Search Results for: how to whistle loud

Thankful for Pets

Because today is both a pets blog day and Thanksgiving, it’s a perfect time to write about one of the things I’m thankful for: my pets. In one way it’s kind of a silly sentiment; I have them because I went out and adopted them, but that doesn’t change how thankful I am for their presence. Early last week I was really reminded how thankful I am for their companionship. They’d all just received their flea/tick treatment, so they weren’t allowed on the sofa or to have any cuddle time. I like to let the Frontline settle in for 24-48 … Continue reading →

How to Push

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My mother-in-law has a really impressive skill. She can whistle so loud, it can be heard above a cheering crowd at a wrestling tournament. (Just ask my husband; he was a wrestler.) But if you ask her how to do it, she can’t tell you. She knows how to do it because she figured it out by chance. As a kid, she just kept trying until it worked. Pushing a baby out during delivery is similar. You don’t really know how to push when you’re a first time mom, and you don’t know whether you’re doing it right until the … Continue reading →

Return to Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins – CD Review

Return to Pooh Corner from Kenny Loggins was our lullaby CD of choice for several years when our twins were small. It’s a lovely and relaxing CD of lullabies accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano, penny whistles, harmonica and Celtic harp . Some of the songs are traditional. Other songs are borrowed from other contemporary musicians like John Lennon, Paul Williams, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, Rickie Lee Jones and more. All the songs capture the magic of childhood. We had a rough first year with our twins. This CD saw us through hospitalizations, surgeries, and average rough days with two infants. … Continue reading →

The Gift or Blessing In Each Day

One of the joys of my life has always been reading. While my arm was in plaster it gave me the perfect excuse to sit down at times and read. Added incentive was a new library to explore which is always exciting. Libraries are one of my favorite haunts. One of the great books I read was ‘Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven’ by Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I love this author’s distinctive voice. I’m not a person who laughs out loud often when reading, but the antics of her characters and … Continue reading →

The 4th of July: Murphy’s Most Dreaded Day of the Year

Don’t let this picture fool you. Murph may be sporting a patriotic bandana, but the 4th of July is not his most favorite day of the year. For some pets the annual trip to the vet is the most dreaded day of the year. Not for poor Murph. Vets are a piece of cake compared to the whistles, bangs, and pops exploding in the sky outside. Nothing phased our first dog, Budly. Not thunderstorms and definitely not fireworks. (But take his beloved tennis ball away and that’d spark a meltdown.) Murph, however, is very different. He’s more sensitive to loud … Continue reading →

Promoting and Encouraging Curiosity

They say curiosity killed the cat, and any parent who’s been on the receiving end of a day’s worth of questions—why, how, where, when, and what—might understand the warning in this old saying. It can get downright aggravating to have your thoughts interrupted with “why?” for the 800th time! Still, curiosity is a good thing and as parents, there are things we can do to encourage curiosity and overcome our occasional unconscious instinct to thwart it. One of the best things we can do to encourage and promote curiosity is to answer those questions! I know how annoying it can … Continue reading →

Nights of Thunder

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 o’clock in the morning, I was awakened by a big fat shepherd mix stepping on my head. Let me tell you — that gets me up rather quickly. Not necessarily alert, but at least I was awake. Moose was having a crisis, and I quickly figured out why — we were having a thunderstorm, complete with flashes of lightning and super loud kabooms overhead. My big fat shepherd, you see, is a big fat chicken. Normally, when he hears something that scares him, he goes to hide under the desk where I do my … Continue reading →

“Will I Ever Play Like That?”

This past holiday week I’ve been enjoying my oldest son Garrett’s piano playing. He has become quite accomplished, and it’s a delight for me to listen to him. I remember when he was just a little kid starting his piano lessons. He had a big clunky book with huge notes and his feet swung from the bench. We attended his first piano recital together and he plunked out a simple little tune, his wobbly fingers tapping on each key. At the end of the recital, a young adolescent girl with long flowing hair sat down to the piano. She began … Continue reading →

Fun with Grandparents

My children are always excited to see their grandparents. And I know all their grandparents want to see them. But after the first few minutes, they often don’t know what to do with each other. After a day of traveling the grandparents are often tired and just want a rest. Instead they are watching three boys running through the house shouting how many days are left until Christmas. The challenge is to keep the visiting grandparents busy and happy without wearing them out.I want them to have a memorable Christmas, too. But I also want my loud and busy boys … Continue reading →

Newbery Medal Winners: 1931-1940

During the 1930’s, the Great Depression affected all of America. As a result of the collapse of the American stock market, one third of the population of America was unemployed. Since television was not introduced to the public at the 1939 World’s Fair, many children still turned to books for entertainment. More great books were obviously penned during this time of hardship in America. 1931 Medal Winner: “The Cat Who Went to Heaven” by Elizabeth Coatsworth Honor Books “Floating Island” by Anne Parrish “The Dark Star of Itza: The Story of A Pagan Princess” by Alida Malkus “Queer Person” by … Continue reading →