Saturday, my family had the pleasure of attending Baby Loves Disco San Francisco, courtesy of The Parent Bloggers Network. I had heard of this phenomenon first a few months ago when some friends attended an event, bragging about how cool, innovative, and exciting their experience had been. Baby Loves Disco childproofs popular nightclubs, turning them into hip, family-friendly events with music, lights, food, and fun. I was intrigued, so pleased when The Parent Bloggers Network sent me to this month’s party...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

You walk along a path that you’ve smoothed to your specifications. Suddenly, little dirt clumps start flying upwards while little mounds appear: you’ve gotten married! ‘Tis fine, and you smooth your path again, avoiding little divots and appreciating the new views after you trudge up some difficult hills.

Then you have a baby. You are thrown into a deep hole and your spouse is deposited into another. Like a cartoon, if you move your legs too quickly in panic while trying to exit the hole, you’ll just succeed in digging yourself deeper...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Every parent wants the best for their child. They want to give their new baby all the educational opportunities possible without overwhelming them.

Certainly, stereotypes abound about those who put their imagined progeny on waiting lists for exclusive preschools prior to their conception, or those who spend hours with their one month old using flash cards.

Well, the Your Baby Can Read! Learning System does have flashcards, but I don’t think the creators would want parents to obsessively worry...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

The center console of my van has a bunch of fast-food napkins “just in case.” In the way-back, I have a roll of paper towels, a spray bottle of window-washing liquid, and a bunch of old plastic grocery bags. Plus, I have a bunch of baby wipes that I use for various things.

When the Cat goes to his OT appointment, I use that time to quickly clean the van. I usually have to remember to bring additional supplies, such as a paper bag for recycling or an extra tote in which to put random items. By the end of the chore, the van may technically be cleaner, but the cleaning products cause their own clutter...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

The Cat is competitive. He loves to test his knowledge, especially when he gets the answer correct.

When Brighter Mind Media's Brain Quest DVD game arrived free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network, the Cat was intrigued.

“500 questions? That is the best!” he exclaimed...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

“Want dat-one di-pah?” Spliggle tells me as he points to which diaper or pull-up he wishes to use. (And then the other day, we found him in big-boy underwear, much to our surprise. Sadly, that didn’t last long.) He tells me when he wants to be changed, and runs away when he doesn’t.

He eats a lot. He drinks a lot. And thus, we go through lots of diapers!

Spliggle is opinionated. He is independent. He is on the brink of being toilet-trained, but when he isn’t interested, he is stubborn. And when he isn’t thinking “potty,” then he certainly won’t do anything about it. And so, overnight is a critical point. He doesn’t have “potty” on the mind as he sleeps...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

We’ve been attempting to get ready for first grade in a myriad of ways lately, but our emphasis has been primarily towards location rather than academics. The Cat definitely has academic strengths, but there are some topics that he needs to learn more about so that he is comfortable entering his new school...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Spliggle has two favorite DVDs right now. The first is “Happy Feet,” because the Cat has an obsession with penguins, and Splig likes to follow along.

But the second is “Go Potty Go!” which we received free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

When I think of “dangerous boys” I think of the thugs who stole Husband’s cell phone yesterday. But of course, "The Dangerous Book for Boys” that I received free-for-review from the Parent Bloggers Network is exactly the opposite: an opportunity to jump back into a time when the boys played stickball outside homes with stoops, or constructed batteries and go-carts with their own hands...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

As many of my readers know, I have a six year old son who was diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder at the age of four. What some of you also know is that prior to being a parent, I did neuroscience research. Neuropharmacology was one of my favorite classes in graduate school, followed close behind by things like biochemistry and oncology.

It is not surprising that I would jump at the chance to review Vaccinated. My scientific background is curious for the history and fascinating puzzles to be solved, and my parent-of-a-child-with-autism viewpoint wonders how the “vaccine controversy” will be presented in a pro-vaccine book...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

I gave “Garage Sale America” to my dad for Father’s Day; it was the perfect gift. Many of my childhood memories include garage-sale finds. I remember my dad went off to a sale for knick-knacks and came home with a light blue convertible. Although my first bicycle was brand new, subsequent ones were from garage sales...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Husband used to be addicted to Diet Coke. Around the same time, he was also very enamored with “Emergen-C” and “Airborne.” He has since moved on to Propel vitamin-enhanced flavored water.

