Week 3: January 15 - 21, 2010 {#Mamatography}

It was so hard to choose photos for this week's Mamatography post. It seemed like I had the camera out all of the time. And we did so much! I had the kids help me choose which picture to include and this is what we decided on:

Day 15 (1/15/12)

"I push this button!"

Little Guy was just thrilled when "Brubber" invited him to play computer games on his laptop with him. Usually, we try to keep him away from our computers because he gets over-excited AND had that "I know what I'm doing and I'm going to do it myself" attitude going. The two of those, together, usually equal a computer that is completely frozen up within minutes and hours of trying to figure out how to fix it. But, my oldest patiently kept little guy in check and found a game that would allow him to use the mouse pad easily. He had the BEST time!

Day 16 (1/16/12)

Warm Winter's Catnap

Number 1 has been in heaven lately. He comes into the house after spending a few hours in the freezing cold, gets a bite to eat, then lays down somewhere for a nap - purring the entire time. I can't help but wonder if he ran into a stray who told him he should be grateful for a warm home and food in his belly. He's been showing his appreciation in many ways, too. He knows how much I like a kitty sitting on my lap, but he never really cared for it himself. Not recently! He's been bringing up "presents" to the door (and sometimes tries to sneak them into the house) in the form of field mice. My oldest usually is the recipient of these gifts, since he's often the first one to leave the house in the morning! And, he has even been hanging out with Little Guy, who has just recently made the differentiation between stuffed animal and real animal.

Day 17 (1/17/12)

Goofball

If you're my friend on Facebook, you already know about this picture. My oldest borrowed my camera for a school project he had to do (how cool is it that he can email his homework to his teachers?!) And, while he had the camera, he had to screw around a little, right? I found about 20 goofy pictures of him and his friend on my camera after he returned it to me. I jokingly told him that he should always delete photos after uploading, or they could make their way into the wrong hands. Then I mentioned putting one of the pictures on Facebook and tagging him in it. The kid actually DARED me to do it. Well, being the mom that I am, that's exactly what I did. I started feeling bad a few minutes later, so I removed the tag (the picture is still there.) I just don't know if one of his classmates might get a hold of his goofy picture and turn it into some kind of nasty joke. So, it's on my wall and he can tag himself in it if he wants. And I'll be having prints made of these photos because they are just too fun to forget about!

Day 18 (1/18/12)

You Could Have Put Your Eye Out!

You know how you're always warning kids to be careful with scissors? Yeah... While Little Guy and I were making our Craft Idea Book, I put the scissors down for a split second. That was long enough for him to come charging across the room at full-speed to grab them. Only I was faster and snatched them up. And, as you can see by the picture, I didn't do so safely. I stabbed myself in the hand - and it was a bloody one. Little Guy's eyes were like saucers when he saw what had happened. I think that he truly did not believe me all of those times I told him that scissors are dangerous. He probably thought I was just saying it to keep him from having all of the cutting-up-paper-fun. Ever since this occurrence, though, he hasn't tried to get my scissors. And I'm on the look-out for a good pair of child safety scissors for him. It is fun to cut paper and why should I be the only one to enjoy it?

Day 19 (1/19/12)

My Very Cold Friend

It was so cold! The wind was blowing like mad and the temperature, without taking windchill into account, was 9F. We have a pair of Blue Jays that have decided to winter in the woods behind our house and I couldn't help but see this bright blue guy all puffed up and trying to stay warm when I passed the window. I tossed a handful of seeds out for him and he quickly swooped down from his perch to fill his stomach.

Day 20 (1/20/12)

The Sick Blanket

Another chilly day. Rather than heading outside, Little Guy and I had an all-day indoor camping trip. This picture was taken early on in our day. We ended up making a campfire out of paper towel tubes and tissue paper. We made beds and Little Guy took a nap in his tent. We had snacks. We even went fishing, using sticks, yarn and paper clips for hooks. We didn't catch anything and concluded that fish do not like gummy worms, so we ate the worms for "dinner", instead!

See that striped, crocheted blanket? My great-grandmother made that before I was born (I think it may even be older than my mom.) It is known as "The Sick Blanket" because that is the blanket that we used whenever we were ill and laid on the couch in the living room all day, while our mom or dad nursed us back to health. It is used for the same purpose for my kids and, hopefully, one of them will become as attached as I have to it and their kids will get to know The Sick Blanket, as well. And when we were well, that blanket made the BEST tents... Still does!

Day 21 (1/21/12)

Wintertime

This is the picture of winter in my mind. Sled and squirrel tracks in the snow. Kids' footprints, big and small. The sunshine creating those cool blue shadows that you can only see in the wintertime across the snow...














