STORYTIME: The Ant and the Tree -- Part 1

Once upon a time, there was a tiny little red ant. She worked hard, as all ants do, and carried food down to her pile. When her work was done, she loved to sit under a giant tree and enjoy its shade. One day, as she was resting her tired little feet the tree spoke to her: "Little ant, why do you always come to my tree and sit under my big branches?" The ant looked up and replied: "Oh, big tree, I simply want to rest my tired little feet at your shade." The tree shook its branches and said, "I´m glad I can help."

(more tomorrow)

Daily Recipe: Green Eggs and Ham

Green Eggs and Ham book by Dr. Seuss

5 eggs

1 cup chopped ham

vegetable oil or margarine

green food coloring

Read the book to your child. Break eggs placing them in a bowl. Beat well. Add green food coloring ( a few drops will do the trick ). Dab a hot skillet with oil or margarine so eggs will not stick. Add ham, then eggs and beat well until set. Serve and re-read the book. Enjoy!!!

TIP OF THE DAY

Play classic movies for your children on your DVD. With new movies constantly being released we sometimes forget about classics like Pinochio, Snow White or The Wizard of Oz. You´ll find you can enjoy them together all over again!

ARTICLE: Always re-ask your child´s questions

Children are full of questions. This is their way of exploring the world. However, always be careful of what you´re about to answer, you may be giving away too much information. When your child asks something, make sure you are answering what he is asking and not something else. To do this simply re-ask the question, encouraging him or her to give you more information. Famous example: "Mom, how are children born?" to which you would reply: "How are children born, how?" And your child could reply: "Yes, with clothes or without?" A simple answer! We can only wish all answers were that simple, but at least some questions are sure to be made easier if you are clear on what your child is inquiring. Good luck!

DAILY RECIPE: Milky Way Cake

8 Milky Way bars
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups plain yoghurt
2 sticks butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans

Melt the Milky Ways and 1 stick butter and mix well. Blend the remaining butter and sugar until creamy. Mix flour and baking soda. Add to the sugar mixture alternately with yoghurt. Add the melted candy and pecans. Bake in pan, 325°, for 1 hour. Frost with your favorite chocolate frosting.

TIP OF THE DAY

Always keep your pediatrician´s recommended fever medicine (Tylenol, Motrin, etc) on hand. Fevers in young children have a habit of appearing in the middle of the night. This way you´ll be able to start treating it right away.

ARTICLE: The Importance of Reading to your Child

Many of us are good readers. We read every night (or at least when we have a second to ourselves!). However, we must not forget to read to our children. The benefits of reading to a child are endless, and they range from loving to read to learning to wait to building vocabulary. When you read to your child, the bond between you grows for you share a special moment that can lead to questions, comments and likes and dislikes. As babies and toddlers, reading can open up a whole new world of vocabulary, ideas and concepts. Classic stories for older children develop their imagination, and can also contribute to problem solving. Don´t forget your older children, they like to be read to, too. Longer chapter books might be the best choice for them. By reading a chapter every night you can help them learn to wait, a characteristic less and less common in children. You´ll find you can wonder back to your childhood years as you re-read Narnia or Charlotte´s Web, plus new stories like the Harry Potter series will entertain you too! With older children you can also take turns reading, maybe one night you can read, and the next night your child can read for you. In any case, don´t miss out on the opportunity to read to your children. If your schedule doesn´t allow you to read every night, try it at least for twice a week. You´ll find you´ll be anxiously waiting for this day just as much as your child will be.

DAILY RECIPE: Easy Carrot Salad

4 cups grated carrots
1 can chopped pineapple
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup grated coconut

Drain pineapple. In a salad bowl mix carrots, pineapple, raisins and coconut. Fresh, sweet, great for a hot summer day!

TIP OF THE DAY

If you´re saving your child´s clothes for "hand-me-downs" for your other children try this: wash and fold clothes, put them in ziploc bags inside a large plastic box and label them with size or age and winter or summer. It will be much easier to find what you´re looking for a few years later.

