It’s the time of year where we try to find the coolest gifts for our friends and loved ones.

We have to do our homework now more than ever this year to check if that coveted toy is on a recall list.

I did a quick Google search of “toy recalls” and came up with the following website from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  It is a long list!

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

Hope this helps.  Happy hunting!!

Posted by Sara Diamond

I haven’t lived near my parents since I graduated from college.  When I moved away, I was looking to take the life lessons my parents taught me and go out on my own.  Looking back, I’m glad I made the decision to leave the safety and familiarity of my hometown.

Now that I have kids, my feelings have changed!

Its difficult being far away from family when your kids are growing up.  I speak to my parents at least once a day, telling them how the kids slept, what new things they are learning, etc. 

But it’s not the same.

My parents visit as often as they can, and when they do, it’s a whirlwind of fun.  They take the kids for trips to the indoor playground and go to our son’s favorite restaurant.  During their current trip, my parents are taking the kids at night.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to get a full night’s sleep.  They give our son (and now our daughter) their full attention for long periods of time…something isn’t always possible to do during the hustle and bustle of the day.

After the whirlwind finally dies down, and its time for them to leave, my parents are beat!  They need a break to recover from the trip.  But, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

I would love to have my parents be here on a daily basis, so they can see their grandchildren grow up with their own eyes, and not rely on photos and phone calls.  But until then, we’ll squeeze every ounce of fun and energy from them while they’re here!

We are fortunate to have my husband’s parents in town.  When they first moved to Tennessee, I almost felt guilty that our son was spending so much time at their house.  But then I realized that this is how it’s supposed to be!  My in-laws are always offering to be the taxi service, dropping off or picking up the children from daycare or different activities, which is a huge help.  We have dinner together several days a week, which is great fun.  They are willing to baby-sit at the last minute, and they’re cheap! 

Our son has developed special relationships with both my parents and my in-laws that I hope will last even after he grows up. 

I could go on and on forever about how awesome grandparents are, but for now I’ll open up the discussion:  How important are your parents and/or in-laws to your children?

Posted by Sara Diamond

I know I said I’d write about grandparents a few entries ago, and I promise I will.  There are other things that have come up since then, like Halloween and now a rash of rashes.

My son developed a rash on his face.  We’re not sure how it got there.  After another trip to the doctor, we found out that it’s not serious or contagious.  I spoke with another mom at the pediatrician’s office, and she said her daughter had the same thing, and it went away in a couple of weeks.

Just to be safe, I changed his sheets and washed the used ones in hot water.

It’s amazing how things like rashes seem to magically appear on kids.  Most of the time, my husband and I are laid back, and slow to panic about things like that.  I’m hoping that attitude stays.

Posted by Sara Diamond

So, I have a really good excuse why I haven’t entered anything lately.

To make a long story short, I fell down some steps and hurt myself.  After about a week at home recovering, I’m now back at work and ready to blog!
Thanks for sticking with me!!!

Posted by Sara Diamond