There are three key phrases that I find myself repeating over and over to our youngest:

1.  Keep eating.

2.  Turn down the T.V.

3.  Sit down.

I'm sure there are more.  But this YouTube Mom says it all. 

Are you ready yet?  I'm not.  Although I promise myself every year that I will start earlier, I still find myself scrambling at the last minute to decorate, shop, etc.  My tree is up and decorated, but that's about it.  The stockings have not yet been hung by the chimney with care (luckily St. Nick came to my daughter's school), and the few presents that have been bought are still waiting to be de-tagged and wrapped.  As for outdoor lights, the snow and ice storms made that decision for us.

My friend, whose household is in a similar state, tried to put a positive spin on it:  Our houses are brimming with "Christmas potential." 

I have a serious case of "Christmas Card Envy". I have friends (and you know who you are!) who every year send me beautiful pictures of their families, sometimes accompanied by witty newsletters printed on holiday paper.  About 99% of the cards I received this year are of the family-picture postcard variety.  As I open them, I sigh -- longing for the day when the spirit of Christmas organization will fill me and make me think of taking pictures on our vacations -- pictures that actually have all family members in it and without someone blinking at the flash.

One friend, who never before sent me a newsletter and who I see on a fairly regular basis, sent me one this year.  Et tu, Brute?

I should, however, take a cue from another friend of mine.  She has four kids.  A few years ago, she decided not to send out Christmas pictures of her family anymore because trying to find the time during the holidays to take one and send it out stressed her out.  Instead, she takes a family picture in the spring and sends out Easter cards. 

But it will all get done; it always does.  And I still find time to enjoy the moments.

The preschooler had her first Christmas program this week, and we got a few chuckles watching the preschool angels, dressed in all their finery, fidgeting and fiddling with their "halos" -- so much so that a teacher had to be sent into the bleachers to keep the hallowed ones in line.

So, take heart, ye who are not yet ready.  We've still got a couple of days to go! 

The preschooler has just been churning them out lately. This chuckle requires some backstory.

The preschooler likes to print pictures off the Internet websites that she is allowed to access. Recently, she printed out two pictures, wrote the words "I love you Mom" on both of them and placed them neatly on my pillow. She did the same thing for her sister.

Now, lest you think the preschooler is all sweetness and light, this is also the same child who, when she is mad at you, will draw a picture of your face, draw a circle around it, and then put a big, black line right through the center of it. She will then tape that picture somewhere around the house where you will be sure to see it and know the force of her wrath.

So, anyway, the spouse comes home, notices the pictures on my pillow, and, in a voice that is a tad too casual, remarks that there is no picture for "Dad" on his side of the bed.

Later, I pull the preschooler aside and say, "Maybe you should make a picture for Dad too. He might feel sad if he doesn't have one." That evening, the spouse came into our bedroom with a strange but amused look on his face.

Spouse: Did you tell her that I wanted a picture?

Me: Well, I mentioned that you might want one. Why?

Spouse:  I was tucking her in, and she looked up and said, "Dad, there are two pictures in the garbage.  If you want one, you can go get it and put your name on it."

The season of giving -- preschooler style.
 

*******

Humorous Quote of the Day: 

"Anything you bring a monkey to is instantly 30 percent better.  Family reunions, labor negotiations, the DMV."

-- Jack Ferraiolo, Head Writer for the PBS show "WordGirl"

(I gotta admit that this quote just cracked me up when I read it, not sure why.  The spouse thinks it's just weird.)

Out of the mouth of my preschooler...

Preschooler:  Mom, you need more pzazz.

Me:  (defensively) I've got pzazz.  What do you think pzazz means anyway?

Preschooler:  It means fun.  You only do ordinary things.

Me:  Well, where should I get some pzazz? 

Preschooler:  From me.  I'm full of pzazz!

She's full of something alright.  I'm just not sure what.
 

