Show Your Kids that You'll Stand by Them

I've seen this video before but I still think it's cool. Mark Johnson is uniting people around the world and changing lives through the power of music. The video says it all and it’s quite powerful. Check it out, share it with your kids and talk about standing by each other. Watch the Stand by Me video at http://www.playingforchange.com/

Until the next nap time...

Enter the Animation Coloring Contest

I thought this contest looked fun and is an easy indoor activity to beat the heat. I hope Little K will be intrigued.

Download an entry form or pick up a copy of the Greensheet now and enter to win the Health Museum's Animation coloring contest! The winner from each category, ages 2-5 and 6-10, will receive a prize pack that includes a museum membership! But get your coloring finished soon - all entries must be postmarked by July 27.

Two grand prize winners will receive prize packs that include a membership to the museum and Cartoon Network merchandise in this contest presented by The Health Museum and Greensheet. Pick up a copy of the Greensheet June 14 - July 23 or download an entry form now that includes the complete official rules.


Entries must be postmarked no later than July 28; winners will be announced August 10. Limited to ages 2 – 5 and 6 – 10. No purchase necessary to enter.

Until the next nap time...

I had a 7:30 am flight to Fort Worth this morning for work. Trent & Little K agreed to take me since my car is in the shop. At 5:30 am, I gently woke my daughter, saying it was time to go to the airport.

My sleepy girl arose, grabbed her baby dolls & headed to Daddy's car.

"I can't believe I'm in my PJs," she said sleepily with a slight sound of a giggle.

"I can't believe we are driving at this hour!" I replied. It was still dark outside. All in a day's work, right?

After my meetings, I head back to the airport. Surprise! Flight delay! Oh, I'll be home soon if those Houston storms will clear.

Until the next nap time...

Fun Summer Activities in Absolutely in the Loop Magazine

Looking for fun things to do with the kids this summer? Joy Stevens has written a great article in Absolutely Inside the Loop magazine, which includes Dadddy-&-me activities, pontoon boat tours, swim lessons and even recommendations while the parents are exercising at the gym. Check out the article at
http://www.absolutelyintheloop.com/ab-columns/summer-fun-family-style for more exciting ideas.

Until the next nap time...

The Day After Father's Day

This morning, Little K awoke and found me at the computer, working away. I convinced her to get dressed and then gently wake up her daddy.

Instead, Little K went into our bedroom, climbed up on her father and said: "Daddy, wake up. It's Kids Day!"

Today, following Father's Day, we both chuckled but my husband is quick even upon first waking.

"Good!" he said. "Since it's not my day, I'm going back to bed. Or should I put you to bed?"

"No way, Daddy!" Little K giggled. It was a good start to the day.

Until the next nap time...

All in the Eye (& Ear) of the Beholder

The other weekend I bought some new face lotion that smells so aromatic. It's wonderful! So earlier this week I put it on as Little K got in bed. As she called for her bed-time prayers, I took a deep breath of my relaxing-scented lotion & calmly walked into Little K's room. She's gonna love the smell, I thought.

As I laid down on the bed, Little J commented, indeed.

"Mommy, you smell like Daddy's shaving cream," she said, scowling.

There went that idea!

Until the next nap time...

So I'm stuck in traffic on 249 so I'll take a minute to blog.

Little K is in her second week of summer camp, which means no uniforms. Well, that is except for my daughter, who keeps picking out her uniform shorts and skorts to wear. I told her she could wear any of the shorts in her drawer for camp. Nope. She keeps going to her closet to get those uniform skorts. At least the uniform bottoms are solid navy so it's not super obvious. And a change if shirts is a good cover. Who knew I wasn't the only sucker for the uniform?!

Until the next nap time...

Studio Movie Grill Kicks Off Summer with Kids

The Studio Movie Grill not only makes going to the movie easier to dine and relax, it also is stirring up a pot of cool flicks for kids this summer. Monday - Thursday at 11 am kids can watch fun films for only $1 while adults get in for only $2.

Here is the line up for the Studio Movie Grill at Town & Country (called City Centre) but check the Web site for the schedule at your local Studio Movie Grill. Visit http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/ and then click "Family Fun" in the bottom left corner.

