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To Walk or not to Walk…

THE BIG AGOO — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:29:13 -0800

Starting later then most, my little girl has finally begun crawling. It has sort of been a bit of a joke around here, up until now we have been able to plunk her down and there she stayed. Of course both my husband and I knew she would soon crawl, but we have had no desire to openly encourage her.

A few of my other friend’s babies, (which are younger than mine) are already walking. For months they have been holding them up, practicing the wobbly-baby-gait. They put things on the other side of the room, enticing baby to go and get it.

I myself have no desire to reach this milestone quickly. Unlike some moms, I want my baby to stay a baby as long as she can. With my son now four, I see how quickly the time passes and I am perfectly content letting my little one happily play in one spot. When her walking playmates come to visit, I jokingly tell her to look away. If she needs something, I just go get it for her; not forcing her to walk to reach it.

I don’t think I am enabling or holding her back, just not spending those countless hours my other friends are, coaxing and supporting their children to unsteadily teeter between their legs. I am not set on the fact she start standing right away, nor am I using the date at which she began walking as a bragging right, or sign of advanced development.

We have started moving things, putting away decorations that make our house a home. The baby gates are up; the foot stool is in front of the DVD player. No more plants, uncovered plugs, loose cords or wastepaper baskets. Like all homes, the place needs to be baby proofed. What we can’t change are the toilets, a fascinating item, the slate floors in the kitchen, heated but hard on the knees, the vents in the floor that lift up so all kinds of things can go down.

With these new skills comes an insatiable curiosity. It is like they go hand in hand. As much as it is sometimes difficult, it is also amazing to see that little person being independent, moving on her own. I watch as she maps out her surroundings, tests out the stability and safety of things. To see her mind working, processing and quickly learning just which cupboard has all the fun things to play with…it’s pretty amazing really.

Both her Grammas are trying to be the one who is responsible for her beginning to walk. Every time I turn my back they are holding her up, forcing her along, and patiently waiting while she puts one foot in front of the other. What is that all about, I wonder? My son didn’t walk till fifteen months, and look at him now; he’s perfectly mastered the skill. It all evens out; all becomes unimportant in the big picture. A child doesn’t stay sitting on their bottom because no one showed them how to walk. It comes naturally and perfectly when the time is right.

So is it the moms who want to reach those milestone markers? The pride to say when their child got their first tooth, ate their first food, slept through the night or took their first step? Do we do it to brag or boost, or is it just such an exciting thing we can’t help but talk about it? Do we use it as conversation more then comparison and at the end of the day, do we really remember when any other child hit a marker other than our own?

Of course a milestone reached early does not indicate a mental or physical superiority. Some babies walk soon, but talk late. Many start solids early but potty train after the others. You never see a teenager in diapers or still or crawling, so it is safe to say they all learn it sooner or later.

As a mother, we can’t help but be proud and excited about our children’s accomplishments; it is a beautiful thing to cherish and enjoy. My advice to all those first time moms; slow down, relax and let it happen. Soon enough you’ll be looking back and wonder where your little baby has gone. The toothless grins, playing with toes, sucking thumb, gurgling laugh, it has a way of fading without notice. The new words, new independence and new discoveries all lead to that wonderful thing know as a toddler, and like the cliché goes, it all happens before you know it.

Standing on my soapbox,

To read more post please go to www.soapboxmama.com

You Know You’re a Mom When…

THE BIG AGOO — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:11:35 -0800

I was putting my son to bed the other night…it was one of those long days where my brain had already turned off and my body was ready for sleep. I robotically went about his night time routine. He was vying for another story, requesting water and roping me in to spend a few more minutes listening to his account of the day. Half paying attention, I pulled up the covers, arranged his stuffed animals just the way he likes them, then started thinking of the many things I still had do before my own head could hit the pillow. Answer e-mails, pay bills, sew a button back on his jacket, make his lunch, complete thank you cards for his sister’s baptism and fill out his school registration. My heart lurched thinking I had missed the deadline. Fully expecting him to answer, I asked my four year old son…”What is the date today!?”

Standing on my Soapbox,

To read more posts please go to: www.saopboxmama.com

FUN AND HUMOR: WHY TEACHERS ARE SO STRESSED! LOL

Fire_Vixen — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:19:33 -0800

OMGOSH!...THIS MADE ME LAUGH SO BAD!!

Out of ideas for dinner tonight

Mykie7 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:30:30 -0800

Okay, so as many of you know I love to BAKE. Baking is my thing. Cookies, pies etc. I'm great at it. When it comes to dinner though I'm not so creative. My kids asked this morning what I would be making for dinner and I offered meatloaf, mashed taters and corn. Their very loud and irritated response was "Oh no mom, not again!" I have about 5 dinner dishes that I just rotate through, because my husband does most of the cooking. However, with the Christmas season upon us he's working later hours so dinnertime becomes my job full time until January 1st.

So, does anyone have a great dinner idea for tonight? I've already laid out a pound of hamburger, so it has to be something using that. I'm just not creative, can ANYONE help me? LOL

You Know You’re a Mom When…

THE BIG AGOO — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:49:23 -0800

…You are reading one of those books with the touch and feel pages. My son has one about trucks. It has actual black rubber for the wheels and hammered tin to represent the drum of a cement mixer. There is corrugated cardboard showing the side of a cargo van and sandpaper for a pile of sand spilling from a front-end-loader. As we sit reading it for the gajillionth time, I start filing my crooked and uneven fingernails on the the side of a fuel truck which took the place of my emery board. I even delay turning the pages to fix up a broken nail I received from hauling the stroller out of the van, snagging it on the picnic blanket, or catching it under the seat by the string from the kite we played with last week.

Yep, only a mom would ever do that.

Seems each and ever day I have to laugh at myself at the things I do. Some being the ones I swore when I became a mom I would never do. Others that I never even imagined I would, until I was already doing them. In this crazy, magical life of motherhood, we end up doing the insane, the silly, impossible and outrageous. Soapbox wants to hear about your “You know you are a mom when moments”. Leave a comment and tell us what made you laugh out loud and feel completely immersed in what only another mother could ever understand.

We’ll post each comment in an upcoming post of “You Know You’re a Mom When…”

Standing on my soapbox,

To read more: www.soapboxmama.com

You Know You’re a Mom When…

THE BIG AGOO — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:15:45 -0800

Soapbox Mama This morning I laid flat on the floor with my two kids trying to wake up. It was early and my brain had not cleared the fogginess of sleep. Both of them had been up for awhile and like all children, their exuberance had kicked in the moment they opened their eyes. I, on the other hand, have lost that ability to wake up and instantly have zeal and zest oozing from my every pore. Like many mornings, I lumbered out of my bed, into their playroom and onto the floor desperately trying to resume even the slightest semblance of sleep.

Between building blocks, race cars, and the comfy Elmo chair I like to rest my head on I played with them half-heartedly, moving a toy here and there, smiling when I could to avoid having to talk just yet. Happily they both played, digging for toys, rolling the balls back and forth. If my son yanked something out of his sister’s hand, she just moved onto something else. Like a sloth I laid there, curled up and groggy, fighting to stay awake while my brain wanted to nod off.