DAILY RECIPE: Orange Chicken Strips

2 boneless chicken breasts (flattened and cut into strips)
1/4 cup each chopped onion and chopped green peppers
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon mustard
dash of pepper
dash of garlic powder
2 oranges

Place chicken in a baking dish. Sprinkle onion and green pepper. In a small mixing bowl, combine soy sauce, ketchup, orange juice, mustard, pepper and garlic powder. Mix well and pour over chicken. Slice oranges and place over chicken. Bake in 350°F oven until done (30- 45 minutes, depending on thickness of chicken strips). Serve over white rice.

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep a calendar in your kitchen (refrigerator door or bulletin board). Assign each family member a color. When you write down an event that applies to that person do it in that color. This way it´s easy to spot who has to do what each day!

ARTICLE: Pretend Play

With new modern toys on the market, and action figures of every movie in theaters, sometimes we forget to encourage children in pretend play. Childhood is a time of discovery and preparing for life. Pretend play can really open up horizons for our children for they learn about different activities and can begin identifying their likes and dislikes. Pretend play also can build up vocabulary, promote conversation skills and help with problem solving. To help promote pretend play with our children you can set up a box with old costumes, hats, oversized clothes and different props. Help them decide what they want to be and then play together according to what they chose. With a store bought doctor´s kit have them give a favorite doll or bear a "check-up". You can also play "restaurant" with a tea set or old plastic kitchen utensils, they can be cooks, waiters or even guests. With a hose and a raincoat they can become firemen. Girls can enjoy a fashion show where they can be models or actresses. One last great idea: become a singer for the day. Turn on the music with a favorite song, let them use a toy microphone or even a plastic spoon, dress up, and host your own concert. Any activity you choose, remember that pretend play can also let you get to know your child a little better.

TIP OF THE DAY

If you´re going on vacation to an outdoor place like the beach, be sure to pack books, coloring books, crayons and a card game. Bad weather conditions could change your plans, and these activities could help you keep your children busy, plus they don´t take up much room.

STORYTIME: The Princess and the Witch -- Part 5

...The princess looked at the witch and said: " I could invite you to the gardens of my palace. We could talk, play and drink some tea. You would never feel lonely again, and I´m sure the townspeople would like to talk to you, if you promise to be good. I´m sure the children of the kingdom would like to play with your magic ball, too!" The old witch opened her eyes, very wide. Then she smiled. She lifted her arms again and the lightning cage disappeared. The princess stretched out her hand and the witch held it firmly. They walked together to the palace and started a beautiful friendship. Never again did the witch do a mean thing, and never again did she feel lonely. And every afternoon the children of the kingdom would come to the palace, and play with the magic ball.

THE END

DAILY RECIPE: Cheese Fingers

2 slices of white bread
1 kraft cheese singles (original)
butter

Spread butter on bread. Place cheese single and cover, making a sandwich. Grill until lightly browned on both sides. Cut into five strips. Serve. Great for snacks and light lunches!

STORYTIME: The Princess and the Witch -- Part 4

.. The old lady picked up the red ball and smiled at the princess. "Oh, you came back," she cackled, "now, you will never leave this forest!" The old lady lifted her arms up high and green lightning came out of the tips of her fingers. A huge green lightning cage was formed around the princess, who was very scared. The old lady walked around the princess and spoke: "I once lived in your kingdom, but people did not like my magic, I was banished to this forest because I they said I was a bad witch. And now, you are my prisioner!" The old witch sat on a rock next to the lightning cage and continued talking: "All I ever wanted was to have a few friends, but everyone was scared of me." The princess looked at her, she seemed sad. Then she had an idea...

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Fried Rice

1 1/2 cups rice
3 carrots
3 zuchinni
1 stick celery
butter
soy sauce

Cook rice in 3 cups of water until cooked but firm. Finely chop carrots, zuchinni and celery. Melt butter in a large pot and sauteé vegetables. Add rice and stir throughly. Pour soy sauce and mix well.

TIP OF THE DAY

When visiting large and crowded places with your family, like zoos or amusement parks, try wearing the same color clothing. It´s easy to spot the members of your party and if anyone should get separated, you can easily remember the color they´re wearing.

