Music Helps Children Develop

I am really excited to share with you a children's CD called Bubble Ride by Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys.

I'm giving Bubble Ride away on my site called Planet of the Apels. Please go and enter here!

How does music help children develop?

Much of my information I'm getting off of MedicineNet.

Music stimulates the emotions, brain, and the body all together. Communication is developed in auditory impulses. Music holds many ingredients to advance speech, movement, and expression.

If parents, healthcare providers, and early childhood educators on these great benefits of music, we'd have very happy children!

Some ways I've encouraged my kids to listen and enjoy music:

1. We listen to music in the car. This makes road trips less of a drag. Happy music makes our children chipper. If our children just woke up from a nap, we play classical music. They are not in the mood for beat when they've just woken up.
2. We listen to music when it's time to clean up. I hear negative responses when it's clean up time. As soon as the music goes on, the negativity seems to disappear. They dance, sing and clean. We have races to see who can clean up the most before songs get done.
3. We jam to music. Daddy grabs a mop to be a fake guitar, Isaak grabs a kitchen bowl for a drum, Mica grabs pencils to drum on the leather couch cushions, and I grab a brush to be a fake microphone. We laugh at our silliness. 
4. We act out songs. There is a song called Tickle Monster on Bubble Ride. We end up tickling each other during the song.

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. I received a CD of Bubble Ride to help with this review/giveaway. I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review.

Betty Lukens Flannelboard - Fun on Farm Review

I am very happy with the Betty Lukens Flannelboard. We happened to get Fun on Farm to review.

It was pretty fun to play with all the people and animals. 

We love that Betty Lukens contains the following:

• Learning
• Conversation
• Fun
• Doesn't require batteries
• Is a quiet toy

Here is the board Mica started out with:
 

I really like that the barn was one of the pieces. From the package on the website it almost looked like it was part of the background. Mica new what to do. He even made up a story to his felt board creation. 

Betty Lukens Flannelboards are $16.95. The scene is 13"x15" with over 20 farm animals.

I think it's a great toy to play with. Mica needs a quite toy to play with after school. He gets so stimulated during school. The boy is tired when he gets home. They are also an excellent toy for homeschooling kids.

Like Betty Lukens on Facebook and Twitter to see future promotions, deals and learn more about their products.

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Betty Lukens provided to me a free product to help with this review.

Operation Shower

ShoeDazzle is supporting the non-profit organization called Operation Shower.

What is Operation Shower Anyway?

Source

Like any non-profit organization, Operation Shower has a mission. They celebrate and honor military families. They provide cheerful baby showers for families in the military. This eases the hardship of deployment.

Operation Shower:

• Hosts great baby showers
• Delivers high-end products
• Creates a shared experience
• Partners with other organizations to provide services, such as health-related information

This certainly gives families hope and support that they wouldn't otherwise get.

ShoeDazzle has come to the rescue for Operation Shower.

All profits made from the sale of what they call the "Monroe" shoe will 100% benefit Operation Shower.  Vanessa Lachey is the designer for this celebrity shoe. She also had a Father in the military and is a soon to be Mommy. She certainly understands the mission of Operation Shower.

Source

The "Monroe" shoes was inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s devotion of our troops, and her daring style. Vanessa Lachey had the military in mind when designing the shoes.

The "Monroe" Shoe Has:

• They have faux snakeskin
• They are high-heeled 
• They contain a steep platform 
• There are a lot of multiple buckles 

In short they are a mix of sexy and tough. f

Gets your pair on ShoeDazzle.com starting August 7th. All proceeds go to charity!

*Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. I simply blogged about this because it's for a good cause.

Toys That Focus on Building Coordination

One company that really focuses on building coordination for babies and toddlers is Haba.

They make toys that are out of wood. Our wooden toys hold up way more than our plastic ones have.

Lately I'm conscious of what kids can get out of their toys; learning wise. I have a nephew that has Trisomy 18, he'll be mentally challenged for the rest of his life. He's in constant physical therapy. The focus is trying to get him to play more and build his muscles. It's working.

Here are the toys that I really like:

What is your favorite toy or toy company?

My kids liked Fisher Price a lot. Now they are into Lego's. Both companies are full of plastic. Oh well.

