A Precious Angel

Please pray for this family...I have been reading sweet baby Leah's site for a little while and my heart is so broken for her family right now.
There are so many people hurting right now.

Snow!

We had even more snow over the last weekend and it was a lot -- around 17 inches!! It was (and still is) so beautiful, and I love that we're getting ready for Christmas with everything still white!

Where does the time go?

Growing up I always wondered why the 'grown ups' constantly said "time flies". I just didn't get it...time seemed to drrrraaaaagggg!
Now I understand. Tomorrow I will have an 8 year-old. It was 8 years ago right about now that I went to bed feeling just a bit sick to my stomach---having no idea that labor was starting!
8 years ago that we were about to step into an amazing journey together...parenthood!

Time flies!

If I was A/An, I'd Be

I borrowed this from another blog :) I tag everyone reading this who has a blog!

If I was a/an _____, I'd be ______

TV show: The Office

Song: Dancing Queen

Movie: An Officer and A Gentleman

Book: Redeeming Love (Francine Rivers)

Fictional character: Ashley Baxter :)

City: Del Rio, TN

Verb: chaotic

Color: pink

Animal: bear (so I could sleep all winter)

Emotion: overwhelmed (right now)

Article of clothing: black sweat pants

Flavor: mocha

Food: ice cream

Vice: caffiene

Plant: ivy

Mythological animal: unicorn

Letter: S

Inanimate object: Purse

Scent: cinnamon

Season: Fall

Fruit: Apple

My Top 10 Favorite Things About Homeschooling

I'm trying to keep myself focused on the positive things about life today.

1. I don't have to be up early and have the kids fed and dressed for school.
2. We can go to school in our PJ's.
3. I know what my kids are learning
4. I know who my kids are playing with (and learning from)
5. I get to be creative and crafty while teaching (teacher was one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up).
6. I get to see the joy in their hearts when they learn something new...and knowing that I taught them is just as great!
7. We get to be together all. of. the. time. (this could be on the dislikes list, too)
8. We can take a day off whenever we need to. Without needing an excuse.
9. I can teach my kids according to their own learning style. This can be difficult but fun at the same time.
10. No Homework!!!

Hands of A Child

Have you ever heard the term “Cristes maesse”? It's an old
English phrase and it means “Christ’s Mass". This is where we get the word Christmas!

This was the very first thing that we learned when we sat down to work through the Project Pack Symbols of Christmas from In The Hands Of A Child.

A project pack is a wonderful thing for homeschoolers! It is a packet full of activities and all of the lessons or resources that you need to complete them. Everything is done for the parent/teacher, and you can work through each packet knowing that your kids are going to be having fun while learning! There are so many interesting lessons included with each unit, and any of them can be tweaked to fit your child's learning level. When you have finished the packet, you're end result is a super fun lapbook that your kids will want to look at over and over again!

I was really excited to review the Symbols of Christmas pack. My kids (8 and 5) are at the age that they see the materialism of Christmas, and like so many of us they get caught up in the 'stuff' quickly. This packet was a great opportunity to learn about many of the symbols that surround us during this season and how they came to be so significant. Areas covered include Advent wreaths, Advent Calendars, Christmas Cards, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Trees, Christmas Tree Lights, Ornaments, and Santa/Saint Nicholas. I am so thankful that now we know why we use these and what the history behind each one is.

We discovered lapbooks in our first year of homeschooling and I don't know who has more fun with them--me or the kids! I struggled through quite a few lapbooks trying to compile my own graphics, crafts, and lessons. One day someone recommended Hands of a Child to me. Oh My Word!! This site has made my job so much easier! Everything is done for me, and I can trust that the lessons are accurate as well as interesting! I also love that they give detailed instructions on how to put a lapbook together and even include pictures of a completed one!

Hands of a Child has published over 200 project packs, and they will even do custom packs on request! Be sure to stop over and browse their store, and it's not too late to grab the Symbols of Christmas pack for yourself! The price is $12 for the ebook, which is a good price for such a wonderful resource.

Our lapbooks aren't quite done, but once we have them finished I will be showing you lots of pictures!

