Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Teaching your kids about animals is a great way to help them grow their knowledge of how nature works and what’s out there. It’s also a great way to spark their curiosity and let them develop their own ideas. Many kids who develop an interest in animals at an early stage tend to follow their passion and build a career in animal welfare in the future, which is great as those jobs are always in demand.
That said, teaching your kids about good old cows, cats, dogs and pigs is rather pointless as these animals, while common, are fairly basic and easy to understand. They’re not interesting so to speak. There is a wide variety of other animals that are much more fun to learn about and your kids would love to hear about them, so here are eight. Japanese Spider Crab
This one isn’t for the easily grossed-out. These gigantic crustaceans can grow to be up to 12 feet long, making them not only an imposing creature, but also difficult for the fishermen of Japan to catch. Angora Rabbit
It’s like a norma…

Children grow up so fast that it almost isn’t fair. One blink and they go from being a baby that relies on you for everything to an almost-adult that is begging for their own car. As every parent knows, however, you can’t stop time, but you can be there for every moment. That is why, instead of putting your foot down on buying your child a car, you should instead work with them so that they can buy themselves a car. Follow these steps, and soon your child will not only know more about how the world works, but they’ll be more responsible and independent: 

Choose a Car Together
They will likely have their own idea as to what kind of vehicle they want. If it’s flashy, or otherwise a car that doesn’t have the safety requirements that they need to stay safe, then you need to put your foot down. That is why you should choose a car together, so that they can do more than pick a cool car they’ve seen on the road or in the movies, and you can be assured that they are in a modern, safe car. 

Ti…

Some days you just need to find the positives in the day.   A sunset or sunrise usually helps my stinking thinking to go away.   
I love how God connects with me with his creations.  HE is a master artist!

Your garden will provide a little bit of tranquility within the home. Yet, you might only use your outdoor space when the sun is shining. However, you don’t need to wait for warmer temperatures to make the most of your outdoor space. Simply find out how to warm up your garden, so it’s accessible all year long.


Install a Fire Pit

It’s not hard to see why fire pits are becoming so popular. Not only are they easy to use, but they are affordable, portable, and effortlessly stylish. There are numerous designs to choose from to complement your exterior, such as wood-burning styles; yet propane and gas are more environmentally-friendly options.

They’re also traditionally designed low to the ground, so they can make a great focal point when surrounded by stylish outdoor furniture, so they’re ideal for toasting marshmallows and making s’mores with friends.


Treat Yourself to a Hot Tub

Would you like to spend more time in your garden? Treat yourself to a luxurious hot tub, which can reach temperatur…

The Prayer Bible for Children helps children develop a heart for prayer and learn the Bible through the popular ICB translation, the simple translation children can read and understand. Special pages throughout the text highlight the most famous and beloved prayers featured in the Bible. From Abraham's prayers to the Lord to Jesus praying before his crucifixion to the way Paul prayed for the churches he planted, this Bible will teach young readers about a God who loves to hear from His children and loves answering prayers.

Special features include 160 pages of prayer articles throughout the text and 64 four-color pages featuring poem prayers, Scripture prayers and engaging Kids' Q&A's. The full-page prayer articles will help children learn how to pray, to not fear prayer, and to see within the Word how and when God's people prayed. The colorful decorative pages will feature kid-friendly scripture prayers, topical poem prayers and fun questions and answers kids have …

Paxton's Corner Coop Where cupcakes and ice cream collide!  :) 

I Scream you scream we all scream for... cupcakes!!!  Yep, that's right we did NOT eat ice cream we had cupcakes!   However, this new place was doing July in January and they had icee cupcakes and ice cream sundae cupcakes!   I had the sundae and I did enjoy it.  I tasted a little frosting from the icee and wow that was super sugary but yummy too!  This was about a 35 minute drive for us to get to but it was worth it and we had some fun! 

Description
Hill's Science Diet Fruity Snacks with Apples & Oatmeal allow you to feel great about rewarding your dog for a job well done. Delicious and natural, they are made from only the best ingredients, proving that treats can be good for you too. And since every single treat is baked with real apples, they are a natural source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. A wonderful complement to the Science Diet, these crunchy bites make every treat a special occasion, whether you’re celebrating a new trick or just an extra adorable moment.
Key Benefits Crunchy treats made with real fruit pieces make every treat a special occasion
Highy quality ingredients like oatmeal support healthy digestion
Made with flaxseed to support healthy skin and coat
Naturally preserved with no corn, artificial colors or flavors
Provides a natural sources of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients

My Review Thank you Chewy.com for sending me free samples of the "Science Diet- Crunchy Fruity Dog Snacks…

There are a lot of personality traits and life skills that can help kids be more likely to succeed, but an interesting study by a psychologist called Angela Duckworth into how both children and adults perform in different high-pressure environments has shown that one of the biggest factors in long-term success is perseverance, and the stamina to keep working towards a far-off goal.

