My Fruit Roll Ups Giveaway!

Do you want a really creative way to personalize your treats for your kids, or do what I did, and make a special treat for your hubby? I went to My Fruit Roll-Up's website, and uploaded a picture of my hubby and I, picked out a background, and made a personalized Fruit Roll-Up! How creative is that? Same great taste as the original fruit roll ups, just with more flare! My husband was pleasantly surprised to see his picture on the fruit roll up, and my kids thought it was funny that mom and dad are on their treats!

My Fruit Roll-Ups are easy to assemble! First, you just choose a canvas (back ground), then add images from their selection, or upload pictures from your computer, and your personal message. For $29.99, you get 30 personalized Fruit Roll-Ups! These make great classroom treats, invitations to a party, and just because gifts. Kids (and adults) have a lot of fun seeing what the creation is when it is unraveled.

With ordering, you get a confirmation, and then you get e-mail updates as to your order being approved, assembled, and then shipped. I think that My Fruit Roll-Ups are very professional and organized. I got my shipment as promised, and the order was correct, plus it was a fun treat!

Hey, you can win your own box of personalized Fruit Roll-Ups! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, go to My Fruit Roll-Ups site, and let me know how you would design your Fruit Roll-Ups. If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 6, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Sending out some thanks~

I won a few prizes from some great sites! I wanted to shout out a big THANK YOU to them for hosting the giveaway and for being the lucky winner!

First of all, thanks to MomCentral for having their Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway! It was 16 days of giveaways and I was a runner up to win a Sleep n' Grow DVD (0-10 months) from Itsy Bitsy Yoga! This will be great to use with my new baby (due in less than 2 weeks). Thanks so much MomCentral for all your work and hosting of the giveaway! Thanks for picking me, too!

Secondly, thanks to Lisa from Our Seven Qtpies for hosting the Polliwalks giveaway! My son, Caleb loves his new shoes, and is wearing them around the house! Since we live in the Arctic MN, he needs to wait until summer to wear these outside of the house. Thanks so much for bringing joy to the feet of Caleb! He is digging the frogs!

I would like to thank Kailani from An Island Review for hosting a Build-a-Bear for Wii giveaway, and for picking me as the winner! We love our Wii and it is fun to have a new game!

Thanks so much for your generosity everyone!! I am very grateful for the wins!

Christmas Eve family photos

I wanted to share our family photos from our family Christmas celebrations (Christmas Eve) and my side of the family Christmas celebrations (Christmas Day). I blogged about our Christmas festivities (click here), and you can read about it, if you would like. Both days were great, but (as usual) my only regret is that I didn't take very many photos. I really need to get better about taking photos. Moments pass by and the kids grow up so fast!

Here is a glimpse of our morning on Christmas Eve.Caleb was really into the gift opening! He was very excited to get Mickey's Speedway Race track!

Madelyn was so excited about her Elmo, she just giggled and kissed him. Of coarse, she said, "Cute!" then, she did more giggling!
Nathaniel loves his Pokemon cards. The pants he has on are from my parents. He loves flannel PJ bottoms! It was fun watching Madelyn open gifts this year. She got excited about tearing off the paper.
Now, here is a glimpse into our Christmas Day celebrations over at my brother and sister-in-law's house for my side Christmas get-together.
These girls are three of my nieces reading about the real "Christmas story" from the Bible. This is a yearly tradition. It is fun to have the nieces and nephews read the story, it used to be one of us adults.
Madelyn was having fun listening to the story of the birth of baby Jesus.
After the Bible reading, it was gift giving and opening. With all those niece and nephews, the whole process can be overwhelming. They all sure had fun, though.
The little girl in blue had Madelyn's name for Christmas, and she was so excited to give Madelyn her heart-felt gift. She wrapped up her Dora Doll house and accessories. It was a gently used gift, and my sister was wondering if that was ok with me. I am totally fine with "recycling" gifts. The kiddos don't mind if it is in a new box, or played with...it is still "new" to them!
Madelyn was very excited to get a doll house. She has played with it every day since she got it for Christmas. Her cousin picked a great gift to give!
After the gift exchange/opening, Terry crashed on the couch.
This is a picture of my oldest nieces, and one nephew. For the longest time I used to tell my oldest nephew that he was my favorite nephew....then, my sister's started having boys, so now I can't say that anymore. He sure holds his own in the group of all those girls, though! The ones on his lap are his two sisters.
Caleb had a lot of fun playing with this cousin, even though he is almost 5 years older than Caleb.
Here's the little girls having fun playing with the dollies. It is so cute seeing Madelyn loving playing with the bigger girls! The one in pink is one year older than her, and the one in the blue dress is 3 years older than her. (She is the one who gave Maddie the doll house).

That was a sneak peek into our family celebrations! I wish I had more pictures to share!

Candlewick Press Books~ PLUS a GIVEAWAY!

