Making a Christmas Poster

It's a beautiful afternoon in Houston. Our indoor Christmas decorations are up so my husband bravely agreed to hang the out door lights. Years ago, he chastised me for singing & dancing to Christmas carols while I was holding the ladder. Atop the ladder was my husband, bouncing around amidst strings of lights!

Today, Little K needed help "finding something to do" & I wanted her within eyesight. We decided to set up an outdoor art studio, where Little K could paint a Christmas poster. Instead of wearing a beret, she donned a Santa hat!




I helped write in pencil "Merry Christmas!" & then she painted over the cheerful message. Then she added her own designs. To dry, we hung her masterpiece on the gate, which again proved to be a good display area. It was a nice way to spend time outside with my daughter.

- Until the next nap time...

Singing the Meaning of the Holidays

So Thanksgiving is just 2 days away and I don't like it when we forget about Thanksgiving and jump straight into a shopping spree-induced holiday season. So when my husband sent me this link http://www.philly.com/philly/video/106492678.html, I was hesitant to open it. I'm so glad I did.

When you see and hear things like this, it brings the best of both Thanksgiving and Christmas to mind... and heart. My daughter loved this music and enjoyed looking for the people who wore the big buttons because they are the singers. Great publicity, too! What do you think of this?

Enjoy! Until the next nap time...

Free Holiday Music from the Veggie Tales for Youngsters

For a limited time, the Christmas collection "The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree" by the Veggie Tales is available through Amazon.com for FREE. It has 16 songs by those adorable Christian vegetables. Amazon walks you right through the process in about 2 minutes.

Surprise your youngsters with this festive music.

Until the next nap time...

Thanksgiving Art Work

This morning, Little K & her CiCi made this little Indian. They took a tangerine from CiCi's tree in her back yard. They carefully taped two yellow leaves to the back of the fruit. Then they pushed cloves into the front of the fruit to make the face. Ta da! Thanksgiving art work.

- Until the next nap time...

So it's the eve of Halloween & we're on the way to a Halloween party in Galveston. Little K lost her red hood, which was the key piece in her handmade-by-her-Grand "Little Red Riding Hood" costume. My husband just announced that he forgot his cowboy hat (he was dressing like a western bandit!) and Nestle recalled Raisinets & lollipops because they failed to mention that peanuts are in the candy. Really? As a mother of a child with a severe peanut allergy, that's a big miss! Nestle should have been more responsible.




All this said, the weather in Houston is gorgeous & I'm thankful for my family. We had a great time at the St. Rose School fall festival last night & I'm eager to learn how much money the school earned from the event. (In spite of the fun, it's still a fundraiser, you know.)

My fingers are crossed that my daughter will have no run-ins with peanuts this weekend. It's a high alert holiday when you have a peanut allergy. I hope Little K & all kids revel in the spirited fun of Halloween. I can't stop smiling when I see all the great costumes. Too fun!

- Until the next nap time...

Masquerade Ball at the Houston Symphony for Kids

This morning, Little K (aka Little Red Riding Hood) and I went to the 10 am Houston Symphony performance - Weatherford Family Concert. The theme was "Masquerade Ball" so kids were encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. It really helped the guests get into the Halloween spirit.

The music was fantastic and the conductor was great about explaining what the music was describing in advance of playing a piece -- super for young audiences. I liked the chance to snuggle in our seats with my daughter and relax for almost an hour. We heard music from Ghostbusters, Night on Bald Mountain and Danse Macabre. Fantastic! Plus, the symphony put projections of jack o'lanterns, witches and ghosts on the walls to tie into the music. Even Little K was excited to tell her daddy about the music.

On our way out, we found Radio Disney playing games and music outside Jones Hall. It was a good end to the morning. I highly recommend season tickets to the Houston Symphony's Weatherford Family Concerts. It's ~ $100 for the annual subscription for one child and one parent with a symphony each quarter. One performance is at 10 am and a second on is at 11:30 am. Here's the line up for the rest of the year:

- Saturday, Dec. 4: Raymond Briggs' classic The Snowman (with a visit from Santa)
- Saturday, Feb. 19: Music from The Lion King
- Saturday, April 2: Symphony in Space with tunes from Star Wars and ET

Hope you'll check these out with your families. Until the next nap time...

Fishing Tales

All this fishing this evening reminds me of a funny fish tale. When I was young, Dad took me fishing regularly at Grandfather's ranch.



Once, I was apparently quite talkative. The trees lazily hung above us in a canopy. Dad just wanted a few fish.

"Megan, If you keep talking, you'll scare the fish away. You have to be quiet," Dad said.

My little brain suddenly flooded with hundreds of questions for dear Dad. Finally, one burst from my lips: "Where are fish's ears, Daddy?"

It was suddenly time to go & I had no idea why. Patience is priceless but so are good fish tales with Dad.

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Navasota, TX.

