Vacation advice...........great wolf lodge?

Me and my best friend (and her family) are going on a vacation to the Great wolf lodge in Canada.
We'll be staying there for about four days and her dad said we could pick the theme of the suite we would be staying in. (keep in mind.. she has two younger brothers..4 and 9.) But we don't really know any themes. So if you could name as many as you could that would be great! thaaankss

God bless~

Answer
Family Fireplace Suite Our suites are perfect for family time with a fireplace in the living area and two queen beds in a partitioned sleeping space. Youâll also find a spacious bathroom, two TVs and a full-size sleeper sofa. This suite may also feature a private balcony. To give the kids a Northwoods themed space of their own, consider the Wolf Den⢠and KidCabin® suites.

Family Suite Our suites are perfect for family time, with a semi-private living area with a full-size sleeper sofa in one half of the suite. Find two queen beds, a spacious bathroom and TV in the other half. This suite also features a private balcony or patio. Consider our themed suites, like the famous KidCabin®, for more Northwoods charm

Wolf Den⢠Suite The kids ⦠er, cubs ⦠sleep in the wolf den, an in-suite cave-themed area with a bunk bed. They can ârough itâ with movies and Nintendo on their own 20" flat screen LCD TV. In the main portion of the suite, adults can sprawl out on a queen bed and full-size sleeper sofa. They get their own TV too, presumably for movies and Nintendo as well. This suite also features a private balcony or patio. Consider our themed suites, like the famous KidCabin®, for more Northwoods charm.

KidKamp⢠Suite Let the kids pitch camp with their very own Northwoods tent in the suite. Thereâs a bunk bed and TV, so they can ârough itâ with movies and Nintendo. In the main portion of the suite, adults can sprawl out on a queen bed and full-size sleeper sofa. They get their own TV too, presumably for movies and Nintendo as well. This suite also features a private balcony or patio. If the kids might like an additional day bed, consider the KidCabin® Suite as a more spacious and equally charming alternative.

KidCabin® Suite Give the kids their own Northwoods log cabin nestled within this larger family suite. The cabin houses a bunk bed, day bed and their own TV, so they can ârough itâ with movies and Nintendo. In the main room, adults can sprawl out on a queen bed and full-size sleeper sofa. They get their own TV too, presumably for movies and Nintendo as well. This suite also features a gas fireplace and may include a private balcony or patio. The KidCabin® is more spacious than the similarly charming Wolf Den⢠Suite

Majestic Bear⢠Suite For a most luxurious lodge experience, reserve our Majestic Bear⢠Suite. Two bedrooms offer privacy and comfort, while a spacious wet bar and multiple TVs make this suite the most regal of dens for your family. ⢠The private master bedroom has a California king bed and 25â TV ⢠The second bedroom, in the main portion of the suite has 2 queen beds, a full-size sleeper sofa, and another TV. ⢠This suite also includes a private balcony or patio. The Majestic Bear comfortably accommodates up to 8 guests. The large wet bar area has seating for 4.

Loft Fireplace Suite Space for everyone and a fireplace where you can gather the pack, share stories and unwind. Downstairs, find two queen beds, a semi-private living room with a full-size sleeper sofa, gas fireplace and two TVs. March upstairs, and find a third queen bed, half-bath, vaulted ceilings, and a third TV. This suite also includes a private balcony.

Whirlpool Fireplace Suite Thereâs nothing like a private whirlpool to unwind after an exciting day. Fire up the gas fireplace, fill up the huge, deep whirlpool tub, and melt into a relaxing evening. Once youâre done soaking, sprawl out on the king-size bed or full-size sleeper sofa. This suite also boasts two 27â TVs and a private patio. For a larger pack, consider the comforts of our Majestic Bear⢠or Loft Fireplace suites

Queen Sofa Suite The Queen Sofa is our most economical room and includes 1 queen bed, sofa sleeper and 27" TV. This suite is accessible, and also includes a private patio.

Am a first time camper, next month will be having a 2 day camping in a campsite.?

bisdak

We will be four in a tent, me, my wife and our 2 kids, 11 and 10 years old...I have no idea what tents to buy and other things to bring...Whats the best tent to buy? since am new to camping, I want a tent thats easy to install but can accomodate us comfortably..

