Fisher Price’s Huge Recall

There is yet another huge recall this time from Fisher Price. This recall includes over 10 million tricycles, high chairs and toys. These items are being recalled mainly due to design failure that has caused injuries.

To see the full list you can check out US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) page here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelsep10.html

Please check to see if these items are in your home and click on the links on the CPSC’s website for instructions.


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Why Can’t I Parent More Like God?

I wish I was just a fraction of a good parent as God is to us, His children.
When I screw up, He doesn’t yell at me.
When I get dirty, He doesn’t insist I go and clean up right away.
When I make a mistake, He doesn’t point it out.
When I act mean to others, He doesn’t make me apologize.
When I am stingy, He doesn’t force me to share my toys.
When I am bad, He doesn’t yell and scream at me.
He just shows me, gently, how His way is ultimately the better and more satisfying way.
He shows me through His ultimate wisdom, His remarkable patience and His never ending love, the right course to take.
He teaches by example and with gentleness.
He loves me and lets me know it all the time even when I don’t think I deserve it.
I must learn to parent like that.
Why can’t I parent more like God? I have the perfect example to follow. I must try my hardest to follow that example.
Maybe if I ask Him, He will help me.

I Must Recycle My Explosives

Our township is having a special recycling day where you can bring items to recycle that aren’t usually accepted like batteries, paint cans, tires etc. I was looking over the list of accepted and not accepted items to see if we had anything that we needed to clear out. I couldn’t help but notice the odd things listed as not accepted. But I guess they have to draw the line somewhere.

I couldn’t believe what was on the list of items that they wouldn’t accept. Keep in mind, this list of non-acceptable materials probably came about as people brought these odd things with them to recycle. For example:

• Explosives – It makes me wonder if at some point someone showed up on these special recycling days and said, “I don’t think I’ll ever get around to using these grenades and sticks of dynamite, so I think I’ll just have you guys take them and recycle them into something else.”

• Ammunition – I guess if you sold the gun and you later found the ammo that goes with it you might think it can be recycled into a different size of ammo.

• Business or Commercial Waste – Now I never thought about that being a problem. I guess if you’re in the business of say servicing portable potties or a hog farmer then maybe they might not take your business’s waste.

• Radioactive Materials – This was my personal favorite on the list. I wouldn’t even know how an individual would accumulate radioactive material. Maybe it wasn’t meant for individuals. Maybe it was meant for other countries trying to develop nuclear weapons and they don’t have special recycling days like we do. Ironically this list did come out the same time that Iran’s president was visiting. Maybe it was meant for him so he didn’t inadvertently bring their radioactive waste with them in the hopes that our special recycling day might take it. Then again they’re the type that would probably just leave it by the dumpster anyway.


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Today Is Brought To You By The Number 30

Today is brought to you by the the number 30.

A 30 lb. little boy,

in a space of 30 square feet,

can create 30 lbs of mess

in less than 30 seconds.

Amazing.

I Recommend: The Gift of An Ordinary Day

I must recommend watching this little piece of video where the author Katrina Kenison is reading an excerpt from her book The Gift of an Ordinary Day. I like this website and I am so glad they shared this with us, so I am sharing it with you. You can see the video here:

Hearts at Home : What I've Been Reading

It brought tears to my eyes and made me hug my little boy so tightly. As I silently fear that future of letting go, it reminded me of how I need to cherish every moment now.

If you have small children, it reminds you of what lies ahead and reminds you to enjoy each day they need you as they will need you less and less as the days go on.

If you have teenagers, it reminds you to enjoy the few times they still need you and to enjoy your children's transformations.

If you have grown children, it reminds you to enjoy watching your children become parents and how you can once again hold little ones. You enjoy it when your children come to you once again for advice and questions. They still need you after all.

I think I'm going to get the book, The Gift of An Ordinary Day. I think it may be $10 well spent for the reminder of the gifts we have.

Till He Learns I'm Not a Hero

So far this morning, I've fed a hungry, screaming Banshee, cleaned up after a tornado, fixed two dragsters and replaced the wheels on a hot rod.
For now I'm the hero.
I will relish in that till he learns that I'm really just a mere mortal.

Your Own Child's Voice

I love how cute a little child singing the A B C's is, especially when they have their own ways of pronouncing some of the letters.
The sweetest sound is the voice of your own child.....unless they are screaming in the middle of a store!

Mom, Mom, Mom....