STORYTIME: The Princess and the Witch -- Part 3

...The princess entered her castle with the red ball in her hands. She left it on a chair in her room and got ready for dinner. After dinner, she read some books in the castle´s library and then headed off to her room to get ready for bed. As she was drifiting off to sleep she remembered the red ball and quickly sat up in bed. She looked at the chair and there she saw the red ball, not moving, just as an ordinary ball should be. She closed her eyes and went to sleep. The bouncing sound woke her. It was still night; she turned to the chair and saw that the ball was gone! Her door was open and she raced down the stairs following the sounds. She barely saw the red ball bouncing out the castle door. The princess ran to follow it, the ball quickly bounced into the forest. The princess couldn´t stop following the ball! She entered the dark forest and raced after it. Finally she caught up to it, as it stopped bouncing and rolled, stopping at the old lady´s feet...

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Mango/Apple Juice

Full of fiber. Soothes an upset stomach.

3/4 cup chopped mango
1 cup prepared apple juice

Blend both ingredients. Use a collander and pour to a glass. Drink immediately.

TIP OF THE DAY

Put a few slices of oranges and a cinammon stick in boiling water to fill your kitchen with a fresh summer scent.

STORYTIME: The Princess and the Witch -- Part 2

... The red ball did not stop bouncing. The princess walked towards it. She picked up her own ball and simply stared at the bouncing ball, wondering what was making it bounce all by itself. Suddenly, a strange old lady appeared in the distance. She walked directly to the princess. "Do you like my ball?," she said in a hoarse voice, "It´s a magic ball!" The princess did not answer; there was something about the old lady that she did not like. "Go on, take it back to your castle; it´s my gift, to you, little princess." The old lady handed the princess the ball. The princess took the ball and ran back to the castle. She did not look back, she did not turn around to see the old lady again, she did not hear her laughing.... a soft evil laughter.....

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Pistacchio Salmon

1 cup crushed pistacchio nuts
4 salmon filets
salt
butter or margarine

Lightly season salmon filets. Place in a baking dish. Melt butter and spread over fish. Sprinkle crushed pistacchio nuts on each filet, completely covering each one. Bake in 350°F oven for about 25 minutes or until done.

TIP OF THE DAY

When making pancakes try making different designs like 3 circles to form a Mickey Mouse figure or letters to spell out your child´s name. Make breakfast fun!

STORYTIME: The Princess and the Witch -- Part 1

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a beautiful princess. She lived in a pink castle next to a large forest. Every afternoon she would run out to play in the forest with her pink ball. She would play and play until it was time for dinner, then she would run back to the castle, eat, and go to bed. Every day was exactly the same.

One day, when she was playing in the forest, her ball bounced far away from her. She ran to get it, but the ball kept on bouncing and bouncing, each time getting farther and farther away from her. Finally, she lost sight of the ball. The princess walked further into the forest, looking for it. When she was just about to give up, she saw it, resting under a tree. But, as she got nearer she saw that there was another ball right next to hers. It was a bright red ball, and it was bouncing on its own....

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Potato Salad

4 potatoes
3 carrots
1 medium sized can of peas
light mayo
salt and pepper
2 hard boiled eggs (optional)

Cook peeled potatoes and carrots until tender, but still firm. Cut potatoes into large cubes, carrots into small ones. In a large bowl mix potatoes, carrots and peas. Stir in 1/2 cup of mayo, more if necessary, and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in a salad bowl, cold. You may decorate with slices of the hard boiled eggs.

TIP OF THE DAY

On index cards, write down different topics and questions such as: Favorite movies, What would you do if you had 3 wishes?, Olympic sports, Favorite vacation spot, What super power would you like to have?, etc. Put them in a box and once a week take one out during dinner and have your family talk about it.

ACTIVITY: Decorating Feelings Cookies (the easy way)

You will need:
1 can prepared white frosting
M & M´s, gummy worms and other candy you may have in the pantry
Graham Crackers

Frost the graham crackers and have your children make different faces on them with the candy, M&M´s for the eyes and gummy worms for mouths. Have them make happy, sad, angry, surprised or excited faces. A great way to talk about their feelings or how they felt when this or that happened, plus they´re fun, easy and delicious.

