Great Crafts for Boys

*Disclosure: My boys love toys that let them use their imaginations and create new and different things. That is why I accepted the free IDO3D product and I am excited to tell you about it. All opinions are my own. 

Great Crafts for Boys 

 My boys could not wait for the IDO3D to get here! They rushed to the door when the box arrived. The items were easy to get out, so the boys were able to start using the kit right away. The only thing we had to provide was 3 AAA batteries.
  

The instructions are very easy to understand. Just make sure to also follow these tips: 

• Make sure your IDO3D spotlight has fresh batteries. (Note: The light may appear to be working, when the batteries are in fact weak.)
• The spotlight should be held as close to your project as possible (about .5 inches). You can also cure your pieces from the bottom of the plastic tracing sheet by holding your light directly under your artwork. This is helpful for thicker lines and larger areas of ink.
• The tip of the pen can be adjusted to create thick or thinner lines.
• Trace small sections of your project pieces and then quickly hit it with the light. You do not need it to fully cure; a couple of seconds will prevent the ink from spreading and allow you to achieve finer detail. Repeat this process until you are finished with your project piece.
• We have found that alcohol based hand sanitizers help to easily remove any sticky residue left behind by the ink.
• You can place your plastic tracing sheet in the sun to cure any unwanted ink. (You can also place your art in a windowsill and use to sun to help finish curing your projects.)

The boys each picked a project. My 8 year old wanted to try to make a ball using the enclosed plastic dome shaped item. My 12 year old decided to make a skateboard with a ramp. 

The 8 year old got frustrated trying to make the ball by himself, so he decided to work with his older brother.  My 12 year old was able to make the skateboard and ramp in about two hours. He really likes working on projects on which he gets to build or put things together.

My older son said that he wished the kit came with pens of a bigger variety of colors instead of the 2 red pens, 2 green pens, and 1 yellow pen the kit included. But he also said, "It is so cool that I can make my own toys. I cannot wait to think of my own ideas and create toys from my imagination."

           This book was provided to me at no charge, in exchange for an honest review. This review is my honest opinion. 

Girl, We Need to Talk: The Minister's Wife & Her Struggles

"In Girl, We Need to Talk, ten ministers' wives offer words of hope and help, not to mention a shoulder to cry on. Whether it's living in the proverbial fish bowl, being a single mom during worship, or helping your husband build a ministry that lasts, this book offers practical advice for your struggles. More importantly, you will be inspired to mentor the next generation of godly women and go deeper in your relationship with Christ."

I was honored to receive a copy of “Girl, We Need to Talk: The Minister's Wife & Her Struggles” in order to write a review.  This book has great insight from several ministers’ wives who have “been there.”  Reading this book can help you learn from their mistakes as well as their success. It was like having all the ministers’ wives sitting with me, drinking tea and offering guidance.

  

I did not have the typical problems that most ministers' wives face since we attended our congregation before my husband was hired as the youth minister. But now we are moving to a new work, where my husband will be the pulpit minister. This book could not have come at a better time! It offers such great advice in areas such as making friends, hospitality, supporting your husband, mentoring other women, and so much more. Not only does it offer great advice, but the advice is backed up with scripture.

I was very encouraged after reading this book. I know it will be a great resource to me as we move to our new congregation and for many years thereafter. 

You can purchase the book here or here.

Preparing for a Tornado

Tornado season is winding down for now in my part of the world. Severe weather will crank up again in the fall. Don't be unprepared for a tornado. Check out my article on MollyGreen.com and start preparing today. 

If you or your family live in Southwest Arkansas follow my weather Facebook page, Storm'NOrren.

Learn With Play - A New Book to Encourage Family Memories

Learn With Play: 150 Activities for Year-Round Fun & Learning

I continue to be amazed at all the wonderful memories we can make with our children through play.

*This post contains affiliate links.

This great new book provides hours of ideas to use so you can play and make wonderful memories with your child.

