Parents Architecture ABCs: A Review

I know everyone has heard and read about the toys made by Parents. They never fail to make great quality toys at a reasonable price. They are also super safe and 100% phthalate free!

I recently have had the opportunity to review the Architecture ABCs blocks made by Parents. My girls are bit too old for blocks, but they had a great time building arches with all the pieces. The difference between these blocks and the traditional wooden blocks are that these are squishy, soft, and flexible. (Think chewable for babies!) They are easily squeezable and I wouldn't think they would cause any bumps or bruises. (Something our family knows all about!) When squeezed, they also let put a squeak that will entertain your baby. On each block is a letter and an animal that corresponds to the letter - "C" has a cow on it, "L" has a lobster, and "F" has a fly on it. All 26 pieces can be grasped easily by little hands and fingers.

As soon as I opened and reviewed this product, I knew exactly who would love it. After shopping at Target, it is now under the tree for our nephew. It is something that can grow with him with the different shapes, animals and letters. I have no doubt he will love it.

Gotta Have It? Parents Architecture ABCs are recommended for children 6+ months and are available at Target for $19.99.

An Open Letter

Dear Obnoxious Offspring,

How many times must I tell you to be quiet while we are in a waiting room? Is it really necessary to loudly dump all the blocks out on the floor? Even when I told you to listen and be good before we even walked in! Must you really keep talking loudly when I am ssshhhh-ing you for over one minute? Do you really need to talk so loudly to each other and run around like wild lions? I don't care if we are friends with the doctor and you know him personally. That does not make it okay. What don't you understand?

I know I have not raised monkeys. I know you have manners because I pound them into your super-absorbent mind. What happens? Do they go into one ear and out the other? You behave great at school but I think sometimes you two have a quiet contest between yourselves about who can make mom more irate. Seriously.

Your mother needs a wife who will do everything so I can enjoy the evenings. I need a mom that successfully teaches you how to behave like little girls. I need one day of silence. I need you to be perfect angels for one entire day. Anything from just getting up in the morning, to putting your shoes away without complaing to going to bed when told to do so. I would greatly appreciate it. I just need a glimpse of hope that it is possible. I need a husband who does not love sports so dang much and wants nothing more than to be home with his constantly-on-the-edge wife. Why doesn't he?! Hmmmmm.

Don't think next time we go to that office you won't be apologizing. No missy. You will say your sorry to the nice girls at the desk and LIKE IT! If not, your mom could become a bitter ole' lady. And I know neither of you don't want that.

I really do love you. And I want people to see what great little girls you are. So, for Christmas, mommy wants you to just listen. Really.

I got nothin' but love for ya,
Your Basket-Case of a Mom

Fine Print:
(I really do love my girls. Please don't criticize this letter and call me a bad mom for writing this. If you have lived this week in my shoes, you would be proud I am writing instead taking it out on anyone. And girls,I know when you become a mom you will understand these feelings all too well. Why? Because I remember my mom saying things similar to this to me and I never really understood. I still love you and your dad more than you can ever begin to fathom. )

Delgo: A Review

Hitting theaters tomorrow, Delgo is a movie that involves many aspects of a movie. Fantasy, love, action, family, and about any other emotion you could imagine. I have not seen the movie itself, but the trailer looks like a great movie for Jeremy to take the girls too.

Delgo is a young man who loves in Jhamora, which is consisted of two divided cultures, where one part is ruler of the skys, and the other is ruler of the land. Delgo, who is part of the rulers of the land, and Klya, who is a ruler of the sky, form a friendship that is not in any way approved of. They ultimately work together toward the same goal - to calm the hostilities between the two cultures.

Delgo and Kyla are played by Freddie Prince, Jr. and Jennifer Love-Hewwitt. There are many actors and actresses that are well-known that play a part in the movie. Kelly Ripa, Val Kilmer and Burt Reynolds, just to name a few. It is getting great reviews; CNN is saying it is, "perfect timing". Animation Magazine said "...doing the impossible".

Like I mentioned above, this is a fantasy movie. Jeremy loves movies like this and I think it would be a great movie that he would enjoy with the girls. I am not too keen on fantasy movies, but this one looks like it is a bit more than that alone, which when all is said and done, I might end up seeing with them.

