My youngest son is interested in most things electronic.   I recently looked back at the blog I wrote a couple years ago and I laugh.   I remember that time.   My little guy was only 4 and his Christmas list consisted of a long list of toys and, of all things, an extension cord.   Vividly, I remember our son telling us that, even though we didn't want him to have an extension cord, Santa would see the list and give him one anyway.

(Santa proved him wrong!)

Well, it's been two years and my son still likes playing with cords (!) - and he will jump at the chance to participate in anything to do with motors, connecting cords to electronics, putting things together, and all loud things that scare his mom!  I doubt he will put anything as unusual as an extension cord on a Christmas list again.  However, I am certain that his interest in electronics will always stay with him.

This summer, Discovery World held an electronic robot Lego League camp.  This camp (which is a small fortune) teaches robotics to kids using a Lego product called Lego Mindstorms.  Because the Discovery World camps are for 7 years and older - I wasn't able to get my little guy (who's 6 years old) in the camp (yet).  But my older son did go.

Basically, this camp teaches kids to put together electronic robots.  Once the robot is together, the kids are then taught the basic computer programming skills required to move the robots and various challenges for the robots.  This was such a fun and rewarding experience for the kids!   Even my older son - who isn't really interested in building things but does enjoy computers and any kind of challenge - loved it. 

Now I have two wishes:

Next year - somehow - I'd like to sign my little guy up for this camp - just to see the excitement on his face.  The camp is expensive - but hopefully we can swing the price and hopefully it will be worth it.

Even more so - next year or a year or two after, it would be nice if Cudahy - or somewhere close - had something like this - some kind of "robotics for young kids" program.  I'm not sure if there would be much demand for a program like this.  However, I'm sure I don't have the only child who has a passion for taking things apart and learning how things work.  Plus, a program like this may redirect a child (my son) away from doing something CRAZY - like attempting to rewire our house when we're not looking! 

(This thought currently terrifies the life out of me!)

Lately, my husband and I have been discussing the right age to get our kids a cell phone.  Well, actually, this has been an ongoing discussion for awhile.  A few of our kids' friends have cell phones.  And of course, when we see these other kids with a cell phone, the discussion comes back to us.

How old should kids be when they get a cell phone?

In our house, in comparison with other parents, we are pretty lenient with technology-related things.  Both our kids (with a good parent block and secure password) regularly go online and surf the Internet.  Both kids know how to use iTunes and an iPod and a digital camera.  Both kids are comfortable using applications on my iPhone.  And currently, I am trying desperately to get my oldest son to write a blog.

(No luck yet.  According to my son, ((the nerve)) "blogs aren't cool!")

However a cell phone is different.  My kids will LEAVE the house with this technology.  They will have to keep it safe.  They will have to be responsible.   And they will have to bring the phone home in the same condition they left it in.  This terrifies me.

It really terrifies me.

Can my 6 year old really handle a cell phone?  Well, this answer is easy.  Ummm no.   My 6 year old would treat a cell phone as an open opportunity to call me at work - just to tell me what he wants for Christmas.  He may also try to call someone in China - or attempt to take the cell phone apart just "because".   He is definitely not ready for a cell phone.  Plus - in my personal opinion, if I give a person a piece of technology that has texting capabilities, I want that person to be old enough to write and read a clear sentence.  My 6 year old does not fit this catagory.

Can my 9 year handle a cell phone?  This answer is not so easy.  Ummm maybe.  But again I would be nervous.  My 9 year old has trouble finding his shoes in the morning. (Well...then again … so do I.)   Can I really trust him to keep a cell phone safe?   I don't know.  Would he understand basic cell phone rules - like not running up minutes - and not using a cell phone in a classroom?  Again, I don't know - probably.  My son usually does listen to what we say and for the most part, we do trust him.