Take a peek inside the book.

I am so excited to be able to bring you this book filled with over 100 fun, hands on activities for kids from birth to kindergarten. It has been tested by kids so you can be assured these activities are fun and they work. 

The book is divided into various categories:

General Play/ Arts & Crafts Activities

 Early Childhood Education

 Life Skills

Organization

Seasonal/Holidays.

It has been written by over 90 of the greatest bloggers from The Kid Blogger Network and I am honored to be one of the authors!

You can buy the eBook which is available for a special launch discounted price of  $9.95 for July 7-14 only!

The printed book is available on Amazon for $29.95.

The Kindle edition is available on Amazon for US$14.95.

It would make a great gift for baby showers, birthdays, preschool teachers, and moms. 

Magic Springs and a Magical Birthday!

*FTC- My family enjoyed the day at Magic Springs and I was financially compensated for this post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. 

Magic Springs and a Magical Birthday!

As part of our normal family traditions the birthday boy gets to pick a place he would like to go for his birthday. Remembering his 6^th birthday when we went to Magic Springs , our soon to be 12 year old decided he wanted to go back for his 12th birthday!

When we arrived at Magic Springs we got the ultimate in VIP experience, a cabana!!! Our cabana had a table and chairs inside and a table, chairs, and umbrella outside overlooking the wave pool. The cabana included a safe and a cooler. We also had a ceiling fan to keep us cool. But the part I could not believe…. A TV with Dish Network! We stayed at the cabana for a little while before embarking on the park because it was such a neat experience. J

  

We left the comfort of our amazing cabana to check out all the cool rides. It was at this point I found out my younger son was a daredevil! The lady at Diamond Mine Coaster, said that he was tall enough to ride on his own and he suddenly did not want us near him. So I let him ride by himself.  Every ride he exclaimed “was the best ride ever!!” and “I don’t want to get off.” I kept having to calm him down to tell him that he should try other rides so he could compare them all. 

The boys had a blast on the first round of rides. We also checked out some of the fun games they had in the park. The cool thing about the games we played is that you always win at least a small prize.

Next it was time for lunch, so we headed back to our cabana. We were greeted with someone ready to take our lunch order. Since it was a birthday lunch, we let the birthday boy choose the food. He chose food from the pizza place, Pizza DiLago. The food was delivered to us while we lounged in our nice cool cabana and watched TV.

I don’t know what my husband was thinking when he ordered the 29 inch pizza! It was bigger than the table! But it sure did taste good. They told us that it was handmade with fresh ingredients. It would rival any pizza place outside the park.

Since this was a birthday trip, I brought along candles for the birthday boy’s bread sticks. I did not light them because I am sure that would have been frowned upon.

This was about the time my younger son asked, “Can we live here?”

After lunch we ran into some friends. That turned out to be one of the highlights of the day. We had fun visiting with them. We also figured out a great partnership idea. Since they like to ride the “scary” rides and my husband and I do not, we watched their children and they rode with ours. It was perfect, since their children were too small for the big rides, and we were just plain chicken.

I am thankful for friends who will ride upside down roller coasters. This was the cherry on top for the birthday boy. He had never ridden anything like this before and The Gauntlet  was the main thing he talked about on the way home.

I am so glad that we got to spend a great 12^th birthday with my son making family memories. According to him, “This was the best birthday ever!”

Thoughts while at Magic Springs

1.     If you enjoy riding rides without going to the water park you will still have enough to keep you busy all day. Most of the people stay at the water park. A great benefit was we had virtually no wait for any of the “non- water park rides.”

2.     If you do enjoy the water park and you live anywhere near Hot Springs, then it might be worth it to get a season pass.  There are three separate water parks located inside Magic Springs. There is no way you could do it all in one day.

3.     The cabanas are great! I was thinking how wonderful it would have been to have one the first time we brought the boys to Magic Springs. At that time my younger son was two and he still needed naps. I could have taken him back to the cabana to drift off to sleep under the cool ceiling fan and watching Dora the Explorer. My older son and husband could have continued their adventure without interruption.