*This is a Mama Buzz review. Hands of A Child provided this product for free in exhange for our review*

Mason is (almost) 10 months!

I had to stop and think after I wrote the title--is it REALLY 10 months?? Time has gone by so quickly! We had a well baby check yesterday and since he'll be 10 mos next week we'll go ahead and update!

He weighs 18lb 15 1/4 oz (so 19?) and is 31 inches long! A few 'highlights' of what he's doing:

Pulls up on everything recently found the stairs

loves to open and close things

says Mama, Dada, I-yatt (wyatt), and poop! yep, poop!

still nurses a lot, but eats pretty much whatever we eat. his fav's are grilled cheese sandwich, butter toast, mashed potatoes, and crackers!

he'll stand by himself until he realizes that he's doing it!

loves his bath!

still thinks that the big kids are great!

does not sleep through the night :(

has mastered the sippy cup

first thing every morning he poops and pees on the potty

loves the animals

oh, and he also knows how to throw a good fit if you make him mad. I was hoping that wouldn't come until much later!

gives 'love' and kisses.

gets so excited when Ben gets home and immediately reaches for him! Ben loves this :)

He thought that cousin Nolan's 4 wheeler was pretty neat!

Our New Puppy!

So while we were in MS over Thanksgiving, Grammy overheard me mention that for our next dog I would love a Labradoodle---we love our lab (even though she drives me insane, she has been a GREAT dog) but I don't love the shedding. Poodles don't shed--I didn't know that until recently!

Grammy started looking for a puppy, and today we picked up our Christmas gift. A sweet little Labradoodle who is 12 weeks old! She is already a great dog -- very submissive, calm, and so good with all of the kids. Even Mason, who spent quite a while rolling around on her and giving her 'love'! She doesn't have really long hair like some do, which I think will be a good thing! I have enough trouble keeping Natalie's hair brushed!

She doesn't have a name yet, but we'll be sure to announce one when it's decided!

The face...

Of a teething baby. I don't look much different, but i'll spare you a picture! I am hoping these top teeth come in reallly soon!!!

Cinnamon and Honey

I came across this on another blog, and while i'm sure most of it's true....I apologize if something in it isn't! Honey and cinnamon are both awesome, but remember that they are best in raw or as close to raw/natural as possible! We love a good teaspoon of honey for a cough!

Cinnamon and Honey

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

*_HEART DISEASES_*
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

*_ARTHRITIS_*
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

*_BLADDER INFECTIONS_*
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

*_CHOLESTEROL_*
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

*_COLDS_*Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

*_UPSET STOMACH_*
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

*_GAS_*
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

*_IMMUNE SYSTEM_*
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

*_INDIGESTION_*
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

*_INFLUENZA_*
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

*_LONGEVITY_*
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

*_SKIN INFECTIONS_*
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

*_WEIGHT LOSS_*
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

*_CANCER_*
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

*_FATIGUE_*
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

*_BAD BREATH_*
People of South America, first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

*_HEARING LOSS_*
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!! We certainly did, and now we're heading home. We always have so much fun in MS, and poor Wyatt cried the whole way out of town!
Now it's time to get ready for Christmas! I can't wait to get the tree up and decorations up!
I'm curious....when do you all put your tree up? We will probably do ours next weekend.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wright On Time

I'm going to start off by telling you that we are a homeschooling family, and my oldest two have this crazy dream that one day we're going to sell our house and live in an RV! Seriously, they are constantly brainstorming ways to make this happen! So when we were asked to review Wright On Time, Book 1, I knew they would love this!

Lisa M. Cottrell-Bentley had such a great idea when she created this series, following a homeschooling familiy who lives in an RV as they travel the great states! Each book is set in a different state and details the adventures that the family embarks on. Book 1 is set in Arizona, a state that our family didn't know much about.

I like that in the beginning you are given an overview in pictures of the state including the state bird, mammal, flower, capital, and other important landmarks. Just from these pages we learned quite a bit. The Wright family is in Arizona and they are going to explore a desert cave.

Scary encounters with bats and other mysterious discoveries will keep your kids hanging on every word! My 8 year-old loved the fun that Aidan found around every cave corner, and my 5 year-old most liked hearing about the treasures that Nadia discovered. Everyone will be anxious to find out what happens after the family gets locked in the cave at night!

