Don't Laugh At Me

Don't Laugh At Me is a book about children that nobody wants to play with and that people laugh at. One boy has glasses, one girl has braces, one boy is in a wheelchair. And there is a kid on the playground who is always chosen last and who is slower than the others in the class.

The message this book is trying to say is not to laugh at people that are unusual. Because nobody likes being laughed at. Would YOU like being laughed at?

The Mice of Nibbling Village

The Mice of Nibbling Village is a book of poems. One of my favorites is "Morrikin". It's about a mouse who wants to be an engineer. Once he took apart a clock and tried to build a new one. The book is about a community of mice.

The Mice of Nibbling Village has really cool illustrations. It shows the mice doing all sorts of different things. Eating peas, reading books, sewing, cleaning, and making bread.

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money

The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money

This book is about the cubs and how some people spoil them - and sometimes they got money as a present or for doing a chore, and they were just spending it all.
Their Papa got upset, he shouted: "You must think I'm made of money!" And he also said: "You must think money grows on trees!". The Bears had to learn that they should save their money and that there is more to life than earning and spending money.

The Berenstain Bears And The Sitter

The Berenstain Bears and The Sitter is a book about Mrs. Grizzle, who babysits Brother and Sister Bear. At first they didn't like the idea of having a sitter, especially when they found out it was Mrs. Grizzle! But then they played lots of games. They played Cat's Cradle, Go Fish and Tiddlywinks.

I'm not going to tell you the end, it's a surprise. You can see if the Bears changed their mind about the Sitter.

Quick Kids Rooms Organizing Tips

Quick Kids Rooms Organizing Tips

The time has come for all good mommies to come to the aid of their kids. Organizing their room can be a bit chaotic. Kids accumulate so many toys, games, dolls and stuff animals that you hardly know where to put everything. Fortunately, here are quick kid’s rooms organizing tips for you to use as a guide.

Depending upon the type of furniture in their rooms, you may want to add a few more pieces that will turn the chaos into calm. Today, there are more unique and colorful bins and containers for kids than ever before. In addition, your kids will probably be even more excited to help you organize their rooms, especially if it’s new and shiny!

If your son or daughter has been collecting stuffed animals or toy soldiers, planes, or dolls; you can buy wall boxes. Affordable priced, they can be hung vertically or horizontally and make for a great showpiece in your child’s room. Moreover, all the toys will be relegated to one area of the room.

Another wonderful item is a large container featuring swivel casters and handles. This would be a great and inexpensive method for your children to pick up their toys by wheeling the container around the room. It will also be useful when transporting their toys to the family room.

How about some round containers in various colors? These are sure to be a hit with the kids. You’ll be able to choose colors that compliment each room. Affordable and handy, you may want to check these out as well.

Go online and research the various bins and containers you can buy for your children’s rooms. Then schedule a special shopping day with the kids. While at the store, you may just happen to find a few items to organize their closets as well.

Fun Things To Do Outside When It's Cold

My Mom says you can't stay inside all day and turn into a Vampire, even when it's cold outside. Here are some fun things to do even when it's cold out.

Winter Outdoor Fitness Activities

Does your family have the winter blues? Get them moving with some fun outdoor activities! Here are some ideas for you to try:

Outside Workout
Gather the entire family and go outdoors for a family workout. Mom or Dad can lead the group in a fun outdoor exercise routine. Or better yet play a game of tag football.

Jogging/Power Walk
If you’re tired of being stuck inside, get outdoors for a good jogging or power walking session. Jog around the block or walk a mile or two. You can add light hand weights to work your arms while you’re walking.

Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun form of winter exercise. When lakes are frozen, ice skaters come out of hiding and get out on the ice for lots of fun. Most kids really enjoy ice skating too.

Snow Shoeing
If you’re tired of jogging and walking, trade your sneakers for snow shoes. Snowshoeing works your leg muscles even more because you have to really lift your legs to be able to walk around.

Hiking
Many people associate hiking only with the summer months. However, winter hiking is a totally exhilarating fitness activity. Don’t forget to bring along your digital camera so you can take pictures of the beautiful winter scenery as you explore!

Why Labels Can Be Destructive To Children

My Mommy says that it's a bad idea to call children names, even if they're acting badly. This is an article that tells why that is true.

Why Labels Can Be Destructive To Children

“Mommy,” your child cries, “Daddy called me stupid.” This form of humiliation can have lasting effects on a child. Whether it was said in the heat of the moment, or perhaps daddy had a bad day; it’s no excuse. Words hurt; it is an indelible rubber stamp of disapproval. Therefore, it is important to fully understand why labels can be destructive to children.