ARTICLE: Playing with your Baby

Playing is very important throughout your baby´s first year. It stimulates movement, social skills and communication. You can show your baby all there is to learn. Playing is the fun and interesting way to discover the world around him. From birth through preschool stimulate visual development with lights, shadows, colors and toys. Make different faces and copy the faces he/she makes. Copy the sounds your baby makes. Hug your baby to make him feel secure and peaceful. To help with crawling, put him tummy down, without shoes, and then place a toy out of his reach and encourage him to get it. Play all sorts of music for your baby, different kinds for sleep and play. Carry your baby and dance to the rhythm of a song. Move your baby´s arms and legs while listening to a lively song. Most of all, have fun together and do the activities your baby likes best!

ARTICLE: Preventing Choking in Babies and Small Children

Choking occurs when food or a small object get caught in a child´s throat and block respiratory channels. This keeps oxygen from reaching lungs and brain. Choking is very dangerous in babies and small children, especially those under 5. Here are some tips to prevent this:

Avoid giving your child round and solid food without first cutting it up into small pieces. Children tend to swallow these whole, increasing the risk of choking. The following are considered risky choking food:

• hot dogs
• nuts and seeds
• raw vegetables
• raisins
• whole grapes
• hard candy
• meat or cheese chunks
• gum
• chunks of peanut butter

Be careful of small objects around your child or baby. Remember children learn about things by placing them in their mouths. Keep the following household objects out of reach of children:

• balloons
• marbles
• small balls
• coins
• pen or marker tops
• toys with small removable parts

Finally the following tips can help you prevent a choking accident:

• Learn the heimlich maneuver and CPR
• Have children eat at the table and sitting down
• Cut food into small pieces and stress the importance of chewing well
• Be careful of older siblings giving babies small objects to play with
• Check under sofa cushions for coins or other small objects children may find and place in their mouths

STORYTIME: The Blue Dolphin -- FINAL PART

.. The blue dolphin struggled to get away from the net, but it was impossible. Finally he gave up as he was pulled from the water. He was placed in a huge tank, filled with fresh water. The blue dolphin was sad, he never got to see the little girl again, and now he was probably going to be taken away for good. The blue dolphin cried himself to sleep. It was day when he woke up and he found himself in a large pool. Where was he? He could see something in the distance. He swam towards it ... it was another dolphin! They began to swim and play together and soon, two more dolphins showed up. He had new friends! Suddenly he heard lots of voices. He jumped out of the water to see where they were coming from. A group of people had gathered around the pool to greet them. The blue dolphin jumped and twirled together with his new friends. The crowd cheered and clapped. He was so happy! He jumped once more and as he came down he saw a familiar face in the crowd. He couldn´t believe what he saw and he jumped out once more just to be sure. Right there, smiling at him, was the little girl from the ship.

THE END

DAILY RECIPE: Steak with mushroom sauce

Desired steaks
2 cups mushrooms
1/2 stick butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk

Grill steaks to desired doneness. In a saucepan melt butter, add garlic and flour. Gradually add milk stirring constantly. Stir in mushrooms and season to taste. Serve hot over steaks.

TIP OF THE DAY

Rotate babies´or small children´s toys frequently. Keep some at their reach and put some away for several weeks, then switch. You´ll be surprised at the excitement of "new" toys. Repeat this process and you´ll find them playing much better.

ARTICLE: Summer Vacation on a Budget

Summer vacation has started and with the global economy as it is, it´s probably not the best time to have to entertain your kids 24/7! If day camps, summer camps or long trips are not in your budget this year, there are still great ways to have fun. Here are some tips:

• Plan your grocery shopping. Even though you´re not making school lunches, your children will want to snack throughout the day. Plan ahead for this so your groceries last for the entire week and you don´t have to make last minute trips to the store which will cost you more.
• Plan both indoor and outdoor activities. If it´s a sunny day try going outside in your bathing suits and playing with the sprinkler while you water the lawn. Plan a puppet show, movie night or a special craft for a rainy day.
• Have your children write down the things they wish they could do this summer. Then, study the list together and circle the things you CAN do, like going to the movies, the park or the zoo. Schedule them on a calendar and count down the days until you do them. (Great idea for building anticipation)
• Try to have one day trip in the summer. Pick a Saturday or Sunday and visit a nearby attraction or place of interest. Make it a one-day road trip and pack snacks for the car, special music and even some car games like I SPY or CAR COLORS.

