Mommy Tip - How to edit your videos

A question I get asked every now and then.

On my other blog (I really should just consolidate at this point... everyone who reads this reads the other) I often post videos. People ask how I get those short perfect clips... well, I cut down the long ones silly.

If you have a Windows computer this will work. If you have a Mac... your on your own, but you've got much better and easier tools to do it.

On a PC:

1. Go to the Start menu.
2. Find Windows Movie Maker and open it. On Vista it's listed right in the programs list. On XP I think it was in the accessories folder.
3. Click Import Media and find your movie file. You can also drag and drop it into the big open space in the middle.
4. Click the play button on the right side of the screen. When you find the point where you want to cut the video click the Split button (just under the video screen, by the play button).


5. You will have two clips in the center section now. If you click on the second clip (the second half of the clip you just cut into two) you can click play again and split it again if needed.
6. When you have a section split into the shorter clip you want to make, then drag it from the big window down to the first movie spot at the bottom.


7. Choose File (at top of screen) and then Publish Movie.
8. Choose This Computer and click Next.
9. Give the file a Name and tell it where to save. Click Next.
10. On the next screen I usually choose More Settings and then Windows Media DVD Quality. This makes the file so that's its not great quality, but an ok size to upload to my blog. You can play with it. At the bottom it shows the estimated file size. Keep it in mind when making your choice.
11. Choose Publish.

Here is the file I just shortened:



And the original:



Not very long to begin with, but now you wouldn't be able to tell that Ash fell on his bum afterward!

Difference of a Dining Table

Our old dining table didn't fit it in our new house. The truth is we never really liked that table anyway. Hardly used it. Sat in front of the TV with our food and ate.

While we were at Ikea we found a perfect table for the space we have now.


(Ours is actually black)

Ash was so excited about the new table that he actually fulfilled one of my latest dreams... we now eat at the dining table!

I know... why didn't we do it before?

It actually makes a world of difference in how Ash eats. He is more focused on his food and eats better. Without half the prodding we used to have to give him. It is awesome.

I told him we would sit there and talk about what we did that day, so the first night he gets up in the chair and says "so what you do today mama?" So cute.

Mommy Tip: Spoiling your kids

That's right... this tip is how to spoil your kids (rather than the obvious NOT spoiling your kids).

I'm writing it this way because I don't know any better. I've spoiled my little guy ROTTEN. What I'm hoping is that by showing all the ways you CAN spoil your kids, that maybe some of us (*cough* me included *cough cough*) will learn how to reign it in and gain control of the spoiling situation.

So... here's how I tend to spoil my child:

* buy 5 million x-mas, birthday, and assorted holiday presents
* make special trips every now and then to the toy store just to buy a new toy
* try to get all the Disney Cars (they made one for almost EVERY car in the movie)
* allow your child to visit the toy section of every store you visit and then purchase any toy they REALLY like. (umm... they always REALLY like at least one)
* look at every toy you pass by wondering if your child would REALLY like it
* notice how they REALLY like a friends toy and run right out to purchase it
* use toys as bribes (see post below)

I thought for sure I was on the path to a cure before Christmas. I had decided only to purchase the toys on my child's letter to Santa. That was before I took my child to the store and saw how much he also loved like three more toys that weren't on his list and also purchased those.

I'm not sure I'll ever learn... maybe when I have more kids it will get easier.

As for now... we're just happy we have a whole room to throw all those toys in.

Potty Training

Diapers... I'm getting tired of them.

My little guy is almost 2 and a half. Big enough to poop like a man basically. It's disgusting.

I'm ready to start potty training him. He has a different opinion.

We figured the whole teeth brushing thing worked out pretty well (we don't even pay him anymore, he just brushes them now)... so why not try bribery for this as well?

He really wants this toy.


Yes that truck... all the way up on the top of that bookshelf. See it? He played with it at his cousin's house ALL NIGHT LONG (that's pretty long in two year old time).

We tried just telling him we would get it for him when he pee-peed on the toilet.

That didn't work.

Now we've actually purchased the truck and placed it all the way up there so he can't play with it. Once in a while we do get it down and let him hold it, but just as a reminder he can have it after he goes.

We'll see.

As for now it's a pretty awesome living room decoration. You should all get one.

Don't worry... I'm still alive!

Yes... it's been a while since my last post.

Yikes!

I've been moving to the new house I previously mentioned.

I will be back in business soon with great stories about our move and other fun stuff.

Stay tuned.

A little makeover

Hello Mommy got a little makeover! Doesn't it look great?

Reading (for kids)

A Halloween favorite:

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
by Stan and Jan Berenstain


This one is especially fun if you go back and reenact the actions after you read them... for example after the bears go up the stairs and the alligator snaps at them... I walk my fingers up the stairs until I get to the alligator, then I CLAP my hands and yell *SNAP*.

Asher giggles every time.