Go Graham Go! is giving away the last Haba toy shown. It would be perfect for my nephew. Maybe not right away, but in the future. It's great to say he has a future. He's doing really well!

Boobie Palooza

They have a Boobie Palooza going on this weekend in Southern California. Medela is one of it's sponsors. For more information go to the website I have linked above, or call: Call Us: 714 751 2229

Breastfeeding in America

Breastfeeding Laws in the US - Are You Protected?

If you do not know the laws in your area for public breastfeeding, please check out this link. It has an ever changing map that shows the law in your area.

Why is it Important to Read to a Baby?

There are many reasons it's important to read to a child, but what about a baby? Do they really get anything out of being read to? They actually do. 

Here are a few things they get out of reading:

• It's important because they love the sound of your voice. 
• It helps the reader to bond with the baby.
• The baby starts to learn words when they make the connection with the pictures and the words. Reading builds vocabulary. You may not know they are getting anything from it, but they are. Kids understand words before they can speak them.
• Many books for babies sound be tactile. Bath books are great and so are fabric ones. Let them put them in their mouth. 
• If you have an older child, let them read to the baby in the family. They not only will bond with the baby, but also will become better readers themselves.

Want to win a book series?

Natural Baby Mama is giving away this book series by Scholastic.

Homemade Pudding Pops

My boys are generally hungry most of the time. They eat really well. If you have a child who is one or older they might enjoy a homemade pudding pops. This is the one snack they eat a lot of!

I've tested out the recipe on other kids that come over. They've loved them to!

I like this recipe because it has extra protein, tofu in it. Don't judge too fast! You can't even taste the tofu. It tastes just like a traditional pudding pop. Well maybe less sugary. It's still really good!

Just combine the below ingredients with a hand mixer, pour them in molds, and awhile later you have pudding pops! If you don't have molds, you can use Dixie Cups and popsicle sticks from a craft store. You can go to Natural Mama to win a set of Freezycup-Stainless Steel Ice Pop Molds!

I have to say I don't hear 5 minutes later, "I'm hungry Mom!"

Does Your Child Make a Mess in their Car Seat?

A product called Kiddie Kangaroo really helps with potential messes.

You may be thinking, "Why do I need another baby accessory? Many car seats come with cup holders."

I'm a mom of two and for a few years we watched two more. Having room in the car was important! Traditional cup holders are hard plastic, take a lot of room, are hard to wash, and do not fit all cups.

Once your child starts drinking from a cup, they are often picky about which cup they drink from. Some have big bases, while others are skinny. The Kiddie Kangaroo fits all types. I love the elastic that holds it all in place. It also protects the car seat from spills and other accidents.

Some Features of The Kiddie Kangaroo:

• Pockets are simple to remove and add.
• Pockets wipe clan and are washable.
• It can be used in more than just their car seat. Moms and Dads that buy them have used them in strollers, any car seat and some high chairs.
• The material is waterproof to help it stay clean from spilled accidents. This makes it easy to wipe up!
• There are pockets on each side that have velcro strips to be placed where needed for the best sit of the seat. The velcro divider can split up the pockets for specialized storage. It also helps it to fold flat to allow for larger items such as toys and books.
• They come in many styles: Black, Blue Camo, Pink, Pink Camo and Red.

Mom4Life has The Kiddie Kangaroo marked down. 

This should help with some additional traveling for the summer! 

They are originally $19.99 and marked down to $14.99. Remember Mom4Life has no shipping or tax added within the US!

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me to review. I'm simply spreading the word for a great company, deal and a product that is outside the box.

Earth Mama Angel Baby

On Zulily they have Earth Mama Angel Baby products! They are marked down 60%! I've done a few reviews for them and can say that I simply love their products! They carry teas for Mama, lotions, Bobby Tubes and much more!

This is off of the Zulily site: "Supporting moms and babies through the entire birthing process, Earth Mama Angel Baby creates herbal products that offer natural solutions to natural discomforts. All of Mama’s products are safe, vegan and free of all toxins including artificial preservatives, fragrance and dyes. They do not contain lanolin or nut oils either. Earth Mama Angel Baby products match mamas' high standards and are ideal for the whole family." -Earth Mama Angel Baby

Hurry products on Zulily go fast! You do have to have an account to get things through them. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Cartoon

So funny and sadly true.

