A Toddler Holiday!

Oh boy I am so excited for this Christmas with JoJo. He will be two in February so this is the first year he really gets to dig into his presents and is really aware of what is going on. I did my best to plan everything out so that I wouldnt be stressed out and could make it a magical time for him. I did a lot of my shopping early so I wouldnt be running around like a crazy person and I love that he is still young enough that I can even buy his presents with him present and he forgets about them so i can go home and wrap them while he is sleeping.
Some things I have found to make Christmas easier with a toddler is.......

-Dont even attempt to wrap presents while they are awake......just dont do it to yourself!

-Split up the visits with friends and family members if you can so that your child isnt overwhelemed by presents and company. I know it can be hard when you have a big family. However for the friends that we bought for and visa versa, I made a date with each of them to come over on seperate days so JoJo could spend some time with them and exchange gifts. That way he also understood better who the presents came from.

-If your cooking, try and make a dish or two that you can prepare a day ahead.


-When its time to meet Santa it can go one of two ways so make sure your child has already had their nap and is fed so you can bribe them with candy if need be, LOL. When we got to Santa's workshop we hung back for a minute so JoJo could see what was going on and that Santa wasnt eating children. I then gave Sante a candy cane and asked JoJo if he wanted to go sit with Santa and get a candy. It went rather well.....even if he didnt smile!


-DONT FORGET BATTERIES for any toys you bought. Nothing stinks more then opening a present that can't be played with because mommy and daddy forgot batteries.

-I am planning on assembling any toys the night before so that JoJo dosnt have to wait for us to pull them out of the box. I know patience is a virtue but he's only two.

-Lastly....my favorite quote for the holidays is "Christmas should be a feeling, not a season". Take time to make Christmas magical and to share traditions. I want his childhood Christmas memories to be full of lovely smells, bright colors, and quality family time. Kids need our time more then they need our dimes!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Bring on the rain!

We are getting our first good week of rain this season. It has drizzled a bit here and there but its is supposed to rain for the next 5 days or so. It typically dosnt rain in December for us but since I am 99% done with my Christmas shopping it dosnt bother me! And for those who saved their shopping for the last minute all I have to say is.......HA HA! LOL, I'm kidding but time is running out.

Being stuck indoors does however give us parents the chance to slow down and engage in winter slumber, spend quality time with the family and hopefully continue or start some winter traditions.
I have a sore throat from HELL so I found myself searching for some warm drink recipes that go beyond the boring cup of tea to soothe me. I found some pretty cool ones! There are quite a few for kids.....and some for after the kids go to bed, LOL!

Don't overlook a classic cup of hot apple cider or cocoa (don't forget the marshmellows, they make it so much more magical). Instead of a processed pack of the above mentioned get a little creative. Trader Joe's makes  a great apple cider and mullings spices to add to it!


Egg Nog Chai
Wether you use chair powder or a tea bag.....milk or water, try mixing your chai with egg nog, it has a festive and unique flavor!

Now I dont care for it but a lot of people love some.....

Hot Buttered Rum

Usually served at Christmas, this hot sipper tastes great all winter long.
To make hot buttered rum drinks, you will need:
¾ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup margarine or butter, softened
¼ teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Rum
Boiling water
In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, margarine or butter, lemon peel, cinnamon, and allspice. Beat until well combined. Use immediately or cover and chill up to 1 month. Makes about 1 cup or enough 10, with approximately 6-ounce servings.
For 1 serving, place 1 rounded tablespoon of the butter mixture in a mug. Add 3 tablespoons rum and ½ cup of boiling water. Stir well.

Candy Cane Cocoa

 

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 4 small peppermint candy canes

Directions

In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane stirring sticks

 

Hot Toddy 

Hot Toddy
1 ounces Whiskey      1 ounce Honey       ounce Lemon Juice      3 ounces Water (Hot) If you have a microwave, the easiest way to make this drink is to warm the honey and lemon juice for about half a minute and then to add hot water and the whiskey. Otherwise, we recommend that you stir the honey and lemon juice into extremely warm water, allow it to cool slightly, and add the whiskey.

 

New Pics and Camera Reviews

So as I mentioned before I got a new camera. It is the Canon Rebel T2I, 18.1 mega pixel and just about the bets present I have ever gotten. I take pictures everywhere I go and had previously spent a bit of money on portraits for JoJo that mu husband thought it wise to buy me my own good quality camera. In my opinion it is a fantastic investment that is fun for me and will provide years of memories. i am still learning how to use it but here are some more pictures I took with it just yesterday. I quickly learned to shoot toddlers in sports mode all teh time, LOL.

Wild Angel Quote of the Week

Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable.
Plato

M.I.A.

