Track Your Child's Internet Usage with Ms. Wise & Ms. Otherwise

Ever wish you had a system that allowed you to easily keep track of what your kids are doing on the internet? Perhaps you would like a system that makes it difficult for a child that is grounded to be able to access certain sites on the internet? Here's something we have been using for a little while that is very helpful. I thought I would pass the info along to you. This is FREE!

1. Go to www.fss.live.com.

2. Once there, set up an account. (If you already have a .msn or .live email address, you probably already have an account.)

3. Add each child. On each of the computers in your home, you need to set up each of the kids as a user (unless of course you have a computer they are denied use of, then simply do not set them up as a user on that computer). When they want to use the computer, they must log in using their own password. This allows fss to track their usage.

No one will want to log in as someone else, because you have set things up specifically for each child. For instance, in my household, web filtering is higher for Princess than the older kids. So, if Sticky or Bub decided to outsmart the system by logging on as Princess because they won't be able to get to where they want to go! Even still, we have cautioned the kids about sharing their passwords with their siblings because they wouldn't want to risk someone else racking up computer time using their name.

4. When a user is done on the computer, they can do one of two things. They can "log out" or "switch user". If they choose the "switch user" option, they do not need to shut down all their browsers, documents, etc. If they choose "log out" everything must be closed. When someone is planning to get back on the computer, switching user is a good way to go. The only downside of using the "switch user" option is that it leaves a bunch of programs running in the background and this can slow down your computer. (Side note: If your computer is not showing both options, go to "help" on your computer and type in those terms and it will show you step-by-step how to make them show up.)

5. Choose the level of filtering you would like. This can vary from blocking only "adult" content sites to customized filtering to allowing only child friendly sites.

6. Turn the activity reporting on. This allows you to see where your child has been and how long they have spent at the computer. It can also tell you if anything has been downloaded to that computer.

7. ou can use the contact management aspect of the program to control who your child is chatting and emailing with through a few places.

8. If a child wants to view a website that you have prohibited, they can send you a request, or if you are nearby, you can simply type in your password right then to allow access if desired.

9. When you find that your child has been spending too much time on a certain site, or is otherwise in trouble, you can go in and block specific sites that they are grounded from. Or, you can block everything and have them ask for your permission every time they want to access something on the internet until you feel they are ready for computer privileges again. (This definitely gets to be a drag after a while.)

10. The key to this program is to regularly check up on internet usage. If you simply sign up for the program and never or rarely check up on the kids, you aren't taking full advantage of the system. You can use it as just a tool to block specific sites, or you can use it more effectively by seeing where your kids are spending their time. If you do this, you can take the time to talk to them about questionable sites, give them input on how to stay safe on a certain site, possibly find a fun site that you would like to join with them, and you can also share information from you to your child and from your child to you. It is really incredible the things children are able to figure out about the computer that most of us parent's would never have thought of.

While it may seem like quite a bit of work to get this system up and operational, it is worth the effort. As with the examples mentioned above, it opens communication lines to help us protect our children until they are mature enough to understand things and to know how to discipline themselves. It is a good tool to help teach these things.

Has anyone else used this system? What tips & tricks do you have to share?

Mama Rika--Funny Stuff

This is what happens to your face when you try to drink a smoothie that is realllllly thick, without using a straw!
This is what happens when there is a princess in the house...

This is what happens when the princess tries to gain converts.

This is what happens when one of your best buddies has a horse. (And it isn't funny, but it sure is cute.) ;)

"Why Don't You Eat Chocolate?" Mama Rika Answers the Question

It is a funny thing. People seem almost horrified when they discover I don't eat chocolate. Nearly always it is assumed that I don't like the taste of chocolate. Au contrair (or however you spell that)! To do the question justice, I have to tell the story. I find myself explaining the why of it frequently. I figure maybe next time, I'll just send the questioner to this post. ;)

Once upon a time, about 20 years ago {yikes!} I was expecting my firstborn. I was so thrilled at the thought of being a mom. This was one of my lifelong dreams! I pondered about the kind of mom I would be. I thought of what I would do with my child, what I would say, how I would act, what I would teach him or her and more. As I was thus thinking, my thoughts turned to what I could do now, right now, for my child.

