Family Briefs

“My blog is carbon neutral” is an initiative, originally started in Germany by the “Make it Green” program, that has the goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They plant a tree for your blog and thereby neutralize your blog’s carbon footprint for the next 50 years! Everyone can make a small contribution to the environment. Every tree counts!

I try to recycle. I teach my children to recycle. I try to conserve energy and gas. I dont really know whether my blog, limited traffic as it has :), has much of a carbon footprint or not, but I really like the idea of someone planting a tree on my behalf!

I always have great intentions to do all these wonderful Easter crafts with my children . . . and then reality hits me like a ton of bricks.  Not sure why this time of year things get crazy - its like Spring makes everyone want to schedule everything now before the end of the school year.

There might be hope for me yet this year!  I came across this little gem which offers several EASY options for fun, kid-friendly Easter projects that I already have items on hand for.  And any project that saves me a trip to Wal-Mart is a project worth doing!

So head over to Kids Craft Weekly and subscribe to her newsletter - then you can be crafty all the time!

We just got back from a whirlwind Spring Break road trip.  We stayed in New Orleans for a couple of days, drove on San Antonio, TX,  for six days, then headed back to New Orleans for an overnight stay, then back home.  Whew!  Where was the vacation???

If my husband had his druthers, wed drive straight through and everyone just pee in a cup when needed.  Fortunately, my mother was along with us, so we got to stop every two-three hours.

While hubby gasses up the van, we back up the line to the restrooms.  While were standing there, the kids get the gimmies - they eyeball all the yummies surrounding them in the quick mart.   Thats why I keep a good supply of snacks in the car - makes it easier to say no.  It doesnt reduce the whining, but I feel less guilt feeding them something!

A few years ago, I chose a kid-size shoe box with Buzz Lightyear on it to be our snack box.  Crackers and goldfish got smushed in a bag - how is it that everything on a trip eventually makes its way to the floor?  Anyhow, in a box the snacks remain in tact.  I choose from our variety of snacks at home and shove as many of them in the box as I can, knowing already that not everyone will be happy and whatever I choose, will not be fair to someone.  Who cares, right?

So when there get to be too many he touched mes, shes leaning on me, and hes breathing, comments, I whip out the snacks.  Hubby was especially happy this time cause the guys at Jerky.com sent us some Spencers Beef Jerky samples to try out.  They have a couple of new flavors - Orange and Mango.  Both were labeled as Sweet and spicy, and I was only stupid brave enough to try a small bite of the Mango flavor.  Husband LOVED them.  Me?  Flavor was good, texture was good,  and the after-burner stayed with me through most of Texas.   Their beef jerky really is good . . . I just think I like the pineapple better :)  .  If you want to hear more about what my husband thought of the jerky, you can hear his upcoming podcast on the subject at Southeastern Backpackers.

So pack a snack box on your next trip.  When the kids start whining, you can tell them to stuff it!  Then head on over to We Are That Family for more Works For Me ideas!

I hate clearing books off the kids shelves, I mean theyre BOOKS!  You dont throw out things that are GOOD for you, do you?  But the truth is, we simply have too many (course, we have too many of a LOT of thing).  Now that the youngest is 3, there are several books we can pass along to the library, other children we know, charitable organizations, or sell at the local consignment store.  Its still hard to part with them . . . .

. . . but when I stumbled across this, my guilt went away!

From Unclutterer:

My wife and I recently discovered the website One More Story. It is a great way to supplement your child’s book collection while increasing her reading comprehension and basic computing skills. The site has the equivalent of books on tape with highlighted words. The site also includes illustrations, sound effects, and music with certain stories. A demonstration is available for preview.

They offer a number of ways to use their online library, and the annual subscription rate is only $44 - I spent more than that at the last school book fair!  And this website wont clutter my house at all.  Check it out!

In light of the recent tragedy in Haiti and Chile, Sylvan Dell Publishing is doing its part to help parents and teachers educate children about earthquakes. For the entire month of March, the Panda’s Earthquake Escape eBook will be available on the Sylvan Dell Web site for free.

Pandas’ Earthquake Escape, written by Phyllis Perry and with stunning illustrations by Susan Detwiler, follows the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her cub, Tengfei, for several days after the devastating earthquake that hit China two years ago. Perry’s story follows the two pandas’ quest to survive outside the comfort of their reserve.

The eBook features read-aloud, auto page flip, and selectable English and Spanish text and audio. This title is also available in hardcover and paperback. We hope this book is enjoyed and helps children understand world events around them.

