Kudos for the team at Rooster Teeth Shorts for this gem.

My grandmother died when I was very young, but my memories of her Christmases are indelible.

The enormous pink flocked Christmas tree. The delicate Norwegian cookies. The lefse and the lutefisk (it's hard to forget this pungent fish). The almond hidden in the baked rice for one special grandchild.

One tradition that died with Grandma was her candy wreath, which she hung on her front door during the Christmas season. It was an explosion of Brachs candies, a temptation that was beyond self-control. We'd snip off the candy with the scissors tied to the wreath, leaving behind the colorful ribbon.

So a few years ago, when my sister sent me a candy wreath of her own creation, it was one of those gifts that flooded me with tear-filled memories. I loved it. And so did my kids.

The next year, I realized what a chore it was to tie dozens and dozens of candies around the wreath with ribbon. No wonder my own busy mom didn't continue the tradition. And besides, the kids shouldn't be eating so much candy and we probably don't have as many visitors as Grandma did back in the days of afternoon coffee parties.

I don't know what got into me this year, but I decided to bring out the wreath. I sat for three hours with ribbon and bags of candy and painstakingly tied pieces around the wreath, building on the ribbon left behind from my one previous attempt. My daughter helped me for about 5 mintues before she got bored.

Nobody needs candy, I know. But we do need traditions. And maybe this is one my kids will remember when they have homes of their own.

As parents, there is only one thing on our children's Christmas list that instills fear in our hearts from the moment we hear it. That one thing we fear is... "one thing."

"I only want one thing, Mom. A laptop."

"The only thing on my Christmas list is a set of tires for my car."

"Dad, can you get me a space shuttle? That's all I want."

You get three or four kids who want "one thing" each, and it's going to set you back a few thousand dollars for sure.

But it's not always so bad. I, too, want just one thing. It's not a new TV or a new garage door opener (although either would be nice). Nope. Just one thing.

I want everyone in my household, my wife, my stepdaughters, my son and his little brother, who should arrive in April, to be healthy.

Oh, did I mention...?

Keep up with Sun Sentinel writer Rafael Olmeda on Facebook and Twitter.

This year, I'll kick off a new list, but I'm more interested in your thoughts. I now present Christmas Music From Heck 2010. In no particular order:

1. The Little Drummer Boy (Bing Crosby and David Bowie)

I want to meet the first person who thought of combining ham and cheese and shake his hand. I want to hug the person who put chocolate in peanut butter. And the person who first decided to add the tastes of bacon and eggs to a morning meal deserves the highest of high fives. But whoever looked at David Bowie and said "you know what you need to do? You need to sing a Christmas carol with Bing Crosby" needs to be tarred and feathered.

It's not that either of them is a bad singer or that their voices don't blend well. It's just, well, it's not the Little Drummer Boy. It starts out as the Little Drummer Boy (the Reader's Digest Heavily Abridged Version), but then Bowie starts singing a totally different song. Then Bing joins him. And you're sitting there wondering where the devil these lyrics came from and what one song has to do with the other. The ultimate effect is like ice cream and cheeseburgers: two great tastes that don't taste great together.

Now, I recognize I'm being a little unfair here: there are not many versions of The Little Drummer Boy that I like. I hate when it's sung by women, or by a chorus of boys who sound like women. And that eliminates about 95 percent of the versions on the market. Here's a version I really, really like. See if you recognize who's singing:

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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Dean Martin)

Too self-consciously cool to enjoy, this version of the song is like nails on a chalkboard for the sin of one lousy word. Rudy. Rudy? is that supposed to be short for Rudolph? Hey, it might save ink, but when you're singing it, it's just two syllables either way. You haven't saved space or time. All you've done is call attention to the fact that you're so cool you call Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer "Rudy." Like I'm supposed to be impressed, like you're not only on a first-name basis with Mr. Glo-Nose, but you're drinking buddies. Come off it!

Continue reading "Christmas Music From Heck 2010" »

We have friends who, despite all their planning and painstaking efforts to hide Christmas gifts - one of their kids found at least one. And it wasn't just any old stocking stuffer: it was the big daddy of the season - a video game system.

At first, the discoverer was feeling very victorious. But needless to say, everyone was upset - including the sibling who told on him. The parents were frustrated and a bit deflated. Still, they're giving him the present on Christmas day.

So, what gift-hiding tricks do you practice? Where is the best place to hide a gift? If your child discovered where the stash of presents were hidden - would you still give those gifts? Would you punish him or her?

