Naptime Blog

We went to the post office, grocery store and gas station.

• When you grab your DSLR grab your Memory card too.
• I can drive on unplowed roads and not die.
• Tristan will laugh when you bump, grind and slide all over the unplowed roads.
• The parking lots won’t be cleared well so this will lead to mass panic.
• Because the parking lot is not clear police officers will be directing traffic.
• Also because the parking lot is not clear a guy with a shovel will offer to shovel you a spot for $25.
• After you say no you will wish you had paid the $25. TRUST ME!
• The store had tons of milk, eggs, bread, and toilet paper but NO FROZEN VEGETABLES.
• When your son is the only kid not screaming his fool head off in the store and he smiles at the manager she will give him a cute little stuffed sesame street character for making her day.
• I can carry $100 in groceries and a toddler up the stairs and only drop a sippy cup.
• Old ladies are mean when you grab the last two packages of cubed beef stew meat.
• Three aisles later when you see the cranky old lady be sure to check your cart for said beef stew meat. 
• 3 of the 4 gas stations in Prince Frederick are out of gas.
• Giant is better than Safeway. They had all registers open and I waited all of two minutes in line. At Safeway I waited over 45 minutes.
• The site of Tazo tea concentrate will make your day!
• You will be so tired from your adventures you will feed your son a lunchable and he will LOVE it.

Can my winter weatherland go away now? I don’t want to build anymore snowmen in the meadows.

-Chrystal

Wouldn’t you know it, the brand name is Great Value too! Why name such a wide variety of product by this name? Right, because that’s exactly what it is. Wal-mart’s “Great Value” brand have been rapidly expanding putting their versions of MANY, and I do mean many, every day products on the shelves. They’ve got almost everything out there. Bread, frozen pizzas, cereal, cheese and so much more. You save so much money buy purchasing the store brand versions of your favorite meals and ingredients. You great great quality for a great price, you can’t beat that. For instance, due to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a lot of people did their part and donated with whatever they could. We are tight with money but instead donated three huge bags of old clothes, mostly children size. In addition, I wanted to include some canned foods, anything I could spare to help others in need, so I went to Walmart and purchased a lot of canned vegetables and other non perishable items. The only thing I did was make sure it was the Great Value brand since we are satisfied using their products. We were able to get a decent amount of food on a small budget. Doing things like this, helping a good cause, and seeing others come together makes me feel so positive in knowing that we, and myself, did something that makes a difference in the world, something that will be sent over there and will help the children and adults is because of  us. That feels awesome. I wish I could have done more, but I am thankful that I did as much as I could thanks to the help of the Great Value brand.

Krystle

The most romantic day of the year is approaching very quickly.  The jewelry commercials are in full swing, making the day seem magical and amazing.  And for some of us, maybe it is.  If you are a parent who is married or in a romantic relationship, why shouldn’t it be?  Just because we have kids and jobs and chores and responsibilities doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy the day and the notion of “St. Valentine’s Day”.  As a matter of fact, maybe it isn’t a bad idea after all.  As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I always stress the importance of keeping the romance alive in a marriage.  It is so easy to forget to nurture the relationship when there are so many other things going on in the family.  So Valentine’s Day seems like a great day to focus on the romance and get those butterflies in your stomach once again.  All we need to do is be a little creative and have fun in the process!

Here are some ideas to help you have the best Valentine’s Day!  We can even involve the children, too!  Well, they can be involved in some Valentine’s Day fun!

What do you want for Valentine’s Day?

The stores are filled with chocolates and candy.  Florists love this time of year because their flower sales are never better than on Valentine’s Day.  Maybe you haven’t gotten chocolate hearts or roses since you were dating.  Would you like them again now?  Why not hint.  Or better yet, ask!  And if your budget does not allow for a dozen overpriced roses that will die in a few days (I love roses myself but I know some people do not like the thought of wasting money on something that will die in a short time), tell your significant other that you would LOVE a single red rose that represents so much and won’t break the bank.  Even dollar stores have silk flowers that will last much longer than the real thing, and it is the thought that counts, right?  Romance does not have to cost a fortune, and if you want to exchange the traditional chocolates and flowers gifts for Valentine’s Day, let your man know that’s what you want.

