A Child's Smile

I can see her now . . . HMMM!

2007-11-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

I can see her now just looking at them, wondering, "What can I do with these?" Well, I don't know if you know this but let me enlighten you just a little bit about my darling little five year old. She "is" a little princess whom I often refer to as "beautiful" and big sis always dresses her up and does her make-up. . . Yes, this little five year old was looking at them. I'm just sure of it. She had used the facilities and little did I know that big sis had them in her hair bow drawer. I'm sure she had thought to herself, "Hmmm". (I can see her now putting that little finger to her head like she does sometimes when she's thinking about something to do.) I can see her saying ( as she looks at herself in the mirror) "Hmmm, I have an idea. Why don't I use these and fix my hair. No one will ever know if I just trim my hair just a little bit." Well, you know, I don't know about you, but for me, when I see myself in the mirror, I see my face and my hair around it. Hmmmm, I can see her thinking. "What if . . . I just snip it a little here or there, then, I'll look beautiful and my hair will be beautiful." I can see her opening the drawer first with the intent to put her hair back so that it doesn't get in her face, snip, snip, snip "Mommy's gonna' love it". Hmmm, I think to myself as I walk in the door to see my darling princess. Smiling at me saying "mommy, look at what I did today. Don't I look so beautiful?" "Hmmm" forcing a smile and thinking . . . okay, how am I going to fix this? "Princess, you missed a spot. Can I fix it for you?" snip, snip, snip . . . "Wow, look sweetie, you've got bangs now, but you know, this part's just a little short up here, so we just need time to let it grow out, and please don't cut it anymore. Please let mommy or daddy or the lady at the salon cut your hair for you, okay? It's very nice, but you cut it a little too short here . . . it's not even with the rest, but that's okay. Just remember you cut your art paper okay, not your hair! Hmmm. I can see her now!

"Mom Taxi"

2007-08-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

If your "mom taxi", you know the mom that travels back and forth all day to get the kids here and there, then you'll know exactly how I feel. I know people out there think that "some moms really don't do a lot of things, so they have time to do everything around the house." Yeah right! I've spent the last week being "mom taxi".

My darling teenager starts her freshman year in high school and was working hard trying out for the volleyball team last week. I was getting up early, making breakfast for her, taking her to practice by 8. Returning home for a while, then I would return to pick her up at 11 am for lunch break to drop her off again at 12:30pm for the second half of practice. Then returning at 2:30 to pick her up. Let's not mention running the typical errands we run as parents. Yikes, talk about feeling like a yo-yo. In the meantime, I was dragging my 3 and 5 year old with me since hubby works midnights and was in school all morning only to come back and sleep all afternoon and study at night. I really don't know how some mom's do it all the time. Talk about draining!

My hubby actually had the nerve to tell me when we woke up today that I should have had time to do a couple of things, frankly he could have done. Okay, I know what you're thinking what did I do to respond? I kindly reminded him I was raising his three children, doing the household chores, keeping track of our finances, and preparing for the upcoming school year as I just found out I have a killer schedule (that's another story). Plus, I've been doing this all summer. Then . . . I invited him into my world. I left him in charge of the kids today. I went to school to start preparing for the school year and left him making breakfast for the kids, preparing snacks for my teenager to take to her game today (she made the team!), preparing them lunch, dealing with the kids fits on getting dressed, taking my teenager to school by 2 and dragging the little ones along. I came home and started working on the computer on purpose and reminded him while he tried to sit to watch t.v. that it was his turn to do what I did all summer. So he turned off the tube to try to get them down for a nap (it didn't work!) Then, he spent some time with the kids, got them ready to go to my teenagers game only to get there and find out the schedule was wrong, she had already played. We passed by the store, bought a few groceries, he came home to make supper and clean the mess. Although he had an easier schedule, he forgot being so caught up with himself and school and work . . .he forgot what it was like to spend your day playing with your kids, feeding them, nurturing them and making sure everything is being take care of in the process. Needless to say, his mood changed. He became a little nicer, sighed when I reminded him to take the trash out before he left to work, smiled, and kissed us all.

Hmmmm! Just grinning and wondering what he must have been thinking to himself . . . grinning because for right now, for me, all is well with the world. . . grinning because tomorrow I have lunch plans with my girlfriends which will definitely have me out between 2 to 3 hours at the least. . . just grinning, grinning, and grinning! Ahhhhh! I can breathe again!

Porridge?

2007-08-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

"This porridge is too hot." "This porridge is too cold." "This porridge is just right." and Goldilocks ate up all the porridge.

. . . Something you'll hear us or our kids say at the breakfast table.

To get our kids to eat their oatmeal, we tell them it's oatmeal, then say porridge. My kids rush to the table, smell the oatmeal/porridge and start the comments: "mmmmm!" "Yummy!" "I love porridge" then, it never fails. My little girl says, "Mommy can you tell us the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears" or "Mommy, I want to tell you the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Then it begins. . . once we're all at the table and set, one of us will break into story telling as we all enjoy a nice warm bowl of oatmeal. The story will change here and there depending whose telling it, but there's nothing like seeing your kids light up just to enjoy some storytelling at breakfast time. They make the connection, smile, and they begin their journey with Goldilocks and the three bears; as for myself, I am transported right along with them enjoying the simple pleasure of being a parent.

