tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:51:12 +0000wordless wednesdayfamilykidsfoodit worked for usparenting choicesGood ReadsliferecipeholidaysperspectivePhoto SummermotherhoodmidwesttravelMinnesotamidwest winterscelebrationsinexpensive family funbooksdisciplinegrowing upteensother peoples kidseconomyhealthintroductionssiblingstraditionscraftskansasshow us your worldnutritionschoolseasonsMichiganchristmascreativitycurrent eventseducationgardeningpregnancysnow daytechnologytweensvacationweather#failboyschoresorganizationsafetywineBoy Scoutsactivitiesbirthday partiescelebritiesguest postguidelinesmannersnon-profits we lovesensitive topicssportsthoughtsworking from homeADDbaby foodbullyinggamesChicagoGirl ScoutsIowaacbusinesschocolatecloth diaperscollegeelectionsfallfashionfun timesgood uses for things in your pantry besides eating themhalloweenhobbiesmovingmusicpestsphasespureereligionresolutionssillytime outswritinghttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Heather)Blogger490125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-3280688756845820036Fri, 27 May 2011 12:15:00 +00002011-05-27T07:15:00.555-05:00chocolaterecipeI know, I KNOW. This is not a Friday Wine Goodness post. Partly because I wrote one last week on my own blog, and also partly because this has been one weird week, people. Why not continue the trend?Instead of wine, today I'm going to talk about chocolate. Specifically, how to make the easiest chocolate cake in the history of civilization.No. I don't think that is an overstatement.I like to bake,http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/chocolate-totally-helps.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-7297397483733252337Thu, 26 May 2011 12:15:00 +00002011-05-26T07:15:00.720-05:00perspectiveweatherSo, I had this post all ready to go about how I don't have time to run all my errands and stay organized and be on top of everything in my life, really a very whiny post. And then today I spent over an hour in the basement of our school trying to calm the kids as a tornado whooshed nearby. Sometimes a little perspective is a good thing.So, I'm going to direct you here, instead, to my regular bloghttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-getting-tired-of-sirens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-8509419335698251501Tue, 24 May 2011 12:00:00 +00002011-05-24T07:00:10.052-05:00activitiesBoy ScoutssportsMy oldest is now a Boy Scout. In February, he crossed over from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts, and he loves it. He's a very structured, reward-driven kid, and the click, click, click, ding! of Boy Scouts really appeals to him. Once you do these five things, you get this award. Do these ten things, you get this badge. It's goal oriented, organized, and he can't get enough.On Monday night, he earned http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/tenderfoot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-111364940722379602Mon, 23 May 2011 12:15:00 +00002011-05-23T07:15:00.664-05:00other peoples kidsparenting choicesLast week while we were all standing around chatting at soccer practice, one of the moms noticed a boy sitting alone under the shade of a tree, crying. None of us knew him, or had even seen him before. She watched for a minute to see what he would do, or if anyone else moved toward him as if to claim him, but when nobody did, she approached him quietly. "Are you okay, buddy? Do you need some helphttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/parenting-for-dummies-how-not-to-drop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-5602493081418050199Wed, 18 May 2011 11:17:00 +00002011-05-18T06:17:00.198-05:00wordless wednesdayhttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/blooming-plum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-3818856095188162953Tue, 17 May 2011 12:11:00 +00002011-05-17T07:11:01.185-05:00it worked for usorganizationEver since I was in college and worked at a shoe store I've had a love affair with shoes. Once I had kids, I transferred that love to buying them shoes instead of buying shoes for myself. They have smaller feet and their shoes look much cuter than mine.Consequently, our entry was always strewn with shoes. It was always messy and sometimes impossible to find mates for each pair without a major http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-overrun-with-shoes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-2339563536052397613Mon, 16 May 2011 11:26:00 +00002011-05-16T06:26:00.197-05:00growing uphobbiesworking from homeMy kids are well-aware of my love for photography. They've been the subjects of my compositions more often than they would like to be, but they put up with me anyway.My (almost-7-year-old) son started using one of our old cameras several months ago, taking various shots of whatever seemed photo-worthy to him. He's spent hours carrying the camera around, mimicking some of the things he's heard me http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-apples.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-7577687987576846778Mon, 09 May 2011 15:14:00 +00002011-05-09T10:14:28.760-05:00motherhoodLo those many years ago, when I was working in Seattle and thinking about having a baby, my dear friend Cindy gave me this article.  