I think that this would be a great addition to any family's book shelf, but homeschooling families especially. You could use this book along with a unit study on rocks and caves, or just as a supplement to a state study. It's wonderful that the story is exciting and my kids were able to sit and listen without realizing that they were learning! I can't wait to grab the next book following the Wright family to Utah for a dinosaur dig!

You can get your own copy of Wright On Time, book 1 from the Wright On Time website or Amazon for $12.99. Also, check out the video below for more info!

*This is a Mama Buzz review and the book was provided for review purposes.

Video:

Fun, Fun, Fun!

The kids are having so much fun in MS! We're all so tired from playing too much, and I can't wait to share pictures when we get home! I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!!!

The Ultimate Cloth Review and Giveaway!

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to try The Ultimate Cloth in exchange for a review. I thought "sure, why not? Anything that claims to make my cleaning easier is worth trying". Let me tell you, I am so glad that I did!

Here is a bit of info on the cloth:

The Ultimate Cloth is eco-friendly solution for homes as well as a money and time saver. The Ultimate Cloth is a brand new technology – in fact, it is the only cloth to receive a new patent in the last 25 years. The Ultimate Cloth is a simple, green and effective one-step cleaning process. The Ultimate Cloth cleans any hard surface – glass, wood, granite, stainless steel and many more – with just water! No longer do you have to use harsh chemicals in your home, nor do you need spend hundreds of dollars per year buying them. The Ultimate Cloth has been lab tested to remove 96% of bacteria, without the use of chemicals. And, can cut 50% off your cleaning time. The Ultimate Cloth is truly the ultimate in green cleaning.

When the cloth came in the mail, I was a bit suprised at how thin it was--almost like a paper towel. Except this thing will not tear. I tried! I was in the kitchen at the time, so I set to work wiping my counter tops. Then my dishwasher, cabinets, and even the floor! I was impressed with how well it cleaned each of these, but I wasn't totally sold that it was the only cloth i'd ever use.

THEN. My husband came home and I showed it to him. He read the insert that came in the package and saw the part about how well it cleans windows. He set to work on our dining room and living room windows. Amazing!!! I knew they were dirty, but oh my word....the difference was unbelievable! And no streaks at all!!! I would love to show you a before and after picture, but i'm a bit ashamed of how dirty they actually were.

I have only washed my cloth out in the sink with soap, and then I lay it out to dry. I am anxious to wash it in either the dishwasher or washing machine to see how that works, but just by hand seems to be good enough. I am a bit of a germaphobe when it comes to cleaning cloths, so I would definitely want a separate one for my bathrooms.

Overall I think that the Ultimate Cloth is worth the $6, even if you only ever used it for your windows. In fact, i'll probably be ordering another one for just that purpose.

The Ultimate Cloth is offering a FREE cloth to anyone who becomes a fan on Facebook or a follower on Twitter! Isn't that great? I hope that you all grab one!

*This is a Mama Buzz review and The Ultimate Cloth was provided in exchange for review.

The Story of Christmas

The Story of Christmas by Gwen Ellis

Illustrated by Steve Smallman

Ages: 4-7
Put out by: Thomas Nelson
Price: $10.99

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, and often we lose sight of the true meaning. We shouldn't forget Jesus and the amazing miracle of His birth. The Story of Christmas is a great book that will help kids to focus on the true Christmas story.

The book is broken down into smaller stories, starting with Gabriel appearing to Zechariah and concluding with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus returning to Nazareth. Each story is short enough to keep the attention of young children, and the pictures are bright and fun. I really like that at the end of each story is a simple question to get the child to think about the feelings of the people or the meaning of the story. One example -- "Why do you think God would want His Son to be born where the animals were kept?".

The book includes a DVD of stories. I expected it to just be pictures from the book with narration. I was pleasantly suprised to see that the animation was great and replicated from the illustrations in the book! Each story is included and after we read the book, the kids enjoyed watching it on TV! There are also some pages at the end that contain pictures, and the kids are to choose the story order of each set. This helps to review what they learned and my 5 year-old thought it was fun!