And so, when the Parent Bloggers Network gave me a free-for-review batch of Nozin, I had to laugh, since this is the sort of thing in which Husband would be very interested...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

It is no secret that I am trying to sell my house. And of course, an on-the-market house must be a clean house. Right around the time we decided to move, the Parent Bloggers Network enabled me to receive a free-for-review bottle of Kaboom Shower, Tub, and Tile Cleaner and their Never-Scrub Continuous Toilet Cleaning System.

The timing could not be better. I needed clean: fast and easy! And Kaboom claimed to do just that...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

I received tons of Noah-themed toys when the Cat was born. They ranged from the more subtle plush cuddly animals to the board books that used words like “evil,” “lazy,” and “kill.” I was frustrated by the latter of course, since although I want my kids to know the Noah parable, I don’t think scare-tactics at newborn-hood is a good route.

The Parent Bloggers Network allowed me to receive free-for-review several pairs of animals from Caboodle! Toys LLC’s “Noah’s Pals” collection. These are not hastily put-together figurines...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

When I was young, my mom bought me a set of personalized books. At that time, the magical waiting period was “6-8 weeks.” When they arrived, I was thrilled to be included in a story, along with the names of my family members...

ImagiTales provides personalized books where the child is actually integrated in the book with a real photograph. Since the story is typeset using the personalized information, the fonts and spacing are as though the book were created just for that child. I learned of ImagiTales through the Parent Bloggers Network...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Five months ago, I did a review of the Your Baby Can Read! Learning System. For that review, I had the starter DVD, Volume 1, and some sliding flash cards.

I am glad that I now have Volume 2 (again, via the Parent Bloggers Network,) more sliding flash cards (including another blank one with an erasable pen,) and a thick stack of solid static flash cards. The first two DVDs haven't lost their appeal, but my kids were definitely thrilled to receive a third DVD...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Surely by now you realize the sun-scorched look is out, right? People blessed with rich hues in their skin are beautiful, but those of us with pasty white thighs should rejoice in their ghost-attracting abilities, too, right?

Always wear sunscreen. It doesn’t matter your natural color. Protect your skin...Via the Parent Bloggers Network, I received a variety of products free-for-review from KINeSYS...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

Via the Parent Bloggers Network, I received a free DVD with an introduction and two episodes of PBS Kids’ new series Word World. I am already a fan of Between the Lions, which is a pro-reading show for a slightly older set, so seeing a reading show targeted at the younger tykes (ages 3-5) intrigued me...

Read the original review, posted to Kari's Couch

When I was younger, I thought I’d grow up to speak many languages. The concept of communicating in different ways intrigued me. Unfortunately, my fear of making mistakes got in the way, plus I had some rather high-stress foreign-language teachers. Had I been involved in a comfortable situation with a trusted individual (or multiple people) teaching me a second (or third) language, perhaps I would have succeeded.

Indeed, The Bilingual Edge, which I acquired free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network, debunks several myths (what? I am not over-the-hill language-learning wise?), and reinforces some of my suspicions (high pressure is not a good situation in which to acquire a language.)

Certainly, I hope that my sons can be bilingual, or even trilingual, but the authors point out that it isn’t just “school language” that leads to the cognitive and career benefits of learning multiple languages; true fluency must be reached to really impact one’s life. (Of course, appreciation for another language, ethnicity, and culture is all wonderful for those who like to “dabble,” but the focus here is on actual comprehension of a new tongue.)

As I learned about the commitment and ways that subsequent languages (and even primary languages) are learned, I thought it akin to an exercise program. It isn’t as though you can strap on those little electrical sensors to “jolt” your abs into shape, or connect your stomach to a jiggle machine and expect the fat to melt away. Rather, you must begin an active program and stick with it. Likewise, the passive and sporadic learning from watching a DVD or occasionally using a series of flash cards isn’t going to create an environment in which a different way of communicating can be internalized.