4.     Also the cabanas would be great for a nursing moms. It would give you a nice place to relax and a quiet place where the baby would not be distracted. A bonus is they bring you complimentary bottles of water to drink.

5.     To avoid crowds, go at the beginning of the week and at the beginning of the summer. I spoke with Aaron, who is the marketing assistant. He said it gets really crowded beginning in the middle of July and going into August before school starts back. 

How long has it been since you visited Magic Springs? 
What is your favorite memory? 

Outdoor Fun- Safe Swords

 

We have been having weeks of rainy, soggy, cold weather. I am so ready for my kids to get outside and play in the warm sunshine. One of the first things I am sure they will do is gather sticks for a "sword" fight.

 

 

 

If your kids are like mine, they love pretending that sticks are swords or lightsabers. Although I want my boys to be active I would rather them play with something safer than a sharp stick. These foam swords were a great answer.  They will spend hours outdoors playing with these "swords."

 

 

The easiest way to make them is to use pool noodles. You just cut the pool noodles in half with scissors, and then use duct tape to make the handles. To be more creative, use markers or colored duct tape on the handles to make them look more like lightsabers.

What if you can't find pool noodles?  When we went to buy ours, the store did not have pool noodles in, yet; so they gave us pipe foam insulators that were being used for a display. They worked just as well as the pool noodles.

You can have a traditional sword fight, or you could also make up a more advanced game. You score points based on where the sword touches you--1 point for the leg area, 2 points for the arm area, 5 points for the stomach or back. However you decide to play with them, they will provide hours of fun. They even make a great craft idea for a boy's birthday party.

 

I am excited to be a part of The Outdoor Challenge with 30 other bloggers who are giving us great ideas to keep our kids active and to enjoy the outdoors. Check out the rest of The Outdoor Play Challenge at Building Blocks and Acorns.  

 

Book Review: Motivate Your Child

Book Review: Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

                                               *I received the book free and also received compensation but the opinions are my own.

** A great bonus offer at the end of the post!

When I read the following words on the back of the book I knew this book would be perfect for my family. “God's Word gives us a better way to parent, one that builds strong internal motivation in children. When parents change the way they parent, kids change the way they live. This practical book explores a theology of internal motivation and then gives parents real-life solutions to equip their kids for life.”

I have noticed that yelling, taking privileges away, or even using rewards does not help my children become motivated to do things on their own. I have tried to figure out different methods to get them to do things without being told.  

I am so glad I found this book. It is a practical guide that I can use along with the Bible. Instead of having to use some type of reward or punishment to externally motivate my children, they can learn to be internally motivated. There are many ideas in this book that one can easily implement. The book also uses examples of many different types of families.

I have read and discussed parts of this book with my children. So far, I have been shocked at how implementing just a few of these ideas has already made such a big difference in my children’s behavior. For example, instead of telling my children that they had to clean their room now, I asked, “What is your plan to clean your room?” They came up with their own plan. I trusted them with it and the room was cleaned at the time they told me it would be.

This book points out that we need to get kids on “level two” and even “level three” thinking. According to the authors, level one thinking is what kids engage in everyday, thinking about themselves and their own activities. Level two thinking focuses on responsibility and other people. Level three thinking considers God. The book even goes further by helping you teach your children to do more than what is expected.

 A great benefit to this book is that you can start using it on children of any age. They are not too old or too young to benefit from the teaching in this book.

This book gives me the tools to train my children to motivate themselves to do what they are supposed to do in all situations. It will stay in my list of references to share with other parents.

 

 

 

Bonus! Anyone who purchases the book at any retail outlet by February 28, 2015 will receive a Bonus Parenting Strategy Package full of parenting resources worth $150. 

