Last Minute Gifts

“Spring” means many things - Easter, planting flowers, weddings, graduations, softball and soccer games, spring break, Mother’s Day, and more. As I look at this list, one more word comes to mind - BUSY. Some days it seems as if everyone is trying to cram in one last thing before summer comes along. It would be terrible if our spring were lazy and relaxed - or would it?

Last Saturday, we were blessed with a very unusual day. We had absolutely nothing on the calendar, and it was a beautiful spring day. The sun was out, and we could enjoy it any way we wished. I will admit, we were so out of sorts by having “nothing to do” that we didn’t take advantage of it as much as we should have. We spent half the morning in our PJ’s catching up on e-mails, bills, and house projects. But that ended up being a gift in itself. Those nagging items were no longer weighing on our minds, and it gave the kids some time to play. We spent the late afternoon taking a drive in the country, went to the local art museum, and tried out a new restaurant for dinner.

The rest of our spring is jam packed with fun and exciting activities. But I have a feeling we will remember that lazy spring day for the gift it was.

I happen to be one of those gullible moms that “volunteered” to be the Brownie Troop leader. I am the proud leader of 17 first and second grade Brownies. And in the Girl Scout world, spring means one thing - camping!

I happen to love camping. Since I was a kid, many family vacations have been spent sleeping in a tent or cabin and sitting around a campfire. But taking 17 little girls out in the wild isn’t the same thing as a family vacation! So, to start our Brownie camping experience, we decided to go “indoor” camping by attending a lock-in. The girls actually got to sleep in tents and learned how to pack for a camping trip, but we didn’t have to build a fire, use an outhouse, or sleep in the cold. It turns out, our biggest hurdle was keeping track of each girls’ belongings. Very few of our first graders had been away from Mom, so keeping their belongings in one place by themselves was a whole new concept.

We are now ready to graduate to outdoor camping - at least the girls think we are. I am prepared with a list to the parents. It includes bringing a good bag to keep everything organized. I am also prepared to get very little sleep and to give myself the gift of some pampering when that wonderful camping trip is over!

The weather is finally warming here and my husband is working on his golf game. Before he actually gets his rounds in he spends time practicing. First he goes to a nearby driving range and practices his drive. But he also likes to practice his short game. Last year for Father’s Day I got him a Chipmate golf chipping net. He really uses it a lot.

What he likes about this chipping net is it’s easy to set up and take down and store in the house when he’s off doing other things. The bullseye design helps him fixate his gaze and the separate net component for the bullseye let’s him know when he’s it it spot on.

How often do you stop to give thanks for your good health? If you are like me, I rarely appreciate the fact that my body works as it was intented.

But last week, we visited my in-laws, and my appreciation is renewed. My parents and in-laws are relatively young, as they are all in their early 60’s. My father-in-law is in very good health, except for the fact that he was recently in a motorcycle accident. Thankfully, he came throught the accident with only a broken hand and an injured shoulder. But for a person that likes to exercise everyday, these injuries are slowing him down much more than he would like.

My mother-in-law has type 1 diabetes. She struggles daily with her blood sugars, high blood pressure, loss of vision, loss of balance, and the list goes on and on.

My in-laws are wonderful people that are working to enjoy their lives despite their health issues. But it reminded me that my health is a gift that should be treasured each day. Despite my busy life, I have legs that walk and a heart that pumps as it should. Do something good for your health today -play your favorite sport, go and get a massage - so that it can continue to be a gift for many years to come.

What can be better than spring break vacation?! We happen to live in the southern part of the midwest, and it’s been a long cold winter. Right now, nothing sounds better than some sun and fun. My husband’s family happen to live in sunny California, so we are escaping there for our spring break vacation, and we couldn’t be more excited.

But do you ever feel like the planning and packing it takes to go on vacation is more work than its worth? Who will watch the dog? Who will water the plants? What will the weather be like so we know what clothes to take. Then you discover your kids have outgrown all of their warm-weather clothes, so you need to shop for two days to get that taken care of. Just packing a weekend bag can be a pain in the neck, let alone for a whole week.

Thankfully, my kids are getting older, and are pretty good at packing for themselves. We have gotten to our destination only to discover the toothbrush or underwear have been left at home. But that’s remedied pretty easily.

