6 Months Old!

Timothy is 6 months old! I'm amazed at how fast time is going by. He had a bad cold last week and after 5 days of cold i finally took him to the Dr just to make sure it wasn't anything worse. I hate it when I spend $20 just to have the Dr tell me "just keep doind what you're doing". Well at his 6 month checkup he is weighing in at 16 lbs 7 oz and is measuring at 26 3/4 ". He's wearing 9 month clothing. It's so sad that there are a couple 3-6 month outfits that he never really wore. Oh well.

He started eating food a couple weeks ago. The very first time eating cereal was very succesful. He opened his mouth and everything. Then the next day wasn't so great. It took both the other boys nearly a month to figure out how to use their tongue to puch food back, so I wasn't expecting much with Timmy. He tried sweet potatoes recently and that worked out much better. He is almost able to roll. He reaches for things and rocks back and forth. I'm sure he'd roll by now if he had more tummy time. I don't put him on the floor nearly as often as I should because he'd get trampled by runnng psycho boys. He can, however, sit up on his own when he is completely focused on something in front of him. He is still sleeping in his car seat. I tried to enforce the crib over Christmas break, but then people got colds and I needed my sleep. That's the news on Timmy. Here are some pictures that you're waiting for.

More peanut butter recalls

Here's the latest on the peanut butter issue. Read here.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set up a website where you can search for a food to see if it was recalled. Just thought I'd keep you all posted.

Thank goodness the Girl Scout cookies aren't affected!

"Count your many blessings, name them one by one..."

I'm thankful that Thomas is allergic to peanuts.

Why?

Because there is a salmonella outbreak due to peanuts from GA.

"U.S. health authorities told consumers on Saturday to avoid eating products that contain peanut butter until they can determine the scope of an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning that may have contributed to six deaths.
"We urge consumers to postpone eating any products that may contain peanut butter until additional information becomes available," Dr. Stephen Sundlof of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety said in a teleconference with reporters."

For this Article that was released today click here.

From another article:
"...Kellogg had asked stores earlier this week to pull some of its venerable Keebler crackers from shelves as a precaution. But in a statement late Friday the Battle Creek, Mich., company announced it was voluntarily recalling the crackers and other products in light of the problems in Georgia...

The investigation includes not just peanut butter, but baked goods and other products that contain peanuts and are sold directly to consumers. Health officials say as many as one-third of the people who got sick did not recall eating peanut butter.
"The focus is on peanut butter and a wide array of products that might have peanut butter in them," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, director of the foodborne illness division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials said they are focusing on peanut paste, as well as peanut butter, produced at a Blakely, Ga., facility owned by Peanut Corp. of America. The concern about peanut paste is significant because it can be used in dozens of products, from baked goods to cooking sauces.
Federal officials said they are focusing on 32 of the 85 companies that Peanut Corp. supplies, because of the time period in which they received shipments of peanut butter or paste. The companies are being urged to test their products, or pull them from the shelves as Kellogg did..."

For the full article, read here.

So at this time I am grateful that I don't have to worry if we ate anythig that is potentially bad for us.

New games for your kids to play

The boys make up games all the time. I thought I'd share a few of them so you can show them to your kids! (if you dare)

The Hugging Game
There are two players. They give each other big hugs, squeezing as hard as they can. Then they proceed to try to drag their opponent to the ground, while keeping a good hug grip. Whomever can tackle the other to the floor wins.

Hand Pushing Game
Two players start at opposite ends of the room. They run towards each other and then slap hands together. Then while holding their hooked together hands up high, each one tries to push the other one backwards. Whomever is the last one standing wins.

The Bridge Game
One person balances their body across the arms of two Lazyboy chairs (or other wide arm chair) like a bridge. The other person then runs into the bridge trying to knock it down.

