RideSafer Travel Vest

Before Princess P was born we knew we were outgrowing our car because three car seats were going to be TIGHT! But being the frugal people we are, we did not want to go buy a new car so we (well my husband) did some research on car seats to see what would fit in our Jetta TDI. We looked and measured and measured and looked but nothing seemed to be a good fit. Then Mister Researcher found the RideSafer Travel Vest. When he showed me I thought "NO WAY". But then I watched the crash test videos over and over again. I also read and reread the safety standards. I finally agreed to give it try, but insisted that if it did not work that we would return it immediately and figure something else out, even if it meant getting a bigger car. Needless to say we are still using the vest and we also got a little bigger car, but in our own style it is a used diesel :)

I really do like it and it keeps her safe.

The things I do not like about it:

It takes a few more minutes to put on and take off, which can be a nuisance with three children and in a hurry to run into the post office for two minutes just to turn around and get right back into the car and put the vest back on. Oh, I forgot to mention she will not wear it into a store even if for a few minutes.

She whines if she gets too hot. Remember we drive an older vehicle and the AC takes a few minutes to get cold. The vest does generate some body heat.

You have to make sure the seat belt is secure in all three of the hooks and that the between the leg strap is secure for maximum safety, but it is not a problem it just goes back to the time thing which I just need to get over.

She likes is that she is more like a big girl in the car by not being confined to a seat and she is more comfortable in the car.

I guess I should also mention she is a very tall 5 (almost 6) year old and according to the safety standards she was outgrowing the high back booster and could move just the booster seat, but we did not feel as safe with that. I really do think that in the few occassions I had to slam on my brakes, that my child in the booster seat flung forward more than the one in the RideSafer Vest. But of course I do not want to test that theory. If it happens again, I will try to remember who did what or if there was even a difference.

I would recommend the RiderSafer Travel Vest.

Life without the Internet

I cannot believe how much society has changed. Living without internet is so difficult! I seriously had to reminded to look up a phone number by using the phone book. Imagine that, using the phone book, what a concept.

I am sitting in a coffee shop (doing homework) and I am taking a moment to let everyone know that I have taken my internet for granted. Times have changed, we are living in the information highway of the internet age. I cannot believe how lost I feel without it. It is so easy to look something up online. There have been so many times that I just wanted to look something up and cannot not do it. The first three days were easy, but now it has been a week and a half...I think I am having withdrawals...

Hoping the internet is connected tomorrow. I have so much to blog!

Missing the internet.

Disney Fanatic

I am a huge Disney fan! There is just something so magical about Disney World. It is full of innocent fun, dreams come true, and daring excitement. So I find it my duty to lure others into the Wonderful World of Disney.

Today I applied to be a part of the Online Mom Panel.

If you love Disney as much as I do, you should submit too. They are taking applications until Sept. 19th or until they get 20,0000 applications...whichever comes first.

Here is the link http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/recruiting/default.aspx

Best Wishes to you All and have a Magical Day.

Who taught you that?

Rae now sings:
Ringle Rangle, Jingle Jang Jangle
I got me horse
I got me a gun
and I got me a pretty woman's love.

Daddy: "Rae Rae, who taught you that?"
Rae: "PopPop!"
Daddy: (thinking to himself) "Thanks, Dad!"

Lou has a new trick:
The girls and I were sitting quietly in bed. We had just said prayers and talking about having a goodnight sleep. Lou was about to lay down, but before she did...

Lou: "Mommy! PULL MY FINGER!"
Me: (thinking that she can't be doing what I think she is going to do) "Okay" and I pull her finger.
Lou: TOOOOOT
Me, Lou, and Rae: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Rolling on the bed lauging.

Once I stopped crying and gained my composure, I asked where she learned that.
Lou: (still giggling) "PopPop!"

I guess that what grandpa's do, eh? Gotta lov'em.

Do Bees have lotsa teeth?

Lou and Rae are standing at the sliding glass door talking.

Lou: "We can't go out because there are lotsa bugs"

Rae: "Yea, and the bees might bite us!"

Lou: "Yes because they have a mouth full of teeth, but I don't think they will eat us"

Lou: "Mommy, do bees bite?"

Me: "No, they sting."