My children love books, and a great place to find great books for your kids is Candlewick Press! We got some books from Candlewick Press for Christmas time, and I was so excited to get some books for Nathaniel's age! Nathaniel is an avid reader and loves to keep his nose in the books. It can be a challenge to find books that really spark his interest, and I was excited to see his joy when he picked up the 'Where's Waldo? The Complete Collection', and the 'Moon Landing' books!
'Where's Waldo? The Complete Collection,' is a collection of 5 books...the complete series of Where's Waldo? These books are filled with pictures overloading the pages with eye stimulus, and the reader needs to find and pick out Waldo. The Where is Waldo? books are like I spy, but you need to find Waldo. My kids and I like to tryand find other things/people in the pictures after we conquered finding Waldo! The Complete Collection of Where is Waldo? can be purchased for $45.00 found at many book stores, and is geared toward ages 5-12 years. Moon Landing is a book my son really dazzled over, not only is this book fun to look at with the pop-outs and special effects, but it is filled with great information and facts. Wanting to be an astronaut himself, Nathaniel was wide-eyed over 'Moon Landing'! Richard Platt is a great author, and his book features traveling to the moon, the race to conquer space, the technology needed to reach the moon and sustain the astronauts in space, and the moon landing itself. The pop-ups display a rocket, the lunar module, a spaceship, and a spectacular spherical moon. There are even booklets and flaps which are filled with facts. *Published in anticipation of the fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing on July 20, 1969*Features official NASA photographs, two mini-books, and fun informational flaps. At $29.99, I think this book is a great value of educational information! This book is geared toward ages 8 and up.
Some other great books Candlewick Press has are Let's Play in the Snow (from the Guess how much I love you series). Little Nutbrown Hare plays I Spy with Big Nutbrown Hare, and finds out what is Big Nutbrown Hare's favorite thing is that he spys. Maisy's Christmas Day is a story about Maisy and her friends seeing what gifts they get. The pictures are colorful and bright, easy for smaller children to look at. A story of sacrifice and meaning is portrayed in The Gift of the Magi. Della and her husband, Jim, have made great sacrifices for each other just to get the gift long sought for. Coming to realize that Christmas isn't about the price of a gift, but that the gift is in each other and what they share. I love the watercolor pictures in this book, and the meaning behind the story.Another fun pop up book for your kids (and you) to enjoy is A Present for Santa Claus! My kids had a great time watching the pop-ups come to life in this colorful and entertaining book. It is a story about a little boy who would like to give Santa a gift. What would Santa want? At the end of the book, there is a sneak peak of Santa's cottage that kids can get a 3-D look to see inside.
Candlewick Press has books for all ages, and their books are of high quality! Since Candlewick Press first opened their doors in 1991, they’ve received more than 1500 accolades and honors, and have been named "the fastest growing children’s publisher in the U.S." by Publishers Weekly. One thing I find rather fascinating is: Candlewick Press is 100 percent owned and operated by their employees, making them one of the largest independent publishing companies, not just in the country, but in the world!!
Candlewick Press is graciously offering to sponsor a giveaway to you lucky readers! There will be three winners! Here is what you can do to enter: This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, check out the books at Candlewick Press, find one that interests you (besides the ones I mentioned) and comment about it. Please let me know what book you would like to win of those that I mentioned, too! If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 6, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Christmas family times

We celebrated our immediate family Christmas on Christmas Eve this year. Nathaniel was going to be going to his Dad's house on Christmas Eve night, so we thought that during the day Christmas Eve would be our best time for our family. Last Tuesday evening, we went out to one of our favorite family restaurants and had dinner. After dinner, we went to Walmart to pick up a few groceries and stocking stuff. When we got home, it was kind of late, so we put the kids to bed, and Terry wrapped gifts. It was fun to wrap the gifts and put them under the tree. Terry and I like to keep the tree "empty" until Christmas morning, because it is fun for the kids to wake up to the awe of all the gifts under the tree. Last year, we put up the train going around the tree, but we didn't do that this year.
We didn't go crazy with things in their stocking this year. Nathaniel got his Pokemon cards, 2 hot wheel cars, and gum. Caleb got 2 hot wheels cars, Martin Matter (this has been on his wish list for a really long time~ but we accidentally bought the refill and we needed the starter kit~ who knew??), and gum. Madelyn got a mini Doodle Pro drawing pad and goldfish crackers. It was the perfect amount. We don't "do" Santa at our house, but we do like to put up stockings on the chimney and put little gifts in there.
It was fun watching the kids unwrap their gifts. Madelyn was really loving tearing off the paper, and she showed such excitement with each gift. I will upload pictures soon. Terry went to a train show today, so he has the camera (where all the pictures are).
During the day, the kids played with their new toys, and Nathaniel build his Ridemakerz car. Caleb played with his Mickey Mouse Speedway race track, and Madelyn was loving being a "momma" to her potty training dolly. Our neighbors were so sweet in bringing over a Christmas gift (crackers and chocolate), and my dear friend, Lisa, stopped over with a Christmas gift. She gave me a "We are Family" book and CD, plus a scrabble necklace that she had made. I love it! You should go see her store~ click here~ it is called Hand-Made in MN. Thank you Lisa! You are so thoughtful!
Christmas Eve night, we drove to bring Nathaniel to his Dad's. We picked up McDonald's for supper, and Caleb and Maddie were asleep. Neither one had a good nap that day, and Maddie was up at 5:45 that morning. So, they were tired.
When we got back, the kids had a sandwich, and we put them to bed. Terry and I watched a Lord of the Rings movie, and then went to bed.
Christmas Day, we went to my brother and sister-in-law's home. We celebrated my side for Christmas. My one sister and her kids weren't there (moved out of state), Nathaniel wasn't there, and one of my niece's only stayed for lunch, so it was very different this year. It was great to be with my family and have that time with them, but I definitely felt the difference and loss. We ate lunch first, then read the Christmas story. After that we opened gifts. There are so many grand kids, it is almost overwhelming watching them. My parents are great about not over-indulging them with gifts (too expensive anyway), so that is a good thing! Again, I will upload pictures when I get the camera. Of coarse, I missed a lot of pictures from that day, but I did get some.
After leaving their house at 10:00, we went over to our friend's house to visit for a bit. I fell asleep at their house, and we got home about 12:30. So, it was a late night, but a lot of fun.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and had great times with your family and friends!

