"We're going on a bug hunt" with Backyard Safari Outfitters

"We're going on a bug hunt, going on a bug hunt...we're not afraid, we're not afraid..." My kids love going outside, and looking for the creepy crawlers that roam in the grass and dirt outside. Summer will be so much more fun with their new Backyard Safari Outfitters products from Summit Toys! They are set to go on hunts for bugs, butterflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars and more.... Here is Madelyn looking for ants crawling around with the Mega View Periscope.
My kids love to use the Mega View Periscope to look at each other, too. One is closer to the ground looking in the bottom and the other one is looking through the top. We love the Mega View Periscope, because it is crazy how it works. The Periscope can be opened up to three new lengths (reaching 4 feet high) for looking way below the viewer, or way over the viewers head. This works great if kids want to look over a fence, high bushes, around corners or into their homes. The Periscope makes things closer or further away. It is great looking for bugs, or watching a crawling critter on a leaf/branch with the Periscope, too.

The Periscope can be used in water, too! I think that is amazing! Kids love water, and with living on the lake, having a tool for the kids to view into the lake water is way cool! The Mega View Periscope can go 16 inches into the water for underwater viewing, will work with docks, poolside, lakes or beaches. A fish eye view...but without all that water in your ears!
I also love that the Periscope is easy to hold onto for small hands.
Suited for ages: 5 & Up SRP $24.99

Caleb loves the Bug Vacuum. His older brother had one of these, and it was a coveted item for a long time. Now that Caleb has his own Bug Vacuum, he is busy looking for bugs to snatch up. With the Bug Vacuum, kids can suck up the bugs live, and the bugs go into the capture container. The container has a built in magnifying glass for easy viewing, and there is screen on the container so the bug can breath. The bug vacuum comes with two nose cones for two different sizes of bugs.
Suited for ages: 5 & Up SRP $19.99
Searching for just the right bugs, or creepy crawlers. I am sure this summer will be busy with my little backyard explorers.

I think Caleb got a bug in his bug vacuum. I know he was trying to get the mosquito's, but they are a bit fast.
Caleb gives the Backyard Safari Outfitters products two thumbs up! He loves using his new products daily, and is constantly looking for more to vacuum and capture.

Caleb is a great backyard explorer with his Cargo Vest and Bug vacuum. The Cargo Vest from Backyard Safari Outfitters is great, because it has so many pockets and places for explorers to store their important items. The Cargo vest has six D-rings and two shoulder epaulets that kids can clip and hang their gear onto the vest, and a big zipper pocket to put the binocs (binoculars) into. I want to get the binoculars for the kids, because I know they would use them a TON!
The Cargo Vest came with a great pop-up field guide, which explains important tips to follow when you go out, what items you may need on for your journey, and what things you can look for or observe.

Here are the features of the Cargo Vest:
RUGGED POLY-TWILL FABRIC WITH REINFORCED DETAIL
4 CARGO POCKETS WITH VELCRO CLOSURES
1 TWO INCH DEEP ZIPPER POCKET WITH MESH-NET OUTER POCKET
6 D-RINGS
CUSTOM ZIPPER PULLS
CARGO SHOULDER EPAULETS WITH SNAP CLOSURES
ADJUSTABLE REAR STRAP
2 OVER-SIZED MESH-NET CARGO POCKETS IN REAR
PLUS CLEAR-VU FRONT POCKET CONTAINING ESSENTIAL FIELD POP-GUIDE

Suited for ages: 5 & up SRP $19.99

Our family is really enjoying the Backyard Safari Outfitters products, and we highly recommend them to your family. Kids have so much fun going searching for the bugs and crawlers, and then, they get to watch them up close, or capture them in the container. Backyard Safari Outfitters has several other products that can help your child explore, too.

This review was provided from Team Mom and Backyard Safari Outfitters. They have provided me with a Cargo Vest, Mega View Periscope and a Bug Vacuum to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Craziest things happening lately...all about birds....