This book would be perfect to use as a daily devotion with kids, and reading it in the days leading up to Christmas would be really fun for the entire family! Thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing us to review The Story of Christmas!

***Disclosure: Mama Buzz and reviewers, received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Too Much TV?

Maybe, but I think it just shows how much little ears pick up everything!

The other night our cat came running through the door with a dead squirrel that was about half her size! I freaked out when she dropped it on the floor, so of course the kids come running. I told them not to get near it, and that I had to clean the spot b/c of germs and such. Ben took the critter outside and I cleaned the spot really well.

Yesterday Wyatt was playing on the floor and crawled over 'the spot'. He got upset and I reminded him that I had cleaned it. When he asked what cleaner I used, I told him Lysol....he immediately responded "But MOM! That only cleans 99.9% of germs!!!"

I guess I should also say that my kids know the days of the week really well, and are always singing a catchy little tune about them. Thanks to a birth control commercial!

Five Star Finger Puppets

We were recently chose to review a fun little set of finger puppets from Five Star Publications, and this product was specifically for Natalie (5) to 'test'! The results--she loved them!! She is at the age that she loves to play with small toys, and her imagination has no limits.

We both had fun playing with the finger puppets and making up fun little stories to go along with them. These are so well made, and the details are great! Our set was like the one pictured, except the boy is a girl. Natalie's favorites were the cat and girl. Mine was the snake! I really like how much these could inspire kids to create their own stories. A set of puppets would be great to keep in your purse or diaper bag, ready to entertain when stuck in a doctor's office or while eating out!

These cute finger puppets would be fun for many ages. They are safe with no removeable parts, and can be handwashed. Each package sells for $12.95 and comes with five puppets. Grab a set for a stocking stuffer--they are the perfect size!

How would you like to win a set? Visit www.dealightfulsavings.blogspot.com to find out how!

*This is a Mama Buzz review. We were provided the finger puppets for review purposes.

Police Blockade

I was so anxious for the mailman to bring our latest review product from Timberdoodle. I knew the kids would be thrilled when they opened it, and I couldn't wait to play with it myself!

Police Blockade is a really cool game that requires lots of strategy and patience! Wyatt ripped the box open and immediately went to work on the first puzzle. You are given a setup (in picture, so it's easy) of the buildings and the 'bad guy' in the red car. The object is to block him in with the police cars. Sounds simple, right? The first few challenges aren't too difficult, but after that the kids and I were definitely working together to solve them! There are 60 levels to conquer, so you're guaranteed hours of fun.

This game is so much fun! Natalie (5.5) did seem to lose interest pretty quickly, but Wyatt (8) couldn't get enough! He has a very logical way of thinking and this definitely kept his interest. As a homeschooling mom, I love that this has the kids really focusing and problem-solving. This game certainly makes learning fun!

Police Blockade would make a great Christmas gift for boys (and girls) of all ages!

Thank you, Timberdoodle, for allowing us to review this game!

Police Blockade costs $17.75 at Timberdoodle. Below are more details from their website.

Police Blockade

Sirens screaming and tires screeching, there is nothing like a little police action to liven up a road trip. Police Blockade lets you keep it legal but is just as exciting.

Your Job: Block Him An elegant red sports car has been stolen and the police force is scrambling to jam every escape route. As police chief, your child will be asked to coordinate all available units in order to prevent a getaway. His career is on the line; can he block the perpetrator's escape and avoid unnecessary bloodshed?

60 Challenges!With 60 fast-paced easy to expert challenges he will have plenty of chances for a "do over"! For 1 player. Includes game board, clear plastic lid, one red sports car, six police cars, and four sets of buildings, game booklet, and a nifty elastic band to hold it all together.

Logic, Thinking Skills, Visual Perception...This one-player game develops logical reasoning, builds higher cognitive thinking, and strengthens visual and spatial perception. It is self-contained, includes solutions, and makes an ideal travel companion. Plus, it offers an amazing amount of fun for all ages!