Answer
You didn't say if you were driving to a campground (like a state park) or hiking in. I will assume you are driving in, where you can access your vehicle and that you aren't going really high up. The more elevation, the colder it will be, especially at night. Adjust accordingly.

You should go to a sporting goods store and check the tents out first to find the size you want. I think the ones that say "6 person" are a little better. They give you room to sleep and stow some of your gear (clothes, etc).

If you are only going for two days, you should get a 1 room fairly simple one with a rain fly. You can find one probably $50-$75 at the cheapest. The inexpensive ones have a couple of long poles that come apart and you basically make two "bows" into an "X" pattern. These usually only take a few minutes to set up. If you really want to spend money, you can get one with multiple rooms or a little vestibule for taking off shoes or whatnot. Costco has one for $150 that sets up in seconds, according to the ad. I bought mine from Costco maybe 8-10 years ago for around $50, but it's an older style one.

You will want air mattresses, at least one double for you and your wife. Probably singles for your kids. Most kids don't need them, but it's nice. You can buy a cheap pump that runs off of your 12v car outlet. Since it is summer, you can buy light sleeping bags. You can even get away with regular bedding on an air mattress pretty easy. Don't forget pillows.

Camping stove -- 2 burner propane usually works fine. Bring crappy pans (we get ours at Goodwill). Don't forget a couple of tubs for washing dishes. I take paper plates and paper cups with no wax, so they burn easy. Maybe I should recycle...bah, I just eliminate more dishes.

Lantern or at least flashlights. I have a two mantle propane lantern and several small LED flashlights.


Here are some of the small things we usually bring:

cooler and ice
toilet paper (USFS and most state parks have single ply thin stuff)
baby wipes (good for cleaning up)
Rope, bungee cords, etc for hanging things
bags (for garbage, cans, etc) paper or plastic
small hatchet or axe and a pocket knife or leatherman
metal prongs designed for cooking over the fire (s'mores and hot dogs)
Small broom. For cleaning out the tent or clearing area to put tent
bug spray and sunblock
newspaper (fire starter)
can opener


Depending on the location and the amount of room you have in your vehicle, you might want to consider bringing firewood. It's usually expensive at or near campgrounds.

I might be forgetting a few things. I go camping a lot. I live about an hour away from two National Forests and several state parks. We actually have a 20-some gallon tote full of our stuff and we just bring that in the back of our truck.

have fun!

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Am a first time camper, next month will be having a 2 day camping in a campsite.?

kids tents for full size beds image

bisdak

We will be four in a tent, me, my wife and our 2 kids, 11 and 10 years old...I have no idea what tents to buy and other things to bring...Whats the best tent to buy? since am new to camping, I want a tent thats easy to install but can accomodate us comfortably..

Answer
You didn't say if you were driving to a campground (like a state park) or hiking in. I will assume you are driving in, where you can access your vehicle and that you aren't going really high up. The more elevation, the colder it will be, especially at night. Adjust accordingly.

You should go to a sporting goods store and check the tents out first to find the size you want. I think the ones that say "6 person" are a little better. They give you room to sleep and stow some of your gear (clothes, etc).

If you are only going for two days, you should get a 1 room fairly simple one with a rain fly. You can find one probably $50-$75 at the cheapest. The inexpensive ones have a couple of long poles that come apart and you basically make two "bows" into an "X" pattern. These usually only take a few minutes to set up. If you really want to spend money, you can get one with multiple rooms or a little vestibule for taking off shoes or whatnot. Costco has one for $150 that sets up in seconds, according to the ad. I bought mine from Costco maybe 8-10 years ago for around $50, but it's an older style one.

You will want air mattresses, at least one double for you and your wife. Probably singles for your kids. Most kids don't need them, but it's nice. You can buy a cheap pump that runs off of your 12v car outlet. Since it is summer, you can buy light sleeping bags. You can even get away with regular bedding on an air mattress pretty easy. Don't forget pillows.

Camping stove -- 2 burner propane usually works fine. Bring crappy pans (we get ours at Goodwill). Don't forget a couple of tubs for washing dishes. I take paper plates and paper cups with no wax, so they burn easy. Maybe I should recycle...bah, I just eliminate more dishes.

Lantern or at least flashlights. I have a two mantle propane lantern and several small LED flashlights.