Yes Yes, I have been M.I.A lately. Tis the Season I guess. I have been busy knitting, getting ready for Christmas AND.....with my new camera my loving husband bought me for Christmas.....and my birthday.....and Christmas again, LOL. Anyhoo I knit my first beanie ever.....what do ya think?

Its not perfect but JoJo dosnt seem to mind!
He does however mind my new camera. He sees me pull it out and tucks is chin, my poor little baby model has had it with the camera. Here are some pics I took with it anyways, I am still learning how to use it!

I hope you all have a merry holiday and I promise to keep up with my blog!

ANOTHER Recall on childfrens products =(

More kid meds recall news: Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare is recalling about 4 million units of Children's BENADRYL® Allergy FASTMELT® Tablets, in cherry and grape flavors. The company is also recalling all lots of Junior Strength MOTRIN® Caplets. This comes after a major J&J children’s medicine recall in May. Is there anything left in the kid aisle at the pharmacy at this point?
Get a full list of the recalled products, including lot numbers.
This is a wholesale and retail recall. According to the company website, no action is required by consumers and they can continue to use the product. Says the manufacturer: “The recall was initiated after a review, conducted as part of McNeil's Comprehensive Action Plan, revealed insufficiencies in the development of the manufacturing process. There is no indication that the recalled products do not meet quality standards, and this recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse events.” That’s not at all confusing.
Check out all recent toy and product recalls, then become a fan of Parenting on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get recall updates as soon as they happen.

Let that kid, be a kid!

TODAY......

-Let him/her pick out their own clothes. Who cares if they don't match.

-Let them take YOU for a walk, set out the front door on their route....as long as it isnt into the street, LOL!

-Make a scavneger hunt for them or just a good old game of hide & seek.

-dance and sing at the top of your lungs

-finger paint.....need I say more?

-make a dinner that they can help with, ie pizza, slopy joe's, something fun!

-bake treats and give them to neighbors, mailmen or whomever your kid wants to share with!

-go bug hunting

-smash stuff with a hammer.....acorns work best and kids love it!

-gather old towels and blankets to take to your local animal shelter, your kid will learn a great lesson and it will make you feel good too!

Tricks I've learned so far.....

-Baby Oil takes off temporary tattoos and leftover sticker/band aid goo on the skin.

-Peanut Butter gets gum out of hair

-breast milk fights blocked tear ducts and pink eye

-If you ask nicely for something from your child they are less liekly to cry then if you just take it away....plus you are teaching them good manners.

-When its time to throw something away, ie a pacifier, lollipop or whatever if you have the child do it themselves they are less likely to cry.

-Black out curtains in a child's room is a blessing in disguise

-Grandparents do what they want and feed their grandchildren what they want no matter what you say.

-Singing makes everything better

-To get your child to put their head back to rinse their hair in the tub, howl like a wolf and encourage them to do the same

The Toddler Creed

by Dr. Burton L. White

If I want it,
IT'S MINE!

If I give it to you and change my mind later,
IT'S MINE!

If I can take it away from you,
IT'S MINE!

If it's mine it will never belong to anybody else,
No matter what.
If we are building something together,
All the pieces are mine!

If it looks just like mine,
IT'S MINE!

If it breaks or needs putting away,
IT'S YOURS!

Thumb-Kin Toddler Craft

"Thumb”-kin Patch Craft
***EASY Toddler Craft***
Supplies

• White paper
• Orange paint
• Green marker

Directions

1. Put a small amount of the orange paint on a paper plate or in a bowl
2. Put thumb in paint (now it gets difficult…)
3. Press thumb onto paper. Repeat to make as many pumpkins as you want
4. Once paint is dry, use green marker to draw vines and leaves
5. Write “My ‘Thumb’kin Patch” at the top of paper

Daylight Savings, Cold Weather and Hand Washing!

It seems that since we switched the clocks back that mother nature has taken its cue to crank up the cold. BBRRRR! I used to take advantage of this time change and catch up on my sleep but JoJo has other plans. at 6:30 a.m. he wakes up bright eyed and bushy tailed, hungry and ready to start the day. As I groan and roll our of bed I can't help but notice how darn cute he is in his footie pajamas and bed hair. Then I remember how my mother used to growl at me in the morning (not a fun way to start the day) and I put on a pot of coffee and do my best to start the day.......and counting the hours until nap time.
I just can't help but be fueled by JoJo's eagerness to start each day anew with a smile and the morning he brought me my slippers it melted my heart. The morning he tried to shove a soggy fruit loop in my sleeping face I was just as excited  because he just makes me laugh.
Summer was a busy busy time, we hopped out of bed, hit the pool and ran until sun down. Now JoJo is learning the art of hibernation and cuddling. He's pretty good at it too, heck I'm a natural at sleeping, maybe he gets it from me.

This is the season of walks to the park, building forts in the living room, hide and seek in the house, crafts and baking. I think we'll make it through this season just fine!

