.....................................Alive?

Yes, I'm alive.  Infact, I've been working on a book. 

I can't do everything at the same time (who can?), so for the past while, I've been focussing my efforts on a book I've been dreaming about for years upon years...the dream began before blogging was ever even a thing.  The idea actually started with my mom and her dream of writing a book.  It's changed a lot over the years and is totally different than what she had thought about doing...but that's where the thought began.  And every thought has to begin somewhere.  So, that's taken priority for now.  I realized a while ago that if I didn't start and work on it regularly, it would never happen and I don't want to get to the point when it's "too late".  That happens with too many things in life and I've decided I won't have a regret, or "what if".  It's kind of a tribute to my mom too.  She didn't accomplish the dream.  But it can be OUR dream and I'll do it.  And, if it's never published by some other company.  So be it..... we now live in a world of self-publishing opportunities because of the technology we have.  That makes me happy.  It's also a gift to my daughter... someday she'll be a mom too.  Yes, the book has to do with motherhood....my passion in life.  I'll keep you posted, and I might even blog occasionally, but.......

And, my husband compiled a book too.  A dream he's had for years.  (notice the trending in our family?)   I'll write about that later....keep checking back.

Wednesday's Word: Home

Happy laughter

and friendly voices in the home

will keep more kids off the streets

than the loudest curfew.

~Burton Hillis

 

photo courtesy of: http://www.brightlifecoaching.com.au/

Tuesday's Tips & Tidbits: the Tooth Fairy

TOOTH FAIRY

A rite of passage in our culture

It's a big deal to lose that first tooth

Just ask any kindergarten teacher.

My son has his first two wiggly teeth: the bottom, front ones---like most kids. 

 

He's been coming home from school since the beginning of the school year telling me who lost their tooth, how, and that the kid got a prize from his teacher's special prize box for losing a tooth.

 

He's anxiously awaiting his own teeth falling out because 

IT'S SOOOOO COOL!!!!!!

When I was a little girl my mom would make us each a

Tooth Fairy Pillow. 

I didn't realize at the time how brilliant my mother was. 

This pillow had a little pocket in the front where we'd put our tooth. 

We'd place the pillow on our bed, and wake up the next morning to money in exchange for that tooth. 

 

My. brilliant .mother!!! 

 

*She didn't have to carefully dig under my pillow trying to find the tooth.

 

*She didn't have to worry about waking me up.

 

*She didn't have to worry about morning when the money she'd left had fallen down the side of the bed and a kid was crying because the Tooth Fairy stole their tooth and didn't leave any money.

 

My.brilliant.mother!!!!

So, I made my son a Tooth Fairy pillow this week. 
Preparation for the big night when he sells his teeth to that sneaky Tooth Fairy.

I should have asked "What color of pillow do you want?" 

Not "What kind of pillow do you want?" 

One word can really complicate life! 

He wanted a Mario Pillow. Of course! Why did I ask?!? I felt pretty intimidated at first, but it did turn out and was easier than I expected once I had an idea of how to do it. 

 

The sad part to this story: 
When I was almost done with his pillow, he looked me right in the eyes with a very serious thoughtful look and said, "Mom, the Tooth Fairy isn't real is He?"
My response, "Why would you think that?"
My son replied, "Heavenly Father didn't make fairies." A long pause while I tried to figure out what to say.  Then he added, "But I LOOOOOOVE my cool pillow.  And I'm still so excited to lose my teeth!  It'll be SOOOOOO COOL."

I'm sad he didn't even make it through one round of the Tooth Fairy while believing.  But I'm happy he's still excited. 

P.S.  The night before Easter he told me he knows it's me and Dad who hide the eggs, that the Easter Bunny isn't real.  It was still his most exciting Easter morning and he was crazy uber happy about searching out all the eggs. 

I've learned a good lesson from him I need to remember always: 

When the fairy tale is gone, reality is still a lot of fun!

 

******And, ONE MORE TIP******

No matter how much money your Tooth Fairy gives, give it in coins, not bills.  A kid feels a lot more rich with 4 quarters in his pocket than with one dollar bill in his pocket.  I Promise!

Wednesday's Word: COURAGE

Each of us as women and mothers

have had,

are having,

and will have

moments where courage is needed

because

LIFE isn't something we always feel prepared to face...infact, I'd say we're usually caught off guard by both the "small" things as well as the "big" things.