Here are some of the small things we usually bring:

cooler and ice
toilet paper (USFS and most state parks have single ply thin stuff)
baby wipes (good for cleaning up)
Rope, bungee cords, etc for hanging things
bags (for garbage, cans, etc) paper or plastic
small hatchet or axe and a pocket knife or leatherman
metal prongs designed for cooking over the fire (s'mores and hot dogs)
Small broom. For cleaning out the tent or clearing area to put tent
bug spray and sunblock
newspaper (fire starter)
can opener


Depending on the location and the amount of room you have in your vehicle, you might want to consider bringing firewood. It's usually expensive at or near campgrounds.

I might be forgetting a few things. I go camping a lot. I live about an hour away from two National Forests and several state parks. We actually have a 20-some gallon tote full of our stuff and we just bring that in the back of our truck.

have fun!

Can you include these 7 phrases in a fantasy story of your own creation?? (just for WORDPLAY!)

Silva

1) A field full of gumdrops.
2) The trail led me to a for-boding castle floating on marshmallow clouds.
3)The sun was a sparkly purple disco ball and the moon a shimmering neon green sliver!
4) You mean to tell me that_____are/is your ruler(s)??!!
5)What is this place...
6)I trembled as________.
7)______ do not talk!!! What did you say?

Answer
GUMDROPS AND POLYESTER

NEVER finish a liverwurst sandwich and a hot fudge sunday just before going to bed. Especially if you mix in a combination of children's cartoon DVDs and the Jay Leno show. Ugh!

It had been a dreary February weekend, with snow flurries and wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour. My three year old twins had been fighting all day, and my husband Jay's return flight from a business trip had been cancelled. The airline had directed him to a hotel and reassigned him to an early morning flight.

The worsening storm seemed to intensify the behavior of my little hooligans. After the most recent dual Tasmanian Devil dance, my mother's 80 year old china teapot became mosaic fodder. Normally, I don't go in for a lot of "television tending", but I had had it! So, after the evening news, we had a Princess Barbie and Rainbow Brite marathon.

Who thinks up this syrupy drivel? When I was growing up, Merrie Meodies and Johnny Quest were regular Saturday contenders. Nobody went bouncing around on clouds in Never Never Land. But, as the night wore on, I had to admit that the shows were better than children sized straight jackets. In no time at all the kids were slack jawed and mesmerized by the boob tube. By nine o'clock, I had a couple of yawning, droopy eyed little girls on my hands, and not a second too soon! I found myself mentally cliniging tightly to the cartoon unicorn's mane, heading straight for the Land of Catatonia.

After I bundled them off to bed, I realized I was starving. My Cocoa Puffs dinner eaten underneath a card table and blanket tent with the kids had worn off. So, I made myself a "sammich", which is Jay's vernacular for a mondo, extra yummy treat situated between two slices of bread. Suddenly, the kitchen was unnervingly quiet. Felix the Cat tick tocked at me and stared with his shifty eyes as the second hand slowly went around his stomach.

The silence left me feeling edgy, so back to the TV I went. The hot fudge sunday and Jay Leno came to an end within minutes of each other. I stood up and yawned, ready for bed. The day's events had finally caught up to me. I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.
*********************************************************
In the dream, I was riding the crazy unicorn through a field full of gumdrops. In the pale pink sky, the sun was a sparkly purple disco ball and the moon a shimmering neon green silver! I searched the horizon, but found my cream puff companions were nowhere to be seen. For some reason this really annoyed me. The unicorn spoke up. "You shouldn't have done it. Bad girls can't go to the ball. The Fairy Godmother won't allow it." "WHAT???" I exclaimed, almost falling off its back. "Unicorns do not talk!!! What did you say?" It turned its head and shot me a withering glare. "You heard me perfectly well," it snapped. "Furthermore, you will NOT get the golden slippers. You must return to the cottage and wear cheap polyester!"

Things were getting stranger by the minute as the landscape morphed into a field of candy corn wildflowers. We were clopping along on a graham cracker crust trail. "What is this place..." I trailed off. The unicorn seemed to be in a snit, and was not answering.

