The holidays - how did we get here already?

Can you believe it's only a week and then the holiday madness is over?  I hope your holidays are going well...I hear such things are possible!  :-)

So, another theory on making the holidays easier.  Make Christmas dinner easier.  That literally means making fewer foods...Because I don't know about you, but coordinating food is the toughest for me.  How do you make sure you take the meat out soon enough that it doesn't overcook especially while you're waiting for your guests, especially the latest one, you know who you are.  :-)

So, have fewer things to coordinate!  If you want to wow people, and let's face it, we all do...Extra appetizers...More and prettier cheeses, or meats, or whatever your favorite appetizer is.

And then, one or two meats, one carb side, and one veggie...You can do it!  You know you can!  Alright, in the spirit of compromise, maybe two veggies, because some small people are not fond of cauliflower, and is Christmas day really the day you want to deal with what you should eat?

That's too scary!

Just another thought!

And instead of making and sweating over that extra side course, this is my favorite part, packet of apple cider, husband or small child, and walk out into your backyard...And sit for a bit...

And isn't it wonderful we have the craziness?

Just a thought...or two!

Happy Everything!

Can the season really be easier? Bah Humbug?

Alright, how to make the season easier...No, really!

My biggest recommendation so far this season?  Cut your card list to 20 or less.  I’ve gotten to 12, which probably says more about our social life than anything, but let’s face it, if you see someone you care about at least twice this year, they know what you and your family looks like.  And they know you love them.  And what else are the cards for?

Instead, before you fill that time with something you decide to add to your to-do list this year, alright, that’s what I always do!, please consider getting some packets of cocoa on your next shopping list (no making a special run just for this, and please, do not make from scratch!  It’s too late in the season to make anything from scratch!)…So make a packet or two, if your small one is old enough to share, and make a call to someone you love or play footsies with someone small or large. 

Happy Everything!

It's the Holidays! Yikes!

Alright, so we are officially in the thick of the holiday season.  Who else is truly terrified?  Overwhelmed?  Or is it just me?

Of course, you know what I'd recommend for any soon-to-be parents, but after that, what to do?

And how to do it on a budget?

That's the tough part.  There are some wonderful places that recycle "gently used" children's clothes.  That always amazing me.  None of my kids gently use clothes.  Not me, just look where the feet ought to be on my four year old's pajamas.  But there are amazing Moms who manage it. There are also Moms, some friends of mine, who manage to keep all of the pieces of their childrens' toys.   Not me.  My youngest's puzzles are more an imagination game, or maybe conceptual art, than actual puzzles.

So you can use those sites.

And a friend recommends giving to charities as a family instead of individual gifts for all the cousins and aunts and uncles or however it works in your family.  Pick your favorite charity, and instead of wrapping all those presents you didn't have to worry about this year, go jump in a puddle (West Coast) or make a snow-man, with your favorite small person or teenager of choice.

Just a thought or two...

Happy Everything!

Jess

Blogging and No Electricity

Alright, so first off, I am probably the worst blogger ever.

I was on vacation, but I don't think vacation lasted since my last blog, which I can't even figure out when that was!

So, we just came back from vacation, all of us, and  we survived.  This was not quite a survival camp, but for some of us, it was very close to it!

It was absolutely amazing!  Wonderful hikes, learning about wood-working...Heck, I even learned how to skin a deer that had been killed by a car that morning.

And I'm so glad we did it!  Two teenagers, one man, one three year old, and me.

And I'm so glad to be home!  I miss red wine and chocolate.  Although I did have some in the survival camp, bad blogger and bad survivalist.

But I'm glad to be back!  Have I mentioned that?

And to a wonderful school year!  Summer is done!  The question is, is that a bad thing or a good thing for you?  And is there such a thing as a Mommy family vacation?

Hmm...

To a great fall!  And the next question, should there be mini-Mozarts, and how do you create one?


Mom's the Question!

Jess

My son's first field trip

Good morning!