Jake: "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mommy, Mommy, MOM! MOM MMMOOOMMM!!!"
Me: "WHAT?!!!!"
Jake: "Hi."
It doesn't just happen in cartoons....

My Son Will Be a Man Someday

When I look at my son who is only 2 ½, all I see is a little boy. I get so wrapped up in the day to day living that I forget that the future is rushing towards me at an unimaginable high rate of speed.

Though he is a little boy and I want him to experience life as such and enjoy this time being little, I have to remember he will be a man someday. This future man will remember more of his childhood than I will. He will remember certain times that may appear to be insignificant, but have actually shaped him into the man he became.

He will have memories that were happy and memories that taught him valuable lessons that are serving him well in his adult life. He will also ultimately have memories of times I wished he had forgotten. Memories where I may have failed him, memories that may have caused him harm, memories that I fear may be causing him problems in his adult life.

I have joked in the past when I screw something up that he has to have something to talk about in therapy later in life, but when I really think about what I do today could affect him in his adult life and how he raises his own children, I find it’s no joke. I find it terrifying that I, as just a mom, have so much influence over how a person’s life unfolds and ultimately shapes who they are.

Yes, there are many stories of people overcoming their bad childhoods, their neglectful or abusive parents, their lousy home life and more. Though I know there may be things my son has to learn to overcome, I don’t want to be one of them!

I am ashamed to admit I do not meet all the challenges my son produces with the grace of a perfect mom. Though I am not abusive in the sense that abusive parents are, I feel that there are times that I certainly could be doing a better job. In essence, I am not a perfect parent. But who is? I don’t strive to be perfect. I strive to be the kind of parent that my son sees is a real person with strengths, weaknesses and ultimately faults. He will know that he too, does not have to be perfect.

Still, it is scary that what I do today may affect him for the rest of his life. But I can’t let that fear paralyze me. I still must care for him, teach him, set limits, let him learn about life, let him explore his boundaries, discipline him and more. Most of all I must show him just how much I truly love him. Though I must be conscious of how my actions will shape and mold him, I can’t let it bog me down by over thinking every decision I make. If I always stop to think about how my actions at the moment will make him feel later in life, I will never have the chance to parent him!

Wow! There truly is no more important job than being a parent. It is such a tremendous responsibility and carries such a load of guilt trips. There are times that no matter how hard I try and be a good parent, I still screw it up. Oh well. When my son is a man and feels like he screwing up raising his own children, I know I can give him that knowing smile, that, “I’ve been there” look and an encouraging word.

~Julie

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Now Your Car Computer Can Be Hacked

As if we didn't have enough to worry about.

If you thought that your computer or your bank's computer were the only things you had to worry about being hacked, now we have to worry about your new car's computer being vulnerable to computer hackers.

You can read about it in the article here: http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2010/08/cars-hacked-through-wireless-tyre-sensors.ars

So the next time you are sitting at a light and your wipers go haywire or the gauges in your dash start blinking, start looking around for some young kid laughing hysterically. Just make sure to ask for ID to see if he's 18. You don't want to be beating up on a minor!

Makes you wish for simpler times when cars were simple and the word hacker was unknown.




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You Know You're a Mom When......

You just have to check this post out:
You Know you're a mom when you open your purse and find___________.
This is hilarious!

I have to enter my own finds. My purse is like the clown car from the circus!
In my purse there is:

Extra napkins from the last place we ate out(don't remember where), various hot wheels cars, personal products, wipes, an old diaper and my son has been potty trained for months so why am I still carrying one around?
Wet Ones hand wipes, hand sanitizer, two sunscreen bottles, ear plugs for when we go to the track, small sewing kit, bandaids, rolaids, various pain relievers as people bum advil, tylenol and others from me all the time.
Extra pairs of contacts, solution, case, deodorant, lotion, tissues, eyeliner and eyeshadow, lip gloss, tweezers, mirror, glucose tablets as well as candy, crackers and other various snacks.
I also have a travel toothbrush holder that I carry bendy straws in for my 2 year old in case we stop and eat somewhere and they don't offer bendy straws - a must for little ones!
In addition to the standard, wallet, keys, cell phone and cell phone accessories.

Good thing I carry a backpack!

I remember reading a comment written a long time ago that said, "A woman can handle any disaster as long as her purse is within easy reach!

What's in your purse?!

Giveaway: $25 Gift Certificate to Roher's Tavern

I have a $25 gift certificate to Roher's Tavern in North Bend, Ohio to give away. The gift certificate is good only till 10/21/10.