But the biggest question is - does my 9 year old really need a cell phone?   This is always where we always make our decision.  Not really.  Currently, my son is rarely in a situation that would require a cell phone and if he were to need one, he's around plenty of adults who could help him out.  So, at 9 years old, does my son’s lifestyle – in any way that I can think of – require a cell phone?

Not yet, I don't think.

Right now, a cell phone would serve as little more than an expensive but very cool gadget in my son’s pocket.

But of course, this decision is just postponed to another day.  When we see another one of our kids' friends with a cell phone - we will have the discussion again, I'm sure.

__________________________________

Here are some useful kids/phones related sites.

Top rated cell pones for kids   (I don’t plan to use this yet.)
 

Cell Phone Etiquette  (This is not just for kids.)
 

Should Nines Year Olds Have Cell Phones?  (Interesting)
 

My Mobile Watchdog   (Monitor your Child’s Cell Phone usage and Text Messages - I hope I will never need to use a service like this.)

You know, I sometimes wonder why I like contests like this.  The odds of winning are not high.  And it takes time to vote.

However, I can't help it.  The idea of winning $500,000 for our city, to benefit this area, and to benefit our schools makes me think big and of course, makes my heart beat a little faster!   Can you imagine what any of our schools would do with that kind of money?

So why not?   I voted - and I'm spreading the word.  As Wayne Gretsgy said - You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  

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Below are the details of the contest, a comparision of area high schools,  and a list of our Cudahy Schools.  If you have a Facebook account - vote.

Kohl's wants to give $500,000 to 20 schools each for a total of $10 million. The winning schools can use the money in any way they want - for art programs, creating technology labs, or to save a music program. From now through September 3, all you need to do is go to www.facebook.com/kohls (or click the links below), become a Kohl’s Facebook fan, and vote for your school. You are given 20 votes and are allowed five votes for any individual school. The top 20 vote-getting schools wins $500,000 each and winners are announced late September.

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Oak Creek: 28 votes  

Franklin: 82 votes (Their votes are shooting up probably because of this blog.)

South Milwaukee: 31 Votes

Cudahy: 116 votes  (Go Cudahy!)

St. Francis: 11 Votes

Bay View: 10 Votes

Greenfield: 55 Votes

Greendale: 50 Votes

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Cudahy High School

Cudahy Middle School

Lincoln Elementary

Kosciuszko Elementary

Park View Elementary

J.E. Jones Elementary

General Mitchell Elementary

Okay.

My biggest challenge of the summer is usually the same challenge every summer.  I struggle to keep my kids motivated and at the same time, I really struggle to keep myself motivated.

For me, the school year symbolizes a fast car (me or my kids being the car!).  When the first bell of the year rings, we start moving. Non-stop sometimes. PTA meetings - cub scouts - blogs - sports - homework - emails with teachers - play dates - lunches - report cards - dinosaur projects - school plays - school concerts - school field trips - school fundraisers - school, school, school.

Now that summer is here, I'm crashed. I'm tired. No school.

I have a list of projects to do. I have a fews books to read. But nothing pressing or urgent.  Therefore - instead of doing these things, I come home, play with the kids, and stare at the floor.  Unmotivation currently exists in its finest form.  This is okay.  We all need breaks.

However, this time off doesn't mean three months of blankly watching my 9 year old play his 100th hour of Mario Galaxy.  And this time off definitely doesn't mean memorizing every line in Spongebob with my 6 year old.

Things I really want to do with the kids before the summer ends (as I attempt to peel myself off my chair):

• Go rollerskating at Rollaero.  I haven't done this in ages.
   
• Of course, ride our bikes to Sheradin Park and go swimming at the pool.
   
• Take the kids to the Safe House.  Do you remember the password?
   
• Watch a Batman movie at IMAX.
   
• Find some batting cages in the area.  Ban anyone who laughs at short moms who have problems hitting a ball.
   
• Attend one of the Family Programs at Discovery World.  Build our very own solar oven.   Bake cookies.
   