Delgo, produced by Fathom Studios, has a running time of 90 minutes and is rated PG. To see if it is playing near you, please visit Fandango.

"Hey! How are you?"

Friday was our much anticipated Christmas shopping adventure. We went to eat at Shogun's and split a HUGE platter of sushi. It was so good - of you have not tried sushi, you really should. Then, we went off to Sears. If you remember a while back, I posted about free gift cards to Sears. We ended up using them for Christmas. (Have you heard about their KidVantage program?) We got a few things for the girls - jeans for Zoa and a sweater for MJ.

At Target, we got a lot done but not as much as I thought. We ran into everyone!! Walking through the movies, games, toys and clothes, we saw so many people. Hence the name of the post. And the funniest thing of all, is nobody had kids. They were all doing the same thing we were - Christmas shopping! We checked all the nieces and nephews off the list and got a decent start on the girls' there.

Yesterday, I drug Jeremy to Old Navy while the girls' were at AWANA. We got the cutest clothes so I highly suggest you check out their clearance section.

Saturday, we took the girls to see Madagascar 2. It was not the good in my opinion. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had seen the first one, but I'm not sure...

I also have a big reveal that should happen soon. I will keep you up to date!

Have a great Monday!!

Whew...

As I sit here, MJ is wrestling with my loud and rambunctious husband. All I want is silence, but I guess in a house with two small girls and a husband like Jeremy, times like that are few and far between. I am trying to count my blessings!

This week has been a fast and busy one. We hired a new girl at the office (Hi Em!) and I have been training and teaching her computer programs, the daily grind and the ins and outs. On top of that, the end of the year is fast approaching so it is time to move out old files and bring in the new. So, deep cleaning is in full force. It's nice though. At least I have someone hil-arious to chat with all day. She keeps me smiling!

Tomorrow is date night and you want to know what we are doing? First, we have dinner planned at Bella Italia. Yum! Have I told you how much I love pasta? Good thing I started my Herbalife again this week! I plan on gorging myself with pasta and Italian cheese. Followed by a glass of wine. :) And I will love every minute of it.

Then we will be off to do some Christmas shopping!! We are the type of people who usually just wipe it out in one shot, or at least 85 % of the gifts we buy. But I love every minute of shopping so it is right up my alley. We will hit up the mall, a little Tar-jay, Sears, Toys R Us and countless others. The smell of the mall is so exciting. Yes, I think the mall has a smell. Ahhhh...

I also have to get a few things so I can start some new traditions with the girls. I am so excited about them and will let you know once we do them. But, on to another subject I have been wanting to tell you...

A few weeks ago, while the girls were at AWANA, Jeremy and I went a saw Fireproof. Oh. my. goodness. The acting was not Oscar worthy by no means, but the message is great. It really made me think about our marriage, in good ways and ways that can be improved. Once we got back to church to get the girls, I was talking with a friend of ours and he told me they actually do make the book, The Love Dare, that was featured in the movie. It is something I plan on buying as a present to myself, just to stash away or secretly complete the book for Jeremy. It would be a great book to buy for something you know who may be struggling with their marriage. I can't help but think, if I only saw this movie and knew about the book a few months ago...

If you don't already know, the people who made Fireproof is a church in Albany, Georgia. You can view their other movies here. They try to stay low-budget and focus on the meaning of the movie. The cast are members of the church and all proceeds from the movie go towards the next production they will make. Pretty neat, huh? I don't know about you, but this makes me want to support them even more. (And how romantic is this little fun fact?!)

But, that's all she wrote! I am off to baths and bedtimes, followed by myself hitting the sack.

Oh...and go wish my sister, Whitney, Happy Birthday! It is today and she needs some uplifting thoughts!

xoxo

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Zoa's Birthday Party

Once again Zoa, happy birthday to you. I hope you had a great 4th birthday party.

p.s. Did you notice my new hair? (My back is in the picture when Zoa is opening her presents. I have a black sweater on.)

It is not Jeremy's color of choice, but I love it!

(Thanks goes to my dad for about 100 pictures of the party.)