Like father, like son!

    More and more lately I find myself having flashbacks of the first couple of crazy years my husband and I got together. This is all brought upon by Joey, his antics and the realization of how much he is like his father.

For example:

-I laid Joey down for a nap and when I later checked on him he was sprawled out sideways on the bed, half empty cup thrown aside, one sock off, mouth open and snoring. I have a faint recollection of seeing his father this exact way years ago.

-Today he set his granola bar on my leg for safe keeping. When he came back for it he opted to just bend down and take a bite with no hands……granola body shot? Hhhmmmm, sure its not vodka but its age appropriate!

-Last night I awoke to a passed out sweaty person laying on my chest and drooling……definitely like his father!

-Getting the bejeezus scared out of  me in the shower by two big brown eyes staring at me through the glass asking to come in!

- Hands in my plate….need I say more?

-The other day my husband walked by and smacked my rear end……JoJo saw and now more often then not when I am doing the dishes I get a swat followed by a quickly retreating giggle……sometimes its still my husband, sometimes its JoJo. They both think its hilarious….not sure why.

-Now as JoJo and I walk through town he happily points out cars that catch his eye and adds a sweet lil “vroom vroom”

Parenting Mag: Everday Giveaway

Thats right, you heard me. Parenting magazine is having a month long daily giveaway of the Best Toys of 2010 for the whole month of November. Enter daily and good luck!

Click HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun and Kid Friendly Dinner

My little monkey loves pizza so much but I can only, in good conscience make him so many frozen pizza's a week without feeling like a bad mommy. Last week I thought we'd make our own and only after I was getting out all my ingredients did I realize he can help out too! I got him a stool and let him play with his own piece of dough while I rolled mine out and he even sprinkled some cheese. Older kids can help out a lot more and its fun to have a assortment of toppings to choose from!
We made pesto pizza with bacon, olives, sweet italian sausage, sweet onions, and LOTS of cheese.
JoJo of course had plain cheese but the whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's and the fresh products made me feel a little better about indulging him his favorite dinner!
VOILA!!!

Ok, they don't look very pretty, I have to work on my dough rolling skills but it tasted fantastic!

Halloween Hangover

The candy is hidden, the costume is washed and put away, and I have worked all day to try and get some good food into my son. I forgot how much I love this holiday but I'm also glad to see it go, if only for the fear of diabetes, LOL!
Anyhow I whipped up a batch of playdough today. I know what your thinking...."homemade playdough, YUCK". Well let me just say that it has come a long way since we were kids and the secret is cream of tartar. Don't ask me why but it works. It dosn't stink, it dosn't dry out in two hours like the kind from when we were kids and if you refrigerate it after they play with it, it will last up to a month!
Anyhow, here ya go....

Good Ole Playdough
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
3 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups salt
6 tsp cream of tartar
3 TBS cooking oil
food coloring
Directions:

• Mix all dry ingredients together plus the cooking oil. Once well blended, add boiling water. Stir dough mixture until it leaves the sides of the bowl. Remove and knead well on floured board. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

You can add glitter to it for extra sparkle!
For smooth coloring add the food coloring to the oil and water first.
Here is a picture of JoJo and his friends in art class playing with the playdough, I didnt take pictures at home today....my battery died from trick or treating, LOL

One of my fav's

She is so beautiful

Getting Ready for Halloween

I know I am going to be super busy the next couple of days with Halloween happenings so I am posting JoJo in his costume early. Viola.....

I'm still debating whether its awesome or sad that I have his costumes picked out in my head for the next 5 years, LOL!

Wild Angel Quote of the Week

To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.

- Josh Billings

2 Minute Craft

Its funny how I sometimes forget the most simplest of things from my childhood. thankfully someone mentioned "tissue ghosts" and I quickly threw together a couple for JoJo. Surely you've made tissue ghosts. These kept him busy long enough for me to make it through the grocery store!

 

I put two cotton balls in the center of a tissue, folded the tissue over the cotton balls, tied with some  ribbon and drew a face. Viola.....tissue ghosts!

Rainy day craft

Maybe you've saved some of the left over bubble blowing wands from summer....if not you now have a reason to do so. Today in art class we learned a cool new trick. You will need....

-a couple of bubble wands
-food coloring
-dish soap diluted with a tiny bit of water
-food coloring
-a couple of small bowls or dishes
-sheets of paper

Fill each dish a small amount of dish soap/water mixture, add a couple of drops of food coloring to each for desired shade. Lay out your paper, dip the wands into the dishes and let the kids have a ball blowing the colored bubbles onto the paper to make cool designs and art.
It sounds simple but the kids loved it!

