WINTER FUN

Snow is always high on the Christmas wish list and this year we got an early gift. Of course the snow days off from school are an added benefit for the kiddos! So we took a few sledding adventures with Bryton braving the very top of the hill and barely missing a serious face plant and the two big kids tried out their skills on the snowboards (without the bindings) on the small parts of the hill. I decided to give it a try as well and I did fall but without injury, at least that time. I did forget that my body is not as youthful and accident proof as it used to be and in an attempt to try a semi-running jump onto the sled, yeah I know real smart, and planted my left ankle, shin and knee right onto the edge of the sled. I traumatized my family as it appeared at first that I seriously hurt myself, but I fortunately was just left with some colorful bruising and a really sore knee.

So the mommy wisdom here is yes it is important to live in the moment but don't live in the moment of denial! I really wanted to believe that it would only hurt a little but it really, really hurt and I am paying for it today. So, as if you needed this weird advice, don't take a running jump onto a child size plastic sled head first unless you have really good insurance, plenty of sick time at work and you pad yourself with layers of bubble wrap!

Despite my bruised ego and body I really did have fun and it makes for a great memory!

Make some safer indoor memories and check out this site for some really classic yet unique educational toys and games and discovery tables and toys: http://www.littlebusybrains.com/

DISCOVERY/SENSORY

Sand between the toes! It brings different feelings for different kids. This was the first sand experience for my youngest and he loved it. It was a cold, wet day and we ended up taking shelter in some nasty public restroom that happened to have an even nastier feminine product on the cold, dirty concrete floor, talk about a gross sensory experience for us, but it created a memory. Experiencing those sensory moments and exploring the world are essential to a child's learning experience. Some products that focus on sensory, fine motor, problem solving, etc are found at: http://www.littlebusybrains.com/

Educational Toys & Games

If you know anyone interested in educational toys, large toy items or play tables for waiting rooms or homes and discovery toys this site has a classic selection and some really unique items, check it out at:

http://www.littlebusybrains.com/

Harry Potter Scar

One of the first really scary things that happened to me as a mom was on April Fool's Day 1995. I was alone in the house that day as my then husband was already in Oregon and I had my precious, physically flawless 8 month old in her walker in the bathroom so she would be close when I took a shower. I proceeded to take off my jammy shirt and I hit the heavy pointed glass light fixture cover with my hand (keep in mind the ceiling of my bathroom was really low) and it came crashing down. The slow motion movement like in a bad dream or movie I could not move fast enough to stop it and this heavy weapon of destruction came down on my baby's perfect pale forehead with a sudden explosion of bright red blood and screams. I swoop her out of her walker manage to get a washcloth all the while crying and saying "Oh my God my poor baby, I am so sorry!" over and over, keep in mind I am totally naked at this point with a crying, bleeding baby and a new mommy brain (which you know does not function well) wondering what the hell I am going to do when it came to me...go to the next door neighbor's house as she has 3 kids. She would know what to do, but as it turned out she was not at all interested in helping me and she had a man in her house that was not her husband (and it was early in the morning) so I packed up my baby, now not crying and pretty oblivious to my distress, and drove to the ER (yes I did manage to throw some clothes and most importantly a bra, by this time). The nurses were great. They were more worried about the sobbing new mommy as my baby was smiling and happy and interactive with them, ie no head injury noticeable! So she got about 3 stitches in her little head that day, but it did leave a scar.

I look at that scar now and I can remember that day like it was yesterday. I felt as if I had done irreparable damage to my perfect baby but I learned several things that day. One, check for loose light fixtures, two, try not to freak out at the sight of your child's blood (one I still work on to this day) and three, it all works out in the end. Yes my beautiful child has a scar on her forehead that serves as a reminder to me that I cannot prevent all harm that may come her way and I may be the cause of her pain sometimes, but it is those moments and situations that make us stronger and teach us something for the next time life comes crashing down!