Archive for December, 2006
December 22, 2006· Filed under Blogging
It’s that viral 5 things you don’t know about me meme that is making its way around the blogosphere. I caught it at my business blog and then passed it on. I managed to catch it twice today here - once from Eliza and once from Lisa. Here are 5 more things you didn’t know about me:
- I don’t really like to cook, but I do have a short list of sure fire hits. One is super easy. Put pre-cooked, store-bought, Italian-style meatballs in the slow cooker. Add 2 jars of Heinz Chili Sauce and a jar of Grape Jelly. Let cook for a few hours and you are good to go. Sounds strange, but it is my most requested dish.
- In high school I hosted a student from Germany for three weeks and then I went to her house for three weeks that summer. It was one the best trips I have taken to date. It was before the wall came down and we took a field trip to Berlin - East Berlin. The images of the East Berlin city are still very vivid in my mind - from the barbed wire everywhere to the bullet ridden buildings to the laughter of school children as they made their way home. Some of the friendships I made that summer, almost 22 years ago, are alive and well today.
- Speaking of high school, I went to three of them - one in Ohio, and two in Virginia as a result of being a military brat. It wasn’t fun switching schools so much at the time, but I have not suffered any long term mental scars.
- I am a huge advocate of kids and sports. It is my opinion that kids who are involved in sports, especially in the middle school/high school years, are less likely to get in trouble and have a better self image. They need a passion, an outlet, and something that challenges them. I could go on and on about this one - but I’ll save it for another blog (ooh, a clue to something new coming in 2007!).
- I have not finished my Christmas shopping, wrapping or house cleaning! Yikes!
I am going to keep this thing going by tagging Di, Delphine, Phil, Mike, and Colleen.
December 21, 2006· Filed under Family, Holidays, Organizing, Parenting, Travel
Over the years we have done our fair share of travelling with our three kids. It is always a challenge to get everything packed and organized before you go, but the following three tips are a MUST for me.
Gallon Zip-top Bags - This is my #1 tip and one that has made the difference between sanity and insanity when travelling with my crew. I place each outfit, complete with socks, undies, and accessories in a separate zip top bag and label it with the child’s name. I make a separate bag with jammies and spares. Each bag is rolled slightly to remove excess air and then sealed. ADVANTAGES: The bags take up less space than the loose clothes; the outfits are ready to grab and go (helpful for Daddies, Grandparents and other helpers); and you have a container to put wet, soiled or stinky items in while you are at your destination.
Laundry Basket - If you are travelling by car, place a plastic laundry basket in the back to hold the smaller, loose items you are taking like shoes, back packs, portable electronics, gifts, etc. ADVANTAGES: It makes it easier to transport these items in and out of the car and you have somewhere to put your dirty laundry while at your destination.
Emergency Bag - A few years back someone gave me a red Clinique make up bag that is about 6″x9″. It is flat when empty and has a zipper top. I keep this bag with me just about anywhere we go and the kids know it is the emergency bag. In this bag I keep bandaids, travel pack of wipes, flat packs of chewable children’s pain reliever, the Triaminic cold/cough strips, my daughter’s Lactaid tablets, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, a comb, a few ponytails, tissues, and a few mommy essentials. ADVANTAGES: Red equals emergency and I have trained my kids to know what and where this bag is at all times. You just never know when you may need these things!
As we enter this holiday travel week, please stay safe! And, if you have a tip for travelling with kids, share it with us.
From our sponsor: You might want to also consider bring along some activities for kids as well. You will find resources on riddles and brain teasers, arts and crafts or puzzles and coloring pages at Learninghaven.com.
December 20, 2006· Filed under Family, Holidays, Parenting, Puzzles
Yes, I know the kids are going to be getting plenty of sugar, presents and free time over the next two weeks, but I am also betting I will hear, “Mom, I’m Bored” multiple times a day. I am making a list of ways to combat this - I’d love your ideas too. Submit them to me and I’ll add them to the list along with some link love.
This should get us started! Now send me your ideas and links and let’s get this vacation started.
December 20, 2006· Filed under Family, Holidays, Parenting, Working from Home
The kids are so pumped! They have two more days of school (today and tomorrow) and then they are free for almost two weeks. Now I know they have visions of sleeping in, computer time, playdates and non-stop fun, but I see it differently. I see it as a dry run for summer vacation!
What my kids don’t know is that the pseudo-routine of summer break that includes an expanded chore list, and limited technology time is what awaits them. Sure, I’ll let them coast for a day or so, but it won’t be a free for all complete with Mommy doing all the work.
What do you have planned for the break? Any coping strategies, words of wisdom, or thoughts you wish to share? Jump right in - I’d love to hear it!
December 19, 2006· Filed under Family, Health, Parenting
Why did I do this? Why didn’t I just say no? I should have known better, but I let her go anyway.
My youngest daughter is about to turn 5 and is just beginning to get friends of her own after spending years tagging along with her older siblings. She is forever the odd one out and I feel for her. So, she gets an invite to a birthday party at one of my least favorite places in the world - Chuck E. Cheese. Nine times out of ten, I would have been able to find a creative way to not let her go, but this time I was stuck.
Her older sister had been invited to a party for one of her close friends that involved going to the movies two blocks down from CEC. The timing was perfect too. Miss M’s party started before Miss N’s and ended afterwards. What was a mommy to do?
I let Miss N go to the party - armed with wipes to combat the massive germs in that place. The place was packed. They had 6 birthday parties going on at the same time plus the normal Sunday afternoon crowd. Miss N was totally overwhelmed and I was hoping she would ask to leave. But I know this child. She finally had an event to go to without big brother or big sister and with Mom all by herself. It was her friend, her outing and there was no way she was leaving.
I followed her through out the place as we went from game to game, just to find that half of them were out of service. I watched with amazement as kids, who obviously had no supervision, clearly broke every safety rule in the place. Yet, she was going to stick this one out.
Well, we survived the party, but I’m paying the price today. Miss N spent most of last night coughing, thrashing in her bed, running a fever, and miserable. I counted down the minutes until 9 a.m. this morning when I could call the doctor’s office. Thankfully they can see her this morning. There goes my day…
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