Source

This went along with an article. Please go read it here.

Allow Your Kids to Be Creative!

Creativity is something that is inside kids. When they talk to themselves, build up stories and want to play dress up, it's all normal.

We live in a fast paced society. Sometimes all we have time for is work, daycare, dinner and sleeping. It's important to face each week with a creative goal. Kids need activity and room to explore.

I have a giveaway up to win a t-shirt from Warrior Poet Clothier that stands for dreaming big and looking good in the process. Please enter here.

The t-shirt says, "What if we all lived like heroes?" - Warrior Poet Clothier

Your Creative Background

• A person could be innately creative. Meaning that creativity is in their genetics.
• The product produced is creative. Meaning that they got lucky with one art piece, song or writing, but other works lack in creativity.
• The process is creative. Possibly the technique used is creative. Artistic evolution, which stresses on "classical" rules that move towards breaking them. 
• Their environment is creative. Meaning that something in ones environment has strongly influenced them to be more creative than what they'd be on their own. Someone or something that inspires the artist to be great at creating. This is where you as a parent can really influnence a child. It doesn't matter if you find yourself to be creative or not. You are inspiring your child to be exercising that part within themselves. 

Stimulating Creativity

There are many ways to do this. This is just a list of some ideas. 

• Go for a walk. Yep it's that simple. It's best to go in unfamiliar, yet safe territory. 

 

• Search for bugs, pine cones, rocks, arrowheads and more. Get them sidewalk chalk and let them draw or write.

• Allow them to go off on their own to be whatever they want to be. My oldest is super into Karate Kid. He saw these poles sticking out of the ground and practiced being Daniel Son. 

If you have trouble stimulating creativity try using this check off list to help you write a story or create an art project with your child.

• Substitute one thing for another. Example: If I want to create an illustration about love. I could possibly substitute two people with puppies falling in love. This gives the image more of a childlike feel.
• Combine elements together. Example: Instead of the foreground being separated from the middle ground and background, they could overlap. Layers that can be seen through one another. 
• Adapt something for a new use or purpose. Example: Instead of a person pushing a cart, a cart could be pushing a person.
• Modify to a different size, scale, shape or color. Example: If a person were to be eating an orange and the person is turning orange in color. Alice and Wonderland plays with the size of Alice to alter the movie.
• Eliminate something out of the idea. This is a great way to simplify. Example: If a person were to create a commercial where someone is walking through sand. The footprints in the sand could disappear before the viewers eyes could add another meaning to what's going on.
• Reverse the image or order of events. Turning something inside out. Example: A plant going from full size to shrinking down to a little seed would be interesting.

Characteristics of highly creative individuals:

• Many display a great deal of curiosity about many things. 
• If you are one that asks a lot of questions about anything and everything.
• Have bold interests in unrelated areas.
• Diverse collections.
• Are often uninhibited in expressions or opinions.
• Sometimes radical and spirited in disagreement.
• Usually tenacious or persistent. 
• Fixate on one idea or project.
• High risk takers or adventurous! 
• Able to generated a lot of ideas at once when in the creative mode. 
• Display a good deal of intellectual playfulness.
• Display a keen sense of humor and see humor in situations that may not appear to be humorous to others.
• Exhibit heightened emotional sensitivity. Visibly moved by something that appears to be beautiful.

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso

Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Warrior Poet Clothier provided to me a free product to help with this review/giveaway. 

We Can Do it!

This is a great photoshoot I found off of a site called Strawberry Mohawk. I simply LOVE it! Please visit her site!

Rosie the Riveter photo shoot. For the breastfeeding moms out there struggling with our nursing rights and image!

Travel Tips For Babies

Traveling with kids is hard. It's even more hard when you are traveling with a baby.

I used to get so stressed out when I went places. Now I just think, I can always go shopping when I get to my destination. That thought process really helped me.

Travel tips:

Somethings you just can't buy in the store. Like a child's favorite blanket, forgetting a mom's breast pump would be a pricy thing to pick up at the store. I've gotten in the habit of replaying my day and packing to go with that.

I make a list of everything I might forget about.

