There is so much more

There is so much more to life than the daily grind.

It's easy to get caught up in our lives and forget about those who are in need, especially when we seem to be so blessed.  But the fact remains; there are many in need.

A few years ago, my heart began to open it's eyes to see the needs of others, not just myself and my family.   They say that the greatest impact you can have may come out of pain. We might not understand why sometimes we have to travel a difficult road to discover wonderful opportunities, but I guess we're not meant to understand everything.

How can any of us understand why children get cancer? It seems so unfair that this horrible disease can inflict itself on our most innocent, but is does. And it continues to be the number one disease killer of children in the U.S.  Another fact that many people don't know is the extreme lack of funding for pediatric cancer research.  Did you know that 8 out of 10 clinical trials are funded by the private sector?

My passion for raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer research came out of a very difficult time for my family. Last year, we baked our hearts out for a cause (you can read about that here and here).   We are gearing up for another bake sale this year, because even though my family is no longer in the throws of pediatric cancer, many others are.  And they need our help. Give thanks for the blessings in your life.  Be especially grateful for healthy kids, and get involved to make a difference for those who are not.

If you are reading this, please visit Cookies for Kids' Cancer and learn how you can help.

If I seem confused, it's because my mind is on vacation

I can't take credit for the title of this post. My seven year old son uttered this phrase last night while we were walking our dog. It was like the child was reading my mind (which has been on vacation for several days now)!  I'm feeling a little wacky lately, something I will blame on hormones, because these days I blame everything on hormones.  In all seriousness, I have felt a little like I'm losing my mind.

Thank goodness I have plenty to do to keep myself busy. Yesterday I went out to pick some figs from our ginormous tree, 

 

and I was greeted by a party of vermin, trying to beat me to the picking. After I put my heart back in my chest (those dastardly squirrels scared me when they leaped out of the tree, cheeks full of figs) I discovered there were a few figs left for us humans to consume. And consume them we did. Wrapped up these sweet little gems in thin slices of prosciutto di parma, sprinkled them with aged balsamic vinegar, fresh thyme and shavings of parmigiano reggiano cheese, and scarfed them down. Delish.

Create yourself

Inspiration can come from many things. But a dish towel? 

Yes, a dish towel. This adorable dish really spoke to me. 

I once had a bustling career with hopes and dreams of what I could achieve.  Then motherhood hit me, and I gave it all up to spend every waking minute with this miracle that is my child. As time went by, I began  to wonder, what the heck happened to me? I used to have dreams and goals for myself; a career that gave me purpose. Now I'm just living for everyone else.

I recently heard someone say, "Let your children see you have a passion for something. Be a mom first, but don't lose who you are." OK, wow.

For a while now, I've been thinking I may have lost myself and my passion. Then I see this cute dish towel, and it reminded me I haven't lost myself, I just haven't created a new me.

So, who do I want to be?

First, I want to be a mom.  The best mom I know how to be.  As I see it, a wonderful opportunity is given to each of us who are raising children.  Yes, it's hard.  Mentally draining at times, but what job isn't? I'm sure there are other noble professions out there that sometimes make you feel as if you're slowly being pecked to death by a chicken. But how many jobs let you play an integral part in raising good and kind human beings? 

Second, I want to make a difference in the world. The founder of Cookies for Kids' Cancer quoted Gandhi when she said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." Her son was diagnosed with cancer. She created an organization to help change the future of pediatric cancer research. But it doesn't take ginormous efforts, even the smallest things can bring about change. So with this in mind I will continue to give where there are needs. Raising money for pediatric cancer research. Check. Helping out at the local food bank or nursing home? Check. Trying to inspire others to give back as well? Check. 

Last, I want to turn my creative passion into something worthwhile. Have my own restaurant? Maybe. Open a yarn shop? Hmmm... Become a writer?  All these things are passions of mine, so I'll be searching until I find what I'm looking for. But in the meantime, I'm showing my son I have a passion for something. It took time for me to figure this out, but while I was busy being a Mom, I have created exactly who I want to be.