So, what did your week look like? If you'd like to join me in this endeavor, just click on the Mamatography button at the top of this post to learn more. I'll be linking this post at Diary of a First Child's Week 3 Mamatography Linky when it's posted on Wednesday (1/25), so if you'd like to see more photos you should head over!

PETfection - Review and Extra (Easy) Entry {#MadeInMichigan}

This is a review for one of my sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly $200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.



I have to tell you, I've tried every possible natural solution to the fleas and ticks and NONE have worked. I mean, I went so far as to start making my own cat food so I could add lots of garlic after reading that it's a deterrent to most biting insects. Nada, though I still make the cat food - healthier and way cheaper! I even paid an arm and a leg for some different "natural" solutions that still included chemicals that I can't pronounce and even they didn't work.


We live in a wetlands area and the woods behind our home are a great breeding ground for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers... I could go on and on. The woods also have lots of little critters - skunk, raccoons, opossum, squirrels, etc. - all of which my cat LOVES playing with. (Not kidding - he loves the spring, when all of the little babies come out for play time. He's got some very good raccoon friends!) Oh, and here's his favorite place to nap:

In frustration, I finally just bought some of those toxic drops you put on the back of your pet's neck (I think you know what I mean.) Applying that stuff meant our poor kitty, Number 1, was treated... differently for a few weeks. No sleeping on the bed. No getting petted. Under NO circumstances was he allowed near the kids or in the kitchen. I always felt so badly at his confusion. What did I do?! That's when the presents would start. Normally not a killer, he'd try to win out love back by leaving us little "gifts" on the porch: mice, birds, even little baby bunnies.

Enter my newest heroes:

PETfection sent me some Cat Bug Spray to try out - and just in time for the fall round of fleas! The Bug Spray is not an insecticide, rather a prevention. It is non-toxic and 100% organic, containing Peppermint and Geranium Hydrosols to deter the insects from even hitching a ride. It keeps fleas, ticks and mosquitoes away from both Number 1 and my family. Oh, and in addition to keeping the bugs away, it is also great for their skin, balancing the oil production. In the few short weeks we've been using the Cat Bug Spray, Number 1 has completely stopped itching and his fur seems even softer than ever. And I don't know if I can attribute this to the spray or not: The reminder of Number 1's last (stinky) romp with his skunk friend went away after just three days rather than the couple of weeks it normally takes.

I urge you to check out PETfection for any of your pet's needs (and wants, too!) They have their own line of shampoos, sprays, homemade treats, organic toys, and even gift baskets... just about any pet product you can think of. I love that they focus on pet health in this way. I mean, I know there are a lot of people out there who are concerned with their families' ingestion of toxins, but what about pets? Their bodies are so much smaller than humans' and, often, much more sensitive to chemicals and pesticides. If your pet is part of your family, then you really should treat him or her the same. You don't choose inferior snacks for your child because he's smaller, therefore less important. Why should you do so for Fido or Fluffy? I cannot think of a better way to put it, so this is directly from their Web site:

"No chemicals, additives, pesticides, solvents, fillers, or artificial preservatives are used in the cultivation, processing, transportation, or storage of any PETfection product or any of their ingredients."

Oh, and don't think that because PETfection has natural and organic pet products that they charge outrageous prices! Their Puppy Suds, for instance, comes in three sizes: 16oz, 4oz., and 2oz. and prices range from just $13.95 to $3.95 (with a few different scents to choose from). PETfection is based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (right around the first joint in the "thumb", north of Detroit and on the western shore of Lake St. Claire.) AND, if you have your order shipped to any Michigan address, you will receive FREE SHIPPING - no coupon code needed!!!

You can find PETfection at their Web site, on Etsy (free shipping is only good on orders through their Web site), on Facebook, and on Twitter. 




Disclosure: I received one 2oz. bottle of Cat Bug Spray from PETfection for the purpose of writing this review. I received no other form of compensation. All opinions are my own.

Kitty Cat Gluing Project {#Craft}

I was paging through a rather popular catalog that has all kinds of kids' crafts in it and came across quite a few that I decided to try with Little Guy. The first is this Kitty Cat:

I attempted to create a template that you could print out for the cut-out parts, but I just can't figure it out without making it look like Little Guy drew it free-hand. So, here's what you need to cut out:

• 4-inch diameter circle in black (head)
• 6-inch diameter circle in black (body)
• 2 1/2-inch diameter circle, then cut in half in black (paws)
• 7-inch long (about 2 inches wide at largest spot) crescent shape with rounded top in black (tail)
• 1 1/2-inch square in black, then cut in half in black (ears)
• Two 1-inch diameter circles in yellow (eyes)
• about 3/4-inch tall heart shape in pink (nose)
• 1/2-inch tall triangle in pink (mouth)

And then you're also going to need this stuff:

• 1 White pipe cleaner cut into four equal pieces, then curl one end of each piece around a crayon
• 1 piece of yarn or ribbon tied into a bow
• 2 small black pom-poms for eyes
• White crayon
• Glue stick
• White glue or glue dots

Now, if you don't have all of this stuff, no biggie. You can use two different-sized plates for the head and body, just paint or even color them whatever color you (or your kids) want. No pipe cleaners? How about bread ties, spaghetti, string...? For those who aren't great at tying bows, cut one out of paper. You don't need pop-poms, either. Just use black paper or color them in with a crayon or marker. Oh, and the sizes? Not a big deal, either. I just kind of guessed at them.