But once you get to your vacation site, all of that packing stress seems to melt away. Then after that all-to-short vacation is over, the stress of unpacking sets in! But forget about that for now, and enjoy your spring break. I know we will!

My Dad’s birthday is coming up soon. And yes, he is like most dads in that it’s almost impossible to think of a gift for him. If he sees something he likes or wants, he simply buys it.

But this year, my mom came up with an idea. Since my dad retired a few years ago, he likes to observe a “cocktail hour”. Every day at 4:00, he stops whatever it is he’s doing, and relaxes with a cocktail. This observance is less about the drink itself than it is about marking the end of the day and getting prepared to enjoy his evening. He no longer has to take kids to games and activities, he doesn’t have to work late, or any of those things that used to stretch his day past a traditional 8 hours. So why not relax and enjoy the twilight hours. (Yes, I’m green with envy!)

So, back to the gift idea. My mom suggested I get him some stemless martini glasses. Have you seen those? It’s the latest thing in “stemware”. I don’t know about you, but I have broken several wine glasses (some of them were antiques) at the stem. So, this new idea of stemless wine glasses and cocktail glasses is a great idea. I have a suspicion that this makes my mom’s life easier since cleaning up will be less of a hastle. But if Mom is happy, Dad is happy. And I want my Dad to be happy on his birthday!

This may not be a last minute gift if you want it personalized but I found this black leather koozie at EyeCandyGift.com and really liked it. It’s hard to call a koozie elegant but this can koozie with it’s black leather exterior and silver tone trim is something an executive might have on his desk. Stylish and functional.

Here’s the low down on this cool koozie. Black leather and silver tone trim and holds a 12 ounce (or larger can) and measures 4” x 3 ½”. Personalized with two lines of up to 15 characters per line.

Personalized Black Leather Koozie Now On Sale Price: $23.97 Personalization Line 1 Personalization Line 2 Quantity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Buy this Koozie Now

In my last post, I wrote about my kids new love of basketball. To help encourage this activity, my husband decided it was time to buy them a basketball hoop. It’s still winter, and quite cold, but the girls have spent hours outside shooting baskets.

Spring break is fast approaching, and we are going to visit grandparents. For us, this requires hours of travel time. So, to help ease the travel pain, we have decided to purchase a handheld electronic game for the kids to play. I’m not a huge fan of electronic games. The girls spend enough time watching TV and playing on the computer. I would much rather see them play basketball. But you can’t play basketball in a car. So, we will soon be the “greatest parents on earth” when our kids see their new games.

There’s something about a new toy or game. At first, it’s a huge hit and is played with constantly. But as all parents know, the “new” wears off, and the game is soon forgotten. There are precious few toys or games that survive beyond the “new” factor. The electronic games cost significantly more than the basketball hoop, but I’m hoping the basketball hoop comes out the winner in world of favorite toys. Time will tell.

My 10 year old daughter played basketball this year for the first time. In fact, it was the first time most of the girls on her team had played. Needless to say, the year started out a bit rough. The big concern was what their uniforms would look like, and how hard it was to remember to take off their jewelry. To make it worse, most of the teams they played had a few years experience palying the game.

Their first game left them completely confused. whent he referee blew his whistle, they had no idea why, nor what to do next. They expected their opponent to stay in one place, and were completely surprised when they moved to get the ball.

After that first game, my daughter took practice more seriously. She even watched a couple of games on TV with her dad to get a better feel for the game. Earlier in the season, they played one of the best teams in the league, and they lost 34 to 0. They ended up playing that very same team for their last game. A determination emerged from our girls that we had not seen before. They played their hearts out. They lost, but only 14 to 5. They could not have been more pleased with themselves if they had won the championship. That’s the way to “win the game”.

Last Sunday, my nephew turned 6 years old. He had a great party with friends and cousins and then a smaller party with family at home afterwards. His younger brother, who just turned 3, was thouroughly enjoying the fun until the presents came out. There were no presents for him, and he was devestated.

My own children are a bit older (old enough to know better), but we still seem to experience the same jealousy. Why is it so hard for kids to accept the fact that it’s not their special day and just be happy for the birthday boy or girl? Of course, I know the answer to that question. For kids, waiting a whole year for a birthday seems absolutely impossible.

My mother tries to head this jealousy off at the pass by offering the sibling a small gift “so they won’t feel left out”. It does help, but unfortunately it doesn’t cure.