Further along, the trail led me to a foreboding castle floating on marshmallow clouds. The unicorn picked up speed. I trembled as it galloped toward a jelly bean encrusted draw bridge. Up and over we flew, landing inside of the castle. Familiar music was wafting down from the main hall. I listened carefully. It was the theme music from the Jay Leno Show! And there he sat on his throne as the band finished up the tune. "Ah!" he barked, turning toward me. "Our next guest is a notorious felon known throughout the land for her evil deeds!" he cackled delightedly. "Please...make yourself at home," he said graciously, his hand sweeping to a row of black leather chairs. I carefully climbed off the unicorn, who gave a disgusted snort and trotted away. As I sat down, Leno eyed me up and down and snickered. Now I was really annoyed. "What's so funny?" I demanded. He gave me a knowing look. "The President was right. Look at your clothes. How gauche! Even if you were a good person, they would never let you in. Barbie's bouncers would throw you out in the street." I was astonished. "WHAT?? You mean to tell me that Barbie is your ruler??!!" He looked surprised. "Well, of course. She has the wardrobe, the pink convertible and the mansion." I was standing now. Jay shook me by the shoulders. "Haven't you heard? Everyone wants to be Barbie. That b*tch has everything!"

The shaking got more violent. Jay said, "Barbara? Barbie? Honey, wake up!" It was my husband. Through one open eye I saw weak light spilling in from the window. "What time is it?" "It's 6:30. I just got in." My head was still sleep muddled as the dream faded. "I should be back at the cottage... wearing polyester," I mumbled. He gave me a quizzical glance as reality began to reassemble itself. I could tell he was waiting for an explanation. "Never mind," I said. "You wouldn't understand unless you were there." I hauled myself up, thinking about the day ahead. Whatever happened, I decided I was swearing off Rainbow Brite and Jay Leno. Forever.

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To those who live in a Small house/Space, how do you make room for babies and kids things?

kids tents for full size beds image

Sophia's M

My husband and I live in a 1200 square foot bungalow which has two bedrooms down stairs and 1 full bath. Upstairs has 1 large Bedroom and Half Bath...We want more children in the future but we don't see ourself moving anytime soon. I am trying to find a good way to make more space for my child and her toys and things. Any tips

Answer
I am also in a small space - 900 sf 2 bed / 1 bath apt - and we have a toddler and twins on the way.

Our lease is up at the same time I am due. It would be really bad timing to move, so we plan to stick it out here for a year and get into a larger place next year.

We've adapted by making our space very child centered. We have a train table instead of a coffee table. The kitchen is too small for a full-size dining room table, so we sit Japanese style at a toddler-size table. The living room is the play room (as well as my daughter's room). The living room also houses our computers and office stuff which we have compactly on one wall. The futon couch doubles as a guest bed when we have company.

My daughter's closet now has two rods for clothing (one high and one low) to accommodate the twins' wardrobe. Her bedroom has enough room to have 2 beds - a full size bed for co-sleeping/nursing and a smaller toddler bed. Her BIG tent will have to be packed up once we set up the toddler bed, but we plan to replace it with a smaller collapsible version. The train table may also temporarily go into storage to make space for some baby gear.

In your situation, I would make the large upstairs bedroom into a play room and let the rest of your house be relatively clutter-free.

What are views on folding campers / trailor tents?

0

We have three small children and want to camp in comfort - we have seen a trailor tent for a very good proce on eBay - what are your views?

I want to go away for 3-4 weeks and cannot bear the thought of staying in a normal tent for that time, and cannot afford a hotel...

Answer
Pop-up campers are ideal for families with small children. Most are light enough to be easily towed behind a 6-cylinder vehicle without a huge sacrifice in fuel economy. Unlike motorized RV's, a pop-up does not need separate liability insurance or expensive maintenance (though inexpensive RV insurance is advisable on newer units that still have good value).

One big advantage of a pop-up versus tent camping is your camper can be cleaned and re-stocked after each trip so you just need to add perishable foods and clothing to head out on your next adventure. There is enough storage space to keep all of your gear permanently inside the camper, either in the cabinets or in storage bins on the floor. So you don't need to shoe-horn your tent, sleeping bags, cooking gear, food and clothing in the car with the family, making the driving portion of your trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

The other big advantage is the additional comfort and protection. Thick foam mattresses and heavy canvas tent material, combined with the solid roof, floor and partial walls of the main body, offer additional insulation, weather protection and security versus a tent. You can choose a model that has a propane furnace to safely heat your camper in cold weather, and fans or even air conditioning to keep cool in the summer.