• Spend the day at Grant Park beach.  Take the kids to the playground with the water/sand equipment.  Buy a hot dog.
   
• Go to Sweet Applewood Festival.  Let the kids make mystery-flavor slushies.  Go down the giant slide.   Not necessarily in this order.
   

Books I want to read:

• True Blood series. I feel so behind the times!
   
• Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point.  A friend recommended this book to me.
   
• Sneetches - for the 1,000th time.

Projects I want to do:

• Help my husband fix our #@#! retaining wall.
   
• Stare at the stars.

My son sits on his bed.  He is leaning against his bedroom wall, legs crossed, and reading a book.  The book he is reading is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  This book is 700 pages long.  My son just turned 9 years old.

A little girl sits in her second grade classroom.  Her dark eyes look down on the desk as she breezes through a second grade math worksheet.  Her parents know that she could be doing fourth grade worksheets.  Her teacher probably knows this too.  The girl finishes her worksheet first.

A group of first grade children work together on an art project.  Each child draws an animal scene.  One young boy draws an animal scene so vivid and accurate - his classmates look at the picture in amazement.  So does his teacher.

These are our kids.  Real Cudahy students.  I know all three of them.  They are, I'm sure, just a few of the many, many gifted kids in this area.

Maybe I just over-worry about things.  I do that sometimes.  I can't help it.  From the moment my kids left my eyesight - into the care of someone else, I worried.  Are they happy?  Are they eating a good lunch?  Are they making friends?  Are they really getting a good education?

Specifically, are our smartest and brightest kids getting a good education?  I worry.

Literally - every day - I read about education budget cuts. I hear about layoffs.  I read about teachers who retire and are not replaced.  And I see my third grade son - with so much potential - reading his sixth grade book.  I watch the second grade girl - with a fourth grade intelligence - finishing her second grade worksheet.  And I see the brilliant artwork of our first grade artist - doing a simple first grade project.  Yes - I worry.

I know that my son belongs in a good gifted and talented and program. His teachers know this too; they've known for a long time.  However, these days - as a parent, I really don't know how to make this happen. The gifted and talented program in our school, so far, plays a very small part of my son's life. And in terms of budget cuts in school districts, the gifted and talented program is usually one of the first things to go or change.

What can I do?

I know a few families of gifted kids in my son's school.  One family just sold their house.  They plan to move to another city this summer.  Another family wants to send their child to another school district in 2-3 years.  And another family moved to Franklin last year.  These families all have the common goal - to provide a better future for themselves and their kids.  However, will they really succeed - in an environment where school budget cuts - in all cities - seem to be an expectation rather than an exception?

Again, what can I do?

I don't want to nor plan to move.  However - I do feel that my son - both my sons - all kids - should get an equal amount of academic challenge in their school day.  This includes the children who are behind as well as the children who are ahead.  Most schools pride themselves in helping students reach their academic potential.  However, if that school gives second grade worksheets to a student who can do fourth grade work - then that school clearly, clearly, clearly is not achieving its goal.

Again, as a parent, what can I do?

Because of budget cuts, teachers are now required to take on so much more work.  There are less teachers and bigger class sizes.  There are less after school activities and a bigger need for volunteers. Instead of working directly with the kids - as they have done in the past - most gifted and talented teachers (usually one full time teacher - or two part-time teachers per school district) cannot do much of that anymore.  Gifted and talented teachers are now advisors to the classrooms teachers.  And it is now the classroom teacher's responsibility - along with everything else they do in their day - to take on the extra task of challenging our smartest kids.

Again and again and again.  What can I do?

Well, I’ve done a lot of reading.  And I’ve talked to a lot of people.  From my minimal experience –here are some things I've learned in the past few months.  I don’t know how to make the budgets cuts go away.  But I do know that educating yourself is a start.  If you have a child that you think is gifted, this information will hopefully help. Keep in mind, as you read this information - I am still learning.  There are - I'm certain - plenty of people who know more than I do.