Junior high is a tough time. I don’t think anyone would deny that. The implications of the awkward onset of puberty and the questions of sexuality, changing bodies, and raging hormones continue onto high-school and college.

A few years before I got my period, my mom gave me a book by a rather conservative author. I don’t think she really recognized it for what it was: a condemnation of the female body and emphasis that sex was something done only when the husband wanted it done. I didn’t finish the book because I was in tears during the first couple chapters. My mom took it away, figured out what it really said, and threw it in the trash.

Alas, there was no replacement. I learned things only via the rather dry biological descriptions in sex-ed, but didn’t get the real scoop on what “everyone else” was doing. What is really normal for a teenager: in looks, in function, in level of “experience” in the sexual arena?

Twenty years later, I received a free-for-review copy of Girlology: Hang-Ups, Hook-Ups, and Holding Out via the Parent Bloggers Network.

I have confidence in my ability to dance. After all, I took lessons for 15 years, was part of a performing division, won awards, and represented the USA in Australia during the World Expo.

Likewise, I am not a shabby singer. Or at least I wasn’t in my youth. I got the solos in church choir, I was a Chamber Singer in high school, and I don’t do too horribly at my husband’s staff retreat when everyone does karaoke. (I still tear up a little when I think of my husband’s VIP boss sitting in a corner singing karaoke alone when the rest of us had moved on to other things. He stopped when we brought him a birthday cake.)

When the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Wii Boogie, I completely did a dance and whoop of joy. “This will be fabulous!” I thought, envisioning myself busting serious moves and singing the night away. I am already a Wii addict, so why not add another title to my obsession?

Well, here’s the deal: I am not good at Boogie. At least not yet.

Shortly after the Cat was born, we moved from NYC to CA. I think I was wearing worn-out loafers or something. I doubt I had a pair of athletic shoes to my name. But, I was eager to get back in shape and had visions of walking to the store, baby in stroller. And so, I went to TJ Maxx and was thrilled to see a bright-white pair of Tommy Hilfiger sneakers that fit me.

I still had images of junior high in my head in which everyone wore bright-white sleek Reebok shoes, but my wide hobbit-feet could only accommodate these puffy ivory ones that looked like knock-offs, even though they were “real.”

So back to the Hilfiger: I thought I was cool. But that was nearly seven years ago. Since then, I’ve worn them to death. Several times I considered replacing them, but figured they still looked okay and felt fine. (In reality, even if old shoes feel comfortable, they aren’t providing the appropriate support.)

My old shoes took me through the Cat’s post-partum period, plus Spliggle’s pregnancy and aftermath. Last year I wore them while losing 20 pounds by walking around my local reservoir. I have since gained 10 back, but was ready to hit the pavement again when I heard that the Parent Bloggers Network and RYKÄ were teaming up to enable active bloggers to try out some spiffy shoes.

The Cat and Spliggle have been interested in space for a long time, and not just because of Buzz Lightyear. One of their favorite videos as young toddlers (and even older) was Baby Galileo. Even adult shows capture their attention.

In preschool, the Cat enjoyed the unit on planets and asked plenty of questions. In Kindergarten, the Cat brought a star chart to share with the class. His teacher taught the class fun songs about space, which he sang at home frequently. He owns a glow-in-the-dark constellation shirt which he loves.

The Parent Bloggers Network provided the opportunity for my family to review the Zula Patrol, a television show aimed at children to increase their curiosity for science.

I put the DVD in our van for the first time during a roadtrip. I don’t recall the kids asking, “Are we there yet?” but I do remember hearing, “Could you press play again, Mommy?” They loved going “way up where the planets do the hula - spin and shout, ‘til you find yourself on Zula”

The Cat came home one day last school year announcing, “I know how to count to three in Spanish! Pedro knows the rest!”

“What?” I hadn’t recalled any boys in his Kindergarten class named “Pedro,” but I did know that there were many Hispanic kids at the school.

“Pedro knows the rest.” He insisted.