Most pop-ups have a galley with a sink, fresh water supply, and a propane stove that can be used inside or outside. They carry one or two 20Lb propane tanks externally so you don't have to deal with disposable propane canisters (you might need adapters and extra hose if you want to use a gas BBQ grill). There is a 12V battery to run lights and small appliances when no AC electrical hook-ups are available, but you also have the option to hook-up to "shore power" to run your air conditioner (if equipped or added), microwave oven (again, if equipped or added) or other higher-power devices. Small 3-way refrigerators are common in larger pop-ups.

Some things to consider when choosing a pop-up:

1. Where will everyone sleep?
_ a.) Small kids can share a bed, 3 small kids fit on a king-size mattress.
_ b.) The dinette folds into a bed, but only 48" wide, so sharing is "intimate."
_ c.) The dinette might be too short for a single teen/adult. Check before you buy.
_ d.) Older boys don't like sharing beds. Make sure you have sleeping options.
_ e.) Kids like to invite relatives and friends. Complicates all the above.
_ f.) An add-a-room and some cots can provide additional sleeping options.

2. Bathroom or not?
We never had a bathroom in our pop-ups and didn't miss it. Worst case is you setup a chemical toilet and shower bag in a privacy shelter outside, but mostly we relied on the campground facilities for toilet and shower needs. Our hybrid camper (a full-box travel trailer with fold-out bed ends) has a small bathroom, which we use when dry camping, but we prefer to use the campground facilities when available to avoid adding humidity or smell to the camper. No built-in bathroom also eliminates the most hated of RV chores: dealing with the sewer line and holding tanks.

3. Water heater or not?
Even without an inside bathroom or nearby facilities, a quick hot shower is a welcome luxury. When dry camping it is much preferred to bag showers, and at a full-service campground it makes quick clean-ups after swimming more convenient. The only disadvantage is a shower will use up water quickly when dry camping, and takes-up storage space.

4. Air conditioner or not?
They often ice-up and stop working when you want them the most, particularly in a pop-up camper that's not as well insulated as a full-box travel trailer or motorized RV. The A/C requires an electrical hook-up or a minimum 3500-watt generator. A/C is noisy and a generator makes things worse. We found that even in the desert during summer, once we acclimated to the temperatures, nights were comfortable with only fans. But in hot and humid, A/C might be desirable.

5. Awnings
One awning is highly recommended. Two is even better. We rarely ate or just hung-out inside our campers, even with the large hybrid, even in the rain and cold weather. With our last pop-up we had one awning on each side. The "front" awning was used as our hang-out area, sometimes with an add-a-room to keep out the bugs. The "back" awning was where we setup our kitchen and dining area.

6. Storage
An outside storage trunk is a great feature. Just remember to unload it before extending the front bed slide. Some pop-ups have a slide-out drawer that can be accessed when the bed is extended, but this cuts down on storage capacity and doesn't allow large items. Use stacking storage bins to storage space; small in cabinets, large to stack on the floor during transit.

Always buy used. Most people use their camper 2 or 3 times a year, so even a 10 year old camper - if well maintained - can be in great condition at huge savings.

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how do i get 5 year old to sleep in new bed?

kids tents for full size beds image

Melinda Su

shes had it over 6 months she has new dora blankets and a nightlight. she will play in her room in the day. but will sleep on couch or living room floor at night. hy wont she sleep in the new bed. what can i do to try to get her used to it
????????

Answer
Help them overcome nighttime fears. Many children want to sleep with parents because they are afraid to sleep alone. They may be afraid of the dark. They may be afraid of "monsters." They may have real issues that are causing fear. Talk to your child to find out why she wants to sleep with you and then arm her with tools that will make her feel secure. This might mean giving her a flashlight, a bottle of monster spray or teaching her a saying that will make her less afraid.

2
Make his bed and bedroom more desirable than yours. Moms and dads tend to have great big beds that are soft and warm and fun to sleep in. Make your child's bed fun in a way that is unique for him. Put up a tent over his bed. Add a feather bed under the sheets (for kids over 5). Consider a loft bed or full-sized bed (based on age). Do a bit of decorating in exchange for a promise to sleep in his own bed.

3
Have snuggle time in the morning. If it is snuggle time your child does not want to give up, then give them snuggle time in the morning. After she has slept in her bed all night, allow her to come into your bed for a 15 minute snuggle time before you start your day.