Last Friday morning, my husband was sitting in our basement working on the computer. He heard a noise and found out that there was something in our wood stove. At first, he thought maybe it was a bat or a bird. He told me about it, and I told him to leave it in there if it was a bat. He said that it sounded more like a bird, and I agreed that we couldn't leave it in there. So, he got the fishing net and carefully (and quickly) opened the door on the stove. He was pretty nervous to open it, because he didn't know what was going to come out at him. After looking in there a minute, he realized that a DUCK was in there! Crazy!!! How in the world did a duck get in our wood stove? How did it get through the small hole through the vent? We were much surprised. He put the net into the stove, got the duck in there, and pulled it out. Well, the duck flew out of the net and headed to the nearest window (which was closed). She was flapping her wings and hitting against the window. Finally, after a few tries, my husband got the duck back in the net and ran for the sliding doors (which we had open). He set the net down, and the duck waddled out and flew away. I am glad that my husband heard her in our stove and got her out. She must have been terrified! We are still just flabbergasted that a duck was in our stove!! CRAZY!!

THEN, this Tuesday, Caleb and Madelyn were outside near the front steps. We had just got home from the Chiropractor, and I ran in the house to start a pot of water to boil. I had the front door open, because the kids were right out front. I got the water on the stove and I went out to check on the kids. Madelyn was standing very still and said, "Momma, look." I looked over at her and saw this:

I can't believe that a bird was on her head! Crazy, Crazy!! Madelyn was a bit nervous, and she laughed a little, then she asked if I could take it off. I picked up a stick and tried to put the stick near the feet so that it would walk onto the stick.
However, that little bird just clung on to her hair even tighter. The little yellow bird had found a new friend. So, I asked Madelyn to wait just a second so I could grab my camera. I knew I had to take advantage of this amazing photo opportunity! I missed taking a picture of the duck in our stove, I wasn't going to miss this!
The little bird held on her hair for quite sometime. I took a few pictures, and got the little bird to get onto the stick.

After the bird was on the stick, it held on to that for awhile, too. Cole, my little guy was sitting in his high chair inside the house, and he wanted to come out, so I put the stick on the step. I asked Caleb to hold on the stick so it didn't roll away. When I came out with Cole, Caleb was holding the stick up. I wish I had a picture of that. because it was so neat! I had to take a video of the bird so I had proof that this was an actual live bird!
I don't know if the bird was a baby, or it was just a little stunned from maybe running into something. I do know that it wasn't afraid of me or the kids at all. It was just the craziest thing. It is such a cute bird.

I love this last photo. I was able to snap the photo quick before Cole grabbed it. I didn't want him to hurt the bird. This was the last few moments with the bird before it decided that it was time to move on. How amazing this was. I still wonder what ever made that little yellow bird decide to take perch on my daughter's head. :)

The Pulse Slither is the Ultimate Scooter!

It is that time of year when the bikes and scooters come out! We were so excited to review the new Pulse Slither from Bravo Sports, my son couldn't wait for the snow to melt!
He rides around on his scooter constantly! He loves how easy it is to maneuver and do tricks on it. He loves to go really fast, lean into the curve and glide quickly around in another direction.

The Pulse Slither has three wheels, two bigger wheels in front, and a smaller wheel in the back. With this awesome design, the Slither makes doing cool tricks easier because you can pivot around with that back wheel and have the support of the two bigger wheels in front.

The Slither also has a great design on it. The graphics are very vibrant, plus they won’t chip or peel! The Pulse Slither is available in two dynamic color ways: Electric Blue “Skull Wing” and Toxic Green “Von Scroll.” The Slither, which retails for $59.99, is available at Target, K-Mart, Academy, AAFES, Sports Chalet, Dunhams and other select sporting goods retailers.

The Pulse Slither has a base board the size of a skateboard or snowboard, and it glides like a surf board on the waves, only you are on the sidewalks/roads. It can be ridden facing forward or standing to one side and is propelled by “slithering” from side to side or by pushing with your foot, opening up even more trick possibilities. The rudder-like rear wheel with variable tension gives the rider the freedom to drift in and out of turns, zip around corners, execute lightning-quick 180º turns and adjusts to their skill level.