If you are driving plan on stopping often. Your baby may sleep the entire time. Other times your child could be very needy/cry the entire time. If you prepare to stop often, you won't get disappointed if you end up having to. Remember babies love to be held. Don't drive around and hold them. They need to be in a car seat. This is why you may need to stop often.

If you are pumping and your pump has the ability to be battery operated, bring many batteries. Have a mini cooler to store breast milk. Check with your hotel ahead of time to make sure they have a refrigerator in the room. 

Have extra clothes and diapers handy.

Here are some helpful travel items for baby:

Baby MEDBASICS

The first thing that I think is a travel must is Baby MEDBASICS. It's a helpful travel pack that is portable and is filled with infant emergencies. Not everyone know what to do if a baby chokes, has a seizure, spikes a fever. It's best to call 911. Sometimes you don't have time for that and have to act fast.

 

Color-coded tabs helps identify different topics.

Included topics are: Choking, CPR, Fever, Bleeding, Burns and Poison.

It's spiral bound and pages are coated.

Easy to follow and detailed illustrations.

A page for your emergency contact information. Your child's allergies could be included in this section.

Dimensions: 5" x 6 1/4".

Comes in 3 different colors. 

It is $25.

I could have used this a few times when my kids were little. 

1. My youngest son Isaak spiked a fever with meningitis. Thankfully the on call nurse was very helpful and quick. Not all doctors have on call nurses. 
2. It would have been helpful to store all the boy's doctors and their phone numbers in. 
3. My oldest son Mica was allergic to penicillin. He was on home IV antibiotics to get rid of a staph infection. All the sudden my 7 month old was covered in hives. I was on the phone to home health right away. They contacted Mica's doctor and told me what to do. It's information like this that can and should stay with a parent all the time. That's where this book would have been handy.

MyLittleSeat Compact Fabric Travel High Chair 

This product called MyLittleSeat Compact Fabric Travel High Chair is for a little older baby.

 

I think it's so cute! It stays compact. It's a high chair that folds down to the size of a diaper! It has it's own matching bag.

Dimensions: 5" x 6 1/4".

Comes in 3 different colors.

For babies who can sit up with no help (6 months to 30 months).

Fits many chairs. 

Made to go to visit places that do not have children.

Comes in 6 different patterns.

Attaches to a diaper bag, suitcase or stroller with a clip. 

It is $29.99.

SOFT

There is a genetic condition that my nephew Emerson has. It's called Trisomy 18. Only 10% go on to make it past their first birthday.

Guess who turned one on the 23rd? My nephew Emerson.

He'll always have problems. He'll always be loved.

I got him a Super Emerson romper.

Some of the things little Emerson has gone through:

• Apnea spells when he was tiny. He would just stop breathing.
• He had an O2 tank for most of his life.
• He had an NG tube for feeding. My sister pumped and has given him her milk this whole time.
• He had jaw surgery. Most babies born with Trisomy 18, also known as Edward Syndrome have too small of the lower jaw. He had to go on a ventilator for this. That was a scariest part! Coming of the vent was super scary! They over extended his jaw. The hardware stayed in for a few months. Taking the hardware out took awhile. Having jaw surgery allowed him to eat and breath much better!
• He had his diaphragmatic hernia fixed.
• He had his adenoids taken out.
• He had tubes put in his ears.
• He was born with a club foot. That has been bent, cast, bent, cast over and over again. Then he wore a brace.
• He now has a G-Button, which sits in his stomach. He gets feed through that. It's more permanent than his G-Tube that he kept pulling out. He does eat, but still gets feed through the G-Button as well.
• He now has to wear a patch on one eye for 3 hours a day. This will help his lazy eye. 

Emerson continues to go to physical therapy. He's learning how to walk on a baby treadmill. His neck has and is weak. That's something they continue to work on in physical therapy.

Happy Birthday Little Emerson!

If you would like to help support the families and kids that have Trisomy 18, you can donate to Soft Organization!

From Their Website:

Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13, and Related Disorders (SOFT) is a non-profit volunteer organization offering support for parents who have had or are expecting a child with a chromosome disorder (especially Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13), and education to families and professionals interested in the care of these children.

