I thought she looked like Mrs. Claus! That's the apron I made her, with a nightgown underneath. And a winter hat she chose to wear.
Note the background scene in the first picture!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Makin' the cookies
As I said, I was behind this year, we ended up making the christmas cookies on Christmas Eve Day. This year it was just me and the kids, so it was a little more hectic (for me, anyway). Usually cookie-making would be a two day job, with at least two adults on duty as well. Justin was a huge help this year.....he actually was the only one helping me make the cookie dough.
Letter to Santa
They sent a letter to Santa through the school. It's a little hard to read because I just took a picture of the letter, I really have to set the scanner up again.
oh yeah....
While I remember, at Winter Craft night Leanna's teacher stopped me to tell me that Leanna's doing really well and has moved up to reading level 14, the highest in her class. I'm very proud of her!
Cookies for the teacher
I was running late with everything this holiday season, so we made the cookies for Leanna's teacher on the last day of school, while Leanna was in school. I was going to make them the night before, but I forgot about having to refrigerate the dough first! So Justin and I made them while Leanna was in school. Can you tell he REALLY enjoyed using sprinkles?! Can you tell Jacob REALLY enjoyed them too?!
Handprint tree and heart-Christmas presents
Picutes of the shirts we made for Nanny Sue for Christmas. She requested a new one since Jacob wasn't born yet the last time we made her one.
The handprints in one are in the shape of a Christmas tree and the other one was supposed to be in the shape of a heart, though it's a little lopsideded.
*We left room in the middle of the heart in case Jonathan wants to add his handprints to the shirt. You can get fabric paint at any craft store, it's not that expensive.
I'm back
Tree trimming pictures
Leanna liked playing with the ornaments (I remember doing that as a kid also)
.
.We're slowly unburying ourselves from the holiday mess........I'm a little behind on posting.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Meet Your Future Baby
Meet Your Future Baby
Monday, December 15, 2008
Want to see what your next kid will look like? Check this out.
Getty Images
Whether you're planning your wedding, thinking about baby number two, or just bored at work, here's a fun way to pass the time: Make cyber babies.
Visit Make Me Babies, a website that lets you upload your own photo along with your husband's, to see what your future children will look like. The company uses special software that blends your facial features to give you a probable outcome of your potential offspring's cuteness.
Got a case of wishful thinking? Upload your own picture with David Beckham's, Brad Pitt's, or Zac Efron's. (Oh come on, you know he's cute!)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Want to see what your next kid will look like? Check this out.
Getty Images
Whether you're planning your wedding, thinking about baby number two, or just bored at work, here's a fun way to pass the time: Make cyber babies.
Visit Make Me Babies, a website that lets you upload your own photo along with your husband's, to see what your future children will look like. The company uses special software that blends your facial features to give you a probable outcome of your potential offspring's cuteness.
Got a case of wishful thinking? Upload your own picture with David Beckham's, Brad Pitt's, or Zac Efron's. (Oh come on, you know he's cute!)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Jacob likes this one...
Tom said his brother's nickname used to be Beaker! You know, I think I miss the Muppets!
Monday, December 22, 2008
I couldn't resist
(I can relate to most of this. No one's ever asked if I know what causes it, although people have told Tom to get a new hobby. I've never been asked if it's a daycare or if I'm Catholic, and I get a modified question about twins-if Justin and Timothy are twins)
Well, I hope they one day realize it........