• Every school district should have some kind of document that clearly explains their gifted and talented program.  Ask for this document.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.
   
• It is a requirement of the state that all schools identify and provide a program for gifted students between grades K-12.  The gifted and talented programs will vary from school district to school district. However, some kind of program must be provided - even to students as young as kindergarten.  If you suspect that your child is gifted, get him or her tested.  If your child is gifted and a program is not provided, then something is wrong and you need to question your child's school.
   
• Many schools in this area belong to a consortium of parents and educators called PAGE (Parent Advocates for Gifted Education).  This group provides workshops, information, and networking opportunities for parents and educators of gifted students.  Ask your school district if they are a member of - or would consider joining this group.  PAGE is an inexpensive and invaluable resource that a school district can provide to parents and educators of gifted students.
   
• You must become familiar with the gifted and talented section of the Wisconsin's
  Department of Public Instruction web site.  This site informs you of the policies that
  schools have to follow to test and service gifted and talented students.
  Gifted and Talented Statutes and Rules
  Gifted and Talented - Meeting Standard (t)
  DPI Gifted and Talented Guide
   
• Finally, the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted is also a very active organization that consists of people interested in the special needs of gifted students.  They offer workshops, a fall conference, forums, webinars, a speaker's bureau, and a psychologist and counseling bureau.

Remember - there is no better advocate for your child than you.  This applies to so many things – to parents of children with disabilities, to families concerned about music or art program cuts in a high school, and to parents who worry (too much sometimes) that our best and brightest kids will someday just disappear in large crowded classrooms.   We need to start somewhere.

This is very cool.  On July 3 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, the South Shore Cyclery will provide free July 4th decorations to any kids who bring their bike(s) into the shop.  The South Shore Cyclery is on 4758 South Packard Ave.

What is the 4th of July without decorated bikes for the kids?

Also, below is a list of events for Cudahy's 4th of July Celebration.  It will be a lot of fun.  I will be there - attempting to keep up with Lincoln school kids in the parade - and hoping that I can make it to the fireworks without first taking a nap in Sheridan Park. 

Wish me luck.

Here is a great video.  Could this be the high schools in our future?   I believe it could be.
 

 
Even though I think the brilliant young man in this video is a little too optimistic - there are still security Internet issues to think of before we provide these devices to high school kids - plus, I can't imagine a life without Number 2 Pencils - I do believe that mobile devices like the iPod Touch or iPad will be the future of our schools.  And in my opinion, a very exciting future.  I am now the newest member of the iShool initiative.

(By the way - I really, really, really want an iPad.)

(I really, really do.)
 

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Here are some of the links to iPod Touch/iPhone applications mentioned in this video.

  Achievers Writing Center -  Teaches different essay styles. Learn how to write essays associated with applying for scholarships. Contains College Admissions Essay, College Scholarship Essay, Argumentative Essay, Descriptive Essay, Expository (Informative) Essay, First Person Narrative, Third Person Narrative, and Opinion Essay.
 

  Graphing Calculator - Turns your iPod Touch into a high resolution graphing calculator.
 

  Study Flash - Create simple front and back flash card notes for each of your classes.


  Star Walk - See the galaxy around you in real time.
 

  U.S. Presidents - Encyclopedia of our American Presidents from George Washington to  Barack Obama.
 

  Chemical Touch - An interactive periodic table.
 

  Formulae - Database of all scientific and math formulas with each formula catagorized such as Algebra or Physics.
 

  Art - Provies a list of a wide variety of famous artists, from Francis Bacon to Michelangelo with all their art in a gallery that you can view.
 

I was recently talking to my niece - a college student at UWM. 

She told me a troubling story about a recent night out she had with some new friends she met at school.  The group of friends, including my niece, made plans to go to an East Side club on a Friday night.  They agreed to meet in a designated spot near UWM and then carpool to the club in the area.