If my kid discovered something meant as a gift for him - depending on the age - obviously I'd explain the concept of a surprise. As he gets older, I expect more common sense and sensitivity on his part.

I have to admit, sometimes I've hidden things in plain sight. And right now, I'm just hoping he doesn't decide he has to clean under his bed between now and Christmas!

If you’re a working parent, then you know that taking a few days off around a holiday can sometimes be more work than play — not just around the house with the kids home from school, but at work, too, trying to get everything done before you leave the office for a few days.

Lots of parents overwork themselves so they don’t feel guilty about taking a real break. I know that if I don’t get everything done on my list, I can’t fully relax.

Being busy and trying to do too much can make it hard to see what’s really important in life. Do as much as you can and learn to let go what can wait.

So if on Thanksgiving your mind is racing or if you’re stressed out with work or the holidays, try focusing on what’s in front of you, not what isn’t. Enjoy the extra time you have with your family all together, and worry about your to-do list later. Thirty years from now, when you look back on your life, you’ll wish you did.

Have a relaxed Thanksgiving!

Continue reading "Cross-dressing kids on Halloween" »

Movie Videos & Movie Scenes at MOVIECLIPS.com

I'm researching for an article about saying grace on Thanksgiving. Wondering if people get butterflies speaking in front of their loved ones, or if you're one of those people that kind of ducks in a corner when they scan the room looking for an orator.

Gratuitous film clip: Maybe you have a fear of being like Ben Stiller in "Meet the Parents"?

If you have any thoughts or anecdotes, e-mail me at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com. Include your name and day time phone number.

I still get a chuckle thinking about that great line in the Christmas Story movie – where the boy’s wish for a bb gun is insatiable.

He’s rebuffed with the comment: “You’ll shoot your eye out, Kid.”

It’s funny, but not really.

Just like fireworks – they’re awesome, but that doesn’t make them safe to be around.

July 4th isn’t the time to teach your kid how to light a match – torch a wick and throw it in the air – all in one smooth motion. In fact it’s downright dangerous – adults – professionals - have perished doing just that. (I’m still very cautious when I light the BBQ grill)

So remember safety first this July 4th – no matter your child’s age. Even picking up spent fireworks requires caution – make sure they are hosed down, or soak them in water, before touching if the kids are on clean-up duty to pick up the sparkler sticks and other small fireworks.

If you’re headed out for an evening of community fireworks (I don’t mean a homeowners association meeting, I really do mean the good old-fashioned fireworks) then there are still a few things to consider.

Some children hate the noise – it seems to truly hurt their ears. Be prepared to lay the blanket farther rather than closer to the source of the explosions. Another advantage to doing that is with some distance, you can avoid the raining debris fallout that some fireworks produce.

Check out KidHealth for lots of good no-nonsense common sense fireworks safety advice.

And check out our Crime & Safety blog on the topic.

photo credit: Sun Sentinel, Mark Randall

Follow Cindy Kent on Twitter.com @mindingyourbiz

Now that you have joined the ranks of momminess – you are the mother of a lot of ideas – aren’t you?

Well, Huggies thinks you are. The Kimberly-Clark brand is launching a grant program - Huggies MomInspired - to provide inventive moms with the seed capital they need to help transform viable ideas into successful new businesses.

After all, Huggies says moms are “often creative problem-solvers that typically embody natural entrepreneur characteristics on a daily basis.”

To be considered for a grant moms, 21 years or older, residing in the United States, must submit an application online, outlining a unique baby or child care product idea that addresses an unmet parenting need.

Winners will be awarded with up to $15,000 per grant to help fund their product ideas.
Hurry up, the deadline is June 9.

Follow Cindy Kent on Twitter.com @mindingyourbiz

Valentine's Day is all about romance: chocolates, wine and soft music. Even for parents.

In fact, what I learned from my mom, a mother of five children, is that the most important relationship in a family is the one between the adults - the couple, the parents of the household.

Their strength enables family stability, mom says. If they're happy as a couple, the family is happy, the kids are secure and the environment is nurturing for everyone.

Mom is also very pragmatic. I got that gene from her. So I'd like to take a few minutes here to discuss the business of loving your family.

A few years ago for Valentine's Day, I put my affairs in order

As a follow up, I suggested some tips and resources.

And later, I emphasized the importance of really taking on the task of getting wills.

No one got the warm fuzzys over wills that year. But we did get some peace of mind, we ensured as best we could, the continuity of the family (see above).