A sweet post from parentdish:
A mother's role in Christmas
by Rachel Campos-Duffy Dec 22nd 2008 8:00AM
Categories: Holidays, Religion & spirituality
In the story of Christmas, the baby Jesus is the star, as he should be, but no less pivotal to the event is the role of his mother, Mary, without whom, it could not have happened the way it did.I think this is an interesting analogy for the way Christmas is celebrated in our own homes. Regardless of our faith, moms are pivotal to the way families experience and remember the holidays and without them it just wouldn't be the same. Moms are the bearers of a family's traditions. They the ones who notice the details and who's touches create the anticipation, the smells, the decorations, the music, and the warmth that leave indelible imprints on our hearts. That's why we are reminded at Christmas time of our own mother, because now, as grown-ups, we finally understand the thoughtfulness and love that went into the way she prepared the holidays for us.Often it is the smallest details – the smell of pine from the mantel boughs, the frosted cookie, the candles on the dinner table, Christmas hand towels in the bathroom. These touches are not so much noticed as they are felt. In our family, we have a tradition to encourage kindness during advent, the four weeks leading to Christmas. A baby Jesus doll is placed in a basket and whenever someone does a nice deed for another family member, they place a piece of straw under the doll, in order to create a softer place for the baby.This holiday, mothers will also make our homes a little softer by doing many, many little (and important) acts of kindness for their families. It's my prayer that these acts of love will be an opportunity for all mothers to reflect on the universal meaning of the season and to appreciate the pivotal ways mothers bring this message into their homes and, thus into the world.
Comments (2)
A mother's role in Christmas
by Rachel Campos-Duffy Dec 22nd 2008 8:00AM
Categories: Holidays, Religion & spirituality
In the story of Christmas, the baby Jesus is the star, as he should be, but no less pivotal to the event is the role of his mother, Mary, without whom, it could not have happened the way it did.I think this is an interesting analogy for the way Christmas is celebrated in our own homes. Regardless of our faith, moms are pivotal to the way families experience and remember the holidays and without them it just wouldn't be the same. Moms are the bearers of a family's traditions. They the ones who notice the details and who's touches create the anticipation, the smells, the decorations, the music, and the warmth that leave indelible imprints on our hearts. That's why we are reminded at Christmas time of our own mother, because now, as grown-ups, we finally understand the thoughtfulness and love that went into the way she prepared the holidays for us.Often it is the smallest details – the smell of pine from the mantel boughs, the frosted cookie, the candles on the dinner table, Christmas hand towels in the bathroom. These touches are not so much noticed as they are felt. In our family, we have a tradition to encourage kindness during advent, the four weeks leading to Christmas. A baby Jesus doll is placed in a basket and whenever someone does a nice deed for another family member, they place a piece of straw under the doll, in order to create a softer place for the baby.This holiday, mothers will also make our homes a little softer by doing many, many little (and important) acts of kindness for their families. It's my prayer that these acts of love will be an opportunity for all mothers to reflect on the universal meaning of the season and to appreciate the pivotal ways mothers bring this message into their homes and, thus into the world.
Comments (2)
Saturday, December 20, 2008
This was excited laughter......
Just to see how she felt about it, I mentioned homeschooling to Leanna. Her reaction was, "what about recess?" (the school's been taking recess away A LOT lately). She actually got excited and wanted to plan and make rules for it, etc. We'll see what happens, it's just being considered. This video shows her excitement at the idea....she was really excited.
I think she may one day have a career as a villian, based solely on her evil laugh.....she's really very good at it!
Stuff Tom built
A window he built for our basement and a stool he built for a friend (he hadn't attached the bottom yet)
Sounds about accurate to me....
Editor Gerald Korson’s humorous take on society’s view of large families:
Here’s how society’s perception of family size appears from our side of the maternity ward:
Child No. 1: In today’s culture, everyone is entitled to have a chid. No problem there. It’s a birthright. It can be a boy or a girl - it doens’t matter.
Child No. 2: You’re allowed a second child, as long as it’s the opposite gender from your first. “How wonderful! You have one boy and one girl,” we heard when our second child came. “Now you can quit.” Quit? At 25, we’re done having kids?
Child No. 3: The culture allows you, if you insist, to have a third child, but only if you failed to get a matched set with the first two. Call it a mulligan. If you have two girls, you go for a boy; two boys, and you’re after a girl. if you blow it and get another of the same, too bad. You get no more do-overs.
