up because the boys had a farmers tan. We never spend more than 30 minutes at a time outside, we almost always wear hats, and sunscreen like crazy. They have never gotten a burn. They just tan easily just like momma. Not everyone is meant to be pasty white.
And when did a little healthy sunshine become such a bad thing?
Lordy Gen,
ReplyDeleteI guess the previous 50,000+ McNulty Family suncare guideline comments you mentioned in previous posts STILL didn't get your point through to SOME people! Or, maybe people just like to be nasty towards you because you are so incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring. They have no other choice but to envy you and be hateful. Whatever the reason, THANK YOU for spelling out the obvious in black and white for the reader(s) who remain a few french fries short of a Happy Meal!
Love my crazy Cali girl!
Moni
great post! if only more parents were as diligent with sun protection for their kiddos. So many children suffer from irreversible sun damage by the time they are in their teens. Kudos to you for protecting your children from the sun! You must go through cases of those bottles of sun screen spray! Your crew could make a nice commercial for them!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the spray! I discovered it from my friend Jodie and I've been hooked ever since.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip Gen...here in sunny Florida I will use it! We haven't been out in the sun too much, but when we are they are covered from head to toe. We are just starting to use sunblock! I only wish I could have the beautiful color and complexion you do!
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that people can't just read your blog and enjoy it. Questioning your parenting skills over sunscreen and sun exposure is silly!
ReplyDeleteMy mother is Native American as well and we have all tanned rather quickly and easily no matter what SPF we wear.
Enjoy the sunshine and moderate temperatures while you can. Jeff and I have been to Sacramento in the summer and it really is boiling!
Gen, I have to say ditto on what Moni said! Tell Libby it is ok! Eveyrone but me, tans like you in my family. I'm the pasty white of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteI will definitley try out your sunscreen and thanks for sharing that. As for the other, I thought was pretty obvious. I guess others have not embrassed their inner "pasti-ness".
HUGE HUGS!!!!! You are an amazing MAMA!!!
Love you,
Mist
Thanks for the tip on the sunblock. I always love to hear the tried and true reviews. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that some people made negative comments on this! Holly Cow! First of all, the sun is OK! It's called Vitamin D!!!! Moderation is the key, of course...but you are doing great and hey, it's not their business after all! I am taking my 9-months old twins outside everyday- with protection of course but it's OK if the sun hits their legs in the stroller! Thanks for posting this!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, I feel for little Libby! My entire family has dark complexions...except me. I am so fair, just like my Irish/English grandmother. I use Waterbabies as well! It's great for sensitive skin. I'll be trying the dry spray. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd it never ceases to amaze me the kinds of comments people make.
Gen,
ReplyDeleteI for one am SO GLAD you let your kids play outside for a change!! Good gracious, all of these people need to get some Water Babies and GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.
xo,
Emily
I'm going to try that sunblock with my girls.
ReplyDeleteI still cant believe you had to defend yourself about sunscreen.
ReplyDeleteYou are a fantastic mom and you and the kids look great!!! LOVE YOU XOXO
Thanks for the sunscreen recommendation! We arrive in Sacramento tomorrow and I have been wondering what to use on my two kiddos. And like others said, I can't believe anyone would question your parenting on your blog. I have two kids and can't manage to sunscreen them up every single time we go out. I figure if you have four toddlers and manage to keep them out of the knife drawer and away from the electrical outlets... someone should give you a medal!
ReplyDeletePoor Libby, I feel her pain.
ReplyDeleteI'm extremely fair. My parents doused me in sunblock so much that I literally can't stand the smell anymore.
Questions.... and this may seem stupid... with the dry spray, do you still have to rub it in? Does it have that nasty sunscreen scent? Does it feel greasy?
Let me just say, you are an awesome mom!
ReplyDeleteHey Everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the love and support, as always! You guys always know how to make me smile. YOU ROCK!
Anyway, to answer the question, "why the spray?"