I finally realized he was mispronouncing “Uno! Dos! Tres!” by creating an English sentence that made sense to him. After a lot of coaching, I was able to separate the words for him. Then he wanted to go up to ten. And then up to twenty. And then to one-hundred.

Later, he started running around announcing “Wii!” the way the Wii sounds when jumping over hurdles in the scarecrow-tipping game: high pitched and abrupt.

“It means ‘yes’ in French,” he explained to me.

I had to counter that “oui” is pronounced without the raised eyebrows, crazy eyes, and super-screechy register. Still, I was glad that he was learning little bits of another language.

And so, when the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I might be interested in receiving the Kids Love Spanish DVD set, I was thrilled! I knew the Cat would love to learn more Spanish than during his brief introduction in Kindergarten. Plus, I want to get Spliggle started on the concept of bilingualism.

Gimme a “Wilbur Wiggle:” it must be time to read a book!

I definitely agree that instilling interest in books early in a child’s life is critical. Of course, the irony is that there are several television shows on the air to promote this. While it is imperative that parents, caregivers, siblings, and so forth take the time to read one-one-one with their children, television shows can become “friends” that can teach children through storytelling. A parent telling a child to share doesn’t necessarily get the same response as a cheerful puppet peer.

To this end, I was happy to review the Discovery Kids Channel’s “Wilbur” through the Parent Bloggers Network. The show revolves around a calf named Wilbur who teaches his friends through reading books. His catch-phrase is “Books are Moo-velous” Wilbur is performed in shadowmation.

At the start of each episode, Wilbur’s puppet barnyard friends have a dilemma. Wilbur gets a little tickle, starts to wiggle, and exclaims “Moo! Moo! Moo! What should we do?” His friends respond, “Moo! Moo! Moo! Read a book with you!”

The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia (of Project Runway and Elle fame) in a nutshell: Confidence is key, but a tailor is a must. Exude confidence, but not while wearing a sweatsuit!

I find this book more inspirational than “practical.” It is a pep-talk. And WOW, what a talk it was. I read the book in full twice, and skipped around to favorite sections a number of other times. The quotes are fabulous, and give me motivation to dress carefully and confidently. The little pieces of history educate me, and encourage me to believe that I know more about fashion than I do.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm meant that I purchased more “trendy” items than the good-quality basics that Nina would have insisted I buy first. Yes, I was tempted by a sale, a big no-no (I got a designer skirt for less than $30!) but I am thrilled with what I received. One pair of pants is currently out being altered, because I wanted to do it “right” this time instead of slogging around in too-long jeans. The other pieces are more “special occasion” than everyday staples, but I am excited for those events to arrive, and have plans to put them in a more casual rotation after their big debuts.

Or perhaps I have mistaken “fashionable statements” for “trendy” and Nina wouldn’t chew me out after all: I’ve usually been of the “better just get it in a neutral color” mentality, so getting a bright red and white bold print skirt and a crazy-wild geometrical dress seem outrageous. I am excited to enable myself that “freedom.”

My kids are pretty good at eating their veggies. The Cat loves to dip carrots (and sometimes celery) in ranch dressing. While the boys were big “Wonder Pets” fans, they ate celery pretty often. The Cat adores butternut squash and peas. Spliggle is less vegetable-happy, but will eat the plethora of meats the Cat shuns. There are definite holes in each of these kids’ diets, though.

Meanwhile, I like vegetables provided they are prepared well. In restaurants, I eagerly eat them up. But at home, the produce that looks beautiful in the store ends up rotting in my fridge as I run out of time to create something with them or they end up prepared rather blandly. I tend to get grand ideas about cooking something delicious, but then end up ordering pizza instead.

Husband and I have our favorite “fall back” meals, which are fine, but on repeat do not provide the nutritional range our family should have.

“Deceptively Delicious,” by Jessica Seinfeld, is a how-to in kitchen organization, meal planning, and - most famously – sneaking healthful ingredients into yummy food. I received this valuable resource free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network.

I’ll admit, I usually make two or perhaps three recipes from any given cookbook before I get bored and move to the next. Sure, recipes catch my eye, but then I forget, or I think it will be too hard, or I get lazy. Amazingly, I’ve made many recipes from Deceptively Delicious. And I know I’ll make more.