The joy is in the journey

There is no travel guide for motherhood.  It's an adventure you can't prepare yourself for no matter how hard you try. Motherhood is a magnificent journey, sometimes hard and sometimes overwhelming, but worth the trip. The moment we begin this journey, we are no longer the person we were before. The territory is almost always unfamiliar, as each day brings new challenges. Sometimes we get lost and want to give up. But then we come across a beautiful discovery, a gift that only motherhood can give, and we have once again found our way. 

Along the way, we stop to smell the roses, but we respect the thorns.  By doing so we become better mothers.

Be thankful for the the journey of motherhood. It is a true blessing.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.

So you wanna be startin' something (this is me on a soap box)

Jaime Oliver is right. We need a food revolution. I've only watched his show once but he's definitely a man on a mission, and with good cause. The other morning, Great White Hunter took my little kindercutie to school early, giving him the treat of having breakfast at school. This will never happen again. When I asked my son what he had for breakfast that day, he said he didn't eat. I was kind of upset, thinking he chose to goof around with buddies instead of eating, but then he told me why. "They served corn dogs with syrup for breakfast, mommy." While I was proud of my kid for opting out of a clearly unhealthy breakfast, I was not too thrilled with the food program at his school for offering this as an acceptable breakfast.

To add insult to injury, last night I saw a commercial that was, quite frankly, shocking. It made me realize this country really is headed in the wrong direction when it comes to health and nutrition. This particular restaurant, I will refrain from naming it, was promoting their new breakfast item which consists of two pancakes with a ginormous slab of cheesecake smeared in between and topped with something that loosely resembles fruit. Oh. My. Goodness. Now I realize why everyone else views American's eating habits so poorly. This is what they see. And the problem is, if you make it, they will eat it.

So here's the thing, I don't normally get on a soap box and I apologize for my rantings. But something's gotta give. This country has got to wake up and smell the problem. If you would like to get involved, I encourage you to sign Jaime Oliver's petition here, and volunteer to start a revolution in your town. Our children's health is at stake.

A Red-Letter Day

By definition, a red-letter day is any day of special significance. Some people might not consider chaperoning a kindergarten field trip to the zoo a red-letter day, but for me it was. Simply stated, it was a great mom day. There were no raised voices; no arguments or conflicts, and although I was still tired at the end of the day, it was a good tired.

I'm always grateful for the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom during these early, quickly passing years. But today I felt especially grateful for the blessing of being a mom. Wandering around the zoo with my child and his kindergarten class made me truly thankful for the chance to experience mommyhood.

In the days leading up to this trip, I think I was just as excited as my son. I couldn't wait to see him in his school environment, and he got to ride ‘the big yellow school bus” for the first time, which is kind of a big deal. This morning at breakfast, he excitedly reminded me of just that. While I was driving down to the zoo, I couldn’t help but picture him on the bus and wonder what he was thinking, and if it was as cool as he expected it to be.

Sunny, crystal blue skies with temperatures in the mid 60’s made for an absolutely perfect day to stroll around the zoo. I was thrilled when my son’s teacher informed me I would have a small group of three, two girls and my son, to spend the day with. My little six-year old was the perfect gentleman, holding doors open for “the goils” and agreeing to see what they wanted first, saving his coveted reptile hut for last. I reveled in watching him interact with his classmates and seeing their eyes widen at all the sites, simply amazed and astonished by all the zoo had to offer. 

Amidst all the mom duties and the trying times, it's so refreshing to have a simply fun day. A chance to cherish each moment with your child while making memories that will carry you through the more difficult days. Before ending our time together at the zoo, our little group took a small time out to talk about what we liked best. I think my son summed it up well: "This day was just nothing but fun." Yes it was, and how cool is that.   

The more things change

My sweet boy is growing up, changing right before my eyes and it's an incredible process to watch. Sometimes, emphasis on some, I have these truly lucid moments with him where I'm able to absorb everything that's happening. Like this morning, when out of the blue he asked me to sing him one of the "mommy songs" I used to sing him to sleep with. So, as we waited for the morning carpool, there we sat, him on my lap, his head on my shoulder while I sang to him (one our favorites, Lullaby by The Dixie Chicks). I was completely in the moment, one of those I feel are becoming few and far between. Well, moment over as soon as my neighbor arrived to take him to school. He hopped off my lap, grabbed his backpack and lunch box, and said, "see ya later, mom." Mom...what happened to Mommy?