The week before school started, the teenager came down with a cold.  Despite feverish handwashing and use of hand sanitizer, the preschooler was sick by the third week of school.  By the next week, guess who had it?  All of this would not have been so bad if we hadn't had a trip to DisneyWorld scheduled the week after that.  So with much praying and ingesting of Vitamin C (and Claritin D on my part), we were all sufficiently recovered to enjoy our trip this past week.  However, on the plane, I swear every child seated in my family's vicinity was coughing.  The woman seated directly behind the preschooler was also coughing up a lung. So, now that we're back, the prayer and ingestion of Vitamin C have begun again.

So, the topic today is that season we all dread: the cold and flu season. 

Over-the-counter cold medications for infants (children 2 and under) have been pulled off the shelves due to accidental overdoses administered by parents.  (When clicking on this link, go to "Top Stories" and hit the tab until you see the title "Infant Cold Medicines Pulled Off Market".)

Apparently, some parents either disregarded or overlooked the dosage instructions, which most of the time advise you to seek the advice of a doctor before giving it to children under the age of 2.  So, when dealing with over-the-counter medications, for adults as well as kids, remember that they still are "medications".

Have you gotten your flu shot yet?  I always get mine early because I am in one of the high risk categories.  In the past, I have stood in line to get a shot at Mayfair Mall and at the Waukesha County Expo Center for shoo the flu clinics sponsored by the VNA.  Last year, however, I found a better alternative, right here in Brookfield.

Aurora QuickCare has two locations in Brookfield, one in the Aurora Pharmacy located at 17280 W. North Avenue and one in the Brookfield Square Mall.  My dad and I got our shots today at the North Avenue location.  I called ahead to make sure they had a supply of the vaccine.  We just walked in, and there was no wait.  In the past, there has been a line, but the wait time was relatively short.  (If you're concerned about lines, call ahead).  Aurora QuickCare does take Medicare (there was no charge for my dad) and some insurance plans.  If your insurance is not presently included, the cost is $30.  Be aware that not everyone can get a flu shot.  If you decide to use Aurora QuickCare, read the consent forms carefully and let the nurse know of any medications you are on and inform her of any medical conditions or allergies that you may have, especially if you have never had a flu shot before. 

For my daughter, I take her to the pediatrician to get her a flu shot.  My doctor's office had the vaccine as early as the end of September. 

So, for my part, I've done about all I can do to keep from getting sick.  The only thing left would be holding my breath... or maybe living alone in a plastic bubble (remember that John Travolta movie?), which doesn't sound half bad right now.

I got an email from the co-chairperson of the Big Chili Round-Up, Kerry Wendelburg, reminding me that Brookfield's Fall Festival was coming soon.  So, although you will see an ad for it on BrookfieldNow, I'm putting some of the info in my blog because I want to really get the word out on this great family event.

Date: October 7, 2007

Place: Mitchell Park Pavillion, Mitchell Park - Brookfield

Time: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Ticket Prices: $10 adult; $5 children 3 and up; $30 family price (2 adults and 3 or more kids) - PRICES WILL BE HIGHER AFTER OCTOBER 1

According to co-chairperson, Kerry Wendelburg, the above prices are the "pre-sale" prices, good for registrations received before October 1.  Proceeds go to Juniors Care for Kids and other charities sponsored by the Brookfield Junior Women's Club. 

Registration and ticket forms can be downloaded from the website for the Brookfield Junior Woman's Club.

You can also find the same information and find out more about the event by looking at the ad on the homepage for BrookfieldNow.

As the name implies, the chili cooking contest is the main event.  Anyone with a favorite chili recipe can enter.  Several prizes will be awarded, including 2 Packer tickets and a 2-night bed and breakfast stay at the 52 Stafford in Plymouth, Wisconsin.  See the above sites on how to enter.

Lots of stuff for the kids:  coloring contest (sheets can be downloaded off the above sites); hayrides; scarecrow making (an additional fee is required to enter this event); face painting; cutest cowboy and cowgirl contest.

There is also a special prize being offered this year as part of the silent auction: an opportunity for 5 kids to participate in a mini-sausage race at Miller park.  The prize also includes 15 outfield tickets for family members.  In order to bid on the prize, you must attend the Big Chili Round-Up.