Your bill has to be more than $35, so you can basically eat for $10.

The gift certificate is free, all you have to do is leave a comment on my blog ( I prefer nice ones!) on any story you like and I will draw a winner on Tuesday 9/7.



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I Miss Living In the Country

I miss living in the country. I miss the horses, the fields, the pond, the smell of fresh cut hay, bushhogging, the quiet and your closest neighbor is a half a mile away.
Maybe again someday.

Why Not Enough Boys Clothes?

Why is it when you go shopping for your son that there are ten times the amount of girl items as there are boy items?

And please don’t say it’s because girls like to shop more. I’m talking about babies through toddler sizes. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you are shopping for clothes or shoes, there is just so much more to choose from in girls sections then boys.

Can someone explain this to me?

I want to have the same amount of options for my son as those with daughters do. I also want something more than just sports themed attire. Also, nothing seems to run true to size either which is very annoying. When did the size of an item of clothing become open to interpretation? I have actually seen differences in sizing within the same manufacturer! I think there should be some uniformity with the sizes.

Well, that takes care of rant for the day.

After A MRI, Don’t Forget Your Bra

I had to get a MRI today and it was quite an experience. The funny part was, I almost left without an important part of my clothing – my bra.

That was the only item I had to take off. Of course that was after the technician used one of those airport metal detector wands all over me, in full view of everyone in the waiting room. Though I remembered to leave my wedding band and watch at home, I wasn’t thinking about wearing a bra with an underwire in it when I left the house. The wand made that fact obviously clear.

So the technician informed me I had to go and remove my bra, but I could leave my shirt on if I wanted. Gee, that was nice of him to offer that. In the room where he pointed for me to go had lockers in them with keys in the locks. You are to remove what items are offensive to the MRI magnets, lock the locker and bring the key with you. Luckily for me, I remembered to lock my car key in it, too. If it wasn’t for that, I’m sure I would have left without my bra.

After I emerged from the dressing room, or should I say the undressing room, I peeked around the corner and didn’t see the tech. So I folded my arms across my chest by starting at the bottom of my stomach moving my arms upward to gather “them” up if you know what I mean. I sat down in the chairs outside the room where the machine was. I tried to read a magazine without unfolding my arms, but felt a little awkward trying to the turn the pages with my nose.

Finally the tech came and asked more questions. All the while I shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and squeezed my arms tighter around my chest hoping to keep both boobs covered without one falling down below my folded arms. Hey, let’s face it, they don’t point straight ahead anymore.

I hate MRI’s. You have to lay perfectly still for like 20 minutes and when I have to do that, I always have itches pop up all over my body. Very uncomfortable! That, and if you weren’t claustrophobic before you went in, you sure will be afterwards. The music is nice as you get to choose the music venue, but it doesn’t take your mind off the fact that your nose itches the whole time and you can’t move!

After I was done, I jumped off the table before it was even lowered all the way. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. In my effort to escape, I had to walk past all these people, with my arms folded across me so they wouldn’t see anything when I realized all I had was the locker key! I had almost made it to the exit when I realized I was leaving without my car keys and my bra! Doh!

I’m sure I was an interesting sight almost running back down the hallway with my arms folded across my chest. Have you ever tried to run with your arms folded? I looked like a dork. To make matters worse, when I got to the undressing room, it was occupied by the next victim! So I had to wait outside of the room while people walked by. This person took forever. By then my fingers were turning blue because of me hugging myself so tight. Finally when this person emerged I noticed it was a man and he still had all his clothes on! What took him so long? All he had to do is empty is pockets! I would have slapped upside the head, but that would have meant I would have had to use my arms to do so.

I almost shoved him aside with my shoulders as I darted inside the room. I quickly got dressed, picked up my car key and hightailed it out of there like the place was on fire. Only to be stopped by the woman at the front desk who informed me I had to wait for the films to be developed to take with me. I could feel the blood flushing my cheeks as I sat down in the chair. I was too embarrassed to even look at anyone. I stared at a carpet that had no pattern to it till I almost had a seizure from staring at nothing for so long. The whole time I was wondering which funny video TV show they would sell the film of me running down the hall with my arms folded to. The weird part was while I was sitting there, I was still hugging myself.

I prefer to blend into the background when I go to the doctors or to have testing done. I don’t think I accomplished that this time. My advice is, if you need a MRI, remember to wear a soft cup bra with no underwire. You’ll thank me for it later.



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