At the club, they all had fun.

They danced.  They drank.  They met up with more friends.  They danced more.  It was a great night ... up until it was time to leave.  When the club closed, the driver in the group drove everyone to their cars and then went home. 

My niece, still tipsy, stood and waved goodbye as her friends left her standing next to her car - alone.

No one asked her if she was sober enough to drive. 

No one seemed concerned about their own or her condition. 

To everyone, it was just another fun night of laughs and dancing.  Nothing was wrong.  And driving was never discussed.

Thankfully, my niece knew enough to call her very tired but forgiving sister for a ride home.  However, every other person in this group (4 total) did drive home. And according to my niece, all of them were drinking.

My stomach sank when I heard this story.

----

Here is a great idea.

Pepsi is currently giving money nation-wide for "GREAT IDEAS".   And Milwaukee - IMPACT's Change Milwaukee's Culture of Risky and Excessive Drinking - is in this competition.   If enough people vote for this idea, we could win 250K toward a campaign to promote safer drinking in this area. The contest ends June 30 and you can vote once per day.   This idea is currently at 187.

http://www.refresheverything.com/stopdrinkingsomuchmilwaukee

I love living near a city known for its good beer and breweries. The Miller Brewery tour is a lot of fun.  And I also love that we have charming microbreweries popping up around this area.  However, more caution and responsibility (especially for college age kids) need to be in place.  I've heard of too many young people drinking and driving home without any hesitation. 

My own kids are still very young.  But at some point, like my niece, they will be old enough to go with their own friends.   Will my kids and their friends remember the warnings of responsibility when they head out on a Friday night?  Will they know when to stop drinking and when to ignore peer pressure or when to make a phone call?  I don't know. I really hope so.  Unforntunately, at that time, having their mom  around to tell them what to do or to whisper advice in their ear just won't be very cool.

 

Yesterday, my kids and I decided to have some fun with Google's new Google Search Stories application.  This was fun!

Basically, you can create a video based on a series of Google searches that you define.    With the assistance of a few spelling corrections from me - my kids were able to figure it out easily.  My only complaint about this application is I wish we were given the opportunity to make our videos longer.  I really, really want more than 35 seconds.

Here are our creations. 

My video:

My 9 year old's video:

My 6 year old's video:

I attended the Jazz Cafe last year.  It was held at Cudahy High School and I went to this event with my whole family.  We had  a lot fun!  This was the night where my youngest son attempted to teach me how to dance.

Of course ... he didn't succeed.

This year, the Cudahy High School Music Department is having Jazz Cafe again.  This event is on June 5. There will be live jazz, dancing, a silent auction, raffles, desert bar, snacks, beverages, and family entertainment.

Dance lessons start at 6:30 p.m.  The live jazz music begins at 7:00 p.m.  The cost for tickets at the door is $5 for students and seniors, $8 for adults, and $20 for a family ticket (children 6 and under free).  There is $1 off on advance individual tickets and $2 off  on advance family tickets.

Hopefully, you can come - to see the incredible talent in our Cudahy High School Music department!
 

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a useful web site.  This site sorts books according to reading level.  I know that libraries do the same thing; they sort books by reading level in their book shelves.  However, for me, it's nice to see a list.  That way, insteading of walking down an aisle of books with my head turned sideways, I can use the library's County Cat system to request books for my kids.  This is sometimes a lot easier.

Here is a list of books, according to reading level.

• Kindergarten (A,B, and C level books) 
   
• First Grade (Levels C through I books)
   
• Second Grade (Levels H through M books)
   
• Third Grade (Levels L through P books) 
   
• Fourth Grade (Levels O through T books) 
   
• Fifth Grade (Levels S through W books) 
   
• Sixth Grade and Up (Levels V through Z)
   

I am relieved that say that - as a mom and an adult - I can successfully read to level Z.  Level Z is Treasure Island and I read that book a long, long, long time ago.