Scarecrow Festival in Chapel Hill, TX

Today, we decided to take our first trip to the Scarecrow Festival in Chapel Hill, Texas. It was really fun.



They had tons of booths with items for sale like a traditional street festival. They had an area for the kids that included a small ferris wheel ($5), a train ($3), a petting zoo ($3) with the cutest pot belly pig baby & much more. Of course, the costs add up quickly.

Food ranged from everything on a stick, fried Twinkies & potato chips, gyros, sausage, snow cones, fruity tea, lemonade, beer & much more. Dieters: be ware!


Little K's favorite part was getting her face painted & getting a unicorn doll now named Abby.

The adults had fun, too, walking around & enjoying the nice weather. Trent said: "I went all the way to the Scarecrow Festival & all I got was poor!' it was really fun though. I'd like to go to the Scarecrow Festival in Brenham tomorrow to do a comparison. Maybe they'll have more scarecrows. I'm not sure I can convince my family to get up tomorrow to go though. We'll see.

- Until the next nap time...

Addressing Obesity in Our Children

I think this is a great idea so I have to share. According to the American Heart Association, "currently, 25% of the nation’s children are showing early warning signs of heart diseases, but this can be undone."

Our own family set out just last week to eat healthier and be more active. I know, it's only been a week but we all have to start somewhere. Check out the following facts about childhood obesity and health in general and then learn how your family can do more to care for each others' health.

Thanks to Meghan Allen at the American Heart Association for these facts.

"Our nation is facing an increasingly dire obesity epidemic and this includes the Houston community. The number of meals being eaten outside of the home has reached an all time high. Since foods eaten away from the home are typically served in large portion sizes and are higher in energy density compared to meals eaten at home (My insert: not to mention they're usually drenched in salt), it is extremely important that Houstonians are well informed about what they are eating.

The American Heart Association is pleased to announce the launch of the Houston DINEs campaign. Houston DINEs is a local education and awareness campaign to provide dining information and nutrition education to all Houstonians.

The American Heart Association wants to empower consumers by encouraging them to ask questions about the calories they consume. This will increase the ability of consumers to make informed choices in the food and beverages they purchase in restaurants."

Learn more about what the American Heart Association is doing and how it can help you & your family. Visit http://houstondines.blogspot.com/ to learn more.

On a Friday evening, my thoughts of restaurant eating have been curtailed and healthier choices are trickling in. How about you? How do you encourage your kids to eat healthy?

Until the next nap time...

FREE DAYS AT THE ZOO

"Rather than offering free admission on already-crowded holidays, patrons now will be admitted for free after 2 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month." - according to By PAIGE HEWITT of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE

So which Tuesdays are the free days. I checked out the Zoo's web site and found: "the Houston Zoo will offer free admission to our guests on the first Tuesday of every month from 2 p.m. until closing. During the months that Daylight Saving Time is in effect, the Houston Zoo closes at 7 p.m. (last admission at 6 p.m.). During Central Standard Time, the Houston Zoo closes 6 p.m. (last admission at 5 p.m.)."

For more information, visit http://www.houstonzoo.org/. Perhaps we'll see you there.

Until the next nap time...

Snow Cone Time

Although school is in full swing, it's still hot in Houston. Yesterday, Little K had been so helpful, that


she earned a snow cone after dinner. These snow cone wagons have popped up all over Houston & are a refreshing treat. This one, at Ella Blvd. & 43rd St., is open until 8 pm. Tasty!

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Houston Heights

That Pizza Place on Ella

We are now trying "That Pizza Place on Ella", formerly Double Dave's. My salad was fresh & the beer was cold. Trent's Stromboli & my calzone is in the oven. There is a good variety of pizzas, subs & more here.

This is a fun, casual pizza joint for families. They have an air hockey table & a handful of video games. The big screen TV caught my eye, too. My favorite part is the wooden patio in the back, which is great for parties & even a DJ. While they will deliver (713-686-3283), kids will enjoy the joint.

And now for the taste test. Yummy!

- Until the next nap time...

Have a Splash at Discovery Green

I've been "itching" to take Little K to the fountains at Discovery Green this summer. When I realized last week that summer was almost over and we had not made atleast one visit, I sent a text to my sister Colyn.

Want to go to Discovery Green fountains? Please say "yes".

Luckily, Colyn agreed. Last night, we took the girls just before 5 pm downtown to the fountains. My sister had not yet been there but seemed to really like it. Her daughter Claire (age 2) and my 5-year-old loved every minute of it. I really like that the fountains will slowly increase in height and strength and then stop altogether.

"Where'd the water go, Claire?" I kept asking my niece. My daughter echoed. She'd look around & around  & around until finally, the water started up again. It gives the kids a bit of suspense. I just like to watch.

Looks like we'll make a repeat trip since I deleted ACCIDENTALLY all the great photos that I took of them playing in the water. Oh well. We always need fun things to do. Hope to see you there. I've posted here some of my favorite photos from the fountains at Discovery Green Park. Enjoy!