Every child needs to feel loved, accepted and respected. Using negative reinforcement to discipline a child will only yield unsatisfactory results. Labels produce negative reactions; and when used often, can become emotionally damaging to the child. Children look up to their parents; thus, there is no justification which motivates any parent in belittling a child. Addressing the child’s behavior in a negative manner can lead to a myriad of problems. The child may develop low self-esteem; increased erratic behavior; and affect their inter-relationship with siblings and peers.

A parent who loses their temper is a common occurrence. However when it is directed towards the child, who may not understand the reasons behind the outburst, it can produce devastating effects. It is vital for the parent to immediately apologize; using words which positively impact on the child’s psyche. As a parent, it is your duty to ensure the child knows he or she is loved, at that very moment, and not put off for another day. The fear and disappointment the child feels must be addressed with an apology, and/or an explanation.

Disciplinary action of a child must never be accompanied by harsh words. If necessary, take a break and collect your thoughts. Think before you say anything further. Then have the child take a time out. Later, talk to the child about why the behavior was disciplined; then hug the child in a reassuring way. Let the child know you still love him or her. Words can impact a child’s life; positively and negatively. If you, as a parent, cannot control the emotional abuse; seek help. It is the very least you can do to ensure your child’s psychological state is not compromised in any way.

My Amazon Store

I put together a list of some of my favorite books and stuff and you can see it by visiting my Amazon store.

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Rikki Tikki Tavi is about a mongoose that protects a boy named Teddy. The author is Rudyard Kipling, who wrote the Jungle Book. Rikki Tikki Tavi also protects a bird and protects the boy from getting bitten by a snake. At first his Mother wasn't sure if she wanted the mongoose to stay with the boy, but after he proved to be a good friend, she let him sleep with Teddy.

Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants

This book is the 3rd funniest I've read so far by Dav Pilkey.

It is about a bad mad Scientist named (well he wasn't bad at first, actually) Professor Pippy P. Poopypants.

I especially liked the flip-o-rama, that was the funniest part of the book. And it began when Professor Poopypants come when George and Harold do another prank. They attempted to turn the teachers into snowmen by using styrofoam wormy things, and powderded paste. They sprayed the teachers with water.

I won't tell you what the P in his middle name stands for, you'll have to read the book!

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

This is the second funniest book I've ever read by Dav Pilkey. It tells about how George and Harold turned their mean, mean, mean Principal into Captain Underpants. His name was Benny Krupp.

They used a 3D hypno-ring to hypnotize him. George and Harold got into lots and lots of trouble. One time they put frogs in the teacher's Jello. Another time they glued the bathroom door shut. And gluing the bathroom door shut was part of the biggest prank they've ever done. But, Mr. Krupp caught them. He did this by using small video cameras all around the school.

Read more about the Adventures of Captain Underpants here:

I got glasses

A week and a half ago I got glasses. They're not sunglasses, they're prescription glasses. I didn't get the pair I wanted though, because I have astigmatism. That means that my eyes aren't shaped like a basketball, they're shaped like a football.

I like to read with them a lot. They help me with my vision.

Dav Pilkey Captain Underpants

Captain Underpants is an incredibly funny book. I've read 3 of the Captain Underpants books so far. One is called The Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 2, the Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers

This book is the funniest one I've read by Dav Pilkey so far. It's about the RoboBoogers, which are monsters packed with boogers. Their names are Carl, Trixie and Frankenbooger. The funniest part is when the battle of the RoboBoogers and Captain Underpants fight.

White Fang

White Fang is a book about a cub who is half wolf, half dog. The mom is a dog. She married a wolf. The mom and cub got captured by Indians. The father died. The Indians took good care of the dog and cub.

p.s. The dog belonged to a Indian. p.p.s. I will not tell you the end.

Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary

Runaway Ralph is also one of my favorite books. It's about a mouse that lives in a hotel and he runs away because his little cousins and brothers and sisters and relatives are trying to get his motorcycle, and they actually loosen a certain part of it, so Ralph went to school with his friend. And at school, he feels lonely. Especially on Sundays and Saturdays. There's no mice to play with, it's too clean for mice. I can't tell you the end.

Runaway Ralph is a book and it was also made into a movie. You can get it on Amazon.com
Runaway Ralph

Ramona Forever

Ramona Forever is just as interesting as Ramona the Pest. But now, I think Ramona's in 2nd or 3rd grade and she has a new teacher, but I didn't tell you something about her sister Beezus. (That's what they call her but it's not her name - it's Beatrice.) Beezus is sometimes really bossy, and sometimes she's real sensitive too, and in Ramona Forever their cat dies.

