Archive for July 2009
Imagine if The Most Dangerous Game was a reality TV show watched by an entire nation. Then imagine all of the contestants are children. This is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, author of Gregor the Overlander and The Underland Chronicles. As much as I love those books, Suzanne Collins has outdone herself with this amazing new young adult novel. (Full review)
You may recall that I was one of the lucky few to score an advance reader’s copy of Suzanne Collin’s Catching Fire at Book Expo. I immediately took a picture of it, such was my disbelief at holding a copy.( Full Review)
- Gather your materials. You will need a garden hose ( or squirt bottles) , some sidewalk chalk and a future sharp shooter to play. Don’t forget your sunscreen either!
- Start by Drawing letters on your fence ( or patio) I asked my son which letters he wanted .
- Hand then the hose and call out the letters.
- Spray!!
- After the letters we moved to another piece of fence and did shapes!
- Spray!!
The sky is really the limit, you can use numbers, sight words for older kids, colors for younger… have fun !
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A Poem of Love
(To My Stinky Poo Mud-Pie)
By: Mr. Muffins with assistance from Mr. Duckworth
From afar I’ve admired and watched you for long.
In my heart I now hear the most ghastly of song.
Your face is so ugly, like the Man they call Booger.
But Booger Man is boogery, you are pure sugar.
Your eyes are the greenest, as green as can be.
The green shade one turns when sick out at sea.
Your voice, oh how perfect! A racket to hear.
Like a laughing hyena who belches root beer.
I love how you smell; dirty socks in a pair.
There never has been a foul odor so fair.
But unlike dirty socks that split up in two.
Not a thing in this world could split me from you.
If you promise me love, I promise my all.
Together we’ll be happier than Sasquatch is tall.
In me you can trust, so please do not worry.
Together we’ll be happier than Sasquatch is furry.
If you knew I existed I’m sure you’d agree
Of the ugliest uglies, your choice would be me.
For in this land there’s no monster so true.
Believe when I say “you’re my nightmare come true.”
For more awesome poetry, puppetry, and illustrations pop over to
Thank you Jeff!
This weekend my little Picasso will be putting on his very first tuxedo and walking down the aisle ( we hope) as the ring bearer in my best friend’s wedding. I have wanted to introduce my readers to Mindy Lockard who is an Etiquette Consultant and the woman behind Manner of The Month Magazine . This seemed like the perfect opportunity. As a mom of two young girls she has realistic advice and tips for parents who want to make manners a priority without expecting too much of little ones.
I am thrilled to be a guest here on No Time for Flash Cards and loved the topic Allie suggested. Being apart of the wedding party is a magical and potentially stressful endeavor for both the parents and flower girl or ring barer. As an etiquette consultant and mother of a three-time flower girl, here are a few tips I’ve learned (some the hard way) to help you help your children make the most of the magic!
For more summertime manners subscribe to July’s Issue of ManneroftheMonth.com magazine or for a summer of gracious living visit our blog.
We are on vacation ! Don’t worry there will still be something new every day , I have been saving up and have some super fun guest posts from amazing bloggers lined up as well. We’ve been prepping our son for the trip , we have made up songs , talked and read about driving and Sunday we made this! He played with it all evening and had to gas up every single car today.
- Gather your materials . You will will need a cereal box, some tape ( any will do),2 pieces of construction paper, markers, some stickers with letters and numbers, a pipe cleaner, a bendy straw, and a picture hook You will Also need a hot glue gun, which wasn’t pictured .
- Start by having your child color the construction paper.
- Next wrap and tape the paper around the cereal box. I used painters tape because my son was excited to help tape. The painters tape lets him help and when the tape folds on it self it’s not the end of the world because it doesn’t stick too hard. It also doesn’t pull out hair when it ends up in it. I left access to the inside of the box but NOT covering the bottom.
- Add your signage and amount per gallon. When I asked my son how much he said 1.99 , earlier in the day we went past a sign for 1.99 milk and he asked me about it.
- Time to make your hose. I wish I had one of those bumpy straws from kids cups at restaurants , they would have been perfect for this , but I didn’t have one. Cut your straw into small pieces .
- Thread the straw pieces onto your pipe cleaner.
I was so excited when my son was able to do this. It’s awesome fine motor and hand eye coordination practice!
- The last piece should be the piece of the straw that bends to make a spout. Bend the end of the pipe cleaner around the end of the straw.
- Poke a hole in the side of the cereal box.
- Thread the bottom of the pipe cleaner through the hole and tape inside the box .
- Using hot glue add a painting hook to the side.
- Hang up your hose and gather some cars to play !
- Get your gas now before the price goes up!
Books!
“Trucks Roll” by George Ella Lyon got a huge compliment from my son today when we read it. When he really really wants more of something not only does he ask for it with words but the sign language he learned so long ago comes out. This book got the “More Trucks!” out loud and the frantic more signs! The book is the perfect length for 2-4 year olds who like my son love anything you can drive. It also explains well what trucks drivers do and how so many things make it from one place to the next. Cute book, worth a read for sure!
” Truck Driver Tom “ by Monica Wellington is one of my son’s picks. The story is simple, Tom and his puppy drive produce from the farm to the market and see the country side and much more along the way. The best part of this book are the fun bright and detailed illustrations, there is a wide variety of trucks, cars , emergency and construction vehicles! Also it’s a great lesson about how our food gets from the farm to us
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