Kids television that you love to hate
By TheAngelForever | January 6, 2009
How many of you have at least one kids television show that bothers you so much?
Perhaps you will not allow your children to watch it, you need to leave the room when they do, or it actually makes your skin crawl. Admit it, there must be at least one or more of the childrens shows that gets on your last nerve.
When we found out that we were expecing for the first time, we let our family and friends know that there were two shows that were not acceptable in our eyes. We never wanted anything with Barney, you know the big purple dinosaur, thanks to being forced to watch too many of his videos when I worked in an educational store. His song makes me shudder to this day. The other no-no was the Teletubbies. Once again, too much of them when working retail in college. As an education major, I also had trouble with a show that did not talk properly. Just ask me what my opinion of Baby Bear on Sesame Street is, you will get quite an earful.
Back when NHL was really little I did not understand The Wiggles. Of course, he loved them. The singing and dancing kept his attention. It was wonderful when I needed to do something quickly. I could count on The Wiggles, not to babysit my child, but to keep him moving and singing. Since that time we have been to two Wiggles concerts and now JSL is becoming a huge Wiggles fan. He request their songs by demanding "Car Car" or "Quack Quack" frequently.
As NHL has grown his taste in programing change from week to week. Thank goodness we have been able to make him avoid Thomas. For some reason the slow pace of the show and voices just bother me. One that we have not been able to avoid recently is Dora the Explorer. NHL is intrigued by her teaching Spanish and even the little guy likes to dance to the music. On the rare occasision that Dora or Diego are on, I tend to tune them out.
The other night, JSL received a Diego giant pillow from Nana and Papa. He loved it and called it "Go-Go" thanks to the Diego theme song. Much to my delight, I captured the following video of JSL with Go-Go the other night. Please watch and see how much he "loves" Diego.
When I saw him doing this I kept thinking, wow I believe there are other characters that could use a nice dose of this!
Topics: jsl, kid talk, laughs, looking back, nhl, television, video | 10 Comments »
Tooth wiggles or not
By TheAngelForever | January 5, 2009
Yesterday, while sitting on the couch playing Nintendo DS , NHL told me that his tooth hurt. Hmmm. . . . this was something he has never said before. Of course, I asked him to come over to show me what was bothering him. He said that two of his teeth hurt. Nothing was visibly wrong, so I went further. Since NHL is almost 5 1/2 now I knew that it could be an adult tooth pushing up on one of his baby teeth.
Sure enough, when I touched the one tooth it seemed to wiggle ever so slightly. When I told NHL the news he jumped up and down and was so excited. When I looked a little closer I was not sure if I saw the new tooth moving in behind the baby tooth. I will keep an eye on it in case we need to make a dentist appointment to have it checked or pulled. JL had to have all but two of his teeth pulled (same for my brother), so they may not loosen easily.Thanks to the new developments, we need to figure out what we are going to do when he does have a tooth come out.
So I ask you: What do you do, are you a Tooth Fairy Family? Please tell me what the Tooth Fairy does in your house, or what you do instead of the Tooth Fairy.
Thanks so much for your ideas, I have a feeling I may be needing them sooner rather than later.
Topics: decisions, milestone, nhl, photos, teething | 13 Comments »
The Anti-Resolution Craze
By TheAngelForever | January 4, 2009
Now that 2009 is here, many people are once again filling their lives with resolutions. Resolutions are wonderful, but the truth is so many of us let them go months/weeks/days into the new year. So why do we do them? My guess is a lot of it is thanks to peer pressure. No, that is not something that goes away after our teen years. It still exists as an adult and even when we are parents.
This year I am not making any resolutions. Instead, I am making life changes. I want to go back to healthier living. This includes being aware of what I am eating. Making a conscious effort to eat more fruits and veggies and less junk food. If I am hungry, carrot sticks and hummus are a great snack with lots of fiber to fill me up. I will also be sure that I drink lots of water (my main beverage of choice anyway). Of course the item that I am most guilty of is not exercising enough. WiiFit and I need to become more friendly with each other. It is not good that it asks about me and if I stil exist when hubby uses it. Seriously, it really does and it has gotten annoying. Of course I am not simply going to step it up thanks to a machine mocking me.
Having something to look forward to, and being more healthy for my kids is a huge motivator. By starting this now and working on things I could lose 20-30 pounds by the time we go to Disney World. That would be amazing and I like the sound of it. Of couse, I need to drop a lot more weight than that, but it would be a fabulous start.
On that note, I leave you with a link to TechyDad’s fun new Anti-Resolutions for 2009. You will laugh and love them, so please stop by and check them out. Oh and let me know if you are going to write some yourself.