Child No. 4: Now you’re just getting ridiculous, especially if the kids are close in age. You’re officially christined “Fertile Myrtle” and “Virile Cyril.” Knock it off.
Child No.5: People begin to suspect you are nuts. Or just plain irrisponsible. Or both.
Child No. 6: The diagnosis is confirmed. Besides, a family of eight is simply impractical. Most minivans seat seven. Now you need a full-size van or nine-passenger SUV, or one of those classic early 1980s station wagons with the fake wood panelings and the fold-down third bench seat (I recommend the 1983 Pontiac Parisienne).
Child No. 7: By now, anywhere you venture as a family, you are inevitably asked, “Are they all yours?” Take no offence. Between day-care, field trips and the proliferation of blended families, it’s actually a legitimate question.
Child No. 8: Since No. 5 you’ve been hearing that timelessly coarse quip, “Don’t you know what causes that?” You have permenant teeth marks on your toungue from trying to suppress snappy sarcastic replies. (One wouldn’t think of making remarks about fertility to couples with few or no children. Why are large families fair game?)
Child No. 9: Neighbors, strangers and even a few well meaning friends have pretty much given up on you long before now. They compare your progeny to sprting events: With nine, you’ve got a baseball team.
Child No. 10: You’ve gone American League and added a designated hitter.
Couples with large families aren’t necessarily better parents, better Catholics or more blessed than others. We’re simply blessed in a different way - and, like all persons of faith, we are called to raise up our blessings for the greater glory of God.
Here’s how society’s perception of family size appears from our side of the maternity ward:
Child No. 1: In today’s culture, everyone is entitled to have a chid. No problem there. It’s a birthright. It can be a boy or a girl - it doens’t matter.
Child No. 2: You’re allowed a second child, as long as it’s the opposite gender from your first. “How wonderful! You have one boy and one girl,” we heard when our second child came. “Now you can quit.” Quit? At 25, we’re done having kids?
Child No. 3: The culture allows you, if you insist, to have a third child, but only if you failed to get a matched set with the first two. Call it a mulligan. If you have two girls, you go for a boy; two boys, and you’re after a girl. if you blow it and get another of the same, too bad. You get no more do-overs.
Child No. 4: Now you’re just getting ridiculous, especially if the kids are close in age. You’re officially christined “Fertile Myrtle” and “Virile Cyril.” Knock it off.
Child No.5: People begin to suspect you are nuts. Or just plain irrisponsible. Or both.
Child No. 6: The diagnosis is confirmed. Besides, a family of eight is simply impractical. Most minivans seat seven. Now you need a full-size van or nine-passenger SUV, or one of those classic early 1980s station wagons with the fake wood panelings and the fold-down third bench seat (I recommend the 1983 Pontiac Parisienne).
Child No. 7: By now, anywhere you venture as a family, you are inevitably asked, “Are they all yours?” Take no offence. Between day-care, field trips and the proliferation of blended families, it’s actually a legitimate question.
Child No. 8: Since No. 5 you’ve been hearing that timelessly coarse quip, “Don’t you know what causes that?” You have permenant teeth marks on your toungue from trying to suppress snappy sarcastic replies. (One wouldn’t think of making remarks about fertility to couples with few or no children. Why are large families fair game?)
Child No. 9: Neighbors, strangers and even a few well meaning friends have pretty much given up on you long before now. They compare your progeny to sprting events: With nine, you’ve got a baseball team.
Child No. 10: You’ve gone American League and added a designated hitter.