 

 

My favorites lines from this short video are: 

 

"Being Brave doesn't mean that I'm not afraid."

 

And,

 

"If I really trust Heavenly Father,

it doesn't matter what I don't understand."

  

Wednesday's Word: A Dedicated & Wise Mother

I always love to learn from other mothers. 

 

We're all different. 

 

I don't desire to be an exact duplicate of another mother because my children are not exact duplicates of other children. 

(okay, honestly, there are moments I want to be like someone else because in my view they're a better mother than I am...but I'm trying to overcome that.  I think we all have those moments.)

 

We're all individuals. 

 

The children we have are ours because God gave them each to us...He knows we are the best mother for them and for who they can become.

(and that's a HUGE topic for another day.)

 

But, like I said, I do enjoy learning from other mothers. 

 

I am grateful for good examples. 

 

We all need them as we're progressing in this journey called MOTHERHOOD.

This is an interview with a mother I do not personally know, but yesterday as I listened to this "Conversation" as I folded our huge pile of laundry, I felt uplifted, and inspired in simple things that daily opportunities provide for teaching our children.  No one's life is perfect, everyone has challenges, and yet the good can shine through in wonderful ways.

I hope you'll listen!
Just click on this pink link and it will take you to the "play" page.
*** Interview with Karen Payne, Mother of 10 Children ***
on www.mormonchannel.org

Friday's Food: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Mmmm Mmmmm Good. 

A new favorite even.

I made this last night for the first time:

 

Every time I try something new, I have my husband rate it on a scale of 1-10. 
1=NASTY and we're having cereal instead
10= WOW make it again and I can't wait for leftovers again tomorrow!!!!

My son never rates anything.  He's six.  He dislikes anything besides hotdogs and pizza.  But he's a good boy and eats whatever I give him anyway.  It's taken work, and sometimes bribery, and always patience.  But he's doing GREAT at eating what he's given.  I figure eventually his taste buds will appreciate variety.

Anyway, before I had a chance to ask my husband his rating he offered a 10+
My son (when he f.i.n.a.l.l.y tried his first bite) got all wide eyed and also gave it a thumbs up.
Now that's really saying something.
He ACTUALLY LIKED IT!!!!

So, here it is.  I hope it gets a 10+ in your home too.  If not, I apologize for getting your hopes up.  Kind of like when someone says a movie is the BEST movie EVER and will change your life,.....and you watch it and uh, fall asleep.


Chicken Pot Pie
1 can chicken chunks (or 2 chicken breasts chopped and cooked)
2 cans white potatoes (or 3-4 medium potatoes chopped and boiled until tender)
1 small package of frozen peas and carrots
1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade cream of chicken soup)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together in large bowl and pour into pie crust. Seal mixture inside pie crust with pie crust top.  Cut design into top and bake at 350 degrees (fahrenheit) for about 55 minutes or until heated through and crust is done.  Should be lightly golden brown. 

1 recipe Double Pie crust (or ready-made from store)
* pie crust recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook

2 1/4 C. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 C. shortening
8-10 Tbl. cold water

In medium bowl stir together flour and salt.  Using a pastry blender (or fork) cut in shortening until pieces are about pea-size.  Sprinkle 1 Tbl. of water over part of flour mixture and gently toss with fork  Push moistened dough to side of bowl.  Repeat 1 Tbl. at a time until all of the flour mixture is moistened.  Divide in half and form each half into a ball.  On  a lighly floured surface, roll dough out flat to about 12 inch diameter.  To transfer the dough, wrap it around the rolling pin and place over pie dish, gently pushing it down to fill in the pie dish so it won't break when you put the filling in.  Do the same with the other ball of dough, place over top of filled pie.  seal seam and cutt off excess dough.  Cut slits in top for steam to escape.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE IT AS MUCH AS WE DO

Thing to Do: Indoor Hop Scotch

It's COLD and WET and SNOWY

Aaaaannnnnndddd.... the kids need something to do for physical exercise besides jumping out of the window sills, off the couches and the top of the piano, and climbing the dresser and....

 

Time for HOP SCOTCH

All you need is masking tape, a bean bag, and a floor. 
Carpet is easiest to remove the tape.  WARNING: Don't leave it on for more than a few days, it'll leave sticky stuff on your floor if you do and then you'll have dirt sticking to the sticky...and the hop scotch stays longer than you planned.  Yes we experienced it.