As I was cleaning his room later this morning, it hit me. The more things change, they don't stay the same. His bookshelf, which once held brightly colored stacking blocks, ABC books, and one of those wooden pull ducks, now houses dinosaurs, die cast airplanes, and books on bugs. He doesn't even need his "blankie" anymore, a recent decision he came to all on his own (I couldn't believe it was that easy). While it's wonderous to watch them grow, it's bittersweet too. Oh well, I guess as long as he needs me in his life I'll be OK. And I'll strive for more lucid moments with him so I can capture all the memories safely in my mind. I'll need them one day.

The day we made a difference

Several months ago, when I read about the Cookies For Kids' Cancer organization, I knew I would host a bake sale and raise money for pediatric cancer. What I didn't know is what an amazing experience it would be, how much it would change my life, and how thankful I would be to have been a small part of a big need.

The planning started a month ago, when I sent out an email asking family and friends to help with baking, sign making, working the sale, etc. My good friend, Amy, was doing the same and within hours, we had a list of over 50 people wanting to help! Great White Hunter also got involved, soliciting help from his business connections. Hubby really came through with some nice donations and even four Spurs ticket, which we raffled off and brought in an extra $1,000. Even our big, beautiful banners were donated to us.

The week prior to the sale, friends drove all over town putting up signs. We had signs everywhere: in shop windows, at the checkout counters of major retailers, at schools, everywhere.

The day before our Bake Sale, our volunteers began delivering us boxes and bags of the most incredible baked goods. In fact, we had so much stuff, I truly thought I would have to host a two-day sale to sell it all. There were three tables loaded with goodies, and under each table were boxes filled with things waiting for space to be put out. You name it, we had it. A myriad of cookies, muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, breads, biscotti, brownies, lemon bars; basically everything but fudge. Which is funny, because one of the first people to visit our sale looked at the three tables full of baked goods and asked, "You got any fudge?" Nope. No fudge.

Location, location, location! How true this is. With a little perseverance, I managed to get a booth space donated so we could hold our bake sale at a local outdoor Market Days. This turned out to be so worth the effort. We were given a prime spot at our town's Market Days. Front and center, you couldn't miss us. Our booth was constantly swamped with people, even 30 minutes before Market Days officially opened. We sold everything, which I didn't think was possible in one day. We also raised over $5,000. In one day. Amazing.

Our sweet Dorothy was a big helper, too. She handed people cookies and put their donations in the jar. She blew lots of kisses and gave lots of hugs and said many thank yous. And she remained happy and playful all day. Not one single melt-down. Not one tear shed. FOR SEVEN HOURS. I think she was just grateful to be outside enjoying a beautiful day, and not stuck in the hospital.

During our bake sale, we met adult survivors of pediatric cancer, survivors of all types of cancer, and people currently fighting the battle who were so glad to give. For me, there is not one moment of this day that wasn't meaningful, or special, or didn't make me teary-eyed. Absolutely everything was awe-inspiring. Something that made this day even more special, though, was that I was able to share it with my family and good, good friends. And knowing we were able to contribute to such a great cause, well, no words can describe that feeling.

It's a been a week since our Bake Sale, and I'm finally recovering. I still think about it all the time, and it still gives me chills to know how generous people were. Even right now when so many families are struggling, they still gave without hesitation. It was an awesome day, and I can't wait for next year.

With heartfelt thanks

I woke up Sunday morning a different person. Our Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale on Saturday was a life-changing experience, and one of the most amazing days of my life. I am so proud to say we raised $5,075.27 (and thanks to The Glad Products Company, our total is $10,150.54). I will post photos and more about the event very soon, so please check back. For now, I have to give a heartfelt thank you to some very special people. My sweet friend Amy, my partner in putting this event together. There are no words big enough to express my gratitude. And to my friends Jen and Anne. They spent their day helping out at the Bake Sale, and it was amazing sharing this adventure with them. I love you all very much and could not have done this without you. Also a huge thank you to this hip momma. She took countless photos to help us relive these memories forever. I am so grateful for your help.