This year, I feel like I can be in a more playful mood.

We will celebrate Valentine's as a couple and as a family. We'll have an extra special dinner that includes The Kid.

We'll celebrate as a couple too - we always try to take advantage of "alone time," big people time," throughout the year.

But this year, instead of reaching into our purses and wallets for expensive gifts, we'll tap into our "inner Don Juan," and "inner Cleopatra" for a very special Valentine's evening.

Ring in the new year.

Wait - I do have a few more days to continue my current bad habits, before my 2010 Attitude Adjustment.

For 2010 - my New Years resolution is to use my time more wisely. Everything else will fall into place:

I'll be more organized, the house will be cleaner, therefore the child will eat better-and because he'll be more nourished and have more energy: his grades will improve; he'll grow, he'll do more chores-the chain reaction of successes will be endless, merely due to my one humble effort.

OK-I'm good.

Now-on to the child - It will be a joy to remind him of his "promises" throughout the year - only so far I haven't been able to get him to make any new year resolutions.

Do you make new year resolutions? Do your kids?

What special activities or traditions does your family celebrate to ring in the New Year?

Is there a special treat or meal (we have a black-eyed peas dish with our meal) that is a part of your New Years activities.

Have a Happy New Year - but first, share your ringing-in-the-New-Year tips, advice and traditions!

I'm on uncertain ground here.

Kwanzaa. It's not part of my family's culture (the things we actually do) or heritage (the things my parents and their parents actually did).

But as diverse as my circle of friends is, I can't honestly say that I know of anyone who is taking time out this week to mark Kwanzaa, an Afrocentric holiday season hailing the principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

I've seen celebrations. I've covered them as a reporter. But I never knew any of the people there. Kwanzaa runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Will you be celebrating? How?

What am I missing?

Continue reading "Are you celebrating Kwanzaa?" »

After the Christmas gifts were opened -what happened to all that wrapping paper?

We actually do something now that I'd only seen my grandmother do and I thought I was "stupid" and "weird" at the time - she'd fold up the wrapping paper to reuse another time.

Yep - I recycle-OK-I reuse - as much as I can. And I think I out-do my grandmother in the weirdness department, because I will use bath towels or blankets to wrap larger gifts. Yes, you read that right - I use towels and blankets for larger gifts.

I'll admit - it creates an unusual multi-tasking moment: folding laundry and receiving a gift at the same time. Oh well.

Besides, more and more, I feel guilty creating waste using wrapping paper and boxes that will be tossed out - unless I am there to the rescue.

Oh yeah, and then there's the Christmas tree - Ours ends up in our outside fireplace during the remaining cool or cold evenings-nothing goes to waste as we sit by a crackling fire with a little glass of wine under a clear starry night....

How do you minimize gift-wrapping waste - what do you do with your Christmas tree?

Sorry if I'm stepping on anyone's toes for not being politically correct, but we celebrate Christmas in our house. Not that we're religious - quite the contrary - but since it is Christmas eve...

Unfortunately I'm still stuck here at the office for a while, but soon I'll be at a friend's house for a cocktail party to be followed by seafood and egg nog around our tree at home. We're starting some new traditions in our house since our children are still young. For instance, tonight before we tuck the kids into bed we'll read them Twas the Night Before Christmas. After that, things get a little tricky.

Our two boys sleep with their door open, mostly because my two year old gets out of bed in the middle of the night to go pee-pee and has trouble getting the door open when he's half awake. This becomes a much bigger issue tonight as the man in the red suit needs to set up all of the goodies without any kids walking through the living room. Tonight will definitely be interesting.

So, if any of you are reading this post instead of enjoying some quality family time—STOP! Go back to your friends and family and turn off the computer! But before you do, share with us some of your favorite traditions.

One, as in one early Christmas gift.

Of course, I have to admit, it's actually a family tradition that the adults in my house started - so we don't really blame the kids for asking and begging to open an early Christmas gift.

Actually, the asking starts soon after Thanksgiving - and its kind of fun to torture the child.

"Maybe," is our single-worded answer until the day before Christmas when our answer changes to "possibly," and finally - "yes."

The choice is ours - we pick out the gift to get unwrapped early. That's also part of the fun.

Though no gift is a dud - sometimes we give what he'll perceive to be the "blandest" of the bunch (and serves as merely another fun parenting moment!)

