Toddler and Snowman makelessnoise / Flickr

I live in Texas, so I've spent most of the last six months complaining about the heat. Not today, however. I woke up this morning to frozen puddles and a dead lot of plants. I've been watching the weather and snow is already starting to blanket many parts of the United States - even as far south as Houston. I'm wishing for a little bit of the white stuff myself because it will give me an excuse to sit around drinking hot cocoa and staring out the window. Better yet, it means my son and I can make snow angels. How is something so simple so much fun?

You can make good use of the snow that may already be falling in your area with these activities:

• Make Snow Ice Cream
• Make an Igloo or Snow House
• Paint in the Snow

Got other ideas? Share how you and your toddler have fun in the snow.

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Holly Leaves Print Photo © Stephanie Brown

When it's time for the family to get together and make Christmas ornaments and decorations or trim the tree, be sure to include your toddler. Toddler hands are not as skillful as those of adults or their older siblings, but it's important to allow them to try new things. It's the only way they can have chances to not only get a self-esteem boost from their successful efforts but also make mistakes and learn from them.

These Christmas activities can teach your toddler concepts about Christmas and make your child feel helpful and included in traditional holiday events.

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Leftover Turkey Soup eraphernalia_vintage / Flickr

Now that I'm completely stuffed with food and can barely reach my keyboard, I can tell you with confidence that I cannot eat another bite. That means leftovers. The thing I always find difficult about turkey leftovers is that on day one, I'm still excited about eating a meal that was exactly like the Thanksgiving day feast. But pretty soon I get burnt out and so does my kid. Toddlers are a bit more tolerant about eating the same foods day in and day out, but even they have limits.

To the rescue comes this group of recipes using leftover turkey where every recipe is different enough to avoid the dreaded palate satiety issue. Have soup one day, quesadillas the next and finish it off with the cordon bleu casserole. That's totally workable.

Want more? Try these leftover turkey recipe collections:

• 50+ Leftover Turkey Recipes from Southern Food
• 20+ Leftover Turkey Recipes from Home Cooking
• Leftover Turkey Recipes with Asian Flair
• Leftover Turkey Recipes with a Mexican Twist
• Low-Fat Ways to Use Turkey Leftovers
• No Turkey at All? Leftover Tofurkey Recipes

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Some cribs also carried the Fisher-Price name Photo © CPSC

I've only ever owned a couple of recalled items -- a crockpot and a pendant from a bubble gum machine -- so when I saw this crib recall and realized it was my son's crib, I had to catch my breath. Even though he hasn't used that crib in a very long time, it was still a shock to see. With more than 2 million of these recalled, I know I'm not the only one with that feeling today.

There have been 110 incidents reported where the drop sides on these cribs have detached and, as a result, 4 children suffocated while others were injured. Broken, warped and lost plastic parts as well as improper installation are to blame and, personally, I feel it's no surprise since these cribs have been around since 1993. That means one crib could have been taken apart and reassembled many times. Baby Products Guide Heather Corley agrees and talks about the dangers of the drop-side crib design, saying:

"A big problem with drop-side cribs comes when they are taken apart and stored for a while between babies. When the crib is re-assembled a few years later, missing hardware, loosened screws or bolts, or assembly errors can all contribute to a drop-side coming loose. Similarly, when cribs are sold at garage sales or thrift shops, parts may be missing or a lack of assembly instructions can allow errors to happen when it's time to put the used crib together."

The company is offering a free repair kit that parents can get by calling 877-274-0277 or visiting the Stork Craft site. Until you get your kit, please find a safer spot for baby to sleep. To see more crib views and learn more about which models are being recalled (including some Fisher-Price branded cribs), visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission site.

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