Balance for children: ENTER to win!

I was very excited to be introduced to the new Balance for Children homeopathic beverage~ an Australian flower-powered spring water!

This great product will be in stores across the U.S. (including mainstream toy retailer, Toys ‘R’ Us) soon.
Balance for Children, created by The Balance Water Company, provides mothers with an alternative to high-calorie, heavily sugared products for children ages two-nine years of age. The product does not contain any flavors, colors, preservatives, artificial additives, sugar or calories. As it hydrates, Balance for Children delivers a unique combination of 4 Australian flower essences --

Black-Eyed Susan-Helps with focus and concentration and channelling of energy.
Crowea-Calms and helps with worry. Has a centering affect.
Bush Fuchsia-Balances the right-left hemispheres between being creative and analytic during the course of the day.
Paw-Paw-Helps prevent feeling overwhelmed. Also helps with digestion.
I was very pleased with the refreshing taste of Balance for kids, and my children loved it, too. I think that water is so important for children and adults to drink plenty of throughout the day! I really like that Balance spring water adds flower essences, which are plant-based remedies that are used to help restore emotional balance. Balance offers water for children, women, mind and travel.
Balance Water Company was founded in Sydney, Australia in February 2005. It is the world's first company to release non-flavored functional waters designed to affect emotional well-being. Peter Maher and Martin Chalk founded the company. Peter Maher has 15 years of beverage experience and has worked with Lion Nathan and Mars in various senior capacities in Australia, Asia and the United States. Martin Chalk has a background in microbiology and biochemistry and spent 15 years working in London, Paris, Sydney and New York.
The colorful six-pack carrier of Balance for Children contains 6 - 13.5 fl oz (400 ml) bottles and retails for $7.49-$7.99.

Would you like to win a 6-pack of Balance for Children? I know your family will be pleased with their products, as well! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, leave a comment about what you like about Balance water? You can also tweet about this giveaway and leave the url in your comment. If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just leave a comment about what you do to give your kids healthy options for snacks/drinks. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 6, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

~Merry Christmas~

Merry Christmas to you and your family! My prayer is that you all experience the real Joy of Christmas~ the celebration of Jesus' birth!
One of the most profound statements I heard was from the song, 'Mary Did You Know?': Speaking to Mary...
"When you kissed your little baby....you kissed the face of God!"
WOW~ can you imagine the thoughts of Mary? I can't even fathom the things Mary must have thought and felt. Being chosen to birth the Son of God, raise him....
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

I also wanted to share this poem with you...
'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came'
written by Unknown Author
'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed. Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter. I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash! When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! The light of His face made me cover my head It was Jesus! returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound. While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There's only one life and when comes the last call We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Have a Merry Christmas and God bless you!

Beethoven's Big Break~ great family movie for the holidays

Beethoven, whom is a mega-popular St. Bernard, comes together with an all-star cast and some of today’s hottest music to bring out Beethoven's Big Break! The all-new adventure comes exclusively to DVD on December 26, 2008 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. This full-length comedy stars Moises Arias (Rico on “Hannah Montana”), Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”), Daytime Emmy ® winner Jennifer Finnigan (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”), Joey Fatone (“Dancing with the Stars,” ‘N Sync), Stephen Tobolowsky (“Heroes”), Oscar Nunez (“The Office”), Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother) and Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”) in his feature film debut—and introduces Pete The Lizard! A fresh and funny re-imagination of the hugely popular franchise, Beethoven’s Big Break is jam-packed with more action and laughs than ever before, plus a few adorable St. Bernard puppies! Featuring an exciting array of bonus materials, the DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP.
About the Movie
Eddie (Silverman) is a professional animal trainer and works with a variety of creatures. He is very strict about having NO PETS ALLOWED, and his son Billy cannot have a dog. Surprisingly, from "skipping" a day of school," Billy is befriended my stray dog, Beethoven and his family of puppies. Unwilling to adopt Beethoven, Eddie and Billy are going to find another home for the dog. From surprising events, Eddie is "thrown into" a movie with Beethoven as the star...leading to him keeping Beethoven. But when dog-nappers steal the canine star of the movie Eddie’s working on, the studio big shots must quickly find a replacement and unexpectedly cast the lumbering canine as their next big star. Through his rambunctious antics and larger-than-life personality, Beethoven not only crashes into Hollywood but into Eddie’s heart as well.
For viewers in need of even more puppy love, Beethoven’s Big Break will also be included in the new Beethoven's Dog-gone Best Movie Pack, available on December 26 retailed at $49.95. Six hilarious full-length movies for one great price, Beethoven's Dog-gone Best Movie Pack includes every chapter of the hugely successful dog franchise. With over 8 hours of action, laughs and surprises, Beethoven's Dog-gone Best Movie Pack will satisfy the most devoted fans of the big-hearted, wet-nosed Beethoven and his adorable puppies.

I'm Turning Green Book: Review and Giveaway!

Our financial crunch in this economic downfall can be tight right now, and it is a perfect time to teach our kids about being conservative with our resources. Simple things our kids can do, like turning off the light, unplugging electronics, and reusing products, teach them more than saving money~ they learn to making a positive impact on our planet's resources.

