Having Fun in BayWa on a Sunday

It was a Verkaufsoffener Sonntag here in our city. Verkaufsoffener simply means “shops are open”. The city center was open for business that Sunday and BayWa, a home depot, featured activities especially for kids. There was a lady dressed like a clown and did balloon twisting. Some of her works are sword, spider, horse, and dog  just to name a few. Later I learned that the lady is also a Filipina. She was really impressive. My kids chose not to get one of the balloons, though.

Ryz opt to have her face painted (as usual)…

Ryz waiting in line…

The artist working on her face…

And the art…

Yeah, I know… exotic looking right? With that expression you might be wondering if she liked it. Yes, she did like it. She was just shy and doesn’t want me to take a picture of her. Hehe..

After that we went to the store’s entrance and the kids played in the inflatable trampoline set up.

Categories: play time | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Outerspace

When we went to Ulm last year and visited the Ulm Cathedral, hubby told Zyc that the church is so high that when we reach the top he will be in outerspace. Of course it was a joke. After that we would always ask him if he wants to go back to Ulm and he doesn’t want anymore. Actually he really got tired climbing up the tower.

Today when I picked them up from the Kindergarten he said, “Mommy, can we go to Ulm again?” I asked why and he said, “So that when we climbed up there maybe we can see the Angry Birds Space.” I couldn’t say a word and really just laughed hard!

He’s been watching this video on Angry Birds Space and even asked us to buy a CD to install in our laptop. Of course we didn’t buy it. We can not always give in to our kids’ wishes, right?

Categories: Funny notes, play time, zyrch | Leave a comment

Humpday $50 Giveaway

Hump Day $50 Giveaway

Thanks to the 30 wonderful bloggers listed below, it’s time for Hump Day Giveaway once again but this time, you’ll get a chance to win $60 instead of $50! This week’s task is for Facebook Page likes which is super easy to do. Feel free to visit all the wonderful blogs below once you’re done entering the giveaway. You can log on to Rafflecopter via your Facebook account, or your name and email (just make sure you’re Facebook is opened so you can easily like the pages).

Once you’ve liked ALL the pages (page to be opened through the Rafflecopter form), leave your Facebook Profile Name (not a Business/Blog Page) on the space provided for Extra Info after doing the task so we can verify your entry. It would be best if you enable us to see the pages that you liked in your info tab so we can announce the winner ASAP.

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Moms’ $500 Giveaway

Moms' $500 Paypal Cash Giveaway WorldwideI am a mom, and together with 49 other blogs mostly authored by mom bloggers, we’re giving everyone a chance to win a total prize of $500. For us MOMS, this is our way of giving back.

Below are the blogs of the fabulous moms who’ve teamed with me for this grand giveaway. Feel free to visit their blogs for other giveaways and deals, parenting insights or just drop by and say Hello.

My Tots Exactly| Fabulicious Diva | Pinay Mommy Online | Proud Mommy of Three | WAHMaholic | Nshima Servings | Pinay Mama | Pinoy M.D. | The Journalistic View | Mom’s Best Deals | Diva Fabulosa | Happy Home and Family | Foodies Galore | Free Travels and Tours | Topics on Earth | Fashion and Travel Siren | Hobby Lovey | Mom’s Ups and Down’s | Living a Diabetic Life | Pinay Ads | Tinkerputt’s Turf | Everything Nice | The Misis Chronicles | Pinay Mom In Germany | Experience of a Super Mommy | Nita’s Random Thoughts | Some Things Are Free | Zowanderer | Make or Break | Hearts Content of a Mama | Earn Money, Save Money | Trips and Travels | The Camera Bug | Pop Ups of My Mind | Work at home Mom | Healthful Choice | Written by Mys | Momsicle Online | Twenteen Mom | Momma Helps | Shop Vintage Clothing | I love Hues | Tottering Mama | Whims and Views | Coffee on the side | Samu’t Sari | My Kids in Germany | The 24-hour Mommy | Mom Shares | CDO Mom |
 

On the first entry, please don’t forget to put My Kids in Germany as the blog you’re entering on. The giveaway is open WORLDWIDE to anyone with a Paypal account by the time the winner is declared. It will be open from May 1, 2012 at 12:01 am EDT to May 13th, 2012 at 11:59pm EDT. There is no purchase required to join this giveaway and you should be 18 or older to join. The giveaway is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Facebook or Twitter and all data gathered will be kept confidential by the host and sponsors. The host reserves the right to remove/delete any fraudulent entries if found.