Reminder on HopScotch rules:  jump one foot in #1, two feet in #2 and #3, etc.  Beginning of turn, throw a bean bag and whatever square you land it on, skip jumping on that square.  When you get to the the end, turn around, jump back, leaning over to pick up the bean bag on your way back. 

I was very surprised how much my kids loved it.  Even my son!!!!  And my little girl isn't old enough to quite understand, but it was still something different and fun so she loved it. 

Wednesday's Word: I Had a Dream

My own thoughts will be rambled here...and maybe for no one to ever read.  But I'm still going to write them. 

I had a dream last night right before I woke up...the kind that got my emotions all tangled up.  It was a nightmare of sorts.  My whole body felt heavy, I had a pit of dread in my stomach.  It all seemed so real.  Then I woke up and realized it was only a dream and was so thankful for my life.  Lately I've been having a hard time feeling excited to be a mother e.v.e.r.y d.a.y.  The monotony of it all has been wearing me down.  (Probably doesn't help that both my kids have been quite sick and not sleeping well which equals extra crankiness on their part and me wishing I had extra patience and strength to match what they're needing.) 

 

So, you're asking, what was this dream?  It was that I was back at my college job.  The job I had before my wonderful job at the college working with preschool.  I was working at a grocery store again.  I had to wear the classy cashier apron with the store name on it, memorize all the produce codes, be the fastest cashier, stand on my feet all day in a 1 1/2 ft. square area smiling at everyone even if they were using foul and obscene language to complain about everything on the planet.  Once again I was having to sell alcohol and tobacco to pregnant women and dreading it wishing I didn't have to.  I had to wait a few hours for my 15 minute break so I could sit and drink some water and then make it through the next few hours until my next break.  And I had to do it day.after.day.  Ugh!  In college it was a good job.  Paid the bills, worked with my school schedule each semester, I made some great friends that will be forever friends, my employer was really quite nice, and I learned new things that I'll never forget (f.y.i. the code for bananas is 4011), but it was VERY HARD WORK. 

 

Then I woke up and felt so excited for the day.  If a bad dream can be a tender mercy, this one was!  I felt so energized and ready for whatever the day brought.  It might be hard, but at least I could get a drink of water for myself when I was thirsty (even if holding a crying child at the same time).  I can sit on the floor, or even lay next to my sick kid on his bed and read a book.  I get to do things that really and eternally matter.  They may be monotonous, they may stretch my inner strength and character, they are overwhelming at times, and I feel inadequate more often than not, but this dream job is quite POSH. 

I don't have to wear a uniform.  T-shirt and jeans-- thank you very much! 

I can snack on the hidden Starburst stash in the top cupboard whenever I need a little sunshine. 

I can take a bathroom break almost whenever I want to (and sometimes that's my code for giving myself a time out to cool myself down and not blow a fuse...I think the kids are catching on). 

I get to hug my kids and check their temperatures, and make sure that these little precious eternal beings I'm entrusted with know they're loved and cherished. 

I get to read books with them, teach them scripture stories, hear their first words, and watch their imaginations take over our home. 

I GET TO be HERE!!!!  I experience it all with them. 

This is a pretty awesome job..... My REAL dream job called MOTHERHOOD.

Thursday's Thing to Do: Cereal Necklace

Honestly, is there anyone out there that has never had a cereal necklace or bracelet?

(if so, today is YOUR day!!!!) 

 

They were my favorite as a little girl. 

However, in that transition time between little girl and mom, I forgot about them....until today. 

I'm thinking about how fun it will be to do.  I bet my son would even like it because it's food...

as long as every piece of cereal is either blue or green since he's realized that pink is "ewwwww girlie" and pink, if touched, will give him the plague. 

 

If you've had amnesia and forgot about this simple fun, here are the tips on what you need and how to do it:

 

 

Cereal Necklace: 

(a.k.a. The Wearable Snack)

 

Cereal (multi-colored is extra fun, and the cereal should have holes in the middle.  If you have older kids, you could use cereal without holes and have them use a thread and needle---if you trust them with such weapons while sitting in close proximity.)

