"Every Day's Your Birthday" by Miss Nina and the Jumping Jacks CD Review

 

One of our FAVORITE music artists in Miss Nina!  We have watched her weekly videos since my kids were very little and they still love her.  She is personal, talented and funny.  She has a wide range of songs with motions, special guests and her trademark cotton candy pink Daisy rock acoustic guitar. 

 

We fell in love with Miss Nina and one of her previous album's  Sha Doo Be Doop (which I reviewed on my blog).  Her lively songs are super fun to listen to and dance to.

 

Her new album Every Day's Your Birthday is set to release on May 6 (my daughter's 5 year birthday).    This album is a great mix styles from pop rock of the 60's and 70's, some rap, jazz and country.  Who can pull off all these different musical interests and create a spectacular album for kids (and parents too)?  Miss Nina, of course! 

 

Every Day's Your Birthday is all about music and movement.  And Miss Nina says, "Why not make every day a great day?"  I agree!  When you listen to Miss Nina you will agree too.  Our favorites songs are My Freeze Dance (doo wop pop dance), Up and Down and Silly Wheels on the Bus.  The dynamics between the instrumental band and Nina's friendly singing voice is a sure crowd pleaser. 

 

You can find more information about Miss Nina:

 

Visit the Miss Nina's website HERE.

  Miss Nina on Facebook.

  Miss Nina on Twitter.

  Miss Nina on YouTube.
 

Check out Colors of You on Youtube:

*I was given the opportunity to review this album from Waldmania.  All opinions are my own.*

All About Spelling from All About Learning Press

 

We recently started using the All About Spelling Level 1 program from All About Learning Press.

 

I had tried a different spelling approach that wasn't working for my first grade son.  He was frustrated and I was frustrated.  What was wrong?  He knew his letters and sounds.  Why couldn't he just sound them out to write words?  I thought and thought.

 

Then I remembered All About Learning Press!  They had a spelling program that had a unique approach which focused on a hands on approach with many different levels of engagement. 

 

I decided to drop what I was doing and start All About Spelling.

I am SO glad I did.

 

Each lessons starts with a  review (using flashcards- in handy box with dividers), has a new teaching (spelling rule, working with letter tiles, etc.), spelling with tiles (10 words to practice the new rule using the letter tiles) and spell on paper ("spelling test") which also includes dictated phrases that the student repeats and writes (starts later in the book).
 

 

The KEY to this approach is short teaching times and mastery of the concepts.

I started by trying to do the WHOLE lessons which took a long time and we both were tired and frustrated.  I re-read the suggestions at the beginning of the book and it says to do 20 minute lessons.  So we started setting a  timer.  When 20 minutes was up we stopped and then started back at that spot the next day.  That worked great.

 

After each step is finished the student can put a cute bee sticker on a chart to see progress.  This was my son's favorite part.

 

The really amazing thing is that he made almost 100% on every test he took!  Yes, with all the built in review, working with letter tiles and various activities, he was confident and excited to show me what he had learned! 

 

My son can now spell 170 words! And he has learned several spelling rules to help him when he gets stuck.  I am amazed!

 

I highly recommend this program if you want to see your child succeed in an area that can cause a lot of frustration and discouragement. 

No more tears here!

 

Check out this program at All About Learning Press.

I am an affiliate and any purchase you make is appreciated at no extra cost to you.


Be sure to your FREE report for 20 best tips to teach spelling.

 

Family Mexico Trip 2015

Last November we had a family reunion in PV, Mexico with 27 family members.  Almost 10 years ago, my husband and I were at the same resort, but it looked much different then.  It was fun to go back and this time we had two kids!  It was so fun to watch the kids enjoy the water and my son learned to swim without water wings.  We ate a lot of good food and we had some fun adventures.  Here are a few pictures to share with you!

 

Can't wait to go back again!

Making "Gingerbread" Houses for Christmas!

 

A few weeks ago I was watching Jamerrill Stewart on Youtube and she mentioned that she was going to make gingerbread houses from a tutorial on Smockity Frocks.  Well, I was interested because I do not like the kits.  I don't like the candy, the cookie or the frosting.  I knew there had to be a different way.  So I found what I needed and bought the ingredients.

 

Graham crackers, candy and Royal Icing- recipe link below

 

Preparing the structures:

Graham crackers put together with Royal Icing.

The more icing the better for "gluing."

I did the bottom first and let it dry and then I did the roof.

It was messy!

 

Note: Be sure to refrigerate the icing in an airtight container to be used later for decorating.

 

 

 

Then we set up the candies: marshmallows, smarties, pretzels, candy canes, m&m's, Hershey's kiss, peanut butter penguins.

Here's a good candy list.

Each person got a Ziploc bag of icing with a small hole at the end for piping.

 

Let the decorating begin!

 

Even the grandparents joined in.

 

It was great to see each creation.

 

Jessna finished first.

Then she just wanted to eat the candy.

Shrade made a front porch.

I couldn't believe I could make things stay.

I had to hold some candy on for a few minutes or they would slip.

Super fancy from my husband.

Grandma is a born decorator.