Horton Hears a Who (6/7-6/10) (G)

Charlotte's Web (6/14-6/17) (G)

Curious George (6/21-6/24) (G)
Planet 51 (6/28-7/1) (PG)
Kung Fu Panda (7/5-7/8) (PG)
Madagascar 2 (7/12-7/15) (PG)
Monsters v Aliens (7/19-7/23) (PG)
Ice Age 3 (7/26-7/29) (PG)
Rugrats in Paris (8/2-8/5) (G)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (8/9-8/12) (PG)
Muppets from Space (8/16-8/19) (G)

Last week was Little K's last trip to pre-k & I was surprised at my reaction to the milestone. I was surprised the year flew by so fast & that my baby completed her first year in elementary school.

Little K at first said she didn't want to go to kindergarten because they have homework & that's boring. She later admitted that she didn't know what "boring" meant.

After meeting both kindergarten teachers, she's looking forward to it. Phew!

Today my husband dropped her off at her first day of summer camp. She was ready at 7 am! Wow! I'm sitting at the doctor's office for my annual check-up, wishing I could have dropped off Little K. Well, there is tomorrow.

Until the next nap time...

Free Family Film Festival at Houston's Marq*e Theater Starts in June

Just click on this image for a larger view of the schedule of movies. Enjoy these free flicks with your family.

Alarming Alarm Clock

This morning, I was getting ready for the day when I heard my 5-year-old's wake-up alarm start buzzing.

"Stop it, alarm! Stop it!" my daughter shouted.

I laughed sympathetically. I feel the pain, girl. I feel the pain.

Until the next nap time...

Sing It, Baby

Who knew years ago when we got our karaoke machine that one day our 5-year-old would "perform" Taylor Swift (who was Taylor 5 years ago?) in our family room?


Until the next nap time...

Cool Culture for Kids and Adults in Houston

I like to introduce various cultures to our family but it can be difficult at times to share these with a youngster. However, here is a clever way to explore some Hispanic culture and enjoy a break from the day.

The Artisan Jewelery Bazaar will be held on Tuesday, May 4 from 5 - 8 pm at Under the Volcano, located at 2349 Bissonnet. This is a sale of Colombian and Mexican artwork and artisan jewelry with part of the proceeds benefiting "The Vagina Monologues" and La Rosa Womens' Shelter. While I don't advise taking children to the bar, this event provides a short break for adults and then an opportunity to talk about how the art and jewelry were created and how the pieces reflect the Colombian and Mexican culture. My daughter would love the jewelry and I appreciate the lessons about different cultures.

Please RSVP so the facility can make the necessary arrangements.
Amira Gongora, Community Coordinator: (713) 551-3944
Oralia Acosta (832) 858-4260

Talento Bilingue de Houston

Until the next nap time...

Go Astros!

Last Saturday, we decided to go to the Astros game. It was fairly unlike us to make a last-minute decision like that but I'm so glad we did. We sat on an upper level but just to the left of home plate. The view was really pretty good. Plus, I could see Astros owner Drayton McLane sitting in the front row of the first level so I was pleased.

It wasn't long before Little K was asking for a treat. Before I knew it, she had struck a deal with her daddy to go to the Astros shop after the 4th inning. From there on out, Little K asked if it was time yet every five minutes. I tried to teach her about the game (& get her mind off of buying something she clearly doesn't need). Since Little K is playing t-ball this year for the first time, she was able to better grasp the concepts and cheered for the Astros... then asked if it was time to get a treat.

I remembered time after time when my grandparents took me and two of my cousins to Astros games in the old Astrodome. They'd feed us over & over again, plus Grandmother always brought candy for us and the other kids sitting around us. While ticket prices weren't as high as they are now, I wondered how my grandparents did this regularly for years.

Soon, it was time for the treat. Trent took Little K to the shop and returned with a huge Astros monkey. I suppose it's a "rally monkey", although the home team didn't need it. We won against the Pirates. Yeah! After the purchase, Little K's heart sang with glee. Her monkey cheered for the Astros, too, and then tickled his new fan. Indeed, we will now have a new friend to accompany us to future Astros games.

Until the next nap time...