4
Send her to the bathroom when she wakes up. Some kids get up because they have to go to the bedroom. Habit, however, brings them to mom's and dad's bed instead, where they may also have an accident. When they stand over you saying "I woke up," just answer, "because you have to go to the bathroom," and then direct them there.

5
Return them to their beds. Be persistent about bringing them to their beds every time they try to get into yours. Give in one time, and you have given them the idea that if they nag and whine, you will let them in.

6
Lock your door. Once the child reaches the age of 8 and 9 (and are of equal maturity), lock your door. This way, they cannot sneak into your bed on those times when you are sleeping too deeply to protest. This will also tell them that they need to be invited into the bed and are not allowed access to it whenever they want.

Am a first time camper, next month will be having a 2 day camping in a campsite.?

bisdak

We will be four in a tent, me, my wife and our 2 kids, 11 and 10 years old...I have no idea what tents to buy and other things to bring...Whats the best tent to buy? since am new to camping, I want a tent thats easy to install but can accomodate us comfortably..

Answer
You didn't say if you were driving to a campground (like a state park) or hiking in. I will assume you are driving in, where you can access your vehicle and that you aren't going really high up. The more elevation, the colder it will be, especially at night. Adjust accordingly.

You should go to a sporting goods store and check the tents out first to find the size you want. I think the ones that say "6 person" are a little better. They give you room to sleep and stow some of your gear (clothes, etc).

If you are only going for two days, you should get a 1 room fairly simple one with a rain fly. You can find one probably $50-$75 at the cheapest. The inexpensive ones have a couple of long poles that come apart and you basically make two "bows" into an "X" pattern. These usually only take a few minutes to set up. If you really want to spend money, you can get one with multiple rooms or a little vestibule for taking off shoes or whatnot. Costco has one for $150 that sets up in seconds, according to the ad. I bought mine from Costco maybe 8-10 years ago for around $50, but it's an older style one.

You will want air mattresses, at least one double for you and your wife. Probably singles for your kids. Most kids don't need them, but it's nice. You can buy a cheap pump that runs off of your 12v car outlet. Since it is summer, you can buy light sleeping bags. You can even get away with regular bedding on an air mattress pretty easy. Don't forget pillows.

Camping stove -- 2 burner propane usually works fine. Bring crappy pans (we get ours at Goodwill). Don't forget a couple of tubs for washing dishes. I take paper plates and paper cups with no wax, so they burn easy. Maybe I should recycle...bah, I just eliminate more dishes.

Lantern or at least flashlights. I have a two mantle propane lantern and several small LED flashlights.


Here are some of the small things we usually bring:

cooler and ice
toilet paper (USFS and most state parks have single ply thin stuff)
baby wipes (good for cleaning up)
Rope, bungee cords, etc for hanging things
bags (for garbage, cans, etc) paper or plastic
small hatchet or axe and a pocket knife or leatherman
metal prongs designed for cooking over the fire (s'mores and hot dogs)
Small broom. For cleaning out the tent or clearing area to put tent
bug spray and sunblock
newspaper (fire starter)
can opener


Depending on the location and the amount of room you have in your vehicle, you might want to consider bringing firewood. It's usually expensive at or near campgrounds.

I might be forgetting a few things. I go camping a lot. I live about an hour away from two National Forests and several state parks. We actually have a 20-some gallon tote full of our stuff and we just bring that in the back of our truck.

have fun!

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Can you include these 7 phrases in a fantasy story of your own creation?? (just for WORDPLAY!)

kids tents for full size beds image

Silva

1) A field full of gumdrops.
2) The trail led me to a for-boding castle floating on marshmallow clouds.
3)The sun was a sparkly purple disco ball and the moon a shimmering neon green sliver!
4) You mean to tell me that_____are/is your ruler(s)??!!
5)What is this place...
6)I trembled as________.
7)______ do not talk!!! What did you say?

Answer
GUMDROPS AND POLYESTER

NEVER finish a liverwurst sandwich and a hot fudge sunday just before going to bed. Especially if you mix in a combination of children's cartoon DVDs and the Jay Leno show. Ugh!

It had been a dreary February weekend, with snow flurries and wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour. My three year old twins had been fighting all day, and my husband Jay's return flight from a business trip had been cancelled. The airline had directed him to a hotel and reassigned him to an early morning flight.