 

Yarn (cut in 3 foot sections) OR thin licorice ropes

 

Development: This a a great activity for preschool age kids to practive their fine motor skills as they string the cereal on the yarn.  You can also use this as an activity with learning colors, or practicing their sorting skills. 

 

Tips: With young children it can help to tape one end of the yarn onto the table while they string the cereal onto the other end, this way it doesn't fall off constantly.  When they're done, help them tie the ends together. 

 

***And please remember, necklaces can be choking hazards if they're climbing trees, etc. etc.  So, be wise.

 

Thursday's Things to Do: Printable Actitivities

I know there are a lot of websites out there to easily google and find what you'd like, but I thought I'd share one I recently found:

PrintActivities.com (yes this is a link)

I'm REALLY liking it.  It has activities, puzzles, dot-to-dot pages, coloring pages,.... you get the idea.  And I love how easily it's catagorized by THEMES.  And of course it's all FREE, which I always love.  :) 

 

Here's a little taste....

 

Let's say you read the story "The Three Little Pigs" today ...why not have a little extra fun and follow it with a little piggie and wolf maze such as this....

Anyway, just thought I'd share...

MOMents

Yesterday as our family was sitting semi-reverently in church, my five-year-old son abruptly said, "What's that smell!?"  he leaned toward me, sniffed, then he backed away from  me and said loudly, "Mom, it's YOU!"  Yep, I actually wore perfume...it's been ages since I've done that.  And obviously he wasn't so impressed....  I'm pretty sure what others within ear-range were thinking.  Slightly embarrassing.  My husband whisper-chuckled.  I sighed.  My son had his nose turned up like he'd just smelled a skunk...at least until his sister stole his crayon box.  Ahhh....MOMents

~Me, the Blog Author, mother of Two

Wednesday's WORD: I Use to Know A LOT

I knew A LOT about marriage and motherhood. 

And then I got married and became a mother and learned that I don't know much.

I've been working on a major project: Organize Everything! 

I may or may not have jumped into a disaster.  You see, I've pulled out all the files from the filing cabinet, every box of papers, folders, notebooks, file boxes, and every pile of things in the house (including in drawers, closets, ...you get the idea).  Some things are recent, and others have been hidden on purpose since we got got engaged almost a decade ago when I had to quickly move out of my college apartment and in with my parents to save money for a couple months, and then there are the boxes of things my mom found in the back of her closet that are "mine".  I think she saved every picture I ever drew.  You see, when I say EVERYTHING, I'm really meaning everything.  Oh yeah, and I also have lots of printed photos from back in the day before digital cameras.  I took all these things into one room, (it use to be where my son read books and played with legos...those activities have migrated temporarily to a different area of the house), and I've banished anyone from that room until my project of overcoming my unorganizedness is conquered.  You see, I use to be quite unorganized.  I married an organized man.  I've been learning from him.  I'm glad.  But now those piles are DRIVING ME CRAZY and I want to get it ALL done.  Thrown away, or put somewhere useful.  I'm sick of the hidden but not forgotten boxes.  I'm tired of moving them each time we've moved (though we're probably in this home for a while since we bought it).  I'm wanting to DE-CLUTTER, SIMPLIFY, ORGANIZE.  You get the idea. 

So, what does this have to do with what I use to know?  It seems totally unrelated doesn't it.  But it's not.  You see, before getting married, and before having kids, and while I was in school getting my awesome possum degree, I kept a lot of things that would help me be the-most-awesome-rockin-mother-EVER!!!  And when I was in school getting my degree I learned tons of great stuff.  And then I worked for a university teaching people how to teach kids and coming up with lessons for preschoolers.... I have a lot of stuff and learned a lot and I have PAPERS to prove it.  As I've been going through things I've been reminded of all I use to know.  If only I could remember all of it each day.  If I did, I'm sure I'd never become impatient with my kids because I'd understand exactly what stage of development they're in and about how long it lasts, how to communicate with them without conflict, how to teach self sufficiency with a perfect balance of obedience, and I'd have creatively fun ideas galore coming out my ears for every minute of the day and would never hear my son say "I'm bored!".  But I guess it doesn't work that way.  Everything I learned didn't stick.  I'm human.  I get tired.  I forget.  I try to remember.  And experience is a completely different kind of knowledge than the knowledge from notes I wrote during lectures in college.