Couples with large families aren’t necessarily better parents, better Catholics or more blessed than others. We’re simply blessed in a different way - and, like all persons of faith, we are called to raise up our blessings for the greater glory of God.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Mercury
As if eczema and lead in his system isn't enough, I now have to worry about mercury. I was cleaning off the top of our computer desk yesterday and had the stuff normally up there down on the desk itself. As I did something for one of the other kids, Jacob grabbed one of those "environmentally friendly" light bulbs that the electric company had sent to us and threw it on the floor. I didn't even want them in our house because they contain mercury, so if they are broken are a hazard. I just pictured a kid accidentally pulling on a cord or knocking over a lamp with one of those bulbs.......and sure enough 17 month old Jacob has now done it! I got rid of the light bulb, it's outside in trash, and I took the kids upstairs and opened the front and back doors. They don't have as much mercury as old thermometers did, but there is still some risk. So now I'm worrying about how much Jacob was exposed to, as he threw it down and was standing over it when it broke and the vapor escaped. (the mercury doesn't come out as droplets like in the thermometers.) I'd like to be done with all this worrying stuff-lacerations and vomiting, stitches, elevated levels of stuff, itching, making faces at kids, and mercury poisoning!
Career goals
A cute listing of kids' future job goals and what they think you do in the job and how much you should get paid. I agree, a snake scientist should get paid a lot because of the biting! LOL
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Jacob, eczema, lead levels
Jacob's eczema is pretty bad lately. I had to call to get the results of his test-they had drawn blood for both a lead test and an IGE level test (if his IGE levels are high then he'd be just be predisposed towards eczema and there'd be nothing we could do about it). The lead level test they had called me back about-he's at 14 now, it was at 16 before, so he's on his way down. They're still worried though and want him to repeat the test every freakin month. Sheesh, with each kid they get more worried about levels that didn't bother them in the past. Anyway, after being misdirected three times, I finally got through and they said his levels were normal. And they couldn't tell me anything more, didn't even suggest I make an appointment to talk about what to do next! Very frustrating. Although they did want to talk about his lead levels again, seriously when I said they'd already called me about them and I knew what to do about that she didn't believe me and made me tell her, "at his next appointment I'll get the prescription for the blood to be drawn and I'll go down to the lab after the appointment and have the blood drawn." ?? Um it's not difficult and there's not a lot of steps to remember there....I am getting increasingly annoyed at being treated like an idiot by their staff.
My little elves..
My little helper elves decided I wasn't decorating fast enough for them yesterday and found some unopened packages of tinsel. I wasn't even planning to use them this year. Justin helpfully began decorating the kitchen with it and his brothers copied him. I now have tinsel on two floors of my house and even after sweeping and vacuuming am still finding more.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Time, the best gift of all
On Saturday afternoon/evening we finally got some family time! It's rare for us so it's quite a treat. We took the kids to Q-Mart to see Santa and for us to walk around and later get a tree. Leanna told Santa she wants a guitar, then later when we came by again she ran up to Santa to tell him she forgot to add that she also wants an American Girl doll (and luckily she didn't notice that it was a different Santa than the one she sat next to earlier). Justin wouldn't talk to Santa because he's so shy anymore, but one of his siblings told Santa that he wants a toy gun , and Timothy, predictably, wants a car. Jacob just wanted off Santa's lap!
They had a teenager taking the pictures, and he was very nice, but he wasted precious time before Jacob got too scared to sit, worrying about the face Timothy was making. He took three pictures, trying to catch all of them looking and smiling, which I thought was generous.
We ate at a place with an overhead toy train and I asked if they could turn it on. Jacob loved it, and kept pointing at it as it went round above our heads. An elderly gentleman sat in a booth next to us and got a kick out of Jacob so he kept pointing to the train with Jacob. Jacob would look over at the man and the man would point up. Jacob would look up and start pointing too, and the man would start laughing. The waitresses were really nice about "all those kids", and I was happy to hear nice comments on our family size. It's great for the kids to hear good things about it for a change.