Autumn Stew

I call this Autumn Stew because......well I make it every Autumn and into winter, also known as the "croc pot season"!
Anyhow, I just throw these ingredients together so for the recipe I did my best to put the ingredients into specific measurments, LOL. No really it will turn out great in your Slow Cooker.

Ingredients:
-1 lb Boneless Pork Shoulder Roast
-1 Table Spoon of Cooking Oil
-3-4 medium sweet potatos
-1 large yellow onion
-1/3 cup dried apples
-4 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
-2 teaspoons dried/crushed sage
-1 tablespoon of quick cooking tapioca
-1/4 teaspoon cardamom
-1 teaspoon pepper
-1/3 cup brown sugar
-2 cups chicken broth
1 cup of apple cider or apple juice

Method
 -Cut pork into 1-2 inch pieces, trimming fat
-In large skillet heat cooking oil, brown meat and drain grease
-slice carrots, celery and onions. ( I like the onions fairly large in the stew)
-cut sweet potato into 2 inch cubes
-put vegetables in slow cooker
-top with meat
-sprinkle dried sage, tapioca, cardamom, pepper, and brown sugar
-pour chicken broth and apple cider over all
-Cook on high 4 hours or low for 7-8 hours

VOILA!

My Cuddle Buddy

With all the warnings and information overload about keeping our kids active and spending enough time outside I have become a bit neurotic about keeping busy. I have a pretty tight schedule during the week of library storytime, gymnastics, art class, music class and a fun free day (thats usually the park or playdate). When Joey or I are sick we still go for nature walks and on rainy days I feel like I will quickly get cabin fever and opt for a museum or aquarium. This is quite the turn around from my pre-baby years, I could stay indoors and sleep for days but with the fear of my child's brain melting infront of the television we are always on the go.

Today however I woke up, made a big pot of my Autumn Stew and nestled down to watch the long awaited "How to Train your Dragon". I lit candles, grabbed a big cozy blanket and my best cuddle buddy. I thought he'd get bored but I was pleasantly surprised at how content he was just to sit with his mama and cuddle.
Oh boy did it feel nice!

It brought m back to my childhood and how relaxing HOME is. Nothing was better then mom's bed, the smell of home was so comforting and it was pretty cool lounging in pajamas all day. I tell myself to appreciate the simple things all the time and today I am glad I took my own advice!

"How To Train Your Dragon" is going to be a favorite in our house, I can tell!

Find Your Nearest Halloween Fun!

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
October 18 – 30, 2010
10:30 am – 3:00 pm daily
Regular Admission of $12 includes:
• Scarecrow Building Contest
• Visits with Danny the Dragon & Safari Sam
...• Face Painting
• Los Kunos Family Circus on October 28th & 30th

Purchase a special pass for $3 to receive a pumpkin and participate in jack-o-lantern carving – leave the mess with us!

Everyone is encouraged to bring in used clothing to build a scarecrow to compete in Happy Hollow’s scarecrow building contest. Contest ends October 30. All clothing will be donated to Family Supportive Housing.
For more information, please call 794-6400 or visit www.hhpz.org
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is located at 1300 Senter Road San Jose, CA 95112

Fun Pumpkin Ideas

Its almost that time.....time to carve pumpkins. I love carving pumpkins so much I am seriously considering carving pumpkins this week, waiting for them to rot and then doing more right before Halloween. Nobody has told me it is a crazy idea so i still just might!
JoJo is Go Diego Go crazy right now (although he says "Go Dego" so as I was searching for a Diego stencil and came across some great Nickelodeon stencils you can print out online.
I never buy ones at the store when there is so many to print free right of the good old WWW.
Nickelodeon
Nick Jr. -Click Here

Twilight fans, Check This out.....no shame!

Twilight Stencils















For more classic stencils I found some great ones at Better Home and Gardens, there is great selection!
Better Homes Link

Favorite Fall Recipe

Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients
-1/2 canola oil
-1 cup pastry flour
-1/3 cup cocoa powder ( I like the kind from Trader Joe's)
-2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (also from Trader Joe's)
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon of salt
-1 cup of sugar
-2 eggs
- 1 (15 ounce0 can of pumpkin puree
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
Preheat oven to 350, line muffin pan with festive muffin cups or grease pan. Set Aside

In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together oil, sugar, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Slowly whisk flour mixture until well combined then transfer to prepared pan.

bake approximately 13-17 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside, let cool before frosting.

Frosting
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-4 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
-2 cups of sugar
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract


I've heard of some people putting chocolate chips in it or baking it into a cake or even a bread loaf and sprinkling powdered sugar on top instead of the frosting. let me know how yours turn out!

Wild Angel Quote of the Week

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.

-Pablo Casals 

Pumpkins, Corn mazes, and Fun!