Duckworth terms this 'grit', and you can read more about her very interesting work on the subject at Examined Existence.

Why Are People With Grit Special?

Angela Duckworth found there was no difference in how likely someone was to display tendencies associated with grit depending on gender, SAT scores, family income, or natural talent. All of the factors usually considered to have an impact on success actually had no correlation with how gritty the subjects of the study were, and these subjects ranged from competitors in the National Spelling Bee to kids from an underprivileged inner city school and a…

Valentines Day is right around the corner but at our school, we are focussing on Being a Buddy all month long!  Sometimes a kind word is all it takes for our brains to get a better mindset!  I work at a school with a lot of underprivileged kids.   I see high behaviors very often so any positive message I can share with them is helpful.  My favorite message from the posters is, "One person can make all the difference."    
Thank you Oriental Trading for sending me these items in exchange for an honest review.  I was not paid for this post and all opinions expressed is 100% my own.  
So all of February I will have students earning stickers with positive messages, Bully Free activity book, bracelets, bookmarks, dog tags, and buttons!   



My oh my, Oriental Trading has so many teacher needs!   I love all the affordable prizes!  As a behavior teacher I know how important it is to have motivators for kids as well as positive messages.  Go check out all the incentives you can add to yo…

Easter time is filled with God’s love! The Easter season is bursting with fun—baskets full of goodies, hunts for colored eggs, and bright spring flowers. Take time to show your little one that the very best part of Easter is Jesus! Through the classic Precious Moments® artwork, fun poems, and sweet prayers and Bible verses, Precious Moments Little Book of Easter Blessings will help your children understand that Jesus is alive and that He loves them so much! My Review: I know... no one is even thinking about Easter yet!  I mean Valentines Day is still a few weeks away so why should I post an Easter thing already?   Well, I just know Easter always creeps up quickly on us.  I also, LOVE LOVE LOVE Easter.  Easter is such a good celebration and I love reflecting on the power of my Jesus!  Oh and spring is my favorite season because we start saying goodbye to cold winter and snow.   This is an adorable board book that has 32 pages of truth for your little ones.  If you love Precious Moments art t…

The moment that you realize that your toilet is not flushing is never a pleasant one. Whether you are going to be having dinner guests over in a few hours or are expecting a house full of children directly after school, busy families can’t be bothered with broken toilets. There is the option of calling a plumber right away if you find that your toilet won’t flush, but you can also try to fix it on your own and save a bit of money. If you are an active mom who doesn’t shy away from jobs big or small, this practical guide to fishing a non-working toilet will help you get your bathroom back in order again.
Finding What Part of the Toilet Isn’t Working

If a toilet won’t flush that means that the flush handle isn’t engaged. There has to be a certain amount of pressure present in order to make all of the components of a toilet work. So, your first action is going to be tracing the flush handle to ensure that all parts of the toilets are working as they should. Take the lid off of the tank an…

Designing the perfect nursery for your new arrival doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a bit of creativity and a little know-how, you can create a nursery on a budget that looks as chic as it is cheap. If you’re currently pregnant and ready to get started on your nursery, read on for some simple tips. Then, let us know how much money you managed to save in the comments.
Look at Convertible Cribs

Your new baby will need to have their own place to sleep, however, there’s no need to buy a regular crib unless you are planning on having more children. Instead, look into buying a convertible crib. These grow with your child as they get older, so can be used for a baby and then converted into a toddler-sized bed. Some manufacturers advertise their cribs as convertible and will ship their furniture with all the accessories, whereas others will ask you to pay more for the additional features. Either of these options is good.
Don’t Worry About Baby Bedding

Baby bedding may look adorable, but aside…

Well, you have gone and done it! You’ve stood across from the love of your life and made your vows in front of your family, friends, and God. You’ve entered into the contract of marriage, but while it may be a solemn contract, that certainly doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be fun. It’s strange how many newlyweds expect life to undergo some kind of seismic shift upon tying the knot, assuming that their lives will not become a pattern of domestic drudgery with pleasure, intimacy and fun going out the window and that elusive spark between you fading away until you either can’t stand the sight of each other or are happy to tick over despite the grinding mutual resentment. Happily, the truth is that marriage is neither a ball and chain nor a grueling assault course. But like anything worth having, a marriage needs to be maintained.




