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February 2009
Photo of the Week: Crazy hat collection
It may be Ash Wednesday, but Fat Tuesday is still fresh in my mind. We attended a ‘Samedi Gras’ party over the weekend (workdays and school nights don’t allow for much partying on Tuesdays anywhere north of N’awlins), and I snapped this photo of the kids on our way out the door for Saturday night’s festivities.
Later I realized that my 13-year-old’s ‘crazy hat’ collection is well represented.
Sister is wearing the very first specimen of Big Bro’s collection, a souvenir from the Galveston, Texas, Mardi Gras celebration we went to when I was 7 months pregnant with her!
Little Bro is sporting a jester’s hat from mid-collection, a cheerful souvenir from Cedar Point that I think everyone in the family has worn at some point.
And the hat aficionado himself is modeling his brand-new ushanka, purchased online and shipped directly from St. Petersburg, Russia. How cool is that?
His collection runs the gamut from an Uncle Sam top hat that he bought in Philly to a yard-sale-find welder’s helmet, which he later used for a science fair project involving an acetylene torch.
Since I’m too lazy to scrapbook, I’m going to have to get him on film talking about his many chapeauz. For now, this blog will have to stand as historic record.
If you’re into hats too, Hats in the Belfry is a neat place to find them. There are four stores on the East Coast, or just go online. Their selection is amazing.
So much for ‘Wordless’ Wednesday!
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TweetIs this mom guilty of her child’s death?
An Idaho mother was charged with vehicular homicide last week in the death of her infant daughter.
Eileen Jensen, put her daughter’s rear-facing car seat in the front seat of her vehicle for a short drive while in Spokane, Washington, where the incident occurred.
An associated press story reported that in March 2006, the car driven by Jensen, crashed into a stopped vehicle causing the passenger-side air bag to deploy. The air bag caused “extensive head trauma to Chloe,” police said.
The baby survived 10 months after the crash. Jensen’s other two daughters were in the back seat and also “improperly secured” according to the AP story.
While designed to be a safety feature for adult passengers, airbags can be deadly to children. According to a televeision news report on Clip Syndicate, the impact was enough that it likely slammed the infant’s face into the seat back.
Jensen says she blacked out just prior to impact, possibly due to sleep deprivation.
Support groups have rallied around Jensen saying she a has been punished enough by suffering the loss of her daughter.
Read or view the whole story and tell us: What do you think?
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TweetSecond show added for Playhouse Disney Live at Hara March 7
You and your children have another chance to see Mickey Mouse and friends in Dayton.
Due to high ticket demand, a second showtime has been added for Playhouse Disney Live! at Hara Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2009.
The second showtime will be at 4:30 p.m.
A few tickets were still available for the 1:30 p.m. show as of Monday, Feb. 23, said Brooke Folkerth, Hara’s assistant director of marketing.
Here’s what to expect: Mickey plans a spectacular music party for all his friends. The Little Einsteins set off on a musical mission around the world to find a song for the party — with the help of Rocket. Pooh, Tigger and Darby spring into action to search for music in the Hundred Acre Wood, and Handy Manny and his team of tools find the perfect party beat.
Ticket prices are $17 and $25, with $35 VIP seating and $45 front-row seating also available. Tickets are required for children ages 1 and older. Tickets are available at the Hara Arena box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, select Kroger stores, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (937) 278-4776.
Check out other upcoming Dayton-area live stage shows for kids, including everyone’s favorite tank engine Thomas.
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TweetNeed an afternoon out with the girls?
Angela Addington, who founded Hannah’s Treasure Chest in Centerville, and her team of volunteers are hoping for another successful Diva’s Day Out event this year.
This will be the fourth year for the event which raises funds for Hannah’s Treasure Chest. Founded in the back of Addington’s car a few years ago while she was employed at Lexus Nexus, Hannah’s Treasure Chest strives to “enrich the lives of children in need by providing clothing, furniture and toys.”
The organization is now housed in a 6,000 square foot warehouse and provides donated necessities from the basics like diapers to the larger items like cribs, to children in the Miami Valley and beyond.
Past Diva’s Day out events have raised as much as $12,000 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the non-profit group.
“Diva La France: Sunday In The Park” is the theme for this years event to be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the Presidential Banquet Center in Kettering.
Patrons can look forward to a Sunday luncheon with a raffle, auction, trunk show, tween activity corner, silent auction, live auction, caricatures by Dennis Porter, wine tasting and can-can dancers. Goodie bags filled with products and coupons will be given to each attendee along with a chance to win $100 in gift cards.