Kind of...Have had three different kinds of caffeine...And my son is off to his first field trip.  I tried to volunteer, but too many parents were ahead of me...Literally...

He's going for the first time somewhere without me, his father or his grandparents.  And I feel sad and happy...

Why is this?  As soon as they advance, they leave a part of their babyhood behind...And that's sad on a sentimental level, but also liberating.

As is potty training!  Yeehaa!  Number 1 last week and hopefully a number 2 method that started yesterday that will take.

Alright, I am twisted...Even sentimental about diapers...

How do you remember these moments?

Thank you for readin!

Jess

Thank you for our likes!

Happy Spring!  And Easter if you celebrate it!  Actually bought this silly Easter Egg Hunt sign kit, for 50% off of course after last Easter, the only way to buy anything for the holidays, when I think of it!  Anyway, they don't really stick terribly well, so there are bunnies over our yard who do not look too happy.

Cruelty to bunnies!

Speaking of cruelty, last night we were on a little road trip, and my son had been amazing all day.  It was about a two hour car ride, and he sat in the back and read books the entire time.  Great at the restaurant, great at the wine tasting...And then bed...He totally lost it...Used the crib like a gym...Climbed on it, and did a yoga table on top of the crib...Not good.  Have you ever had a child who was just too tired to go to sleep on his own?  Eventually he did, but it took awhile and a lot of inputs from Mom and Dad.

A quick question...Are vacations really vacations with children?

Anyway, I got off course...Wanted to thank our new likes on Facebook.  You like us you really do! Thank you!

And Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

Jess

Happy Spring!

I hope you are having a wonderful spring!  Spring started a bit ago, but now it really feels like it!

And our spring housekeeping around My Baby Tales is done.  We've switched to a great hosting service that will give you better service.  I've had my own business since 2002, and I believe the only way it works is good service.

And we are going to start something next week I'm very excited about.  The first 100 new people who like us on Facebook will be able to use My Baby Tales for free for three months!

Yippee!

Jess

Thank you to our testers!

Happy Monday!  I hear that is possible!  Our's isn't going badly, just all sorts of things coming up...someone's bed sheets needed to be changed...The phone didn't work, etc...Usually Monday madness!

And I wanted to give another shout-out to our testers.  We deleted the testing accounts, but as I was going through them, I was amazed at how much of the country was represented!  We had folks from Jersey City, New Jersey, Moscow ID and Bull's Gap Tennessee.  I worked with the best Tech Sergeant from Tennessee when I was in the Air Force.  So I always have a soft spot for Tennessee!

Thank you again!

And may there be no more not-working phones or wet beds on your Monday!

Jess

And now for something completely unexpected

After having said that nothing broke during testing...Something is broken at the moment...It won't take long to fix it...And it won't come up again, knock on wood, because now I've got two pinging services to make sure it doesn't.   Pinging makes sure that Mybabytales.com web-site is up and running.  Apparently My Baby Tales services were hogging more of the machine than they should.  Greedy little guys!
We are getting a bigger server now and that won't happen.  Knock on wood!

And have a great weekend!

Yippee!

I'd like to thank our brave testing Moms who tried out My Baby Tales.  And what I'm especially happy about is first, nothing broke!  Yippee!  And then you got the services you expected from it.  The bells and whistles we promised were the ones you received.  Delivering on our promises is the most important thing for me!  Yeehaa!  Thank you!  And there were improvements that are strictly due to you!  Thank you!

Negative can be positive!

Good morning!

Thank you to the Moms who are trying out My Baby Tales.  I really appreciate it!  And please let me know what you would like to see improved.  I would love to get just compliments, but the negative stuff is very very important.  That way I'll know how I can improve her!

Now, that we've figured that out, does anyone have any clever days of keeping lego creations in the stroller?  My son makes wonderful creations, but our walks consist of two steps, pick up legs, three steps, pick up more legos...one step and something crashes to the ground.  :-)

Thank you!

Jessica