I didn’t take Con Law in high school. I didn’t really enjoy history, government, or current events discussions in high school, either. Con Law, though, was a tempting title. It implied a serious student, ready for some serious business. I was curious. (And serious.)

The glassy-eyed, robust, seemingly dazed teacher who oversaw the proceedings liked to talk a lot, I had been told, and yet I only heard him speak a few times, and couldn’t understand him. I was a bit nervous for what might happen behind his classroom’s closed door. A student-driven class can be brilliant, or it can be a let-down. Amongst lots of bright and socially-conscious, politically-minded students, I decided perhaps I wasn’t up for the challenge. I elected “Brain and Behavior” as my elective; but in hindsight, perhaps the subjects aren’t too far off!

Nonetheless, Bill O’Reilly would probably have classified me as a “moron,” since he explains in the introduction to his new book “Kids are Americans Too,” that “many American kids are complete morons.” He goes on to explain that these morons are “too lazy to figure out what their country is all about.”

I left this morning at around 10:30am. The Cat was playing Jump Start World: First Grade.

I returned home around 3:15pm. The Cat was playing Jump Start World: First Grade.

Sure, I know there was some time in there where he and Husband ran a couple errands and got lunch, but the time he was home he was glued to the computer, earning "gems."

Reward for good work is a huge motivator for the Cat. Jump Start World's gem reward system has gotten the Cat very excited about mastering levels and clearing units. We received Jump Start World: First Grade through the Parent Bloggers Network.

The Cat has tried some educational video games before, but they haven't been nearly as sophisticated.

I loved the Dangerous Book for Boys. As such, while I was eager to review the The Daring Book for Girls, I was also a bit nervous that perhaps it wouldn’t live up to its inspiration. I knew it could either be a worthy match, or a weak attempt dressed in pink. While The Daring Book for Girls indeed has sparkles on its cover, they are welcome, for the content inside definitely sparkles. (And, the cover is not pink!)

Like The Dangerous Book for Boys, this “companion” is full of exciting facts, “how-to”s, and plenty of nostalgia.

I received The Daring Book for Girls free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network.

As a parent determining what CDs are appropriate for your children, you don’t want to encourage repetitive jingles that stick in your head and drive you insane. But nor do you want obscene or too-sophisticated lyrics for the young-uns. Adult music can be appreciated by kids, but especially if it is introduced in a kid-friendly and “safe” way.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to review That Baby CD and That Baby DVD, two products from Rob and Lisi Wolf of OyBaby LLC. The company’s first venture into the world of children’s music was to create the first and only DVDs and CDs made for Jewish babies and kids, OyBaby.

Through the Parent Bloggers Network, I received That Baby CD and That Baby DVD, two non-religious, sway-inducing, smile-producing products. Should I admit that I’ve probably listened to the music more than my kids?

We spend a lot of time in the car. Whether it is going to Grandma's or to hockey games, it is likely that we end up on the road while it is dark. Usually, we pop a DVD into the player, but then I am left rather bored and the books that the kids inevitably bring along end up unread as the sun goes down. There have been many times when I've wished for a book light for me or for the kids. I avoid using the overhead lights because I don't like people looking into our car and I don't want my or my husband's vision or attention compromised while we are driving.

Fortunately, through the Parent Bloggers Network I received an Autolite Spotglo Seatbelt Lite.

The Spotglo Seatbelt Lite is about four inches long and three inches wide. It clips on to the shoulder belt. The light itself is adjustable, plus the apparatus can slide up and down the belt. There are two settings of light strength, although I didn't realize this until I read more information about the product after I had tried it out.

The Parent Bloggers Network is at it again, bringing me fun and educational toys that end up being life-savers!

This latest find is the Talking Telescope from Discovery Kids. The Cat adores astronomy, so this is perfect for him.

I still have a little "planets" song in my head from the Cat's Kindergarten class last year. They bopped up and down as they sang. And in preschool, the Cat made a beautiful large green planet. One of his favorite DVDs for quite awhile was "Baby Galileo." He has a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt of constellations and printed out a star chart for extra credit to bring to school. One of the books in his "store" at home (for reward for accumulating enough chore/behavior points) is a very, very heavy book on space.

