Gift Ideas for Kiddos 2-4 years old....

Snap N Style dolls have been a great pick for Julia. She is 2 yrs. old and ready for Barbies and all but this is a great product a friend told me about. This is one of the sets she got for her B-day. I picked up one for $10 at a local retail store and the set included ONE baby, 2 onsies, 2 hats, a little purple teddy bear (smaller than the baby), 1 blanket, and the bed. The onsies simply snap onto the baby by pushing them up against her....making it easy even for a two old to take them off and put them on. Julia loves playing with them!!

TJ Berrytales is my first suggested gift. Zach who is four still loves listening to "TJ" as he tells each story....There are little cartridges that go into the back of TJ and then a play,pause, and stop button. Tj can simply tell the story to younger kids, or if you trust them not to destroy the cute books they can follow along. We got this many years ago and all my kids have enjoyed him. You can buy additional books at $15-$20. When I looked up a link for TJ they started at $179.00....maybe this is a newer version that what we have, because I am positive that our cost more like $40 or so.....

BRAIN QUEST CARDS

You are looking at one of the best products I know of, Brain Quest cards!!!! I honestly can't say enough positive things about this lovely simply product. Ages 2-3 is the first set that is available as far as age goes. We have them all the way up through 2nd grade. These cards are double sided any ask 3 question per card. I love them because they are sooooo much fun yet educational for the kids to enjoy. My kids love them because they are colorful, challenging, and engagaing. They love that when we sit down to do them that they get some great one on one time with mom. Yet they are also set up for older children to complete them individually.  There us such an asssortment of these cards per package that the kids do them over and over without boredome as well. Yet another plus to this product it is affordable.....$10 at many retail stores!!

 

 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Leap FROG!!!!!! We have 5 Leap Frog Dvd's and I can't wait for yet another new one coming out this spring!!! If my kids are going to watch DVD's or TV I would like them to get more out of it than just vegetating on the couch. I want what they watch and take in to be stimulating, engaging, and educational....No not everything we watch falls into this category.....I totally LOVE how these DVD's are educational without being to corny for even my older boys to still watch when the younger kids want to watch them. They have fun music and just a great learning approach. Caleb and  Zach learned their letters and their sounds very early because of these great DVD's. Again they are very affordable for everyone!! Around $10....or cheaper!! GO here and buy them for $7.96 each.....scroll down to the bottom and keep looking on the right hand side to see the other Leap Frog dvds available!!

So there are a few suggestions for the 2-4 age group!! Just FYI for you all these are all products that either I bought myself or they were given as gifts to us from family. I am not getting paid or asked to review these products by any of the individual companies. So they are just my own honest opinions to help spur you on in trying to find budget friendly, and kid-friendly gifts for your loved ones!

A Week of Gift Ideas!

I thought is would be fun to pass some gift ideas along to you all. All ideas will be things we have either bought ourselves, gifts we have been given, or products we have reviewed....I am not being compensated by any of these companies and of course are all based on my personal opinion.....so feel free to take it or leave it! Either way I thought it would be fun and something great to kick off the holiday shopping season. So starting Monday, November 30th, we will start our FUN!! So I hope you'll stop be each day and join me.....

DANIELLE

Give THANKS With A Grateful Heart.....

 This time of year I so enjoy hearing what others and THANKFUL for....and I love how most of us seem to make it a conscious effort to stop and meditate on all the MANY blessings we have experienced throughout  the last year. I think the older I seem to get the more I try to focus daily on the blessings around me, and give THANKS even when I don't feel like it. So in the spirit of THANKSGIVING I wanted to share some things with you all that I am truly grateful for in 2009.