Most of all, the grateful hearts of sweet Dorothy and all the other children bravely battling this very ugly disease thank you. To everyone who was a part of this event, you will never know how much we appreciate you. Let's keep up the fight and continue to be good cookies, because too many children need our help.

Baking for a cause

Sometimes we feel helpless when faced with something we have no control over or cannot change. We want to do something. Something that will make us feel as if we've made a difference. And sometimes the situation just requires us to sit back and deal. You know, accept the things we cannot change and all that mumbo jumbo. I don't do the "deal" part very well. I want to help. My biggest challenge is finding out how.

Recently, I have learned a lot about pediatric cancer. I discovered that only about 30% of children diagnosed with cancer survive. 30%. That's not even half. The reason for such terrible odds is directly related to how little money is being spent on research by both the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. In fact, it kills more children than asthma, AIDS, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis combined.

Research can make a drastic difference in cancer survival rates. Take breast cancer for example. Due in part to all the research being done and all the organziations that help fund the research, the breast cancer survival rate now averages 90%. I'm not that good at math, but I know 90% is a lot better than 30%.

One day while glancing through a magazine, I came across an ad for Cookies for Kids' Cancer. The ad caught my eye so I jumped on the computer to check it out. Cookiesforkidscancer raises money for pediatric cancer research through local bake sales. I thought to myself, "Seriously? I love to bake. I can do this. I will do this." I mentioned this idea to someone who did not share my enthusiasm. "Why don't you just ask for teddy bear donations and deliver them to the pediatric cancer patients at the hospital?" While a noble thought, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Teddy bears are nice, but they don't save lives.

So, in a few weeks, we're "doing this." One of my very dear friends is taking on this challenge with me and we are organizing a bake sale. The outpouring of friends willing to help has been overwhelming. So far, we have 20 bakers and counting. We've set a big goal for ourselves, but I accept the fact that whatever we are able to raise will be wonderful. It might be a drop in the bucket, but it's a start. It's something.

In addition to raising money, I hope we are also building awareness. Please visit this site and learn more about how you can throw a bake sale in your area and help fund pediatric cancer research. Or simply make a donation. After all, as the mother/founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer says, “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes the world to fight pediatric cancer.”

Wanna trade?

School's back in session, and many Moms across the country are getting up extra early to pack lunches, me included. Yes, my son's school has a cafeteria. I've seen the food. I'm not impressed. I know the years when I will lose all control over what he eats are fast approaching, so I'm hanging in there while I can. I am trying to be creative with lunches, make them fun to eat and healthy at the same time. You know, stuff that will make other kids say, "Wanna trade?"

When I was young, one of my favorite books was Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell and Lillian Hoban. In this book, Frances liked one thing: bread and jam. She ate this at every meal. Her friend, Albert, however, had the most amazing things in his lunch at school every day. Finally, at the end of the story, Frances catches on and her lunches become amazing, too.

When it comes to packing lunches, most parents are not intentionally being boring, they're just being pragmatic. If your child likes peanut butter and jelly and it's easy to make, your child gets peanut butter and jelly every day. If this sounds boring to you, it probably is to your kids as well. Here are some ideas to help you get creative with your kid's lunches and ditch the brown bag blahs. Variety is the spice of life, so expose your kids early and allow them to try new things. They may take a while to warm up to your culinary experiments, but they will thank you for taking the time to pack a little love in with their food.