Wild, Wild West Festival

Flashback to Childhood Swimming

Yesterday, as we watched, the kids splashed about in the teacher's pool. They were taking turns with the instructor and supposed to be practicing the latest lessons. All I saw was a lot of splashing and smiling.

Suddenly, I started laughing so the adults (including my husband) asked what was so funny.

"When we were little, my sister used to to an inverse 'Nestea Plunge'," I said while wiping the laughter tears from my eyes. "She used to fall face first into the pool with her arms spread like an eagle and yell 'Dead Bird!' It was the funniest thing ever."

While I kept laughing, the adults looked at me oddly. What funny things kids do.

Until the next nap time...

Tickle Your Kids' Art Tendencies at the Free First Sunday Event at MFAH

Families will discover the exciting world of Movement in Art. Don’t miss the innovative artists of the CORE Performance Company. They will share a dance specially created to be performed outside in the Cullen Sculpture Garden where families will also create wire sculptures full of movement and sketch beautiful works of art. Inside the museum, create a colorful paper collage, get moving on a family gallery experience led by an MFAH Educator, move your body as you listen to a story and look at contemporary art, and more.


When: 1 – 5 pm on Sunday, May 2, 2010
Where: The Museum of Fine Art (MFAH)’s Caroline Wiess Law Building is located at 1001 Bissonnet Street with free parking across the street. Call 713-639-7300 visit www.mfah.org/planyourvisit for more information.

Free admission for all throughout the day (the museum is open 12:15-7:00 p.m. Sundays)

Enjoy! Until the next nap time...

Week of Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22. At Little K's school, they are celebrating all week. Over the weekend, we were asked to collect recyclable products that the kids could turn into musical instruments in class. Little K took an empty, plastic coffee jar with dry pasta inside. When she shook the container, the dry pasta made "music". During class, Little K said she put beautiful stickers all over the can. Later this week, her class is going to have an Earth Day parade, making music with the items produced in class.

Today, the classes will be planting flowers around the campus as part of the celebrations. Not only will it help beautify the grounds, it also teaches the kids about nature. I love gardening with my daughter. While her attention span is still short, it's good to show her how things grow when they are nurtured. That works for plants and people. :-)

What are you doing this week in celebration of Earth Day? I'm thinking about going to get some vegetable plants to add to our garden.

Until the next nap time...

Backwards Day

Have you ever had one of those days where things seem backward? Yesterday was Little K's. After school, we begged her to get her swim suit and a cover-up on so we could run by a networking event in the Heights and then head to Little K's swimming lessons at 6:10 pm. We had so much to accomplish yesterday that we were literally running from place to place. Finally, my husband Trent went into our daughter's room to "encourage" her to get dressed.

After a quick networking stop, we journeyed on to swim lessons. I chatted with my husband and some other parents while Little K and two other children practiced in the pool with their teacher. I noticed that Little K's bathing suit seemed to come way down in the front. Luckily, she doesn't have anything to show but it looked really weird.

Maybe she just needs to pull up her suit, I thought.

Ten or fifteen minutes go by. I watch Little K practice her freestyle swim and she's really trying to work on her arms. Unfortunately, I'm distracted by the fact that it looks like she's wearing a skimpy bathing suit because her backside is hanging out of her swim suit. That's when it hit me.

"Trent, did you help Little K get her bathing suit on today?" I asked my husband.

"No, I told her she could do it herself," he replied. After all, she's 5, right? I get the thinking here.

"Well, she put it on backward. Look!" I said.

There went my Little K paddling away with her bottom hanging out. Maybe I should remember she's my LITTLE K.

Flash forward to dinner time. We were starving so Little K quickly changed into play clothes and we went to a restaurant to eat. By the time we got home, it was past Little K's bed time so we started putting on her nightgown. She was so exhausted from the full day that she lay on top of her bed like a wet noodle. I just looked at my husband and laughed.

"What?" Trent asked.

"Her underwear is on backwards. I've got to fix it for her," I said. "What a day!"

Hope your Friday is better and that all of you have a wonderful weekend! Until the next nap time...

Spring Time Hot Tub

After a great 5th birthday (thanks to many friends), we relaxed in the back yard. Little K loved time in the hot tub but begged for the swming pool.

"That's what summer is for


," I said. Someone has to look ahead.

Until the next nap time...