Justin and Timothy walked around holding Daddy's hand, which I could tell Justin particularly liked. Tom won Leanna a stuffed animal from one of those machines and bought her two rocks for her collection, even though he hates to spend money on a rock. (it was $2.00, and she's still very into rocks and collecting them.) We were on a quest to find Tom's peanut butter cups.....so many stores have changed since the last time we were there. We got a tree afterwards, and then went to Tony's for a late (free) supper. By the time we got home we were exhausted. I talked to Tom about the kids, particularly the boys, not just wanting but needing time with him. I think he sometimes forgets that spending time with his children is not something frivolous, but just as important as providing for their material needs. And Justin especially seems to crave time with his Dad, so I was beyond thrilled when Tom decided to let Justin saw the branches off the bottom of the tree. Justin got to use a tool! And do something with his Daddy. He LOVED it!
He was so intent on the sawing that he didn't notice me taking pictures (in a very dark room with very bright flash). Later that night when I remarked that I was so tired I wished I had gone to sleep earlier, Justin said "Well you could go to sleep, and Leanna and Timothy and Jacob.....but not me and Daddy! We had work to do!"
He's batman!
Just pretend you don't notice the stained shirt Justin is wearing, he uses it as a nightshirt.
On black Friday I picked up a pair of sneakers for Justin-Batman sneakers! He's very into superheroes right now. I had to get them when I saw they came with a mask. And I was delighted to find a cape inside the box as well when I got them home. So he got sneakers, a mask, and a cape for $10.00! Sometimes he sleeps with them next to him!
holiday stuff
Our advent calendar.
Our tree of thanksgiving that we made, I'm proud of that one as it was my own idea. Tracing their handprints was fun this year. Let me tell you, no two handprints from the same child are the same shape or size! And all the kids gave their own answers-no prompting from me. So yes, Timothy really is thankful for triangles, telescopes, etc.
Dinosaur Raincoat
It's a little on the small side for Justin, but my Mom found this raincoat at that baby/kids secondhand sale a few months ago and it was too cute to resist. Justin loves it even though it barely fits him. I am not looking forward to the day when he can't fit in it at all! Sunday, December 14, 2008
Smurfs
I saw a Toys R Us add for the smurfs and it said something about their 50th anniversary, which confused me as I was pretty sure they came out in the 80s. Tom made me look it up, and it turns out that they originated as a Belgin comic strip in 1958-who knew? In case anyone's curious-here's the history.
Merry Christmas!
A picture of a picture so the quality's not great.....Q-Mart has upgraded their sytem. Apparently you can't even buy polaroid film anymore, so they now use a digital camera and computer.....so the quality of the pictures is a little better and the price is the same, $3.50 for one. That is a smile on Timothy's face, that is how he now smiles for all pictures now. Thursday, December 11, 2008
My Mom's gonig to love this one...
I found this one night after I went out Christmas shopping. I asked if her teacher's been talking about the president but she said no. So I don't know where this came from? Tom says we should mail it to him.
(if you can't read it, it says: I love you Barack Obama. I love you because your making life better for us.)
Catching up
A few recent pictures......
Leanna did her brothers' hair and put Timothy in her shirt also. Jacob found cornbread muffins and apparently thought they were pretty good. Justin and Timothy then polished them off.
In case anyone else can go....
I had a chance to go see Kate, of Jon and Kate Plus Eight. A friend is going to meet her at Hackmans in Whitehall on Dec. 18th and offered to take me along. But I can't go because that's Winter Craft Night at school, which is a big deal. I intended to take the kids to the fall craft night but the school had sent home notes which listed 2 different locations and different times. So when we got there no one was there and the kids were all upset.
Even if we had made it to the fall one, the winter one is a bigger deal-they hold it at the church, people bring food, there are more crafts, last year Santa was there, and I'm hoping to get Tom to come again too.
But I would actually love to meet Kate, I think they are planning to move far away so I likely wouldn't have another chance to meet her if they do move. I admire her organizational skills and the way she makes all the holidays special, I LOVE their sense of family, and being in this thing together, I like that they present their marital relationship the way it is, flawed but still clearly loving, and unlike apparently most of their viewers, I like Mady (one of their older children, a twin) because Leanna is JUST LIKE HER! (likes to be in control, dramatic, has meltdowns, is either extremely on or off, rarely inbetween! Special and talented, high need for attention, a sweatheart whose attributes are sometimes hidden by the drama of her flaws).
