Let the games begin...

All over the world, there is one game that is more loved and appreciated, and it is that time of year again...soccer (at least it is that time here). 

David and Jaclyn both love the idea of soccer (AKA: running around and kicking things) and this year is their first year in an organized soccer program.

They both LOVED it!!

Even before we got to the first practice, David was so excited that he saw the whole day as prep for this momentous occasion. For nearly the entire day today David would say things like: "mom, I need to rest so that I have energy for soccer tonight" and "I think its time for a quiet time so that I have energy to run at soccer tonight". He would also take almost any opportunity to check and see if it was time for soccer yet, and how much more time he would have to wait before he could go? 

I think he was a little excited!!

When they got there, even before things began, Jaclyn was off, having seen a ball she began to kick it, even if it was part of another teams practice... something that needs to be developed is perhaps some rules for soccer. They began with some basic warm up and drills, which confused our kids as to why we were not kicking balls yet, but they did learn many skills such as running through a huge group of kids aware enough not to run smack into someone. Then they started kicking and it was great fun and craziness all rolled into one for a while, until they called it in for snack.

Result = fun was had by all

I think we will all be looking forward to the next practice for soccer (football)

Let the games begin...

Sleeping Masks

For many years now I have been sleeping with a sleeping mask. I have always been someone who sleeps better in a dark room. I can remember when I was a little girl and then as a teenager I would hide my eyes just so I could sleep. One day when I was a teen my dad brought me home a sleeping mask that he got on a trip he took (I think it was one of those masks that they offer you on airplanes or something). 

That was when I first discovered my love of the sleeping mask!

Shortly after we were married Chris found me a wonderful sleeping mask that I absolutely love. It is so comfortable and it makes sleeping much more enjoyable for me. Chris also has a mask now.

 Both of my children are similar to me in the sense that they also like to sleep in the dark. I have made them both room darkening curtains and they will still sleep hiding under their covers. Then about a month ago both David and Jaclyn told me at different times that they are unable to sleep because they don't have sleeping masks.

Then this morning David asked again for a sleeping mask. I pulled out some of my extra fabric pieces and I made two sleeping masks for the kids, Davids is striped on one side and trains on the other. Jaclyn's is pink on one side and butterflies on the other, this way they are reversible. 

 

Sleeping Masks

Spring where are you??

Yesterday the kids and I went for a lovely walk outside with their wagon. It was actually really nice outside, in fact the weather here has been getting a little warmer everyday. 

My whole family has been happy that Spring is here and we have been talking about riding bikes, walks, picnics as well as playing sports outside now that the weather is clearing up. 

Then this morning the kids woke up to this:

backyard

 front yard

When David saw the snow this morning he said:  "Why does the snow keep coming back, I thought it was Spring?"

Jaclyn said: "Why, more snow?" 

As I am writing this my children are down the hall playing with Transformers and a mini ball pit. Just a few moments ago I heard David tell Jaclyn: "we should play in our rooms and wait for the snow to go away again".

I just hope that we aren't waiting for that long.

What kind of weather did you wake up too?

Spring where are you??

I'm all Ears

Yesterday I took Jaclyn into the doctors for the second time in two weeks. When I first took her to see the doctor two weeks ago she had a double ear infection, so she was put on antibiotics. Then six days after she finished her antibiotics (yesterday) I had her back into the doctors to have her checked out again. Again she has a double ear infection. 

 

This is her third set of ear infections in the last four months, and her fifth or six in her three years of life.

Our doctor told me that because she has had 5 or 6 ear infections that it is now time to look into some deeper issues in her ears. They are now sending us to see a Ears/Nose/Throat doctor.

I am now starting to wonder the allergy she had to milk when she was an infant is effecting her ears now.  My husband and I are talking about changing Jaclyn's diet and taking her off of milk for the next little while to see if that helps. We are also deciding if we should take her off of cheese and yogurt as well. Unfortunately yogurt and cheese are some of her favorite foods and I am not sure how that one will go.