Vacation

2007-08-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well we just came back from vacation with the family. Well most of us, that is . . . DH didn't go because of work and school. Is it still considered a vacation when you have to do everything? I'm asking because I had to do everything, at the very least though, we got away! It's nice to leave your surroundings occasionally. It's even better when you come back to your own bed. Ah . . . the blissfulness of sleeping in one's own bed! We went to Sea World in San Antonio, then went to visit family. All in all, it was fun and busy and the kids felt like they had some amazing vacation. Nothing like seeing dolphins, sharks, and Shamu to make a child happy! Thank God for animals!

Drive Thru's

2007-08-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Okay so I went to a drive thru this morning. My daughter has volleyball camp and I didn't have time to make breakfast, so I made the infamous stop at a local chick fil A, which by the way we love. (too much!) I took my time, waited for my order, thought they had it right, they didn't . . . had to stop. . . get out . . . run in (literally, took 1 minute - no more) . . . came out to some man screaming at me because there was no exit anyway around me. Well, sorry mister, but if they hadn't gotten my order wrong, I wouldn't have had to stop in the first place. He started yelling at me, so I did the adult thing, I flipped him off where my children couldn't see! (I know that was bad of me, but I couldn't restrain since he was yelling at me and honking.) Then told him that he should watch his yelling around the kids. Of course he yelled back at me about flipping him off and then some (my kids couldn't hear), and I smiled, took my time getting in my car, and reminded him to have some patience, it was no way to start the morning. I don't think he took this well because I believe he went on rambling, but I smiled and left. You know either way he would have waited. . . at the window for them to fix my order or right afterwards for me to run in and fix it. I know I should have found a parking spot close by, but didn't see one right away or didn't notice it. I think however that we should have more patience for each other, then the ugly side of us doesn't have to come out for others to hear and see. Oh well, breakfast was easy this morning and my kids enjoyed it. I'll be sure to double check orders next time! I don't know about y'all, but my orders are always getting messed up. I really don't know why either. I'm really one of those people who knows my exact order upon arriving to the window every time! Go figure - if you want it right, I think you'll have to cook it yourself! Otherwise, go to the drive thru and take your chances!

Superheros

2007-07-15T01:02:00.001-07:00

As I was cleaning the house today, I turned around to see someone run by me rather quickly. He was too fast to notice what he was doing, and all I caught was a glimpse of the the man to be. I heard some noise and drawers opening in one of the bedrooms and as I approached, the noise disappeared. I took a peak inside the room and didn't notice anyone . . .

at first that is . . .

. . . then out of nowhere, Superman came out from behind the door

Wait . . . ! That's not Superman, it's Batman

As you never really know what someone of greatness will do, I approach him smiling and holding up the peace sign. As I get closer . . . this is what I see.

My 3 year old, dressed in his Superman pajamas wearing his Batman cape , and carrying his trusty Spider man.

Yes, the man to be . . .
. . . Mr. Superhero with a cape and a side kick.

He'll be fighting the injustices of the world and striving for world peace! Ahhh! and all is well with the world!

Teenagers

2007-07-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

I've been spending a lot of time with my teenager lately. With over 20 years of age separating us, I find only a few times where it seems challenging to smile with her. Today and lately, we've really been talking. I'm sure many of you know this, but I'll say it anyway, I think the best way to really get to know your teen or spend time with them is to have an interest in what they love. I think this naturally falls into place for many of us, but for those of us it doesn't, please give it a try and try again and continue trying until you find a meeting place.

With us, it's volleyball. I've taken interest in one of her loves and with this, I'm practicing with her, taking her to her team practices, coaching her on occasion and spending more time than usual just talking. I'm getting a chance to listen to her favorite music on our way to practices and now she gets to the point where she'll quiz me on band names. Trust me, I usually suck at this, but today, I actually remembered one! Yeah! Best of all, I get to really converse with her.

Today and more so lately with volleyball, I've been able to see her mannerisms and the effect she has on others. I've been talking with her about the positives and at the same time, I've been speaking with her about things she could improve on. I'm hoping that by the time she's off on her own, she'll be even just a little wiser about the impact she has on others whether by words or actions. We all have this ability whether we choose to acknowledge this or not. It's what we do with how we behave and what we say; it's all that, that makes us who we are and how we are perceived. For her, I'm hoping she will be perceived as someone who genuinely has an interest in others around her; and with this, she'll be a positive influence on her friends, family, and she'll send a message she cares.

Shopping Surprise

2007-07-12T03:43:00.000-07:00

My husband and I actually went to see a movie today and passed by the store on the way home. As we were shopping for little things, we decided to buy my 3 year old some clothes. He's hard to buy for right now as he's in-between sizes. With that we bought him a size 4t t-shirt (with a soccer symbol) and 3t bottoms. We were still pulling things out of the bags when he noticed the clothes. He commented, "You bought me clothes, mommy?" asking he grabbed the clothes, put it on, came back to the kitchen and said, "You like my new soccer clothes mom!" "Later you can come see my soccer game, o.k.?" Funny how the soccer symbol made him feel he had a soccer game. Smiling I said, "Sounds great buddy, I can't wait to see you play!" He smiled and hopped away to go show his daddy. Isn't it wonderful how new clothes or products make us feel. I, for example, am pretty happy with new pairs of shoes and certainly can't wait to show them off.

