Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Babyplays: Netflix for toys


A friend recently passed along a link to Babyplays and I thought it was worth posting. It appears this site works similar to Netflix. You select a plan that works for you and your child, use the toys as long as you like and then exchange them for the next grouping. As "toy management" sometimes feels like a full job duty around our house I thought this plan had some real value.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Baby Names


Are you trying to settle on the perfect name for your little one-to-be? If so check-out My Baby-Name.com. This site allows you to search by letter, nationality, most popular and celebrity baby names.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Triathlon Training Season Starts

For those of you embarking on triathlon spring training like myself visit Tri-Newbies On-Line for schedules and training tips. I am planning to follow the 18 Week Olympic Distance – Intermediate schedule. My training starts Monday, yikes…
A follow up from yesterday's post. Some foods that hit the garbage yesterday (because they contain High Fructose Corn Syrup) included our Heinz Ketchup, Hershey's chocolate syrup, Honey Maid Graham crackers.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Attempting to bring a bit of quiet to our dinner table

We have been blessed with two very high energy boys. At ages three and eight, getting them to both sit at dinner is a bit of a challenge these days; so we’ve introduced lighting a candle for the duration of our meal. As long as the candle is lit everyone is expected to be seated and speak in an indoor voice.
A side note tip: Trader Joes offers a nice drip-less candle or regular candles can be put in the freezer to keep them from dripping.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Traveling the World

This weekend we are making our spring break plans. We are staying local and so I'm going to introduce the idea suggested by Citibabes in their CitiScoop newsletter this week: to travel the world from the comfort of our own home and introduce a country or culture via books from the library, special museum trips, activities and ethnic dining. Instead of taking only the week of Spring Break to "travel" I think we'll spend a week or two in each country and travel the globe over the next few months or year.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

MultiVitamins

I don't know about you but I always feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different children's vitamin choices on the market. I want to be sure I'm giving my kids the right percentage of each element, that the supplement is natural, contains only good things and on and on.
I thought I'd share my recent find. Recommended independently by both my acupuncturist and the acupressurist my kids visit, Nordic Berries from Nordic Naturals is our new vitamin of choice.
I tried to do further research on the product to share with you but unfortunately, it looks like their website is packed full of great info on their fish oils (which I also take and am happy with) and it not so much geared towards the children's multivitamins.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Valentine's Day at our house



Window decorations have almost become a requirement at our house these days. We are always creating new ones as the seasons and holidays change. Our current display features dangling hearts made by tracing heart shaped cookie cutters on construction paper.

Another Valentine's Day tradtion at our house includes breaking out the fondue pot for
cheese fondue

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

William Tell Mom

This morning after asking (then telling, then raising my voice demanding...you get the picture) my eight year old remove himself from the computer, eat breakfast, get dressed and brush his teeth how can I not relate to this?!

YouTube: William Tell Mom

Monday, January 7, 2008

Kindness from Strangers


While celebrating Christmas with my family in Milwaukee last weekend, we took the kids sledding at Lafayette Hill. As always we forgot the camera. A kind woman took this shot and emailed it to us. The cold and snow seems a distant memory as I look out the window this morning.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Job Description for Parent

I'm not a big fan of chain e-mail but this catchy one arrived in my box yesterday and really make me laugh.

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.


Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis,
letting them know they are appreciated
for the fabulous job they do...
or forward with love
to anyone thinking of applying for the job.


** AND A FOOTNOTE "THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **

Monday, June 4, 2007

Another entrepreneur in our family


Look who else is an entrepreneur in our family. (I should mention dad is one too...) Brandon and his friend set up shop in our front lawn for their first lemonade stand of the season. "If they don't have $1.00 we'll sell it to them for 50 cents." That is a very confident and direct quote from Brandon's friend (and sales partner) Cooper. And about 1 hour into selling they agreed to add another offer to their sign, "free samples of cheese crackers." I guess even 7 year-olds understand how to make a deal sweeter. Total sales for the day= $12.00.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Brandon visits mama at work




Brandon, my oldest son frequently joins me in the design studio. He loves to sort thru the trash can of fabric waste. Yes, a bit odd but he is seven and seven years olds love to collect things. So when he joins me in the studio, he collects little scraps of fabric waste and then gets creative (he's a little artist).
He especially loves to use our interlock knit for a variety of projects! I found this little scene last night. Looks like Hans Solo and his gang were outfitted with new cozy little chocolate brown capes! Honestly, I'm not sure about the Storm Trooper. I was not aware that Storm Troopers wore skirts...I'll have to check-in with B on that costume?!