Grandpa made a high rise.

Then a few days later we ate them!

Shrade smashed his.

 

It was a fun project and one we will do again in the future.

Even though it was a little messy it was worth it.

 

 

Merry Christmas 2015

 

Merry Christmas!

 

I can't wait to share more about what has happened this year. 

Stay tuned!

Changes: 7 Biblical Lessons to Make Sense of Puberty Book Review with Coupon Code (expires November 20)

 

 

The second book in the devotional series of The Talk (focuses on sex education for families) by Luke and Trisha Gilkerson is Changes: 7 Lessons to Make Sense of Puberty which is for ages 8-12.  This book covers how Jesus grew, Puberty, Hormones, What to expect for boys and girls, Girl Changes, Boy Changes, and the Goodness of Sexual Attraction.  The introduction states how important that we discuss these issues in our families before they learn it from somewhere else. 

 

"As we are able, we want to be the first and dominant voice our kids hear when it comes to the subject of sex."  -Luke Gilkerson

 

These devotions focus on the foundation of building blocks of biblical sexual values in our kids.  One of things that is very important is to be open and available for these conversations to take place.  It's a great idea to make regular family devotions for your family and at some point you can include these lessons during that time.  In this way you are establishing that bond of open and honest conversations. 

 

They also address why it's not too soon to talk about these things as well as this is an ongoing conversation.  There is no need to fear, but it's so important that we share the biblical values for the gift God has given to us.  We want our kids to get excited for these upcoming changes and also to know how to handle the emotional and physical changes that occur during this season of life.  Your kids need to know this information, and what better way than to use a well laid out plan like this curriculum.

 

 

My thoughts:   I really appreciate the conversations outlined in this book that will make it work to share about this sensitive topic.  It's easy to brush it off, but I know that it's better that my kids learn about puberty from me and also with a great resource beside me.  I would feel very comfortable using this.  Yes, it does cover anatomy, but it's necessary for children to understand these things so they feel prepared to face this new season of life. 

 

I don't know if I was fully prepared for my changing body.  It was a very uncertain time in my life and I didn't feel like talking about this at all.  Now that I'm a parent, I've started these conversations with my kids who are just 4 and 6.  They are not so curious right now, but soon I will be able to use the first book in this series called The Talk: 7 Lessons to Introduce Your Child to Biblical Sexuality.  Then later as they get a bit older I can use Changes as outlined in this blog post.  I'm very excited that I have these resources to help my kids understand all that God has planned for their bodies.

 

See my review for The Talk (Book 1): http://milknhoneylearnandgrow.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-talk-by-luke-gilkerson-from.html

 

Get the ebook here: Intoxicated on Life

Use this coupon code (Nest10) for 10% off through November 20 on the products listed below:

Click Family Bible Studies
Look for Changes
or The Sex Ed Series (The Talk and Changes)

 

Use this code:
Nest10 through November 20 for 10% discount

 

 

 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the authors.  All opinions are my own.*

Morning Chore Accountability Idea- Made Simple

 

 

 

Mornings with my kids used to be so stressful and unproductive.  I couldn't get them to do the SAME things as I verbally told them.  My son wouldn't get dressed and my daughter was always running around not sure what to do even though I kept telling her.  So, I needed to come up with a system where I was not the one to tell them what to do. 

 

I have tried many chore systems to help my kids in the morning before breakfast: stickers, magnets, charts, etc.  Nothing has worked!  I needed something that would help them to be independent, accountable and that was something they could do themselves.  I didn't want to have to keep up with it.

 

So, I came up with this stick and ball idea. 

 

Here's how it works:

*Each child has a 2 jars (small and large), sticks with chores on them and a bunch of puff balls (I count them to make sure there are a sufficient amount).

*On the sticks I write chores that need to be done BEFORE breakfast.  Most are quick and easy, but some take a few minutes longer.

*Each night or in the morning before they get up I put out their sticks.

*When they get up, they do everything on their sticks.  When they get a stick job done, they put it in the little jar. 

*At breakfast, they count up the sticks and put that many balls in the big jar.  I also keep the extra balls in a baggie in the same big jar.

*When the jar is filled and baggie is empty they get a reward- dollar store purchase, candy, any special prize I think of.

*It takes them about 2-3 weeks to fill the jar.

*Then we put all the sticks back in the big jar and put the little jar on top.  ALL DONE!  I only have to put out the sticks and the kids take care of the rest!  Simple, easy and the jobs get done.

 

So, what are the job?

*Get dressed

*Breakfast (set it out)

*Fill water bottles

*Feed and water cat

*Laundry (bring it down)

*Dishwasher (unload)

*Bed sheets (take them off and bring down)

*Check in with mom

 

They do not do all these every day, but I have them do about 4-6.

 

This has made our mornings (mostly) smooth, the kids are working and being responsible for their own jobs.  It's amazing!  I've been doing this for about a month and it works so well. 

 

And my kids, well, they like it and they are very proud of themselves and so am I.

 

Happy kids!


I do have a different system for other household chores that we do after breakfast which is even more simple, but I'll share that in another post.