Turn on the television and you will see all the commercials for the different jewelry stores.   The open heart, the heart pendant, the hugs and kisses bracelet… gold, diamonds… diamonds, gold.  Are you overdue for a piece of jewelry?  You can give some hints!  Only you and your significant other know what is in your budget, and if your budget allows for a piece of jewelry for Valentine’s Day, why not tell him exactly what you want?  Be specific, show him a photo, take him to the jewelry store and show him.  If your honey is the type that likes to surprise you (and you are always happy with his choices) – GREAT!  If not, there is nothing wrong with giving a suggestion or two!

You might want a gift certificate for a mani/pedi, a massage, a day at the spa… voice your suggestions to your Valentine…  and I hope you get what you want! 
And while you’re at it, Valentine’s Day is a great time of the year for some “couple time”.  Although it might be difficult to get a dinner reservation on Valentine’s Day, and it might be hard to get a sitter, consider either going out a few days before or after the 14th, or order in.  It might also be a good time to whip out the recipe book on foods that are aphrodisiacs, put the kids to bed early, light a candle and enjoy your meal!

What to get your guy for Valentine’s Day:

In keeping with the same theme, why not ask your man what he wants for Valentine’s Day?  And if he is like my husband, who never helps by answering “nothing” or “I already have everything that I want”, you can always get him chocolates!  Other old favorites: cologne, a watch, anything electronic, tickets to ANY sporting event, a gift certificate to the nearest sports bar, a gift certificate to the movies or the video store, sexy boxers, or even a sexy nightie for YOU to wear FOR him!

Get Creative

Why not take out a 2 line ad in your local newspaper expressing your love to your man?  Or how about taking him on a surprise date to a place he’d enjoy: a driving range, a paint ball adventure, a car show are all interesting ideas.  I am always into personalized gifts, no matter how small.  Wouldn’t it be cute to have some fortune cookies personalized for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day?  And even if you have had a tough week, try to find a few moments in the course of the evening to flirt with your husband.  Send a cutesy or flirty text message…  maybe even a little naughty.  Give him a big kiss when he comes home from work (or when you get home from work).  Try to find the energy to enjoy each other.  After all, it is the day for lovers! 

Involve the Kids

Have the kids do Valentine’s Crafts for Daddy.  Bake some heart shaped cookies or cupcakes with the kids for dessert.  I always loved when my father came home from work on Valentine’s Day.  He’d bring home roses and chocolates for my mother and a chocolate heart for each of us.  We have continued this tradition with our children, and now that we are a family, we make it a day of love for the whole house, not just romantic love.  It adds to the ambience of the day, and makes everything a little sweeter.  When the kids go to bed (or to Grandma and Grandpa’s!) then it becomes a romantic holiday. 

If you are a single parent, why can’t your little one be your Valentine?  Make each other little cards.  Not only will you be enjoying some quality time with your children, he/she will love the opportunity to show you his or her creativity!

However you decide to celebrate (or not celebrate) Valentine’s Day, it only comes once a year.  Be creative, have fun, and show those you love the most how much they mean to you.

Enjoy!

Jennifer
Wife to Paul, Mom to Juliana (7), Anthony and Louis (1) and Joseph (4 months)www.nevaland.com

I have been trying my best to save the life of my old laptop. It has been really good to me. She is about 4 yrs. old and lived a really good life. It’s an HP Pavilion, missing a few keys, runs hot, and the wireless card inside works sometimes.

The holidays were near and Jayce’s 1st birthday and I didn’t want to spend any unnecessary money.

Well, I have fallen in love with a HP mini netbook. It’s a special edition and only available on QVC. It is beautiful with an artistic design to it.

I have not purchased yet, but I have shopped around. (I am famous for that) I looked at all the comparable netbooks. Surprisingly, they are all on a pretty comparable level.