Race car Game
-needs 2 water bottles with straws.
Two (or more) people start at the starting line and revv their engines. The referree turns on the fastest music they can find and then the race begins. As they run laps around the house they occasionally stop for "pit stops". This is where it comes in handy for a straw in the water bottle (like a gas can). The "cars" get their fill and they're off! Game ends when the "cars" are tired or when someone gets pushed into the wall when rounding the corner

Body Slam Game
This is best played at nighttime when you're supposed to be going to sleep. Also works best when two beds are right next to each other.
Two opponents start out by jumping in their bed. Then when one shouts "Go!", you jump towards the other one thus slamming into each other mid air. Winner is the one who doesn't get caught by Mom and exiled out into the hallway to sleep.

Padded floor Jumping
This is also best played at night when you're supposed to be sleeping.
In order to set up the game all opponents need to strip their beds of all blankets and pillows and throw them on the floor in a big pile. (for bonus padding, take all the stuffed animals that can be found in the room and put them on the pile). Then the players take turns jumping off the bed into the pile. Again the winner is the one who doesn't get caught in the act.

Force Lightning Game
-requires having seen Star Wars to understand the concept of "Force Lightning"
Two or more players raise their hands towards each other and make lightning noises. Then one falls down being electrocuted by force lightning. The victim should dramatically stick out his tongue for added measure.

The Spray Game
-this game requires an adult or someone bigger and stronger than the player
The adult lays down on the floor on their back with the player laying on their chest. The player counts down from ten and when he/she gets to 0, the adult lifts the player up into the air like a geyser (like benchpressing). Then for the added effect of spraying water the adult tickles the player so that they (the player) is wiggling like crazy with flailing arms and legs. The game is done when either the adult's arms get tired or the adult gets wacked by kicking legs or waving arms.

Bowling
-this game requires a Yoga ball
Line up as many of your little people as you want (Little People, Stars Wars, Army Men, etc). Stand back and bowl them over with the Yoga ball.

Meteor Game
Same as bowling, except instead of rolling the Yoga ball, the player throws the ball at the unsuspecting people.

Basketball I
-requires a basketball hoop that the player can reach
In order to set up for this game the players need to take various Star Wars people, Army Men, or Monkeys in a Barrel, and hook them onto the mesh netting of the basketball hoop. Then the players throw whatever they can find into the basketball hoop trying to knock down the people.

Basketball II
-requires a Yoga ball
Stand back from the basketball hoop. The player throws the Yoga ball at the basketball hoop until he/she knocks it down (works best with lightweight plastic basketball hoops).

The "Mom is really mad, so run away" Game
-this game can be played with one player, but works best with 2 or more
The object of this game is not to get caught. When the mom tells the player to "Come here right now!" the player runs in the opposite direction (especially if the player is guilty of something). The mom starts after the player, only to have the player run in the opposite direction. This works best in a home where the player can go in a circle thus preventing the mom to get the player. When played with more than one player the other person can "coach" the runner by saying "Go the other way! Here she comes!" The game is over when the player gets caught. And by the way- Mom ALWAYS wins!

The Robot Game
-requires containers that are bog enough to go over player's head and arms and that is see through
All the players empty out their toy containers and place them over their heads. Then the players make robot noises and bang into each other. The winner is the one who knocks over their opponent. The fun part is when the player falls down and can't catch him/herself when they fall to the floor. This game can also be combined with the Body Slam Game and the Padded Floor Game at the same time.

The "Slam into the Couch" Game
The players take turns running full speed towards the couch. Then they launch themselves at the couch head first. Is best played with a cushy couch.


The next time your children say they are bored, show them one of these new exciting games. Guarenteed to keep everyone busy. Especially Mom because she has to stop whatever it is she wanted to get done and play referree instead to make sure no one gets hurt too badly. Anyone want to come over to play? Bring your safety helmets along!

Five year old logic

The boys are playing UNO at the table and I overheard this conversation. I just had to write it down and share it.

"The Cowboys always beat the Redskins, " says Matt. "They are a really good football team. Just like the University of Utah. Hey, I know! I've got an idea! I bet the Cowboys would want to live in Utah!"

I don't know where he gets his information. Maybe it's sports talk he's picked up on the playground.