The Little Environmentalists have come out with book number 2: I'm Turning Green, in their series to educate our children about the environment and our eco-awareness. In the book, a little girl talks about all the things that she does to do her part in helping our environment. With each thing she does, part of her turns green (with her body being colored in green), and at the end of the book, she is completely green. One fact the book points out, you can save 5 gallons of water just by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth and wash your hands! What a savings~ for the environment and our pocketbook! For $7.95, (you can purchase the book at Amazon.com) I think this book does a super job teaching kids to be more economical and earth-friendly! The book is printed environmentally friendly: 100% recycled, 100% post consumer waste, Chlorine free and environmentally friendly ink!

I reviewed the first book from The Little Environmentalists here (click link) if you would like to read about that book, or you can see the book on the The Little Environmentalists website.

The Little Environmentalists, LLC, is a company committed to developing and publishing children’s material to promote environmental awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship. The company is dedicated to sustainable business practices and producing environmentally friendly products.

Would you like to win I'm Turning Green Book? The Little Environmentalists have offered to give a book to a lucky "green" reader! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, leave a comment about what you do to help our environment? You can also tweet about this giveaway and link to me. Please leave your tweet in the comments.If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just leave a comment about what other ways are great for being "green." Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 1, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Baby Appointment: 37 weeks

I had my baby appointment yesterday morning. With having concerns of my amniotic fluid possibly leaking, I was anxious to see what my Doctor thought. I am so excited to be back with MY doctor, but there is a huge set back with seeing him~ I waited for an hour and a half before I even saw him! Long wait, he is a popular Doctor, but so worth the wait because he really truly cares!
He checked my stats, baby is not dropped down into the pelvic region, yet. I told him how uncomfortable I have been lately, and how hard life is. Then, I melted down and cried. I know I am emotional right now, but really my pains have been absolutely unbearable at times~ day or night! I told him how sleep is tough, laying down and getting up. That Sciatic nerve is the worst it has ever been. He said he was sorry that I was going through all that pain, and he would love to have me fitted for a special pregnancy belt thingy, but they are expensive. Yeah, for approximately $150, I could have some relief for the next few weeks. Umm, no, we have no extra money, so I just have to suck it up for the duration. Yippee! Can you sense my excitement?
The Doctor said that I am carrying this baby so differently and so low...even though it isn't "dropped" yet. I told him I was surprised that the baby hasn't dropped, because sometimes it feels like the baby could just fall out, or that he/she kicks so low sometimes. However, none of my baby's have dropped until I was in full blown labor. So, it would be kind of a shock if the baby was dropped right now.
I am not dilated and my body isn't doing any changes in preparation for delivery day, yet. I do have 3 weeks yet, so really it isn't time yet. He said he didn't think I was leaking any fluids, and that my water wasn't broken. He did want me to get an ultrasound to see if baby was in the head down position, though.
I didn't get to see much on the ultrasound, because baby is so big right now. Heartbeat was at 147 at the time of the ultrasound, and baby was head down. The amniotic sacs looked great, and the technician said the placenta and heart looked good. One great thing I got to see was a head of hair. That is so exciting. Just seeing our little baby on the screen gave me an added boost of encouragement that this pain really is worth it~ even though some days I feel like I just would rather die.
So, onto another week. The next few weeks will go rather quickly in time, but seem long with the pains and aches. SOON~ I just have to remember that blessed word.

Win 2 Nintendo DS games from the Game Factory!

Thanks to the Family Review Network, and the Game Factory, I get to host a giveaway for not one, but two Nintendo DS games! These games allow players to escape from the stress of daily life while challenging the mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals.
Zenses Rainforest allows players to explore the Amazon while playing games infused with rain drops, exotic flowers, waterfalls and giant trees. This refreshing experience encourages players to recharge their batteries while playing puzzle games such as Sapphire Wheel, Mirror Maze, Stack Jack and Bumble Breaker (names are currently being reviewed and may change).
Designed for casual play – whether it's for three minutes or for a three-hour escape – and offers a collection of six easy to pick up, yet addictive puzzle/brain games that are as fun as they are challenging.
A clean, fresh and "spa-like" interface and highlights the earth's natural wonders and beauty.
In Zenses Ocean, players relax themselves playing puzzle games inspired by the
movements of the tide, rippling water, riffs and corals, beach vegetation and sea life. An indulgent, soothing experience, Zenses Ocean includes high quality visuals and ambient sounds inspired by the natural sounds of the sea. Subliminal addictive puzzles such as Hot Spot, Shell Twirl, Turtle Turn, Pearl Diver and Wave Breaker (names are currently being reviewed and may change) were created to give players an escape from the stress of every day life.
The rating for the two Zenses games is: E for Everyone at they are single player games for female players.
A pleasant mixture of 2D and 3D. Zenses is controlled using the stylus only. Not a single key press is necessary.
Zenses will include a high-quality ambient soundtrack. All music from the game will be uploaded to www.gamefactorygames.com and will be available to download for free (players will be receive special bonuses holding codes to unlock).
You can see more about the games at The Game Factory , and these games can be found online and at retailers nationwide (Target, Wal-Mart, amazon.com, among others)for $29.99 each.
ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN BOTH ZENSES GAMES!
This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, leave a comment about what your holiday plans are/were. You can also tweet about this giveaway and link to me. Please leave your tweet in the comments.
If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just leave a comment about what other games you like for the Nintendo DS. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 1, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Caleb is so funny!

We had a fun day today, and everyday Caleb has some fun things on his mind! Here are a couple things Caleb shared with me today...