Game includes:
· Game board
· 60 puzzles with four levels of difficulty
· One red sports car
· Six police cars
· Four sets of buildings
· Solution booklet

**Disclaimer** This is a Mama Buzz review, and the product was provided by Timberdoodle for this review.

It's a good thing we moved the mattress down...he's been doing this for a few weeks now, and he even tries to get his legs up to climb out!

Mason is 9 months!!

Mason turned 9 months old today!! Time has just flown by and I wish it would slow down just a bit! He is still just as sweet as ever, but he has also learned to 'voice his opinion' on things!

He crawls around and pulls up on everything. He is everywhere ( though not on the stairs, yet!).

He is eating lots of table food and still has his milk. He apparently thinks he's too big for baby food, but loves YoBaby yogurts!

He says Dada, Mama, oop/poop (we do say poop a lot--just don't ask, okay?!), nana, and says the 't' sound a lot. Sometimes he waves, but not too often.

He loves, loves Wyatt and Natalie. They are great with him and he adores them both!

He used to sleep through the night, up until about 5 or 6 months. Now, he's up a lot. It's not easy but I think in a few weeks we're going to tackle this issue! He finally started taking really good naps during the day just recently, so i'm happy about that!

He is quite proud of himself when he finds something new to get into, and you have to keep the remote and phone out of reach. Those are his favorites!

Mason loves the water so bathtime is fun! Since he learned to go from sitting to laying, he will flip onto his tummy and 'swim' up and down the tub. He puts his face in the water and thinks that is hilarious!

I love this next one---I was taking pics and Ben came home. He gets so excited to see Dada walk through the door every day!

That's about all I can think of. 2 weeks ago he weighed 17lb 4oz. I haven't checked length lately, but we'll get that at his 9 month appt. soon!

Mini Family Reunion!

Back in the spring sometime Ben found out that one of his cousins had been living in the area as long as we have! We finally had the chance to get together last Friday when his Uncle and Aunt were in town visiting! I had met Uncle Paul and Aunt Karen briefly, right after we got married, but never Deborah and her family.

We had a blast hanging out for the afternoon, and the kids all played well! I know Wyatt and Natalie were thrilled to have some new cousins! Here are some pictures, minus Lydia who was feeling sick. She and Natalie are only 2 weeks apart, and baby Laura is 4 months older than Mason!

Us with Uncle Paul and Aunt Karen

With Deb, Frank, Drew, and Laura

Big Thoughts For Little People

* Mama Buzz, and reviewers, were provided with a complimentary copy of this book for blog tour purposes*




Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor

In Big thoughts for Little People, Kenneth Taylor (who is now in heaven) takes readers through the alphabet while teaching children about Christian living. Taylor reinforces the importance of loving God, being good, and knowing right from wrong.

Each letter is accompanied by a cute little rhyme, a short story, a great picture that goes along with the story, questions for children, and ends with a bible verse. The stories are simple, the illustrations vibrant and busy (great to keep the attention of little ones), and the messages are easy for children of all ages to understand.

When we received this book, I knew it was going to be one that we would be reading almost daily in our house! Natalie (5) was immediately drawn to the fun picture of kids and animals on the front, and she loves flipping through the pages. Each page has little ladybugs hidden all around, and Natalie loves finding and counting them all! We also spend time finding all of the pictures that begin with the theme letter of the page.

This is one of the best children's books that I have come across in a while. It is perfect to use for family devotions with kids of all ages. If you're like us, you might find yourself reading it when certain character traits need a little fine tuning--such as Thankfulness, Behaving, Joy, or Politeness!

This book retails for $14.99 from Tyndale and in my opinion, it is definitely worth the price!

Girl Talk

Gigi Garner, daughter of James Garner, has brought together women from all different walks of life in this fun book, Girl Talk.

This is a snippet from the Girl Talk website:

Something special happens when women get together and talk - confidences are shared, help and support given, all in the name of sisterhood and friendship. Women are compassionate listeners, knowing intuitively when to offer advice or merely a shoulder to lean on.

In Girl Talk, Gigi Garner has compiled advice and humorous tips from over 100 women. Included in this group are celebrities such as Naomi Judd, Joan Rivers, Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as bankers, designers, moms, and others. Each woman gives a small tidbit of advice or humorous encouragement on many topics. My favorite chapter is Mommy Talk, maybe because I can relate so well! Other chapters cover the kitchen, health, and even pets!