Every now and then, I pull it out, uncrinkle it, and read it again.  I got it out today so I could share it with my son's teacher, who will be having her first child any day now.  In honor of the lovely Mother's Day we just celebrated, I thought I'd http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/motherhood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hip Mom's Guide)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-6899827777210307016Fri, 06 May 2011 09:49:00 +00002011-05-06T04:49:00.427-05:00craftskidsSince I'm not a foodie!  I thought I'd mix it up and share a crafty friday with you.  I saw this totally fun & easy project to do with your kiddos here.  Shaving cream bathtub paint.   Below is what you need & how to make it. What you'll need:foaming shaving cream container paint brushes How to make it:1. squirt some foaming shaving cream in http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/bathtub-paints.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-1575898371274663367Thu, 05 May 2011 22:05:00 +00002011-05-05T17:05:09.816-05:00booksGood Reads my oldest son received this book as a gift when his baby brother & sister were born almost 2 years ago.  (my oldest daughter got a sisters book) I love reading this to my kids and talking about the animals. do you have this book?http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/hello-baby.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-1398927106575305048Wed, 04 May 2011 21:57:00 +00002011-05-05T16:59:22.604-05:00wordless wednesday http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/sun-2-days-in-row.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-8563164284403334407Tue, 03 May 2011 13:35:00 +00002011-05-03T08:35:00.499-05:00kidsi take all 4 kids (6yrs & 21month) to super target for grocery (& more) shopping with me during the week and all is well.  my older kids push the cart, help with the little kids, grab the items i need, my little kids walk next to me are helpful and if i'm not careful will put 10 of an item in my cart when i only need 1 or 2.  (they are just learning after all) we typically http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/who-are-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-1921200716050302357Mon, 02 May 2011 11:23:00 +00002011-05-02T06:23:01.163-05:00kidsparenting choicesthank you all for your kind words on my struggling post. i keep reminding myself it's really juggling. juggling all the aspects of a family of 6.  juggling all the sickness that we are hoping has left us until never next year.  juggling the lack of sleep (since i stopped breast feeding last fall, i've only had a handful of nights that my once fabulous sleepers&http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/05/better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-1582496247941776017Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:35:00 +00002011-04-28T06:36:52.096-05:00booksI love to read. I love the feeling of a book in my palm, pen in hand and the smell of printed, delicious words. When Randy asked if I would want a Kindle, I really had to think about it. Now, you know we love technology, so that wasn't the issue as much as the sensory love I have for books. His motivation may have been the overflowing basket of books on my end table - sometimes I nibble instead http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/electric-reads.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jules)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-4142141022361690483Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +00002011-04-27T06:00:04.673-05:00wordless wednesdayhttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/promise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jules)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-5164515867108209504Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +00002011-04-26T06:00:16.484-05:00parenting choicesDrew and Owen are both tech kids. They love technology, and that makes sense considering who their parents are. We also want to make sure we create healthy limits for all our intakes around here. So we have rules about screen time - which is it cannot start until after seven, even if they are up and in their beds at six - and it cannot start again until six at night and is off at seven. Pokemon http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/harsh-lessons.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jules)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-7359992128869659031Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:24:00 +00002011-04-25T12:34:43.550-05:00healthIt is the bane of our existence. It rears its ugly head and refuses to back down for three days - always. It sent us to the doctor asking for answers and leaving with blood tests that come back clear. It makes the doctor shrug and agree that, "it is strange' but not strange enough.Owen is my 4.5 year old fever magnet. A virus brushes against him in the store? Owen invites it home. These stray http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/ten-fevers-in-eight-months.