Do you let kids open early Christmas gifts? Is there a tradition or purpose behind your Christmas Eve early unwrapping? To be honest, I couldn't come up with a good reason as to why we do either.

Merry Christmas!

For the first time EVER, my husband and I both have Christmas week off. I'm so excited. Typically, since he's a teacher, he holds down the fort while I work, and I squeeze in holiday prep when I can.

But next week will be awesome! I made dentist, orthodontist and doctor appointments for the kids. They both have school projects to work on. Have to finish gift shopping and mail the cards. Plus wrapping. Bake delicate Scandinavian goodies -- since the weather will be cool enough. Have to clean the house. Get a new air conditioning system installed (which means taking apart a closet and putting it back together again.) Take the car in.

Sounds a lot like work.

But, we've vowed to do something fun every day as a family -- nothing too extravagant. But something. Watch a movie. Go somewhere different for lunch. Take the dog to the bark park. Play a boardgame.

In my imagination, this is how families spend time together -- everybody is smiling and laughing and drinking warm apple cider, and the teen wants to play board games instead of Modern Warfare on his XBox.

Is this your reality? If you are lucky enough to have time off over the holiday break, tell me how you plan to carve out some family time. I need some ideas -- and a reality check.

I can't wait to teach my kid "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and all sorts of other Christmas carols that somehow invaded my home despite my upbringing in a religion that frowned on most holidays.

But there are some Christmas songs I'd rather skip, thank you very much.

1. Do They Know It's Christmas (Band Aid)

I know it was a big charitable hit and it was written to inspire philanthropy, so I can't knock it that much. And I love the bells. But 25 years after the song's debut, I've finally come to the realization that it's an insipid ditty best left to music history classes. In any event, it should not be a holiday staple. "There won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime." Of course not. There won't be snow in Puerto Rico or Argentina, either. So what? It's the southern hemisphere. It doesn't snow at Christmastime in the southern hemisphere.

"Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow..." What? Nothing ever grows... in Africa? Is that a joke? Ever hear of the Congo? No rain or rivers flow? Someone's in de-Nile!

2. Step Into Christmas (Elton John)

"Welcome to my critique of your Christmas song. I'd like to write about how bad it is." Musically, lyrically, ugh. A guaranteed tuner-changer in my car every time it comes on.

3. Happy Christmas, War is Over (John Lennon)

What a DOWNER! This is like getting a Christmas card from Scrooge before the ghosts came by. And the kids are supposed to sound cute, but instead they define cacophony. This song exists solely for the purpose of sapping the joy out of the season.

P.S. War is not over. But it is nice to imagine.

And speaking of the British and the Beatles butchering Christmas...

Continue reading "Christmas music from Heck" »

"A baloney sandwich!"

Donald Duck put one on his Christmas list, as anyone who's seen the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode "Mickey Saves Santa" can tell you. I think you know your Christmas list has gotten out of hand when it includes lunch.

I got my parenting job a little late. By the time I entered the picture, the girls were entering their teen years. So I pretty much missed the part where they were solely on the receiving end of the gift-giving process. I'm seeing that now with my newborn, who's about to experience his first Christmas.

We broached the subject of Christmas lists in our family a couple of months ago.

"I want..."

Name it. An iPod Cold Fusion, a latptop with Windows 40 for Macs. A flying car that runs on a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. And a gift card with an unlimited balance at Coldstone and Starbucks.

"And what's on your other list?" I asked. "What's on your GIVE list?"

Huh? What's a give list?

I think teens need to learn, especially as their "gimme" lists become smaller yet more expensive, that the season has more to do with giving than with receiving. I'd bet that teenagers who develop lists of what they want to give for Christmas, and follow through on getting those things for others, will develop a deeper appreciation of what they get for Christmas.

My teenage stepdaughters and I are conspiring on gifts for their mom, and they're working with her on gifts for other family members. And I think it's as much fun for them as it is for us.

My six-year old has had her eyes on a Nintendo DSi for a couple of months now. I’ve put off buying her one in part because of the cost, but also because I’m worried that she’ll lose it.

It’s one thing to come home and forget your lunchbox or your folder, which is still something we’re working on in my house. But I don’t know if I’m ready to hear that the $169 Nintendo DSi has vanished.

Some people say let your child use it only when you’re around. I have to be honest, with the million things I have to track day to day, I really don’t want to add tracking the Nintendo DSi to my list.

My best friend, who happens to be my daughter’s godmother, said I should give in and buy it. It will be a good test of how responsible she’s become, she says. I sure hope that’s the case.

