The Bathroom Door is Closed

This is really funny. I found this sign you can print out and put on your bathroom door to keep the children at bay when you do your business. Check it out, Mom!

Your Baby's First Words

One of the joys of parenthood is certainly hearing the first moment in your young one's life when they finally utter the word "mama" or some variant of Mom. But we often don't get what we wish for. I was recently following a discussion on one of the Gifted and Talented boards about baby's first words. They had some oddities - like "cheese", "dump truck", etc.

It took me back to nearly nine years ago when our eldest started to finally talk. She was about ten months old and finally started to utter things that sounded like actual words. I recall "kee" for kitty and "Buddy, no" being nearly first. "Buddy - No" was actually said more than any other phrase around our house at that time. Buddy is our dog and he was admonished quite often around the baby. I also recall us on a stroller walk and got "tree" in response to the beautiful surroundings. The single words didn't last long and they quickly progressed to the current, "get me some more now!"

We had also used Baby Sign Language early to encourage language development. I think at around 7 months we started getting signed responses "more" "eat" and "milk". We never moved on to "I gotta poop" because she started talking after that. This article just came out that says there's really a science behind what your children say first.

I am curious what other first words have been uttered by your progeny? Please share here!

Crocs Shoes are Dangerous - Don't Lose a Foot!

Croc shoes or similarly styled shoes are a proven hazard on escalators, as the kids who accidents on them can attest. Some children have lost toes or mangled their feet while wearing Crocs and getting their feet stuck in the escalator stairs. They are also very ugly. Since when did we and our children all decide we needed to look like longshoremen or hairdressers everyday? What happened to cute shoes? You might consider looking at similar shoes that work better overall.
Take extra care if you are in a location with an escalator and maybe take the elevator or the stairs if you or your child wears Crocs around the mall. And just be careful around escalators in general - it's easy to fall down them like I did as a kid.

Grandma's Chocolate Pie Recipe

I am updating today to fix a step where the butter goes in!

I am highlighting my family's Chocolate Pie recipe in honor of grandparent's day. I have added photos and more details to help you make this the way we do in our family. Please feel free to email your comments, suggestions, and photos to me and I will share them with our readers.

This chocolate pie recipe has been handed down on my father's side for at least 4 generations. His family is from eastern North Carolina, so all the food that comes from there is very yummy, very Southern, and not very diet. Keep this in mind as you prepare. (Also, keep in mind that you really have to stir the pudding while on the stove for a longgggg time before it starts to gel). We serve it in our family every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is not a holiday without this pie.

The recipe uses a hand mixer to do the "mixing" part.

I call it Maw Maw's Chocolate Pie (we called our grandma - "Maw-Maw" ). So here's Grandma Maw Maw's pie recipe:

Makes 2 Pies

Preheat oven to 400 degrees to prebake the pie shells, drop to 350 degrees to cook the pie meringue.

4 small packages of Jello Brand Pudding & pie filling - chocolate
2 Pet Ritz Bake and Fill Pie Shells (regular size) or any other bake and fill regular pie shells
2 Tablespoons Real Cocoa - unsweetened
2Tablespoons Sugar
2 Cans of Carnation Evaporated Milk
4 Large or Jumbo Egg Yolks. Separate carefully and reserve the whites for meringue (may want extra egg whites to make taller meringue) Eggs should be at room temperature.
1Tablespoon Real Vanilla
1Tablespoon Butter
Pinch of Table Salt

Prick the unbaked pie shells all over with a fork. Pre-bake the pie shells until light brown. Set aside on a cookie sheet.


Beat egg yolks for a minute with mixer.

Add the balance of ingredients, except butter, and mix with mixer until well blended.



Pour into a large saucepan, add the butter, and then stir by hand constantly over medium heat, approximately ten minutes until it starts to boil.



Reduce heat to low and continue to stir, it will be slightly lumpy when you take it off the burner.



Remove from heat, continue to beat it by hand to smooth it out, then immediately pour into the pre-baked crusts, dividing evenly.


Set pies aside. Set your oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare meringue by beating egg whites until peaks start to form, adding ¼ cup sugar a little at a time as you are beating at high speed(4 to 5 egg whites) using mixer.





Feel free to double the amount of meringue if you want it to be thick on top of the pie. Divide your meringue mixture to top the two pies and cover the filling completely.



Set the pies on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake at 350 degrees until the meringue is browned.