Fortunately, the mommy fortitude kicked in, and from where it came from I do not know, but after a few minutes their gleefulness began to energize me. Hearing them laugh, making silly sounds and being so effervescent, invigorated me. It spoke to me in the magical way moms and their kids are connected. Soon I was playing with a few toys, looking for my favorite Hot Wheels™, grabbing a book and wrapping myself around them to read, “Quick as a Cricket”, for the millionth time.

It seems that women, we have the ability to dig deep and muster the strength, joy and love our kids need no matter how much our bodies feel deprived. How often have you given your own food to your child? How many times have you stayed up late to make sure they have what they need for the next day? If someone told me I had to chop off my arm to save my child, I couldn’t find a knife fast enough. Women walk for miles carrying their children on their backs, and reports have been made of mothers lifting vehicles to save a child from being crushed. There is no limit to the power of mothering, nothing we wouldn’t or couldn’t do for our kids. As much as I sometimes feel upset that my body isn’t always up for another race around the park, or my patience wears thin when I have to go down the slide for the fiftieth time. I know that encoded in us is the strength and determination that regardless of how tired, sick or distracted we are, we always find time for our kids.

Congratulations on being a mom, having that extra something special inside you. Hats off to you for each and every day you get out of bed and be there for your kids. No matter how tired you feel, know that you are amazing.

Standing on my soapbox,

www.soapboxmama.com

Free Activities to Entertain Kids During the Winter Months

lanne — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:48:15 -0800

If you live anywhere where you have to suffer through long, snowy winters, you know that finding economical ways to keep your family busy without breaking the bank can be a challenge. Here are some winter activity suggestions that will keep you busy, at no cost.
http://www.gomestic.com/Family/Free--Activities-to-Entertain-Kids-During...

Kick it up a notch

Lindsb — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:58:26 -0800

I just read an article about recycling shoes and was totally inspired.

You can donate any brand of athletic shoes to Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program and the company will recycle them into materials that will be used in sports surfaces, such as playgrounds, basketball courts, and running tracks, for under-served communities around the world.

Go to: http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe for the nearest drop off location near you.

On the website - when you look for drop off locations, it also shows you the existing contributions they have made with donated sneakers!! I searched and there are 3 courts/playgrounds in Philly that they have created. It warmed my heart - I tutored young kids when I lived there and I know how much they struggle to stay out of trouble..

How many have they created near you!? I am definitely dropping off my old sneaks next time I drive by a donation center.

Frugal Front Porch

jenrik06 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:19:19 -0800

Bringing back to life the southern tradition of sitting on the porch chatting with family and friends. Sit with me on my front porch as we discuss a few of my passions: family life, living frugally, & the 4 R's (recycle, reduce, reuse & repurpose). Hopefully, it becomes not only my front porch but yours as well. Share in my quest to bring the traditions of a southern front porch to the rest of the world by visiting http://frugalfrontporch.blogspot.com/

Stewie must have been inside my house!

mommaof2 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:55:28 -0700

okay...my kids do this all the time! I believe kids have a secret language and what they say is this "lets drive momy crazy!"

and you know what? it works!

heres a clip from Family Guy doing something that happens in my house too often!

Why homeschool? Because it brings God glory, that's why! :)

justanerd1975 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:14:57 -0700

Let me know if you like this post!

"Just why is Christian Homeschooling 'to the glory of God?'
Christian Homeschooling is to God's glory because parents are seeking to teach their children from a perspective that honors God as who He is,GOD.
God over all, creator, redeemer, the life-giving vine that noursishes His people- all of us,His branches.

In this schooling, we teach Creationism. We teach our children that the theory of Evolution has one very big flaw- a flaw that cancels it out- that flaw is that this theory of creation and adaption leaves out God. We teach our children that we are to love one-another as God first loved us, to serve and comfort one-another in our needs as God never ceases to serve and comfort us. We teach them that the order God loves and ordained is celebrated in Mathematics, and in Science. We teach them to use their creative minds, such as God gifted us with, in His image. We may do a lot of the same things as the world's educational system does them, with one holy exception: we honor God in all that we do, we acknowledge Him and Praise Him, we say it is Ok to talk about Him and His commandments!, we learn His way's and not the way's of the world.

Christian Homeschooling honors the mother's exceptionally important role in the home.The position of the Homeschool teacher is one filled with women who boast in and trust in Jesus' Christ's redeeming work on the cross. We raise our children up for Him as we lovingly teach our children the ABC's and the 123's, how to walk as a believer in this sometimes dark world, how to be a light on a hilltop.

For these reasons, and so many more, God is glorified through our Christian Homeschooling. Be encouraged, mothers, for this is our heartwarming task- though we are sinners through and through still God allows us to partake with Him in this glorious task of raising our children, part of the next generation, up to know Him, honor Him, love Him, and love His commandments."

First Blog Entry

mamabear01 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:50:54 -0700

Just wanted to start this so I can have first entry online.
Regarding kids and schooling. Teachers and their attitudes. What are your t houghts? I'd be interested to hear from you! Do your children go to public school? Do you like it? Do you not? Do you work and feel like your kids' teachers attack you for that? Feel like your kids would "do better" if you were a stay at home parent? man or woman? I'd love to know! I'm a stay at home mom, widowed, and trust me, I do my darndest, and STILL it isn't always the best or up to their standards (and I have FAMILY who work there!) I am an educated woman, and not stupid and have a decent IQ. So, talk to me, let me know, I will try to post on a fairly regular basis and keep you updated!

Autumn Hodgepodge

THE BIG AGOO — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:15:05 -0700

Oct

14Autumn Hodgepodge
Posted by JB on Tuesday Oct 14, 2008
Under Soapbox Mama
With autumn all around us, this is the perfect time for a hodgepodge of great and fun things all about leaves, colors and the essence of autumn. Enjoy!

Crafts

Hand print and finger print crafts always make wonderful keepsakes. Here’s a fun way to celebrate the coming of Autumn while preserving your child’s size and age at the same time.

What you’ll need:
• White construction paper or card stock
• Orange construction paper
• Scissors
• Acrylic or poster paint in green, brown, orange, yellow, tan and red
• White craft glue

How to make it:

1. Line work surface with newspaper and place white construction paper in the center.

2. Start by showing the child where you want to place his/her arm on the paper, you will be painting the bottom of the forearm, palm and all fingers.

3. Use brown paint to cover bottom of forearm, palm and all fingers, use a generous amount.

4. Help child carefully lay their arm and fingers down on the paper, fingers extended. Hand should go in the center of the paper to allow room for the leaves. Gently press down and roll each finger, palm and arm onto the paper. Lift arm straight up into the air.

5. Wash paint off arm and hand and dry completely.

6. Place a nickel sized amount of each color paint into a paper plate. Have child dip their finger into the paint and onto the paper creating leaves of all different colors. The fingers on the paper are the branches, so put the leaves at the end of the branches and all around them.

7. Use a paint brush to add some grass at the bottom of the tree.

8. For older kids, add a few flowers in the grass. Use a small dot of paint on their finger to create the center and flower petals. You can even add a little squirrel in the tree by dotting on a head, body and tail! Use a black marker to dot on the eye. You can also add a few “falling leaves” by dotting two or three colors falling from the branches and use a marker to add a few squiggly lines indicating motion.