I’m still tempted to take out some DSi insurance!!!!

Though we've vowed to take it easy this gift season, there's still been a lot of talk in my house lately about wish lists. My husband wants camping and hiking gear. My son wants a new Xbox and games. My daughter wants a laptop (not a chance) and socks (this I can handle).

Me? Aside from what my mom has always wished for -- "I just want us all to be together as a family" -- my needs and wants are very simple.

10. Towels to be used more than once.
9. Shoes that put themselves away.
8. I want my children to like the same foods, particularly fruits and vegetables.
7. A self-filling dishwasher.
6. I want my questions to get answers of more than one syllable.
5. Chores to be completed without having to say it twice.
4. I want to remember everything I thought I would never forget about my kids.
3. More time in the day.
2. Peace and understanding.
1. An iPhone.

With Halloween past, the official Christmas/Hanukkah season has started. The TV ads are being unveiled. The catalogs are filling the mailbox. The pumpkin pie filling and cranberries are lining grocery store shelves.

But I'm not feeling it. Are you?

Unemployment in Florida is at 11 percent. And I have too many friends and family who fall into that number, or who got pay cuts this year. It's still rough out there.

Many kids have had to deal with the reality of doing with less. A study released earlier this week suggested up to 50 percent of U.S. kids will be on food stamps sometime during their childhood. That's astounding.

For more about the impacts of the recession on kids, read an excerpt from a speech this week by the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

We are fortunate to have a two-income household, but my kids know that this has been a tough year for a lot of people. So we are going to really dial it back during the holiday season.

We'll concentrate on giving to others in need, and spending time, rather than money, on friends and family.

When are kids too old to trick-or-treat?

Seriously. I want to know. For religious reasons, I never participated in the annual extortion ritual that consisted of knocking on neighbors' doors and threatening them with mischief unless they handed over a Mars Bar or a Zagnut. So I never had to face the prospect that one day, I would be too old to do it.

But for the last few years, I've had the pleasure of tagging along with my wife while my stepdaughters have charmed the candy out of their neighbors. It's cute, but I'm starting to wonder whether they're getting a little old for this. They are 16 and 14, after all.

Have we reached the point in their lives when we should start planning Halloween parties instead of falling back on a ritual meant for children?

Are you as charmed by teenagers at your door as you are by the little ones? At what point do you feel more like you're being mugged than anything else? [And don't get me started on those who come to the door without a costume: you're not a trick-or-treater, you're a home invasion robber].

This isn't exactly related to my overall question, but I have to acknowledge the efforts of some churches to engage in a bit of counterprogramming on Halloween night. I grew up in a household that sapped the fun out of Halloween but didn't replace it with anything. It was just: "don't do it!" These churches don't ban the Halloween you know and love. But rather than say "don't do it," they say "do this instead."

Maybe such an event would be a good way to wean a teen off Halloween. I won't use this space to plug the activities of a particular church, but if you know of any counterprogramming, feel free to leave a comment.

Maybe I'll wait until next year to suggest a different Halloween activity. Why spoil the fun? Besides, in another year or two, our infant will be ready to start extorting the neighbors for a Watchamacallit.

And he can bring his sisters along, too.

[By the way, if you're wondering, those aren't our kids in the photo: it's Al and Tipper Gore in a 1998 AP photo].

Like so many other things parents have to contend with these days, Halloween has become complicated.

There are safety concerns (predators lurk everywhere!), health and nutrition issues (we're in an obesity epidemic, after all!), and all sorts of landmines around costumes (hoochie mama witches, anyone?).

Just another thing for a beleaguered parent to sweat over. This week we're posing these questions and more in our First Annual (and perhaps only) Burning Issues Great Halloween Debate.

Follow this link to our first question: Is it OK to take your kids to the "good neighborhood" with all the best candy?

Discuss!

Photos.com

The holidays are right around the corner. Of course, that's not breaking news to moms and dads. The kids also are quite aware.

But continuing economic challenges might cause families to re-evaluate the idea of giving and receiving gifts.

Of course every day is a good day to spend money wisely, if you have to spend it on something. And every day is is a good day to remember priorities - what's important in the big picture of life and love and family and friends.

As an aside, my son makes homemade cards for family on special occasions - it's a tradition we've all come to expect - and anticipate! It costs him more in time than anything else. But it comes from a place you can't buy - the heart. So it's also invaluable.

Don't get me wrong, we give and get stuff too.