So go on ahead and enter through the Rafflecopter form below, and on behalf of the host and all the sponsors, Happy Mother’s Day to you (or your wife/mom).


a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

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Kitchen Aid Mania Giveaway

WELCOME TO THE KITCHEN AID MANIA GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away a white KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer to one lucky reader! This is a perfect Mother’s Day gift to every one who loves baking or simply just being in the kitchen! This was made possible by Bay Area Mommy, American Family and some of the most awesome bloggers!

KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer
- Retail Value: $349.99
- Color: White
- 325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl
- Tilt-back head for easy access to mixture
- 1 piece pouring shield with large chute for adding ingredients
- Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip
- Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches; 1-year warranty

Giveaway will run from April 29 at 12AM EST to May 9 at 11:59PM EST. Open to the US only. Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Angry Birds Addiction

Zyc has been playing Angry Birds lately. I was not introducing the game to them before for the fear of addiction. But since he saw the game, he can’t help but love it. He’s using my facebook account to play it and I see that he’s good at it. He loves the game and even watches Youtube videos of the different Angry Birds games. Last time he watched a video from Youtube from my phone and he asked if I could put Angry Birds application in it and I said no. My phone’s an old Nokia 5800 Express Music (yeah I know, very old one). He also asked me if we could buy a Samsung Galaxy so he can play the game. When we go to Mediamarkt (an appliance and gadget store here) he also plays the game in the iPad displays. Actually that’s where he learned about the game.  That’s how he’s addicted to it now.  And yes, he’s also asking for me to buy an iPad. But I thought, who needs iPad when we have this….

Hubby has this HP Elite laptop which can be made into a tablet which the kids also use when they want to make doodles.

Zyc so loved the Angry Birds he even hums the game’s “theme song”. Even I suffer last-song-syndrome when I hear him hum it. I have been watching him play lately and indeed it is really entertaining and it’s a game where one uses his mind and strategy. I hope he gets to do good in physics when he grows up because of this game. At least he’ll get to have something good out of this addiction.

For

Categories: play time | Tags: | 4 Comments

Patterns

I have devised an effective way for kids to follow what we want them to learn and to do. We call them pattern, alternates, specifically. Let me share you where we use them.

To Mix and Not to Mix

We’re starting to teach Zyc to eat without mixing his meal. Yes, he’s used to eating rice with the viand mixed together and not the usual viand on the side. So you can just imagine how his food looks like, not really pleasing especially when there’s ketchup on it. So we told him that it’s time to learn to eat like adults normally do. We did the alternates, he’ll eat the mixed meal the first day and not mixed on the next day. It is effective. Funny thing is he really remembers what I should do for the day. And I noticed that when he eats without mixing, he does away with the ketchup. But when he has to eat the mixed meal, I have to put ketchup on it (of course for viands that need ketchup only). Ryz is also following what her kuya does, too and is now starting to learn it.

Ryz first vs. Kuya First

Getting them to take a bath everyday is stressful for me especially if they’re pointing at each other who is going to get bathed first. I suddenly remembered when I and my big bro were young. We used to point at each other who’s supposed to wash the dishes and our dad usually get mad at us. So now, I made a schedule and have this…

So every time I ask them who’s going to take a bath first, they just check on my calendar.

Others may not agree with my method especially in the obedience aspect because I know they should be following what I tell them even without these schedules and pattern. I guess I just have to wait but still not stop instilling in them the values of responsibility, respect and obedience.

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Ryz plays Sudoku

I love puzzles. I don’t know why but I prefer solving them than playing other video games which require coordination of the hands and eyes. As I have told in my other blog, hubby and I solved jigsaw puzzles and these were our bonding moments when I was pregnant with our son.

I’m glad Ryz also liked puzzles and as I have observed, she loved solving any kind. We even saw her playing a game in the laptop which is also a puzzle but of different sort. It was circular in shape. Hubby and I were even wondering at first how to solve it but there she was acing the game!

Last time hubby taught her how to play Sudoku (number-placement puzzle the objective of which is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid (also called “boxes”, “blocks”, “regions”, or “sub-squares”) contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid, which typically has a unique solution.- Wikipedia) but in 6′s, which is in his cellphone. Now, Ryz always borrows hubby’s phone to play with it. This number puzzle was my past-time when I was pregnant with her. I had no time solving jigsaws then and I know I had to do something that can exercise my mind during my idle time. I guess I passed on that hobby to her.