STORYTIME: The Blue Dolphin -- Part 3

... The dolphin stared at the upcoming ship and splashed waiting for the little girl and her friends to appear. But when the ship got near, he realized it wasn´t the same one. The ship stopped near the blue dolphin. He wondered if other children were on this ship. Maybe they wanted to see him splash and swim too. He started his little show.... but no one came out to look. Suddenly he heard a loud crackling noise. A big white net was slowly coming down from the ship, it was going to land right over him!!! The dolphin tried to swim away, but it was too late. He was trapped in the net...

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Potato Chip Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts, cut in half
salt and pepper
2 tbsp. margarine
1 small bag of potato chips

Season chicken breasts and spread margarine on them. Put potato chips in a plastic bag and crush. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and cover with crushed chips. Place in oven (350°F) for about 45 minutes, covered.

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep small toys like legos or small dolls, plastic animals or action figures in ziploc bags inside a big toy box. They will be easy to find and they will all be stored together.

STORYTIME: The Blue Dolphin -- Part 2

... The dolphin could not believe what he saw. The little girl looked so kind smiling at him. He jumped and jumped so the little girl would smile, and she did. Soon, other children started to gather around the little girl. Other boys and girls waved at the dolphin. He continued to jump and swirl in the water. The laughed, clapped and cheered. Oh, how he was loving this! The big ship started to move faster. The blue dolphin tried, but he could not keep up with it. He held his head above the water and watched the ship sail away with the smiling boys and girls.

The next day, the dolphin kept thinking about the smiling children. He would love to see them again, so he could jump and swim to hear them clap. He looked for the ship all day long, but it didn´t appear. He did this the next day, too, and the next, and the next, but there was no sign of the ship. Finally he gave up and returned to his swimming and playing. A few weeks later, in the middle of his morning swim, the blue dolphin heard a familiar sound... TOOOOOOOT! He jumped out of the water, and in the distance he saw it.... a big beautiful ship sailing right at him....

(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Fetuccini Alfredo

1 medium sized package of fetuccini pasta
1 stick butter
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper
2/3 cup parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Melt butter in a large pan. Add cream, stir well. Add milk, salt and pepper. Finally add the cheese and cook over very low heat. Pour over pasta and serve immediately.

TIP OF THE DAY

Do you ever say: remember when my child did this or that? Try to get video of your child at least once a month. This way you´ll capture his looks, voice and milestones.

STORYTIME: The Blue Dolphin -- Part 1

Deep in the middle of the ocean there lived a beautiful blue dolphin. He loved to swim and play with other dolphins and he was happy all day long. One day, as he was swimming through the clear ocean water, he heard a strange noise he had never heard before. TOOOOOOT, went the sound, TOOOOOOOT! The dolphin put his head above the water to see where the commotion was coming from. He couldn´t believe what he saw! A great big white ship was sailing through the water; his friends had told him about ships but he had never seen a real one before. It was beautiful! The dolphin started to swim alongside the ship, catching a glimpse of it every time he jumped out of the water. He saw the white sides. He saw small little flags above it. He saw perfectly round windows. And then he saw the strangest creature he had ever seen.... a little girl, smiling and waving at him.....

(Part 2 tomorrow)

TIP OF THE DAY

During the summer time it´s not uncommon to find your children glued to the tv during their favorite shows. Make them more active by challenging them to do a special exercise during each commercial break. You can try a dance, jumping jacks or marching around the room.