• Since sandwich bread every day can get boring, experiment with ciabatta rolls, focaccia, wraps, whole wheat english muffins, mini baguettes, pita pockets, etc.
• Use cookie cutters and cut out the sandwich after you've made it to make fun shapes, or use a circle cutter and make a face with raisin eyes and carrot lips.
• Make different variations of BLTs, like adding sliced avocado or making a turkey BLT. Try spreading cream cheese instead of mayo for nice change.
• Send a healthy stuffed potato. Bake large potatoes in a hot oven for 1 hr. Halve, scoop out the flesh, mix with canned tuna or chicken, broccoli and grated cheese. Pile back in the skins and crisp in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool and, voila, a perfectly packable lunch.
• Make a fruit wrap: thinly slice apples, grapes and strawberries. Spread pineapple or strawberry cream cheese on a honey whole wheat wrap and roll. Inlcude carrot sticks on the side to squeeze in those veggies.
• Pack a cold pasta salad with chunks of ham and peas.
• Try a Mexican Mango Madness lunch: pack a bean and cheese burrito, sliced mangos and a green salad with dressing on the side. Add a chocolate cinnamon pudding for dessert.
• A new twist on PB&J (and good for those allergic): Almond butter and honey and whole grain bread, carrot and celery sticks and applesauce.
• Pack chicken noodle soup in a thermos, include a whole wheat roll and rice pudding for dessert.

Oh yeah, including a little note is also a great way to pack some love in the lunch box. I love these Lunch Grams - cute papers to write your notes on. Find them here.

Happy Birthday

You are six today

Happy and full of fun

You are six today

Seems like yesterday you were one

You are six today

Healthy, handsome and smart

You are six today

And your smile still melts my heart

You are six today

Slow down, don't grow up too soon

You are six today

And I love you up to the moon.

xox, Mommy

Hi ho hi ho, it's off to school we go

How did the first day of Kindergarten go? Not as bad as I thought. My child's uncanny ability to be a pill kept my tears to a minimum. The craziness of the morning was too overwhelming to allow much fear or emotions. We just focused on getting to school on time, which we did by the skin of our teeth (note to self: make lunches the night before!). After getting his things settled and finding his seat, he looked pretty unsure of things. Until the most adorable little girl sat down across from him. Their conversation went something like this:

her: "This is my first day of Kindergarten!"

him: "This is my first day of Kindergarten, too!"

It was pretty cute. The two of them kept talking so I gave a kiss, told him I loved him and would see him later, and left the room. I expected to begin boohooing, but instead I felt so excited for him. About what he'll learn and accomplish this year, the new friends he'll make, how he'll grow, and how I get to watch and share in all of this. I feel very blessed. Of course, I signed up, along with my friend, to be room mom and joined the PTO and all that other stuff. I want to be involved while my little man still wants me to be. (but I'll still be involved even after he doesn't.)

And who knows, maybe there's new things on the horizon for me as well. My horoscope for today read:

There are valuable experiences waiting for you around the corner. The important thing for you to do now is simply recognize the opportunities when they come. Roads to success aren't always well marked. Take a chance on one that has no signs at all. You have the courage and pioneering spirit to pursue the adventurous route, so go for it.

When I picked him up after school and asked him how his day went, he told me he was ready for Kindergarten (good thing, because there's we kind of have to go back!). Whatever lies ahead, I think both my little man and I are ready. Ready for the adventures life brings our way.

T minus 7 days

You know when you're pregnant and everyone tells you not to blink because kids grow up so fast? Well, I must have blinked, because exactly one week from today my son will start kindergarten. I can't believe it. And of course, I'm not exactly ready. My little boy is talking about learning math and science, and I'm still wondering where the time went. We're buying backpacks and school clothes, and I'm looking through baby photos. We've done so much stuff together, my little man and me, during the last six years. Really bonded. I wouldn't trade those times for ANYTHING.

With kindergarten fast approaching, I'm full of nervous excitement and overwhelmed with emotions ("Hello Boo-Hoo Club? Reservation for one, please."). To ease his anxieties, though, I haven't made a super big deal of it. I tell him, "It's just kindergarten, no big deal. It's going to be great." We talk about all the fun things he'll be doing and learning. We've been practicing our reading and writing over the summer. We've read our favorite new book:

I want him to love it (I know he will). I want him to have the most wonderful teacher (I think he will). I want him to make new friends and keep the old. I want him to be safe. I want to be a fly on the wall just one day to see him in action.

For my son, this is one of the biggest adventures yet. For me, it's the beginning of loosening the grip a bit. Just a tiny bit, though. It's only kindergarten, after all...

