Happy Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day! So what did you do in honor of earth day? Did you remember to bring your reusable bag to the grocery store? Did you bring your own mug to the coffee shop? Did you walk somewhere that you would normally drive? Did you switch to energy efficient light bulbs? Or maybe you cleaned up some litter around your neighborhood like my kids did. The kids have been complaining about some trash around the bus stop in our neighborhood. Once I suggested that if they don't like it, they should do something about it and clean it up. Every day since then they have been asking when we will clean it up (kids don't forget anything!). The weather hasn't exactly been cooperative. I mean what mother isn't excited about the idea of her kids picking up cigarette butts and used straws off of the streets with cars driving by? But soggy cigarette butts out of the mud and straws from puddles is where I have to draw the line! The sun is still shining and it's Earth Day! So today we took a plastic bag with us on our walk to the bus stop and picked up any litter (yes lots of cigarettes and a few straws) we found. It wasn't a lot of trash (didn't even fill up the bag) but I think it's important for the kids to start learning and doing things that help the Earth. So next time you want to save some glass bottles, go for a keg instead of a six pack ;) It is Earth Day after all!

Now back to your regularly scheduled "The Cookie Jar" blog. Today was a fairly quiet day in my house but that is all about to change. This is the calm before the storm. I get to make dinner, feed the kids, get them changed and ready to go to T-ball practice. Then come home and give my kids a bath and get them to bed all in the course of 2 hours. Yup, you've probably seen this weekly event before in the Olympics where parents (yes, we like to give the dads a chance too) compete to see who can accomplish these tasks the fastest. You score points for best times and smiling kids and lose points for whining and crying (doesn't matter if its the kids or the parents). Bonus points can also be scored if you manage to call of your children by their correct names and they have clean clothes too. Competition gets tough when the phone rings, the washing machine starts leaking, and you forget that it's your turn to bring snacks to T-ball, -20 points, Ouch! Don't worry, my turn to bring snacks was snowed out, Safe!