... Therefore, according to this reading list,  I am at least as smart as a sixth grader.

On Mother's Day, almost nine years ago, I stood in my house - eight and 1/2 months pregnant - with a duffel bag in hand.   I was about to have my first son. 

I was nervous.  I was excited.  And I knew I going to get the best Mother's Day present a mom could get - a baby.  (And way, way more work than I ever expected). 

But really, could anyone ask for a better Mother's Day present? 

No way.  Both my sons - every year on this day - with their hand-made gifts and their hugs - remind me of how awesome it is to be a mom.

So before this day ends, Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mom's out there.  You deserve every minute of it.
 

Here is information about the upcoming stand-up comedy show/fundraiser on May 1 at the St. Francis Community Center.  This show is sponsored by the Cudahy Band Boosters and it sounds like a lot of fun!

Music programs are so important to our kids' education.   And our Cudahy Band Boosters are wonderful.  Hopefully, when you come to this event, you will have both a great time and know that you are supporting a vital part of our community.  

---------
The Cudahy Band Boosters are proud to announce a new fundraising event.  On Saturday, May 1st, the First Annual Stand-up Comedy Show will be held at the St. Francis Community Center located on 3476 E. Howard Ave., in St. Francis.

Doors open at 7 p.m.   Showtime is 8 p.m.  You must be 21 years or older to attend this event.   Admission is only $10.00 at the door and includes: snacks and door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and beverages that are available for purchase.

The success of Cudahy High School's band program depends greatly on the Boosters fundraising.  Your support of the music at Cudahy High School is greatly appreciated. 

We hope to see you at this event!

--------

The performers at this show will be Gerry Grossman - the Human Jukebox and  Mark Schneider. The MC of the show will be Mike Marvell.

I know this information has been posted by multiple bloggers and in several places.  However, here are a few reasons why I want to post it as well:

1.  Cudahy's National Night out, when it was held two years ago, left so many fond memories - for me and my family.

2.  I love to promote or be a part of anything that strengthens community spirit.  This event is definitely one of them.

3.  Maybe when I'm at this event, the Cudahy Fire Department will give me extra time to play in their fire trucks.

4.  For Ezzo, I would do almost anything.
 

The details of this event are:

The 2010 National Night Out is on Thursday, August 5, 2010.

Officer Robert Jachowicz with the Cudahy Police Department is the Point Man for the coordination of this event.

Help is needed in the coordination of this event.  There will be an organizational meeting on Monday, April 26 (6:00 p.m. in the Cudahy Municipal Courtroom).

If you are interested in helping to make this event a success or if you have questions, please contact:

Officer Robert Jachowicz
Cudahy Police Department
5050 S. Lake Dr.
Cudahy, WI. 53110
Phone number 1-(414) 769-2260 X-630
E-Mail Address  jachowiczr@ci.cudahy.wi.us

 

I still have not seen Avatar.  When it comes to popular movies, I am always behind the times.  Always.

However, here is my chance.  Avatar is currently playing at the Milwaukee Public Museum's Humphrey IMAX Theater downtown - now through May 2.  If you have not seen a full-length movie at the IMAX, then I highly recommend that you see this one!   During the holidays, we saw Polar Express at the IMAX and it was amazing.  There were some fast train scenes.  During these scenes, I literally covered my eyes and clutched onto my kids (for my own safety) until the trains stopped.

I only wish that the IMAX was able to play Avatar in 3D, like it's played in normal theaters.  Sigh.  Oh well.  I'm sure that the massive circular  IMAX screen will compensate for my lack of 3D glasses.

Here is a free children's audio book site of classic books, fairy tales, and poems: Online Audio Stories.   What a great service.  You can either play the books directly from this web site. Or you can download the books to put on a CD or an MP3 player. These books are ideal for car trips or for listening to right before bed.

