Happy Mother's Day

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Scrapbook Tip

Okay, Okay - so it isn't EXACTLY parenting related, but it's useful information anyways.

I love to scrapbook and make cards. It's my newest obsession, really, but I never have quite enough money to get all the cool things that are available. I try hard to find cool embellishments for less money so that I can really decorate my stuff without spending a whole ton of cash.

Last night when I went to the Dollar Tree - my all time favorite store in the history of EVER - I realized that the solution to my biggest problem was right before my eyes.

FLOWERS!!! Tons of flowers.

You see, I love those little flower petal things that you can use to assemble your own flower brads, but I don't love the price of those little flower petal things. They are way too expensive for my budget, so I stare at them and pine over them and then walk on by without ever buying them.

Last night at the Dollar Tree, I had an epiphany. I could have my flower petals without breaking my bank. No, I haven't lost my mind, and I'm not speaking in riddles. All I had to do was buy a few sets of those fake flowers that were at the dollar store, then bring them home and take them all apart. HELLO FLOWER PETALS - for practically nothing, I might add. If you get the right kind of flowers, you can disassemble them and then layer your petals and add a pretty brad to create your very own layered flower brad for whatever art project you may be working on.

I figured if my new idea didn't work, that I had really only lost about $5.00 on the flowers, and we could always use those in some other project. When I got home last night, I tried my new idea and - guess what - IT WORKED!

(Did you really doubt? After all, I'm telling you about it today, and if it hadn't worked I would not be sharing, now would I?)

Hippo Face

Have you ever been at the doctor with your child and had difficulty getting your little one to open her mouth for the doctor to see her throat?

I have a solution.

Teach your child how to make a hippo face. Practice often with your child so she can make her wide mouthed hippo face without any trouble at all. Then, when her doctor wants to see her throat, all you have to do is instruct her to make her hippo face. The doctor can get a good view without a fight, and your child gets a good giggle from making her funny face for the doctor.

This works great for dentist visits, too. I should also add that your child's doctor or dentist will get a real kick out of your child's hippo face, and be thankful for how easy you make their job.

Places of Interest

I've been doing a bit of research to plan for my lengthy cross country trip, so I've been in tourist mode lately. I've been checking out what each city has to offer along our planned route. My work is your gain. I've decided to write about local tourist attractions for kids.

I'm going to start with Atlanta, since that's in my own back yard. Here are a few of the best places to visit if you happen to be in the Atlanta area.

I'll start with the Georgia Aquarium. The aquarium in down town Atlanta is well worth your time. It will take more than one day to fully enjoy the exhibits of the Aquarium, but if you're only able to go once, I recommend the Cold Water Quest exhibit and the Ocean Voyager exhibit. The Tropical Diver exhibit is good, too, but if you are limited in your time then the first two are the most important.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is another wonderful place to visit here in the Atlanta area. They have several permanent exhibits, such as A Walk Through Time in Georgia and the Children's Discovery Room. They also have special exhibits that change frequently and focus on a large variety of topics. This place will take a few hours of your time, but it's fun and educational for the entire family.

Stone Mountain Park is one of the better outdoor locations for family fun. There are hiking trails that you can use to walk up to the top of the mountain and explore the face of the rock. When you get to the top, you can walk all over the rock and look out over the city. It's a beautiful view. For those who aren't really into hiking up a huge rock, there's a lift that you can ride to the top. Stone Mountain also has a laser show that begins at dark. The show is cast on the face of the mountain using laser technology. I couldn't even begin to accurately describe the laser show. It's something you just have to see to fully understand. It's an amazing experience. Though I do have to recommend that you avoid the park on July 4th. It's just too insane there on that particular day.

Next week I will hit Nashville, TN. That will be my first stop along my journey across the country.