Warrior Princess

This is Dorothy.

She is one adorable two-year old.

She exudes sweetness, and you want to hug her every chance you get.

Her mommy says she sings the cutest rendition of "Mockingbird" you've ever heard.

Her laugh is infectious.

She loves to look at the moon and the stars.

Last weekend, I got to hold her hand as we walked to the beach.

We made dribble castles together and she was fascinated.

She thinks everything is beautiful. ("Look at the clouds, they're beautiful!")

She's also fighting the biggest battle of her little life.

Dorothy has cancer.

It's one of those things you can't grasp, can't understand no matter how hard you try.

She's so little, yet she's fighting something bigger than most of us will ever have to.

Spend a few hours with this amazing child and you will find inspiration, courage, and warmth.

You will also feel anger and frustration.

But you will fall in love with her, and be amazed at the life lessons you will gain from this two-year old.

What a gift.

I thank God for her every day, and I pray for her.

I know she would love it if you could pray for her, too.

When life gives you 100 degree temps and severe drought conditions.....have a camp out?

Early Saturday morning, my soon-to-be six year old little boy decided he wanted to have a camp out that night. "A what?" I said. "You want to camp out in this heat? It's the middle of summer! Let's wait until fall when it's cooler, OK? " He looked less than thrilled, and as I started hearing the song, "every party has a pooper that's why we invited you!" in my head, I rethought my answer. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today, right? Besides, if I put it off, we all know their ain't no camp-out happening over here. As my friend so eloquently put it, the act of following through means so much.

So, since we own zero camping supplies, we set out to Wallyworld and purchased a modest tent. Great White Hunter was pretty jazzed at this idea too, and my men spent a better portion of their Saturday setting up "camp."

According to my son, what's a camp-out if you can't include a cook-out, and he wanted nothing to do with our gas grill. Since we're in the midst of one of the worst droughts in Texas history, we nixed the idea of an authentic camp fire. Instead, we drug out our old fire pit, cleaned it up a bit and got it ready for cooking. We cooked the appropriate camping food: burgers, hot dogs and corn on the cob. Well, sort of. Mommy and Daddy enjoyed buffalo burgers with cotija cheese, guacamole and cilantro lime salsa, and grilled corn with ancho chili butter. I found these new buns today, which I LOVE because they're super thin so you don't feel like you're getting a mouthful of bread with your burger. (Orowheat Sandwich Thins, 100% Whole Wheat)

Grilling on our old fire pit produced very earthy, smokey burgers that were so good. A few roasted marshmallows for dessert and our meal was complete.

As soon as the sun set, a story was read and we were off to bed. OK, I'll admit that after a few hours, my back had enough camping so I snuck into the house and climbed into my bed (Daddy and son spent the entire night in the tent).

This morning when I asked my little camper how he liked his night in the tent, well, the look on his face said it all. What's the moral of my story? Never put off tomorrow what you can do today, and take some lessons from your kids every now and then. It seems they really do know how find pleasure in the simple things.

Farewell, for now

You know that feeling of "something's gotta give" when your life gets busy? I do not function well when my balance shifts heavily to one side, probably due to my need for a sense of calmness and peace. And tending to be a perfectionist does not help when I get a bit overwhelmed! My life at the moment is not allowing me much time to blog, as I know many of you have noticed. Whether I like it or not (not), I need to say farewell to the blogoshpere for a while.

I wont bog you down with details of why, mostly because I know we're ALL busy, each in our own way. I did, however, want to say goodbye. I'm not sure if or when my blog will be back, but I have hopes that it will. Until then, I wish you good things and happiness, and thank all of you who visited my blog and connected with me in the ether.

Love you up to the moon.

Teach your children well

There are many wonderful things you can say about the small town where I live. It's rich in history, still pretty safe, has good schools, the people are very friendly, the list goes on. One thing you cannot say is that this town is culturally diverse. In fact, it's more like culturally devoid. I grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, a huge melting pot, so I was surrounded by different cultures. My son, however, is not being provided this experience. At the tender age of five, his mind is like a huge sponge and absorbs everything around him. So I decided if he is not getting a glimpse of cultural diversity in his surroundings, I would need to provide that for him.