One of the things that came to my mind was that I could choose to eat healthily. This would give my baby the best possible environment to grow and have a strong and healthy body. I thought about things that were good for me and things that were not. {Drinking, smoking or drugs were not something I had ever done, so that didn't factor in as something to improve on.} Chocolate, on the other hand, was something I quite enjoyed, yet I knew it wasn't healthy.

Chocolate has caffeine, which is the same drug that is in coffee and many soft drinks. I refused to eat those products, so I had to ask myself why would I consume caffeine via chocolate? This was a bit of a tough issue, because chocolate is yummy and you find it everywhere! At church, at parties, restaurants, grocery stores, as prizes, on holidays, etc. People serve this treat all the time!

It didn't take me too long to decide, however, that I could do without it for the benefit of my children. I decided to completely refrain from eating chocolate because that would actually be easier than just trying to go for limiting chocolate! I decided it would probably be easy to be a chocoholic. I did cut myself some slack, however. I decided that white chocolate would not be off limits. That way, I could still have a bit of a vice without it being such a readily available one since white chocolate treats are not nearly as common as regular chocolate treats.

I found myself turning down quite a few desserts over the years. {That in and of itself is not a bad thing!} Most of the time that I would give my refusal, people would offer a second or third time. Rather than continually saying "no", it was easier to say, "no thanks, I don't eat chocolate." Letting people know that I don't eat chocolate makes it easier to abide by. People that know me would be sure to tease/taunt if they saw a chocolate morsel on its way to my lips. {Peer pressure can be a good tool.}

After I gave up chocolate, Kevin followed suit a couple of years later. If you ask him, it wasn't a big deal because he isn't overly fond of it anyway. The thing he misses the most is hot cocoa on cold days. I wouldn't mind a Reeses peanut butter cup on occasion. But, there are enough other yummy things in this world to eat that it all works out okay. :)

Most of our children have also followed suit on the no-chocolate thing. Some claiming they don't like the taste either.

So, that is the story. Do I abstain from chocolate because I have great willpower? No, I abstain because I don't!

Did you Journal for 5 today?

Science Experiment Cleaning by Ms. Wise & Ms. Otherwise

You know that baking soda and vinegar experiment that all kids love to do? Well, guess what?! It can make cleaning fun! (Okay, maybe not fun, but at least more interesting!)

I have no idea why I didn't think about these things sooner. But I have now, and am happy about it. I have learned that just about anything can be cleaned with baking soda, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. These products have a LOT going for them.

• They are inexpensive.
• They are kid friendly. If the kids spray them on something they shouldn't, or forget to wash their hands after using, or leave it out and the baby gets into it...you have far less to worry about than with commercial cleaners. And, you can watch them foam!
• They are non toxic, and non smelly.
• You probably have them in your house right now.
• They work!

Here's a picture showing what I did with mine to make them very easy to use. The baking soda is in an old taco seasoning container. The lid can be removed completely, or you can open it partially and just shake out a little bit at a time. The vinegar is in a plain old spray bottle. I mixed the vinegar with a few drops of peppermint essential oil (see picture below). Doing this masks the vinegary smell when cleaning. The peroxide is in a non-clear container that squirts. (I read that light can cause hydrogen peroxide to change back into water.) Here are some things I have tried that definitely work.

• Sprinkle baking soda all over the bathtub. Spray vinegar all over the baking soda. When fizzing stops, scrub out the tub with a washrag. It got rid of soap scum and gunk quite nicely.
• Spray vinegar onto a folded paper towel. Wipe a mirror. Dry it with a second folded paper towel. Looks great--no streaks.
• Flush the toilet to coat the toilet bowl with water. Shake baking soda liberally into the bowl of the toilet. Scrub with toilet scrubber.
• Squirt peroxide onto bloodstains. It will fizz a bit. It removes the blood wonderfully well. It also works on grass and mud. Haven't figured out yet if it does strawberry stains and other things.
• Spray vinegar on your chrome faucets and wipe dry for a shiny look.
• Shake baking soda around faucets, spray vinegar onto the soda. Scrub with a toothbrush to remove gunk that starts to build around the faucet. Works decently. Fun to shake and spray.
• Use vinegar as kitchen counter spray.
• Did you cook all the water out and burn a pot? Baking soda works great!
• Use baking soda in place of scouring powder.