We were on the subject of belly buttons. I told Caleb that everyone has a cute belly button. Then he told me not everyone has a cute belly button. I asked him what he meant, and he told me that fish do not have belly buttons. (Is that true?)

Tonight at supper, Caleb said, "When Lena (our dog) gets married someday, she can have cute puppy babies."

Children sure make life more interesting, and you never know what you will hear, learn, or think about.

One "stylin'" little mama!

Madelyn is definitely a "girly girl" and loves to be a little mommy! She is just under 2 years old, and she is already role playing, loving her "babies" and playing "house." My friend, Candace, gave Madelyn a children's sling for Christmas. She said Madelyn is going to want to be like her Mom when the baby comes, so that is why she got her the pouch sling! I can say that I think it was a great gift, and I know Madelyn will use it a lot! She is already loving baby wearing her little babies!
She had such a fun time today walking around carrying her little baby. She kept holding her little dolly and kissing it. Then she would say, "Cute," and give me the sweetest little smile.
Her big brother Caleb's sun glasses were by her, so she decided that she needed to wear them!
She is one styling little girly mama!
One of her favorite sayings right now is, "Look at me!" She loves to show us what she accomplishes!
I love my little princess. It is so much fun having a little girl!

Baby Bunch's new PJ Cupcakes

The Baby Bunch offers such a great selection of Baby gifts in such a creative, innovative, and decorative assortment! They just launched the PJ Cupcakes!
This gift set looks just fabulous...just like cupcakes tucked inside the cupcake wrappers. On top of the rolled up PJ's (made to look like cupcakes) is an adorable decorative felt design: like a strawberry, baseball, flower, etc. There are two cupcakes, which are really a PJ top and a PJ bottom (100% cotton). The top is a solid color, either pink or blue, and the bottom is stripedeither pink or blue. The size of the PJ's fit up to 12 months or 20 pounds. The "cupcakes" are nestled inside a decorative box that has a clear, see-through window. To finish the wrapping, there is a ribbon wrapped and tied around the box. The Cupcakes are $19.95 for a set, and are sure to be a big hit!
The PJ Cupcakes from the Baby Bunch would make a great gift for the older sibling when baby is born, or for that fun birthday party. These cupcakes will not spoil their dinner!
The Baby Bunch offers other super "bakery" items like cupcakes (onesies), and lollipop onesies!They also make great bouquets of products that come in buckets or bunches, available in Organic or Cotton! The Baby Bunch offers gift sets for the extra special thank-you's too! You can see a Spa, Garden or Kitchen Thanks a bunch on their site, too!
You can see my other reviews of Baby Bunch here, here and here. I highly recommend the Baby Bunch for your next gift purchases!

Nature's Baby Organics products: Review and Giveaway!

Our children's skin is so precious and tender, and I know that dealing with skin irritations and allergies, our family should use only the best products on our skin! I was very impressed with the Nature's Baby Organics products! I deal with Eczema to extremes, sometimes, and using the Face & Body moisturizer from Nature's Baby was so soothing to my skin! The ingredients in the moisturizer is made with 70-95% certified organic ingredients and it is paraben, SLS, Phthalate and Propylene Glycol free! Nature's Baby Organics moisturizer is certified from the company's own Aloe farm so they can be sure they have Aloe without pre-preserved Methylparabens and Phenoxythanol! I was very impressed at how it instantly felt like the moisture was back in my dry hands. I am confident that this moisturizer will be a great product to use on my kids through these cold, dry winter months.
Nature's Baby Shampoo & Body wash is a luxurious product! I love the smell of the Lavender and Chamomile! My kids liked the smells, too! The Shampoo gave a great shine to my kids hair. I am anxious to use this product on my new baby, because it will help prevent cradle cap (dry scalp) with the moisturizers. Nature's Baby Shampoo & Body wash is made with the highest quality botanicals, essential oils and luxurious moisturizers ( shea butter & kukui nut oil). Great product! I highly recommend it!
When our children get that terrible diaper rash, it can be so painful for them! I know that I have a hard time knowing if the diaper cream I am using is helping or creating more tears. Nature's Baby Organics offers a diaper cream that is made with Organic Sunflower, Cocoa Butter, & Castor Seed Oil for thevery sensitive skin! I am really excited about this, because I can rest assured that their diaper cream with sooth my baby's bottom! Nature's Baby Organics diaper cream is Preservative Free & Fragrance Free, too, which adds a sense of relief.
I recommend the great products that Nature's Baby Organics offers! You can see their great products here (click link).
Nature's Baby is a family owned and operated company. Adena Surabian is the developer of Nature's Baby Organic products, and she did it with the drive to find the best products for her daughter, who broke out in a rash from other products. Nature's Baby Organics is dedicated to bringing you and your family only the finest and purest products available. I can attest to their products being a superior product and safe to use on your children and entire family!

Adena has offered to sponsor a giveaway to my readers for your chance to win 3 of their amazing products! This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. To get your first entry, you need to go to the Nature's Baby Organics website, and look at all the great products they offer. Pick out 3 of the products that interest you the most. You must Tweet this giveaway to get your first entry, and leave a comment about the Tweet! Also, in your comment let me know the 3 products you would like to win, if your name is the chosen winner. If you do not do the first required entry, you will be disqualified. You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just leave a comment about what you like about the Nature's Baby Organics products. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on January 1, 2009 at 11:59PM CST. GOOD LUCK!

Snow flakes keep coming...