I believe mind games such as this contributes to a child’s thinking ability and I.Q. and I’m glad that at an early age, Ryz is developing this habit. I hope she will continue playing this and many other games that would enhance her intelligence.

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How to apply a “time-out” effectively

I have been looking for techniques on how to discipline the kids, especially Ryz. I’ve already said in my post in my other blog about my problem with her and my fear of getting a heart ailment because of suppressing my anger and the stress it has been giving me. I’ve been hearing the time-out strategy and saw this even applied in Super Nanny which I really think is a very helpful TV program and I would recommend for parents to watch. It is not just for those who are having problems with their kids but to all parents in general.

image credit: Google images

A time-out involves temporarily separating a child from an environment where inappropriate behavior has occurred, and is intended to remove positive reinforcement of the behavior. It is an educational and parenting technique recommended by some pediatricians and developmental psychologists as an effective form of child discipline. Often a corner (hence the common term corner time) or a similar space where the child is to stand or sit during time-outs is designated. – Wikipedia

I was wondering how effective a time-out is and will my kids really be disciplined if I apply this to them.  Although it is said that this can be a useful strategy, how we do it and the circumstances could complicate and affect its success.

How to use a time-out:

Rationale. The main purpose behind the time-out is to give your child a time to calm down after a rage or any improper behavior and sort out his thoughts, hoping for him to realize what he has done wrong. This is not meant to scare him but just to take him away from the environment.

Consistent and Timely. In giving a time-out, you should apply it as soon as the behavior erupted. Do not wait after a few hours and use it. Pre-schoolers are the “right here, right now” type so giving them a time-out minutes or hours after will do no good. Stick to your decision and don’t give empty threats or delay the decision.  The idea is your child should know that bad behavior NOW is equivalent to a consequence NOW.

Select a quiet place. It is not a good idea to have their bedroom as the place for a time-out. It will not give them a chance to think because of the distractions surrounding them. The best place for a timeout is a chair situated in a quiet corner and is away from anything which could divert their attention to. It is important also that you have a visual of them while in a time-out.

Time frame. Pre-schoolers can not stay put for a long time so as soon as you see your child has calmed down you can let them leave the spot. If you see your child get up how many times from the time-out spot, give him two warnings and remind him that he can only get out if you say so. If he keeps on doing it, sit him on your lap, gently but firmly hold him until he’s calm. Deep breathing also helps. Show him how to deeply breath in from the nose and out from the mouth until he’s relaxed. Instead of yelling at him, stay quiet. Most importantly, do not use physical force just to get him to stay put in a time-out.

It’s never fun taking a time-out. Don’t think your child will be happy while taking a time-out. Some kids keep on yelling and shouting while in a time-out. Being so young and having these emotions that they can’t handle upset them. It’s better to be quiet and not fight with him while he’s in this situation. Let him calm down on his own. It’s okay if this doesn’t happen. The important thing is you should see an improvement in his behavior after a time-out.

Do not use the technique too much. If you feel like your child is spending almost the whole day in a time-out, it’s time you asses his behavior. Maybe he is just interested in his surroundings and being inquisitive. The best time to use the technique is when you see if his emotions are about to take over his senses.

Disciplining our kids can be very strenuous. It requires never ending patience on our part. As parents, we are responsible in honing our kids so they grow to be a respectful and responsible person.

 

 

 

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Ryz, her wound and a sister

I was so sad yesterday.  When hubby picked me up from my German class he told me that Kindergarten called and said that Ryz was hurt while going to the woods. It was their outdoor day and usually they go to the forest and do some explorations. So I said, ok. But I never thought that I would be that surprised when we went to fetch them…

I almost cried when I saw this wound and bump on her forehead. I never expected that it was this bad. Her teacher said that she ran while they were going to the woods and stumbled. And who wouldn’t while wearing rubber boots?! Ryz just loves to run…

After we picked the kids up, we just ate lunch and went straight to her Pediatrician. Good thing it was not that serious. He just gave her a pain reliever and told us to observe if she’ll vomit or would complain of pains. Nevertheless it was all okay.

The usual Ryz, it seemed nothing happened. She’s still that same, old active little girl after this accident.

On a lighter note she just came up with a name for her pink piggy bank while waiting for her doctor and I couldn’t get over it. I was suggesting her several names and she came up with just Piggy… Piggy Ramos. So there’s a new member in our family. :D

Categories: blogs, zhlryz | Tags: , | 4 Comments