I'm so excited, I have to share my news with you. We have a new baby on the way! My daughter is expecting, and Mama will be shopping up a storm over the next months preparing for the new arrival. The due date is 11/11/11, how cool is that. My daughter has decided that she doesn't want to know the sex of the baby this time around. We'll be decorating and purchasing everything in neutral colors, yellows, greens, beige etc.
For more blog parenting, don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother blog. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.
11:50 AM
Categories:
baby announcements,
Birth Announcements,
new babies.
Author: rmgales
When I saw these adorable pancake molds, I couldn't resist. My Xavier wakes every morning looking forward to helping Mama make his favorite pancakes when he's visiting. I allow him to choose between barnyard animals, dinosaurs, and an airplane or choo choo train, which are not shown. He makes a happy plate when I make pancakes, lol. Some mornings I just don't feel like making pancakes, and I try to bribe him with yogurt or some other quick meal, but the majority of the time he doesn't take the bribe. He enjoys helping me mix the batter and watching me pour them into the molds. I must admit, I enjoy eating a cow or pig pancake too.
I found these molds on e-bay. They're easy to use as long as you spray the molds well with PAM as well as the griddle. I allow the molds to heat up before I pour the batter into them. This ensures they lift from the batter easily.
I've found that a measuring cup works well in controlling the batter when pouring it into the molds.
Make sure your kids enjoy breakfast with fun pancakes. Add a few fresh strawberries or apple slices with the pancakes, and you're guaranteed a happy plate too. Bon Appetit'!
11:28 AM
Categories:
breakfast idea,
fun breakfast foods,
pancake molds.
Author: rmgales
I decided to plant a vegetable garden this year. I have fond memories of my grandparent's garden when I was growing up, and I remembered the taste of a tomato straight from the garden. There's nothing like it. I want Xavier to experience his summer's in Mama's garden and enjoying the taste of fresh veggies and fruit. He loves apples, pineapples, and strawberries. I'll be planting an apple tree next year and a strawberry patch in the fall so we can have fresh strawberries next spring and summer.
This year I planted tons of tomatoes for canning and salsa, green beans, peppers, eggplant, squash and zucchini. He's not fond of veggies yet, but I'm adding a little to my sauces so I can sneak some in. I'm also looking for recipes that I think he may like without there being a hint of veggies. So far Zucchini Bread without the walnuts, don't trust him eating those yet, is at the top of the list. He loves spaghetti, so I'm finely chopping and I do mean finely chopping peppers and onions to add, lol. He saw a carrot in some sauce once, and it ended his entire meal.
Planting your own garden is also a great way to save on the grocery bill, and there's no pesticides used. It's also a great family activity. Xavier is picking hot banana peppers for Mama's hot pepper ring mix. He loves a hot banana pepper, cauliflower and jalapeno mix that I purchase from the store. I'm going to can a few quarts for his enjoyment.
After picking the peppers, Xavier watered the garden for Mama. He now understands the importance of sunshine and water to a garden. I didn't leave out weeding either, lol. We're going to put a little patch for him next year to include strawberries, raspberries and colorful carrots. Check out his gardening boots. He loved them so much, he took them home with him to wear when he waters his mother's flowers. Aren't they adorable, I'll be doing review on the boots in another post.
Because I acquired poor eating habits growing up, I want to teach my grandson the importance of eating fresh veggies and fruit. What better way than to walk into your back yard and pluck them off the vine. I must saw that Michelle Obama's Get Moving program and White House garden inspired me to plant mine. What an excellent idea to get children involved in an outside activity, and one that is so important to their health. We need to get them off the computer and sofa and back outside to get some physical activity and fresh air. I'm grateful that Xavier would rather be outside than in the house. He runs an entire acre catching fire flies, making mud pies and cakes, swinging from trees. Do you have a garden? What outside activities are your children involved in? Leave us a comment, we may want to try it. If you're interested in following my garden adventure, join me at A Diva's Garden.
Don't miss what's happening on Mother 2 Mother. Be sure to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr or Linkedin by clicking one or more of the Social Media buttons in the upper right hand corner and subcribe to Mother 2 Mother for future posts and give aways.
10:46 AM
Categories:
children's activities,
fresh fruits,
fresh vegetables,
outside activities,
vegetable gardens.
Author: rmgales
To celebrate National Ice Cream month, we decided to make sundaes. The kids had a ball. We used strawberries, bananas, walnuts, sprinkles, and whatever else we could find to make our sundaes more delicious. I found these adorable ice cream bowls at our local Dollar General on clearance last year. They came in a set of 4, blue, green, white and pink with matching spoons. They where perfect for the occasion.
Did you know the most popular flavor of ice cream in the United States is vanilla. Second is chocolate, followed by strawberry, chocolate chip and butter pecan. My favorite is butter pecan. Yum, yum! Children ages 2 - 12 and adults 45 plus eat the most ice cream. I don't indulge often, but I do enjoy a good bowl of ice cream in the summer.
Will you be celebrating National Ice Cream Month? What's your favorite flavor? Leave us a comment, we love them.
5:43 PM
Categories:
ice cream bowls,
National Ice Cream Month,
sunades.
Author: rmgales
I heard an interesting question on CNN, and I've really been pondering the answer. The question - Should obese children be removed from the home? I've taken time to really think about the question. Is the obesity due to a medical problem? If it is a medical problem no, if it's because the child is being allowed to eat and eat and eat, maybe. Good eating habits have to be taught, and of course that is our responsibility as parents. The American Medical Association believes it is the ethical thing to do. They believe the child should be removed from the home and taught the proper eating habits and the importance of getting physical activity. Once this is accomplished, the parents and child can be reunited. Do you agree? Why can't the child remain in the home and they be taught healthy eating as a family?
Because children spend so much time on the computer or playing computer games, they rarely get physical activity these days. The lack of physical activity along with unhealthy meals has lead to severe obesity in this country. There are approximately 2 million obese children in the United States. This is a serious problem wouldn't you say? I can count on 1 hand the number of times that I've seen kids in my neighborhood out riding a bike or walking. Do we hold parents accountable and remove the children from the home? I've seen children so obese, doctors have told parents that they are literally killing their child.
Parents complain that they can't afford the healthier foods. It's cheaper to buy soda and other junk than all natural juice, veggies and better cuts of meat. I decided to plant a garden this year. I will be canning fresh veggies and tomatoes for sauces, salsa, soups and chili. Great meals that can be heated quickly by a child. Not everyone has room for a garden, but there is container gardening that can be done on a patio or balcony. The prices in the grocery store are ridiculous and the vegetables taste like cardboard. I don't blame the kids for not eating them. I can barely get them down. There's a million recipes for chicken, which is the one meat that is not that expensive and considered healthy.
I'm not sure about removing the child from the home, but I am sure that we have a child obesity problem in this country and it is leading to high blood pressure, diabetics, and other health problems. Do you promote healthy eating and physical activity in your home?
4:14 PM
Categories:
childhood abuse,
childhood obesity,
healthy eating.
Author: rmgales