The Bonus Parenting Strategy Pack includes:

• Toolbox of Consequences Video and Study Guide • Kids and Conscience Video and Study Guide • Children’s Activity Lessons for Conscience Development • Children’s Activity Lessons on Correction • Strong Willed Child Teaching Points • Make Devotions Fun MP3 • How to Develop Gracious Speech MP3

Learn more about all of these resources http://www.biblicalparenting.org/motivateyourchildpreorder.asp

INSTRUCTIONS: Purchase the book. Send an email with MYC150 Promo in the subject line with a receipt of purchase to gift@biblicalparenting.org. Biblical Parenting will send you the link and a special code to access these downloadable video, audio and written products!

 

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday "Yes! We Want to Build A Snowman!"

 

" Yes! We Want to Build A Snowman!" 

Last night  around 11:00 we had a surprise 5 minute blizzard!  I woke the boys up so they would not miss it!

This morning when they got up they asked to go play in the snow. We delayed our normal morning routine to have fun in the snow before it melted away.

They measured the snow! One of the boys said, "It's not even an inch!"

And yes, they even built a snowman!

I love surprise memory making times like these!!!!

Big Green Giveaway!

I am so excited to get to be apart of this exciting give away! Living green, healthy and organic is more than the products you buy or the lingo you use. It's about the day to day choices we make. Buying from a company that has our family's health at the core of their being or choosing to recycle. Simply taking a moment to pick trash off the ground or buying used are small steps that make a huge difference. The #BigGreenGiveaway is one more step. Each of the companies listed here are all living green, healthy and organic and they want to help you as you make those green or greener choices.

A Family Valentine's Day

I am over at MollyGreen.com talking about ways that we spend Valentine's Day together as a family.  Come over and check it out! Six Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day : A Family Valentine's Day

Don't Complain

Philippians 2:14-15New American Standard Bible (NASB) 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.


I at The Multitaskin Mom talking about ways to be more proactive instead of complaining. I am also talking about ways to handle people who complain to or about you. 

http://themultitaskinmom.com/something-dont-complain/

The Big Green Giveaway

I am excited to bring you a 

Free Blogger Opp The Big Green Giveaway

via the Natural Organic Network

Are you looking to increase your traffic, page views and followers? Then check out this free blogger opp with Natural Organic Network valued at $3000!

Natural Organic Network has put together a giveaway of natural and organic products valued at over $3000.00 which runs from Monday, February 16th at 7am EST to Tuesday, February 24th at 12:01 am. You must promote the giveaway with…

1. an announcement post to generate your readers’ excitement (copy provided)and/or an announcement post for bloggers (copy provided) and
2. 2 DAILY social media shares using the hashtag #BigGreenGiveaway.

You will earn a free social media link in the giveaway in exchange for promoting the giveaway through both the announcement post and the daily shares. There are additional options such as co-hosting, additional links, loyalty entries and follow pages if you’re looking to grow. We are also offering a free co-host spot to the blogger with the most referrals. So, be sure to include who referred you. For additional information check out the sign up for the Big Green Giveaway.

Multicultural Children's Book Day: Review of "The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School"

 I received a free copy of this book for MCCBD 2015. I was not paid for this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

                                    Multicultural Children's Book Day
                                               January 27, 2015

I am very excited to be participating in my first Multicultural Children's Book Day. I think reading to children is very important, even when they are old enough to read themselves. It is equally important to discuss these books with your children after you read them.

The book I was chosen to read and review for this special day is, The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School. After reading this book you will realize that it facilitates great discussion. 

Included in this post is a great activity to do with your children and some important information about Multicultural Children's Book Day.

Review: The Rainbow Files: The Day I Was The Only Kid in School by Maria Kelly with April E. Kelly
  I am sure as a child you imagined a day when you would go to school and actually get to take over the classroom and teach whatever you wanted. This book is about that type of day. 