Convinced that he'd love a telescope?

I am not one of those scrapbookers who gets out stickers, fancy scissors, and cutesy borders and spends hours lining up the perfect layout. In fact, the word "scrapbooker" holds interesting stereotypes for me.

And yet, when Husband and I first got together, I started keeping a scrapbook: old tickets to movies, receipts of special events or dinners, and of course the photographs. When the Cat was born, I did the same. This ended up being rather laborious, though, especially since I used to cut out fun patterns and colors from magazines, I produced ransom-note style captioning, and so forth.

When Husband convinced me to go digital on my camera, I started taking my scrapbooking digital as well: I made collages of my photographs, usually adding captions and clip-art. I would then print out a single full-size page to add to a photo album.

HP Photo Books work on the same principal of designing digitally; thus, I was exceptionally excited to receive an HP Photosmart A626 and two HP Photo Books via the Parent Bloggers Network.

Awhile ago I wrote a review of Clean Well. Since then, I have continued to be an enthusiastic consumer of their antibacterial spray (and hand sanitizer wipe.) Splig is even pictured on their website (Look for “Chalk and Cheese”.) As you can imagine, I was ecstatic to try out their new line of products via the Parent Bloggers Network.

Their All-Natural Antibacterial Foaming Hand Wash is not like the traditional soap found on supermarket shelves. Like their hand sanitizer, the soap is made with Ingenium, a patented formulation of essential plant oils proven to kill 99.99% of harmful germs. Unlike those supermarket brands, CleanWell is the first all-natural Triclosan-free antibacterial hand soap.

Do you remember those horrible stories about alcohol poisoning from hand sanitizers? CleanWell jumped in with their alcohol-free variety. Similarly, most antibacterial liquid hand soaps contain the active ingredient Triclosan, a carcinogenic chemical which has been shown to act as an estrogen and androgen hormone disrupter. Why kill the bacteria but end up with cancer or hormone problems?

Well, CleanWell doesn’t have Triclosan.

When the Parent Bloggers Network offered me the opportunity to review The Ultimate TEA Diet, by Mark "Dr. Tea" Ukra, I thought it was going to be a "drink only tea, all the time" diet. Still, I was intrigued, so visited the website and discovered it is not a single-ingredient starvation diet. (Whew! - especially since I thought I didn't like tea. Turns out I just hadn't found one that I liked yet.)

I was eager to try out the book to learn more.

I had lost about 20 pounds in the early part of 2006 prompted by a "Biggest Loser" style challenge amongst the members of my mom's club. I came in second, winning some cash and some fuschia knock-off Prada sunglasses. But, as I noted later, the Cat's expulsion from Kindergarten and Spliggle becoming too active to sit patiently in the stroller (or be trusted as I exercised in the house) meant that my ability to carve out the time or method to exercise was stunted. I had plenty of excuses for why I wasn't cooking healthful meals, too.

I gained the weight back.

Fortunately, with both boys in school, my ability to exercise has picked up. I've gone "off and on" with walking or stationary biking. But my Coke Zero habit remained.

I took the opportunity to review The Ultimate TEA Diet as being a challenge: could I switch my Coke Zero for tea and lose weight?

When we receive a new DVD, it usually ends up in the minivan's player first, rather than the DVD player in our family room. This is somewhat out of habit, as we used to commute quite a long while in the van, plus our "regular" DVD player was out of commission for awhile. Still, the kids usually spend "at home" time doing other activities while "van-time" is frequently "movie-time."

I received "The Wheels on the Bus: Mango's Big Dog Parade" free-for-review via the Parent Bloggers Network. I didn't notice the little subtitle "The Early Socialization Series: Taking Turns & Getting Along," so I didn't realize this would be an educational video. Honestly, I thought it would be just the song "The Wheels on the Bus," which would have kept me and my kids happy!

But, it turned out to be much, much more.