9. Make a frame from the orange construction paper by gluing around the back edge of the picture.

Tips:
• This project has fun variations for Spring as well. Make all the leaves green using two or more shades, then add red dots for apples or white and pink dots for flowers. Use a construction paper color for the frame to match the season.
• It’s best to show children a finished project first so that they understand what they are trying to create. This will make it easier to envision their own picture.
• Be sure to have a bowl of water and some paper towels handy for cleaning off fingers.

This craft activity is from one of my favorite sites, Kaboose. Thanks to Amanda Formaro for the great idea.

Cooking

For those who love pumpkin, I am sure you won’t be able to resist this recipe.
This recipe is from Debbie Vassil who submitted it to How To Eat a Cupcake.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Makes 23 cookies (11 pies + 1 leftover cookie to eat!)

1 1/4 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (2 3/4 cups)
1 teaspoon baking powder (2 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (1 tsp)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (4 1/2 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (1 1/2 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (1 1/2 tsp)
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (1/2 tsp)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temp (2 1/2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon molasses (3 Tbsp)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (2 tsp)
2 large eggs (4)
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) (1 1/4 cups)
1/4 cup buttermilk (1/2 cup)

Spiced Cream Cheese Filling (my own recipe)

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg, ginger, and cloves

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Whisk dry ingredients (except sugar) together in a medium bowl.
Using electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, molasses and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add pumpkin puree.
Mix in dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions, beating until just combined.
Line large baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart, leaving enough room for dough to spread.
Bake for 13 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly pressed in the center. Cool completely on wire racks before filling.
To make the filling, beat cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until blended. Add sugar and spices. Beat just until thickened and well blended.

I rolled some in toasted chopped pecans and some in mini chocolate chips. They’d also be super good topped with dried cranberries like those raisin creme pies you can get at the grocery store. Thanks Debbie, these were SO great! There were no leftovers!

Ingredients

After letting the electric mixer do most of the work, I like to finish the batter by hand.

I used a medium (#30) cookie scoop to make sure they were all the same size.

While they were cooling, the house smelled SO nice!

Tada! Autumn deliciousness!

Of course with the amazing colors donning the trees comes the fun and delight of cleaning all the leaves. Since most of don’t have the handy-dandy leaf blowers of the professionals, here are some useful tips to make raking leaves fun and enjoyable.

Cleaning

First of all, get your kids and have them join you. Just being outside with your children on a crisp fall day will feel good and make the task feel more like fun then work.

Make sure you have a proper rake that is strong and in good condition. Often this tool is left laying in the garage awaiting those few times it is used. An old rank can bend or break under pressure. Invest in one with wide tines that bend slightly and has a good sweep.

As for sweeps, shorts strokes are more effective than long ones. They gather more leaves, using less energy.
Make sure to rake with the wind, not against it.

Start at one end of the yard and work backwards, closest to the area where you can clean up and dispose of the debris. Then create small piles that are easy to gather and put in bags.

Designate your first pile as the one and only pile the kids can play in.

Bring with you your camera or video camera for some really great pictures filled with happy smiles and vibrant fall hues.

What are your kids going as for Halloween this year?

bluesuze — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:05:46 -0700

Halloween will be here before you know it! My son wants to go as a firefighter this year, he went as a firefighter last year, too. I keep asking him, are you sure you want to wear the same costume? He has a fascination with firefighters lately. I think my little one will be going as Superman, mainly because I have this costume from when my older son wore it, and I could put him in pink tutu and he could care less since he isn't even talking yet. I have a witch hat which I'll probably wear while I'm passing out treats at the door, and it will give me an excuse to have fun with some makeup - I'll experiment with a shimmery purple/black smokey eye!

Too cute! Candidates with kids

True Song — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:46:23 -0700

These pictures are puting me in such a good mood this morning.

Many, many more, including a hilarious Putin one here:
http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/942823.html

Why Cats Hate Kids

laluna — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:48:45 -0700

Haha...

Summer Camp is Over...What is Mom to Do?

DellaSpearman — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:54:05 -0700

When the thrill of summer camp is over here is a tip to keep the kids busy:

“Picnic in the Park”: Spend a few hours at the local park with the kids. All you need to do is bring a nice lunch with fruit and veggies and a cloth to sit on and you’ve already spent a nice amount of your day with a low-cost activity that will tire the kids out. After the picnic have them take a nap and you can relax.

1st, 2nd and 3rd child

bluesuze — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:23:44 -0700

Too funny, and yeah, alot of truth to this one!

Your Clothes:

1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN
confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember breathing
didn't do a thing.

3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:

1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean &discard
only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:

1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up
the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.

3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical
swing.

Pacifier:

1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you
can go home and wash and boil it.

2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with
some juice from the baby's bottle.

3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:

1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need
it or not.

2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain
about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:

1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby
Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out:

1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call
home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a
number where you can be reached.

3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.

At Home:

1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older
child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: when first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the
hospital and demand x-rays.

2nd child: when second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for
coin to pass.

3rd child: when third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!!

I need a recipe!

Mykie7 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:48:29 -0700

I'm tired of making the same ole same ole for dinner for my boys. They are 10 and 17. the older one will eat just about anything. (I'm not kidding, I think he took a chunk outta the kitchen sink!) but my 10 year old is VERY picky about what he eats. I usually make thinks like Hamburger Helper, Pizzas, Meatloaf etc. You know, typical kid fare. But I'm trying to come up with something a BIT more creative for dinner tonight that isn't TOO complicated, and doesn't take too long to make. I give Piano Lessons on Tuesday Nights so I have to be able to prepare it, get it in the oven and then forget it. I also don't get home from work until 4:30 and my first lesson is at 6 so...

Can anyone help out? I've got TONS of things to work with, I just don't know what to do with them.

"3-2-1 Penguins! Save The Planets!" in stores now

Perculator — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:50:29 -0700

Big Idea, Inc. presents 3-2-1 Penguins! Save The Planets! on DVD Sept 2nd. Produced by Big Idea, the creators of the award-winning VeggieTales® series, 3-2-1 Penguins!® follows the galactic adventures of two young kids and four space-traveling penguins dedicated to responding to distress calls from across the galaxy and learning important life lessons and values along the way.

“3-2-1 Penguins! Save The Planets!” trailer stream:
http://bigidea.com/other/misc/clips/stp_trailer.mov

It’s Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel and Kevin to the rescue in 3-2-1 Penguins!®: Save The Planets!, an all-new out-of-this-world adventure from Big Idea, Inc., an Entertainment Rights group company. Big Idea’s beloved flock of flightless fowl is back in action with 3 exciting new episodes on one DVD for the first time! Loaded with lots of family-friendly bonus features, this brand-new DVD lands in stores September 2, 2008. Priced at $14.99 SRP, the product is available through Genius Products.
Produced by Big Idea, the creators of the award-winning VeggieTales® series, 3-2-1 Penguins!® follows the galactic adventures of two young kids and four space-traveling penguins dedicated to responding to distress calls from across the galaxy and learning important life lessons and values along the way.
“We are delighted to present these hilarious new episodes on DVD for the first time,“ says Greg Fritz, SVP Marketing & Licensing, Big Idea. “With the newfound popularity of 3-2-1 Penguins! since its increased television exposure, we felt that this was an opportune time to launch these new episodes on DVD.”
3-2-1 Penguins!®: Save The Planets! is part of the highly successful 3-2-1 Penguins! ® series, which has sold 1.5 million videos to date and has captured audiences everywhere as one of the top rated shows on “QUBO” airing weekly on NBC, ION and Telemundo. Combining faith, fun and flightless birds, 3-2-1 Penguins ®: Save The Planets! features standout episodes “The Green-Eyed Monster,” “More is More,” and “Give and Let Give.”