Even if we had made it to the fall one, the winter one is a bigger deal-they hold it at the church, people bring food, there are more crafts, last year Santa was there, and I'm hoping to get Tom to come again too.
But I would actually love to meet Kate, I think they are planning to move far away so I likely wouldn't have another chance to meet her if they do move. I admire her organizational skills and the way she makes all the holidays special, I LOVE their sense of family, and being in this thing together, I like that they present their marital relationship the way it is, flawed but still clearly loving, and unlike apparently most of their viewers, I like Mady (one of their older children, a twin) because Leanna is JUST LIKE HER! (likes to be in control, dramatic, has meltdowns, is either extremely on or off, rarely inbetween! Special and talented, high need for attention, a sweatheart whose attributes are sometimes hidden by the drama of her flaws).
I always like a baby-naming article....
Woo-hoo! Jacob's down to number four!
Parents get serious about baby names in tough year
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Babies Zuma Nesta Rock and Bronx Mowgli, you're in the minority. Most parents abandoned unusual names for their children, opting instead for traditional names, according to a U.S. survey.
The top boy's name for the year remained Aiden, followed by Jayden, Ethan and Jacob with classic names like Matthew, Jack, Michael, Alexander, Daniel and William all featuring in a list of the top 50 most popular names.
The list, compiled from thousands of baby name entries on the specialist baby website Babycenter.com, found that Emma replaced Sophia as the top girl's name followed by Isabella and Olivia with Sarah, Elizabeth and Anna also popular.
With the United States consumed by politics all year, presidential names also made a return, such as Madison, Taylor, Kennedy for girls and Jackson and Tyler for boys.
Linda Murray, editor-in-chief of babycenter.com, said there was a clear trend for people to choose more serious, old fashioned, classic names, reflecting the tougher times.
"Times have changed and people are taking the world more seriously, affected by what is going on the world," said Murray.
"Even before the economic crisis we've had high gas and food prices all year and people have struggled. Our nation is at war. We have conflict in the world. It is a serious time in American life and it is affecting decisions about naming children."
When parents were asked in the online survey what they wanted a name to represent, the most important qualities for boys were strength, kindness and compassion compared to strength and individuality last year.
For girls it was kindness, compassion, intelligence and strength compared to femininity and individuality last year.
Marla Butler, from Santa Monica in California, chose the name Joshua for her son who was born in July, a brother to two-year-old sister Folbe who took her maiden name as an adventurous first name.
"This time around I wanted a strong, traditional name that was more in keeping with my Jewish tradition," she told Reuters.
"I think it is nostalgia. We want to hold onto our past and keep our memories going and feel comforted. It is a time to turn inwards and going back to the old names is part of that."
But not everyone agreed. Some celebrities still give their children unusual names.
Singers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz named their baby Bronx Mowgli, Australian actress Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban opted for Sunday Rose, while No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and musician husband Gavin Rossdale opted for Zuma Nesta Rock.
Actress Halle Berry named her daughter Nahla Ariela.
"Celebrities fall into a category of their own. They're creative as a group and like being one of a kind and are less concerned than the general public about setting their kids up for success in the future as they are financial secure," said Murrray.
"But it just shows that even place names have gone downmarket a bit. No more Paris and Brooklyn. We've gone down to the Bronx."
(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Patricia Reaney)
Parents get serious about baby names in tough year
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Babies Zuma Nesta Rock and Bronx Mowgli, you're in the minority. Most parents abandoned unusual names for their children, opting instead for traditional names, according to a U.S. survey.
The top boy's name for the year remained Aiden, followed by Jayden, Ethan and Jacob with classic names like Matthew, Jack, Michael, Alexander, Daniel and William all featuring in a list of the top 50 most popular names.