Sometimes I give myself a hard time.  You see, ultimately Im lazy.  There!  I said it.  Out loud.  Where others could hear it.  If I toss a piece of paper in the trashcan and it misses . . . I leave it if Im in a hurry.  If the toilet paper roll runs out just before Im crawling into bed at midnight . . . I let it wait until morning.

I dont know if its having to prepare 80+ Valentines for school parties, washing a minimum of 3 outfits per day for my 3-year-old, or the not-so-simple act of just getting through the day sometimes  that makes me so completely tired.  I become lazy.

So every now and then, I have to try to outsmart myself so that things actually get done.  Without the intervention of others.   Im lazy about my soap.  You know, youre washing your hands and the soft soap squirter just kinda farts in your hand with that last little bit?  Well, I dont have time to do anything about it now, so Ill do it later (theres that lazy side of me).  When, exactly, does later arrive?  Ill let that soap dispenser fart in my hand several more times before I actually GO TO THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE AND GET THE SOAP REFILL BOTTLE AND FILL THE THING UP!!!!!

So, Ive purchased soap refills and placed under each sink in the house.    Whenever I clean a sink, guess what?  I go ahead and refill the soap dispenser.  I mean, I have the time right?   Not to mention saving a trip ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSE  (a whole 25 feet away, mind you).

Like I said, Im lazy.    But having the soap on hand with an easy refill system, means I can keep on being lazy and everyone can still wash their hands. Now, you dont be lazy and head over here to find other great Works for Me Wednesday ideas!

MOVE OVER KINDLE

Sylvan Dell’s innovative eBook format promises
to improve reading speeds, comprehension, and language learning skills

MT PLEASANT, SC - Sylvan Dell Publishing goes LIVE this week with its next generation eBook, proving the company represents “so much more than a picture book;” it represents a full-fledged campaign for literacy in America.

From Sylvan Dell publisher and co-founder Lee German: “These are the most technologically advanced eBooks in the world today, featuring Auto-Flip, Auto-Read, and Selectable Language. There is nothing even close to this on the market. Amazon/Kindle and Barnes & Noble eBooks are not even in the same category. I encourage parents and teachers to take a test-drive and see for themselves. Let the children play with these for a few weeks, and you’ll be amazed at their excitement and improved reading performance. For children wanting to learn a foreign language or ESOL families learning English, these are phenomenal tools.”

Below is a link to a trial of all 45 Sylvan Dell eBooks:

http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ebooktrials.php?e=MSBL9J

Code expiration date: 10/31/2009

For guided directions: http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/documents/eBookOperatingInstructions.pdf

“Whether in Auto-Flip or Manual Mode, switch back and forth between English and Spanish text and audio (more language choices on the way) and remain on the same page,” said German. “With the addition of Auto-Flip and Auto-Read features, our Sylvan Dell eBooks are powerful literacy and language learning tools to complement our mission of teaching ‘Science and Math Through Literature.’”

Sylvan Dell is no newcomer to literacy education and no stranger to technological advances. Since the company’s founding in 2004, co-founders Lee and Donna German have been ahead of the picture book publishing curve. Last year, Sylvan Dell awarded free eBook site licenses to over 2600 elementary and Title I/III schools nationwide through their School Resource Grant Program.

What’s next? According to German, “We want moms, dads, and grandparents to be able to record a reading of our books and add that audio to the language selection list. This is especially important for military families with a parent overseas. We are also developing an iPhone, iPod, and iPod touch application so that our eBooks will be available on handhelds and an online data capture system to allow teachers to track student reading and quiz performance.”

Sylvan Dell eBooks are available on the company website, http://SylvanDellPublishing.com, as are an array of free educational resources, which include Teaching Activities and Interactive Math and Reading Comprehension Quizzes. For more information about the eBooks, visit http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ebooks.php. For more about the eBook Resource Grants: http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ResourceGrant.htm.

Well, I never did get around to posting the follow-up final review after finishing the first Daniel X book. We DID finish it and loved the story - from beginning to end (minus the mild profanity, mind you :).

So when MotherTalk sent out information about a second Daniel X book, I was quite ecstatic. I signed up, all giggly that I could surprise my 9 year-old with the next book. (He was quite disappointed upon finishing the first book that the second book wasnt available yet.) He was so excited when the book arrived, but he refused to wait for me to read it to him aloud. He wanted to devour it for himself.

Of course, the stipulation was that he would have to help me blog my review. You know, 9 year-olds really cant be trusted. Hes sitting right here pouting about having to help me blog about the book. Hed much rather be out raking leaves (which normally I wouldnt complain about, but Ive got this deadline hanging over my head). I dont know what the real issue is, except its something Ive asked him to do. He thinks I should have read the book myself. Heck! It took me three months to read the 6th Harry Potter to myself; the window to read Daniel X: Watch the Skies was about three weeks. I didnt stand a chance. Besides, Id rather have the perspective of the 9 year-old to share with you.