My son loves riding around on this every chance he can get. A few of his friends want the Slither, because they see how much fun it is, and they have tried it out themselves.

As a parent, I love that the Pulse Slither is a great product, my son loves it, and it provides an opportunity for him to get out and enjoy the outdoors (plus getting some exercise). This is a great alternative to indoor video gaming this summer!

The Pulse Slither is the long-awaited follow up to last year’s hit ride-on toy, the Pulse Kick N’ Go. Bravo Sports CEO Tony Armand, the creative mind behind both scooters, adds “We are so excited about the arrival of the Slither. The Pulse extreme scooters offer more versatility, functionality and excitement than a traditional scooter and are great fun for kids of all ages and skill to ride. The feedback so far has been incredible! Once people get on a Slither, they don’t want to get off!!” For additional product information and to see the Pulse Slither in action, view photos and get a complete list of retailers, visit www.pulsescooters.com.

About Bravo Sports

Bravo Sports, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, California, is a global leader in the recreational and sporting goods markets. With offices, factories and warehouses in the United States, Italy, Thailand and China, the Company’s operations truly span the globe. Since 1965, Bravo has provided the highest quality and most innovative products to sports and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. With a stable of market-leading brands including Pulse™, Quik Shade™, Moto Shade™, Airzone™, Tony Hawk™, World Industries™, Kryptonics™, Hyper™ and Variflex™ to go along with industry leading licenses with outstanding partners like Nickelodeon and Mattel, Bravo consistently seeks to exceed the expectations of its consumers and customers alike. At Bravo, the goal is simple – to create simply the best products for price in the world.

I was contacted by Bravo Sports, who asked me for my participation in posting this information. I was sent a Pulse Slither to review in exchange for posting a review, and sent information to post with the review. I was not compensated for my time or written review. The opinions in this review are of my own.

Spring fun just a'muddin'!!

I can't believe this weather we have been blessed with so far this spring in Minnesota. We have been outdoors a lot and my kids have so much fun together. I haven't posted much of what we have been doing, but I took these photos a few weeks ago when the temperature was 70 degree's+.
Nathaniel giving Cole a ride on the trike. Cole hasn't quite got the hang of pedaling yet, but maybe by the end of summer. He sure loves rides, though.

Nathaniel and Caleb. I think they kind of look alike in this photo. Nathaniel is 11 and Caleb is almost 5.

I love this photo! Notice Caleb aiming at the photographer (me). :) I think Madelyn's face is pretty comical in this photo, too.

Ahhh, sweet love. I love the expression on each of their faces.

Nathaniel really is growing into a young man. I can't believe how much he is changing.

Madelyn is riding Caleb's bike. She got a new bike for her birthday from Grandma, but we need to exchange it for a smaller one due to her size. :)
Caleb loves being outside, riding his bike, climbing trees and digging in the dirt. Speaking of dirt...Nathaniel decided to make a few ditches, culverts, and streams (ahem, ...lakes).

Dirt, Check! Bucket, Check! Water, Check! Kids ready for play, Check!

Cole was ready to dig in. I totally enjoyed watching the kids at work, both with each other, and individually. It was a blast snapping photos.
Madelyn's expression is priceless on this photo! I love Caleb's dirty hands, too!
Cole had an idea...

"let's see what dirt tastes like..."

"hmmm...not so much!"
Caleb was really getting into the creation!
Let the waters pour out...and see what happens!



"Look mom, I made a mud ball!"

Friends came over to play and join in the fun! Caleb had a smidgen of dirt on his nose.

Ok, time to really get into the dirt! My kids were so dirty muddy, that I said to just get down to the diaper. It was so nice outside, and they were having such fun!

Yes!! Cool muddy water to trot through!

It was a great afternoon/evening. The kids had such a grand time, and they made memories. The dirt in our back yard has brought so many smiles already this year. It isn't a sand box, but they don't mind. It is handy living on the lake...they have endless water supply (and it is free).

Wordless Wednesday: Summertime snack?

Some adorable pictures to share....

My mother in law took these photos the last couple of times she was with or had Caleb and Madelyn...