I like Ramona Forever because it teaches you not to be bossy that much. Also, look for Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary.

Ramona the Pest

I'm going to tell you about a book called Ramona the Pest. It's one of my favorite books, other than Farmer Boy. It starts out when Ramona goes to Kindergarten, she's about 5 years old. Ramona loves kindergarten, she had a teacher named Miss Binney. And she mostly loves her friends, Davey and Joey, Howie, and Susan.

Ramona often didn't usually get what she expected to, and sometimes she was very impatient. And Willa Jean and Howie's mother's name is Mrs. Kemp. Ramona the Pest is an interesting book.

p.s. I still can't tell you the end!

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Farmer Boy

I'm going to tell you about a book called Farmer Boy. It was written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and it was about a boy named Almanzo Wilder. This boy lived on a farm and he was also a very good help to his Dad, like just about all kids are. And also, he just loved farming. And usually he was very hungry. Sometimes he ate rye 'n injun bread. Other times he ate other stuff like turkey, bacon, pie, ham, and pumpkins.

Sometimes Almanzo helped spread the seeds while his Father spread the other seeds that were harder to spread. He liked to brush the colts and horses, he also liked to drive the two horses, his Father let him, named Bess and Beauty. And also, he helped harvest the food. He also helped with the wolf that came after the sheep. He even bought a little pig he named Lucy.

p.s. I won't tell you the end, it's a secret. You can get Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder on Amazon.com.

Save $10 at Amazon.com food

Right now until November 30th, you can save $10 off of your grocery order at Amazon.com. Just enter the code GROCERY3 at checkout. You also get free shipping when you spend $25!

Here is a yummy place to start: Cascadian Farms Organic Chewy Granola Bar, Chocolate Chip, 6-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

Dinner Planning

Mom says that getting dinner on the table is an issue whether you are homeschooling or not, so she wanted me to put this article on dinner planning here. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please leave a comment if you do.

Dinner Planning For School Days


Another summer has quickly passed us by. The kids have reluctantly gone back to school. It stands to reason that life should be a little less hectic, right? Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case. Between all of your daily ‘Mom obligations’, helping with homework and providing transportation to every extra-curricular activity under the sun, you probably have little time to devote to dinner planning.



Many times busy parents resort to hot dogs and macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza or frequent trips to a fast-food restaurant. That’s not healthy for you or the kids – not to mention its pretty rough on the family grocery budget.



Kitchen time savers

There are things you can do to cut down on time spent in the kitchen. Pick one day a week and prepare several freezer friendly meals. You can even go the extra mile and package them in individual serving size containers. Doing so will provide your family with a larger variety of entrée choices, on any given day.



Do you have friends that are intrigued with the idea of a one-day a week cooking spree or a meal planning service? Get together with 2 or 3 of them. Each of you decides on 2 main dishes you want to prepare. Buy enough ingredients to make the entrees for each family.



You need to plan ahead

One simple thing that you can do is keep an ample supply of fresh fruits, salad ingredients, soups and fresh sandwich fixings, on hand. Quick meals such as this are nutritious and don’t require a great deal of preparation time.



If you take on the task of meal planning and want to get in the habit of consistently putting together weekly menus yourself, you may be surprised at how much time it involves. Did you know that the typical family meal planner spends roughly 3 hours per week combing through cookbooks, choosing recipes and compiling a grocery list? That translates into 156 hours, per year. Yikes!



A menu service can help

You can say goodbye to last minute thrown together meals and eliminate the stress of dinner planning for your family by subscribing to a meal planning service. This type of service is very affordable, usually costing only a few cents per day. Menus are often designed to be family friendly and easily adaptable.



When you purchase a subscription to a service such as this, your membership will typically feature a weekly menu emailed right to your inbox. This includes seven main dish recipes, side dish suggestions and dessert ideas. As an added benefit, you receive a detailed shopping list, categorized by aisle, which makes your trip to the grocery store that much easier. Simply cross off items already in your pantry, add any other products you may be in need of and you’re off!



If you enjoy planning your own menu, you may want to consider a dinner planning service, in addition to your own choices. Why? It will still save you time, in the long run. Use the membership menu as a base. Then, search for recipes that will deliciously compliment that weekly plan.



Remember, nothing is more important than family time. Don’t let dinner planning get you down. Consider the suggestions we’ve made and you’ll spend less time
slaving over hot stove and more time with the people you love.


For a free one week trial of a family friendly meal planning service, visit www.dinewithoutwhine.com