Here are some (of many) stories and poems they offer:

• Rumpelstiltskin 
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• The Pied Piper of Hamelin  
• Pandora's Box
• Jabberwocky
• King Midas 
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
• Rapunzel  
• Little Red Riding Hood 
• Hansel and Gretel  

The stories and poems on this site bring back so many fond memories - and surprisingly a lot of kids these days don't know them.  These stories entertained me, they captivated me, and some of them terrified me.   When I was little, we use to have a real forest next to our apartment complex.   I would never, ever go too far into the woods - because I was utterly terrified the witch from Hansel and Gretel would eat me.
 

Recently, I was sitting in the family room of my house and I made an observation. My kids are becoming aliens.

My oldest son sits at our computer.  All at the same time, he chats with this dad, syncs his iPod (well actually my iPod), and watches a YouTube video about football. Across the room, I look at my younger son as he stands in front of our TV.  At the same time, he plays a video game, kicks off one of his boots, and tells me about his school's new part-time principal. (Who, according to what I'm told, is a BOY).

I do not have ... and have NEVER had ... this capability.

Multi-tasking confuses me. Too much multi-tasking fails me. My world is linear. If I stray too far from it - if I attempt to do multiple things at one time - I end up hitting snow banks with my van.

However, my kids are so different.  I recently read an article on the Internet.   My kids and so many kids around me are exactly what the article describes: digital natives.  Digital natives are people who have never known a world without video games, cell phones, laptops, Facebook, email, and text messaging.  These people use their superior cognitive abilities to make quick decisions and are able to handle multiple sources of sensory input at the same time.  They seem to have no problem listening and learning in an environment that has so much information coming at them.

This article also describes what I am: a digital immigrant. Digital immigrants saw the advent of our current technology long after their brains were hardwired. These people are better at reading facial expressions than they are at moving around the Internet. They are trained in completely different ways of socializing and learning. They address one task at a time - and they like it that way. Me.

So then - my questions is - how does a very linear, book reading, digital immigrant parent like me - raise and enjoy a chaotic, video game playing, text messaging, sound-bite driven alien? If this technology trend keeps up, how will we eventually communicate? What will our relationship be like in 10 years? 

I don't know for sure.  But I think, at this point, the best we can do is try to conform - at least somewhat - to our kids' world.  This is probably easier than trying to make them conform to ours.

This means - that we really CANNOT be passive observers anymore.  Depending on how it is used, our digital world can provide wonderful learning and entertainment opportunities for our kids - or it can be time consuming and even dangerous. We need to understand this. (This is especially true for sites like Facebook and MySpace.)  We need to show interest in our kids' video games - or at least try to. When our kids are texting, we need to be texting right with them. When our kids are looking at a computer and not at us, we really need to understand that these kids are, in actuality genius, multi-tasking aliens who have the amazing ability to watch YouTube, sync their iPod, and listen to their parents at the same time.  I'm not saying that it's okay for kids to not look at us when we speak to them.  

Again, I'm just saying that they are aliens.

The Internet, cell phones, email, and texting are a part of our kids’ culture.  And it’s not going away. The best we can do – with our limited knowledge - is help our kids get the best experience they can from it. Will we succeed at all these challenges? I really have NO idea. I hope so.

This video shows today's college kids. It has more of an education system spin on it, but it still represents the kids who I am talking about. Our kids. This is a wonderful video.
 

I've never been the best photographer.  However, I love taking pictures.  I especially love taking pictures of the people in my life: close up pictures of my kids laughing at a party - pictures of my husband staring intently at a football game (go Saints!) - and pictures of my nieces and nephews wrestling in the middle of their grandparent's floor.

But the problem is - I'm too cheap to buy a decent photo editing tool!   Currently, the only photo editing tools I have on my computer are an old version of Paint Shop Pro and Microsoft Paint (the tool that comes free with every Microsoft PC).