May be served warm or chilled. I think it is much better chilled. ;)

Can I Sign Up to Be a Pop Star, Mommy?

I guess there is a little too much of a good thing.  Too much American Idol.  Too much Hannah Montana.  Too much Disney Channel.  Emily came up to me last night and nonchalantly asked, "can you fill out the papers to sign me up to be a pop star?"  I had to explain that it doesn't work that way.  You have to practice music, singing, blah, blah, blah.  That didn't phase her.  Then she asked, "can I hire a band tomorrow?"  Yeh, just go check that empty piggy bank.

Do We REALLY Need to Teach Teens How to Beg?

I was actually quite incensed to read this article from the St. Pete Times that gives a Top Ten List for How to Get What You Want From Mom and Dad. Really....did you never see Leave It to Beaver? Eddie was a master at this kind of ploy.

Buried underneath this how to article though is a list of appropriate manners for teens. Maybe I'll cut it out and save for about five years from now when they become ingrates.

Elvis the Hip Hop Legend

We were discussing music with the youngest child yesterday. Ironically, it was the anniversary of Elvis's death. Somehow, Elvis came up. I asked Emily if she knew who Elvis was. She replied immediately, "he's a big hip-hop star". Too funny. I had to remind her of his prevalence in the Lilo and Stitch movies and she remembered.

Then it was all about how he died. "He died of a drug overdose". "I know people who do drugs." "Who is that?" "These people who are smoking cigarettes, they're doing drugs." "Yes, they are. And don't do drugs, ever."

"Why do people have to die? Why can't we live forever?"

Questions.

The Best Shoes For Standing Up All Day

Comfortable Shoes at a comfortable price. Free shipping on orders over $75.00. You can't beat that for some of the best types of shoes that I've found for your feet if you have to work on your feet all day. Check out my favorites listed under Dansko. They are very well-made and have great support. The comfort sole supports the foot forward when walking. They really protect your feet, legs, and back during long hours of standing or walking. I substitute teach and have to have the best shoes or I am just crippled after only half a day. I usually have back problems and these shoes make all the difference in the world. I have a pair that I've worn for nearly three years! I would recommend them to anyone who stands all day - chefs, hairdressers, teachers and more!

Back To School and More Activities

It's been a week since school started here and it seems like we're off to a great start. Both children like their teachers. Annie was quickly accepted into the gifted and talented program based on her prior program. She said they picked programs to work on and she will do computing/web design/newspaper, which is right up her alley.

The school food is one zillion times better than the last school in Florida. Tim's aunt and I went to lunch earlier this week at the school and it was decent to eat! The food tasted good, wasn't all frozen and they had fresh veggie choices! Wake up, Florida, make some changes! Even the milk was cold! A first for me with school milk, ever.

Buddy the dog and I have spent a lot of time together sans family. We are bonding. I have gotten the house back in order after two rounds of visitors and finally got the SUV registered in this state. Lots of errands to get done. I have some work at home to do tomorrow.

The kids are about to be as loaded in weekly activities as they were last year. Annie will have basketball later in the fall, Junior Girl Scouts, CCD and either art or dance. Emily has soccer, Brownie scouts, and CCD. I think we may skip on dance until next year, so we can see how soccer and basketball go here.

Back to School Today!

The kids seemed happy as they headed out to their new school today. The school had open house last night to meet the teachers and to tour the school.

I'll give Alabama this, they have beautiful schools! They have spent some money making the environment look inviting and it appears that they go for buildings to last - all brick with style. The kids loved the library, which was very large, open and inviting. The librarian was a very sweet woman who struck me as someone that they'll really enjoy being around.

Emily's teacher seemed experienced and welcoming and I planted the seed about Emily's reading level being so high. Annie's teacher made her day by saying that they'll give no homework, outside of practicing math facts. Annie hates homework. I guess they plan to do it all in school and given that the school day here is 1.5 hours longer than the school day in Florida, I guess they do have time. Annie does more learning and projects at her computer most days than they'll ever learn in school anyway.

Emily was very quiet in her new classroom, but I know she'll warm up quickly. A little girl was going around saying, "will you be my friend?" to everyone. Emily looked surprised when she came to her and quickly said "okay". I introduced her to a more shy girl in her row, named Abigail. She was a cute little redhead. Emily loved her right away.

They both seem interested in riding the bus so we may try it tomorrow. At least it's air conditioned here!