On getting up

2007-07-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

It's sumer and no real need for an alarm clock, especially when you have kids. Sometimes; however, it would be nice to sleep in!

. . . . .zzzzzzzzzz . . . hummmm . . . yeah, yeah, I'm up . . . okay baby, I'll make you breakfast . . . but can I sleep in a little more? Please? . . . Aren't you still a little tired? . . . come snuggle with mommy . . .

Then reality hits in and visions of the kids making a mess while you snooze awaken your mind to the point where you realize, dangit, I better get up or it's more work later!

Thank God for Antibiotics!

2007-07-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

Katie's doing so much better today. She's laughing and running around and wasn't complaining about her ear today! Yeah! It makes things flow so much better when the kids aren't soooo fussy! I'm sure many of you parents feel the same way. We've been visiting my sister most of the night since Haley decided to get together with her friends from her old school. Moving is tough and since we moved at the end of the school year, she really hadn't had the chance to make too many friends here. One of the promises we made her was to allow her to visit her friends from her old school as much as possible. Since Katie was doing better and Haley's been a great sister, we said "Why not?" All the kids are happy. We've returned home and Katie and Sean are doing art and learning how to draw. Katie recently drew a picture of Sophie the dog. I'll have to take a picture of her drawing and post it. She's becoming quite the artist these days!

Ear Infection

2007-07-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Poor Ms. Katie had an ear infection today. She literally woke up crying this morning. I asked her what was wrong and she said her ear was hurting. Tears rolled down her face and she was grabbing her right ear. I really had no idea it had been bugging her. She hadn't tugged at it or complained until she woke up in the morning. I had to take her to one of the Care Now
clinics close by. They had a 2 hour wait, so we signed her and Sean up as he had been coughing all night. I brought them back home, tried to get them to eat a little, but Katie was just crying away, that's after the Tylenol I gave her.

I was thinking it was swimmer's ear at first since I had been taking them swimming lately, but it turns out it was a middle ear infection and a little bit of drainage that was causing the coughing. The doctor prescribed some antibiotic for her and a decongestant to dry her up. She also prescribed the decongestant for Sean as he had a little bit of fluid in his ears, but he didn't have an ear infection. After filling her prescription she went home and napped. She's been wanting just to sleep in my bed all day. Poor baby. I think she really won't feel better until the antibiotic really kicks in. I was able to get her up for a little bit, give her a shower, and at least gave her a little oatmeal to eat, also known as "porridge" to my kids! She refused everything else, so I decided why not! She told me the story of the "Three Bears" while she ate her porridge. She's cute as a button and a sweet sport even when she's miserable! Oh, well, I love her dearly . . . but those darn ear infections, yuk!

On Dog Sitting

2007-07-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

We've been dog sitting for my sister and her family. We're talking 4 dogs here. From a home that has zero to one that has four in one day. Life's been pretty interesting to say the least, and all of them have their own personalities.

There are 2 yorkies, 1 maltise/yorkie mix and a miniature greyhound whose name I truly love- - - Sophie. My dad likes to call her Sofia Loren because she's so beautiful. Tobi - Yorkie #1 is the leader of the pack. He's stubborn during his walks and literally just stops in his tracks and refuses to move. Daisy, yorkie #2 is sweet and beautiful; however, she's a little skittish of things and licks a lot. Avery, the maltise mix is rambunctious, the perfect poster dog and full of energy. His best playmate is Sophie, whose cute and lovable. It's been a long time since I've had a dog around.

Growing up, there was "Killer", our German Shepard. Yes, he was bad-a_ _ , I still believe he was the best guard dog around, especially for a family in the country. People were scared of him and for good reason. He could hear anything and everything, and he let everyone know he was around.

In college, there was Thumper, my lhasa apso. I had him well groomed and trained. He was perfect. He was my morning alarm clock at 6:30 and he was a great dog all around. He wouldn't beg you for food and at dinner time, while you ate, he would go to eat his meal. He never needed a leash, I would call him, and he would come. If it was raining outside, I could send him outside without myself having to get wet. He would do his business and return promptly. He fetched, shook hands, and played. I really miss him.

Since then, after getting married, we never had another dog. We tried a cat once, Freckles until I realized I was allergic to it and it followed me everywhere. We had to give her away.

My kids have been asking us for a dog. I really didn't know what age was the best to introduce a dog, with all it's responsibilities. Any suggestions out there?

Nonetheless, my children are enjoying their brief visitors and are excited that the dogs are having a sleepover! Plus, they are learning little responsibilities are important for these dogs.

Do you think we should check for twins?

2007-07-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with each of my children, the most annoying question always came from my ob/gyn . . .He meant well, but it always drove me nuts. Do you think we should check for twins? Giggling I would say yes, but deep down inside I would think, "Ughhh, yes, I'm a twin, (Hello, my twin sister comes to you too!) My dad is a twin; my grandmother had three sets of twins; did I mention my husband has twin sisters. You have my medical history and you're actually asking me if I think we should check for twins? No really, let's not and be totally surprised! I'm sure many of you had annoying questions asked of you like the infamous, Are you pregnant? Is it a boy or girl? . . . Well it's one, that's for sure. Do they come any other way? Can I touch your belly? . . . Only if you sleep with me, otherwise, back off! I'm not asking to touch yours. If you eat spicy food will your baby be born with a lot of hair? . . . What, there are no words to describe this one. I bet there are those times where those annoying questions occurred, and darling,

Don’t you wish you could have just handed them this

On Toilet Paper!