The list, compiled from thousands of baby name entries on the specialist baby website Babycenter.com, found that Emma replaced Sophia as the top girl's name followed by Isabella and Olivia with Sarah, Elizabeth and Anna also popular.
With the United States consumed by politics all year, presidential names also made a return, such as Madison, Taylor, Kennedy for girls and Jackson and Tyler for boys.
Linda Murray, editor-in-chief of babycenter.com, said there was a clear trend for people to choose more serious, old fashioned, classic names, reflecting the tougher times.
"Times have changed and people are taking the world more seriously, affected by what is going on the world," said Murray.
"Even before the economic crisis we've had high gas and food prices all year and people have struggled. Our nation is at war. We have conflict in the world. It is a serious time in American life and it is affecting decisions about naming children."
When parents were asked in the online survey what they wanted a name to represent, the most important qualities for boys were strength, kindness and compassion compared to strength and individuality last year.
For girls it was kindness, compassion, intelligence and strength compared to femininity and individuality last year.
Marla Butler, from Santa Monica in California, chose the name Joshua for her son who was born in July, a brother to two-year-old sister Folbe who took her maiden name as an adventurous first name.
"This time around I wanted a strong, traditional name that was more in keeping with my Jewish tradition," she told Reuters.
"I think it is nostalgia. We want to hold onto our past and keep our memories going and feel comforted. It is a time to turn inwards and going back to the old names is part of that."
But not everyone agreed. Some celebrities still give their children unusual names.
Singers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz named their baby Bronx Mowgli, Australian actress Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban opted for Sunday Rose, while No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and musician husband Gavin Rossdale opted for Zuma Nesta Rock.
Actress Halle Berry named her daughter Nahla Ariela.
"Celebrities fall into a category of their own. They're creative as a group and like being one of a kind and are less concerned than the general public about setting their kids up for success in the future as they are financial secure," said Murrray.
"But it just shows that even place names have gone downmarket a bit. No more Paris and Brooklyn. We've gone down to the Bronx."
(Writing by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Patricia Reaney)
I've suspected this.....
Science is verifying what many overeaters have suspected for a long time: sugar can be addictive.
In fact, the sweetener seems to prompt the same chemical changes in the brain seen in people who abuse drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
When I was pregnant with Jacob, I remember only craving meal-type foods like hoagies and steak sandwhiches, etc. Normally I am a big snacker but it was like a switch was shut off in my head and I 1. just didn't want that stuff and 2. when I did eat it I would only want a few and I was done. Normally I would just keep wanting more.
"Some say it's easy to lose weight -- you just have to shut your mouth, stop eating so much," Aronne said. "I tell them a good way to overcome global warming is if people made less carbon dioxide by breathing less. Obviously, that's absurd. You can't do it because you feel uncomfortable.
"The same thing is true of eating," he added. "Fattening food has an impact on the regulating mechanism that breaks down your sense of fullness, makes you feel an urge to go back and get that blast of sugar and this creates the vicious cycle of weight gain that we're going through."
In fact, the sweetener seems to prompt the same chemical changes in the brain seen in people who abuse drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
When I was pregnant with Jacob, I remember only craving meal-type foods like hoagies and steak sandwhiches, etc. Normally I am a big snacker but it was like a switch was shut off in my head and I 1. just didn't want that stuff and 2. when I did eat it I would only want a few and I was done. Normally I would just keep wanting more.
"Some say it's easy to lose weight -- you just have to shut your mouth, stop eating so much," Aronne said. "I tell them a good way to overcome global warming is if people made less carbon dioxide by breathing less. Obviously, that's absurd. You can't do it because you feel uncomfortable.
"The same thing is true of eating," he added. "Fattening food has an impact on the regulating mechanism that breaks down your sense of fullness, makes you feel an urge to go back and get that blast of sugar and this creates the vicious cycle of weight gain that we're going through."
toy memories
I found this post on Amazon's toy blog about people's favorite holiday toy memories. The Frankie bear story is cute. I like the one where the girl went screaming through the house because she was so excited. Her parents must have been so thrilled to make her so happy! Although there aren't that many posts yet, it's fun to read because people's emotions come through when they talk about memories like that.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Gee I wonder why I felt compelled to post this.....