Hopefully, I can get her ordered soon; I am so excited about being able to throw it in my purse or even my diaper bag when we are on the go.

Check it out; let me know what you think about the HP brand.

-Shanta

For those that follow my blog posts here or at my personal blog, you know that my oldest son has had some difficulties and developmental delays. He is super smart, but has trouble walking and had been using a walker. I wanted to share a little on his progress and share this video that just makes a mother’s heart smile.

He is now walking more and more. He still falls a good bit, but is walking more than he is crawling. He has AFOs (orthotics) on his feet that have helped with stability. We have also added physical and occupational therapy to his treatment (he also benefits from Early Intervention services).

Both of my boys just make me so proud (you will see my youngest son in the video as well) and I wanted to share.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

I am trying something new with Tristan. He has not been sleeping well, so I did some research and decided to put a twin mattress on the floor in his nursery. A gate is across the hallway so he can only get to my bedroom. His nursery and my bedroom are 100% childproof so I know he is safe if he gets up at night. Plus I am a super light sleeper. It seems to be working out.

Another reason I decided to try this was I have been studying the Montessori way of learning. They believe:  “A bed should be one which the baby can get in and out of on his own as soon as he is ready to crawl. The first choice is an adult twin bed mattress on the floor. Besides being an aid to development, this arrangement does a lot to prevent the common problem of crying because of boredom or exhaustion. It helps to think of this as a whole-room playpen with a baby gate at the doorway and to examine every nook and cranny for interest and safety. If the newborn is going to share a room with parents or siblings we can still provide a large, safe, and interesting environment. Eventually he will explore the whole room with a gate at the door and then gradually move out into the baby-proofed and baby-interesting remainder of the house. These are the beginning stages of independence, concentration, movement, self-esteem, decision-making, and balanced, healthful development of body, mind, and spirit.”

I am so excited to see how this works long term. So far he wakes up and comes and gets me. Maybe one day he will decide to explore and play.

Chrystal
www.everydayoates.blogspot.com

All day today, my son has had a pink/red left eye. It looks like he could have scratched it or irritated it by messing with something in his eye but I don’t know! My husband said he woke up like that and has been rubbing it quite often throughout the day. Great. I sure hope its not pink eye. There’s nothing “crusty” about his eye which I know is usually a good sign of it, well at least not yet. I do believe there was a time where I had to give him eye drops for something like that many months ago, I can’t remember. I still have not fully regained my memory from pregnancy and that’s a fact! I used to remember everything, literally. In the beginning of my pregnancy it started to fade and I had noticed it. Towards the end, I was forgetting what I had eaten for lunch that day and it seems that it has only gotten worse, is that possible?! I can’t remember what people tell me, can’t remember when I last did something, can’t remember something I was supposed to do that night… all of it! Is there any natural over the counter product that I can use to increase my memory skills? I’ve tried those DS games, Brain Age, or whatever it is called and I failed hard at that. I read about Ginseng and those positive results but I can’t differentiate half the time between what REALLY works and what is a gimmick. I only want information from people who have seriously tried it and saw great results. Now what was I talking about in this blog before, I forgot….Oh that’s right, hope it’s not pink eye!

Krystle

When I was my daughter’s age, there was no such thing as cell phones, Blackberries, I-Phones…  We used Encyclopedias to find out information on any given topic.  We had the telephone book to find a home or business phone number, all landline phones.   We did not own a computer until I was in my early teens, and the first time I used the internet was on dial-up (gasp!), but didn’t know it was so slow because I had nothing to compare it to.  My daughter is amazed that growing up there were no cell phones, no Wi-Fi and internet connections, no technologically advanced means of interacting.

After I finished my homework each day, I actually went outside, walked a few doors down and rang a friend’s doorbell to see if she was done with her homework yet so we could play.  We chatted for hours, but in person.  We played and made up games and had fun. 

