December, 2010
11
Dec 10
Alien Robots and a Peanut Jug
Well I spent all day yesterday (about 9am-9pm) vaccuming and moving furniture and shampooing the carpets. It was festive. BUT I did get to take a break, shower, and go to my son’s “holiday” program at the elementary school. I love these things! Most people seem peeved to have to go to these (like Bo), but I think they are super cute and fun. This year the theme was some kind of alien invasion deal; look at the awesome hats!!
There was a song during which all the kids got to improv-dance the Robot, and the Robot is Gunner’s favorite dance so he was having so much fun! Look how happy he is! Can you guess which one he is? LOL — I know, the photo looks kind of creepy with all the faces blurred out, but I realize that some people probably don’t want other people slapping up pics of their kids on the internet, and that’s fine with me. Its actually easier this way, you can spot Gunner instantly.
This morning was very quiet and restful. Bo and Gunner slept in, so it was just Nola and me. She played for a good while with her new favorite distraction: the “fill and spill” jar — which is actually just a Fisher peanuts jug, washed up with the label removed. She loves it! You put a bunch of links and small toys in it, and she gets to pull them out and dump it, shake it and roll it. Oh, and she loves yelling into it to hear her voice all booming. I wish I could find such fun with something so simplistic!
7
Dec 10
Doan furget teh goggies dis Krizzmas!
A friendly reminder from Festus, Hutch, and Daisy, that during this season of giving, don’t overlook your furry (or maybe not-so-furry) friends in the animal kingdom! Please help support local and national animal-related non-profits, now during the holidays and all year round!
Donate! You can give to your local animal shelter: monetary donations, food, care necessities, or even your time. If you’re thinking of donating items or food but are not sure what the shelter may need, give them a call or stop by! They usually have lists available of what they need and want for the animals.
Remember: PETS ARE NOT HOLIDAY PRESENTS!! Animals are living things, and should NOT be given to children (or adults) like some kind of toy or game. Your child may want a puppy or kitten because they’re cute and soft–or because their friend has five of them–but animals are a huge responsibility and deserve to be a part of your family. Shelters tend to see an influx of “gifted” pets in the summer, from families who thought it would be a good idea to get little Billy a dalmation puppy for Christmas.
Adding a pet to your family is a big step, and should be considered thoughtfully and researched thoroughly. Your child should be involved in the process! Make sure they understand everything involved with caring for an animal: feeding, bathing, grooming, veterinary visits, playing, exercise, sleeping, and cleaning up messes and accidents. Consider adopting from a local shelter or foster network! Puppies and kittens are cuddly and adorable, but they require a lot of supervision and training. You can just as easily find a wonderful, mild-mannered adult dog or cat who’s looking for a cozy home with a nice family like yours!
If you’re unable to have a pet in your home for whatever reason, you could volunteer your time. If your children are interested, include them in the experience! Maybe they can’t have a family pet to grow up with, but you can cultivate their love of animals while helping in your community.
An old schoolmate of mine has designed some holiday cards and is selling them on Etsy, with all the proceeds going to the Naperville Area Humane Society. You get 18 handmade cards (with envelopes) for twenty bucks! Happy “Pawlidays” to everyone!
5
Dec 10
Tote Bag Giveaway winner is chosen!!
AND the winner of the Tote Bag Giveaway is… *drumroll*
Comment #29, from oona b of Backyard Mama!
I will be contacting you via email for info to mail you your choice of tote bag from my shop! I was so busy today, I almost forgot to choose a winner. Now I am very tired with much Christmas preparating to do over the next couple weeks, so I’m off to bed. I hope to have some more blog entries coming, though probably not very frequently as I’ve so much to do! I’ve been reading others’ blogs with such lovely posts about family, decorating, gifts, all full of holiday cheer — I need to get with the program! Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the giveaway! Stay tuned for more throughout the next year!