Did you know that witch hazel is an awesome skin toner? That if you put a mixture of Epsom salt and water on your fruit trees, it will make your fruit taste sweeter? Or how about using an old lunch box for a homemade first aid kit, along with suggestions of what to include! These are just a few of the handy tips that you can find in Girl Talk.

I will admit that I did find the book a bit boring at first, and I had to keep reminding myself to pick it up. Once I got about halfway through I realized that I was really enjoying the tips and information that I was learning!

Girl Talk is $15.95 at Five Star Publications.

Note: This book was provided free by Five Star Publications through Mama Buzz, in exchange for a review.

A good giveaway!

If you have a daughter between the ages of 8 and 12, head over to Mama Buzz and check out the review and giveaway of a great book!

What we do with our expired coupons...

The Tallest of Smalls

*This book was given as a complimentary copy to Mama Buzz and reviewers, for blog tour purposes.*

I was so excited to review the newest children's book from Max Lucado, The Tallest of Smalls.
It's a parable adapted from his book, Fearless. The story follows a little boy named Ollie who so very badly wants to fit in with the "talls". Every day the people of Stiltsville gather at the center of town, and one person is chosen to receive a pair of stilts, therefore becoming "tall".
One day Ollie is chosen, and he quickly finds that it isn't everything he thought it would be. He quickly falls from his stilts and no one comes to help him. Then he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up to see Jesus! At this point Jesus reminds Ollie how special he is to the One who created him, and he will always be loved!

What an awesome reminder for kids and adults, that no matter who or what we are on this earth, we matter to Jesus. And that's the most important thing of all!

The illustrations are wonderful and inviting to children. I did find that a few times the wording didn't seem to flow too well and I had to re-read a few parts. Maybe I was trying to read it too fast, but i'm not sure. I like that in the beginning there is a note to parents about reminding children that they are loved, special, and that God thinks we're awesome!

My oldest two children (5 and almost 8) have both been in situations recently in which they were excluded by one person, and then others who followed along. This book was a wonderful way to remind them that even if we are treated badly or looked down upon, it's okay--we will always have Jesus, and we matter most to Him. He will always be with us wherever we go!

The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado

Ages 4-7

Retails for $16.99



__._,_.___

Natalie wanted to create her own costume this year, so this is what she came up with. A fairy with a hole in the wing! I'm not sure why in the world her hair looks this color!

And poor Wyatt was too sick for trick-or-treating :( This is what he looked like as Natalie and I were leaving.
But Natalie did carry an extra candy bucket and collected for him! He was thrilled about that!

And this is how I found Wyatt watching tv today!

Rattlesnake Rules

"Animals learn rules by living

They have no books or schools

Please pay attention to this story

For even rattlesnakes have rules"

Yes, my friends - even rattlesnakes have rules! Wyatt and I can tell you all about those rules, thanks to a really cool book by Conrad J. Storad called just that - Rattlesnake Rules!

I personally am not a fan of snakes, especially rattlesnakes. Being a boy, Wyatt thinks snakes of any kind are pretty awesome. As soon as this book came in the mail Wyatt was anxious to read it. The illustrations by Nathaniel P. Jensen are quite appealing to a young boy!

The story starts as a mother snake is teaching her babies all about themselves, then she makes sure that they understand rules of survival. Along with the reader the baby snakes learn all about how and what to eat, surviving the elements, and even how to protect themselves from humans! The next part is rules for humans, and we learn what to do if we encounter a rattle snake.

Once the story has ended we were able to read through pages of rattlesnake facts, facts vs. myths, and more. As a homeschooling mom I was thrilled that included in the book is a curriculum guide - words to learn, craft ideas, and questions for the kids. I plan to do a snake lapbook and lesson unit in the spring and I can't wait to add Rattlesnake Rules to our booklist.

Overall this is a great book that the entire family enjoyed! It is on sale right now at

Five Star Publications for $12.88, which is a great price for this book.

Disclaimer: This book was provided free by Five Star Publications.