But families are struggling, many, just to keep a roof over their heads. The idea of spending money on decorations or gifts pale compared to the need to pay a medical bill, the electricity or buy food.

Watching budgets will undoubtedly be a part of everyone's holiday spending plan.

What things will you do to celebrate the holidays, but because of the economy, a lost job and other challenges, your plan is different from past years?

Broward County: Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Broward County's gems, will have FREE admission for grandparents on Sunday. And half-price admission is $8.50 for ages 12 and up, $4.25 ages 4 to 11, free for tots younger than 4. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Come dressed in your favorite "decade" look and play "name that tune" to music from the '30s '40s '50s and '60s from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grandchildren can color a free Happy Grandparents Day card, and everyone can get together to play the "name that decade game" with prizes.

Admission includes the event, the gardens and wildlife exhibits, and guided tours of historic 1930s Wray Home. A narrated 20-minute tour by tram is extra. Food, snacks, and beverages are available. Parking is free.

Flamingo Gardens & Wildlife Sanctuary is at 3750 S Flamingo Road, Davie; 954-473-2955, flamingogardens.org.

Palm Beach County: The Flagler Museum celebrates Grandparents Day with special activities in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion: create a family tree, create a scrapbook page; be interviewed by your grandchild; write a postcard to send to your family; have a family photo taken in front of Henry Flagler's Railcar No. 91. Plus, tour Whitehall with an activity guide for grandkids.

Whitehall was completed in 1902 for railroad magnate Henry Flagler. Today, it's a National Historic Landmark.

The Museum is at Cocoanut Row and Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for youth ages 13-18, $3 for children ages 6-12, and children under 6 are free. Info: 561-655-2833, flaglermuseum.us.

Miami-Dade County: Miami Children's Museum is having a 6th anniversary family carnival, with rides, games and exhibits. The museum's newest traveling exhibit is "Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog." And there's a special Grandparents Corner with activities, a Little Masters Area that features Miami area artists, and a Circus Acts area. Hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $50 for adults, $35 for children (1 to 12 years old). For more info, call the hotline at 305-373-5437, ext. 156. Or http://miamichildrensmuseum.org/

Photo: Forum Publishing Group/Beth Black

The "family reunion" has become an industry unto itself. There are websites, magazines and books. You can buy invitations and t-shirts and save-the-date magnets. You can create playlists and themes. We didn't do that. We're just not that kind of family.

But our vacation qualified as a family reunion because we drew 23 people from seven states -- four gerations from my 84 year old dad to the nearly 2 year old great granddaughter (we were missing seven). We were spread over three cabins for four nights in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The last time we all gathered in this particular location, Papa spent a great deal of time in the pool with a bunch of kids younger than 10. This time, those same kids are all in their 20s, and Papa isn't as agile as he was then. There have been marriages and babies and college degrees and global travels along the way.

When we gather like this every couple years -- the last time for my niece's wedding -- the dynamics change. But we've learned a lot along the way, especially about keeping the peace. Here's what works for us -- what works for you?

1. Don't over plan. The only activity we do as a group is dinner. Trying to get that many people to agree on anything is fraught with peril. So during the day, we go our own ways to the sights or to nap. As it turned out, small groups would form for a particular adventure -- caving one day, horseback riding another. So we all spent a little bit of time with everyone else.

2. Share dinner responsibilities. It's too expensive to eat out all the time. And nobody wants to get stuck with all the dinner planning. So we assign nights to family groups -- from the shopping and cooking to cleanup. Over happy hour, we share our adventures from the day. We play a few games -- dominoes or bocci ball. The kids kick a soccer ball around. It's a nice way to unwind.

3. A campfire is a essential. And not just for the 'smores. This is when the family stories are passed down, when the far-flung cousins rebuild their bonds, when the younger generations get initiated into broader family dynamics. The last campfire is always the best -- by then our guards are down and the laughs are loudest.

4. Humor Grandma. If Grandma says we're going to the cowboy dinner and sing-along, by gosh, we're going. And we're going to enjoy it. And don't be late. Just do it. And if Grandma wants to play word games and give out prizes, so be it. It's the least we can do to play along...and wouldn't you know, it's fun.

5. Realize families change. Every reunion, there's a newbie who gets a little gentle hazing. This time, my nephew brought his girlfriend. That Emily...she held up pretty well! When my husband was the newcomer, he got stuck babysitting some rambunctious tots who tortured him with dog piles and pillow fights. Now, 20 years later, he's offering advice to those same kids about how to tolerate all the family togetherness when they'd rather go into town. And yes, 20somethings will sneak away to the liquor store. When they were little, all they needed was a swimming pool to keep them happy. Things change.