So, I think I'll be okay with not "knowing" as much as I use to.  I'm having the chance to experience what I didn't have before but dreamed about.  And experience is better.  Experience gives hugs, kisses, and a homemade cardboard-box-fishtank gift for Mother's Day.  It doesn't get better than this! 

Experience is a knowledge of the heart. 

Wednesday's Word

"DO SMALL THINGS

WITH GREAT LOVE."

~Mother Theresa

Tuesday's Tidbit: Crawling

When I was in college I remember reading an interesting study done somewhere about teenagers that had problems with math.  They had found out that many of those students who were struggling with math had never crawled as a baby.  They had skipped that step in development and had gone straight to walking.  They taught these teenagers to crawl, did crawling exercises in class, and their math skills improved significantly.   I don't remember the details of the study, but the idea obviously stuck with me and I became VERY excited as each of my children began to crawl.   (Especially my little girl because of all her special therapy that began when she was only 6 weeks old.  Another post for another day.)

Now, I'm not going to say that all non-crawlers will struggle with math.  Neither will I say that all who struggle with math weren't crawlers as a baby (I crawled and am  not good at math at all...I won't mention how many times I repeated math classes.)  But I will say that crawling is a very important part of development.  And Math isn't the only area it seems to affect.  There are many studies that show how it affects the brain development (coordination, memory, etc.), and there are many theories out there including the possiblity that it's a factor in ADHD.

So, basically, don't push walking when your baby is enjoying crawling-this is an important time for your baby's brain to be getting a work-out, but if your baby skips crawling, maybe when he/she is an older child you can think of fun crawling games later in life to get them moving on their hands and knees. 

* And here's a good article if you'd be interested in learning a little more: medcentral.org

Monday's MOMent

Today I went to change T's diaper & quickly discovered that it was not a pretty one. As I was wrapping it up, I decided to wrap it tightly so that none of the poop would spill out as I went to throw it away. Bad idea...it only squeezed the poop out of the diaper all over my hand. I held the diaper with my soiled right hand as I tried to catch any extra spillage with my left hand. It continued to drip into my hand as I ran downstairs only to find that I had a child lock on my doorknob to the garage that my kids would not be able to assist me with. I asked my other son to help open the cupboard under the kitchen sink so that I could get an old grocery sack to put the diaper in, but of course it was childlocked & he couldn't open it. I was trying to pry the door open with my toes when my piano student knocked on the door. Crap. Of course J couldn't open the door for her because it had a cover on the doorknob as well. I ended up throwing the diaper in my kitchen garbage can (which I should have thought of in the first place), washed the filth off of my hands & proceeded on with my day as if nothing had even happened.

~Jackie, mother of 4

Friday's Food: Vegetable Pizza

That's right...a vegetable pizza.  You can hide all kind of nutrients in this sneaky pizza.  The smaller you chop the vegetables the less recognizable they are. :)

Vegetable Pizza

1 8-oz pkg refrigerated crescent rolls

1 8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 tsp mayonnaise

1 garlic clove finely minced

1 tsp. dill seed (or dill weed)

salt

black pepper

1/4 Cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 C. Assorted Fresh Vegetables of your choice (broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, tomato, green onion, mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, squash, etc.)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Unroll crescent dough; seperate into 8 triangles.  On a large pizza pan, arrange triangles in a circle with points in the center and wide ends toward the outside.  By pinching seams together and rolling flat, make a 12-inch circle.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until light golden brown.  Remove from oven and cool completely. 

2.  In a medium size bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic and dill weed.  Season with salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over top of crust.

3.  To prepare vegetables, slice, dice, or coarsely chop each vegetable.  (Remember, the smaller the pieces the less likely they'll recognize it.)

4.  Sprinkle vegetables over top of pizza.  Grate cheese evenly over top of vegetables.  Place plastic wrap over top of pizza and push vegetables into cream cheese mixture, (this helps them not fall off as it's being eaten).  Remove plastic wrap.  Cut into squares and serve.  Keep refrigerated.

*Variation: Ranch Cream Cheese mixture.  Mix 1 1/2 tsp. mayonnaise with about 1/2 envelope of dry ranch dressing until smooth, then mix with 8 oz. cream cheese.   

Wednesday's Word: Measuring a Happy Successful Day

I remember several years ago learning an interesting fact:

Men and Women measure success differently. 