Some sites I visited said that peroxide was great for pet stains and other general cleaning, including using it in place of bleach. Here is an interesting site that lists all kinds of natural cleaners.

One reason I never made my own natural cleaners is that I just thought it was going to take too much effort. But, I would have to say that using these three items that I listed above, really can't get much simpler. I really love the idea of getting things clean and disinfected without the dangers and smells.

As far as the science experimenting goes, I am happy to hand a bottle of vinegar and a shaker of baking soda to one of my kids and saying, "have at it!" If they are feeling like making a large volcano, why not do it in the bathtub rather than outside and get my tub cleaned in the process?

You can use these products to help you accomplish more Spring Clean for 5 tasks!

Oh! And please feel free to share with me what else you have used these cleaners for!

Mama Rika Tells How to Keep Hats on Babies

My babies always wear hats. People wonder how I get them to keep hats on. Here are a few tips...First, start them early to get them used to it! Always put a hat on whenever they are going outside. Hat, then, becomes synonymous with going out. That is actually the biggest trick. If the baby begins to understand that they can only go outside if they are wearing a hat, they will want to wear a hat. If Chubby (15 months) wants to go outside he will go get his hat and either attempt to put it on himself, or hand it to someone for help.

If baby keeps taking his hat off, there are consequences. Either he is taken inside, or he is held in the shade if going inside is not an option. I don't do this to be mean. Not only are hats cute on babies, but hats also offer protection from sun and wind. My babies have all been fair-haired and fair-skinned and would burn easily. Exposing babies to wind can promote and/or worsen ear problems and who wants that. Babies generally love being outside, so they learn quickly.

Tip 3 is to make hats fun. Dress them up and dance around. Point out others wearing hats, especially family members they know and love.

Offer praise when they try hats on all by themselves.

Have brother take multiple pictures of cute baby in hat and keep sending them to Mom's phone in the middle of a class she is taking.

"Just one more, Mom! He's so cute!"

You may remember this picture from a few posts ago. I thought of the book "Caps for Sale" when I saw him. He loves hats!

All in all, it takes a little doing, but babies truly can be taught to keep hats on!

Don't forget to do some Spring Clean for 5 today!

Mama Rika's Silly Kids

I came home last night to find our house rearranged and booby-trapped. Nanner, Bub and Sticky thought it would be a fun thing to do for April Fools day. There was scotch tape to try and trip me up before I even got into the house. I managed to avoid this because I saw it glisten from the light coming from the house. (Hubby on the other hand was caught unaware! lol)

Then, I opened the door to find this:

I then looked to the right and saw place settings on the coffe table, along with benches and kitchen chairs. You can also see Princess's little kitchen stove off to one side.And, you guessed it, the couch and family room chair were in the kitchen. No, I didn't take a picture of that one because my kitchen was also embarrassingly messy!!

As I went to my bedroom, I narrowly avoided being hit by a lightweight blow-up ball that had been precariously perched on the top of the partially open door. (Again, Hubby didn't fair so well. The unfortunate thing is that no one got to see it happen!)

Silly, silly kids!

Ancient Art with Ms. Wise & Ms. Otherwise

We studied ancient Greek myths. Here is what Princess came up with for a Medusa mask. She says even Medusa's eyelashes are snakes! Here I found these "ancient" hieroglyphs on Nan's wall. Isn't decorating fun?

How about these African designs made by Peanut from self-hardening clay? Know what they are?

Ear bobs! Or rather, ear rings, take your pick. Wouldn't those make "your ears hang low" and "wobble to and fro"!

It is always fun to see what the kids come up with for art projects. Often they come up with their own unique twist to things.

Fit for 5? Now is a good time!

