funforkids

I thought I would post a silly joke today. 

What is the difference between Roast Beef and Pea Soup?

Anyone can roast beef but no one can pee soup! 

  Traditional Dora -VS- Grown up Dora  

Okay, you know her, you love her; she is the cute innocent little girl whom our children love to go exploring with everyday, the one the only Dora the Explorer.  What you may not know though is that Mattel and Nickelodeon (in an attempt to earn some more of the old mighty green) is planning to give our cute, somewhat, tom-boyish (some have even called her androgynous) little girl a glammed up makeover.  Gone will be her short bob-cut hair and shorts in exchange for longer hair, jewelry, and more stylish outfits.  The new Dora is in the developmental stages, but has already raised many eye-brows and many complaints have been voiced against her creation.  They plan to have both the younger version and the “grown up” version but we all know which version our little girls (and little boys) will prefer.  When the companies released the new look last week parents began a petition  to pressure Mattel and Nickelodeon to reconsider the newer version.   Apparently Mattel plans to release a doll with the new, more grown-up look and a plug into your computer option which will somehow enable your “tween” to change Dora’s hair length, jewelry, and eye color.  What ever happened to the old saying:  Be happy with what God gave you?  Change her eye color?  Come on.  Last year I did a short stint working in a mall to earn extra money for Christmas and I can’t tell you how many little girls passed by my store with their fake Hannah Montana wigs on.  It just made me ill—it was like that time when M&M performed on the MTV Music awards and had a ton of blonde wigged look alikes take the stage with him.  These little girls looked like a bunch of drones walking by.  Its hard for mom and dad’s to say no to these trends–I know, but maybe we should begin to put our two cents in by not buying these toys from the companies.    Granted we all like to dye our hair and change things about ourselves as we get older, but seriously, what message are we sending to our daughters when we make them think they should have blonder hair and blue eyes and tattoos to be attractive.  All that can come later.  Let a kid be a kid!  What happened to:  “It’s what is on the inside that counts”?  There is already way too much pressure on our little girls to “fit in” and look the part.   I think its a bad idea to take such an innocent role model and make her a superficial girl who is all about the shopping and her appearance.  Come on Nick and Mattel, don’t take away one of the few wholesome role models we have left for our little girls. 

 You absolutely must see this video.  Guaranteed to make you say GET OUTTA HERE!  and I am sure many of you will be trying this experiment on your own.   This video really makes me reconsider using my cell phone!  

As always, feel free to send this link to friends!  ENJOY.     I am placing bets on which of my friends and family will actually be trying this at their next friendly gathering.  LOL  Have fun!! 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-telephone-portable-microon_news

 I found a very cute business opportunity via Facebook the other day.  The company is called Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop and it is a great company with even better products.  Think of it as Build A Bear on wheels.  I checked out one of the company’s representative’s sites and found some really great points and lots of information which make me think that this could be a great job for me and for others as well.  Angela Baratta is the representative with whom I have been speaking and she is very knowledgeable about the products and the steps you need to be successful should you decide to Embark on the Ark.  She absolutely loves the company and its products.  If you are in a community like mine, where kids are plenty, then you could make great money joining this company. Basically you would become a workshop leader/party leader  who goes to homes, schools, daycare centers, churches, and other local businesses that want to hold a Noah’s Ark Workshop and you teach and assist the children (or adults) in stuffing and accessorizing plush animals from the very large selection of choices that Noah’s Ark offers.  Love kids?  Love Crafts?  This is definitely a great idea–right?  I am strongly strongly strongly considering jumping on board myself.  The start up fee is low: you need only buy the minimum start up kit which I believe is $129 and comes with quite a large selection of items which you can use to showcase to your potential customers.   I know, no one really wants to part with money when starting a new business, after-all, you want to make money not spend it right?  However, when we put it into perspective $129 is not a lot of money especially considering that it costs that much to buy your 6 year old a new Nintendo DS Lite!   However, this is an investment in your future and you stand to make a good amount of money in the process.  Think about it!   If you think that this might be something you would be interested in go to Angela Baratta’s personal Noah’s Ark Consultant site at http://www.barattabears.com and read much much more about this great opportunity.  By the way, the company also has a separate line of girlie make-up that you can sell as well–your starter kit will contain samples of this as well.  Best Wishes on your endeavors.  Cheryl Anne

 I wish I could take credit for writing this one too.  The author is unknown but the thoughts should be shared by all.  Motherhood is truly a gift from God and even-though you may not think you are doing such a good job, and although it seems like a thankless one… God reminds you everyday with the smiles and laughter of your children that you are in fact doing a phenomenal job and it is appreciated.   Here is the story as it was sent to me.  Thanks again to Jennifer Park for sending this one.  