Hes tired of pouting and now seems a bit more willing to cooperate . . . . offering to pay him for his time in screen-time dollars didnt hurt . . . so, heres the 9 year-old perspective on Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson and Ned Rust:

Daniel X is basically the same character as he was in the first book,
except he learns from his dad how to tele-port. So I ask a stupid question, Isnt his dad dead? I am reminded (rather sarcastically) that in the first book, Daniel X figured out how to be with his parents by thinking about them real hard. How did I forget that? Anyway, this tele-porting talent comes in handy when he finds himself in the midst of a fight with an alien and needs to run home to get something important (he just cant remember what right now and Im distracted just thinking about how much good use I could make of this tele-porting ability . . .).

But I digress . . . still loved the short chapter format of the book and loved the science fiction story line with good guys vs. bad guys. Daniel Xs friends (also conjured up by thinking about them) fought about 3000 aliens while Daniel X went after Alien #3 in a really intense part of the book. Daniel X was going after Alien #6 in the first book, which you really have to read to get the second book. My son (the smart aleck) wont tell me who won the battle - he says Ive got to read the book for myself (and so do you if you want to know).

One of his favorite parts of the book was when Alien #3 appeared on a TV screen and could see Daniel X and his friends about to attack some of the aliens henchmen. He thought that was a pretty cool power for a bad alien to have. Im thinking thatd be a pretty handy ability for a mom to have . . . kinda like having eyes in the back of your head :).

All in all, we give both Daniel X books a big thumbs up! Cant wait for Demons & Druids - the next in the Daniel X series (this book had a sneak preview which makes it doubly hard to wait for it!). Also coming in December 2009 is another book by James Patterson called Witch and Wizard. The preview included makes this sound like an awesome read too! You can find out more about James Patterson by visiting his website at www.jamespatterson.com. Happy reading!

When I was pregnant with our 4th and lounging the summer away at the water park trying to stay cool, another mom of four welcomed me to the freaky four club. We discussed how people think youre weird for having four kids, you know, cuz two is normal.

Yes, we get weird looks and see people counting and wondering if they are all ours. Lots of comments about how do you do it? and I can barely manage the two we have and do you know how this keeps happening? Yes. Were freaks, but were happy freaks.

Fortunately, I havent had anyone tease us about our choices in extracurricular activities - for example, not signing our kids up for soccer or t-ball. We pretty much stick to TaeKwonDo, ballet, scouts, and church. Many days, I think thats too much. Poor Jane (not her real name) apparently gets mocked more than we do because she cant even use her real name in a blog about their familys choice to limit their activities!

Weve opted out of sports because they require practice during the week and a game on Saturday (and God forbid, you sign up for traveling soccer and have to drive two hours just to get to a game!). We love TaeKwonDo for the self control and discipline emphasis, ballet because . . . . well because we have girly girls, scouts for all the God and country emphasis along with all the neat stuff you learn, and church to keep us a little grounded. I mean, really, thats enough - isnt it?

So for all of you families out there that are running around from one activity to the next and wondering why you cant finish your homework, and think were weird? I think youre crazy! And Jane probably does too :).

When I was a little girl, I drove my mother nuts by rearranging my room every week or so. I wasnt trying to bug her; instead I was seeking some sense of newness in my life.

Course I didnt figure that out until MUCH later! Later, as in after youve run up all your credit cards buying new stuff cause youre out on your own and have the freedom to go do stupid things like buy everything you want . . . on credit.

So thanks to credit card debt, Im now frugal (thats my silver lining and Im stickin to it!). So my frugal tip for this week is to stay home and rearrange your stuff, re-purpose something you already have, or use paint to freshen up a space.

Maybe you remember from this post where I mentioned re-sizing and painting an unused drapery rod to hang the odd-sized valance in my daughters room? That same weekend, I was on a high rearranging items and finding things around the house to use in spaces where I thought I needed to buy something new. Its really that high feeling I get from seeing things look different - making it look new - that I crave. Its really not the purchasing (well, I like buying new stuff, but this is supposed to be a post about frugality, for heavens sake).

To get some good ideas about rearranging and re-purposing items, check out the Decorating Cents show on the HGTV network. They have a whole segment on the show dedicated to a free room makeover - just rearranging and using stuff you already have! Very inspirational!

So thats my Frugal Friday . . . whats yours? Check out LifeasMom for more frugal ideas!