STORYTIME: The Little Cloud -- Part 2

...One day, the little cloud started to feel different. She could not float as well as she used too. She started to feel very heavy. Still she could enjoy the breeze high up in the sky and look at all the little children playing in the meadows. The little cloud looked down to enjoy the view. Suddenly she caught a glimpse of her puffy usually white tummy. It was beginning to turn gray... what was happening to her?
(More tomorrow)

DAILY RECIPE: Mustard Pork Loin

2-3 lb. pork loin
1 medium sized onion
1 cup mustard (regular)
salt and pepper
garlic powder

Season pork with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place in a baking dish. Blend onion and mustard and pour over pork. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in 350°F oven for about 1 1/2 hours or until pork is tender. Check with a fork.

TIP OF THE DAY

Use a clothes hanger to organize your daughter´s hair ribbons. They won´t get wrinkled or tangled and you can easily choose the color you want.

NEW STORYTIME! The Little Cloud -- Part 1

A long time ago, there was a little cloud way up in the sky. She was small, white and loved to float around. From up high she would see many wonderful things down on the ground. She loved flowers and trees, meadows with grass and children playing in the sun. Every morning she would wake up and float, feeling the breeze around her... and she was happy...

(More tomorrow)

ARTICLE: The importance of knowing your child´s friends

From the moment they start school, our children start making friends. Some we´ll like, others we would prefer they wouldn´t play with, but in the end, our children will end up spending time with others who may have different opinions, ideas or backgrounds. All these factors may or may not have positive or negative influences in our children. To fully understand any change in behavior due to a friendship it´s important that we know who our child is playing with at school or the playground. Talk to your child about his or her new friends. How they act, what do they play with, what movies they like. Ask your child´s teacher who his or her friends are. Try to meet the mothers of these children. By having this information, you can better guide your child and identify any changes in behavior that may be being caused by another classmate´s influence. In the end we can´t choose who our child will spend time with when they´re not with us. However, by identifying his or her friends, we can be a part of our child´s process of choosing who to play with.

DAILY RECIPE: Broccoli Chicken Pasta

1 large bag fussilli pasta

1 cooked boneless chicken breast

1/2 bag frozen broccoli florets, thawed

1 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper

grated parmesan cheese

olive oil

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, season cooked chicken with salt and pepper and grill in olive oil. Add broccoli florets and stir until tender. Add heavy cream and continue to cook. Season. Add cooked pasta and mix throughly. Serve with grated parmesan cheese.

TIP OF THE DAY

Use old dryer sheets to give a quick clean to shower walls. It easily removes soap scum, plus you recycle!

ARTICLE: Sibling Rivalry and Game Night

Brothers and sisters tend to quarrel; a part of growing up. You can help mediate this "tension" by having family game nights. By placing them in a possible discussion environment, but with you present, you can teach them how to resolve conflicts without having to fight. Try to have each child understand the others´ point of view and why they are reacting this way or that. Show them that instead of shouting at each other or storming angrily out of the room there is a calm way to solve the problem. Hopefully, skills learned at these game nights can be applied to other aspects of life and sibling bickering can be one less thing to worry about!

TIP OF THE DAY

On very cloudy days, send your kids off to school with a raincoat or small umbrella. A surprise shower will catch them prepared!

DAILY RECIPE: Frito Salad

1 large can beans (Ranch style)
1 Lettuce
2 Tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped onion
Fritos
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Toss washed and trimmed lettuce with chopped onion. Slice tomatoes. Add to salad. Drain and rinse beans. Add and toss fritos and beans alternately until well mixed. Top with cheese and add your favorite dressing (ranch, italian).