If you don't care much for autumn then I must apologize because I am in a fall frenzy and am loving every minute of it! By the time winter hits my poor husband is so tired of pumpkin pie, harvest festivals and nutmeg that he even welcomes the winter blues, LOL!
So naturally we spent this weekend at our local organic farm enjoying the festivities.....its still early enough in the season that my husband participates......I think JoJo makes it fun for just about everyone anyhow! We brought JoJo's cousin, Mia along and it was funny how many people thought they were twins. Mia is 3 months older then JoJo and is his best friend.              

                                                                    Corn Maze Babies!

                                                                                                         

They had a fantastic time playing in the corn maze, checking out pumpkins, they had their face painted, colored, and played in the corn bin!

The best part was the making of corn husk dolls (which is easier then i thought) and the pumpkin races. The husband did such a awesome job at the pumpkin race we went home with a whole car6t of pumpkins for Halloween, he made us very proud, LOL!
Daddy and JoJo making their corn husk "action figure"....boys don't play with dolls, LOL

It now sits on out table at home.....with some of our trophy pumpkins!

The kids and husband with our prize pumpkins...........

Our Trip Down Potty Road

I've had a couple of people ask me how I have gotten JoJo to potty train so easy so I thought I'd share my story. I figured today was a better day then any since it is the first time he went #2 in his potty.
He is 20 months, has been peeing in the potty for two months and isn't all teh way trained yet. i think I fear taking the big plunge and I think he is still too young.
On the other hand I am also scared I may be hindering him....if he is ready I should go with the flow.....no pun intended, LOL.

At 18 months I got his potty out with no intention other then keeping mum about it and letting him discover and get comfortable with it on his own. I thought it would take a month or two for him to even show interest in it. I was wrong, Mr. nosey was very curious and pee'd in it the first day. I immediately gave him a lollipop. That was key I think. Don't even take the potty out unless you have candy.

After that I quickly switched to regular M&M's, the kid can't get a lollipop everytime. So for the past two months I have asked him upon waking every morning and nap if he has to go potty. When I can give him a 100% of my attention I put his big boy undies on and ask him if he has to go every 30 minutes....if not more.

I keep a full supply of M&M's on hand and he gets on everytime. I braved a trip to Target last week, sans diaper and had him potty right before we left the house and as soon as we got in the store, even before I put him in a cart.

When I am in the bathroom doing my make-up I encourage him to try to sit on his potty and I praise him when he does. Sitting bare bottomed on a potty can be strange to a child, it cold, its unfamiliar.

As for #2, you have to catch them in the act or right before they are going to go. JoJo goes and hides behind a chair. Today i saw that look on his face as he made a beeline for his regular poo spot. I asked him if he had to go poo-poo. He said "no" so I told him he would get candy if he went. His dad was home and chimed in "I'll buy you a toy, lets go" and he swooped JoJo up and ran to the bathroom.
He plopped him down and he seemed nervous. He got up and we both told him "it ok, go it on your potty". We didnt hover and tried to act nonchalant. AND....Ta-da, he went.

We both were in shock but we did a happy dance and thankfully I had some mini snickers. I thought his first #2 deserved something special. We praised him like crazy and hopefully we are on the right track!

I know a lot of kids benefit from potty books and videos. I think my biggest suggestion would be to never get upset if they have a accident, miss or don't make it to the potty. Just say point blank "pee pee goes in the potty. This can be a stressful and scary new thing for them, its our job to make it a happy and rewarding experience.
Good Luck!

Easy Fall Craft

I like this craft because it is something even toddlers can help out with and it also gets the kids out of the house.
You will need

-wax paper
-scissors
-iron
-yarn or ribbon
-hole punch
-a bag of fall leaves
-2 paper bags

-Grab a bag and take a nice walk outside. Have the child collect all sorts of leaves and flowers to put in the bag.
When you get home sort them out have your child pick their favorites.
 -warm up your iron and lay down a paper bag
-Cut two large pieces of wax paper of the approximate same size. Wax side up, let the child arrange the leaves however they like
-Lay the second piece of paper atop the first, wax side down
-iron the whole peice of paper, flip over and iron that side

 At this point you can decide if you want it to be a place-mat, or like us you can cut it it out, punch a hole in it and hang it in the window as a decoration for fall.












 Another fun thing to go is to use crayon shavings in between the wax paper, they melt and make a cool looking decoration.

Disney Live Pre-Sale Coupon

Click Here for Tickets 
Use code RMDL2 HURRY! This Pre-sale Ends Sun. OCT. 17!
*See below for list of cities included in this exclusive pre-sale.

Abracadabra! It's Disney Live! presents Mickey's Magic Show!

