PNWGal's Profile

Oooh, I like the coffee can/light trick.

We do an activity-a-day Christmas countdown and one of the items is to "pull out our Christmas books and read them". I usually add a new book to the mix and this year I picked Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree which is totally delightful. I was sold based on a review by a young adult who still enjoys reading this one even though she's in college. My two loved the story and I have read it at least a dozen times since the first of the month. I am really amazed how many high quality Christmas books are out there. Although my kids still LOVE the Cheerio Christmas Book.... go figure.

Clever!

Both my kids told me they wanted to stop wearing pull-ups at night. My daughter asked right before a big trip where we would be staying in a hotel and my son right before a camping trip. For my daughter, we went for it and she never had a night-time accident. My son, we went ahead; but since we were camping I told him we would have no way to wash out accidents and so I wanted him to wear a pull-up during our trip. He didn't have any accidents on the trip and even though he doesn't wear pull-ups at night at home (for 2+ years) we still have the occasional night-time pee accident. Probably 7-10 in the two years he hasn't worn a pull-up at night.

I think moderation is the key and unfortunately my mother doesn't really appreciate my position. I had to talk to her and tell her that Grandma should not give more presents than Santa. Each year after receiving over 14 gift for my daughter, I tell her she has to limit it to five Christmas presents. She regularly gets around it by packaging a skirt, a blouse, tights, head bands and jewelry into a one box. I have pointed out that isn't within the spirit of my request. She says that she's does it because she is so far away. My mom also invests up too much money into gifts and too much emotion into them--did she LOVE the present I sent? And is a regular buyer of age-inappropriate gifts--expensive jewelry for little girls, books beyond their age, etc. I have had talks with her that are along the line of edava19 trying to explain my position. Gift giving goes both ways and that should be respected. If the parent's don't want licensed product the grandparents should respect that. However, there are times that as a parent you don't like a certain gift; but the child really really wants one and well....let's just say we have had Cinderella Tea Sets and Barbies because that is what the child dearly wanted and it thrills the grandparents to make their grandchildren so happy. My tips are: I have my kids prepare wish lists for the grandparents and I keep reminding my mother that I would truly like her to follow the boundaries I try to set, no more than 5 presents (including cash and gift cards). Cash and gift cards should be no more than $20 - - anything more should be given to me to put in their college fund. We are seven years into this and hopefully the message will get through sometime. :)

My daughter attends a Spanish Immersion Elementary school and I have been amazed how quickly she adapted to learning in and learning Spanish. They start formal English instruction in grade 3. We have met families who speak languages other than English at home too and almost all the children seem to thrive in the Spanish-only environment.

I remember my French teacher telling us that they used the one parent speaking English and one parent speaking French at home with success until the oldest child started kindergarten and then he only wanted to speak English at home and the little one wanting to be like his big brother followed suit. Both boys spent summers in France and so that helped them; but at home they had a harder time.

I had one of these because (not puffy) but similar designed because my daughter was frightened of big potties; but mine didn't seem to work well on the elongated potties and those with split seats that are most common in public places.

We have enjoyed Ralph's World, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Caspar Babypants, Jose Luis Orozco, and most recently Captain Bogg and Salty (for small pirate lovers).

I saw that someone mentioned Ella Jenkins! She's my new favorite. I just picked up a copy of Adventures in Rhythm at the library (because it was on Folkways) and EVERYONE in the house LOVES it!

Love it!

We played this at one of my daughter's birthday and instead of toys or treats, we had the girls do activities: hop around the circle on one foot, do the chicken dance, walk like a crab, etc. It was fun.