2007-07-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

There are those times where you think - Oh! just let me go in peace. Give me just a moment to breathe. Then you realize, Oh heck, your out of toilet paper and someone forgot to mention it to you before you sat down. After blaming it in your DH (you know, since he doesn't have to sit down every time he goes), you think for just a moment about your current situation. Then you hear a darling little voice talking to you and instead of thinking that you wish you had a moment alone, you hear yourself say, "oh,(child's name), will you please get mommy some toilet paper from the other restroom". Then, without realizing they are in the way during what should be your moment of peace, they say "okay" and Ahhhh! that darling child returns with a roll for you. Once again, ALL is well with the world . . .even for just this little bit!

Block Party!

2007-07-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that for the 4th, we actually had a block party the Saturday before. It was so much fun. Many of the neighbors were out and enjoying the festivities with us. We literally blocked off the street with a major water slide and some tents to follow. The day past with children and adults alike sliding down the water slide, even doing tricks on the way down. Some did flips, others tried face first, still others went down with tubes. It was a day of laughter and enjoying each others company. It was an all day event with plenty of food and drinks to go along. Hot dogs, chips, cupcakes, nuggets, pizza, shrimp boil, burgers, fruits and veggies . . . and too many drinks to mention! I never imagined moving into a neighborhood that got together like this and enjoyed each other's company, but this is truly what happened. I think the best part of it was that the kids were enjoying themselves and it gave the adults a chance to get in touch with their inner child! Even better . . . the kids had moms and dads playing with them all day long! Like I always say, that's all children want, someone to be with them . . . have some fun . . . and enjoy playing with them!

Happy 4th of July & the pyrotechnics go on!

2007-07-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's a little past the fourth, but I'll say it anyway . . . I hope you had a great one. Yesterday,we took a moment to remember our independence and all those troops that have fought for it. To all of you, a milliion thank you's and more! (This includes you grandpa and my dear father in law, god rest your souls! We dearly loved both of you and miss you much.) To all of you still out there, fighting for people's rights, thank you very much. It is your commitment that makes the good 'ole U.S. of A. so great.

With all the rain and the news reports saying fire work displays could be cancelled all around, we opted this year not to set out on our typical venture to witness the pyrotechnics that occur every fourth. Instead, we stayed at home, let the kids play outside and low and behold, there were fireworks everywhere. We weren't sure how this day would feel with what we thought would be the absence of a grand fire work display. Instead, we found ourselves and our kids, plus the neighbors too - outside sitting on the ground and watching the lights fill up around the sky above us. It was great to celebrate it from the comfort and safety of our home. After most of the light shows around us had dwindled down, we came inside, had a late supper and began to do art with the kids. Summer fun and summer learning continue as they practiced using scissors and making shapes. Our fourteen year old, got some together time too! We worked on Sudoku puzzles all night while playing with the kids. After learning the trick to doing them, she started completing these quickly. I was rather impressed with how quickly she picked it up and completed the puzzles. Yeah to the fourth of July where magic not only fills the skies, but it embodies our hearts and minds!

Teachable Moments & Summer Fun

2007-07-03T22:39:00.000-07:00

Here's the first tip for summer fun. Make eating time, learning time. Teachable moments are always around when it comes to children. Children by nature are inquisitive. Take every moment available to teach your children something, especially something positive. Today, we worked with one of my favorite toys from Discovery Toys . . . the "Think it through" tiles. Have you ever heard of them? They're great, and I've come across many people that have remembered using them as children. My kids ate as we looked at one of the books and worked through it with the corresponding tiles. They compared pictures to decide the smallest picture, largest picture, match shapes and pattterns. As the pages progressed, so did the challenge. The kids were listening intently and participating in the game. They were also, dare I say it . . . LEARNING! I love this learning game because it gives the kids a chance to not only make associations and comparisons, it also allows them to self check their work. My kids know how to do this and they enjoy checking their work and hearing my praise when they get it right. If they got something wrong, they look again and try to figure it out correctly. It's a great learning tool and while we were eating, it became a "teachable moment" today. It doesn't even have to be the tiles that make your kids learn. They just want your attention. Take flashcards work on letters, numbers, sounds, or spelling. Take toothpicks or straws to the table count them. Add and subtract with them. Teachable moments are always around; it's what we do with them that makes them valuable.

Summer Fun

2007-07-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

When thinking about summer fun, think about the simple things. All children want is to spend time with you, learn, play, and feel like they belong. Feed their senses to stimulate creativity, thought, fun, and play. Summer fun can be as simple as cooking together, playing in the lawn, working together, learning, swimming, or reading. I'll be planting some simple fun ideas in my next couple of blogs to help remind you of the simple stuff you can do to have fun with your children. I promise, it won't be too tasking! That's why it's called summer fun.