Today is National S'mores Day. Hip-hip-hooray! Put another log on the fire...

S'mores are, and I'm not exaggerating (much), critical to a happy childhood. Think about it. S'mores signify togetherness, warmth, overindulgence. Any child who doesn't get to sit around a fire at least once with family and friends eating s'mores, singing campfire songs and telling ghost stories is...is....missing something special. (And those microwave versions -- completely missing the point.)

This summer, I was priveleged to participate in a campfire where I encountered THREE s'mores innovations.

First, instead of the traditional chocolate, there was the Cookies N' Cream candy bar option. Maybe I have a limited imagination, but it had never occured to me that you could use a different kind of candy bar. What's next, flavored marshmallows?

Second, credit goes to my daughter Erika for sticking a small piece of chocolate INSIDE the marshmallow before roasting so it got all melty. Very clever.

But the most important revelation: The very handy Rolla-Roasters that Cousin Becky brought from Colorado. These extendable roasting forks have a knob on the handle that you can turn as the marshmallow roasts. I'm telling you, they produce the puffiest, goldenest marshmallows ever. She got hers at REI, the very popular outdoors store.

This is not a great time of year in South Florida for a campfire. So on this day, National S'mores Day, let's vow to haul out the backyard fire pit in four or five months. Grab the marshamallows, chocolate and graham crackers, and make some memories.

This Fourth of July shake up your tradition of grilling and gathering with the family by checking out a fireworks show outside your neck of the woods.

Here are six shows in the tri-county that seem worthy of the trek. If you know of a Fourth of July festivity that uniquely caters to kids and their parental units, let me know.

All events listed are on July 4.

In Broward County:

Davie: Cool off at 10 a.m. with a free family splash pool party featuring a DJ. Plus World War I and II military equipment show, bounce houses, climbing wall and free birthday cake. Purchase food or bring your own; grills and tables available. Country music group Shadow Creek kicks off festivities at 6 p.m. in the ball fields, fireworks at 9 p.m. Pine Island Park, 3800 SW 92nd Ave. davie-fl.gov. 954-797-1163, 954-797-1000.

Get to Vista View Park early to get the best seats to see fireworks displays across Broward County. Bring beach chairs and blankets. Food vendors on site. 6-11 p.m. at 4001 SW 142nd Ave. $5 per vehicle or $1.50 for walk-ins, bicycles and motorcycles. 954-327-8797.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea: Beach Blast begins with a parade at 10 a.m., headed north on Bougainvillea from Town Hall to Pine Avenue. Join the fun 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at El Prado Park, El Prado and El Mar drives. Amusement park, classic car show, DJ and steel drum music. Fireworks shot off at the beach at El Prado Drive at 8:30 p.m. 954-772-3336.

In Miami-Dade County:

Coconut Grove: The All-Day Celebration kicks off with an old-fashioned picnic 11 a.m. at the Barnacle house. Lawn games, kite-making and knot-tying demonstrations are highlights. 305-442-6866. Scavenger hunt registration begins 2:15 p.m. at Mayfair Passage, Grand Avenue near Mary Street.

Hot dog eating contest happens 4:30 p.m. at CocoWalk. Concert featuring bands Ryan Stone Music, First October, JT4 and Campo Deluxe Jazz Quartet will be 4 p.m. at Peacock Park, fireworks at 9 p.m. 2820 McFarlane Road. 305-444-7270.

Miami: America's Birthday Bash includes 3-7 p.m. Kids' Zone with inflatable slides, carousel, hoops and face painting. The park will be open all day. Fireworks over Biscayne Bay at 9 p.m. Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd. 305-358-7550.

In Palm Beach County:

Delray Beach: A sand sculpture contest, bicycle and scooter parade, music, food and fireworks. 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. at the intersection of A1A and Atlantic Avenue. 561-279-1380 ext. 3.

Wellington: A patriotic pool party with music, games and more from 12-5 p.m. at Aquatics Complex, 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Games, rides, face painting, food and more from 6-9 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Village Park, 11700 Pierson Road. 561-791-4733.

Jon Kolbe agreed to write about his "dadness" at Cindy Kent's request. She's off to celebrate Father's Day with her own dad. Kolbe's creative use of social networking is engaging and effective. Today he shares with us how being a dad has changed since he lost his job.