Homemade Cold Cereal with Chef Maki

Cold cereal can be expensive and not nutritious, so here are a couple of alternatives. Both very yummy and pretty simple to make. Pardon the picture quality. I really should stop taking pictures with my phone, but it is so convenient! :)

Graham Crunch

1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
2/3 Cups Almond Meal (Buy like this or just grind up almonds until powdery.)
3/4 Cups Dark or Medium Brown Sugar
2 Cups of Milk
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
4 Crushed Graham Crackers (1 graham cracker = 1 rectangle that can split into 4 parts)



Mix all the ingredients thoroughly together with egg beater. Spread thinly on 2 large, buttered cookie sheets. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.



While baking the second cookie sheet, scoop the cereal from the first cookie sheet and put it in blender or food processor (1/2 at a time) and do a few quick pulses of the blades. (You should have large crumbs.) Put the cereal back on the cookie sheet. Take the other cookie sheet out of the oven and do the same. (Yes, it is still hot.)




Now put both cookie sheets back in the oven and turn the oven off. (They can slightly overlap if needed.) In the morning, put the now crunchy cereal into an airtight container.

Enjoy with sliced fresh strawberries and milk if desired. Also makes a good topping for a fruit & yogurt parfait with homemade crockpot yogurt.





Muesli/Granola Stuff

I call it granola if it has been oven toasted, Muesli if it is eaten without baking. The beauty of this recipe is that you can just throw in whatever you have on hand and it tastes good. I make huge batches, so whereas I may throw in a whole cannister of regular oats, you may just want a couple of cups. Use some or all of these ingredients.

These four are the foundation, so I highly recommend using these:

Oats
Whole Wheat Flour (about a 1 part flour to 6-8 parts oats)
Oil (approximately equal parts oil & honey)
Honey


Here's the optionals:

Shredded coconut
Nuts of any kind--walnuts, almonds, pecans, peanuts, etc.
Seeds of any kind--sunflower, sesame, etc.
Dried fruit of any kind--raisins, craisins, dates, apples, apricots, etc.
Spices--cinnamon, pumkin pie spice, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, etc.
Wheat germ


Mix together everything except the oil and honey. Then, pour the oil and honey over the top and remix. Taste test it. Add more spices and honey if needed. If you are doing muesli, you are now ready to eat it. If you want granola, put it on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 for about an hour, stirring it around every 20 minutes. If making granola, I suggest not adding the fruit until after you have baked it because the fruit tends to get hard and crunchy otherwise.


See some of my other breakfast tips here and here.

Did you do your Fit for 5 today?

Baking soda tips here.

More recipes at Tammy's Recipes blog carnival.

Mama Rika's "Cleaning Game" Fun for All the Family

Tired of nagging? Want to do something a little different? I invented this fun game that the kids actually didn't complain about and it made a difference in the state of the house. I call it Out of Place Bingo.



To play, each person is given a Bingo sheet and a pen/pencil. When you say go, everyone goes around the house and finds the items that are mentioned on the sheet and put them away. As soon as you find an item and put it away in the proper place, you can put an X in that square. You can play it where you just have to do one line like Bingo, or do Blackout as well. Blackout means that the first person to X all the squares is the winner. The winner gets to pick the first slice of pie, or some other little treat or prize.



When we played, if you got a Bingo, you yelled it out so we could tell who was getting close to Blackout. It was fun to watch everyone scurrying about the house cleaning as fast as possible! I even had hubby cleaning. We'll definitely be playing this game again!



Here is a link to the Out of Place Bingo game sheets. {You can also find a lot of our other publications, like books, games, music, articles, etc.) on the same site. Look around, you might find something else of interest.} If some of the items on the game sheet are not applicable to your household, feel free to write in something that is! Let me know how it goes for you. And, if you have any great ideas on how to disguise the act of cleaning, please comment. I am always looking for such ideas!!

And, here is your daily nagging...Did you do your Fit for 5 yet today??

Check here for Talk about Tuesday tips on kid's chores.

Mama Rika's Child Sits Like Only a Snake Could.

I threatened to take a picture and put it on my blog if he didn't straighten up. He straightened up, but not before big brother secretively took the pic below and sent it to me. LOL! He doesn't look very comfy, does he???