Mickey, Minnie and a host of Disney friends come together with
world-class magicians to perform magic from legendary Disney films
right before your eyes. See the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella's rags
into a beautiful ball gown in a split second; the spectacular levitation of
Aladdin's Princess Jasmine; and the enchanted dancing brooms of Fantasia.
Join Donald and Goofy, Alice and the Mad Hatter, and many more for a
one-of-a-kind stage show you'll never forget. Mickey's Magic Show is a
whole new way to experience Disney Magic with your family!

Only performances in the following cities
are included in this SPECIAL PRE-SALE OFFER:
Bakersfield, CA -- Corpus Christi, TX -- Denver, CO -- Everett, WA --
Greensboro, NC -- Kent, WA -- Oakland, CA -- Ontario, CA -- Portland, WA -- San Jose, CA

Falling in Love with Fall!

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot


First Day of Autumn: Wednesday Sept. 22


MMMM, this my most favorite time of year....and it has nothing to do with it being football season. I am more festive and at peace in the fall then any other season. Today I did my autumn ritual of buying fall scented candles, fall scented lip gloss, got the last of the Halloween costume accessories, Halloween candy, and decorated for fall. I got JoJo his Thanksgiving outfit and some fall ensembles. I just LOVE the smell of fall, inside and outside. We had our first fire in the fireplace last week and soon Starbucks will be selling their fantastic Gingerbread latte, LOL. I do hope JoJo loves fall as much as I. My husband has learned to love fall because to him that equals baking season, for some reason I bake a lot of goodies in the fall!
Anyhow not to leave the kiddies out here are some of my favorite fun activities to do with the wee-ones…..

-Plant some flowers or veggies
-have a picnic
-star gaze
-visit your local orchard to pick what is in season
-stuff a scarecrow

The coolest thing on our latest bug walk was releasing ladybugs into the garden. I didn’t know you can buy ladybugs at most garden stores like Osh/Home depot or your local nursery. They are great for any garden and the best time to release them is at night, early morning and right after you have watered!
The kids had such a fun time with the ladybugs!

The pumpkin patches opened last weekend!

Wild Angel Quote of the Week

A person soon learns how little he knows when a child begins to ask questions.
-- Richard L. Evans

Everyday is a Fresh Start

Ever see a kid offering up “please “ and thank you” more willingly then your child and wonder how he got to be so polite?  How about the cool kid who struts onto the playground to have all the other kids gravitate towards him while your shy flower plays in the corner?
We all want our kids to be successful, loved and talented and it really makes me wonder how much is learned behavior and how much is inherent. I don’t have the answer to that but I do have some observations. Ever hear the phrase “kids do as you do, not as you say”, well its true. My niece and nephew are the most social, fun loving, talented and outgoing (not to mention gorgeous) kids I know and you don’t have to look far to see why. Their mother is a social butterfly who always has a friendly smile or helping hand and they have grown up watching her in action. Its no big surprise they are the same way. Now I guess we should also factor in attachment parenting, ie co-sleeping and baby wearing as infants which has been said to help prove confidence. But the point is that kids DO as you do, not as you say. So as your entering a grandma’s house, pushing your child ahead of you, urging her to go give grandma a big hug and kiss don’t be surprised if she runs and hides behind your back. I have never been the adventurous type, I am actually quite the scaredy cat but the last thing I want to do is instill that in my son as my mother did to me. You wont catch me riding a skateboard down a hill or going off the high dive (that’s another thing I can ask his auntie to handle, LOL) but I can try to show a willingness to overcome fears.
    So the good thing about children is that they are moldable and we can still change some bad habits if you havnt already. Ask yourself what kind of person you want them to be and YOU be that person. None of us are perfect parents or human beings and I think that is a very important lesson to teach our children also. I sincerely hope that I can show my children how to move on from mistakes in a humble manner and know when is my time to apologize. I think humility is just as important as confidence and its never to early or to late to learn either!

JoJo's New Favorite Books.

This past week as we were killing time at our local library, waiting for storytime to start JoJo fell in love with a series of books. They will surely be the start of a great book collection for him. They are a series of the most fantastic and amazing pop-up books I have ever seen. After looking up the author, Robert Sabuda. I found that his book are primarily treasured by adults but my strong desire to instill a love of books into my son is enough for me to start collecting them.
One of the things I liked best was that his books are traditional stories like Alice and Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe but he brings them to life in a magical way.
Robert Sabuda's Website
The pictures do not do the books justice whatsoever.

I am so thankful that he likes books at such a early age and I hope to cultivate that interest into a foundation of learning and a way to bond with my son. I love to get lost in a good book and I hope to pass that on to him.
Whatever it is you like to do I hope that you share it with your child.