My life is...almost perfect.

I've got a beautiful, caring and selfless wife; I have the two most beautiful girls. Ever. I have family, I have friends. Everyone is healthy, who could ask for more?

The only little teeny, tiny thing that is missing is: a job.

I've come to the realization that only after a job is gone can you fully appreciate it and what it really does for you.

I worked as a project manager for an architectural firm for 11 years. My two girls were born during a time of rampant construction, economic expansion and an economy that Kryptonite could not hinder. I worked, and I worked, at least until nightfall, sometimes later.

I'm not complaining. This was the way I was raised. My dad has always had his own business, his dad had his own business and his grandfather had his own business. This 'work til the job is done' ethic is ingrained deeply in me. Life was good, my wife was a stay at home mom and my kids were among the happiest around.

Cue the "bubble burst," "market correction," the "financial crisis," or as I refer to it: the implosion.
The one thing missing in my life during the "good days" was family time. Six day work weeks did not allow me to spend any amount of quality time with my family.

Now, between applying for jobs and the phone not ringing with offers, I have had time.

I have tried to capitalize on this opportunity by building strong bonds and one very cool lemonade stand.

I have changed more diapers in the last six months than I have in the last six years. I've made lunches, burned dinners, been to the playground, applied Band-Aids, removed splinters, walked to school in the rain, been stuck in the car line, spared the rod, spoiled the child and taught tic-tac-toe. I've had fevers, I've held their hands and given them baths when they had fevers. I've even collected hail in the middle of what I can only describe as a typhoon for a science lesson.

Continue reading "Life gave me a lemon: I made a lemonade stand" »

Is your best friend a single mom? Mother’s Day is a great time to let a hardworking single mom know you appreciate her, and you don’t have to run to the mall to do it.

My top 7 gifts for a single mother:

1. A weekend of baby-sitting. Single moms often have very little “Me” time. You can get creative and make your own baby-sitting coupon and stick it in a card.

2. Offer to take some pictures of your friend with her little one, and create a photo collage. I have so many pictures of my daughter, but so few of us together. It’s nice to have someone capture some of those everyday moments.

3. A manicure and pedicure gift certificate. (But again, offer to baby-sit so she doesn’t have to drag the kids to the salon)

4. Get a calendar and fill it with free summer activities for kids happening in the area. Every time that mom is short of ideas she can reach for the calendar.

5. A CD or downloads of inspirational songs that celebrate motherhood. (I like Fantasia’s “Baby Mama”)

6. Offer to help her organize. Homework, bills, junk mail. She might appreciate having someone she trusts help her purge.

7. Cook a few family size meals and zap them in her freezer.

Mother’s Day is around the corner – May 10 – which gives us this weekend to plan and shop.

I’m a simple gal, so I really don’t want anything. Really.

A nice little kiss on the cheek from each kid, a hug – and I’m happy. Seriously, honest.

For my own mom, I’ll roll out the red carpet – it’s her day. It’s whatever she wants, whatever she wants to do. Typically, I make dinner – whatever she’s in the mood for!

Plants, hand-made cards and family time – all top the list of my favorite gifts I've received.
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Come next Sunday, we’ll be with my parents for some good inter-generational fun! Sure it’s Mother’s Day, and I suppose I could sit one meal preparation out. But frankly, I love to cook! That’s what I want to do and anyway, it’s all about us moms that day.

This year, what’s in your gift bag to Mom?

Its' a no-brainer, really.
When you acknowledge the spirituality of others, you learn more about yourself. You gain insight.

That's what we told The Kid when we explained why we were hosting a Passover dinner in our home this week.

Our guest list included Jewish people and Christians. We invited friends, neighbors and co-workers to a "Gentile Passover". Everyone was touched by our invitation. One said she had been thinking about what she would do this holiday.

We made Matzo Ball soup, from scratch; and roasted chicken and lamb. Our neighbor cooked a brisket.

All of us, including The Kid and his friend, listened as one of the guests explained the meaning of the opening plate and what the food on it signified.

Everyone brought something to the table.
But the main courses were inclusiveness, love, respect and friendship.

A tisket, a tasket, a bountiful Easter basket.

Here are some ideas for filling baskets for children younger than 5.

11 Great Non-Food Items

Peeps bubbles (found at discount stores such as Dollar Store)

Balls such as tennis balls, small Nerf balls.

Toddler-sized utensils, cups and bowls