Synopsis:
Join Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel and Kevin as they save the inhabitants of planets across the galaxy while learning lessons in contentment, sharing and over-indulgence. Buckle up for an intergalactic adventure like never before!

Bonus Features
● Pearls of Wisdom
● Make Your Own Planet
● Animation Progression
● Video Trivia
● Studio Commentary
● Discussion Guide
● Fun Games: How to Draw Kevin and Chancellor Gutt, DVD-Rom Fun

Official presale link:
http://bigidea.com/products/shows/shows_content.aspx?pid=664

It is just me!!

justanerd1975 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:01:32 -0700

Love him, but he drives me crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy sometimes!

Iv'e decided that I will continue to have fun with the kids & try to push off these lonely feelings of wanting my husband to be around with us while we play. I think this all comes from his having been working two full-time jobs from Nov.-June, now that he's stopped that I expected him to be able to be around more, well he can't he has all these projects to do that have been on the back burner all this time- in addition to the normal lawn mowing and bill paying duties, which he only does on the weekends (the former he insists he do, though this is why he had to get 2 jobs in the 1st place.aaaagh,whateverrrrrr) I can't be sad because he is going to be busy for the next 6 months, thankfully, my friends and fam fill those companionship desires for me and the kiddos.... and maybe this is a continuation of "lessons learned" (I hope so!!)

It's not just me? Or is it?...

justanerd1975 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:04:15 -0700

Like everyone else, I long for a break from the usual routine when Saturday morning comes. I guess because I'm a stay at home mom, it especially annoys me that I find myself taking care of and entertaining the kids and doing the household chores all day on Saturday's and Sunday's, since that's what I do all week besides the weekends. But, my husband is usually busy doing the things he has to do, or wants to do, and someone has to take care of the kids and house, so that's me..
A very big part of me longs to experience the weekend days I see in my imagination; I can imagine days full of picnics at the park, family bike rides, fun day trips and taking in a drive-in, or the stars.. Then, church Sunday mornings, lunch with friends and getting in some much-needed R&R. I realize that this couldn't be every weekend, but twice a month would be nice to keep the dolldrums and saddies at bay....

So, I thought I'd ask everyone what you guys do with the weekends, and see if a lot of other people are doing the same as me and I'm just having unrealistic expectations, lol .

Extremely Bizarre Child.

ChelsieS — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:30:56 -0700

I babysit this young girl that's in the 5th grade. Her mom is an RN and works for my dad on graveyard shift and she's a single mom. So my dad told her I didn't have a job and was looking for something easy to do while I'm still in school (this was last year). So I've been babysitting her for quite some time now. Comes to find out, this child is absolutely out of her mind. I always park in the front of her condos and to my knowledge, I was never confronted about the parking situation or that it was bothering anyone. This little girl always goes over to her neighbors house, which I find strange because this woman has no children and lives alone. But whatever, I looked past it. I come to find out this woman has told her to let me know that it's hard for her to get into her garage and that I'm really supposed to park in the back of our row of condos for that very reason. The girl I babysit told the woman that I didn't care if she couldn't get in her garage and that I wasn't moving my car and all this crazy stuff!! The day all of this happened I remember her going in and out a lot. She was actually pretending to talk to me for her neighbor the whole time and I had no idea it was going on. Her neighbor told me she told her to tell me to come outside and I supposingly said "no" and I was not moving my car and that I thought she was crazy! What is wrong with this child!?!

On top of that, she calls me and texts me 24/7 and when I tell her to stop and leave me alone she'll say "you're mean" or "leaving me alone".. and I'm so confused? I finally talked to her mom about and she her mom took her phone away and grounded her from the computer. The neighbor informed me also that the girl I babysit called her 12 times in one day before, and has also been grounded from pretty much harassing her.

And last but not least.. I can't even take a shower at her house anymore because she'll come in and out of the bathroom, acting like she's getting stuff.. and watch me! So weird. Should I feel bad for telling her I don't want to babysit for her anymore? It's her job so I feel bad, but her daughter gives me the creeps!

Funny photo of kids

smryna — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:08:32 -0700

Funny Photo of kids
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: funny kids)

Back to School Items for a LuSHHus Year of Luxury, Style, Happiness, and Health

ajnbartlett — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:49:16 -0700

Click the link below for a list of great back to school items. From lunch bags to innovative alarm clocks to memory books to iPod accessories, everything you need for a successful school year (except maybe the diligence and hard work!) is here. Check it out!
http://luxurystylehappinesshealth.com/the-complete-lushhus-back-to-schoo...
Cheers!

Playground etiquette

bluesuze — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:44:29 -0700

So I'm at the mall this morning with the kiddies (just had to check out the MAC Starflash collection!) and took the boys to the little playground area. It's a little kiddie playland where the kids take off their shoes and run around and lose their minds (well, at least mine do)

There was a little boy - maybe around 2 - that I saw hit another girl. The grandmother got the little boy and said, "No hitting, bad boy" and then sat back down. The little girl was bawling, and I saw the little girl's mother consoling her.

Ok, young kids hit sometimes. They are just learning. BUT then this exact same scenario happened two more times! So a total of three times this little boy hit this girl in the face, the girl proceeded to cry, the grandma proceeded to say to the boy, "No hitting, bad boy" and then the girl's mother just held the crying little girl in her arms and consoled her.

Now I"m watching this whole thing enfold, and I was kind of upset. I truly believe that if reprimanding your child doesn't work, then you had better pick your kid up and leave the environment. Obviously just saying "No" wasn't having any effect on the boy, so I think she should have just taken him home so he doesn't hurt any more children. I'm also a little surprised the mother didn't say a word. I don't like confrontation either, but this was ridiculous. I can't imagine just sitting there letting your child get repeatedly hit in the face and not saying anything to the grandmother.

What would you have done?

Dear carnival goldfish, please don't kick the bucket

bluesuze — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:12:50 -0700

We had just a grand ole' time at the county fair this weekend. My son decided to take a stab at winning a goldfish. They gave you the option of taking home a live goldfish, or winning some little plastic toy, and he jumped at the chance to win the fish.

So, with plastic ziploc bag sloshing around in hand, we left and headed to the petstore to pick up a bowl along with a few other items. My 3 year old looked fondly at his new pet, and said he wanted to name him Grey. Out of the hundreds of "gold" goldfish, he won the only silver goldfish.

Last night Grey was frolicking around his new home, doing just fine. This morning when we went to feed Grey breakfast, he was just sort of languishing at the bottom. Gosh darnit. I was not ready to be having the death discussion already with this thing. I knew carnival fish don't last all that long, but one day?? And why in the heck couldn't my son have won a regular gold goldfish? I could have just snuck out and replaced him with a dupe.

Well, Grey, here's to hoping you decide to stick around just a little longer!