It's my FAVORITE! It does smell like sunblock, but it's non greasy, waterproof and dries instantly. You do not have to rub it in.. but I normally do. You can spray it at any angle, and on a squirmy toddler.. that's pretty cool. It's fast, easy, doesn't run in your eyes and fits in my purse. It also works. Wow, I sound like I should be doing a commercial for them! LOL!
I hope you guys are having a great Tuesday. The kids and I just got home from seeing the movie, UP! It was so darn cute and they did great!
XOXO
Gen
Love the spray...Enjoyed reading your blog today..still finding my way around blogland....I always love making new friends..I am posting about Disney so hope you will stop by. Commenting automatically puts you in the drawing for the June giveaway.
ReplyDeletelove the sunscreen spray! just wish they made it in a huge family size can.
ReplyDeletetoo funny that you have gotten comments on sun safety - some people just carry around too much weight on their shoulders all day to be worrying about other people's kids skin!
You make me laugh out loud! I love how you take lemons and make lemonade!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Gen! I haven't commented before, but I e-mailed you last night.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the tips, I'm sure we'll be needing them in the future!
Can't believe you have to defend yourself about sunscreen!! The quads are adorable!!
have a good day!
Laura Hendrickson
33 weeks 3 days pregnant w/triplets
lhendrickson48@yahoo.com
We have the same problem at our house 1/2 the kids tan like you wouldnt believe 1/4 doesn't burn but wouldn't need the sunscreen (if that makes sense) and the other one... pastey white like her mama!!! We too BATHE in sunscreen!!
ReplyDeleteOh and Gen YOU ROCK MAMA!!! Don't let anyone get you done!!! YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
I love the spray sunscreen, too! The twins' day care teacher THANKED me and asked me where I got the spray on/no rub stuff last year so she could recommend it to other parents b/c it was so easy to put on their class each day!
ReplyDeleteI need to try the spray. My trio are now trying to squirm away every time I want to slather them with the sunscreen. Its SLIPPERY!
ReplyDeleteThanks for 'splaining. People are LAME :)
Gen, I find it so discouraging that you need to justify spending time outside with your children.... it is soooooo important for them, have people reading never paid attention to the ever rising child obesity rates... getting them outside and active at young ages, together with healthy diets will prevent this!! In Australia our summer is HOT and strong (we have the hole thanks very much!!!) and our kids spend 80% of their day outside, what would the crappy nasty readers prefer TV????? I think NOT, you need to keep doing what you are doing it is GREAT!!!! and it works for YOU... As for your tan, I am purely jealous.... Man I am one of the pastiest (not sure if it is a word or not) Aussies around.... As a child I had great colour but that had something to do with hours swimming laps following a black line in a pool..... (mmmm maybe that would shift some of this booty.... food for thought for me I guess!).
ReplyDeleteIgnore these pesty people and their vile comments, enough said on sunscreen and outside play (the justification that is) live and feel free to do with your children what you please,
life is too short
sending lots of love and sarcasm you way my new FB buddy
Leonie
That's too bad that you have to defend your lovely skin. I just assumed all your friends were so white because they were stuck inside with desk jobs!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing the blond highlights aren't genetic though! That's what threw me off.
Thanks again everyone! Your support means the world to me!
ReplyDeleteKatie, nope.. not natural, of course! I like to mix it up. I get bored with my hair. I'm actually going back to brown next week.. Molly was really upset when my hair color wasn't the same as hers anymore. :(
XOXO
G
XOXO
Gen
Gen,
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that you take the absolute best care of your little kiddos as possible! Well done!
Love,
Miriam
Oh wow, I didnt know anyone had made any comments to you... I never seen any signs of them gettin to much sun or anything, but on another note... I am native american as well, both of my boys tan very easily, My oldest not as much but some, he always has farmers tans because I load him up with sun screen then put on his clothes, but all the time he has a shirt on... even I got him a rashguard to wear with his swim trunks... I will have to try that sunscreen you say dry instantly, they hate being rubbed down, but it saves there skin so they deal with it:) your children are all so cute:)
ReplyDelete