Kids today have fun, but quite differently than we did.  Although I am not quite certain I am convinced it is as healthy as going out in the fresh air and “running bases” for three hours with your friends face to face (friends that my parents knew and their parents knew me), but we have to make the best of what we have, right?  My husband and I keep up with much of the latest in technology whenever we can (although I do not own anything Blue Ray yet!) and intend to keep my children up with the latest in technology as well.

I recently reviewed a copy of Read Between the Lines: A Humorous Guide to Texting with Simplicity and Style by Shawn Marie Edgington – www.rbtlguide.com .  Although I consider myself up on all the acronyms and shortcuts to text messaging, I was curious what I still had to learn.  The book is an adorable guide, geared for women, moms like me, who want to keep up with today’s technology and stay in contact with the world. 

For me personally, I have a Blackberry and BBM (use my Blackberry Instant Messenger) more than texting, but the same rules pretty much apply.  Actually, the BBM allows me to carry on a conversation by text with those in my BBM list.  The only drawback is that I can only chat with those who have a Blackberry.

Shawn Marie lists a whole dictionary of acronyms that are used in texting.  I will certainly be going back into the book in my “travels” with not only texting, but with using Twitter, Facebook, my BBM, and other social networking sites and tools.  This shorthand guide is very helpful.  Shawn Marie also talks about other ways in which texting is making its “debut”…  how parents can use it to their advantage with their teens (Generation Text) instead of it being the enemy… how high school and college teachers/professors can use texting to engage the students more in class and in doing homework/projects…  how businesses, politicians, corporations, doctors offices, the older population, just about EVERYONE can jump in the technology bandwagon and start texting.

For me, I am already using these social media tools, and enjoyed the book as it clarified some things and gave me a great little guide.  For anyone who wants to get themselves into all the current technological advances but are afraid to test the waters, this book is a great place to start.

I can’t even imagine what technology will offer by the time my daughter is MY age!

Jennifer
Wife to Paul, Mom to Juliana (7), Anthony and Louis (1) and Joseph (4 months)www.nevaland.com

I am excited to see how this tax season will help our family. Things are so tight today, w/ cost of living steadily rising, but salaries staying the same! Often at the end of our bills there is not much check left. I am hoping & praying for one of those big refunds I hear other moms bragging on.

For forever we have only had our 1 son to claim. Now that our family has grown a little more, I hope our tax refund grows a little too. I will be honest; I don’t know much about taxes or the IRS rules and regulations. I do know that my husband & I both work very hard at least 40 + hours per week and our checks are TAXED to DEATH.

I Googled some information about the current tax laws that may help you and your family out.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=217826,00.html

Happy Tax Season guys…

~Shanta

Shameful right? Please don’t judge me. 

Yes, our Christmas tree is still up. Yes, it’s Jan. 31 when I’m writing this (and February when you’re reading it).

Is it just me that has that one task that really needs to be done, but no matter how many times I try to get it done, something gets in the way, almost like fate? Yeah, fate is why our tree is still up. Seriously though, I have gone over there and started to box up the ornaments about 15 times in the last few weeks. I’ll get a couple off, then my 2 year old will need me to play with him and I surely don’t want to say no. I’ll try again and the phone rings causing me to be on the phone with doctors and insurance people for the next couple of hours ironing out details of my son’s treatment and appointments. We’ve also recently upped my sons’ occupational and physical therapy appointments.

Of course, my 1 year old comes wiggling by and I have to immediately stop what I’m doing to smooch him all over and hug him tight. Kids sure are distractions aren’t they? Good ones, though!

So, I give up for a day or two. Some other task gets in the way like the dishes or the fact that every time a cold front comes in the whole house gets sick. As I type, I am miserably sick with allergies or something and even my fingertips are a combination of pain and numbness. Oh, and did I mention that I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both hands last week?

Wow, I’m full of excuses aren’t I? The fact remains… why is my Christmas tree still up? Oh well, I am aiming to have it down by Valentine’s day. Wish me luck, okay? If not, we’ll just have a merry Valentine’s Day and I’ll put a few boxes of chocolates under the tree.

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/