I've personally attended this event with my family.  (My nephew even won the prize for cutest cowboy awhile back.)  It's a day of food and fun!
 

"It comes at you quickly; it requires alertness and skill; the outcome is unpredictable; the weak can sometimes overcome the strong; it involves elimination and has both winners and losers." (Rule 10)

The above quote is an excerpt from the book, 50 Rules Kids Won't Learn in School (Real World Antidotes to Feel-Good Education), by Charles J. Sykes.  On Monday, September 17, 2007, Mr. Sykes will be appearing at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookstore in Brookfield to promote and speak about his book.  The event begins at 7:00 p.m.

I don't listen to his radio show, and I am not familiar with his other work.  However, after reading a short newspaper review of this latest book by Mr. Sykes, I was compelled to buy it because the quoted "rules" were bitingly funny and at the same time had a serious edge.  Coming from the perspective that real-world perspectives and basic common sense are being lost in a world of touchy-feely parenting, Mr. Sykes has expanded what were originally 14 Rules into 50 Rules, some that I agree with and some that I don't.

Each rule is given its own chapter.  Although you may not want to use it as your main parenting tome, the topics covered, the counsel given, and the anecdotes described do make you think. 

Here are a few of the other rules:

Rule 7:  If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.  He won't have tenure, so he'll tend to be a bit edgier.  When you screw up, he's not going to ask how you FEEL about it.

Rule 18: Life is not divided into semesters. And you don't get summers off. 

Rule 33: Be nice to nerds.  You may end up working for them.  We all could.

Rule 48: Tell yourself the story of your life.  Have a point.
 

My daughters are what you might call "easy marks" when it comes to television advertising.  The preschooler, when watching the Disney channel, is enthralled by anything "princess" related.  The teenager, when she was just about the age of the preschooler, saw a commercial for Aquafresh and insisted we buy it because it was "the best" toothpaste.  (In fact, that is still the brand she prefers.)

In addition to some shows on the Disney channel, I let the younger one watch the shows on PBS Kids, a cable network that runs shows like Curious George, Clifford, and of course Sesame Street (Ernie and Bert, you gotta love 'em even after all these years!).  

Last night, I was dismayed to see that there were commercials on PBS Kids for Amazon.com and Sunmaid Raisins.  I say "dismayed" because I have always thought of PBS as a haven away from advertising, especially when it came to programming for children.

I realize that it comes down to money.  PBS needs the advertising revenue to survive.  I get that, but it doesn't lessen my disappointment.

Seen at Grasch's today...

The produce sign says "Gourmet EUROPEAN Seedless Cucumbers". 

The label on the cucumber says "Product of CANADA".

*** 

You might have already seen the advertising on BrookfieldNOW but Grasch Foods is holding its 25th Annual Brat Fest this Saturday, 9-15-07,  from 10 am to 4 pm.  In addition to food, a flyer I got today says that there will be balloon art and face painting for the kids.

Proceeds from each sale are being donated to the Waukesha County Special Olympics for transportation, equipment, and uniforms.
 

I heard from a fellow ice cream lover that the Oberweis Ice Cream Store, located in the strip mall just east of the intersection of Moorland and Bluemound, has closed. The kids in my family loved to go there for the free balloons as much as the ice cream. Sorry to see it go. (I haven't heard anything about whether their dairy delivery services are continuing).

But don't despair, ice cream lovers. If you travel south on Moorland to Greenfield and then hang a left, you will find Maggie Moos ice cream store in the Brookfield Marketplace. Maggie Moos can mix your favorite ice cream with other favorite treats, like marshmallows or oreo cookies, similar to the way the Cold Stone Creamery stores do. They even have a few lactose free alternatives.

The staff of Maggie Moos was really great when my daughter's preschool went on a fieldtrip there earlier this summer. (Where were these ice cream field trips when I was growing up?).

Here's the address for Maggie Moos.