Early bird tickets are available until Thursday, Feb. 26. Tween Tickets (ages 8-12) are $5 off the regular ticket price. Call (937) 438-5039 during office hours on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday to order tickets.
More information about Hannah’s Treasure Chest, Diva’s Day Out and how to donate your used infant and toddler gear is available on their website.
Here’s to a fabulously fun day for a great cause.
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TweetPhoto of the Week: What’s that baby thinking about?
Do you ever wonder what’s going on inside the tiny mind of a child?
I would simply love to know what my sweet little Max is thinking here …
Is he revelling in the fact that he soaked himself and everyone in a two-mile radius while playing at the water table at the children’s museum?
Is he working on yet another explosive diaper? (BTW, my kids are prone to doing this in public after all — but that’s another topic for another day.)
Is he devising an evil scheme to conquer the world?
OK moms, now it’s your turn. Write your caption here … winner gets, well, bragging rights, I suppose.
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TweetTrimming toe nails no longer a feat to overcome
We all have those things we have to do as mothers - changing diapers, washing sippy cups, packing lunches, trimming tiny finger and toe nails.
Until a moment of pure genius hit me a few weeks ago, trimming my both sons’ toe nails involved me practically pinning them to the floor with a professional wrestling move, while dodging flying kicks and all the time trying to keep in the foam earplugs to muffle their ear-piercing screams.
Finger nails, not so tough. But toe nails, oh I would rue the day I noticed their talon-like claws poking through their socks (yes, I put it off that long).
After five years, it finally hit me though, and we formally established the “M&M Toe Trim” routine, (raisins didn’t work so well and raisin-toe-trim just doesn’t have a good ring to it). But ‘MMTT’ is just what it sounds like.
One cleanly clipped toe nail equals one M&M candy of choice color. Why didn’t I think of this four years ago? This terrifying routine event is now something the boys are happy to do. And a little chocolate never hurt anybody (that I know of).
What are some tricks-of-the-trade you have established in your household for those challenging mommy chores?
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TweetMoms, plan ahead with these coming-soon Dayton-area kid events
Anyone else feeling stir-crazy yet? After weeks of being cooped up indoors with all of this cold weather, I’m looking for some fun things to plan with my two children now and down the road.
I stumbled on these upcoming special events that just may be the ticket. As someone who’s sat through Elmo, the Care Bears, Disney on Ice, Barney, The Doodlebops and even The Wiggles live on stage, I would definitely recommend the live stage show experience to any mom … just find the show that’s right for you and sure to bring a priceless smile to your little one’s beautiful face. And for anyone on a budget, there are usually plenty of price categories to choose from.
Mark your calendars, moms:
1. Mickey, Pooh, Tigger, Handy Manny and pals coming to Hara Arena: Is your child glued to Playhouse Disney on the Disney Channel? Make their day and let them see their pals live on stage when Playhouse Disney Live! comes to town on Saturday, March 7 at 1:30 p.m.
The story? Mickey plans a spectacular music party for all his friends. The Little Einsteins set off on a musical mission around the world to find a song for the party — with the help of Rocket. Pooh, Tigger and Darby spring into action to search for music in the Hundred Acre Wood, and Handy Manny and his team of tools find the perfect party beat.
Ticket prices are $17 and $25, with $35 VIP seating and $45 front-row seating also available. Tickets are required for children ages 1 and older. Tickets are available at the Hara Arena box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, select Kroger stores, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (937) 278-4776.
2. Thomas and Friends to chug their way onto Nutter stage: Does your child love trains? Better yet, Thomas? Check out “Thomas and Friends Live on Stage: A Circus Comes to Town” on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19-20, at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.
The story? Can Thomas fix a big mistake before the circus comes to town? With friendship and cooperation, we learn anything is possible.
Tickets range from $14.50 to $42.50 and are available at the Nutter Center box office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Victoria Theatre’s Young at Heart Family Series
Check out these programs part of the Victoria Theatre’s Young at Heart Family Series. Individual tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. Tickets for a five-show series are available at a price of $75 for adults and $65 for children.
Circo Comedia, March 7-8: Showtimes are Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Jean Saucier, master equilibrist, juggler, trick cyclist, acrobat and magician performs his feats from dizzying heights while Patrick Côté, burlesque clown, expert roller skater and drummer, innocently tries his best to be the (imperfect) assistant.