*Most important and FIRST on my "List" The GOD I serve...THANKFUL for his grace, patience, and loving spirit all which I am totally undeserving and unworthy of, but he gives them abundantly anyway.
*My wonderful hubby, Justin, and loving father to our troop. I am THANKFUL for his hardworking and persistent character. I am thankful that he has been blessed by God with gifts that allow him to provide for our family and for me to be at home.
*My energetic children....even though I sometimes moan and complain about a "bad day"...I am still THANKFUL that God had entrusted these four kiddos to me for a time. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mommy and wouldn't trade it for anything.
*Coffee in the morning....this may seem silly, but oh how I am THANKFUL for my cup of sugary, creamy, coffee each day.
*Sitting by the stove...we have a "corn stove" totally LOVE it! I am THANKFUL for the heat it provides and curling up beside of it in a chair with a good book...
*A good book....I have been very blessed this year by authors and publishing companies to be able to review several GREAT books. I love to read and I am so THANKFUL for these opportunities to give my opinion on the books..THANK YOU!
*My Mother and Father-In Law...seriously I have the best in-laws! I realize not everyone feels this way about in-laws. From the first day I met them over 11 years ago they have always made me feel like I was one of their own. The LOVE they have shown to me and my children is really amazing, and not something I take for granted. I am so THANKFUL that the Lord has placed me in this family!
*Girlfriends...Nothing can lift my spirits when I need a mommy-day-out better than spending time with women I care about! I am THANKFUL for the women God has placed in my life throughout the years. I cherish their encouragement, advice, wisdom they share with me. Because of the season of life I am in, I don't get as much "girl time" as I would like, which makes me treasure it all the more when it does happen!
*Church...I am so THANKFUL for our church family! I am grateful that our pastors preach from the Bible. They doesn't sugar coat the messages. They tells it how it is, but with LOVE and then emphasize how we, as a church body, can personally apply Scripture to our lives. THANK YOU to all of our pastors!!

*Spiritual growth....I am THANKFUL for the time I spend in God's word and the conviction I feel to always be striving to be more in line with God's plan for my life. I can't think of a better way to begin my days, then  to be at His feet, in His word, feeling His presence.

My prayer for each of you is that you will take some time to reflect on what you are THANKFUL for...even if your going through hard times...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...Have a great holiday weekend....with too much food....and lots of family time.....GIVE THANKS!!!

DANIELLE

I Cherish Planet Earth~ Giveaway & Review

Discussion time. At the end of the game have each player look at the matching pairs they have collected and discuss their meaning. Talk about how we are a part of nature and how it sustains us. Take action- Discuss different ideas and decide the Earth-friendly changes you can make and commit to in your life, home, and neighborhood. The picture book helps build meaningful understanding, while the memory game reinforces those ideas. The game extensions are well considered and offer the opportunity for communication, creative self-expression, and action. This activity set is about appreciating and preserving nature and our planet. It inspires all to learn about and care for all life, from the tiniest flower to the greatest forest. It is a natural addition to any go-green program, at home, neighborhood, school, or other community. Printed in the USA on recycled paper and it uses vegetable-oil-based ink. This product is part of the 1% for the planet program.

If you have been a followers of my blog for any amount of time you would know that I really appreciate companies who go out of their way to educate our little ones amount the importance of stewardship. This product focuses on our stewardship of taking care of the Earth. I love that this book/game provoke discussion in such a natural way. I think it really helps when the kids can verbalize what they are learning and then think how they, even as children, can apply these honoring practices in their own life. I also love that that Challenge & Fun, along with Focus Bloom, don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. I love that this product in made on recycled paper and MADE IN THE USA!!! I think this product is a nice addition to a science lesson.This product is aimed at 4-10 year olds. 

I Cherish Planet Earth was also the a pick for DR. TOY Best GREEN product 2009!!


If your interested in getting yourself a copy of "I Cherish Planet Earth" for $16.95 you can go here!

FOCUS BLOOM has been kind enough to offer a GIVEAWAY of I Cherish Planet Earth!!

Simply leave me a comment if you would like to enter!!  HURRY!!! Deadline is 11/30/09

DANIELLE

Wright On Time: Arizona~Mama Buzz Review

As soon as we received Wright On Time, my 8 year old snatched it up and curled up in the chair and started reading. Wright On Time: Arizona, is  book one in this fun series about a family who had decided to embark on an adventure across the USA in an RV. They are a homeschooling family that loves learning and immersing themselves in a hands on approach to schooling.

Lance, my 8 year old, said he really enjoyed reading the book. He wants to see what adventures the Wright family find waiting for them in Utah (Book 2).

From a mommy's point of view, I did like the book. I felt the sense of adventure as I flipped the pages. I would have like to see the book explore more of Arizona. I felt that the book concentrated only one aspect. I would have like to see the book be longer in length and include more details about the state.  I do like that this book represents two things our family is passionate about, homeschooling and RVing. My husband has even mentioned he would love to take off in our camper and travel the country......playing Bluegrass music to support our travels......Ohhhh well a guy can dream!