Summer Sale

Letter from a mom

2007-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

I received this email today and I wanted everyone to see it. If you were wondering how Cystic Fibrosis affects some families, read Conner and Corey's story. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let it inspire you to get involved. If after reading this, you would like to make a donation, no matter how small or large, trust me, it adds up, please click on my team's web page. 100% of your donation is tax-deductible.

Dear Family & Friends,

As a Mother of 9 year old twin boys who have Cystic Fibrosis I am reaching out to you and asking you to help me make a difference in their lives.

As many of you know this is the time of the year that we organize the Great Strides Walk to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in the hope of someday SOON finding a CURE for CF.

I have to say that writing this letter is the hardest thing for me to do. It means I have to really think about what we are dealing with, and realize that this is part of out lives. As mush as I wish it wasn't!!! We know more about Cystic Fibrosis than we ever imagined we would, and some of the HARD facts we would rather not know! These are the facts that we are looking to change, life expectancy early 30's, hours a week spent doing chest physical therapy, feeding tubes and ports, hospitalization, and handfuls of pills every time they eat....to change these facts we need to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis!

Connor & Corey are my inspiration for organizing the Great Strides walk, and in saying that I want to share with you how they have inspired me this past year.

COREY recently had an assignment to write an essay headed "It's Not Fair".....He wrote:

It's not fair that I have CF, it is a disease, I have to do this thing (the vest) 50 minutes each day it helps me breath better, I use an nebulizer too. It is not fun some times I start weezing like crazy, I have to even use nose spray. Why did I have to be born with it and my little brother (Sean) did not have to be born with it. IT'S NOT FAIR

As a mother it brakes my heart to read these words, he's right it's not fair & I can't make it fair, but I can stand up and make a difference in my boys lives by doing something that will aid towards finding a CURE!

CONNOR, recently told me one night after prayers, "Mommy we will have a cure for Cystic Fibrosis" I respond "Yes, honey I know we are working towards that", he looked at me seriously and said "No I mean when I get to heaven I won't have Cystic Fibrosis anymore!"

WOW, God teaches me SO much through my children, they have a deeper understanding of life in their 9 years than I could ever imagine having.

Please help us as we gear up to do the Great Strides 3 mile/5K sponsored walk on 23rd March 2007 . . .We are collecting sponsors to turn in to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation so that we all can say:

"We are making a difference in the lives of those affected by CF, and we all are playing a part in finding that CURE"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LOVE, SUPPORT & PRAYERS

Which we need on a daily basis,

The O'Brien Family,

Sonya, Chuck, Connor, Corey & Sean

Love the Mavs!

2007-01-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

They donated tickets for us to see them play vs. the Suns. Great Game as we expected it to be. These were special tickets . . . my niece has Cystic Fribosis and one of the things she's been wanting to do is see Dirk and Nash play, even if they're not on the same team. The Mavs won literally with 1.8 seconds left in the game! They were very accomodating and we couldn't be more greatful! The girls were happy about the win and had a ball at the game. Go Mavs! http://www.nba.com/mavericks/

Snow Day

2007-01-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love "Snow Days", not that it actually snowed much. The snow melted rather quickly and there was more ice than anything, but the kids loved going out and throwing the little snowballs they were able to make. We really made a day of it. We had a snow ball fight, we came back home, made a fire, had smores and just had fun together. With everyone out of school, it was a great day to just connect and enjoy each other.

Santa's Phone Number

2006-12-17T22:49:00.000-08:00

Santa's Phone Number: 1-800-972-6242
This is SO precious for the little ones!
It is just a recording, but your kids or Grandkids, nieces & nephews will love it.
For those of you with children, grandchildren, or any kind of child in your life, you are going to love this.
This isn't a joke, now when you tell your kids that you can call Santa, you won't be lying.
It starts giving a message on December 13th because it counts down the 12 days until Christmas.
This phone number gives you a different message everyday until Christmas so feel free to call daily.
Try it!
Your kids will love it.

Santa's Phone Number: 1-800-972-6242

Why they love to have their face painted!

2006-12-16T21:25:00.000-08:00

So I asked her why she liked to have her face painted. It's because "I do, the lady just makes my face with a pink butterfly!" "Well, we put art on our face and not on some paper. Then I can look at myself in the pretty mirror!" "You can have your face painted too mommy, anything you want . . . a dragon, a dinosaur, a giraffe, a Santa baby, a polar bear, a princess, or a flower, a bee, a pumpkin, or a cat . . . which kind of thing do you want painted on your face?"

When kids are being kids!

2006-12-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

Here are my kids with their cousins having a ball at the the park at the bay! They played and played, went to the pier and watched the fisherman and waves, then as they were leaving, the waves splashed enough to get them a little wet. Talk about the giggles! These kids are being kids -- Enjoying life and having fun! This is true happiness!