Princess Takes Care of Daddy (from Mama Rika)

When Daddy had a Sunday nap, Princess made sure he stayed warm. :)

Pictures from Mama Rika (Christmas)

Watch out! Here they come! Sorry, but there will be a bunch of posts here as I catch up on pictures!

And the stockings were hung from the bookcase with care...


And joyfully opened the next morning.Or just with complete wonderment as to what it was all about. {Focus on baby, not outt-of-focus Mom}Some wait in unusual places for their turn to open stockings.No one opened their presents prematurely.First, Mary and Joseph must travel in their "authentic" costumes to Bethlehem.The narrator, wise men and the holy family all are part of the wonderful story. The little wandering shepherd got to hold baby Jesus.He also helped the narrator.And then came the gifts. We love to get lots of gifts, so we wrap socks, pencils and anything else we are in need of just to increase our bounty. ;)

Some "Y's" boys ready for gift opening.

Want more pics? See (Da Boys) (Da Girls) and (Da Baby).

Pictures from Mama Rika (Da Boys)

This poor, starving college kid (remember this post?) lost 3 pounds while away at school! Hopefully we were able to fatten him up a bit before sending him back to his studies and fun.This is our puzzle maniac.Not even a camera in the face can keep him from focusing on his puzzles.

Yes, all the boys got Disney shirts. Cute, huh?

The proud owner of a laptop. (No he didn't get it from Santa. He bought it himself with his own savings.)
Mom! Stop taking pictures of me!!

Yay! Patchy is home! (Love the bedhead.)

Okay...Guess whose eyeball. (Yeah, I know, I am weird.)
Want more pics? See (Da Girls) (Da Baby) and (Christmas).

Makiavelli Brings You: The Cutest Christmas Music Video EVER!

This is THE cutest, most heart-melting Christmas music video EVER! Seriously, if this video doesn't play around with your heartstrings, I am Ebeneezer...Ebeneezer Scrooge, that is.

It was so enjoyable looking through all the cute, funny and adorable pictures I received. I hope you will agree that some of the pictures just fit perfectly with the lyrics with which they were placed. The song title is "If I Were an Angel on Christmas Night." There are definitely some awesome angel children on the video!




Maximizing the youtube video will give you distorted scenes. I am working on a digital format available for downloading on your computer that will keep the integrity of the pictures.

If you would like a copy of this video as a DVD to play on your TV screen, or to give as a Christmas gift, please send an email to me at blog@completelee.com. I am working on putting this product in our webstore, so it will be available that way as soon as I get it figured out. In the meantime, email me to order your copies.

The DVD will cost $2.95 plus Shipping. If you order 10 DVD's, shipping is free in the continental USA. I will accept Paypal, Money Order, or check. If you send me a personal check, I won't ship the DVD until your check has cleared my bank.

Below is the picture that will be the insert on the DVD jewel case.

Click here to find more information on this song.

Please spread the word and share this post with friends and family that would enjoy these sweet little faces and the message of the song. Thank you!

Monkey Business from Mow-gLee: Contest Ends Soon!

Don't forget to get your angelic children pictures turned in! Time is running out. Pictures need to be turned in by October 18th! (See sidebar) For full details, click here. Pictures don't need to be the latest ones of your kids. If you have older kids, send me pics from when they were young! :)

What My Boys Do When They Should Be Doing Math!

Okay, so I couldn't resist filming even though they really were supposed to be doing schoolwork. The video speaks for itself!

Filling Hungry Teenage Boys & Wannabes with Food and Teaching Moments

The never-ending battle is always hard-fought. You struggle down the grocery aisle with carts filled beyond intended capacity. You scrimp, you budget. You cook, you bake. Yet, they still come in at all hours of the day (and into the night) with the same boring question that always begs a new and exciting answer. “I’m hungry…what’s there to eat.” And just who are these people? Yes, they are the bottomless pits with hollow legs—TEENAGE BOYS!!

Even though they can drive you crazy with their continual requests, there is much to be said about opportunities for teaching when it comes to food.

