When was the last time you cleaned your kid's car seat cover?

Well, that's too long!

I keep a very tidy house, but my car, that's a different story. It took me leaving town for a trip to finally getting around to washing my kids' car seat covers. The covers are really a pain in the you know what to get off and put back on! But, my mother-in-law and my mom are taking care of the kids for me while I visit the hubby and I would have been mortified if they'd seen the conditions of the car seats. I mean just look at the pictures...at least it was under the covers and the kids weren't actually in contact with all that crap! Oh, I'm up for Mother of the Year again...


Ok-do you see the melted, red crayon, fruit loops, cheerios, raisons, crumbs galore and even a Ritz cracker! HOW GROSS!

BUBBLING WITH JOY!

One of the best items I've purchased for my kids this Spring has to be a BUBBLE MACHINE. I bought the one pictured from Wal-Mart for $14.95 and it came with the batteries!!! (6 - Double "A") The volume of bubbles this machine produces is amazing! It's a simple pleasure that make my kids, well, bubbley! The machine is light and portable and even has a handle for carrying. Plus, its easy enough for my 4-year-old to operate and she is even able to pour in the bubble solution on her own. (Some machines have very small holes for pouring in the bubbles).

We run the machine whenever we're outside playing. But, what a great way to add fun to a party-from an outdoor birthday party, pool party, Forth of July festivities, or a tail gate party at a Jimmy Buffett concert!

If you're worried about the cost of bubbles (large Mirale Bubbles bottles at Wal-Mart are $2.50/each) Buy dish soap at the Dollar Store and make your own bubbles. Here's a good recipe-

Best Bubble Solution
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Light Karo syrup or 2 Tablespoons Glycerin
4 Tablespoons Dishwashing liquid
from BabyParenting

Clean Up On Aisle 6 and 7 and 8 and...

OH, NO...

But, OH, YES!

I took the kiddos grocery shopping at the brand new SIGNATURE KROGER by our home. I was in such awe of the incredible fresh produce and selection of healthy, organic and International foods-I wanted to hug and kiss every single Kroger employee who greeted us! And being that the store just opened-there were friendly greeters aplenty.

Every aisle must of had three food sampling stations-I mean the kids and I basically ate dinner there. Oh, and the aisles were sooooo wide I didn't have to constantly push my way around someone who actually has time to read the ingredients on labels.

Well, I guess my son didn't get his fill on all the scrumptious samples and decided to open up some of the Danimals Drinkable Yogurts I placed in the cart. I was too busy checking out the store and checking off my grocery list to notice. My son managed to open two of the banana-flavored yogurt drinks. Too bad he has a slight drinking problem-the sticky goop dripped down his chin, down his shirt, onto the groceries piled in the cart and finally down onto the floor. I, the mom-of-year, didn't realize until I slipped in some of the yellow, liquidy mess. AAAHHHH! How did you? Oh, how could I be so drawn in to two for one sharp cheddar cheese...

We were pretty much done shopping at that point and I had everything on my list but straws-which ironically could have avoided the spillage.

We proceeded to the check out and my heart pounded as the swarm of employees begged for me to come to their check-out stand. "You really don't want to check me out," I said. They smiled and laughed-not knowing what sticky grossness awaited them. "No, really. Take a look." I gestured down to my son-the fish printed on his shirt barely visible through the banana yogurt that covered them. The checkers' and bag boys' eyes widened and they all laughed. Then, they grabbed paper towels and began to help me wipe down my son and our groceries. A manager came by thinking the package exploded and made one of the checkers go get me a new one. I tried to explain that their beautiful store held my attention so much that I didn't pay enough attention to my son! I'll have to make sure they have a cart with the play car attached to it next time. At least that will keep my son out of the groceries-if I'm too busy eyeing the 8 ears of corn for $1.00. Well, the bag boy got a good tip out of it anyway...