What Does Your Nest Need?

If you visit the Nesting Place you'll see that she is doing a really neat series called 31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest. I need this right now! I am having fun looking through her posts and getting some ideas on changes to make in our "nest".

My problem right now is our drapes. When we moved in I just sort of threw up some sheers to have something up, but never changed them. I don't like the sheers.

I'm also trying really hard to declutter (yes, Suzanne and Mama--get rid of clothes). I don't like having a cluttered house and i'm tired of picking up too many toys!

So tell me--what area of your "nest" needs some help?

The Energizer Baby

See this sweet little baby?

He ate one of these

I'm not sure if it's good or bad that I didn't know, but last night it was in his diaper. He had to have eaten in sometime between Friday and I guess Sunday? I took the opportunity to show the kids that Yes, he will eat things that he finds on the floor. And fortunately this one came out!

I feel like we've been so busy with silly stuff, and I haven't been able to blog much! So here's an update!

Wyatt is doing good with school, when he isn't complaning. He has no idea how good he has it here at home! He reads around 4th grade level and he despises handwriting. Math comes pretty easily to him. He is so anxious to learn multiplication and asks almost daily when we can work on that. He has been doing so well in soccer and still loves playing. He spends lots of time playing with Legos and is still really into Star Wars.

Natalie is doing well with Kindergarten and has started reading just a little. I have learned to get creative when i'm teaching her :) She loves all things crafty--she goes through a lot of paper, glue, and tape. She draws a lot! She has really enjoyed playing her first season of soccer (she and Wyatt are on the same team) and is quite the little athlete! And i'm pretty sure she's the only girl on the soccer field with bows in her hair, too! She spends a lot of time mothering Mason, and is so good at watching him for me if I ask her to.

Mason is growing by leaps and bounds! He turned 8 months old on the 10th and I still can't believe it. He crawls everywhere (still on the belly) and pulls up on most everything. He has two bottom teeth and we're waiting for the top ones to get here any day now. He still nurses and eats tablefood--and boy, does he love food! His favorite so far is mashed potatoes! He used to sleep through the night, but for almost a month now he hasn't been sleeping well. I have no idea why, or else i'd fix the problem! He loves his 'kids' and smiles and laughs every time he sees them. Oh, and he loves water. I put him in the tub and he immediately flops onto his belly and swims up and down the tub. It's really funny--maybe one day i'll video him!

*We took these pictures at the Apple Festival a few weeks ago

Bubber!

This past week the kids and I had the privilege of reviewing Bubber, a really fun modeling compound. Timberdoodle sent us a bucket of green Bubber, a Castle Mold set, a spoon/knife tool, and a mirett.

I was so excited to open this package and see my kids' excitement! They love to play with similar modeling 'dough' and I knew they would be thrilled to test out a new product. We really like the bright green color, but Bubber also comes in blue, red, purple, white, or yellow.

The Bubber is so lightweight, soft, and not gritty. I actually enjoyed just squishing it in my own hands, and found myself stopping to play with the kids each time I walked by.

Did I mention that my kids sat for hours and played with this stuff? Natalie (5) said that she likes the soft feel when she rubs it on her hands. She has spent the most time playing with the Bubber, making homes for her toy horses and using the knife to cut and pretend to cook.

Wyatt (7.5) immediately figured out the castle mold set and he was quite proud of his creation! While some pieces of the Castle Mold Set aren't compatible with Bubber, my kids still used each piece and never complained. The tools are all very well made and i'm sure that they will last us for years!

The Bubber definitely crumbles and you will have little pieces all over the floor, but I found it very easy to clean up. A few pieces have made their way onto the carpet, but fortunately this stuff doesn't stick to the fibers!

I am sure that we will be adding more Bubber to our set very soon! Visit Timberdoodle to see all of the details and to order yours.

The prices for everything that i've mentioned are as follows:

Bubber is $10.50; Mirett is $2.25; Spoon/Knife is $.95; Castle Molds are $4.95.

Thank you so much Timberdoodle for allowing us to review this product for you!

Here are a few pictures of my kids enjoying their Bubber:

Disclaimer:

"This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Timberdoodle for this review."