Until I can justify purchasing a copy of Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements), I mostly use free online photo editors.  Some of these editors are very nice, plus there's nothing to download.  Some of the programs are definitely comparable to the photo editors you buy in stores. Here are a few of my favorite:

Picnik

Picnik has a very slick interface.  I use this one the most - simply because this is Flickr's default photo editor and I use Flickr as my photo sharing site. Picnik has all the features of a basic photo editor.  I use this tool mostly for basic things like getting rid of red eye and for cropping pictures.

Pixlr

Pixlr seems like a real desktop application on your computer, complete with a workspace you can customize to your liking.  Pixlr is where I go when I want to do a lot of photo editing (adjusting color/brightness/adding layers).  This web application is probably my favorite online photo editor tool.

Flauntr

FlauntR is a beautiful photo editor filled effects, clip art, fonts, borders, and other features.  Not only a photo editor, you can add designs to your pictures, create slide shows, make avatars for your Facebook page, or create elecronic greeting cards.  My only complaint about this site is that I don't know where everything is! The Undo button (a NECESSITY in my world) was at first difficult to find.

Fotoflexer

FotoFlexer is another fun, easy to use web site.  My favorite part of this tool was the ease of use when I erased my pale legs from the background of my son's aborable baby picture.


 

About 10 months or so ago, I lost one of my favorite shirts; it simply seemed to vanish.  I use to wear this shirt all the time.  It was a longer style pink and white shirt and it fit me perfectly.  Most weekends, if I wanted to wear something casual and still look nice, I'd wear this shirt.

Well, as I was cleaning out one of my son's closets, I found this long, lost shirt.  The shirt was, for some unknown reason, laying on the side of an art supply bin and initially looked like an art smock.  But it wasn't - it was my lost shirt and I was ecstatic.  So, to reacquaint myself with this long, lost friend - I rushed to another room to try the shirt on.

Gasp.

It was too tight.  In about 10 months, I gained enough weight to make a shirt that once looked great - now look completely ridiculous. 

Completely ridiculous. 

My youngest son, to magnify my trauma, looked at me in my suddenly super-tight pink shirt and cackled a laugh that may have been heard all the way to Layton Ave.  Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully my husband was not home to witness this event.

New Year’s Resolution Number 1: To fit into my old shirt once again.

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And I will exercise regularly ... once again.

If you have a Nintendo Wii and the Wii Fit game, this is a great site - Wii Fit Routines. This web site has a section that groups the various activities on the Wii Fit program into a full 15-60 minute workout/routine. To view these routines, you need to sign up on the site (free). After you do this, you can choose from various difficulty level routines and you can choose between different routines, depending on your goal.  For example, there are routines for weight loss, for endurance, for strength, and for yoga skills.

One of my biggest complaints about the Wii Fit has been - compared to a gym - a Wii Fit workout never did much for me. The Wii Fit is fun (skiing is, for now, my favorite), but as for a workout, I was rarely left winded.  This web site helps you combine the right activities to give you a decent workout.  What a great help!  Before I saw this site, the Wii Fit was simply a bunch of little activities/exercises that contibuted to a fun evening with the kids.   Now because of this site, I've learned how to combine the activies together.  We have the new Wii Fit Plus game (which we are still learning) - so some of the routines on this site are a little different than what I have. But when this happens, I substitute.

Of course, Wii Fit will never be better than riding your bike outside or going to a gym.  But it's a great program and another option we can do in the winter in the comfort of our homes (in my pajamas) to exercise and do something fun at the same time. Maybe this will help me complete my New Year's resolution ...
 

Merrry Christmas to everyone I know! 

Santa just gave us an air hockey table and the coolest pair of night vision binoculars.  Give me a few weeks and I will be the air hockey champion of Wisconsin  - and a secret agent!

Honestly, it's days like this - spending the day with family, watching our kids (half asleep but wide eyed) fly from bed to a screeching stop in front of the Christmas tree, eating awesome food - that makes our otherwise crazy December worth it.   Have a wonderful day everyone!