One night Shai Keshet awoke to a strange storm.  She was able to go back to sleep; but, the next day, when she arrives at school, she in the only student. It is decided by the principal that she, Shai Keshet, will get to be the teacher for the day. She can teach whatever she wants--and the teachers will be the students!

She chose some very interesting classes, which led to a day of fun and adventure. My children laughed out loud numerous times at the class choices and they loved the illustrations.
 

Activity
  Since we homeschool our children, they are almost always the only students in class. But even though this concept wasn't unusual to them, the amount of discussion that we had from this book still made a great homeschool class.

I asked my boys if they had a whole class all to themselves, what they would choose to teach. My older son said, "I wish I could do that because the whole day we would just have recess and gym." My younger son said, "I would teach a class on light-saber fighting."

This book can reach the reader on an even deeper level. I asked my kids several discussion questions related to this book.  

• How would it feel to be the only person going through something?
• What are some issues that you might face that would make you feel alone?
• How would you handle those situations?
• How could you take control of the situation? 
• How would you treat someone who felt he or she was going through a situation all alone?
• How could you help that person? 

I recommend this book, whether your child is in public school, private school, homeschool, or not yet in school. It engages children by being funny and interesting and encourages them with some very creative discussion.


So you may be asking, "Why are we having Multicultural Book Day?"

                The mission of Multicultural Children's Book Day:


“Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.”  (Founders: Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom) 


Did you know?  Despite census data that shows 37% of the US population consists of people of color, only 10% of children’s books published have diversity content. Using the Multicultural Children’s Book Day, Mia and Valarie are on a mission to change all of that. Their mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries. Another goal of this exciting event is create a compilation of books and favorite reads that will provide not only a new reading list for the winter, but also a way to expose brilliant books to families, teachers, and libraries.

So now you may be asking, "How can I help?"
 

Here are some ways you can help us celebrate Multicultural Children’s Book Day:

• Visit The Multicultural Children’s Book Day website and view our booklists, reading resources and other useful multicultural information.
• Visit our Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board for more reading ideas.
• Have children bring in their favorite multicultural book to school on this day and share it with the class.
• Watch for the #ReadYourWorld hashtag on social media and share
• Visit our Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents on our website
• Visit The Multicultural Children’s Book Day website on January 27^th to view and participate in our huge blogger link-up, multicultural book reviews, giveaways and more! 
• Connect with us on our new Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay 
• Connect with us on our new Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

MCCBD’s  2015 Sponsors include Platinum Sponsors: Wisdom Tales Press, Daybreak Press Global Bookshop, Gold Sponsors:  Satya House,  MulticulturalKids.com,   Author Stephen Hodges and the Magic Poof, Silver Sponsors: Junior Library Guild,  Capstone Publishing, Lee and Low Books,  The Omnibus Publishing. Bronze Sponsors:Double Dutch Dolls, Bliss Group Books, Author Richa Jha,  Rainbow Books,   Author FeliciaCapers,   Chronicle Books   Muslim Writers Publishing ,East West Discovery Press.

2015 MCCBD CO-HOSTS

Africa to America
All Done Monkey
The Educators’ Spin on It
Growing Book by Book
InCultural Parent
Kid World Citizen
Mama Smiles
Multicultural Kid Blogs
Sprout’s Bookshelf

First Book

We’re also partnering with First Book to offer a Virtual Book Drive that will help donate multicultural children’s books through their channels during the week of the event. We want to help get diversity books into the hands of kids who most need it and now we have a way to do it! The Virtual Book Drive is LIVE and can be found HERE.

Children’s Book Council

A Special Thank You to the Children’s Book Council for their contribution and support.MCCBD is collaborating with Children’s Book Council to highlight wonderful diversity books and authors on an ongoing basis all year.

I plan to donate the book I reviewed to Hempstead County Library.

If you would like more information, or have questions regarding Multicultural Children’s Book Day, please contact Valarie Budayr at Valarie@AudreyPress.com or Mia Wenjen at pragmaticmomblog@gmail.com