I know people hate Kate Gosselin. I get that (kinda). That being said — you have to give her credit.  I watch all the haters on Twitter and I’ve actually responded that I’d like to see any of us get on that show.  I can tell you — I’d suck.  I know I’d suck.  Most of us would suck.  Kate is not an actress, she’s not an athlete, she’s a mom.  Think how nerve wracking that show has to be.  The haters who are all about “she needs to stay home with her kids”.  Well, people, do your research.  They practice at her house!  Instead of tearing her down, us moms should be bringing her up.  We should be voting for her because she’s one of us.  Plus, it isn’t like Jon is paying child support for all those kids, so let the woman make a paycheck where she can!  I also hate that last week they made all the women look whiny with their little stories.

I have to say that Pam Anderson annoys me on the show.  It’s how much she can flaunt what she’s got.  I’m not impressed by that.  However, since she’s hot, the audience will keep voting for her.

Who do you like on Dancing With the Stars?  Anybody you hate?

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Amazon, if I could, I would seriously make out with you right now.  Yes, I said it.  Whoever came up with frustration free packaging is a genius.  They deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.  I also have to give a shout out to 37 Signals and Remarkable Parents for letting me know about this.

Now, you can see from this picture how the packaging is different.  The one of the right is what it looks like now.  The one on the left is the new packaging.  I find it weird that a lot of bloggers find this wrong.  However, as a mother of a 4 year old and a 1 year old I find this genius.  I remember when Madison turned one.  It took 6, yes I said 6, adults over an hour to open her toys.  Now, that is crazy.  I remember my fingers hurting from the twisty tie things and just the waste and the mess.  How would you like to get just a brown box, and all you have to do is open it?  Sounds much better, doesn’t it?  How many of you have had kids whining “do you have it out yet??!!??”?  I know I have that here.  They don’t have the attention span while you find a screwdriver and everything else you need to get some of these toys out of their packaging.  Heck, I remember cutting my arms on the clamshell packaging when you are trying not to saw the entire top of the packaging off.  Plus, this new packaging is so much better for the enviroment.  I would love to be able to recycle that box (where I live, the more the community recycles the less we pay for our garbage to get picked up).  Now, this packaging is done right at the factory too, and only effects Amazon.  You will still find normal packaging at your favorite brick and mortar store.

The main argument against this is that the kids can’t see what they are getting.  My response to that is what is worse — they have to actually open the box or have the toy stuck in packaging so the kids can see it but can’t play with it because it will take me 20 minutes to get it out?

I am interested — what are your thoughts on this?  If you can’t tell, I give Amazon two thumbs up on this move!

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As I wrote in my other post, my cousin recently died.  My cousin was beautician and had been doing my mother’s hair for the last 33 years.  She really needed a perm, however, she was waiting for my cousin to get better.  Obviously, that did not happen.  My mom made an appointment at the same place that I had my hair done at for my wedding.  We had great service at that time, and she remembered that it seem like an older person place.  They put her with a wonderful woman named Michelle.

You know how you get to talking to the beautician doing your hair?  Well, my mom and Michelle started talking.  They talked about how they both grew up on farms — her in DePere, my mom in Suring (now Suring is an hour north of Green Bay and has about 500 people living there).  When my mom said Suring, Michelle was like I know somebody from there.  My mom was like “Oh really!  Who?”  Michelle said “Well her mom’s name started with a B.  I think it was Beulah.”  Well, Beulah was my aunt.  She died several years ago of ovarian cancer.  The person she knew was my cousin Carmen.  Carmen died 12 years ago.  She was 6 months pregnant and in the hospital for kidney infection.  She had a brain anerism and died instantly.  She was a first grade teacher at the time.  Honestly, it was the sadest funeral I have ever went too.  Not only was my family shook up, there were all these little kids there who understood to varying degrees what was going on.  Well, Michelle’s daughter had Carmen as a teacher.  The school put a memorial bench in Carmen’s honor.  Michelle was the one who collected the money to get that done.

Now, Green Bay isn’t a small town, so for my mom to run into this lady is just well odd.  I am glad she met her.  It was like it was meant to be.  When she was telling this story, I felt like I should be sitting in some home theater seating and eating popcorn, because this whole situation feels like it came out a movie.

Ever have something like this happen to you?

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Did you all hear about the helicopter crash that happened in Aurora, IL on Thursday?  I get upset everytime I hear about it, and since it is fairly local, it hits home.  We use to live in Aurora near Copley Hospital where I think this happened.  Also, as a mother, it breaks my heart to hear of a little one dying.  The little girl (who was one) was being taken by helicopter to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.  It seems as if the helicopter hit a radio tower.  They aren’t sure if the lights were working on it.  However, the tower operator swears they were on.  From what I have also heard, this tower was used as a landmark and it was referenced on maps that should have been on the helicopter.  I wonder if the families of all involved in this should be talking to helicopter accident lawyers (you can find some at HelicopterAccidentAttorney.com). The pilot of the helicopter was a father who worked two jobs to support his six kids. It is a sad story all the way around.

What floors me is that two years ago, the FAA was asked to force the companies who run these helicopters to give the pilot night goggles and training and devices that warn pilots about obstacles and terrain. They would only recommend it which means companies aren’t going to do it. Not surprising, the pilot of this crash did not have these safety devices. The rate of these helicopters crashed are at an epidemic, and as of right now, nothing is being done. That is almost as sad as these senseless deaths.

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Of all our modern conveniences that we have, what can’t you live without?  In my house, it would have to be disposable diapers and cell phones.  My son, aka the pooping machine, has so many dirty diapers a day that I would seriously go insane if I had to wash all those.  Seriously, the kid poops a minimum of four times daily.  My other convenience has to be cell phones.  I remember a time when you only used your cell phone for an emergency because otherwise, it was sooooo expensive.  However, in time, prices have come down, and people actually get rid of their landlines for these.  I can’t imagine not being able to get ahold of my husband at the drop of hat like I can now.  He is often driving from job site to job site, so without this convenience, I wouldn’t know where he was or if he got stuck in traffic on the way home.  I couldn’t call him to pick up a gallon of needed milk either.

When Madison had to get stitches (this is when she was 2), it was a day that Bill forgot his cell phone at home.  I can’t tell you what a pain it was to try and get ahold of him.  I had her at an Urgent Care, and my mother in law called my father in law who called the office that Bill was at to let him know to come home.  It is almost scary how much we rely on cell phones.

Speaking of convenience, you should check out the coupons here to get yourself some Yoplait yogurt.  Can you imagine life without the convenience of plastic?  I know, me neither!  Thank you PBN for this great coupon!

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