*Invisible Mother……. *

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one
of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be
taken to the store..

Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or
even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I’m invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands,
nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m
a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer,
‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right
around 5:30, please.’

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that
studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had
disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.
She’s going; she’s going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend
from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous tr ip, and she was
going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It
was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty
pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said,
‘I brought you this.’

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why
she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: *To My Dear Friend, with
admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.*

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover
what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern
my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of
their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never
see finished..They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God
saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on
the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are you
spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the
roof? No one will ever see it.’ And the workman replied, ‘Because God
sees.’

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as
if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you. I see the sacrifices you make
every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done,
no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me
to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t
see right now what it will become.’

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease
that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own
self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the
right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who
show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that
their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be
built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to
that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend
he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4
in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for
three
hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d
built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add,
‘you’re going to love it there.’

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not
only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world
by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

This story was sent to me by Jennifer Park.  I thought it deserved to be seen by the world.  The author is unknown.  Thanks Jennifer! 

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ she said ‘What?’ Mom asked. ‘Lets run through the rain !’ She repeated ‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain,’ ‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said. ‘No, we won’t, Mom.. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm. This morning ?When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet? ‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!’ The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. ‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,’ Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories…So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you’ll never forget. It’s a short message to let them know that you’ll never forget them. If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you’re in a hurry. Take the time to live!!! Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you’ll need each other — and don’t forget to run in the rain !

Mercer Mayer, the author of such wonderful books as “Where the Wild Things Are”, “There’s an Alligator Under my Bed”, and many other children’s favorites has apparently learned that Youtube is a fantastic tool for reaching a larger audience.  He has posted his very own video of himself at home (I assume) reading his classic “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed”.  Combined with his original illustrations, some sound effects, and music, the author delivers his story to viewers both young and old.  It is nice to see Mercer Mayer  and to get a glimpse of the personality of such a great children’s book writer.  I hope you enjoy the video.

  According to the March 2009 edition of Parents Magazine 12,000 1-ounce bottles of Mylicon infants Dye Free gas-relief drops (sold from October 2008 through November 2008) were recalled because some of the bottles COULD contain metal fragments from the manufacturing process.  CALL  (800) -222-9435 for a replacement of the product or for a refund. 

 The following information was taken from the Mylicon website:  

JOHNSON & JOHNSON • MERCK CONSUMER PHARMACEUTICALS COMPANY ANNOUNCES URGENT VOLUNTARY NATIONWIDE RECALL OF INFANTS’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE DROPS (SIMETHICONE-ANTIGAS) NON-STAINING DUE TO POSSIBLE METAL FRAGMENTS

Fort Washington, PA (November 10, 2008) – Johnson & Johnson • Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Company (JJMCP) is voluntarily recalling approximately 12,000 units of Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops (simethicone-antigas) non-staining sold in 1 oz. plastic bottles that were distributed after October 5, 2008 nationwide. The company is taking this action in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the potential for serious medical events is low, the company is implementing this recall to the consumer level as a precaution after determining that some bottles could include metal fragments that were generated during the manufacturing process. If any medical events were to occur, most are expected to be temporary and resolve without medical treatment. Parents who have given the product to their infant and are concerned should contact their health care provider immediately.

The two lots of Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining 1 oz. bottles included in the recall are:

Consumers can find the lot numbers on the bottom of the box containing the product and also on the lower left side of the sticker on the product bottle.

Consumers who purchased Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining included in this recall should immediately stop using the product and contact the company at 1-800-222-9435 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST) or via the internet at www.mylicon.com for instructions regarding how to dispose of the product and request a replacement or refund.

Infants’ MYLICON® drops are sold over-the counter, in retail stores and pharmacies, as an anti-gas medicine to relieve the discomfort of infant gas frequently caused by air swallowing or by certain formulas or foods.

The recall does not affect any Original Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF products (1/2 oz. or 1 oz. size) or Infants’ MYLICON® GAS RELIEF DYE FREE drops non-staining (1/2 oz. size).

The manufacturer has instructed retailers and wholesalers to return their inventories.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Regular Mail:
Use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at:
www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm.
Mail to MedWatch 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787

Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178  

About MYLICON® drops

Infants’ MYLICON® drops, the #1 pediatrician-recommended anti-gas medicine, relieve the discomfort of infant gas frequently caused by air swallowing or by certain formulas or foods. For more information, visit: www.mylicon.com.