Lou: "Sting?" "How do they sting, with their mouth?"

Me: "No, with their (wanted to say butt) stinger."

Lou: "What is a stinger?" "Where is it?"

Me: "Let's look it up on the internet!" Bee stinger illustration

Lou: "Let me look at this for a minute."

Then I gave an explanation of the picture.

Lou: "Why did it open itself up?"

Me: (laughing to myself) "That is just part of the picture that shows the inside of the bee."

Lou: "Does it poop the stinger out?" Me: "No, it is just there."

Rae: "It just sticks it in your skin!" "What are those lines?"

Me: "Those are the hairs on the person's arm."

Lou: "I don't have very much hair on my arms." Rae: "Me neivver (neither)"

Rae: "Look at Mommy's arm!"

Yes, we all know that I have dark hair on my arms. I have learned to live with it and now my girls have pointed it out to me. Anybody know a good laser hair removal place.

Goodbye Games

It was sad to see the Olympic closing ceremony. I just love the Olympics. The excitement of the races keeps me on the edge of my seat. I often feel like it is me, who is representing our country, but may be because that person is representing all of us. The close races and the last second scores to win make me jump and yell. I really enjoyed watching my girls enjoy the games. Who knew that a 5 and 3 year old would be interesting in fencing..."Look Mommy! They have SWORDS!?!? Are they pointy?" Now my girls want to dive, fence, be gymnasts, swimmers, and run track. I really miss the Olympics, now I have nothing to watch on TV so it is off again.

But really I have nothing to be sad about because I have my very own Olympics every day! Except I do things like hurdle the dog while carrying a full laundry basket and how fast can I change a diaper before she poops again. And when I say it is Fast Shower Night, I can get Lou and Rae in and out of the shower in three minutes. Lou and Rae also have their own versions of the Olympic games. The bench to the table has transformed into a balance beam, the bed is now a trampoline, and the bathtub is unfortunately not big enough to swim laps in nor dive into, but my girls have figured out a way to make it happen...bloody lips and all.

Did you know a three year old can clean her room faster with her feet than her hands? How about that Lou that can take off her shoes while standing on her head? Get this, I bet my baby can spit up further than your baby! Don't get me started on the loudest toots or burps...

I have an event that my husband cannot understand. How long can I be on the phone and talk while my kids fight in the background? They'll work it out, eventually...that one is an endurance test, kind of like the Tour de France. But you, the person on the other end of the phone has to tolerant it to so then it is kind of like a stare off...the first one to say gotta go first looses.

Mulit-tasking is like the decathlon. I can cook, help the kids with changing doll clothes, play a game, check my email, clean the bathroom, do laundry, throw the ball for the dog, all while talking on the phone...I think I see a theme building...the phone talking olympics...

A big game that not many can endure is the game of repetition. How many times in a row can you read a book, laugh at something that was really funny only the first time, hear "Mommy" be called from all areas of the house and make it to each one within one minute. If there is no blood and nothing is broken move on. How long can you answer a question. "Mommy what does...?" Answer. "Why?" Answer. "Why?" Answer. "Why?"....and so on.

There is that whole baby Olympics too. Diaper toss, bath the slippery baby, clip nails without clipping the skin, putting socks on moving feet, how long does it take to rock a baby to sleep and stay awake yourself...all test of endurance and accuracy.

Every day is an adventure and fun. I do not need to have the Olympic games to entertain me, but I am sure going to miss it. Looking forward to Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

I wonder how the girls are going to pretend to ski jump...

It's Amazing...

That the cliche time flies is so true...my baby is 12 weeks old.

It's Amazing that:

I could love someone so much before I even met her and I love her even more even though she screams at me when she needs me.

That a baby smile can bring tears to my eyes.

I love baby feet so much.

A baby can make such loud bodily functions.

That my baby can nurse, poop, and smile all at the same time.

A baby can triple the amount of laundry.

Fred thinks he needs to let me know every time the baby cries...he is a yellow lab.

Fred thinks he needs to supervise bath time, diaper changing, and the occasional nursing session.

Lou and Rae are so very maternal and loving to Princess P.

It's Amazing that we have this precious baby.

It is all so amazing because HE is so Amazing!

It is amazing I blogged...