DAILY RECIPE: Chicken Tostadas

1 cup shredded chicken
1/2 cup refried beans
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 sliced tomato
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
10 tostada shells

Spread beans on each tostada. Put chicken on top of each one. Add lettuce and tomato. Sprinkle cheese and serve immediately so they don´t become soggy. Great for a hot day!

Happy Fourth of July!

Have a wonderful time with your children. Enjoy these moments. Go to a parade, watch fireworks, have a sing along or have a barbecue and make the most of it!

DAILY RECIPE: Bacon Lemon Chicken

8 chicken drumsticks
8 strips of bacon
2-3 lemons
salt and pepper

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Wrap each one with the strip of bacon. Place them in a baking pan. Squeeze lemon juice over chicken. Place in oven, covered, for 45 minutes, 350°F.

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep cut carrot sticks or fruit wedges in air tight containers inside your fridge. Easy to grab for afternoon munchies, avoiding the bag of chips.

ACTIVITY: 4th of July Streamer

You will need:
Red tissue paper
Blue tissue paper
White tissue paper
1 long thick craft stick
Glue or tape

Have children cut long streams of tissue paper, four of each color. Tape or glue each one to the end of the stick. Let dry. Grab the stick from the other end and take turns with your child running and holding it high. Lots of fun!

ARTICLE: Working Mothers -- Comments

After writing my last article on working mothers and setting limits, I talked to several people who seemed to agree that it´s common to feel guilty about the time not being spent with our children. This brought me to share with you the opinion of my young son. I recently had to leave my job for medical reasons, and although all is fine now, I haven´t returned to the "working outside the house" work force just yet. The other day I was on the phone and I commented that I was not going back to work yet. My son overheard this conversation. When I was done he came up to me and asked if I was going back to work. "Not just yet," I answered, "don´t worry." He looked disappointed, so I had to ask, "Why?" This was his answer: "Oh, because stay at home mommy is more fun. She doesn´t get mad as often, she never misses a school event, and she has lots of time to play, cook and bake. But working mommy is great too because she works hard, and then we can all go to Disneyland!" I was shocked at the wisdom he displayed. No doubt about it, when life gives children lemons they make lemonade! So next time you feel guilty about leaving for work, remember this: your children love you no matter what, and as long as you show them love and caring, they will understand that if you leave for work is because you have to: to give them what they need, to provide for them and why not, to go to Disneyland! Hang in there!

STORYTIME: The Cat and the Moon -- Part 2

... The cat reached for the white ball, but it was too high. He sat on the highest branch and simply stared at the beautiful ball. How could he play with it? The cat fell asleep on the tree staring at the ball.

The next morning when he woke up, the ball was gone. Maybe it fell and I can play with it if I find it, he thought. All morning long he looked but it was nowhere to be found. Late that afternoon he climbed the tree again and waited for night time to fall. Soon, he found the ball again, shining in the middle of the sky. The cat was very happy to see it again. "How can I play with you?", he sighed. The moon answered, "Climb down the tree and go to the pond. I can play with you there." The cat raced down the tree and to the pond and sure enough the white ball was waiting for him in the water. He jumped over it and splashed, waited for it to appear again, and splashed some more. All night they played together, the cat and the moon, and they were both very happy. And up to this day, they meet at the pond every night. So whenever you stare up at the sky and see only a part of the moon, remember the cat is probably holding on to the other part, playing in the pond.

THE END

DAILY RECIPE: Easy barbecue sauce

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
4 crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Simmer in a saucepan for about 20 minutes, low heat. Spread over ribs, chicken, steak and sausages or use as a dip. Great for the 4th of July!

TIP OF THE DAY

Set a day of the week for cutting your children´s fingernails and toenails. With the busy life we live it´s easy to forget this, especially if you have more than one child. By setting a day aside, (I like Sunday nights) you´ll never be surprised by long fingernails again.

STORYTIME: The Cat and the Moon

Once upon a time there was a black cat who loved two things in life: to climb trees and to play with balls. Every morning he would play with his favorite white ball. Every afternoon he would crawl up his favorite tree and take a long nap. At night he would curl up in his basket at home, and holding on to his white ball, he would sleep soundly. Every day was exactly the same.