Brinware - Glass Dishes For Kids

Since my kids are past the age of throwing food, I'm always on the lookout for glass, ceramic and sterling silver dishes. I just don't like the idea of my kids being exposed to eating and drinking surfaces that are not BPA free. I know they make some plastics BFA free, but all the cute plates I once bought at Target are not BPA free.

I just found out there's a company called Brinware that sells the cutest glass dishes!

Check out their cute plates!

I found this information on their website about their cute plates:

• Plate Size 7.5"
• Patent-pending food grade silicone sleeve for protection and slip resistance
• Tempered glass for extra durability and safety
• Microwavable and Dishwasher safe
• Interchangeable fun designs 

Check out placemats!

This is some information about their placemats:

• Placemat size 11"x15"
• They come in a set of two
• They roll up to make traveling easy
• They are Dishwasher safe

Go Graham Go! is giving away a Panda Play Green Plate Set! How great is that? Go to her site to enter!

Diaper Rash - What Kind is it?

Diaper rash is painful! I remember my sons getting it and they would cry when I would change them. It really broke my heart.

There are many things you can use that help. It's very important to know what kind of rash it is. That's right there is more than one type of rash.

They can get a rash from a yeast infection, disposable diapers they are using, commercial wipes, new foods and teething. That's a lot to think about!

Here are step by step things to try:

1. Ditch the commercial wipes. At least while they have the rash. They put a lot of chemicals in those things that can give them a rash. Alcohol is in many of them. Alcohol dries the skin out. 
2. Make your own wipes. I have many recipes for making your own wipes, you can find them here. I often used just a baby wash cloth and water to clean them.
3. Check the ingredients in your diaper rash cream! Many contain a moisture barrier. Little baby parts can't breathe. They can actually make a baby's bum worse. Have you ever used a deodorant that didn't work? It's the same type of thing with diaper rash cream. Check for scents used. This stuff stays on their skin. It shouldn't have added ingredients to make it smell better.
4. Mom4Life carries a product called Magic Stick. It's a petroleum-free formula that is safe with both disposable and cloth diapers. It's made with natural and organic ingredients. All the ingredients I have heard of! Remember they have free shipping!
5. There is also a homemade recipe that my doctor told me about that worked GREAT. It's one part Milk of Magnesia and one part Ponds Cold Cream. I would just mix a small container 1/2 way, pour the other ingredient in up towards the top and mixed it with a popsicle stick. My babies never cried when I used this. It's more for a yest infection. A really red, inflamed bum. 
6. Sometimes they can get a rash from introducing a new food. Berries are so good for you, but can be hard on the system at first. Introduce them slowly. Even with toddlers and preschoolers, when berry season has started. Nursing moms may need to watch spicy foods. Just watch the amounts. Introduce foods slowly to babies.
7. Cutting teeth is the worst! Many call it "Battery Acid Poop". It smells that bad! Change them often! Let them have naked time. I had one blanket I could care less if they soiled it. I just washed it. They could hang out naked, while getting some needed tummy time.
8. Is it their diaper? If they are allergic to chemicals in a diaper they will be red all over. Sometimes it's a band of red that goes across their belly. That when you know to switch brands. Every once in awhile babies are allergic to every brand that's put on them. I have a nephew that was like that. She moved to cloth diapers. They sell some great cloth diapers here. Their diaper products are all marked down right now!
9. If in doubt call your baby's doctor. They should be able to answer your questions. 

Breastfeeding a Toddler

I used to get the question, "When do you plan on finishing the whole breastfeeding thing?" My response was always, "I'm not sure."

I think it depends on when mom is done and when baby is done. Some babies decide that they are done with breastfeeding as soon as they get comfortable with a sippy cup. They are just too much on the move to stay still to breastfeed. I've heard various reasons moms choose to stop. One mom I knew wanted to start taking meds again for her own migraines. She couldn't do that, while breastfeeding. Another mom I knew just felt done. All the above are good reasons to wean from breastfeeding.

The important thing is that you and your child need to decide when to end breastfeeding. It's not for anyone else to decide.

Here's a Infographic for  The Breastfed Toddler. put on by The Alpha Parent.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

I want to cover just some of the benefits of breastfeeding. There are a lot more then I'm going to mention. Sometimes, even with breastfeeding, genetics wins. My mom breastfed me, we had dogs when I was young, and I'm still the Queen of Allergies.