Children love this toy

2006-11-30T21:05:00.000-08:00

I've been doing Holiday shows the past several weekends and I just wanted to share with everyone how much children love this toy. I love it because they can construct the castle and they can change the order of the levels. The chime balls provide for countless fun as the children love to send them down the maze they just constructed. Plus, it's fun to play races with them! This toy is for children 24 months to kindergarten. It has also won plenty of awards. It's won the 2000 & 2001 National Parenting Publication Awards, Honors Award CFCN Toy Test 20000 Winnner (Calgary Toy Review). It was featured on the NBC's Today Show Toy Test 2000. Plus, the Great American Toy Test Award 2003. Really, though, I had this toy on the floor for children to try, it never failed, they played and played with it. Parents also loved how it entertained them, not to mention, they loved to see their kids having fun. It's available at www.getkidtoys.com

Halloween

2006-11-02T22:53:00.000-08:00

My little ones went trick or treating downtown where they close off the street to inccoming traffic and the busisses there stay open and give treats after treats to all the children that come by. This year my daughter and her friend came with me and my little ones. They had 2 very funny costumes. They wore tiara's and sashes. Their sashes read "Miss Match" and "Miss Behave" We joked and joked with them and told them they needed more friends with them. They could have been called: "Miss Understood" and "Miss Fit"!

Busy Bath Activity Center

2006-10-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while, but I thought I would highlight some of the fun toys my kids, nieces and nephews love. This one's the Busy Bath Activity Center. Here's the description of it. My little one's love it and this keeps them entertained in the bath for quite some time. You can find this at www.getkidtoys.com

BUSY BATH Activity Center
Thinking & Problem Solving, Fine Motor

All the tools you need to make bath time a learning adventure! This bath bar offers a scoop, water wheel, sieve, squirter and spout for a flood of fun. 16" (41cm) bar has suction-cup mounts.

Appropriate from 19 months - Preschool

#1680 $19.99 US $24.99 CN

Crazy Socks

2006-09-06T21:20:00.000-07:00

What can I say? "The kids love them." Anytime we need to change moods, one of the many things we try is "Crazy Socks". It's something so simple as just wearing those colorful socks you find everywhere for children. You can't miss them. The kids feel fun and happy with them. They wear them to their knees. The colors express joy, not melancholy or sadness. This "crazy socks" idea works enough to change their mood and makes them proud enough to wear them all day. Enjoy some crazy socks every once in a while! Let it be a treat and let it be fun! I wouldn't be surprised if you're kids will smile at you every single time!

The contagious laugh

2006-09-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about the genuine laugh of a child, but it's so contagious at times. When our 4 year old laughs and is truly just laughing, she exuberates this feeling of true blissful happiness; and with that, it becomes contagious until everyone in the room is overcome with the same type of laughter that has overtaken her. We all begin to laugh and the smiles on everyone's faces express the joy we all currently feel. Now this is "True Bliss!"

Visit to the dentist

2006-09-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we went to the dentist and I was thinking the kids were going to have a hard time with being there. Believe it or not, it wasn't too bad at all. I won't lie, they were a little nervous at first, but really, when he started working with them and letting them know what he was doing, they were actually okay. I really think it's because they've been playing with their Monkey Mouth that they weren't too nervous about being there. I had bought this toy under recommendation from my sister. She stated over and over again how much her children loved it, so I bought it for mine. They had been playing with it for a couple of days, so this I think this was really good. If you want to read more about it, click on "Monkey Mouth". Go to the Fall Introductions section. Browse through there and you'll find it. Really, though, I think if you buy it, sit with your children and play with them. I really feel this will help them with some of the anxiety they may have when it comes to visiting the dentist.

"Poop"

2006-08-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

Oh, how one word can have different meanings or connotations.

"I'm pooped out!" - (I'm really tired and worn out!)
"Uncle Jack is full of poop!" - (From Meet the Fockers- Uncle Jack is full of ****)
"Yeah, you went poop-poos!" - (Mommies/daddies chearing their kids on as they potty train.)

This word "poop" when said in public, can be pretty embarrasing. Trust me, I was embarassed when my little ones were in the shopping cart at the store the other day saying "Poop, I pooped on you" to each other, and with the word poop came a funny sound like someone passing gas! Of course, I went for specific items on my list, but I walked briskly to try to leave the store as quickly as possible. It's funny how when they're embarrassing you, they don't stop. You can tell them not to say it, and there they go, saying it louder. "Poop, poop, poop, poop" It's almost as if they were saying, "Mom, we're not stopping . . . 'Poop' on you!" What do you do? I left as quickly as possible, tried to lecture them, then realized, Yikes . . . we're the ones that introduced them to that word! "Oh, poop!"

Super Hero's

2006-08-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

What makes a super hero so interesting? My three year old is all of a sudden in love with "super hero's". Lately it's been super man and spider man. The funny part about it is that he really doesn't know a lot about these super hero's. Maybe it's his daddy who makes him love them. When my little one puts on his super man pajamas with the little red cape, my husband plays with him and shows him how to flex his muscles. Then he lifts him up and states, "It's a bird, it's a plane, no it's super man!" Of course my son just giggles and giggles. I did too when I was a child. I loved the comics and watched the cartoons, and of course, saw the movies. Super Man is a classic one! Maybe he loves super hero's so much because he loves playing pretend. Whatever the case may be, it's always classic to love a super hero no matter what age you are!

Shoes

2006-08-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about my shoes, but my little ones love to wear them. I have plenty of shoes, my husband thinks I have too many, but I think the amount is fine. (As many women though, I always think it's time for new shoes!)
Lately, however, these shoes are getting some good use. My darling little girl has been deciding to try on my shoes over and over again. Each time it's a different pair. She puts them on and then here comes her infamous pose. She'll attempt to walk in them and then takes them off just to go get her princess dress up shoes. Then she'll come back and show me her shoes. She says,"Look mom, I've got pretty shoes too!" You have to love a pretty little girl with the cutest little shoes!