Today's quotes: 03.08.08 [1]

saynogirl — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:07:24 -0700

"The way I look at it, if the kids are still alive when my husband comes home from work, then I've done my job."
- Roseanne

Kindergarten cell phone users

theantman15 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:39:09 -0700

What is up with little kids getting cell phones now-a-days? I remember i didn't get my first cell phone till i got a job and payed for it, now six year olds are getting them!?! Who are they gonna call?
Oh its in case they get in an emergency if we aren't there...
Why aren't you there with your little kid, why are you letting them wander around alone where they would need a cell phone? They won't be texting other people unless its about what kind of milk is in their bottle, or who is their favorite power ranger, so be responsible parents!

10 Big Lessons from Little Kids/PART 2

smryna — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:35:44 -0700

6. The coolest adults were the ones who took the time to listen to you. You still want to grow up to be a cool adult, right?

When you’re feeling stressed, have had a particularly difficult day, or are facing a crisis, the ear of a supportive friend can be a lifeline to peace. A genuinely good listener is actually more rare than one would think, and also more valuable. Sometimes people feign listening, but they’re really just waiting for their friend to stop talking so they can say whatever they’ve been mentally rehearsing while they’ve been pretending to listen. People can usually sense this, and it doesn’t feel good. Learn how to be a truly supportive listener, and you may find yourself surrounded by others who are able to do the same.

7. Your body was designed for throwing baseballs, shooting hoops, and jumping off diving boards and stuff. In the secret language of children, the word “fitness” doesn’t exist. It’s called “having fun.”

Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, regain your competitive spirit. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.

8. Playtime is important and laughter feels good.

We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of “have-to’s” that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated. Kids also seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.

9. Too much of anything will give you a tummy ache. Like, say, bourbon.

Those who over-exercise will burn themselves out. Those who site sedately all day suffer from atrophy. A boy who studies all the time has no friends. Another who only makes friends fails in his examinations. Staying too long under the sun can result in heatstroke and sunburn. Not going out at all makes the skin pale and pallid. Sharpening at all will render the knife useless. Being extreme is always the cause of pain. Moderation, then is the key of life. It is the way to live our lives as it is meant to be lived.

10. Try to be the friend you were when you were 12: fun-loving and loyal, with no strings attached.

The quality that tops the list in survey after survey of what people appreciate most about their friends is loyalty — support that you always give to someone because of your feelings of duty and love towards them. The famous maxim that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” is not the entire story of loyalty, however. A friend in triumph may be even harder to find. It takes twenty-four-karat loyalty for a friend to soar alongside us when we are flying high rather than to bring us down to earth. Loyal friends not only lend a hand when you’re in need; they applaud your successes and cheer you on without envy when you prosper. Be loyal.

When you act more like a kid, suddenly the world opens up, and you start enjoying yourself again!

source:ririan project

Who needs a pricy day out with a group of kids when you can transform your own backyard into a fun zone?

justanerd1975 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:52:59 -0700

From silly sprinkler games to sensational sandbox ideas, here's everything you need to keep the kids happy all summer long during play dates and parties:

Create a superior sandbox. Scooping sand with shovels and building sandcastles is always a fun way to spend an afternoon. Make the sandbox even more enticing by giving the kids colorful glitter dust from a craft store to mix into the sand or tiny paper umbrellas to create beach scenes (try blue glitter dust to make water!). Or buy small plastic dinosaurs and cover them with baker’s dough, shaping them into eggs, suggests Penny Warner, author of Splish Splash: Water Fun for Kids (Chicago Review Press). Then hide the dino eggs in the sandbox and have your budding archaeologists dig them up and crack them open to find the surprise inside.

Pitch a tent. A campout under the stars is the perfect summer night activity. Set up a tent in the backyard and create a backyard “campfire” by putting a few small chairs around a hibachi to roast hot dogs and marshmallows, suggests Warner. (Make sure kids keep a safe distance from the barbecue.) Sing campfire songs, tell spooky ghost stories and bring along flashlights so the kids can read comic books in their sleeping bags. Get more fun ideas including best camping crafts in our camping guide.

Make a splash with sprinkler games. Play Snake in the Grass: lay a flat sprinkler on the lawn and have kids run in and out of the sprinkler area. “One player is in charge of turning it off and on intermittently,” says Warner. “The fun is getting wet and trying not to get wet!” The kids will also have a blast playing water limbo: using a hose with a nozzle and a moderate spray, mom or dad sprays water about waist high and the kids limbo under it while trying not to get soaked.Go for a dip in a mini-pool. Splashing around in a rubber or plastic pool is a super way to cool off on a hot day. Make the kiddie pool even more fun by playing Frog Invasion, suggests Warner. “Use a waterproof marker to mark the bottom of the pool with targets —100 in the middle, then 75 and 25 on the outside. Buy plastic frogs or get the kids to make them by painting rocks green with permanent paint and putting eyes on them with a felt marker. The kids take turns tossing the frogs, trying to land them in the center of the pool where they get the most points.” Of course, an adult should always be supervising when the kids are around water.

Build a bird sanctuary To make your yard attractive to birds, you need a water source, such as a birdbath, trees or bushes for food and a safe area, such as a nesting box, which you can make out of a milk carton or wood, explains Barbara Herkert, author of Birds in Your Backyard (Dawn Publications). “The kids can watch the birds through binoculars from a quiet hidden place (for example, beside a shrub) and keep a journal there with a few coloured pencils to draw their favourites,” says Herkert. “Kids should always keep a safe distance and not touch a nest especially if it contains eggs or baby birds.”

Set up croquet and badminton Get the kids hitting the ball in a game of backyard croquet. Look for a colorful, kid-sized croquet set with oversized hoops and pint-sized mallets to make the game even more appealing. Or try a round of badminton: set up a net and hit the shuttle back and forth. If you don’t have a badminton set, put up a rope and get the kids to hit a balloon back and forth to keep it in the air, suggests Warner. Check out other fun backyard games, like Balloon Bust Relay, too.

Grow a kid-friendly garden Gardening with a group of kids is fun and an excellent way to teach them about nature. Buy a pot, soil and plants or seeds: try cherry tomatoes that the children can water, watch grow and then eat, says Barbara Richardson, youth garden grants coordinator at the National Gardening Association in Burlington, Vermont. “Radishes are great because they mature in less than a month and come in great colours. Or try herbs, such as basil, that the kids can pinch off and smell and taste.” As well, try kid-friendly flowers.

Herb Pots

justanerd1975 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:35:35 -0700

Make these charming herb pots and watch them grow all summer long! This project not only recycles, it creates new life. Your child can watch her plants grow for months to come and be proud that she created the container that holds them.

