OK. I know that is not the main point of his post, but it is cool! Before you watch the video click on Seth’s first link or click here. It will make more sense that way. By the way, isn’t that a cool blender?!
Seth Uses an Apple
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Monthly Archives: March 2008
Elizabeth Barrett
Amazing! According to News Channel 11, Elizabeth Barrett can read at only 17 months and has been reading since she was 14 months old! If you have a minute, take time to watch the video and/or read the article. The article has a little bit more information, but the video lets you actually see her read. So if you are really interested, you may want to do both.
Family Night
Every Friday night, our family takes time to be with each other. We let the kids stay up late and sleep in on Saturday morning. Some of the things we have done on different nights are watching a movie, playing a board game, calling family on the web-cam and Skype, making videos together, making and practicing international flag flash cards, going to the mall, learning Chinese, and blogging together.
We all look forward to family night every week and always have a blast! You should try it with your family! Just choose a night and an activity and start making long-lasting memories together!!
Here are a few posts about past family nights:
Learning to Write My Name
Tonight, for the first time, we had Chinese friends over. They even brought their translator. We had an exciting evening of conversing and learning a new language! I don’t seem to be learning it very quickly, but I am hoping it will one day click, and I will at least be able to understand Chinese. I even learned to write my name!
Luke got the opportunity to tell our story and share some of his lifetime interests. He even got to share how God seems to be pulling together the puzzle pieces of our lives.
Anna had a blast with Tong (Xu Wenli’s wife), and Ruo Mei (the translator) learning hand games, drawing, and playing with their hair. She also practiced writing Chinese a bit and learned to write her name.
Peter was a little clown. He was also told over and over that he looked like the perfect American male model. Maybe he won’t be too arrogant after tonight! 🙂 He, being the early bird that he is, soon grew very tired and put himself to bed on the love seat.
Phillip got along well with Xu Wenli and talked to him most of the evening, even though he only knows about 3 Chinese words. I am sure he will pick it up much more quickly than I will!
Bethany was a bit shy at first, but she soon opened up and acted like herself. Everyone loved her messy face while she ate supper, especially the chocolate covered strawberries for dessert!
Candice didn’t seem to be aware of anything out of the ordinary. She slept most of the time. My wonderful husband was very helpful by helping me care for her and helping with supper! Xie Xie, Luke! 😉
We all had a great time! All in all, it was an interesting learning experience and wonderful time together with new friends!
Reusing Syringes?!
I sit here in absolute shock that this has happened. It makes me wonder how things are in my own doctor’s office!! Check out this article. There is also a helpful video done by ABC News within the article. (I couldn’t figure out how to do a direct link). Please take notice and make sure your doctor’s office is handling syringes and medicine vials correctly! Go ahead and ask, even though it might be embarrassing. It could be a matter of life and death!!
Somewhere Out There
My favorite reader said he wished he knew the words to “Somewhere Out There“ as sung on An AmericanTail. His wish is my command! Click here to hear the song.
Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someones thinking of me
And loving me tonight
Somewhere out there
Someones saying a prayer
That we’ll find one another
In that big somewhere out there
And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star
And when the night wind
Starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping
Underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we’ll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
And even though I know
How very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
on the same bright star
And when the night wind
Starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we’re sleeping
Underneath the same big sky
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we’ll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true…
Foaming Hand Soap
Foaming hand soap is the coolest thing! The kids love to see the bubbly soap squirt out onto their hands, so they want to wash their hands more often just to see the bubblies. I have also read that you can actually save money by using it. The most expensive part is the pump soap dispenser. You can refill your dispenser using your normal liquid hand soap and diluting it with water.
Sounds wonderful! My question is does it make you cheat? When I watch my kids wash their hands with foaming soap at the store, they squirt, play with the bubbles a few seconds, rub for about 2 seconds, and then rinse.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, you are supposed to lather and rub for at least 20 seconds (long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) before rinsing. Regular liquid soap makes this pretty easy because it is very thick and probably takes about 20 seconds just to get off your hands. With foaming soap, you can put it on your hands and then rinse it off with very little rubbing at all (and that is almost exactly what my kids do). 🙂
So, I guess my question isn’t whether the soap works. The question is, do people actually take long enough washing their hands to make it worthwhile. I know it makes kids want to wash their hands more often because it is so fun. Maybe frequent washing makes up for the lack of time spent washing each time? I am not sure.
So, tell me. Do you think foaming hand soap does the job just as well as liquid hand soap? I would like to hear your opinion. (In other words, please leave me a comment) 😀
If you already use foaming hand soap and think it is a great product, check out recipes for the homemade refill at the blogs of Butterfly Mama and Melanie.
If you aren’t quite sure how to wash your hands and need to see a video, check this out! My only question is, does each person get his own individual towel? If you’re not sure why I asked that question, let me know. 🙂 Meanwhile, go wash your hands….and please use soap. Oh, and don’t forget to wish your mother, brother, or dog (or whoever happens to be nearby), a double happy birthday!
What Hoppened?
A month or two ago, Phillip started crying, and Bethany said, “What hoppened?” It was so cute, especially the pronunciation. Today, when Candice was crying, Bethany bent down, looking Candice right in the face, and said, “Canny, what hoppened?” It was so adorable!
Other phrases Bethany has picked up are:
“I want a bite of water.”
“Ew! Yucky!”
“Wet’s Pay” as she folded her hands in prayer. (The cutest part about this one is that she folds her hands and then lays face down on the floor to pray).
“Wook at Anna.”
“Anna, Peta, Phup! Tima eat!” as I put food on their plates.
Blankets & Brotherly Love
Luke’s Mom has made it her goal to crochet an afghan for each of her Grandchildren. This is a big project on her part because between her three married children, she has been blessed with ten grandchildren within eight years! 🙂
When we got together at Thanksgiving, Mom gave Bethany her newly crocheted afghan, which was very similar to the one she had made for Phillip. This led to some unnecessary worry on Peter’s part. Here is how the conversation went:
Peter: Mom, Mom, will you come upstairs? I need to show you something!
Me: I’ll be up in just a minute.
Peter: Mom, I need to show you Phillip’s blanket. It’s broken.
Me: What? (and I go upstairs)
Peter (with an urgent expression): Look (and holds up both afghans)
Me: Oh! Sweetie, that is 2 different blankets. Grandmommy made Bethany one, too. Isn’t that cool?
It was the cutest thing! And the best part is that he was so concerned for his brother. That just warms a mother’s heart!
Anna’s New Word
Language has been a big topic during the last several months because we have been trying to learn Chinese. Tonight at supper, our conversation went like this:
Anna: Mom, do you know what Maltome-el means?
Me: No. What.
Anna: it means ‘more’
Me: Where did you learn that one?
Anna: I see it all the time on the cereal bag. It says, “Maltome-el means more.”
This is where I couldn’t help but smile. She was talking about Malt-O-Meal cereal, which indeed advertises on the bag “Malt-O-Meal means more.”