Shopping Diva

2006-08-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

We love to take our little girl shopping. We don't go to often, but we go when we need to. Our little one knows what she likes. She's a darling though and she really made us laugh especially when we were in the store showing her items of possibilities while listening to her quick comments like "oh, yes" or "nah - don't like it". We took her to the dressing room to try on clothes and before we knew it . . . here comes the fashion show. Every item she tried on, she would walk out and look in those three big mirrors they usually have outside of dressing rooms. She would stop, show daddy, and "strike a pose". I think between my teenager and myself, we have created a "Shopping Diva!" Yikes! ;)

Top Ten 1

2006-08-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Our Top Ten Things to do With Our Children on a Daily Basis
1. Tell them we love them.
2. Hug them.
3. Kiss them.
4. Pray with them.
5. Read to them.
6. Eat with them.
7. Sing with them (in the car, while they shower, whenever we can).
8. Play with them (on the computer, with toys they love, outside).
9. Dance with them.
10. Tell them stories.

"On Eating Noodles or Spagetti"

2006-08-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

If you're a parent, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've seen those pictures of kids in high chairs all full of noodles or spagetti. It's everywhere-all over their hair, clothes, floor, etc. It's funny how noodles/spagetti make our kids happy. Maybe it's because they make all that mess with it. Well, In our minds it's a mess, but in theirs, it's a work of art! :)
At that point, the only choice you have as a parent is to pick them up and take them straight to the bath, clothes and all. My little ones always made a mess with it, but they were happy in the process. It's funny, how eating noodles or spagetti can do that to them!

"On Falling Asleep"

2006-08-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more relaxing than putting your children to bed. This is our routine. We walk with them to their room and make comments, like "Oh, my . . . look at the time, it's time for bed." We tuck them in and turn on their air purifier. (We love it as it makes a constant relaxing noise for them.) Then we begin our routine of reading to them. We'll start off with shorter books. Then, as they snuggle in and start dozing off, we move to longer chapter books or bible stories. Our voices begin to fade and they slowly enter their deep slumber for the night. Before you know it, they are fast asleep and we ourselves are also very relaxed. This could be hazardous if we have work to do, but for the most part, it's nice and relaxing.

We have found, over the years, that our children sleep better and wake up in better moods when we stick to their nightly routine. Not every child is the same, and every day isn't perfect, but as parents we feel we should make this daily transition a calming one so that our children can relax comfortably and sleep well. We strongly suggest to make up your own routine and do the best you can to follow it. Make it as peaceful and calming for them as possible. What works for us may not necessarily work for you, you know your family best. Whatever your routine is, the act of your children "falling asleep" should be a routine they are used to.

"Pillow Fights"

2006-08-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

There's nothing more fun than having a pillow fight. Sometimes when "Ms. Drama Queen (our 4 year old)" begins to get fussy about something, she'll come to my room and complain to me. So . . . I turn around and tell her with a smile - "Oh, Yeah!" and smack her very softly with a pillow. That's her cue. She sees the challenge and yells "Yeah". Her mood changes, her eyes, light up, and the game begins. She grabs a pillow and with all her force hits me with it (of course it doesn't hurt), but the great thing about it is her mood changes. She becomes transformed into this competitive little girl wanting to beat me at the pillow fight game. Best of all, she's laughing and giggling and in the end, she hugs and kisses me and forgets all about her "drama" for that moment of the day.

"The Simple Things"

2006-08-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the simplest things we do make our children happy. For example, my 13 year old's first day of 8th grade was today. Last night she had specific instructions of what she would like for breakfast and what to pack her for lunch. I went to bed thinking . . . okay, easy enough. She didn't demand much of anything. "A piece of ham and one egg for breakfast and whatever you do, pack a turkey sandwich for lunch." When I awoke this morning, I remembered her words. She came downstairs, looked at what I was doing, and smiled. While she was eating, I was finishing her lunch. She came in with her dishes and said, "Thanks mom, that's all I wanted!" Sometimes, it's the simple things that count.

"Kids say the darndest things"

2006-08-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

Vacationing recently at South Padre Island, our kids had the greatest time while we were there. On the morning we were set to leave, my husband and I were discussing whether we should go to the beach one last time before we headed out. We had just about decided that maybe we should just stay in, take our time, and pack . . . when our two year old gave us his "2 cents" worth. Out from his mouth came the "darndest thing" -- "Mommy, uhhhhh, my leg hurts -- gotta go to the beach!"

"Taking Risks"

2006-08-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've come to the conclusion that life is about taking some risks. We do them every day without really ever thinking about them. Some risks are small and others are big. We, as individuals have been taking risks every since we were born . Learning to walk without help, riding a bike, going on our first date, going to college or joining the military, starting a new job, marriage, having children, moving from where we grew up to somewhere else . . . all of these are just a few risks some of us take as we go through this walk of life.

Starting these home based businesses while still working regular jobs, being parents of toddlers and a teenager, searching for a new home to live in . . . these are some of our risks we are taking right now.