Topics: decisions, jl, me moments, vent | 8 Comments »
Slippery snowtime session
By TheAngelForever | January 3, 2009
Last winter JSL was too little to go out and play in the snow. This year it is quite different. Not only is he ready to go outside and play, but he is walking on his own.
Several weeks ago we had a pretty large snowstorm on a Friday. The next morning we all went out to shovel, play in the snow and watch the little guy play for the first time. I happened to capture video very early in his exploration. Here it is:
Not to worry, JSL quickly learned how to walk on the snow in his boots. After I ditched the camera, JSL was in the snow playing with his big brother and being pulled in a sled by Daddy. Of course, the only time he did not like the snow was when he tripped over his own two feet and face planted into a snow bank. Major tears resulted with a very cold face.
Ah, the joys of living in a place with cold and snow in the winter!
Topics: jsl, laughs, milestone, video, winter | 4 Comments »
Favorite vacation destinations
By TheAngelForever | January 2, 2009
Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating. Th
Aloha #29
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My question for this week:
What is your favorite family vacation destination?
I admit it, vacation is on my brain. Can you blame me? The temperature outside a frigid 10 degrees, with a windchill of -2, so mind is fixed on May. Tuesday we officially booked our first family vacation with the kiddos to Disney World in May. Hubby and I have not gone on a major getaway since December 2002, before I knew I was pregnant with NHL. The deals to Walt Disney World right now made it pretty hard to say no. We are probably spending less going there for a week (including airfare, food, tickets, and hotel) than we would if we went to BlogHer. Pretty amazing if you ask me.
Of course the answer to my question would be Walt Disney World in Florida. Yes, I have been to Disneyland in California, but to me it will never be the same. As a child I went to Disney World so many times that when I asked my parents last night for years and where we stayed they blanked. Seriously, they could not recall all of the years and information. I can recall at least six times, plus my honeymoon. They claim I have been many more times.
I promise, I will not be obsessed with Disney on my blog. Right now I am just SO excited to have something fun to look forward to! Here we were showing our honeymoon memory book to the boys on New Year’s Eve.
Topics: Aloha Friday, Disney, dreams, holidays, jl, jsl, looking back, nhl, photos, vacation | 23 Comments »
Happy New Year - 2009
By TheAngelForever | January 1, 2009
Life with kids on New Years Eve is quite different than it was before them. This year we bought some fun goodies to have with dinner and opted to stay in thanks to the snow that was dumped on us during the day.
NHL asked if he could stay up to see 2009 start. We figured it could not hurt to let him try. Of course, our theory was that he is five and typically goes to bed at 7:30. The kindergarten kid shocked us. He was pretty alert (albeit cranky) most of the evening. He played on the computer, watched the Travel Channel about Disney World, and used the Nintendo DS with JL.
Suddenly at about 11:00 NHL asked to take a nap. He said he was a little tired and simply wanted to rest a little while. We tried to talk with him. Within 15-20 minutes the tired kiddo was conked out on the couch like so:
As I Twittered away at the NYEtwarty, JL was caught like this with sleeping NHL next to him:
The little guy slept though most of the evening. He woke up once, but was in his crib from 9:30 to 7:30 this morning.
Now with the New Year here the reality that we have a vacation planned THIS YEAR (in four months no less) is real!
Wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2009 to everyone.
P.S. Hubby and I are supposed to go out to dinner tomorrow night. We opted for a more quiet evening. Good thing thanks to the awful weather here.
Topics: holidays, jl, nhl, photos, sleep, winter | 4 Comments »
After 8 years…we are going back
By TheAngelForever | December 31, 2008
Topics: Disney, Wordless Wednesday, decisions, looking back, travel, vacation | 18 Comments »
Disney Dreaming
By TheAngelForever | December 30, 2008
Yesterday I hinted that we had finally decided to take a plunge and go on a big family vacation with the boys. Sure, we have gone on little trips here and there. We have gone to visit my brother and his family, long weekends to visit JL’s parents, and even a few mini-vacations to see friends and go to Sesame Place and Hershey Park. Still it was never more than a few days, and we have never taken the boys on an airplane.
While those little get aways from here were wonderful at the time, secretly I have been longing to go to another destination. I guess I need to admit something. My parents helped me to become a Disney World junkie while growing up. From the time I was JSL’s age to when I was in college, I went to Disney World at least five times. I remember when EPCOT was opened, Animal Kingdom was fresh and hardly had anything in it. . . . and have stayed at many different Disney resorts. JL and I even went there on our honeymoon in 2001. That was the last time we have been to Florida. The last time JL and I went away on a longer vacation was in December 2002. That was our trip to Las Vegas. During that trip I suspected I was pregnant, and it was confirmed several days later.