 Wright On Time , which is aimed at 5-12 years olds, 87 pages in length, and will cost you $12.99. I find this a little pricey for such a short book and would like to see the cost down about half that price. I do like concept of having a collection of books by the state as this series progresses.

DANIELLE

Winner!

Congrats to Candice for winning the Artisic Albums Giveaway!!!  A SPECIAL thank you to Nicole for providing us with her service!!!

DANIELLE

Mommy - Daughter Moments

 Hello there! So I thought I would share a few things that Miss Julia has been up to lately...Well dressing up in her little high heel shoes ranks pretty high on her list of favorite things to do...when she's not talking on her phone...smile...

 She loves carrying this cute little Hello Kitty purse around with her..we scored it for $1 at Goodwill! 

The other day, as I put laundry away, she decided to go get some "friends" and hang out in "Mommy's bed"..hugs and kisses all around!!

 Don't forget the cuddling..you can't be in "Mommy's bed" and not get some good cuddle time in...

Oh she's just growing like a weed! I am still loving. loving, loving having this little joyous girl around the house with all the boys!! I mean I could do without all her DRAMA moments, and super high squeals when her brothers are trying to redirect her in another direction....but then again those are probably the moments I will remember when I am old and gray....at least that what everyone keeps telling me.....hearty laugh......

DANIELLE

Father - Son Moments

 Well if you don't already know, hunting is a BIG deal around this house. Deer season is offically in now and Lance is just always itching to get in on the action! Since in our opinion he is not ready at 8 years old to go hunting by himself, he has been begging, pleading, and down right insistent about getting in some practice shooting with his dad. So one night this week dad made that happen...

 Oh course, Lance can't have all the FUN..Dad had to get a few shot in too...smile...Lance doesn't seem to mind....I can tell he is smiling even from this angle...can you?

 The hat on backwards cracks me up...this is not the way we normally wear our hats around here....but we wouldn't want it to get in way of shooting

 A spare pumpkin got to be the target...Lance is impressed that he blew a hole in it....All said and done they had a great time and enjoyed their special time bonding....and grunting....and doing "men stuff"...okay so maybe they didn't really grunt, but you know what I mean men have their own "man stuff language".

 So this is what a boy looks like when that same dad takes a brother deer hunting instead of this mighty man.....he might be cracking smile because he could believe I was trying to take his picture.. ...but I assure you he was not a HAPPY CAMPER being left behind. (oh ya and they saw 3 deer that night...but of course his brother did didn't rub it in any...ahem....

DANIELLE

Just for the JOY of it!

 Since the Holiday season is upon us and I know I will soon be receiving everyone's FUN holiday cards in the mail I thought I would share an idea we came up with a couple of years ago at our home. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE getting pictures of family's this time of year but always hated throwing them away after New Year's was over. So I turned this simple bulletin board into "Our Prayer Board". Each year for the past two years I loved being able to display these lovely pictures on our board and it helps to be our visual remind of who we can pray for. We put up the prayer cards of Missionaries, and holiday cards we get from family and friends. Last year I even covered the board with a winter fabric, and then put the pictures on.....then I realized we were so blessed with so MANY cards you couldn't even see the fabric...grin....so i decided to remove it.
Throughout the year it brings such JOY to my heart to see these smiling faces each time we come in the door to our home! Our guests always love looking at our board too!
Check out Good True and Beautiful to see more "JOYFUL" links.....

 Do you have your own prayer board....do you use your fridge......how do you display you holiday cards? You know I love to hear from you all...so leave me a quick comment!!

DANIELLE

A Giveaway of a different kind......

I just wanted to make you all aware of a GIVEAWAY of a different kind. Brandon contacted me to share that he is offering a GIVEAWAY PACKET on his site for a counseling packet. This packet is FULL of helpful worksheets that help a person work through very personal issues. For example grief, anger management, addiction, and depression just to name a few. This packet is valued around $30.
Even you don't struggle personally with major issue I think we all know someone around us that does....so consider heading over to Brandon site to check out the giveaway for yourself.

Thanks for sharing your GIVEAWAY and you heart for helping people Brandon!

DANIELLE