I feel so bad for my little girl and the pain that she has been in,  I just want to help her.

Have any of you had children with chronic ear infections? If so what did you end up doing?

I'm all Ears

Review: Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter DVD

Press Release:

Beverly Hills, CA – Easter has never been more “egg-citing”!  Wubbzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy – from the Emmy Award^®-winning Nick Jr.^® preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!,” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand-new, special seasonal DVD. “Everybunny” will be chirping with laughter when “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter,” the latest release in the best-selling DVD series from Anchor Bay Entertainment, sprouts up in stores from coast-to-coast, Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

“We’re delighted to bring this adorable and festive new ‘Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!’ title to preschoolers across the country, just in time for the holiday,” said Erin Carter, Executive Director of Brand Marketing, Anchor Bay Entertainment. “The charming new release is the perfect answer for families on the ‘hunt’ for affordable Easter gifts and is a great way for them to celebrate spring together – the Wubbzy-way – with relatable age-appropriate life lessons and lots of heartfelt humor.”

All the kooky action of Easter in Wuzzleburg comes to life in six “egg-ceptional” episodes featured on the debut DVD.  In “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter,” Wubbzy and his pals celebrate the first day of spring with a game of kickity-kick ball and discover new ways to decorate eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.  And when the holiday is suddenly cancelled, it’s up to Wubbzy to save the day!

For even more Easter cheer, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

“Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” has been a hit with young viewers and their families since its 2006 TV premiere on Nickelodeon^®, and the show currently airs daily on Nick Jr.  Wubbzy is a fun, lovable, curious little guy who just likes to play, play, play with his friends in the eye-popping town of Wuzzleburg.  The top-rated series supports preschool social skills – sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others, self-awareness and the use of humor as a coping skill.

Although their world is more fanciful and imaginative than our own, Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy, deal with the same social and developmental issues faced by preschoolers.  They learn how they fit into a group, how to understand their own feelings and those of others, how to get along with one another and the value of friendship and community.

“Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” is produced by Bolder Media, Inc. in association with Starz Media’s Film Roman Animation Studio.  It is a worldwide hit that is broadcast in 60+ countries.  Susan Miller (co-producer of Ella Enchanted) and Fred Seibert (executive producer of “The FairlyOdd Parents”) are the executive producers of the show created by Emmy^® Award winner Bob Boyle (producer of “The FairlyOdd Parents”). 

My Review:

I was asked to do a guest review for my friend Tara @ tarasviewoftheworld. Thanks Tara for thinking of us!  We received our copy of Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter a few days ago and it has certainly been a hit at our house. Both my 4 year old and my 3 year old love to watch it and they both really get into the show. It is a great video that can easily engage kids and even has some good lessons in it concerning the value of doing work yourself, finding joy in what you have instead of obsessing about what you don't and all sorts of other worthwhile ideas.

One of my favorite parts was the episode involving the Easter bunny, where he was unable to deliver Easter eggs because he had eaten only candy, and they talk about not eating too much junk food and enjoying fruits and veggies, and exercise. It was not over the top cheesy but actually got the kids talking about what foods they should be eating. I even heard my son tell my daughter later that she shouldn't ask for a cookie because she needs to eat more fruit...which was both funny and good to hear.

My family also liked the fact that it was not overdone in terms of energy level and voice levels. My husband even mentioned that he appreciated the fact that the main characters didn't shout all the time, and the show did not hype the kids up so a point that they were bouncing off the walls.

If you are looking for a new video for your kids this Easter, I think this would be a great addition that would work for pretty much everyone, and "spring" into a new season.

For more Easter fun with your family you can go to http://www.wubbzy.com/ and print off some coloring sheets or even some great craft ideas.

You can also go here for your chance to win a original piece of artwork from the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! creator Bob Boyle.  

Review: Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter DVD