It sure is white outside! I love the snow, and we are fully getting the ground insulated with it! It is so very pretty outside with the trees just caked in white, fluffy snow. I should try to get some pictures of it tomorrow. Nathaniel played outside most of the afternoon with his friend, and they had a grand time. Terry took Caleb out in the snow, too. Caleb was so excited to be outside! Maddie and I didn't make it outside, though. I actually thought maybe my water was leaking, but I don't think it is now. I was thinking I may be making a trip to the hospital, and I am glad we didn't NEED to go, due to the weather being so bad for driving.

I had my monthly stamp club this morning, and it was my month to be hostess. I got to bring treats for everyone, so I broke down and bought cinnamon rolls. It has been on my craving list lately, so it was a bad indulgence...but it tasted oh so good! With getting the hostess benefits, I got to get some of the hostess stamp sets, and free merchandise. It was a pretty good month, but I think last year was a better turn out. Oh well. Economy is tight, and so is my wallet. We did make 3 really cute projects, though. We made a Santa gift card holder, a designer card with a bookmark, and another card. It was fun! My friend came to join us today, so it was great to see her, too! Lisa is in the club, too, and it is always great to spend time with her.

All in all, it was a good day. Terry did a super job organizing and cleaning the laundry room today, and we got the table cleaned off. I am getting tired of our messy house, and the lack of organization. I am going to try really hard to get a lot done before the baby comes. I have to get the baby stuff ready, too...like the bassinet washed up, some baby clothes and night gowns, blankets, etc. I have been bad about putting this off. With my possibility of a leak today, it has really made me realize I should have things in order. Not much time left with only 3 weeks left.

I am not sure if we are going to church tomorrow with all the snow we got. Plus, my sciatic nerve has been so awful lately that walking is such a pain in the patootie lately. I am talking serious pain. Besides all the other body aches and pains, that sciatic pain is the worst.

Well, have a great night everyone!

Personalized blanket~

Have you been looking for a gift that you can "leave a mark" on it with words? A gift that speaks from your heart, and that your message stays with the recipient? Fill in the Blankie is a great company that personalizes baby blankets with the names, words, verses, poems, important information, etc. on them. You get to pick out exactly what you want the blanket to say. Fill in the Blankie embroiderers the message on 4 sides of the blanket on Satin material. You get 200 characters to work with when you make your personalization, so you can say a lot! Fill in the Blankie offers 32 blanket styles/colors, 27 fonts & 12 thread colors, and prices range from $39- $109 for each blanket depending on what you would like to order. The prices are divided according to what size you want your blanket to be, what fabric you would like your baby to be wrapped with (Good/Soft, Better/Softer, Best/Softest). I got an adorable white Martha's Majesty blanket with the "What are little boys made of..." poem on it. I love it, and I can't wait to use it on our baby~ IF, our baby is a boy. Otherwise, I know this blanket will make a great gift to one very special baby. This blanket has pretty easy care instructions, too: Wash in cold water on gentle cycle.
Sonya Bebeblankee is the creative designer and founder of Fill in the Blankie. She was inspired from the Sweedish Miss Sonya who was born in 1901. From the site: Started in June 2004, we're a Dallas-based Baby Blankie company specializing in unique Embroidered Baby Blankies: all the while, trying get a few smiles in the process. While many personalization shops or national retailers offer personalization, it's usually 20 or so characters and takes a few weeks. Well, it's part of who we are not to settle for status quo. So, we offer up to 200 characters per blankie and 3-7 day turn-around.
Fill in the Blankie makes great personalized gifts for those special little babies in our lives!

The best bottle to use if you're breastfeeding!

Are you looking for a bottle that will be most comfortable and familiar for your baby while nursing? I know being an avid breast feeder that I wonder if my baby will be alright taking a bottle, or if they will do alright with the changes between nursing and bottle feeding.
TheAdiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Baby Bottle features the only nipple truly shaped like a mother's breast. Winning the Medical Design Excellence award, the Adiri Natural Nurser bottle"is winning over doctors, nurses and lactation consultants as advocates with its breast-like shape and feel that is said to encourage an easy transition between breast and bottle, and thus prevent infants from refusing the mother's breast after bottle-feeding." Built inside this super bottle is a Petal vent, which is to help reduce colic. I like how easy this bottle is to use! All I do is fill the bottle with my breast milk, and twist the lid on. It is all set. There isn't any small parts to lose or to remember to assemble. Plus, the Adiri Natural Nurser is dish washer safe! That makes my life easier, too! Adiri Natural Nursers can also be boiled or sterilized using a basic sterilizer. Adiri Natural nurser bottles are made of soft polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free materials, so they are safe for your baby. The bottles come in one size: 8-ounce capacity, and there are 3 stages of bottles. Each stage bottle has a certain flow rate. You can find these bottles at many retailers and they are priced at $12.49 each.
Adiri is committed to offer the very best for your baby, "a bottle that is made of the highest quality materials and a superior design, but that is still easy to use."
I am excited to use these new bottles with our baby coming! I can feel confident that they are safe for my baby to use, and that they will be the most natural bottle compared to breastfeeding!

Organic Cottontail...Pure and Natural

I love the Organic Welcome Baby Blocks from Organic Cottontail! These adorable blocks are made from artisans in fair trade workshops, and a portion of the proceeds gets reinvested into the villages that make those products. The manufacturers of Organic Cottontail ensure that the workers receive fair compensation and that they work in a safe environment.