That is how we came up with Culture Night at our house. It is centered around dinner time, and the meal is what guides our learning. Last night was taco night, so we learned about Mexico. I got out an old but trusty children's world encyclopedia, put on some Latin music, and let the learning begin. We look at maps so he understands where this particular area is located. We talk about the people, the food, the language, the music, and something he really loves, the games children of that culture play. The whole experience has turned into something he truly looks forward to. I have to admit there is a bit of work involved, so Culture Night takes place about every other week, but I want it to be a fulfilling experience for him, not something he gets bored with. The time in between helps him to look forward to it and helps me to get better prepared.

Even if you do live in a culturally diverse area, this is still a fun activity for your family. Besides being educational, it also promotes sensitivity to other cultures. Our next night will be about India, and I think my biggest challenge will be cooking something my picky eater will eat (I'd welcome any suggestions you may have!). Below are some great web resources I use to help me plan these learning experiences. Check them out, and try this with your family. You'll be surprised at how fun it is for everyone. Viva La Culture!

http://www.kidskonnect.com/

http://www.factmonster.com/

traditionalchildrensgamesfromaroundtheworld

Reality Check

Wow, what a beautiful day! The beach is gorgeous right now; warm sun, sand and surf. People are walking along the shore, greeting me with friendly smiles as I relax in my lounge chair. Oh, and someone just brought me the most delightful tropical drink. Could this day get any better? Now I even hear birds singing...hmmm...how nice.

Wait a minute. I think those birds are my alarm going off (yes, my alarm is birds chirping). Seven a.m. Monday morning? I must have been dreaming. Good grief. Well, better get up and see what's really waiting to greet me. This day can't be too bad.

I'll just get my robe and grab some coffee first. Watch out for that huge load of laundry in my closet. Hello laundry. What's that? You need to get done today? I'm off to the kitchen for that coffee first. Hello dirty dishes. Don't look at me like that. You'll get done in due time. I just want to sit at the table and enjoy this one cup of joe. Oh, hello dust. Wow, I can almost write my name on this table! Guess I've been neglecting my house while I've been putting up decorations, shopping, wrapping, shipping gifts, mailing cards, etc. OK, I'll look out the window instead. Hello dog slobber on the window. Are you back again? Maybe I'll try staring at the floor. Dirty floor, is that coffee or chocolate milk I see on you? Take a number, I'll get to you later.

I'm going to move in to the office and take a looksey at my email while trying to enjoy this coffee. Hi ginormous stack of mail. Do you need someone to sort through your messy self? Of course you do. I'll head out to the front porch and finish my coffee first. Yikes, it's FREEZING outside! Forget that! Now my coffee is cold. I'll pour another cup. Excuse me, list of things to do on the fridge, I need my peppermint mocha creamer. Wow, list. Did you get bigger overnight?

I think I'll go back to bed and try to find that dream again. I should have a few minutes before...

"Mommy, can you fix me breakfast now?"

Mommy Magic

Today being Halloween, much time was spent in preparation for the evening's festivities. My son is dressing up as an Astronaut, and I purchased a bright orange jumpsuit for him to wear. He was not impressed with the costume, said it "didn't have all the parts." He was right. The outfit, while cute, needed some pizazz. I didn't think I could talk him in to wearing any sort of helmet for more than 5 minutes, so I decided to try for something else.

Armed with tin foil, duct tape, an empty water bottle and crepe paper, I whipped out some pretty cool gravity boots and a jet pack. When I showed them to my son, his eyes got so big and a huge smile covered his face. "Wow! How did you make those? Did you use your Mommy Magic?" Of course I replied, "Yes, I did!"

It's a pretty awesome feeling when your child looks at you like you're the greatest thing out there, and that's hard to come by anywhere else. As Moms, we do lots of things every day that go unnoticed, so it's nice when our efforts are appreciated. As our children grow up the Mommy Magic moments will be few and far between, but if we try hard enough, they will still occur. I plan on trying to wow my son well into adulthood. Our kids are worth the effort, and we Moms deserve the praise.