Recently, however, I took a small risk. If you have a teenager, you know how difficult it can be to entertain them and truth be told, you know they probably prefer being with their friends rather than you. I purchased Dance Extreme Revolution for my daughter's PS2. She had been asking for it for some time and I finally broke down and bought it. When I arrived home with it, we put it to use immediately and before I knew it, we were laughing ourselves silly. Dancing together or in my case, trying to, was the most fun we've had together in some time. We play cards together and computer games, but this was 'really' fun. My husband came home to see us dancing and playing away. He joined in on the fun and before you knew it . . . we were all dancing and laughing. It became a family affair. My teenager hugged and kissed me soooo many times last night. Plus, she stated over and over again how much fun she was having. The "I love you's" also came out! I tried to act cool and all, but to tell you the truth, it was so dear to me and I was "mush" inside!

I strongly suggest to always make sure you connect with your children. Sometimes we, in my family, are so busy with work and the little toddlers, that we obviously don't get to do things our teenager loves. Yes, I pulled it off . . . and we've been playing a little everyday! The great part is . . . we're moving, we're dancing, we're exercising and having fun at the same time!

"Playing Dress Up"

2006-08-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

We've written before how wonderfully creative our children can be. They remind us everyday to stop and laugh and most importantly smile. As adults we get so caught up with family, work, and finances that we sometimes forget to take a breath and be happy with life just the way it is.

Today; however, the outside world stayed outside as we played with our children and smiled at their wonderful creativity. They were playing "dress up". We love it when they do this. They have a play box full of dress up clothes that we have collected throughout the years. In it are cheerleader outfits, cowboy outfits, police outfits, aprons, beautiful princess dresses, fireman outfits, and so on. Many of the costumes we bought through children's stores like Lilian Vernon, others we bought at garage sales, and yet others were passed down to us. Either way, our children have plenty of dress up clothes to play with.

The chef came out in them as they were sporting their red and blue aprons. We helped them make a "restaurant" setting using the kitchen and dining room. We crafted menus which identified foods. We drew,pasted, and colored them. They welcomed us to their restaurant, sat us down, and gave us our menus. Of course we prompted them just a tad with leading words here and there, but for the most part, they used their imaginations and began their great customer service. They pretended to take our orders, go to the kitchen, and with the help of our 13 year old, began making our "home cooked" meal . .. Turkey Sandwiches!. The pride they felt and the smiles they had were enough to tell us that these were going to be the "Best Turkey Sandwiches in the World". They turned on some soft music in the background, set the table, and served us our drinks and food. They even asked if we needed anything else!

Once the meal was served, they stood there waiting for us to take our first bites. They were watching us intently as we began to eat our meal. "MMMM!". . . "Yummy!". . . "These are the best turkey sandwiches in the world!" - were just a few of the comments that poured out of our mouths. With that, in an instant, their faces lit up as they smiled and giggled. Best of all, we could tell they were so proud of themselves,just as we were of them.

Today . . . Playing dress up meant acting and learning simple chores like how to set the table and reinforcing to them that they are becoming a little more independent and are capable of making something as simple as a sandwich. Our children love to be in the kitchen helping us as we prepare our meals. We feel this is just one important step in their development as they start to build self confidence in the things they do. Playing dress up meant seeing our kids smile and giggle. It meant they were the focus in our lives . . . no matter what was going on with the world around us. Playing dress up today was just plain fun!

"Imagination"

2006-08-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we never really sit and think about it too much, but it's amazing how wonderful our children have this great imagination when they do just about anything. Our little ones were cleaning up their mess after playing with their toys. Our almost 3 year old, put his blocks up in this rectangular box we keep them in. He proceeds to put the box away, but instead, heads in front of the room and sets the box down. He stands on it, as if on a stage; and out of nowhere . . . really out of his imagination, he says 'look at me, look at me!' 'I'm a clown'. He proceeds to pretend he is juggling balls, then he motions like he's hitting his nose stating 'beep, beep', and follows with acting crazy with funny faces . . . We didn't expect that from him.

At that point of the night, we were cleaning so we could give them baths, and send them off to bed. Our minds were distracted with the daily 'hubub' our lives repeatedly take; and in the midst of all this, the routine changed in an instant. We broke out in laughter and were in awe of his imagination. It was just the thing we needed to remind us to stop -- enjoy our kids, laugh, love, and just play!

"A Thousand Kisses!"

2006-08-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

Oh how wonderful to have sweet kisses! I'm not talking about, you know, the crazy type! I'm talking about the sweet innocent kisses of a child. Here I was earlier working on the computer and a little stressed out when my 13 year old decided she would give me a break for the night. She was playing 'Zingo' with the kids and keeping them happy. She gave them a bath and decided she would surprise them with a 'Camp - in' for the evening. She had set up the living room as a make-shift 'camp-in' with blankets and pillows and such to help the little ones relax. They were watching 'Spirit'. It's a great movie -- (If you've never seen this movie, I highly recommend it.) After a while, I decided to go join them on the floor, so I took the only spot left, next to my youngest. As I laid next to him, he proceeded to turn to me and give me little pecks on the cheek. Then my youngest daughter did the same. These sweet little kisses said 'I love you Mommy!'; and as you can imagine, everything was okay with the world!

Love life, laugh, smile, and enjoy those precious moments that help remind you how blessed you really are!
P.S. Take a break from work and don't forget to kiss someone you love!"