Each box is made from wild grass (tree free) paper. When the blocks arrive in your home, they are stacked and tied with raffia, and each piece of clothing is inside each block. I think the blocks are super cute, and so creative! I know I can find several things to put in these and decorate my baby's room. The letters feel like felt, and there is a button in the front that you wind the twine around to close the lid. Inside the blocks you will find an adorable hat, a long sleeve onesie, and pants with little feet. The Organic material is so soft, and you can rest assured that it is certified organic cotton. The material is harvested without the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals, and the dyes used on the clothing are all natural vegetable dyes, too. These blocks come with various size options: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, and 6-12 months.

Along with the handmade blocks, and the Organic clothing, Organic Cottontail tops this great gift set with a seeded card in which you can plant and receive wild flowers. What an ingenious creation! I am very excited to try this out, but I would like to wait until spring because it is winter here, and the temperatures can get pretty cold. I like the idea of growing flowers from a gift for the baby (grown out of paper, too). Total, this gift is like 3 gifts in one: organic outfit, blocks and flowers.

Organic Cottontail has several other products available: Baby bath & body, Organic Baby Clothes, Natural Baby Toys, Shoes, Socks and Leggings, Gifts Ideas, For Mom, Nursery Furniture and Accessories, Receiving Blankets, Organic Bedding and Blankets, Baby Carriers and Slings. What a great selection of high quality products to pick from!

Susan Mussaffi, owner of Organic Cottontail, wants your baby to have the best possible start in life. Her company is dedicated to provide the highest quality products that our friendly to us and our environment. Thank you, Susan, for making such quality products and taking special care to design/create them!

Celine Dion Tour information...

If you're a fan of Celine Dion or just love great live entertainment, check out Celine’s Taking Chances World Tour. Her North American tour dates have been extended into February ’09 so take a look and see if she’s coming to your town. Celine’s concert tickets may just be the perfect gift for a friend, family member or yourself. See what the show is like here.

I was tagged...

My friend, Jeannie from I'm Losing It, tagged me to play this fun game. The rules of this game are as follows:
*Go to the 6th picture folder in your documents.
*Find the 6th picture in your 6th folder.*Pray that you remember what it is about.*Blog about it.*Tag 6 people to do the same.
So, this is what was there....

My darling littlest children, Caleb age 3 1/2, and Madelyn 21 1/2 months. Terry took this picture before church the beginning of December. I love the looks on their faces. So Cute! This is a picture that Maddie is actually smiling for the camera. She freezes up for the camera normally.

I have to tag 6 more people to do this: Alicia, Jennifer, Susan, Gretchen, Jenn, and Alaina. If anyone else wants to do it, it is really fun! Just let me know in the comments, and I will come on over to see! :) Thanks Jeannie!

You gotta check out this contest...

My friend, Jody over at Make a Joyful Noise, has a very creative and fun contest going on! You have to go check it out, try your guessing, and enter to win an amazing Tastefully Simple treats! She has a list of 13 random Christmas Songs (OR lines from the songs), that has only the first letters of the word. If you can figure out all of the songs, you will be entered into the drawing for a chance to win. The prize is the Artichoke & Spinach Warm Dip Mix, Warm the Oven! Savory Dip Mix, Spinach and Herb Dip Mix and the Bountiful Beer Bread Mix - Retail Value just over $35.00 with Shipping and Handling. Make sure if you are entering that she knows who you are and has a way to contact you back in case you are the winner! (HINT: You don't actually have to know them to enter, that would require thinking - just post a comment!)Here is an example: H A H J C would be Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
Giveaway ends on Saturday, December 20th at Midnight and the winner will be chosen by Random on Sunday. What a fun contest, and you may find your self singing as you are playing along! Thanks for the fun contest Jody, and the chance to win your generous prize!

All good things must come to end...

Since January I have babysat for a wonderful family! The parents are work from home parents, and they have a little daughter, Claudia, whom is 5 days older than my little Madelyn. It has been a great job, and fun experience. Claudia's mom, Candace, and I have become great friends through this working relationship. It really worked out great for both of us! Candace had in-home childcare, so she could spend time with her daughter on and off throughout the day, and nurse her when need be. For me, I got to be an at home mom to my kids (just not in my home), get paid to watch Claudia, and have playtime for my kids with another child. Claudia, Madelyn and Caleb have become great friends. It is so precious to see the kids interact with one another! I am going to miss being over at their home, and having our kids have weekly play times together. Due to the baby coming, and not knowing how the dynamics of having 3 little ones home, we are taking a break from what we currently do. Candace and her family are heading out tomorrow for their 2 week family Christmas traveling. So, we decided that it is a good time to end the babysitting until we can see how things go once our baby is here. I will be driving them to the airport tomorrow for a farewell, and to help them out. Candace is so sweet, she doesn't want to replace me or find other childcare. So, she is talking me into babysitting Claudia at our house 2 or 3 days a week for about 4 hours in the morning, once I feel up to it. I know it would be great to help them out, keep the friendship between the kids strong, but we will just have to see how it all goes. I know I just didn't want to bundle up my kids, especially a newborn, and take them out in the MN chill of winter. We shall see how it goes. I will miss them greatly, and I know my kids are going to miss their little friend Claudia, but we will FOR SURE keep up the relationships. I will have to take some pictures tomorrow so I can show you the pictures of the kids together.

THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS DVD: Review and Giveaway!