NHL is now 5 and JSL will be 2 in May. Pair that with fabulous deals that have been extended by Disney to lure people into their parks.
Some of you are probably asking, "What about your Chicago Dreaming?" Although I would love to go to BlogHer in July, the call of Disney is much stronger. I would guess that I will not be attending, but you never know.
I think JL was shocked when I mentioned giving up the BlogHer trip for Disney World, but he soon understood. We began pricing it out. Right now Disney World has a deal that if you stay 4 days at a Value Resort you get 3 days free! At first we were silly and talking about driving to Florida. Then we had a reality check. If you factor in all of the additional time on the road (at least 20 hours each way), hotels going/coming home, gas, and wear on the car it really was not a savings. We can book a flight be there by noon on Saturday and have 6 1/2 days of Disney imersion.
Now for a dilemma. JSL will actually turn 2 during our trip there. According to the one travel agent we could technically take him on our lap and save money. FAA regulations state that a child under 2 has this option. I got antsy and called the airline that we are going to go with (they have non-stop 2 hour and 50 minute flights to Orlando). The person on the line was a little stumped. There was no real answer that she could find. In the end, she said that they now check birth certificates of children under 2 at the gates. If he is two for the return trip, they would require a ticket to be within FAA requirements. If we take a chance and do not book for both ways, I am afraid of what could happen coming home. Just my luck the plane would be booked and he would not be allowed home, or they would charge us $400 for one way.
So for those of you who have traveled with a child that is almost two, how bad is it to have them on your lap? Should we just buy him a ticket for both ways and not worry about being squished or having an antsy toddler on our lap? Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
At this point I believe we will be staying at the Disney All Star Movie resort and once we have reservations can start booking times for meals since they get snatched up quickly. We will likley book things this trip later today since we are afraid of the cheaper flights going and the hotel not having the buy 4 get 3 room rates left when we want to go.
Thanks for any pointers on traveling via plane with children, this is a new adventure for us after being parents for almost six years.
Topics: Disney, decisions, fun, travel, vacation | 7 Comments »
Eight fun filled nights
By TheAngelForever | December 29, 2008
Although the last night of Chanukah is bitter sweet, I still love it.
Watching all of the candles burning is one of the most beautiful sights. It makes you think about the true meaning of the miracle behind the Festival of Lights.
We had a very nice Chanukah. The boys made out very well. If I had to guess, NHL’s favorite gift was probably the fact that I allowed him to use the Nintendo DS Lite that I had won earlier this year. He has two games that are perfect for his age and he loves them.
JL and I both love that the boys have their own Doodle Pros, so they do not fight over the small one that we had. Even JL got in on the act of doodling a page from JSL favorite new Sandra Boynton book.
Thanks to Hebrew School and Barenaked Ladies, NHL knew all of the blessings for lightning the candles. He loved signing them and then patiently waited for a small gift each night. The boys were so sweet and always tried everything, whether it was playing with a Super Grover car, checking out a new book, or playing with a barrel of monkeys.
Another item that will keep them entertained for years to come are the Chanukah finger puppet. I found these at the craft store. Both of the boys have enjoyed using them.
JL and I opted not to exchange gifts this Chanukah. We decided we wanted to save for our first official family vacation. This weekend I believe we finalized what it will be since there are amazing deals to this location. News coming soon!
Topics: decisions, holidays, jsl, nhl, photos, play time, travel, vacation | 3 Comments »
Gift central
By TheAngelForever | December 28, 2008
Last Saturday, we celebrated Chanukah early with my family because of the threat of snow storms. My brother and his family were not able to make it into town thanks to all of the snow. Since the boys have been born, they have been spoiled by our families. Most of the toys in our house are purchased by people other than us. This Chanukah was no different.
Nana and Papa had all of the gifts labeled and ready to go. They wanted to try something different. Rather than give NHL and JSL a present or two and then more another day, they opted to do things Christmas style.
Note to casual Chanukah observers: Jewish kids do not really know how to handle present overload when it is not on their birthday.
NHL quickly tore through all of the packages and sat staring at his little brother. He wanted to know what was inside all of his wrapping paper. 5 year olds definitely burn through things quickly and 19 month olds want to take each and every item in. In fact, JSL did not understand why more and more was given to him. Still he was sweet and squealed at each and every item given to him.
Here are some photos of NHL from the evening:
Now time for JSL:
Photos from from Hurricane Chanukah:
Now of course we have to find homes for all of the new items. We have purchased a lot of new Rubbermaid containers to put things away in and sort for future garage sales. Tonight we will light the eighth and final candle and then will put all of the Chanukah items away until next year.
Topics: family, fun, holidays, jsl, nhl, photos, play time, weekend | 5 Comments »
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