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jules)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-1242241587624721134Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:39:00 +00002011-04-14T13:04:59.728-05:00ADDboysit worked for usmotherhoodToday my youngest son and I visited a new pediatrician. Specifically, a behavior pediatrician. I like our regular doctor, he's a nice kid, (I can totally say that, he's at least ten years younger than me) but he's a generalist, and we're reaching the point where we really needed someone more specifically familiar with the issues we are facing, primarily ADHD. (The pediatrician we had for years, http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-being-thorough.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-5009973045602093811Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +00002011-04-12T07:00:00.301-05:00booksI have a collection of books from my childhood, in a box my mother gave me when she cleaned out her basement. Some were beloved storybooks, some were random teen angsty junior novels (Sweet Valley High, anyone?) and a few were more mature, but still beloved, classics - Anne of Green Gables, Black Beauty, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Flowers in the Attic...oh wait. Skip that last one.One http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/reaquaint-yourself-with-roald-dahl.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-4771112547462404178Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +00002011-04-11T07:00:23.648-05:00#failactivitiesBoy ScoutslifePeople, I am only one person. I can get one kid to one soccer practice at 5:15pm, and I can get the other to his soccer practice at 5:30, only a few miles away. But then both practices are over at 6:45, and I have to feed them, change one from his soccer practice clothes into a scout uniform, and then be in three places at 7pm.P.S. - my husband is traveling. He's not here, not there, not http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/04/just-another-manic-monday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-6889660569404571706Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:14:00 +00002011-03-31T06:14:00.387-05:00recipe photo credit: tvol If you're looking for a Friday-night winner, this one gets BIG POINTS from my kids.  And it's easy, so I like it, too.  Rolling out the dough is a little time consuming, but other than that:  easy as pie. Ingredients: Frozen pizza dough (I find that 1 lb usually makes 4 calzones) Contadina pizza sauce (or your fav) Shredded mozzarella Favorite toppings: my http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/super-easy-calzones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hip Mom's Guide)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-6637305339119440800Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:57:00 +00002011-03-29T23:08:13.234-05:00wordless wednesdayFor more Wordless Wednesday, check here and at 5 Minutes for Mom.whttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/so-ready-for-summer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hip Mom's Guide)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-6929576486508123372Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:27:00 +00002011-03-29T06:27:00.226-05:00Good ReadsI didn't have any expectations when I opened the first page of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  I'd heard of it, sure, but I didn't know a thing about it. And that name.  It's just weird.  I wasn't sure what to make of it. The book begins with a letter. Hmmm, I thought.  I still wasn't intrigued. But then I read the http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hip Mom's Guide)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-9060059447763774233Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:56:00 +00002011-03-28T05:56:00.133-05:00it worked for usparenting choicesteenstweensIf your child is a toddler, you may--and I repeat may--not yet have entered the age of the iPod.  However, I have seen many a wee one tap tap tapping away at some sort of iPod game, so I'm guessing we've got a few young owners out there. Here's the thing:  when they're toddlers, you can hand them the iPod when it's convenient for you, and take it back when it's not. One day, they'll be http://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/docking-station_28.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Hip Mom's Guide)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708683104926932654.post-9111250939339076520Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:12:00 +00002011-03-24T11:12:11.534-05:00Good ReadsEvery night we read to our kids as part of our bedtime routine.  A couple of my favorites to read with my younger ones are Good Night Gorilla & Pajama Time.  My 20 month old twins just love it.  My little E is the most into it, he loves to find the banana with each turn of the page, and gets excited to see the all black pages with just the wife's eye balls. Just the otherhttp://midwestparents.blogspot.com/2011/03/good-bedtime-reading.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (stelie + co.)0