Here are the basic steps to making kitty:

1. Outline all black parts with the white crayon (as you can see, Little Guy decided to go the extra mile!) And then draw the kitty's mouth on (I did that part.)
2. Use glue stick to glue on these parts: head, eyes, nose mouth, paws. Then flip it over and use the glue stick to add the tail and ears.
3. Use the white glue or glue dots to add the pom-poms to the eyes, then glue on the whiskers, and finally add the bow. 
4. The last step is always the hardest - let it all dry. We did our project before bed with the promise that it would be dry when he woke up.

The main thing to remember here is that this is a project that should be relatively easy for a preschooler to do with little help. I cut out all of the pieces while he was napping and put them into a paper bag. I found that when he wants to do a project, he wants to do it NOW, so waiting for me to do all of the cutting can make a fun project become a tantrum.

I had a picture of the project from the catalog taped onto the wall in front of Little Guy so he could see how it should look (great way to teach them to see how pictures can translate into real things!) I had him show me where he was planning on putting each piece AND where he planned on putting the glue before he actually did it. If his planned spots were way off, I'd say something like, "Well, let's look at the picture and see if it looks right." Often, he'd see the mistake. If not, I'd put the piece in the right place and ask him if that looked OK. If the pieces were going to be placed slightly off, I just left it alone - it wasn't MY project!

To keep the white glue from being over-used or getting everywhere, we have a "deal". He guides the bottle and I help squeeze it. I get to guide it, too, he just doesn't realize it. And I can control how fast the glue comes out. Try to work from top to bottom with the white glue so arms don't accidentally move previously added parts.

Have LOTS of fun!

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Number 1 {Wordless Wednesday... uh, kind of...}

Cheese!

This is Number 1, our cat. He was born in the middle of winter, 4 years ago, under the blankets of y bed - right next to me feet. We had let a poor stray cat into the house that night because it was one of the coldest nights on record and I felt so sorry for her. I didn't know she was pregnant - I never really bothered to look! Anyway, we were NOT going to keep her or the kittens. Our landlord had already kicked two different people out for having pets. That's why we named him Number 1 - he was the firstborn and we didn't want to get attached. We didn't even name the others. Well, everyone found homes quickly except Number 1 - we named him and couldn't get rid of him. He even hides when the landlord is around!

He's been taking naps with Little Guy since he was a newborn. If nap time is late, Number 1 gets very upset and starts pacing back and forth on the bed.

He loves going for walks in the woods with us. He knows that we do not appreciate dead animals as gifts, so he's been bringing us live offerings. They usually spend a night in our bathroom and I let them go in the morning while Number 1 is eating his breakfast. He's recently been banned from coming into the house because he attempted to catch us a skunk. The smell is wearing off... very slowly!

Fun Outside! {Wordless Wednesday 4/27}

Howdy! I just want to remind you that my Freckles Crafts Giveaway is ending on Thursday. There are only 71 entries as I write this post, so head on over - you have a great chance!

Also, I have a new Green Parenting Giveaway Linky! It is an ongoing linky, so you only need to enter your giveaways once. Don't shy away because of the name - if your giveaway is related to parenting in any way or is eco-friendly in any way, please go link up. It can't hurt, right? And, if you're looking to win some cool stuff, go check it out and enter some giveaways. There are already quite a few really good ones listed.

And, finally, go check out the Natural Parenting Blog Party. There are a ton of really great blogs linked up. I've found more new blogs than I know what to do with. If you have a blog that fits into the "natural parenting" category, link yourself up! I've written a few posts specifically for this blog party. You can find the list of them HERE. The party is going on until April 30, so there is plenty of time!

Hmm.. I had a bunch of "Server Rejected" photos. They were just downloaded from my camera. Anyone know what's up with that?

Well, I guess I'll have to call this weeks' WW: "Little Guy Having Fun Outside"

LION TAMER!

Actually, our catnip just came up. Our little kitty found it!

Look what I found!!!

Well, I guess that's it until next week. Maybe I'll figure out how to fix these rejected pics by then.

Thanks for stopping by and please let me know you've done so. I will return the favor!