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Friday, June 24, 2011

Car Seat Inspection

I can not say enough good things about EMS Captain and "Car Seat Inspector" Malissa Radanke at the Mdewakanton Emergency Services in Prior Lake.

Officer Maureen O'Heir couldn't see us for a while, so I emailed info@shakopeedakota.org and got an email from Malissa the next morning offering to check out my less than stellar attempt at installing the two convertible seats in the back row.

In her email, she said to call for an appointment. So I did. We were in the car, backing out of the driveway to go to a play date. She was available Thursday afternoon, but we'd be playing. How about Friday morning? She won't be in until afternoon--we're going to Alexandria. How about right now? So we detoured on the way to our play date to have the car seats checked out.

I know the technique for installing the car seats, but this preggo belly just wouldn't let me heft my knee up into the car seats to jam them into the backseat. And then I just couldn't figure out how to get the seats TIGHT in the seat belt.

RANT: Why don't minivans have MORE anchor and tether spots? And why only one in the back? Minivans should hold five car seats!! We're going to have to rethink our child-bearing ideas if only four car seats fit in this van.

Anyway, Malissa was great! She reinstalled those seats so fast and got them so tight. Now I feel like my kids are safe in the van. They've been riding around in the back seat with "loose" car seats for about a week. I had almost convinced myself that they'd fly out if I stopped too quickly. Thankfully, they didn't and now they won't.

I did have the infant seat properly installed and tightened and leveled. "Third time's a charm!"

So, if anyone around Prior Lake needs a car seat inspection, contact Malissa. She's awesome!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Camp Wannaplay

The kids are going to Camp Wannaplay this summer. The first session was today.

First of all, it's been raining for two or three days, so I wasn't sure this morning of fun was going to happen. It meets at the park, and everything was soaking wet & muddy. So, I get online this morning to find the phone number and am greatly disturbed that I can't find any information about Camp Wannaplay on the Community Ed web page. "Gosh, did they cancel it without telling anyone?" So, I call the CommEd phone number, leave a message, and wait impatiently for someone to call back. About 20 minutes later someone did, and she very nicely informed me that Camp Wannaplay is not a Community Ed program; it's through Parks & Rec, and she gave me their number. We met in the Pavilion building instead of some random grassy knoll.

The kids loved it! I have to stay because Jamey isn't 3 yet, but I mostly sat on the side and watched them interact with the other kids and teachers. They played games, colored, sang a couple songs, and ran around like wild banshees. It was great!

I've noticed that Jamey gets pretty shy in new places or around new people. So, he needs a little "Mommy help" when he feels overwhelmed. He really did latch on to one of the teachers though. He sat next to her for every game and held her hand every chance he could.

Ivy is still singing "I'm bringing home a little bumble bee" and said everyone was silly for saying "duck duck grey duck." She matter-of-factly said, "It's duck, duck, goose. Those crazy teachers."

Monday, June 20, 2011

Doing School

Many months ago, Ivy was so sad that she couldn't read by herself. That night during bedtime, I sat in the rocker and ordered the preschool Sing Spell Read & Write program for her.

It's taken since February to get through 11 color-recognition pages. She knows her colors and I think gets bored coloring. We have 4 shape-recognition pages to do (which she will like, because she LOVES the annoying song that goes along with the shapes). Then we're on to Opposites, Seasons, and Rhyming concepts.

After those concepts, we get into the letter sounds. That's what she's excited for.

But doing this has magnified the realization that home schooling is not for me. I have no interest whatsoever in "doing school" with her. And I don't care if she colors the pages "correctly."

Friday, June 17, 2011

Fruit Share

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We are one day into our CSA fruit share, and I'm already loving it. We had a bowl of cherries yesterday afternoon, and I'm eating delicious nectarines for breakfast. Looking forward to pineapple tomorrow morning!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Possible Side Effects Include

Dizziness. Nausea. Vomiting. Exhaustion. Loss of appetite. Weight gain. Insomnia. Heartburn. General aches and pain. Hemorrhoids. Gas. Incontinence. Bloating and swelling. Sweating and hot flashes. Mood swings. Vivid dreams. Paranoia. Loss of coordination.

Monday, June 6, 2011

First purchase

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I bought a pack of newborn dipes today. I'm ready to meet our new girl.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Using the word press app

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Jeremy found a wordpress app so now I can upload pictures and blog easily from the phone. Maybe it will mean more pictures on the blog.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Parents at the park

I used to feel bad for kids whose parents talked on the phone or read books at the park instead of playing with them.

Now I understand it. It's the only time the kids are doing something else and will leave me alone for 15 minutes to get something done.