Just for the record, I am not "Love, " I am incredibly flawed.
What Love Is
....Author Unknown
If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family, I’m just another housewife.
If I’m always producing lovely things--sewing, art, cooking; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family, I am nothing.
If I’m busy in community affairs, volunteer often, and drive in the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family, I gain nothing.
Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes over and over again.
Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.
Love doesn’t envy another "better wife", one whose children are "spaced better",or in school so that she has free time to pursue her own interests.
Love doesn’t try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a Mother.
Love doesn’t scream at the kids.
Love doesn’t feel cheated because I didn’t get to do what I wanted to do today--sew, aerobics, read, soak in a hot tub, get my hair cut.
Love doesn’t lose my temper easily.
Love doesn’t assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.
Love doesn’t rejoice when other people’s children misbehave and make mine look good.
Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children.
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What Love Is
....Author Unknown
If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family, I’m just another housewife.
If I’m always producing lovely things--sewing, art, cooking; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family, I am nothing.
If I’m busy in community affairs, volunteer often, and drive in the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family, I gain nothing.
Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes over and over again.
Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.
Love doesn’t envy another "better wife", one whose children are "spaced better",or in school so that she has free time to pursue her own interests.
Love doesn’t try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a Mother.
Love doesn’t scream at the kids.
Love doesn’t feel cheated because I didn’t get to do what I wanted to do today--sew, aerobics, read, soak in a hot tub, get my hair cut.
Love doesn’t lose my temper easily.
Love doesn’t assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.
Love doesn’t rejoice when other people’s children misbehave and make mine look good.
Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children.
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Site and content © 2008 - Lotsofkids.com
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last sentence just cracked me up......
but I'm a little off. Ran accross this in an article:
The American Girl biographers generally have not endowed these characters with anachronistic modern social attitudes. Felicity visits a tidewater plantation in one story, for example, and, somewhat to the irritation of one modern mom, fails to take notice of plantation slavery.
(I think there were a few other people that may have been ticked off by plantation slavery as well!)
The American Girl biographers generally have not endowed these characters with anachronistic modern social attitudes. Felicity visits a tidewater plantation in one story, for example, and, somewhat to the irritation of one modern mom, fails to take notice of plantation slavery.
(I think there were a few other people that may have been ticked off by plantation slavery as well!)
Monday, December 08, 2008
Word Girl
I'm breaking my scilence here because I ran across this interview with the creator of the show, Word Girl. It's popular in my house. You may remember me mentioning it before, Justin has told me he saw Word Girl fly through our house, and Timothy is often "the butcher" when he's being a bad guy (that's one of the villians on Word Girl because he butchers the English Language!). Gotta love a show whose writers are from The Onion, Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and Family Guy. I love the show's intent. From increasing vocabulary to helping minority and low income kids, to making the superhero a girl, to her being ethnically ambigous so everyone can relate to her, and helping boys see girls as being capable of being a superhero......there are just many great things about this show.
Some quotes from the interviewer & creator that I agree with:
I also love the fact that the show is smart without being smart-assed. I hate it when my kid watches some show with snotty kids and the next day she's saying some snotty catch phase
I also love how well-rounded the characters are. I love the fact that Becky can kick major robot ass and has an awesome vocabulary but gets all girly over ponies and sucks at art. It seems like so many cartoon characters — especially girls — wind up being flat and one-dimensional, the girly princess or the jock girl or the snob.
Re: influences:
The ones that informed Word Girl were Rocky and Bullwinkle, Bugs Bunny and The Electric Company. They didn't distinguish between adult humor and kid humor — it was just funny. There has been a trend recently to strip away adult humor and in my opinion that has dumbed down television and underestimated what kids are capable of.
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