I wonder how many people looked at me and Joey today in the grocery store and thought I was crazy. I’m trying to take comfort in hopes that at least one mother looked at me and understood. You see today I bought JoJo a new baseball bat and baseball which he insisted upon taking into the grocery store with us. Don’t worry, it was a soft one, nerf or something with Diego on it. Anyhoo so here we are in the freezer section, JoJo chanting “Dego Go, DEGO”….because he can’t pronounce Diego so he calls him Dego, or maybe that’s his Italian roots coming out? Who knows….. and just my luck, he dosnt let go of the bat for a moment so I am weaving in and out of people trying to keep everyone safe from a 20 month old, bat wielding, Dego screaming munchkin. He is having the time of his life and every so often forgets I told him not to throw the ball so he hurls it into the ice cream case or a stack of vegetables from which I have to retrieve before it collects ecoli, thankfully there were no casualties.

We finally make it to the check out line and a nice teenage boy was kind enough to take over batting practice for me, JoJo got a couple of base hits into the wine display behind me and all the while you might be thinking…….”wouldn’t it be easier just to take it away before entering the store”? If your thinking that then you obviously don’t have kids or its been awhile since you’ve been down Terrible Two’s Avenue.

No harm, No Foul everyone was happy and now if I get a gray hair this year at least I‘ll know where it came from. I’ll save the story of the guitar in the grocery store for another day!

Moral of the story….sometimes you look silly in public but I rather be silly then have a screaming baby!

A Rant.....

I love getting Joey out of the house everyday and we take advantage of our local resources as much as possible. We go to library story times, farmers markets and just about every function in our town that is age appropriate. I think it is very important for children to get early socialization and I just LOVE this age, I love toddlers, they are so precious.
I can’t say I enjoy the company of some of the mom’s we frequently come across. What is it about women when they get into groups that they have to form cliques, be judgmental and or discourteous? We are all in the same boat, we all are busy moms and I think we owe it to our children to set good examples. I know I’m not perfect but I try to be aware of myself, my child and our surroundings.
OK I just realized this post is more of a rant but here it goes anyways…….

Stinky Diaper:
CHANGE IT! Today a lady at story time kept apologizing for her her son’s stinky diaper. I could see in her mammoth stroller she had ample supplies to remedy the situation. If she would have taken 2 minutes to change the diaper it would have been less energy then all the apologizing she kept doing. She “just couldn’t pull him away from the group” as she put it.
Not only was it rude to the whole group but her poor kids was just stewing in it….despite the fact that he really didn’t seem to mind.

Tardiness:
Ok maybe this is one of my pet peeves but I am rarely…..RARELY late. I find it awfully rude when other people keep me waiting due to their inability to plan correctly. Obviously the unforeseen happen, especially with kids and that’s ok BUT try to be courteous of others when you are late. If your late getting your kids to class, playgroup, a restaurant were you might be meeting others, a birthday party, a lesson or whatever it is try not ot interfere with what is going on. It really sucks when the group has to start over, stop, or be totally interrupted because someone is late. Obviously a young child dosn’t know and will take a moment to register what is going on but you’d think the parent would know better.

Nursing in Public:
Ok I know everyone has their own opinion of this and I respect them all. But in keeping with my theme “being courteous of others” let me please remind some moms that just because we are totally comfortable nursing in public dosn’t mean other people are. Its funny how after we have a kid we are much more one to doing what we gotta do for our kids no matter where we are or who is there BUT try not to shock the whole restaurant by whipping out a at-at with no cover whatsoever, LOL!
I 100% feel that a mother has a right to nurse wherever she needs to but modesty is key.

Colds/Sickness:
Stay home. I know….it sounds obvious right?  I guess not. I know when your kid is sick they hate being cooped up all day….as do you. But please don’t bring them to playgroups, school or any of the above. Its just discourteous and says to the rest of the moms “ I don’t care if my kid gets yours sick”. take your child on a walk, to a outdoor park and play ball but please don’t spread the germs.

Candy:
Really lady? Your just going to bust put a lollipop in front of the whole playgroup, give it to your child and expect it to be cool? Its funny how crackers, gold fish, and a juice box can go un-noticed amongst a group of kids but bust out some candy and its like they have sugar radar!
Unless you have some for everyone don’t bring it out in the open.
In turn….don’t give a snack to a kid unless you ask their mother first.  You don’t want to be the reason for a E.R. visit because the kid you gave a Nutter butter to is allergic to peanut butter.

Phone:
Get off the phone. Especially if your kid is throwing things or terrorizing the other kids. Our children learn very early on that if mommy is on the phone she isn’t paying good attention. Not to mention you gotta set a example for your child. You are their to play and socialize and we all gotta answer the phone but please don’t leave the rest of the moms to regulate your child the entire time.

Get UP!!!!:
Nothing gets under my skin more then the mom who sits on the bench, chair, whatever and yells at her kid to stop doing whatever it is they are doing…..over and over and over. It took the rest of us moms two minutes to realize your not getting up from your seat…..I’m pretty sure your kid knows the same thing too. Not only is your kid learning to not listen to you but your driving everyone else crazy.