Until the next nap time...

Burn Off Some Energy

Little K was bored to tears (almost). I promised an adventure after I finished my work. She stood close by, watching over my shoulder as I typed. (Clearly, she's never heard the tale about the watched kettle that won't boil!) She didn't have camp that week because we were heading out of town to see my grandparents in Ohio in a few days. Trent & I would take turns entertaining her throughout the week. (That does bring up the point that my mom stayed at home with me when I was little but didn't entertain me every moment of the day. Perhaps I'll save that for another blog post.)

Finally, it was her turn. I had promised that we'd head to the "jumpee thing" at Memorial City Mall before school started. She never seems to forget those promises. So, we drove over, parked and head for adventure. (Enter near Eyemasters and Target.) After a short wait, I paid maybe $10, and the excitement began. The staffer strapped Little K into the harness and she jumped for 5 very long minutes on a contraption that seems like a twist between a trampoline and an bungee cord jump. She loved it and eventually figured out how to flip herself over once she was mid-air. It was cute... and did I mention EASY?

Next, she stepped over to the rock wall, was again strapped in, and then she looked a bit confused. "Get to climbing, girl," I told her.

Honestly, what did she think she was signing up for? I didn't push it.

Little K gave it a good shot and I was surprised when she was so close to the top, she slid down. But there's a bell to ring at the top so everyone knows you accomplished your goal, I thought. Okay, so there are a few differences between my daughter and me but only a few. She gave it another try but gave out a bit sooner. I really think her little legs had just been through enough.

My new secret weapon: the "Jumpee thing" at Memorial City Mall. Little K slept like a baby that night. I smiled in glory! My only regret? I can't find my photos and video on my iPhone. Darn!

Until the next nap time...

After a yummy breakfast of homemade biscuits & gravy, we met Aunt Patti & cousin Bentley at the movie theater at The Greene. We watched "Toy Story 3" & really enjoyed it.

Afterward, we walked around the outdoor mall (like Town & Country Villages in Houston). When we returned to the car, a family had run into my PaPa Don's parked car! Luckily, they stayed to talk to a police officer until we showed up. That was our only downer of the trip, except PaPa Don's ear ache. Here's hoping his doctor appointment Tuesday returns good news & the accidental driver pays for the car repairs.

We're waiting for our flight in Dayton & are oddly ready for home. I'm craving our schedule & a bit more play time before Little K heads to kindergarten this Friday. Where did the summer go?


- Until the next nap time...

Young's Dairy Farm

During our Ohio trip, we went to Young's Dairy Farm for our first time. It's similar to Dewberry Farm in Houston but has a large dining area that focuses on dairy products (although burgers are available).









A video shows how the staff males the cheese. The ice cream was tasty but too much for us to eat. Little K enjoyed the outdoor activities with our Barrett family. Perhaps we worked off some of our calories.


- Until the next nap time...

Dig Taters

Many moons ago, my mom, sister & I came to Ohio in August to escape the Houston heat. The other years, we came in early June to celebrate the start of summer. June trips also meant pea picking.

This August, we found the weather in the low 80s. PaPa Don blamed the lack of peas on the rabbits as he had done in years past, although it is really past harvest time. I in turn taught my daughter the potato song:

"This summer I went to Ohio.
I went there to help PaPa pick peas.
The rabbits arrived there before me.
Dig taters cuz there ain't no peas.
Taters, taters, dig taters cuz there ain't no peas!"



When Little K found a little potato, she hollered "Souper!" since the little taters go in Grammy's soup. When she found the big potatoes, she threw up her hands & yelled "Mongo!", taking after cousin Lauren when she was a youngster (She turns 24 today).



I took a turn at digging up green onions & garlic, which I taste tested. It had such a strong flavor! I've since been told that I should brush my teeth. Oh well. I've freshened my green thumb & Trent is helping me with our own garden ideas.

- Until the next nap time...

Pa Pa Don Still Makes the Best Pancakes

Add together 2 eggs, 1/4 tsp


vanilla, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 Tb cooking oil, "some milk". Mix well in the mixer.

Put in a cup of Hungry Jack


pancake mix. Mix well. Add in more pancake mix as needed.




The mixer seems to really get the pancakes fluffy. However, the true test is in the tasting. Yummy pancakes! Thanks, PaPa Don.

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Dayton, OH.

Tease-y

After dinner, there clearly was tickle time between Little K &


Uncle Sean. He was so surprised at the difference between our daughter & his at the same age. (photos tomorrow night will also be telling!) Too bad they both like teasing.

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Dayton, OH.

Do a Hair Do

As tradition demands, Little K "fixes" PaPa Don's hair. Unlike her mother & her aunt, she doesn't have any temporary hair dye!

- Until the next nap time...

Location:Dayton, OH.