Inside Play

I'm writing this post from one of the most amazing inventions I've ever come across for children. Near my house there is a place called DAC Kids. I'm sure I could post a few photos, but they wouldn't do justice to the scene that lays before my eyes. Apparently today is a busy day here, with several birthday parties underway. I see before me about 50 or so adults standing by watching as the nearly 100 kids immerse themselves in the wonders of the enormous indoor sandbox. Yep - you read that right - there's a sandbox inside. It isn't just any sandbox, either. It's HUGE. And right in the middle of the sandbox is a wooden jungle gym, playground thing. What are those called anyways, the swing set things that people put in their back yards for climbing and jumping and stuff? Well this one is as big as the sandbox and has rope ladders, benches, pirate flags, and cannons that shoot spongy balls. It also has about 50 occupants right now jumping, climbing, shooting, yelling, and screaming, two of which belong to me. Actually, my two are on the ground in the sand.

If that wasn't enough, to add to the confusion there are also several inflatable bouncy things here for the kids to romp upon. Basically, it's totally awesome. We can come here and play when it's too cold outside - or too hot - or too rainy - or just too boring. (I bought passes today so we can come every day if I so choose. I'm sure there are a couple of monsters around here who would thoroughly approve of that idea.)

The one thing I like most about this particular indoor playground is the security. There is one door for people to enter or exit. Oh, I'm sure there are other doors for safety purposes, but they are not generally in use. My kids can not possibly get out of the building without me seeing them (usually...Today might be different considering the large volume of people standing between me and the door.) That isn't all, though. When you come in, you get arm bands. Of course the bands are intended to show proof of payment, but they have numbers on them, too, and the parents are required to wear a band to go along with the kids' band. On the inside of my arm band there are two numbers written. Those numbers correspond to the number on the bands that Kira and Risa are wearing. On the inside of their bands is a number, too. You guessed it - it's MY number.
And when I get ready to leave, we have to remove our bands and show that we belong together before the employees will let us out the door. How cool is that? So even if you happen to come stalk me here - now that you know where I'll be spending a large portion of my time - you couldn't possibly leave with my kids. (Ha! Ha!)

Oh yeah - one more thing.... Adults without children are not allowed. My husband came one day to join us and I had to tell the owner that he was with me before they would let him in. Too funny.

I'm sure your local area has something similar to this. If they don't, and you're inclined to open your own business - this is SERIOUS business here. At $8.00 a head, these people are rolling in the dough. Few parents spring for the $85.00 per child annual passes and opt ot pay as they go. This is only our second or third visit and I finally had the available cash to make it possible to spring for the passes. I know we'll be here enough to make it cost effective in the long run. So if you don't already have a place like this - go open one. Hey, then your kids can play for FREE!!!

Random Act of Kindness Day

In honor of Marisa's birthday, I would like to declare this the Random Act of Kindness Day. You see, I have the most amazing power to make such declarations and have them become law. (Just allow me my delusions, okay.)

Today I would like all of my readers to perform at least one random act of kindness in honor of my baby girl's birthday. For those of you without inspiration, I've listed a few options.

1) Feed the stray cats that you would normally ignore. (If you're like me, you don't normally ignore the poor stray kitties, but sometimes there are those who are afraid to feed them because they just might keep coming back...)

2) Clean up your street, a parking lot, or a park. Take the kids along for this one. Be sure to tell them you're doing this for Marisa's birthday, of course. Grab a few trash bags and pick up the random bits of garbage.

3) Feed the birds.

4) Bake cookies for the local fire department and take them to the fire fighters while the cookies are still warm from the oven.

5) Pull weeds from the neighbor's yard. (Just be sure it is actually weeds you're pulling...)

6) Watch a neighbor's kids so they can go out on a date. Do it for free - no charge.

This is just a few ideas. The world is filled with possibilities for kindness. Be sure to have fun and sing Happy Birthday to Marisa while you're out doing your good deeds.

Thank you so much for celebrating with us.

Happy Birthday Marisa

Today is a sad, sad day. My baby girl turns 3 years old today. I think the reason this is so sad is because she is my very last baby. There will be no more babies, and she just insists on growing up.

Well - though it saddens me - growing up is a good thing.

So....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARISA! MOMMY LOVES YOU!