Stellaluna, April 4-5: Showtimes are Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Based on Janel Cannon’s New York Times’ Best-Sellers List children’s book, Stellaluna, this is a coming-of-age story about a baby fruit bat who is separated from her mother before she learns to fly. When she is adopted by a family of birds, her world is turned upside down - literally. When she finally has the opportunity to be herself again, she learns that being different doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.
Moms, how often do you take your kids to see shows on stage? What has been your child’s favorite stage show? Comment here:
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TweetCaldecott and Newbery winners for Valentine’s Day
As the mother of a bookworm (who takes after her mother), I’m always asking other parents or older children for reading recommendations for my 10-year-old daughter.
She blows through books at an astonishing rate, so our library visits are frequent and books always top her wish lists.
If you, too, are blessed with a book lover, there’s still time to run out to your favorite bookstore to feed their heart’s desire.
But what to buy?
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the American Library Association has released the names of the 2009 winners of the Caldecott and Newbery medals, recognizing the very best in children’s lit.
A quick rundown of this year’s top books, as posted on the Association of Library Service to Children’s Web site:
— “The House in the Night,” illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin Company), winner of the 2009 Caldecott Medal, awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
ALSC’s capsule review: “Richly detailed black-and-white scratchboard illustrations expand this timeless bedtime verse, offering reassurance to young children that there is always light in the darkness. Krommes’ elegant line, illuminated with touches of golden watercolor, evoke the warmth and comfort of home and family, as well as the joys of exploring the wider world.”
— “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, is the winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal, awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
ALSC review: “A delicious mix of murder, fantasy, humor and human longing, the tale of Nobody Owens is told in magical, haunting prose. A child marked for death by an ancient league of assassins escapes into an abandoned graveyard, where he is reared and protected by its spirit denizens.”
Gaiman is a personal favorite of a 20-something bookworm I know. She is devoted to “The Sandman” comics and says Gaiman’s “American Gods” has been known to change lives. Who can argue with a testimonial like that?
If those titles just whet your appetite, click the medalist links above for a list of this year’s honor books and winners from years past.
Happy reading, valentines!
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TweetHomemade valentines: What was I thinking?
I always seem to come up with these grand ideas that almost always backfire.
My latest? Homemade valentines.
I found this adorable project online for lollipop flowers. Basically, you cut out hearts, glue four of them together to make a flower and then poke the sucker through it. Tada!
I thought it would be a nice way for my 4-year-old and I to bond. And, she absolutely loves craft projects. Seemed like a win-win to me.
Little did I know this little project would consume my entire week.
“Why can’t you just buy the store ones?” my DH David asked me at least five times this week?
“That’s what everyone else will have, and I want Sophie’s to be special. Besides she wants to do ‘something crafty’,” I annoyingly replied at least five times.
I nearly hit my breaking point last night as glue droppings covered my coffee table, little scraps of scrapbooking paper were all over the floor, my 18-month-old was trying to eat said scraps and Sophie was trying to convince me in the whiniest voice ever that her missing green safety scissors cut so much better than the identical brown ones she had been using.
Where’s the love this Valentine’s Day?
I’m happy to report, only two more to go tonight before tomorrow’s big Valentine’s Day bash.
At least I’m not on classroom cookie duty, too.
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Tweet“Brotherly Love” — Photo of the Week
When they think we aren’t watching, our two boys, Noah, 5, and Nicholas, 3, who typically give new meaning to the term “Sibling Rivalry,” actually show some brotherly love towards one another. We recently caught them holding hands while in line for the Small World ride at Disney World. Not the best of pictures, but I was trying to capture the rare and fleeting moment without being noticed.
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TweetDo your kids take daily vitamins?
Reuters reported last week that a study by the University of California Davis School of Medicine showed about a third of U.S. children age 2 to 17 take a multivitamin or other vitamin or mineral supplement, however, many of them may not need to.
Dr. Ulfat Shaikh, who performed the study, said children who were the healthiest — ate a balanced diet, had access to health care and a higher income — were more likely to take supplements.
Sadly, the children who would benefit the most from such supplements — poor diet, lower income, less access to health care — tended to use them the least.
My sons have been prescribed a multi-vitamin with flouride since the age of 2-months. I have been religious about dosing them with the power packed chewables knowing full-well, if they eat like I do, they aren’t getting enough fruits and vegetables.
Jumping on the vitamin-D bandwagon, I also now give them a daily shot of gummy “sunshine” vitamins since they aren’t getting their recommended 15 minutes of daylight during these gloomy winter months.