What you'll need:
Empty aluminum can
Screwdriver and hammer
Liquitex Basics Gesso
Acrylic craft paints in colors of your choice
Flower stickers (optional)
Acrylic sealer spray, matte finish
Craft or popsicle stick
Thin cardboard
Pinking shears
Black Sharpie marker
5-10 small rocks, stones or pebbles
1.5 cups Potting soil
4-inch potted herb plant
White craft glue
Water
How to make it:

Completely wash and dry aluminum can. If necessary, sand off any rough edges from opening of can.
Turn can upside down. Parent should use screwdriver or other pointed object to poke holes in the bottom of the can. Use a hammer to tap the end of the screwdriver to make the holes.
Paint outside of can with one coat of Gesso. Let dry completely.
Paint can desired color, repeat coats if needed.
Decorate however you like. Use a thin paint brush for long lines, dip the end of the paint brush into paint for polka dots.
Decorate with stickers if desired.
Spray the outside of the completed can with acrylic sealer spray. Let dry.
Place enough rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the can to form a single layer.
Add enough potting soil to fill the can two-thirds full.
Remove potted herb from its container and transplant into the can.
Fill edges with remaining potting soil, gently pat down so that plant is firmly in the can but not compacted so much that it’s too tight.
Place can on a plate (to catch any water drainage) and add some water to the newly planted herbs.
Paint craft stick whatever color you like. Allow to dry.
Cut a piece of thin cardboard into a small rectangle (about 1.5 x 3 inches) using pinking shears.
Paint both side of the cardboard with Gesso, let dry.
Glue the rectangle to the top of the craft stick.
Use a black Sharpie marker to write the herb name onto the rectangle.
Insert your plant marker into the soil, being careful not to crush any roots along the way.
Place your new garden in a sunny window and remember to water them!
Tips:
A 4-inch potted plant will be enough to make 2-3 vegetable sized cans (15 oz) or one larger tomato sauce type can (28 oz).
This is a great project to teach kids about growing plants, especially edible ones. Take this opportunity to visit your local library and check out a book on simple container gardening or gardening with kids.
Keep the kids involved, be sure they take care of “their” plant. Have them water their plant and show them how to check to see if the soil is too dry or just right by gently touching the soil surface with their finger.
Eat these herbs! Your kids will light up when they get to pinch off a basil leaf to add to your spaghetti sauce.

Libya

Iveenia — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:58:43 -0700

Dear Ladies
I have been in Libya for over 5 years and was wondering if you are interested in knowing what happened there... Because I have written a diary and can translate it into English. Yet - ONLY if the interest is there...
Let me know... By rating...Lost Jewels in Africa (Libya)
Thank you to all of you
God bless you
Ivee

J.C. Penney Brings Back The Breakfast Club

leeluvfashion — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:54:54 -0700

Via: IMDB
Video from Youtube.

"The bosses of U.S. department store J.C. Penney have brought The Breakfast Club back - more than 20 years after Brat Packers Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy spent a Saturday in detention together.

The chain has shot a series of TV and cinema ads, in which young actors recreate scenes from the hit John Hughes 80s movie.

The ads promote five new teen clothing brands on sale at the company's stores, and target parents kitting their kids out for the new school year.

The commercial also features a new cover of Simple Minds' hit Don't You (Forget About Me), which was written especially for the 1985 movie."

- What is your opinion, do you think it will go over well or does the ad fall flat?