The good news is that most kids actually do outgrow this phase. Take heart! Just as kids don’t graduate from high school in diapers, they also don’t (usually) pout and pitch fits at birthday parties when they are adults!

Today is my birthday, and I’m 39 years old. Really and truly, I’m 39! (These birthdays that end in a “9″ always make one sound likea liar.) Yes, I’m graying, finding more of those fine wrinkles, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep my waistline, but I’m pretty happy with 39. I may no longer be able to pass for a woman in her 20’s, but on the other hand, no one can call me young and green.

What does one get for her 39th birthday? Well, I have received an odd conglomeration of delightful gifts. My mother, always the practical one, gave me a saucepan (which I really needed) and some wine goblets to replace the ones that have been broken over the past few years. My husband and kids gave me some exercise pants to go along with my new exercise routine (remember that waistline?) and some gourmet chocolates. Yes, I know it’s a bit contradictory, but I love both gifts just the same! I also received a pair of earrings from a friend which was a very unexpected gift. But what girl doesn’t love getting jewelry!

More than that, I’m just thankful for my good health and wonderful family. And, of course, I’m thankful for one more year in the 30’s. I’m off to celebrate. No, I’m not going out to party - that’s what 29’s do. I’m going for a pedicure and some quiet moments with a good book. Someone please convince me I’m not getting “old”!

We all lead them - hurried, harried, busy lives. Is it just me, or does this time of year seem crazier than ever? Kid’s activities are at a peak with tournaments and preparations for holiday programs. Work is heating up as we head toward the end of the year, and we have our own holiday preparations to deal with.

The other day, as I was driving to pick up my daughter from basketball practice, I took two minutes to consider the alternative to a busy life. I realized, I really enjoy watching soccer games, listening to flute practice, attending birthday parties, and working at the school bookfair.

Don’t get me wrong. I am looking forward to a couple of days rest over the holidays (I’m not cooking Thanksgiving dinner!), and I have planned to treat myself to some of my favorite frivolous activities (putting together jigsaw puzzles). But if I am truly honest with myself, I love my crazy life! I will just keep repeating this to myself as I crawl through the stores searching for the perfect Christmas gifts.

We have a new baby in the family! My brother and his wife have been blessed with a new baby girl. She is the third child in that family with two older brothers. Yes, she will have her work cut out for her! But she is just precious, and we can’t get enough of her.

It always amazes me how much a new baby changes the lives of those around her. A house that was once filled with trucks and dinosaurs now has a fair amount of pink sprinkled in. A little boy who was once the baby of the family is now the infamous middle child. So many people in her family’s community - neighbors, co-workers, friends, family, church members, even aquaintances, are all so eager to meet this new baby, bring a gift, and celebrate this new life.

Babies are the essence of hope, purity and love. And we are so blessed to have this little girl in our lives!

We have a new baby in the family! My brother and his wife have been blessed with a new baby girl. She is the third child in that family with two older brothers. Yes, she will have her work cut out for her! But she is just precious, and we can’t get enough of her.

It always amazes me how much a new baby changes the lives of those around her. A house that was once filled with trucks and dinosaurs now has a fair amount of pink sprinkled in. A little boy who was once the baby of the family is now the infamous middle child. So many people in her family’s community - neighbors, co-workers, friends, family, church members, even aquaintances, are all so eager to meet this new baby, bring a gift, and celebrate this new life.

Babies are the essence of hope, purity and love. And we are so blessed to have this little girl in our lives!

My nephew (my brother’s child) is 5 years old, and he is a constant source of entertainment. His imagination is always on overdrive. He loves all things science, especially animals and other critters.

My nephew knew we were coming for supper last Sunday night, and on Saturday afternoon he decided to make a gift for his cousin, my daughter. My sister-in-law was on the phone when he was busy wrapping the gift. She occasionally helped him find things to wrap the gift with while talking on the phone. It never occurred to her to ask what was inside the box.

Sunday morning dawned and my nephew asked, “Mom, do you think I should have given that worm some water before I wrapped him up?” Sure enough, he had found an earthworm in the backyard, put it in a box, and wrapped him up to give to my daughter. They decided the best thing to do was to open the gift and see how the worm was doing. Miracle of miracles, it was still alive. His parents talked him into letting the poor worm go back to his home in the ground and finding a different “gift” to give his cousin.