Image by Pexels

Why do so many marriages fail?

There are many reasons why people get divorced and it would be disingenuous to suggest that the times we live in didn…

Childhood is the perfect time for kids to be introduced to hobbies of all kinds. It gives them a greater understanding of their own likes and dislikes, it helps them to build interest and passion in certain areas, and it helps them to build all kinds of wonderful skills. When it comes to what hobbies you should be introducing them to, photography is one that sits near the top of the list. Not only is there skill involved, which they can learn to perfect, but it also helps them to slow down, appreciate their surroundings, and look for the beauty and interest in life.

If you’ve been wanting to introduce your child to photography but you’re not sure how to go about it, here are some tips to help you out.
Start with the Right Equipment

Most hobbies require some sort of specialized equipment or tools and photography is no different. While you don’t have to go out and purchase a top-of-the-line camera for your child, you may want to invest in a good-quality camera that can act as the “family c…

Every parent of small children has a different experience of raising their kids, but the one thing that the majority of parents have in common is having to deal with fussy eaters. Although as babies, children tend to eat pretty much anything that’s put in front of them, as they begin to get older, they start to become a lot pickier, sometimes refusing food before they’ve even tasted it. It can become frustrating for parents, and easy for arguments and tantrums to occur. Here are some great ways to make food more fun for fussy eaters, which in turn will persuade them to eat better.

Make It Colorful
Bright, colorful foods are naturally more appealing to children, and look a lot more interesting on a plate than beige and brown food. By focusing on making sure there is at least some color on your child’s plate, you can entice them to be more interested in the meal as a whole and to sit down and try what you are offering. As a bonus, the more colorful foods tend to be the ones that are heal…

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As parents, we all want what’s best for ort kids; we want them to do well, get an excellent education and eventually enter a career that they will love and which brings them many rewards.

It is, only natural then, that we want to do everything we can to help our children succeed in school. The good news is, whether your child goes to a public school, a private institution or even an international school, there are numerous ways you can help them to do well. Here are just a few of the best ways you, as a parent, can assist them:


Meet Their Teachers

If you can find a way to meet your children’s’ teachers at the start of a new school way, then take it. Why? Because if you let them know that you want to do everything you can to assist with your kid’s’ education and you make it clear that they can contact you anytime with any issues that might be going on, then you’ll always get a heads up and you’ll be able to work with them to sort out the problem.


Help Them with Their Homework

If…

Netflix is something a lot of us now use as a main hub for our TV entertainment. Not only does it have plenty to offer in terms of stuff to binge watch once the kids are in bed, but it has also got a huge library of programs and movies for children of all ages, which you can get an idea of at netflixguides.com.


One of the best things about Netflix when it comes to kids, however, is the fact it has a kids' mode. While lots of other platforms like YouTube allow you to block certain content that is unsuitable for kids, Netflix takes a different approach. As well as blocking what you don't want them to see, in the kids' mode it shows things specifically targeted at their age range, and in an interface, they can use themselves to pick out what they want to watch.

How Do You Set Up the Netflix Kids' Mode?


The kids' mode comes up when you use Netflix using a profile you have created for a child. If you are using the same profile on Netflix for your whole family, you will …

Book Description
Thank you, God, for family! It is so special to have mommies and daddies, grandmas and grandpas, and brothers and sisters and cousins who love each other. Keep us close and safe, Jesus. God Bless My Family!
The newest book in the bestselling A God Bless Book series, God Bless My Family,helps little ones see and cherish how families love each other and work together. It also shows how we are all part of God’s great big family and how much He loves His children!

My brother makes me belly laugh. With him, it’s fun nonstop! “Let’s climb this tree, just you and me. I’ll see you at the top!”

It’s raining out. Let’s stay inside. We’ll dress up, dance, and sing! I’m glad God gave these inside-days For doing sister things!

Whether it is a gift at a baby shower, a bedtime read with mommy and daddy, a sweet way to increase sibling bonds, or a fun book to read with grandma and grandpa, God Bless My Family is a wonderful way to celebrate the love and closeness between family members.My…