TCM Presents: The Family ClassicsWith All-New Original Special and Nostalgic Holiday Festival More Than 25 Live-Action Classic Films to Be Showcased Sundays Throughout December!
Tony® Winner and Three-Time Oscar® Nominee Angela Lansbury to Narrate Documentary Special,Which Will Feature Interviews with Such Stars as Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Jones and Tim Conway
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is set to conjure up some pure movie magic this December, when the network debuts TCM PRESENTS: THE FAMILY CLASSICS. The festivities will include Sunday movie showcases featuring more than 25 Disney live-action classics, plus an all-new original documentary entitled THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS, to be narrated by Tony® winner and three-time Oscar® nominee Angela Lansbury. The showcases will begin each Sunday at noon and feature such films as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Freaky Friday (1976), The Parent Trap (1961), The Love Bug (1968), Treasure Island (1950), The Shaggy Dog (1959) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960), as well as Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), which stars Lansbury.
“With Walt Disney Pictures’ legacy of groundbreaking animated films, it can sometimes be easy to forget that since the 1950s, the studio has also produced an extensive collection of lovingly made live-action films perfect for the entire family,” said Charles Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM. “So it is with great pride that we will present them in all their glory in the tradition of TCM ─ uncut and commercial free. With more than 25 outstanding movies and an insightful documentary special narrated by Angela Lansbury, TCM’s salute to these live-action films is a perfect family programming event for the holiday season.”
THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS, which comes to TCM from FitzFilm, Inc. and writer/producer/director Peter Fitzgerald, will follow the studio’s history as it ventured beyond its animation legacy to develop non-animated family fare. It was slated to premiere at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The special will feature interviews with a number of people who have contributed to the studio’s live-action oeuvre, including Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Lesley Ann Warren and Michele Lee; former child stars Karen Dotrice and Kim Richards; director Ken Annakin; and songwriter Richard M. Sherman. The special will also feature interviews with Walt Disney Company Board Director Emeritus Roy E. Disney, film critic and film expert Leonard Maltin, film historian Les Perkins, film writer Richard Schickel, author and film expert Paul Sigman-Lowery and author Bill Cotter. The following is the complete schedule for TCM PRESENTS: THE FAMILY CLASSICS:
Sunday, Dec. 21
Noon The Black Hole (1979) – starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Yvette Mimieux, Robert Forster and Ernest Borgnine.
2 p.m. Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) – starring Eddie Albert, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann, Ray Milland and Donald Pleasance.
4 p.m. Return from Witch Mountain (1978) – starring Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann.
6 p.m. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall and Sam Jaffe.8 p.m. Candleshoe (1977) – starring Jodie Foster, David Niven and Helen Hayes.
10 p.m. Freaky Friday (1976) – starring Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris and John Astin.
11:45 p.m. THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS – narrated by Angela Lansbury.
Sunday, Dec. 28
Noon The Shaggy Dog (1959) – starring Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen and Tommy Kirk.
2 p.m. The Shaggy D.A. (1976) – starring Dean Jones, Tim Conway and Suzanne Pleshette
4 p.m. The Love Bug (1968) – starring Dean Jones, Michelle Lee and Buddy Hackett.
6 p.m. Herbie Rides Again (1974) – starring Helen Hayes, Ken Berry and Stefanie Powers.
8 p.m. Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) – starring Dean Jones and Don Knotts.
9:45 p.m. Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) – starring Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman.
11:30 p.m. The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) – starring Tim Conway, Jan Michael Vincent, John Amos and Nancy Walker.
Turner Classic Movies, currently seen in more than 75 million homes, is a 24-hour cable network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. TCM presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from the largest film library in the world, uncut and commercial-free. The network also offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, including the Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton—The Man in the Shadows, the Emmy®-winning Stardust: The Bette Davis Story and the Emmy®-nominated Brando. More information is available at TCM. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
This information can also be accessed on TBS, Inc.’s press site at News Turner.
Would you like to win a copy of this DVD? Here are the rules: Just let me know who in your family would enjoy The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics DVD? This contest is open to everyone with a USA mailing address....bloggers and non-bloggers.
You may come back each day and enter (again) after you do the first rule, just leave a comment about what is one of your favorite classics movie or show. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. This contest will end on December 28th at 11:59 PM.

Smart Phone~ what a great invention!

One of the products that is very high on my "wish list" this year is the all new Windows Mobile Smart phone! The Samsung Omnia is one of the Smart Phones that really looks great to me!
If I was so lucky to get the Windows Mobile Smart phone, I would be able to stay connected and organized while on the go, with 3, almost 4 kids! Because Windows Mobile smart phones run on the same Windows system as PC computers, our computer and phone applications sync together easily. More than 77% of people who take pictures with their phones never download them onto their computers. I would fit into that category! I can't believe that I would not share those precious photos, but leave them in the phone! With Windows Mobile, you have the ability to easily e-mail photos from your phone to your PC or post them directly to the Web. This is great with blogging!
The newest touch screen Windows phone, the Samsung Omnia, conveniently combines the features of a smart phone and a digital camera into one slim, compact device. I love the idea of not juggling the multiple digital devices to capture holiday enjoyment~ I have enough to juggle with my kids! Only Windows Mobile lets you shoot pics, crop, post to your blog, and send images to loved ones directly on your smart phone. The Samsung Omnia is a great all-in-one gift at the reasonable cost of $199. The professional auto-focus camera features panorama capture, cropping capabilities and smile/face recognition. In fact, a National Geographic photographer took the 5.0 megapixel Omnia on photo shoots to Easter Island and Peru and found that his photographs rivaled those taken with a professional camera. For more information on the Omnia, please visit http://www.windowsmobile.com/.
You can buy a Smart Phone to your special someone this Christmas...or get one for me! :)