I am oh so glad he decided to let that worm go back home!

Have you ever noticed how people react when you negatively respond to a negative behavior? Unfortunately, they often become defensive. Invariably, If I yell at one of my kids, she blames her sister instead of taking resopnsibility for her own actions. “But she made me do it!” (We are working on changing this behavior.) Sadly, often adults react in much the same way.

Consider the flip side. What’s the reaction when you positively affirm a positive action? You usually get positive behavior that continues for an extended period of time.

Can you tell I’ve had some experience with this? My younger daughter is very high energy and passionate. This can get her into a lot of trouble. Over the years, she has had teachers that deal with this in a negative way, which sends her (and her parents) into a downward spiral. She has also had teachers that have worked to reinforce the positive. When she has this type of teacher, she consistently puts her best foot forward and does all she can to please that teacher.

As her mom, you would think I would practice the “emphasize the positive” form of discipline on a regular basis. Sadly, I’m not that perfect. There are so many times when I loose patience, and there are times that require “punishment”. But after a week or so of downward spiral, I finally remember to take a deep breath, find something that she is doing well, and make a huge deal over it. Instantly, the tone of the household changes.

If only I could remember that when dealing with the adults in my life!

My brother recently took a business trip to Japan. He was told that it’s customary in that country to give small gifts to those you meet. The Japanese present visitors with gifts, and it’s considered rude not to return in kind. A friend of mine had the same experience when she spent a semester studying in Japan.

The gifts the Japanese hosts give are not terribly costly or large, but they are usually uniquely Japanese. So, the debate began. What should my brother take along with him to give as gifts to his hosts? It needed to be something small, packable, and something that could not easily be broken. To be in keeping with the tradition, it would also be helpful if it was something uniquely American or Midwestern (where he is from).

In the end, he ended up taking some hard candies that are hand-made in a local candy factory. They are beautiful creations in many flavors and colors! Also, his father-in-law grows and packages sunflower seeds. Since the Midwest is known for growing things, he took some of these delicious seeds along as well.

His trip was a wonderful experience, and he is planning on going again next year. I wonder what gift ideas he will come up with for his next trip?

This year for vacation we went camping - yes, good old fashioned tent camping. Tent camping has improved a bit since I was a kid. Most camp sites now have flush toilets, and some even have showers. They also have this wonderful new invention called an air matress.

If you are a clean freak, camping is not the vacation for you. Between the smoke from the camp fire and the dirt that’s everywhere, you will not come home with anyting that’s clean. My youngest child thought she had died and gone to heaven. We gave her a shower to get one layer of dirt off, and five minutes later, we discovered her literally rolling around in dirt piles she had constructed herself with a look of pure joy on her face.

Despite the dirt, it was a wonderful vacation. Without the distraction from television and computers, it’s amazing how much fun you can have. We watched deer graze near our campsite, watched a hummingbird chase a squirrel, played lots of card games and frisbee, and roasted marshmallows. We came home rested, relaxed, and with a whole batch of new memories.

Summer is here. My kids have been home from school for two weeks, and you guessed it. They are already “bored”. So, we decided it was time to learn a new hobby - sewing. My oldest had learned some basics of sewing by machine last summer and had made a couple of pillows and such. This year we decided to advance to simple clothing. So, she made herself some pajama shorts using a simple pattern. After that was a success, she decided to venture into doll clothes. Her younger sister is too young to sew with the machine, but she has been helping the process along by pinning, cutting, and deciding which doll will get to wear the new dress.

My living room is now covered in material, patterns, dolls, and threads. But the kids are no longer bored, and they are learning a life skill.

Today is the last day of school for my kids. My counters are full of pencil boxes, papers, artwork, and workbooks. My kids are hyper and have fought bedtime for two weeks. But all-in-all it was a successful year. We moved to a new city mid-year, and despite the upheaval, they adjusted well and earned good grades.

Our family tradition is to do something special or give a small gift as a reward for a good school year. Last year we went to the drive-in movie. This year, the girls get their favorite meal, and a trip to the zoo. As a child, I remember my mom taking my brother and I to the local five and dime to pick out a toy. I picked out a hula hoop, and played with it all summer long.

Regardless of what the reward is, it’s a great way to mark the end of a good school year and the beginning of summer.