Benefits:

• The bonding time between Mom and Baby is truly amazing!
• It helps reduce Mom from getting breast cancer.
• It helps reduce allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses for Baby.
• It helps reduce ear infections for Baby.
• It helps Baby with brain development.

Moms:

Please remember to do regular breast exams. I just went to a funeral this morning for a 23 year old that passed away from breast cancer. She wasn't even able to breastfeed. Sometimes genetics and rare sicknesses win. Her dream was to have children. Her life was short. In her honor I'm putting up a video to help spread the word.

There are Many Uses for BabyLegs

One of my favorite baby items that I still use today are BabyLegs.

Here are the things I used them for:

• An alternative for pants- They make diaper changing, so easy. Since babies have a lot of onesies, it becomes time consuming just to get to their diaper. BabyLegs keep their legs warm just like pants do. They don't need to be pulled down when a diaper is being changed.
• Leg warmers- In freezing cold weather I'd put on BabyLegs, pants went over them, socks stayed up, a bodysuit, and a coat. I live in Nebraska; we have four true seasons. Winter can be frigid. Dressing in layers is great. When we got to our destination, the BabyLegs got pulled off. I didn't even have to take my son's pants off.
• Arm warmers- I've used BabyLegs as arm warmers for my older kids all the way up to myself. In-between seasons when it's cold in the morning BabyLegs go on the arms. When it's warm in the afternoon they get pulled off.
• No rug burn- My oldest had a funky crawl. He was getting sores on the one leg he'd drag. When I started putting BabyLegs on him the sores went away!
• Club foot treatment- My nephew had a club foot. Getting pants up and down with the cast and the clunky brace he had to wear was challenging. My sister had him wear BabyLegs during the time frame of his foot being treated. 
• If a baby gets hospitalized- I must of been early on the scene with BabyLegs. I had one son that got a staph infection and my other got Meningitis. All the tubes and wires they were hooked to made changing them difficult. I didn't have one nurse that had ever seen BabyLegs before. The nurses LOVED my son's BabyLegs! 

Mom4Life carries a wide selection of BabyLegs for both male and female.

 Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Mom4Life provided me with a pair of BabyLegs.

What to Buy New Moms

If you don't know what to get a new mom, here are some ideas:

Hooter Hiders - I just love the name of the product Hooter Hider!

Breastfeeding is so rewarding for both Mom and Baby. It's truly a bonding experience. The challenge is when a baby is hungry and they are both out and about. A Mom's life shouldn't have to stop and revolve around feedings.

Hooter Hiders really helps because it allows the Mom to cover up during feedings, it contains a pocket and it's packaged in a reusable, matching bag.

LilyPadz - Silicon Nursing Pads.

They and breathable and flexible. They are made out of the same material in most baby bottle nipples.

I love that they can stick to the Mom. The purpose for this is going braless while sleeping. How about swimming? They protect during that time to. Get this, they are invisible. No awkward moments like I had - see round discs in my shirt!

I'm bigger chested and these fit past DD!

Belly Bandit - This product is meant for Mom's to use to get back to their before pregnancy weight.

I wish I had this product!

Not only does this product help reduce uterine swelling, it decreases bloating caused by water retention, and gives additional support for Mommy’s tired legs and back.

Since it helps with the back, it also provides better support for breastfeeding. It literally makes the Mom have better posture. 

What did you get for your Mom on Mother's Day?  I brought my Mom flowers and my sisters and I will be taking her out to dinner next week. My preschooler had a Mother's Day Tea for me. He sang me songs, we read books that were Mom related, he made me a muffin. The thing he was most proud to give me were flowers in pot he decorated. My Kindergartener made me a necklace out of clay, he wrote me the sweetest note: Dear Mrs. Apel, {I have no clue why he put Mrs. Apel. He calls me, "Mom."} I love you so much that your heart is makeing {making} fairy tales. Love, Mica  My boys on Mother's Day. My oldest decided to dress himself. Usually he picks out his shirt and I pick out the bottoms. His clothes gave me a good smile. I didn't make him change right away. My youngest looked oh so cute! Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Mom4Life provided me samples of Peppermint Lip Balm.