The worsening storm seemed to intensify the behavior of my little hooligans. After the most recent dual Tasmanian Devil dance, my mother's 80 year old china teapot became mosaic fodder. Normally, I don't go in for a lot of "television tending", but I had had it! So, after the evening news, we had a Princess Barbie and Rainbow Brite marathon.

Who thinks up this syrupy drivel? When I was growing up, Merrie Meodies and Johnny Quest were regular Saturday contenders. Nobody went bouncing around on clouds in Never Never Land. But, as the night wore on, I had to admit that the shows were better than children sized straight jackets. In no time at all the kids were slack jawed and mesmerized by the boob tube. By nine o'clock, I had a couple of yawning, droopy eyed little girls on my hands, and not a second too soon! I found myself mentally cliniging tightly to the cartoon unicorn's mane, heading straight for the Land of Catatonia.

After I bundled them off to bed, I realized I was starving. My Cocoa Puffs dinner eaten underneath a card table and blanket tent with the kids had worn off. So, I made myself a "sammich", which is Jay's vernacular for a mondo, extra yummy treat situated between two slices of bread. Suddenly, the kitchen was unnervingly quiet. Felix the Cat tick tocked at me and stared with his shifty eyes as the second hand slowly went around his stomach.

The silence left me feeling edgy, so back to the TV I went. The hot fudge sunday and Jay Leno came to an end within minutes of each other. I stood up and yawned, ready for bed. The day's events had finally caught up to me. I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.
*********************************************************
In the dream, I was riding the crazy unicorn through a field full of gumdrops. In the pale pink sky, the sun was a sparkly purple disco ball and the moon a shimmering neon green silver! I searched the horizon, but found my cream puff companions were nowhere to be seen. For some reason this really annoyed me. The unicorn spoke up. "You shouldn't have done it. Bad girls can't go to the ball. The Fairy Godmother won't allow it." "WHAT???" I exclaimed, almost falling off its back. "Unicorns do not talk!!! What did you say?" It turned its head and shot me a withering glare. "You heard me perfectly well," it snapped. "Furthermore, you will NOT get the golden slippers. You must return to the cottage and wear cheap polyester!"

Things were getting stranger by the minute as the landscape morphed into a field of candy corn wildflowers. We were clopping along on a graham cracker crust trail. "What is this place..." I trailed off. The unicorn seemed to be in a snit, and was not answering.

Further along, the trail led me to a foreboding castle floating on marshmallow clouds. The unicorn picked up speed. I trembled as it galloped toward a jelly bean encrusted draw bridge. Up and over we flew, landing inside of the castle. Familiar music was wafting down from the main hall. I listened carefully. It was the theme music from the Jay Leno Show! And there he sat on his throne as the band finished up the tune. "Ah!" he barked, turning toward me. "Our next guest is a notorious felon known throughout the land for her evil deeds!" he cackled delightedly. "Please...make yourself at home," he said graciously, his hand sweeping to a row of black leather chairs. I carefully climbed off the unicorn, who gave a disgusted snort and trotted away. As I sat down, Leno eyed me up and down and snickered. Now I was really annoyed. "What's so funny?" I demanded. He gave me a knowing look. "The President was right. Look at your clothes. How gauche! Even if you were a good person, they would never let you in. Barbie's bouncers would throw you out in the street." I was astonished. "WHAT?? You mean to tell me that Barbie is your ruler??!!" He looked surprised. "Well, of course. She has the wardrobe, the pink convertible and the mansion." I was standing now. Jay shook me by the shoulders. "Haven't you heard? Everyone wants to be Barbie. That b*tch has everything!"

The shaking got more violent. Jay said, "Barbara? Barbie? Honey, wake up!" It was my husband. Through one open eye I saw weak light spilling in from the window. "What time is it?" "It's 6:30. I just got in." My head was still sleep muddled as the dream faded. "I should be back at the cottage... wearing polyester," I mumbled. He gave me a quizzical glance as reality began to reassemble itself. I could tell he was waiting for an explanation. "Never mind," I said. "You wouldn't understand unless you were there." I hauled myself up, thinking about the day ahead. Whatever happened, I decided I was swearing off Rainbow Brite and Jay Leno. Forever.

How can I keep my cat out of the baby's crib?