Generally speaking, a woman has a "TO DO" list and the more things she crosses off during the day the more successful she feels.  (Have you ever written something down AFTER you did it just to cross it off simply because that swipe of the pen feels so wonderful?  Or is it just me?)  For a man, he can spend 10 hours doing one thing but feel incredibly successful because of the time he spent doing it.  If I spent 10 straight hours organizing that forgotten closet in the back of the house I would be kind of happy (if I'd finished it) ...but then feel upset I didn't also get the dishes done, Cheerios swept off the floor, letters written to Aunt Sue, Uncle Bob, and a thank you note or gift of cookies delivered to that sweet 17-year old girl who volunteered to babysit my kids...oh yeah, and dinner...I didn't get anything ready to eat and dinner-time was an hour ago! 

As in all things, it's important to remember differences are simply that--differences.  Understanding can bring more peace in relationships.... for example: Honey-Do lists from wives can take on a new light...the list is from the wife and the husband is proud of getting one thing done while the wife is still looking at the rest of the list that hasn't been crossed off.  It can also bring peace to ones self in understanding that success can be measured in multiple ways...and maybe "cleaning" shouldn't be a single item to cross off.  Instead try writing: clean toilet, clean sink, clean out fridge, clean top shelf of fridge, vacuum carpet upstairs, dust family room bookshelves, go through one box in forgotten closet in back of house,  ...yeah, that's more like it! 

I may take some fire for this, but hopefully I won't and you can just understand the basics here without a big gender war occurring, but it also makes sense why we think and feel differently about success.  A man has generally been the provider for his family.  Throughout ages he has worked at the same job long day after long day.  But can come home feeling accomplished since he's provided for his family.  A woman has generally been the one to take care of the home, and children.  There are a million "smaller" tasks to accomplish in a day from making meals, to changing diapers.  So, there are reasons.  I'll even say Divine reasons, why we measure daily success differently.  This also makes more sense as to why a man who is out of work often times feels a bit depressed, even if he's finished the Honey Do list.  And it also brings more understanding why so many working mothers feel so overwhelmed and under-accomplished after a full day of work as her list of things 'to do' seems to grow and multiply each day and she feels that she'll never make it.   And, as in all things, I think we can each learn a little from each other to balance ourselves out a bit. 

As we understand and remember that men and women measure success differently, and that it has purpose, maybe, just maybe, we can be kinder to ourselves, those around us, and can learn to manage our differences in healthy happier ways.   And have a bit more peace....we all need that don't we?

Friday's Food: Potato Wedges

Yummy! Yummy! Easy! Yummy!

POTATO WEDGES
Serves 4

4 medium potatoes, cut into large wedges
1 Tb. olive oil
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Place cut potatoes in a large bowl, sprinkle with oil, pepper, and salt. With hands, toss gently to combine.
Arrange seasoned potatoes in single layer on greased baking sheet.
Bake 10-15 minutes, then turn potatoes with spatula and bake another 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with ketchup or other desired dipping sauce.

Thanks Katrina! 

(I stole this recipe from her here and my son asks for it EVERY day...he's extra happy on the days I cater to his craving. Healthier than french fries, but loved just as much!)

Friday Favorite: Snack Feeder

This is made by KidCo, Inc. 

It's called the Healthy Snack Feeder.

It's dishwasher safe, yes, even the little bags.

(You can buy a pack of bags seperately so you don't have a billion handles hanging around the house and can just switch our the bags for clean ones.)

You can put whole grapes in it, or carrot sticks, or peas, or apple slices, or frozen foods for teething time, or ......... you get the idea. 

Closes securely.

Reduces choking hazards because they only get the stuff they've mushed through the netting.

***Great for teething time-- they can gnaw on something that'll give 'em a little nutrition too.

I LOVE this.  If you have a little one, I highly suggest it.  I've seen different ones made my different companies and personally love this one best though others do the same basic thing. 

I bought it here: Cotton Babies I like that it's free shipping no matter the size of order.

(for some reason they don't sell the bag packs anymore though...hmmm...)

Kidco Products are also sold at MANY local and online stores...check out their website Kidco.com

Wednesday's Word

The most MEMORABLE DAYS

usually end with the

DIRTIEST CLOTHES

I have this quote in my laundry room.  I like it.  Lots!