For instance, have you noticed how the very foods that keep you full for the longest periods of time tend to be the same foods that are nutritious? Teach them this concept!

One fun way to teach is through stories.

My mother used to (actually still does) like to tell a story about when she first came to America. {A little background is in order here. Mom has lived here in America for decades, but is originally from Sweden. Swedes eat good hearty breads. They enjoy loaves of rye and solid, dark loaves of round wheat breads. They like the stuff you can really sink your teeth into and savor.} Mother went to the American grocery store looking for a loaf of bread. She looked left and right at dozens of loaves. Finally she picked one up, surprised at the lightness of the package.

She stared at the uniformly sliced, very pale, white slices. Thinking there must be some mistake, she put one hand at the opening of the package of bread and one hand at the other end. Then she squeezed it like an accordian. To her amazement, the entire loaf became one paltry slice. In horror, she recoiled, and as she did, the bread seemed to spring back into shape of its own free will. She couldn’t believe such an object was meant for eating.

This was the beginning of how my Mom taught me to love good whole grains. Mom has a flair for telling wonderful tales that I am sure are only slightly exaggerated. ;)

Now I teach my own kids. Whole grains are best. They stick to your ribs much better than the white stuff.

That just reminded me of another Mom story. I bet you weren’t aware of this, so I’ll let you thank me later. It is a proven fact that doughnuts do not digest well. Mom told us of an article she had read in which scientists were cutting open a human cadaver. Inside the man’s stomach the remains of undigested, seven-year-old doughnuts were found! This gave no doubt to my mind what the man’s cause of death had been. I still don’t eat doughnuts to this day…

There you have it. Whole grains + no doughnuts = healthy life. Of course there’s a whole lot more to it, but goodness, think of all the fun you can have as you teach your children to love healthy eating.

Also with food, you can teach them to use good manners. Use your fork. Say please. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Keep your legs under the table.

Keep your elbows off the table.

What do you feed them to fill them up physically while you try to fill them up mentally? Here’s a couple of favorites:

Bill Jerone Burritos (Named after I mistakenly thought that is what my father-in-law said when he actually said, “Build Your Own”)

Place all or most of these ingredients buffet style on the table or counter.

Very large tortillas (and some small ones for the Wannabes)
Hot Cooked rice (I like brown—it is more filling!)
Hot Beans (kidney, chili, black, whatever) seasoned as you like.
Hot Ground beef, or shredded chicken
Chopped tomatoes
Corn
Onions (chopped)
Olives
Grated cheese
Chopped cilantro
Peppers
Anything else you have in the fridge that looks good
Sour cream or plain homemade yogurt
Salsa (homemade is best, or use store bought with fresh tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice & onions thrown in.)

Each eater grabs a plate and fills their tortilla with desired ingredients.

Feather-light Wholegrain Wheat Waffles

Beat until stiff and set aside:
3 egg whites (save yolks)

Mix together:
1 ½ cups wheat flour (can use ½ wheat, ½ white if you want)
1 Tbs baking powder
½ tsp salt

Mix together and then add to the dry ingredients:
1 ½ cups milk
2 Tbs oil
2 tsp vanilla
3 egg yellows

Fold in the egg whites gently. Pour into waffle maker a scoop at a time. Yum! I usually at least triple the batch and then freeze the leftovers on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. When they are frozen, I put them in a zippy bag in the freezer to use for later breakfasts.

Here’s something I do for tiny Wannabes. First, I start with a raw fruit or vegetable like celery.

I wash them and cut them into small pieces. Then I put them in a small pot to boil, like these carrots.

When the fruit or veggie is nice and soft tender, I remove it from the pot and put it in a sealable container and put it in the fridge so that it is ready when baby is. Those are apples in the picture below. To keep things simple, I cooked these items one right after the other. When I was done I had several small meals ready for my little person to eat without a lot of trouble for me to fix when he is ready to eat.

Hopefully, like my Mom taught me, I am teaching by hungry boys (and girls) good, healthy ways to eat and I am doing it with fun and humor. What are some of your favorite, most filling and simple things to fix? Share, share! Also check out this unprocessed recipe blog for more good recipes.