Kids ..... All is Calm, All is Bright

Beachwalker — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:50:23 -0700

I knew I had been in the military too long when my five-year-
old daughter sang her version of "Silent Night." It went like
this: "Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infantry, tender and
mild..."

~~~ Fun in the Sun ~~~

justanerd1975 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:18:38 -0700

A little long, but worth reviewing every Summer, I think :

It doesn't take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and even cancer. Even people in their twenties can develop skin cancer....

Most kids rack up between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it's important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child's chance of developing skin cancer.

Facts About Sun Exposure
The sun radiates light to the earth, and part of that light consists of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause tanning, burning, and other skin damage.

Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. Because UVA rays pass effortlessly through the ozone layer (the protective layer of atmosphere, or shield, surrounding the earth), they make up the majority of our sun exposure. Beware of tanning beds because they use UVA rays. A UVA tan does not help protect the skin from further sun damage; it merely produces color and a false sense of protection from the sun.
UVB rays are also dangerous, causing sunburns, cataracts (clouding of the eye lens), and immune system damage. They also contribute to skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but enough of these rays pass through to cause serious damage.
UVC rays are the most dangerous, but fortunately, these rays are blocked by the ozone layer and don't reach the earth.
What's important is to protect your family from exposure to UVA and UVB, the rays that cause skin damage.

UV rays react with a chemical called melanin that's found in most people's skin. Melanin is the first defense against the sun because it absorbs dangerous UV rays before they do serious skin damage. Melanin is found in different concentrations and colors, resulting in different skin colors. The lighter a person's natural skin color, the less melanin it has to absorb UV and protect itself. The darker a person's natural skin color, the more melanin it has to protect itself. (But both dark- and light-skinned kids need protection from UV rays because any tanning or burning causes skin damage.)

Also, anyone with a fair complexion — lighter skin and eye color — is more likely to have freckles because there's less melanin in the skin. Although freckles are harmless, being outside in the sun may help cause them or make them darker.

As the melanin increases in response to sun exposure, the skin tans. But even that "healthy" tan may be a sign of sun damage. The risk of damage increases with the amount and intensity of exposure. Those who are chronically exposed to the sun, such as farmers, boaters, and sunbathers, are at much greater risk. A sunburn develops when the amount of UV exposure is greater than what can be protected against by the skin's melanin.

Unprotected sun exposure is even more dangerous for kids with:

moles on their skin (or whose parents have a tendency to develop moles)
very fair skin and hair
a family history of skin cancer, including melanoma
You should be especially careful about sun protection if your child has one or more of these high-risk characteristics.

Also, not all sunlight is "equal" in UV concentration. The intensity of the sun's rays depends upon the time of year, as well as the altitude and latitude of your location. UV rays are strongest during summer. Remember that the timing of this season varies by location; if you travel to a foreign country during its summer season, you'll need to pack the strongest sun protection you can find.

Extra protection is also required near the equator, where the sun is strongest, and at high altitudes, where the air and cloud cover are thinner, allowing more damaging UV rays to get through the atmosphere. Even during winter months, if your family goes skiing in the mountains, be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen; UV rays reflect off both snow and water, increasing the probability of sunburn.

Protecting Kids From the Sun
With the right precautions, kids can safely play in the sun. Here are the most effective strategies:

Avoid the Strongest Rays of the Day
First, avoid being in the sun for prolonged times when it's highest overhead and therefore the strongest (normally from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM in the northern hemisphere). If kids are in the sun between these hours, be sure to apply protective sunscreen — even if they're just playing in the backyard. Most sun damage occurs as a result of incidental exposure during day-to-day activities, not at the beach.

Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, UV rays travel through the clouds and reflect off sand, water, and even concrete. Clouds and pollution don't filter out UV rays, and they can give a false sense of protection. This "invisible sun" can cause unexpected sunburn and skin damage. Often, kids are unaware that they're developing a sunburn on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps skin feeling cool on the surface.

Cover Up
One of the best ways to protect your family from the sun is to cover up and shield skin from UV rays. Ensure that clothes will screen out harmful UV rays by placing your hand inside the garments and making sure you can't see it through them.

Because infants have thinner skin and underdeveloped melanin, their skin burns more easily than that of older kids. But sunscreen should not be applied to babies under 6 months of age, so they absolutely must be kept out of the sun whenever possible. If your infant must be in the sun, dress him or her in clothing that covers the body, including hats with wide brims to shadow the face. Use an umbrella to create shade.

Even older kids need to escape the sun. Long exposure can make them feel tired and irritable. For all-day outdoor affairs, bring along a wide umbrella or a pop-up tent to play in. If it's not too hot outside and won't make your child even more uncomfortable, you can have him or her wear a light long-sleeved shirt and/or long pants. Before heading to the beach or park, call ahead to find out if certain areas offer rentals of umbrellas, tents, and other sun-protective gear.

Use Sunscreen Consistently
Lots of good sunscreens are available for kids, including formulations for sensitive skin, brands with fun scents like watermelon, long-lasting waterproof and sweat-proof versions, and easy-application varieties in spray bottles.

What matters most in a sunscreen is the degree of protection from UV rays it provides. When faced with the overwhelming sea of sunscreen choices at drugstores, concentrate on the SPF (sun protection factor) numbers on the labels.

For kids age 6 months and older, select an SPF of 15 or higher to prevent both sunburn and tanning. Choose a sunscreen that states on the label that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays (referred to as "broad-spectrum" sunscreen). To avoid possible skin allergy, avoid sunscreens with PABA, and if your child has sensitive skin, look for a product with the active ingredient titanium dioxide (a chemical-free block).

For sunscreen to do its job, it must be applied correctly. Be sure to:

Apply sunscreen whenever your child will be in the sun.
Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before kids go outside so that a good layer of protection can form. Don't forget about lips, hands, ears, feet, shoulders, and behind the neck. Lift up bathing suit straps and apply sunscreen underneath them (in case the straps shift as a child moves).
Don't try to stretch out a bottle of sunscreen; apply it generously.
Reapply sunscreen often, approximately every 2 to 3 hours, as recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. Reapply after a child is sweating or swimming.
Apply a waterproof sunscreen if kids will be around water or swimming. Water reflects and intensifies the sun's rays, so kids need protection that lasts. Waterproof sunscreens may last up to 80 minutes in the water, and some are also sweat- and rub-proof. But regardless of the waterproof label, be sure to reapply sunscreen when kids come out of the water.
Keep in mind that every child needs extra sun protection. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all children — regardless of their skin tone — wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Although dark skin has more protective melanin and tans more easily than it burns, remember that tanning is also a sign of sun damage. Dark-skinned children can also develop painful sunburns.

Use Protective Eyewear for Kids
Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. Even 1 day in the sun can result in a burned cornea (the outermost, clear membrane layer of the eye). Cumulative exposure can lead to cataracts later in life (clouding of the eye lens, which results in blindness). The best way to protect eyes is to wear sunglasses.

Not all sunglasses provide the same level of ultraviolet protection; darkened plastic or glass lenses without special UV filters just trick the eyes into a false sense of safety. Purchase sunglasses with labels ensuring that they provide 100% UV protection.

But not all kids enjoy wearing sunglasses, especially the first few times. To encourage them to wear them, let kids select a style they like — many manufacturers make fun, multicolored frames or ones embossed with cartoon characters. And don't forget that kids want to be like grown-ups. If you wear sunglasses regularly, your kids may be willing to follow your example.

Double-Check Medications
Some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays. As a result, even kids with skin that tends not to burn easily can develop a severe sunburn in just minutes when taking certain medications. Fair-skinned kids, of course, are even more vulnerable.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any prescription (especially antibiotics and acne medications) and over-the-counter medications your child is taking can increase sun sensitivity. If so, always take extra sun precautions. The best protection is simply covering up or staying indoors; even sunscreen can't always protect skin from sun sensitivity caused by medications.

If Your Child Gets a Sunburn
A sunburn can sneak up on kids, especially after a long day at the beach or park. Often, they seem fine during the day but then gradually develop an "after-burn" later that evening that can be painful and hot and even make them feel sick.

When kids get sunburned, they usually experience pain and a sensation of heat — symptoms that tend to become more severe several hours after sun exposure. Some also develop chills. Because the sun has dried their skin, it can become itchy and tight. Burned skin begins to peel about a week after the sunburn. Encourage your child not to scratch or peel off loose skin because skin underneath the sunburn is vulnerable to infection.

If your child does get a sunburn, these tips may help:

Keep your child in the shade until the sunburn is healed. Any additional sun exposure will only increase the severity of the burn and increase pain.
Have your child take a cool (not cold) bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin to help alleviate pain and heat.
Apply pure aloe vera gel (available in most pharmacies or taken directly from within the leaves of the plant) to any sunburned areas. It's excellent for relieving sunburn pain and helping skin heal quicker.
Give your child a pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and spray on over-the-counter "after-sun" pain relievers. (Do not, however, give aspirin to children or teens.)
Apply topical moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and help reduce swelling. For the most severely burned areas, apply a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream. (Do not use petroleum-based products, because they prevent excess heat and sweat from escaping. Also, avoid first-aid products that contain benzocaine, which may cause skin irritation or allergy.)