Mistakenly, I verbally attributed their vitamin-packed routine to their health, and stuck my foot in my mouth this week. My son Noah had perfect attendance at preschool for his second term.
“We’ve had a good year,” I told my husband. “The boys haven’t been very sick.” Naturally, Noah is home from school with a fever today.
What kind of vitamins do you give your children? Do you think they are helpful?
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TweetWho else wants free doughnuts?
OK, so doughnuts aren’t what you call “heart friendly,” but Krispy Kreme is running a special offer that’s sure to sweeten your Valentine’s Day.
Krispy Kreme’s “Share the Love” promotion will get you 12 free valentines with the purchase of any dozen doughnuts. And here’s the best part: Each card also includes a coupon for a FREE DOUGHNUT on the back! Now that’s a hot deal!
This sounds wrong on so many levels, but every time I take the kids to the pediatrician, we stop at Krispy Kreme afterward for doughnuts. KK is just around the corner from the doctor’s office, so we simply can’t resist. (With a BMI of 15, my 3-year-old doesn’t have to sweat the occasional doughnut or two. But let’s not even think about mommy’s numbers!)
We stopped in at KK last week and were pleasantly surprised with our 12 free valentines. My son immediately designated each one for a specific family member or preschool buddy. He’s so excited to give them out!
The valentine offer is good through Feb. 14 at participating stores, including the shop on East Dorothy Lane in Kettering.
As a special bonus, Krispy Kreme is also whipping up batches of special heart-shaped doughnuts loaded with pink, red and white sprinkles now through Feb. 14.
If you give in to the temptation too, don’t forget to ask for hats for the kiddos!
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TweetHelp this mom survive morning sickness — again
Ok, moms — I am in week 11 of pregnancy with baby number 3 (Gasp! Yes, I’m pregnant again. Now close your mouth). I sit here, yet again, with my head swimming and my stomach turning.
This “morning sickness” thing for me, is not “morning” it’s all day. Just like with my first two boys, it worsens as the day wears on (I’m betting on another boy this time, too).
In order to be at work, I have resorted to popping a half of an OB prescribed Zofran pill. I really don’t want to be medicating, but I just can’t get through the day. I had to do the same with PG 1 and 2. I held off as long as I possibly could before starting this ugly, but needed, habit.
One more swig of Ginger Ale and my organs will be swimming in it — yuck. One more Saltine and I’m going to swell up like my husband when he eats almonds. One more Tums and I’m buying stock in the company.
A friend encouraged me to try drinking Propel Fitness Water. I’ll be buying some today. I’ll try anything. Unfortunately, the MS lasted about half way through my second trimester with both boys. I’m praying it goes away earlier this time, but just like wanting a little girl, I know better than to get my hopes up.
How did you survive the first trimester? Any magic cures for those nauseating moments — or hours? Please share!
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TweetNew feature: Photo of the Week!
The intrepid moms who bring you the Adventures in Motherhood blog are unveiling their version of “Wordless Wednesday.”
They’ll be scrolling through the hundreds of photos on their digital cameras to bring you one feature photo each week that provides you with a glimpse into their kid-centric worlds.
For the first entry, I actually enlisted Hubby’s help. I asked him to snap a candid of our youngest child and e-mail it to me. This is what he sent.
As you can see, matching socks are optional on Daddy’s watch. ;)
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TweetLocal mom on a mission to gather 25,000 diapers
After giving birth to her daughter Anna last year, Kelly Schilling of Middletown gave up her volunteer work at a local food pantry.
Still driven to help her community, Schilling embarked on a quest to acquire 25,000 diapers for the Community Pregnancy Center in Middletown. The center gives about 12,000 diapers to children in need each year.
“Although this sounds like a lot, each client gets a package monthly which equates to 12 (diapers). For Anna, that is only a day and a half. How horrible to not be able to change your child as often as needed.”
Schilling said she felt blessed to have a healthy, happy baby but was concerned for mothers who were unable to provide for their babies.
“The economy is really rough right now, and many people do not realize food stamps don’t cover diapers,” she said.
With support from her church, Schilling was able to start a diaper drive. Donors can claim a tax write-off. Over the past two weeks, Schilling has received about 1,000 diapers.
“Still a long way to go, but I am happy to be receiving support for such an important cause,” she said.
An important cause indeed.
If you are a mom or know of a mom doing good in the community, we want to hear about it. Drop me a line at dmjordan@coxohio.com.
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