I have been trying EVERYTHING the past few months to keep him out of the crib but nothing works. I tried the water bottle which works for about 5 minutes. I tried the spray that supposedly keeps cats off stuff, he doesn't seem to care. I tell him no and take him out everytime I see them in there. I tried tin foil to scare him when he jump in but he thinks its just fun to play with. Im seriously at a dead end as to what to do, but no I will not get rid of him because he is a part of our family and is not only my cat. I know people will suggest the crib tent which I really want but we have the crib that makes a full size bed with the back of the crib higher than the front so they dont work with that kind. The only option I can think of is to keep the door shut at all times, but I dont like that at all because it is a small 1 bedroom apartment so my bed is in there too and I love the cat sleeping with me at night so shutting him out I just feel horrible because they really have no where else to go since our place is so small and he like sleeping with me. please if you know something i havent tried let me know. the baby is due soon and i want to fix this before she gets here.

Answer
Leave the cat alone. It'll keep the kid company.

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Toddler getting limbs stuck in crib rails?

kids tents for full size beds image

mtgcnv67

We bought a 3-in-1 convertible crib when we were expecting our son: starts out as a crib, then one piece comes off (what will be the "foot-board"), and then later, the side walls come off and the front and back are used for a full-size bed. Anyway, it looks pretty much like every other crib I've ever seen, with vertical "poles", and lately, my son has been getting his arms or his legs stuck in them.

It's not a dangerous situation...it just takes a simple twist of the limb to get it out, which he's usually too upset to figure out for himself at the time.

It's become a nuisance and another "excuse" for crying and putting off going to sleep at bedtime.

I thought about putting back the decorative pads for the cribs, so his limbs don't accidentally slip through the rails while he's moving in his sleep, but I'm afraid he'll just end up playing with them or using them to climb on during the day while he's playing alone in his room.

Any tips of how to prevent this from happening?

Answer
We don't have a big issue with this, though my daughter (two next week) takes her favorite stuffed animals to bed, and makes a sort of nest of blankets to sleep in. She lines the blankets against the rails.

There are also these mesh bumper type things, and i'm pretty sure that you can get taller ones, but I thought those were pretty cool. Some come with a kind of tent structure to put over top to keep kids from climbing out.

or, as someone else suggested, you could just try the toddler bed out, gradually. I'd start with just nap time until he's comfortable with that, then progress to all night. it'll take a little patience, but from what I hear, it tends to be easier when they're younger (no idea how old your son is). I've heard of kids transferring to toddler beds at 12 mos, and typically they stay in bed a lot quicker than an older toddler. (maybe I've heard only exceptions, but, might be worth a try?)

how do i get 5 year old to sleep in new bed?

Melinda Su

shes had it over 6 months she has new dora blankets and a nightlight. she will play in her room in the day. but will sleep on couch or living room floor at night. hy wont she sleep in the new bed. what can i do to try to get her used to it
????????

Answer
Help them overcome nighttime fears. Many children want to sleep with parents because they are afraid to sleep alone. They may be afraid of the dark. They may be afraid of "monsters." They may have real issues that are causing fear. Talk to your child to find out why she wants to sleep with you and then arm her with tools that will make her feel secure. This might mean giving her a flashlight, a bottle of monster spray or teaching her a saying that will make her less afraid.

2
Make his bed and bedroom more desirable than yours. Moms and dads tend to have great big beds that are soft and warm and fun to sleep in. Make your child's bed fun in a way that is unique for him. Put up a tent over his bed. Add a feather bed under the sheets (for kids over 5). Consider a loft bed or full-sized bed (based on age). Do a bit of decorating in exchange for a promise to sleep in his own bed.

3
Have snuggle time in the morning. If it is snuggle time your child does not want to give up, then give them snuggle time in the morning. After she has slept in her bed all night, allow her to come into your bed for a 15 minute snuggle time before you start your day.

4
Send her to the bathroom when she wakes up. Some kids get up because they have to go to the bedroom. Habit, however, brings them to mom's and dad's bed instead, where they may also have an accident. When they stand over you saying "I woke up," just answer, "because you have to go to the bathroom," and then direct them there.

5
Return them to their beds. Be persistent about bringing them to their beds every time they try to get into yours. Give in one time, and you have given them the idea that if they nag and whine, you will let them in.

6
Lock your door. Once the child reaches the age of 8 and 9 (and are of equal maturity), lock your door. This way, they cannot sneak into your bed on those times when you are sleeping too deeply to protest. This will also tell them that they need to be invited into the bed and are not allowed access to it whenever they want.

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