Booster Seats

Nope, not the "sit up at the table" kind... the carseat kind. The save your child's life or end your child's life kind. A few months ago, I posted about extended rear facing in carseats and the benefits of it. Now, because I have a soapbox I like to climb up on every now and again, I'd like to discuss carseats again. Booster seats. Ahh, they make my stomach turn. Ok, if a child is five or older and sitting in a high back booster, my stomach turns a little less. A seven year old in a backless booster? Less stomach turning. Won't be my kid, but thats my choice.

The ABSOLUTE minimum for using a booster of any kind should be 4 years and 40 pounds. Not two years and 40 pounds, not five years and 36 pounds. They aren't safe unless used properly and the margin of error with them is huge!

Did you know...
A booster seat should NEVER be used with a lap belt only? They must be used with a shoulder and lap belt.
Backless boosters need to be used on seats that have a high back and a head rest. If the seat has a low back and/or no headrest, a high back booster must be used.

A booster seat is only safe if your child sits properly in it, keeping the shoulder belt on their shoulder and lap belt properly positioned. If they move around, bend forward, slump to the side while sleeping, they are no longer being kept safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says: "It is best for children to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows his seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights."

There are lots of seats now that harness to higher weight limits than what used to be the traditional 40-45 pounds. Graco Nautilus, Britax Regent, Britax Frontier, Sunshine Kids Radian, Safety First Apex 65 are all carseats that are widely available and harness up to 65lbs.

Seatbelts are built and designed for adult use. Please don't rush your child into using something not designed for use by them, their life could depend on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2kO8AxKbrM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

And yes, our six year old still rides in a seat with a five-point harness. It is safest, after all. Don't you want the safest thing for your child?

I just want to clarify that I'm not trying to be condescending or anything like that. I've been fortunate enough to learn a lot about carseats over the past few years and I'm passing the knowledge on, so that hopefully someone else's child will be safer too. Carseat safety is a big deal- actually it is a huge deal. Everyday I see kids loading into cars, stopped at red lights or driving down the road that are not properly restrained and it makes me so sad that for a few bucks more spent on a carseat or with a little research, those children could all be so much safer.

Princess Party

Chloe celebrated her good friend Erin's 6th birthday today. Erin had a Princess Tea Party and princess atire was required, of course! Here is Chloe getting ready to head out the door to celebrate! The funny thing is that she has never gotten into the "princess" thing and was embarassed to go outside in this dress! We had to stop at Target on the way to the party and Chloe was upset that I wouldn't let her take the dress off in the car before we went in! Hee hee! Moms have to get their kicks some how, right?!

Mosaic Mirror Update: The auction was last night (we didn't attend) and I heard back today that they sold for $500!

Kickin' back and putting my feet up...

Ok, maybe just one foot.

(oh, and that yucky looking stuff on my other toes is iodine)

And, because there is no rest for the weary... or rest for moms, even when they've had their toe worked on by a doctor, here is Chloe working on her homework while I supervised and helped from the couch.

A big sigh of relief...

So, I'm typically a "one project at a time" kinda gal. Unfortunately for me, I've had more on my plate than that for the past few months. BUT, as of last Saturday- Chloe's birthday- I'm all out of impending projects, parties, and events to plan. YAY! With Cooper's birthday being in February and then Chloe's in March, I've basically been planning birthday parties since January 6th when I realized it was less than a month before Cooper's birthday. I also spent the month of February and half of March learning how to and working on those blasted mosaic mirrors for Chloe's school auction. And, as the Enrichment Counselor in our ward's Relief Society, I spent the past two months planning our Relief Society Birthday Dinner. I'm the primary care provider for my two wonderful children and I also work part-time outside the home.

I'm not complaining-- I'm just VERY happy that I've finished up a few projects and can relax for a little bit. We're even taking a vacation! Watch out Utah, were headed your way soon!

Six Years Old!

Chloe turned six on Saturday. I am amazed that she is six already, I don't know where the years have gone! She is such an intelligent, beautiful little girl. I can't imagine our lives without her.

In Seattle Baron fashion, we celebrated turning 6 in a big way! Chloe had a gymnastics party at the gym where she takes gymnastics. Chloe and eight of her closest kindergarten girl friends played games, jumped on the trampolines, and did an obstacle course. They then dined on pizza and ate cake (Chloe was the brain-child behind the funfetti cake filled with vanilla ice cream, frosted in purple frosting).


Here are some pictures from the party:

And after the party, opening presents at home with cousin Carter!

His Future's So Bright...

He's gotta wear shades!

Cooper picked out a pair of very, very cool "arrs eyes" (Cooper talk for Cars sunglasses) at Walgreens last week. He likes wearing them... a lot! They even made it in the bath with him this morning and he took joy in splashing his face while his "arrs eyes" acted as goggles, keeping the bubbly water out of his eyes.

Finally... the Mosaic Mirrors make their debut!

If you've talked to me within the past few weeks, then you know that I've been busy working on a project for Chloe's school's annual auction fundraiser. So, without further a-do, here are the much anticipated mosaic mirrors. I hope they fetch a pretty penny at the auction.

For those who haven't talked to me in the past couple weeks, I'll explain what I made. Each class has to come up with a classroom project and then it gets auctioned off to earn money for school. Chloe's teacher asked me to head the project and I reluctantly agreed! We ended up going with a project that had pictures of the kids instead of trying to do a project that 28 kindergartens all worked on. I got this idea from a mom who did the same project a few years ago for the auction. I took three Ikea mirrors (those cheapy 10x10 unfinished ones), painted them black (front and back), glued a collage of pictures of the kids to them, did a clear coat over the pictures, then did a glass mosaic over the top. I did not know how to cut glass, so it was a learning experience and I am greatful for the help from my aunt and mother in law!

The mirrors will be sold as a set of three. All 28 children are pictured on each mirror and then the kids signed the back of the mirrors.

I have no idea why blogger is uploading these pics sideways, but until I can figure out how to fix it, you'll have to cock your head to the side to see!

To prove we're still alive and kickin...

Here are some pictures from the park today! It was sunny and 50 degrees, so we took advantage and went to the park after picking Chloe up from school. The pics are from my phone, so they aren't the best quality! And I promise to start posting a little more often again!