Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is Back Ya'll

My favorite season is fall.  Who doesn't enjoy the crisp feeling in the air, the leaves, and the fall clothes.

Well, here in our part of the south temps are still hovering in the mid 90's and still no sign of this blessed seasonal change.  Except...

...at Starbucks.  The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back. 

We here at the Mommy Message got the first taste test of the season this morning and are happy to report, the yum of fall has begun!

People love Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte.  If you tweet you may know it topped Twitter's nationwide trending topics Sunday.  

If you don't tweet you may just love the drink and have eagerly awaited its arrival for the past seven seasons Starbucks has put it on the fall menu.

Starbucks representatives confirmed (via the coffee chain's official Twitter account) that the fall favorite was available for ordering.

"The Pumpkin Spice Latte rumors are true! It's not on the menu, but you can order it!" they posted Sunday afternoon.

One taste really is a little bit like fall in a cup.  Let me know if you get to try one this week.

Happy upcoming fall ya'll,


Heather
a.k.a.  Mommy Bee

Foot in Mouth Disease

I never wanted to be that person.  Maybe you know these people who blurt comments out without thought or warning.  They might say things like, "Oh a red head, he must have a temper." Or my personal favorite when someone looks at all three of my boys with their red, blonde, and brown hair and asks me without hesitation, "Do they all have the same father?" Nice.

But, now I am sadly among them.  Totally an innocent mistake, but one that made my stomach churn and wishing one could reel in words with an imaginary fishing pole.

I don't even know why I am writing about this grievous blunder, maybe it is somehow therapeutic?

Anyway here it goes..

On our family outing to Target we made a visit to the toy aisle.  There standing in the aisle with us picture the cutest family

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Back to School-A Place at the Table

Don't we all just want a little place to call our own?   Our own piece of real estate whether it's a house, condo, or breakfast chair?

Yes, breakfast chair.

Apparently even having your own special place to sit in the mornings can make a world of difference in how your day starts off.

With these territorial issues in mind, we have started making a set place for each child the night before at our kitchen island.  We set out the dishes, spoons, cups, and napkins for each boy to have his own place setting instead of the bleary eyed dish shuffle Mommy Bee performed each morning.  Not exactly pretty.

When I taught college it amazed me year after year how quickly the students would stake out their territory in the classroom sitting in the same spot throughout the school year.  These adult students would become almost "toddlerlike" if someone happened to be in their seat that day.  I remember one student saying, "I have to sit there because that's the direction I turn my head to take notes, man.  I won't be able to turn my neck."

Setting a place at the table for each boy in the morning has increased our harmony and productivity in the morning.  Coupled with our Launch Pad our family has cut minutes off our morning routine.

Now, don't get me wrong Captain Wrong Side of the Bed still visits us on occasional mornings, but the boys enjoy coming down the stairs to their breakfast spot.  Their eyes kind of light up seeing their own little place at the table.

Back to School-The Launch Pad

Here at the Mommy Message we wanted to share some of our Back to School Tips that have helped us blast off on the right trajectory.

This year we have instituted a wonderful thing: the "Launch Pad".

The Launch Pad is an area in your home where you gather all your belongings for the next school or work day.  This includes things like book bags, homework, agenda, and lunch boxes.

Our launch pad is our kitchen bench.  The boys put their bookbags on the bench and their shoe baskets are right beneath.  The night before we we make sure everything on the launch pad is fully loaded and ready to blast off for the next day.

The launch pad has been a tremendous help in the morning when things tend to get rushed at breakfast.  No more looking for books, shoes, or those school incidentals. Everything is in its place.  In a house full of boys that is something wonderful in my mommy universe.

Let me know what tricks you use to make for smoother school takeoffs at your house.

Cheers for Back to School,
Heather
a.k.a. "Mommy Bee"

Green Eggs and Ham Turns 50

Many of you love the classic Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs and Ham.  According to Publisher's Weekly it is the fourth largest selling children's book of all time.


On August 12th the rhyming tale turned 50.  


Green Eggs and Ham was even on my wedding registry.  This may seem odd, but so many reasons to love this book and to hope for it as a wedding gift.


Of course I was marrying a Sam who's own Mom sweetly made him green eggs and ham as a child.


I envisioned reading it to my future kiddos.


We were registering at Target and I was scanner happy and there was the book with Sam's name on in it..well Sam-I-Am and me with the scanner..giddy..engaged girl..etc..etc.. 


Thanks to my friend and co-worker Syrenthia we got our copy of Green Eggs and Ham for our wedding  with this sweet inscription.

To Heather & Sam-I-Am,

May you enjoy many years of green eggs and ham together as husband and wife.  

Love Syrenthia

Click on this link to enjoy a video about the history of this childhood and child-at-heart favorite Dr. Seuss classic.

Mommy I'm Not Naughty, Just Deaf

Our boys aren't ignoring us, their ear canals are stretched!

It sounds silly, but in the book Raising Boys author Steve Biddulph talks about research that shows when boys are experiencing growth spurts their ear canal stretches, thins, and blocks up, which can cause some degree of hearing loss.

Well that might explain why it seems my boys have to look at me and actually read my lips only after the third time I mention something to them.

In the book Biddulph talks about how the hearing loss is temporary and can affect one boy one month and another boy a different month.

Interesting..

Another fascinating boy fact that explains so much to me about why my 4-year-old boy thinks he could wrestle alligators or beat up any bad guy with a single wallop is....

 a 4-year-old boy has the same testosterone levels as a teenage boy.

Wow, really?

It explains the endearment for ultimate smack down wrestling with his brothers, father, and even an unwilling mommy.

But the author says those testosterone levels chill out around 5 years of age, just in time to sit still and pay attention in school.

The best thing about the book Raising Boys is it gives great perspective on why my three little men do the things they do in what sometimes seems random chaos.

It is all part of this wonderful world of boyhood development.

The book is also a reminder of the importance of encouraging, protecting, and nurturing our boys into becoming the men they will someday turn out to be.

New Kitten

Meet our new kitty

Jaguar Bella

We found her hungry and all alone

Now she is loved

Safe and sound

Loved by little boys times three

A lucky kitten indeed

Household Cleaners Pose Threat

If you have youngsters, especially toddlers in your home, chances are you have your cleaning supplies locked up tight, away from busy little hands.  

Here at the bee hive we use mostly natural cleaners.  We love Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, but at times we have less earth friendly cleaners in our home and apparently the danger can be in the nozzle.

A new study shows children are still at risk for injuries

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Zucchini Fritter Cakes

Mommy Bee made something yummy at the bee hive last evening.  A recipe inspired by a love of crab cakes served on salad, but when you have two beautiful zucchinis waiting to be cooked in a regal way, well, you have to oblige.

So, here is a recipe modified for our Mommy Message friends.  Serve the fritter on top of a bed of greens tossed with olive oil and lime juice and a pinch of salt. Scrumptious!

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