If you've read my blog at all during last summer or fall, then you probably remember me as the crazy lady who finishes 90% of her Christmas shopping by Halloween. Although I did not really take advantage of any Christmas in July sales, I have been thinking a lot about chipping away more at that Christmas list lately.

I really have been neglecting that list since I've become so busy with my blog, but I will not allow that to lower my standards for gift-giving this holiday. The reason why I start my Christmas shopping during late winter/early spring is because I want to think of unique gift ideas for each person on my list. My children are always easy, but there are some people on my list who are not. Take my father for instance. I am in a panic because his birthday is in August and I have no clue what to get for him (never mind a clever idea for Christmas). He is a very practical man with simple tastes who hates it when I spend money on him.

If anyone has any ideas, I am all ears. Please hurry! I only have a few days left to shop!!

The great thing about being a big brother for our son Jake is getting to play with cool new big kid toys before his younger brother and sister. The tough part about it is being too big to play with certain toys that he still loves, like toddler ride-on toys. Most of them are only for children up to 4 years old.

Although we had introduced telling time to Jake about 2 years ago, I really have not concentrated on this subject. I knew at the beginning of the summer that he did know how to read a digital clock and an analog clock when the time was on the exact hour.

The only clock with movable hands we had in the house was built into a book and it only had the hours marked off. So while I was browsing for learning toys, I came across a clock that would be perfect for us in ecoTimeToys.com's selection of Melissa & Doug toys.

My original plan for the telling time lessons was too easy for Jake. I had written scheduled events that were relevant to his life on small pieces of paper. On the paper, I also included the time at which the event is normally scheduled. The idea was to have Jake randomly choose a piece of paper and then show me the time stated on the paper using the clock. Since everything began on the hour or on the half hour, this activity did not challenge him at all. I ended up just verbally telling him what times I wanted him to show me on the clock.



What I thought about the Wooden Shape Sorting Clock by Melissa & Doug:

Since my Kindergartner-in-Training series will be coming to an end in a few weeks, I was wracking my brain to come up with another series about early grade school children.

Right around the same time, my children were offered a chance to try out some Colorations art supplies courtesy of Discount School Supply. Of course we happily agreed, but when we received the box, I almost fainted at their generosity. That is when I decided to start the "Creating With Colors" series. We literally have enough arts and crafts supplies to feature in this series for several months.


I hope I don't run out of ideas too quickly. If you have any ideas for fun, easy, and colorful kids' crafts, feel free to share them with me.

I chose this two sided art easel from Stacks and Stacks (a huge online resource for home furnishings and much more) to feature as a "TWINtuitive Product" because of obvious reasons. It is one toy that allows two children to be together, but separate at the same time. Twins love being together, but they always have to share just about everything. This children's easel does not require them to take turns and each child can have his or her own space without purchasing two separate products. How many toys can you say that about?

This adjustable easel has a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. Both surfaces are designed to have paper clipped in place for other mediums.

What I thought about this double-sided easel:

1) This easel looks inviting to a child. It has light-colored wood plus primary colored trays, clips, and knobs. It is also simple and not intimidating considering its size.

2) The clips were child-friendly. They were easy to open and close and my 5-1/2yr old son had no problems clipping on his drawing paper independently.



3) The plastic trays are roomy and deep, offering plenty of space to hold paint cups, brushes, sponges, thick chalk, . . . really almost all tools young artists use.

There are two awesome Twitter parties taking place within a few days of each other! One is hosted by the Great American Bake Sale, who raises funds to feed hungry children in the United States. The second one will be hosted by Louise of Momstart on behalf of TJ Maxx and Marshalls to kick off the "Get Cool For School" Giveaway Event.






Here are the details:

If you've been reading my blog during the past two months, then you know that I've been working with my 5yr old son to prepare him for kindergarten in the fall. One of the things he is doing is practicing writing in a journal. Sometimes his printing is beautiful . . . neat and uniform. Other times, it's different sizes and unsteady. So what could be causing the difference (other than a 5yr old's attention span)?

One thing that could be the source of the problem is which writing utensil he is holding. I noticed that he does much better with certain pens or markers over others. Depending on the shape and thickness of the pens and pencils, he tends to hold some too low, which is awkward, or he holds some too high, which gives him less control. So when I heard about the new ergonomic pencils from PenAgain, I wondered if they could help bring consistency to my son's handwriting.

What I thought about these Twist 'n Write pencils:

1) Based on both my son's and my experience with trying these pencils, they do fit in the hand of an adult as well as a 5yr old child. I thought it felt very natural to hold this wishbone-shaped pencil. My son also said that he found them very comfortable to grip. I am not certain how well they would fit an extra large adult hand though.

2) Once your fingers are in place, the pencil does not slip at all. You do not have to worry about holding it too high or too low, or even losing your grip on it.

For the past two weeks or so, Makenzie has been putting on her dad's sneakers and Red Sox cap every chance she gets. She actually waddles around the house like that. Even though I think it is just an accident waiting to happen, I have to admit that she is darn cute.

I wonder if it's just another ploy to keep daddy wrapped around her little finger? What do you think?

This is actually a grossgrain ribbon bow on the pocket of a cherry covered apron. Aside from the obvious attraction of the red, I thought the texture in the ribbon and in the linen/cotton fabric was interesting to look at. Any excuse for another macro, right? :P

The circus has always been a magical place to me. I have been fortunate to attend the circus many times as a child and as an adult. I have to admit that the circus experience as a child is much different than that as an adult.

My now 5.5yr old son has only been to the circus once. I know it was a wonderful memory for him because it was his first time, it was just him with his parents and no twins because they were too young, and we took him to see a smaller circus so it wasn't as overwhelming as a big circus would have been.

For this reason, I agreed to review the book Circus Fever by author, mother, and former grade school teacher Alva Sachs. I knew that my son would be able to relate to the main character's fascination with the circus.

What my son thought about this children's storybook:

1) My son was still able to relate to the protagonist, even though she was a girl.

2) The book did make my son think about his own circus memories.

3) Although he really liked looking at all the different circus animals, my son's favorite part of the book was the illustration of the main character's bedroom because it was filled with everything to do with the circus and there were so many things to discover. Patricia Krebs did an excellent job as the illustrator for this book.

4) He thought the main character, who was a 9yr old girl, was crazy for wanting to go to the circus alone. He explained to me that one needs to be 79yrs old to be able to attend the circus alone.

Although my son enjoyed this book, I think it is targeted at children slightly older. It contains a transition to and from a fantasy world that I had to explain to my son. Once I explained it to him, he understood that the girl was using her imagination and was engaging in pretend play.

You can find Circus Fever on Three Wishes Publishing and on Amazon.com . You can also visit Alva's Just for Kids page for fun free printables for grade school children of all ages.


Thank you to Alva Sachs and the Three Wishes Publishing Company for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.


What you can win:
One lucky reader will win their own copy of Circus Fever by Alva Sachs.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me what is your favorite thing about going to the circus. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For an extra entry, take a look at Alva Sachs' Tips for Parents. Then leave a separate comment telling me which one you agree with the most.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post and to AlvaSachs.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

7) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

8) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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9) Add my "Get Cool For School" giveaway event button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Good luck in the drawing!