If the sunburn is severe and blisters develop, call your doctor. Until you can see your doctor, tell your child not to scratch, pop, or squeeze the blisters, which can become easily infected and can result in scarring.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses such as heat syncope (fainting from heat), heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are far more serious than a sunburn. These conditions occur when kids become overheated and dehydrated, and in many cases, are accompanied by sunburn.

Call the doctor if:

your child has an unexplained fever higher than 102° Fahrenheit (38.9° Celsius)
the sunburned skin looks infected
your child has trouble looking at light (this may indicate a sunburn of the eye's cornea)
Contact your doctor for immediate assistance if your child has:

nausea
vomiting
fainting
delirium (seems temporarily mentally confused)
diarrhea

Be Sun Safe Yourself
Being a good role model by wearing sunscreen and limiting your time in the sun not only reduces your risk of sun damage, but teaches your kids good sun sense.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Cooking with Kids

justanerd1975 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:10:13 -0700

The kitchen can be a fascinating place for young children. They see grown-ups working briskly in there, watch the steam rise from pots on the stove, and smell what's on the menu that night. Even older kids might be intrigued by how baked goods and meals come together. It isn't always convenient to invite them into the kitchen to help, but consider doing so when time allows.

Younger kids can watch what you're doing and help out with small tasks, like stirring something or setting the table. Older kids can be taught how to crack eggs or measure ingredients. Even teens might be lured into the kitchen if you tell them they can choose the dish and you'll help prepare it with them.

To the kids, it will seem like fun, but there are other benefits to this time together:

Preschoolers see how the dishes they eat are put together — and they get hands-on experience, which is a great way to learn and feel like they are helping out.
School-age kids can learn some cooking basics and use their math skills as they help combine ingredients for recipes. You also can use the time to talk about good nutrition and why you chose the ingredients you're using. It can lay the groundwork for healthy eating later on.
Teens might appreciate the chance to improve their cooking skills — good preparation for when they'll need to cook for themselves. Teens also might be interested in trying different cuisines. Do they love Asian food? Visit an Asian market and put together something authentic.
Parents get something out of this kitchen togetherness, too. First, there's the quality time you'll share. Then there's the pleasure of sitting down at the table together to enjoy what you've whipped up.

Here are some tips for having fun and staying safe while you're cooking with kids.

Choose the Right Time
If you're going to have kids helping you in the kitchen, you don't want to be on a tight time schedule. Instead of involving them in a dinner you have to cook lightning-fast, enlist their help on a weekend afternoon when you don't feel crunched.

With younger kids, choose a time when they're well-rested and not easily frustrated. It's also a smart idea to have another adult in the kitchen to help you keep an eye on your junior chef.

Choose the Right Tasks
Plan ahead a little when deciding what you'll prepare together. For younger kids, consider starting with simple dishes with fewer than five ingredients. Then your child won't have to wait it out while you tackle a complicated step. A tossed salad or easy muffin recipe can be good starter projects. You also might set up a pizza-making assembly line where kids can choose their own mini-crusts, sauces, cheeses, and toppings. Older kids can take cooking to the next level and work with you on more challenging recipes.

When you've chosen a recipe, think about which steps your child can do independently. For instance, kids who can read can call out the ingredients from the recipe card while you put them out on the counter. A younger child can help you pour ingredients into a bowl. An older child might be able to measure out ingredients and add them unassisted.

Doing some prep work in advance, such as rinsing the berries for muffins, will make the process move more swiftly. If there's a lull in the action, you might consider giving your child a well-deserved break. Then you can call him or her back in when there's another kid-friendly task to do, or when it's time to taste what you made.

Stress Safety
Children need supervision when they're in the kitchen. Preschoolers must learn not to touch whirring electric beaters, hot pans, and stovetops.

Here are some safety tips:

Give frequent reminders about what's OK to touch and which items can hurt them.
Talk about which kitchen tasks are for grown-ups and which are for kids.
Establish kitchen rules, such as washing hands and not touching stove knobs or knives.
Even older kids will need safety reminders, especially if they're working with appliances and knives, or at the stove.

Loosen Up
Kids cannot be counted on to be neat in the kitchen. Even adults have trouble with that. To make your experience together more enjoyable, allow for some extra mess and try to be patient. To prevent cooking disasters, be sure your child isn't measuring ingredients over the bowl — risking a big oops. Instead, you might measure them separately and put them in small bowls, like they do on TV cooking shows.

Even if everything doesn't go perfectly, try to keep the mood light. If the egg gets more smashed than cracked, offer some guidance and let your child try again. Little by little, kids will gain these skills — and feel great once they're mastered.

Last, but not least, be sure to compliment your assistant chefs on a job well done. Offer them first taste of whatever you cooked together — and ask what you should make together next time. Bon appetit!

Cool I wanna try this

justanerd1975 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:03:35 -0700

Cool activity to try with your kid: making a cardboard box solar oven!
(I know some ppl. don't like copies and pasties, but I gotta give credit where credits due,
instructions are from lifehacker.com.)

needed: Cardboard box at least 18" square and as deep as whatever you want to cook, black construction paper, tin foil, clear plastic, non-toxic glue, pen, tape, scissors or utility knife (put down the beer first, ok?), ruler, piece of dowel or stick or whatnot

Why this hack: Because it's as fun and simple and cheap as they come. Hey, that sounds like the personal ads I've been running lately.

In a few simple steps, convert an ordinary box into a beauteous, practical solar oven.

Heart of the hack: Trace a border around the top of your box, about an inch inside the edges. Cut three sides, leaving one as a "hinge." This is your oven door. Nice, eh?

Now, cut and glue a square of aluminum foil to the underside of your door, and cut a piece of plastic just a little larger than the opening. Remember how, when you were a devious little punk kid, you used to fry ants with a magnifying glass? This is your magnifying glass, only this time, you're gonna be frying, well, hopefully not ants.

Next, line the bottom of the box with foil and then cover the foil with a piece of black construction paper. Tape it in place. Place your famous tofu-and-lima-bean casserole in your new oven, close the plastic lid, and prop open the foil-covered door at an angle that best reflects sunlight through the plastic and into the oven.

Grab a drink, kick back, and call all your friends. Just don't tell 'em what's for dinner.

exercize was actually considered fun??

justanerd1975 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:46:37 -0700

Why is that, when you were a kid, exercise was actually considered fun? Because you didn't refer to it as exercise. You called it "riding bikes," "playing tag" or "going swimming." When did we stop having fun with movement? As adults we think exercise is just one more item on our endless list of things we're supposed to do.

This summer I challenge you to change that attitude and choose activity as a way of life, not a chore. The weather has warmed up, the days are longer, and schedules are looser. It's the perfect time to take a break from the monotonous treadmills and elliptical trainers at the gym and venture outdoors instead.

Keep in mind that increasing your activity level doesn't have to solely include lengthy blocks of time for planned exercise. You can burn calories through small spurts of activity all day long. Try parking further away from the grocery store entrance, or walking to a friend's house instead of driving. If you ride a subway or a bus to work, get off at an earlier stop. Take 20 minutes and walk around your garden or lawn pulling out weeds. Grab your dog for a stroll around the neighborhood. Take the stairs up to your doctor's appointment instead of the elevator. There are endless ways to add more exercise to your everyday routines.

As for me, my 14 year old son will always reply "Yes" to a bike ride with me. And my daughter delights in walking with me or doing exercise videos with me. And neither of them ever refuse playtime in the pool! My point is you can multi-task-- fun, quality time with the family can be active time as well.

Take advantage of the nicer weather and increased amount of daylight to get to all those outdoor fixer-upper jobs you've been putting off all winter. Clean the outside of your windows, repaint your front door, wash your car. It all counts as increased activity and you will be energized by it.

Summer is also the season when many of us take vacations. Why not plan a vacation this year that is centered around activity? There are tons of biking/walking tours around the world that offer wonderful sightseeing and learning opportunities, as well as a healthy week of being active. Or plan a trip to a national park--they all have numerous outdoor activities set against breathtaking scenery. And if you have already planned your summer vacation, do research as to how you can add some exercise and movement to your itinerary. Look for local hiking paths, bicycle rentals, boat rentals, walking tours, etc.

Upping your activity this summer can also be a family affair. Fitting more movement into your life can be as simple as not sitting around as the spectator at the playground, but joining in the fun. You'll burn some extra calories, use muscles you might not use on a daily basis and your kids will love it! Or get your family moving together by taking after-dinner walks around the neighborhood, playing with a soccer ball at the park, getting that jump rope out of the garage, or swimming in a local pond or lake.

Activity and movement are contagious. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more you will seek it out!

What to Wear

nicmic113 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:04:15 -0700

My daughter is 12 year old, and like all girls she wants to be pretty and popular and replicate the girls she sees on television or in fashion magazines. I remember the pressures of being her age, trying to fit in, envying the girls who were followed around by the boys, so of course I want for her what she wants, as im sure many of us do. The question is how far will we go as parents to ensure our children and happy and fit in. So here is my dilemma, we went mall shopping, and I let her pick out a bunch of stuff for school from various stores, its clothing, how bad can it be! So we go home and she tries everything on. First thing i notice is how unbelievably short Abercrombie skirts are, and they are skirts, not skorts. They dont have the lil shorts underneath- im shocked they make something THAT short in her size! It only got worse from there- so the options are return them and have her hate me, or let her have them, buy the mini shorts separately and hope for the best

First Kiss

Great Sommelier — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:13:16 -0700

The First Kiss

It's your First Kiss and several questions might come to mind:

Is it the right time?

Is anyone watching?

Does your partner even want to?

Is your breath fresh?

AND,---Should you use some tongue?

Then you say . . ..

'What the heck!' and Just Go for it!!!

lol

teamsugar -- Connect. Share. Enjoy.

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