Wild Angel Quote of the Week

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

I'm Baaackkk!!!

I am back and we had a fantastic vacation! We were on a road trip to So-Cal and did the obvious Disneyland/San Diego stuff. A lot of people told me to wait until JoJo was older to take him because he wouldn’t remember but I think that is silly. We had a fantastic time and were able to do it at a adults pace….meaning if he was older he would have tired me out rather quickly, LOL!
Here are some highlights from the trip….

Free at last from the car!

My new favorite picture!

Surprise Surprise, the monkey's were his favorite!

Pardon me while I......

Go on vacation with my lovely family! Thats right, its our first real vacation since Joey has blessed us with his presence and where are we going you might ask?........Disneyland of course!

We were going to wait until he was a bit older but then I realized he will have his own agenda. so we are taking advantage of his youthful ignorance and are going to spend a couple days at the pool in between park attractions!
Be back In a week....or so.


I wouldnt think of leaving you without a wild Angel Quote to think on. Most of us DO have young children so lets do better to live in the moment.....


If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"

Happy Healthy Kids

On my recent stroll through the isles of our local Whole Foods store I was thinking how much more we as parents pay attention to labels and ingredients more then our parents probably did. I always remember having a ton of sweets, soda and junk on hand as a kid.
It got me thinking of my favorite products for Joey that help me sneak in extra vitamins and I thought I'd share them. Joey is a particularly finicky eater so I have to work hard to make sure he has enough protein, fiber, calcium, and vitamins.
I'd first like to start by sharing a link on a recent study that has proven how a fit and healthy child actually has a better capability of learning, retaining information and being all around mentally smarter.....
Physical Fitness Boosts memory & Brain Function

Probiotics: Not only do probiotics (found in yogurt, some milk and cheese) aid in a healthy digestive system but new studies have shown they help reduce the chances of ear infections, sinusitis, flu and diarrhea. My son just loves the Probugs Organic Kefir for kids............ DanActive is another known brand!

They come in this cool squeeze pouch and pack a whopping 9 grams of protein!

Sign Up to recieve a coupon to try them free!







Fruits and Veggies: Obviously there is no substitute for fresh fruits and veggies however I have found a product that is fun for Joey to drink and is a sneaky way for me to add some servings of fruits and veggies to his diet. Amazing Grass Kidz Superfood is a powder mix formula you add to water that is supposed to offer 3 servings of fruits and veggies in each glass. Only 1 gram of sugar, non dairy, gluten free and has other vitamins like beta carotene, calcium and more. Joey will only drink the fruit kind. They also make a chocolate one to add to milk but I havn't had good reviews on it. Stores that sell it typically have sample packets to try out first.

Visit Their Website for more info












More Fruits:
Also I'm sure you've all seen these cool apple sauce packets that are perfect for on the go and come in a variety of brands and flavors. Be sure to check the nutrition panel, I have found some to contain up to 22 grams of sugar!!! WOW!

Joey also hates fresh fruits ( I know, horrible huh)? so we have found that he will eat freeze dried fruit. Regular dried fruit is a fun way to get them to eat fruits also. Obviously if your kid will eat fresh fruit that is preferable but these are great for on the go also and last long also.

Daily Vitamins and Immunity Boost: You really can't beat the traditional chewy gummy vitamin but for a fun immunity boost our whole family loves Emergen-C. I was so excited to find they have a line for kids and I think its a easy way for kids to get vitamins and a way to boost their immunity. it fizzes like soda and come in great flavors!

Sign up for free samples and coupons!













Lastly, its never too early to instill in our children how important it is to wash their hands!! They make some pretty fun and cool hand soaps now that change colors, foam, and have beads in them!

Iphone Apps for Women!

IPeriod Ultimate: Yup, its what you think it is, LOL! Helps you stay on top of your "woman week" and can help predict fertility and ovulation also.

The Pill: Ok I thought this one sounded silly but after checking it out it won me over. Not only can it remind you everyday to take your pill but it can also remind you when its time to get a refill! SWEET!

IOvulation:  There are a ton of fertility apps to choose from but this one was my favorite. It is the most personal and easiest to use! It tells you when your best times for getting pregnant is, when your most likely to conceive a boy or girl and you can even set a password so that only you can see it!

BabyBump: Helps you keep track of your pregnancy without the use of a book. Even better it gives you updates about your growing baby and has fun diagrams!

BabyTracker-Nursing: I really could have used this when my son was nursing. I felt like the walking dead and for the life of me couldn't remember what side to nurse on next. I think it would be pretty easy to input info while nursing to remind yourself the last time the baby fed and what side. I also know that I used to get worried that my son wasnt getting enough, this tracker would be a great way to document how much the baby is actually eating!

Calorie Tracker: Enough Said!