One afternoon, as he was resting in his tree, the sky started to turn gray. The sun could not be seen anymore and strange thundering noises could be heard in the distance. Suddenly, water started to fall from the sky. It was a storm! The cat had never been in one before and he was not about to miss it, even if he had to get wet, even if he could not sleep in his basket with his ball at night. When the storm finally ended the sun was not in the sky anymore. Everything was black, but high in the sky, the cat could see some light coming in through the branches. He climbed higher, almost to the top of the tree and there he saw it: the most beautiful white ball he had ever seen...

(MORE TOMORROW)

DAILY RECIPE: Tomato Pork Chops

6 pork chops
1 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup diced onion
fresh cilantro
salt and pepper

Season pork chops. Brown in vegetable oil. Remove from pan. Add onion, tomato and cilantro. Add a couple of cups of water and season to make a light broth. Return pork chops to pan and cook on low heat until tender. Remove cilantro before serving.

TIP OF THE DAY

Prepare your children´s lunches at night before going to bed. Sandwiches and fruit will keep fresh in the fridge overnight. In the morning simply pack their lunchboxes. This will relieve a bit of stress from the morning rush.

ARTICLE: Working Mom - Setting Limits

If you are a Mom who works outside the house or if you have ever worked outside the house, you will agree that there always is a slight feeling of guilt of missing out of many of your children´s milestones. We sometimes don´t spend a lot of time with our children and therefore we feel that we must give in to all their wishes in the quick moments we can be with them during the week. However, we must keep in mind that our children need a mother, one who loves them, guides them and corrects them, even if this means that we have to leave for work in the morning leaving at home a very upset 5 year old who is not getting the toy-that-he-must-have-today until his birthday. Yes, it´s hard to be a working mother and still be firm at home, but your children will thank you in the future. Spend quality time with your children. If you only have a few hours or minutes with them each day, make the most of them. Bake cookies, play with play-doh, color together, read together, play their favorite board game, play with their favorite toys, talk about their day or about their likes and dislikes, tell each other jokes,etc. I am sure that in the long run, your will both find this much more rewarding than getting the greatest and latest toy that you will still need to "update" every couple of weeks.

DAILY RECIPE: "Mom, I don´t feel well" Soup

1 chicken breast
1 potato
2 carrots
2 zuchinnis
1/2 onion
1 garlic clove
salt, pepper

Fill a large pot with water, add salt, pepper, the onion and the garlic clove. Cover. When boiling, add the chicken breast. Meanwhile peel and chop potato, carrots and zuchinnis. Add to the soup and continue boiling for a total time of 45 minutes to 1 hour. Check for seasoning. When done, take out the chicken breast and cut into bite size pieces. Return to soup. Serve warm with crackers and a lemon wedge.

STORYTIME: The Giant´s Magic Words -- Final Part

... The boy walked alone to the Giant´s house. When he got to the door, he stretched out his hand and knocked softly on the door. Soon, the Giant´s footsteps could be heard and the boy held his breath as he waited for him to answer the door. A loud creak from the hinges revealed the Giant who simply stared at the boy. With a loud, but kind voice, the boy asked, "Excuse me, good afternoon Mr. Giant, could you PLEASE share some of your milk, fruit and wheat? You see, our kingdom does not have food at all and we are all starving." The Giant smiled a bit and answered, "Ah! You just said one of the MAGIC WORDS. I would be glad to share my food with you. Come, follow me and help me put it all in boxes to carry back to your kingdom." The boy quickly replied, "THANK YOU!" The Giant stopped and turned around, "The other MAGIC WORD! You shall get more food, in fact your people can come here any time they want and pick out some food." The boy ran back to the kingdom and told the king the great news. From that day on they started a great friendship with the Giant, sharing food and good times. And never again did the townspeople, messengers or king forget to say the magic words: PLEASE and THANK YOU.

THE END

TIP OF THE DAY

Keep posterboard, markers, extra pencils, glue, glue sticks, colors, tape, yarn and other supplies in stock in your house. This way a last minute school project can be done without having to run out to buy supplies!