One of the only pieces of parenting advice I can remember from my cousins who had kids before me was, "Watch out for Barney!" They said something about "annoying" and "songs that stick in your head."

Well, the Cat wasn't into Barney, but when Spliggle accidentally saw an episode, he was hooked. He loves Barney. When the Parent Bloggers asked me to review Barney: Celebrating Around the World, I knew Splig would love it.

My cousins may have been concerned about "songs that stick on your head," but that is exactly why Barney episodes are so intriguing to kids.

But more than that is the concept of friendship, no matter how much adults may mock the "sap." I have two boys for whom friendship is very important, and for different reasons. I'll be reviewing some social skills DVDs in a bit, but I added the category of "educational: social skills" to this blog's category lists right after I watched "Celebrating Around the World," because more than "multiculturalism," this DVD is about compromise, getting along, trying new things, and valuing others, even when opinions (traditions, cultures) differ. These are huge skills to master; and having a child for whom social skills isn't easy, I recognize how valuable this instruction is.

Before Splig, I didn't realize that the whole concept of Barney is about imagination.

Some time ago, Husband found the show Pingu, and the Cat thought the titular character's funny-speak was funny, indeed. For awhile, the Cat would exclaim, "Nert-nert!", an imitation of Pingu, when he was excited or otherwise interested in attracting attention. Pingu's antics have kept the Cat' laughing with glee. Although he's had other favorite shows, only Pingu has endured.

Of course I jumped at the chance to receive Pingu's first DVD, On Thin Ice, free-for-review from the Parent Bloggers Network.

The DVD contains eight episodes and runs about an hour. Having all those back-to-back episodes is amazing since on television the seven-minute blocks are typically between other shows rather than next to each other. And so the fun is over quickly and the show must be replayed (and replayed, and replayed.) The Cat and Splig are great with the TiVo remote, so I don't bear the brunt of the "again, again!" that some parents may have with such short episodes, but I remember it wasn't long ago that I had to restart favorite shows.

With an hour's worth of Pingu, life is good in the Karianna Household.

Bob the Builder underwear in sizes 2T-6 sit in my boys' dressers. The Let's Count! with Bob the Builder board book has been lovingly read by both boys (and decorated by Mr. Splig.)

For awhile we had Bob the Builder in our Season Pass for the TiVo, but the Cat only watched one episode over and over and over again, which was the one in which Mrs Barbara Bentley creates a train room for her husband, the building inspector Mr. Bernard Bentley. The Cat loved the electric trains depicted (and of course Bob's cat Pilchard,) but I was a bit annoyed with Mrs. Bentley's submissive comments like, "Oh, I don't know, Bernard doesn't let me touch the trains..." But as Bob's business partner is Wendy, a woman, I guess I cannot delve into a whole gender-issue thing here. Besides, that isn't the point of this post...

Everyone seems to know about Bob. When the Cat was a toddler, my teenager cousins asked him if he was into Bob. "Can we fix it?" they asked, and answered with a smile, "Yes, we can!"

Spliggle may have watched a couple episodes, but he became addicted to other shows instead.

Both boys haven't been into Bob recently.

I wondered if that would change upon review of Bob the Builder: On-Site - Roads and Bridges, received via the Parent Bloggers Network.

Relatives gave the Cat a subscription to "Highlights" a few months ago as a gift. I have fond memories of Highlights, and then those not-so-fond memories of association in that if I was reading a copy, I was probably about to get my teeth cleaned or have to endure an eye-exam or a shot. Still, it was a good way to pass the time, and so I chuckled when I saw the unexpected copy in our mailbox. "They still publish Highlights?" I thought. Indeed, it is their 60th year!

Along with the "Highlights" addressed to the Cat, there was another magazine in the mailbox, but this one was addressed to Spliggle. "High Five" read the cover. I was confused. I knew my parents had gotten both boys a subscription to a different magazine, but the "Highlights" and "High Five" were a surprise. It turns out that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law had sent the magazines to the boys.

The Parent Bloggers Network is reviewing "High Five," so I thought I'd jump in with my own experiences.

no, not the soap opera...

When my brother was in high school, he pretty much ignored math. His grades slipped. It wasn't that he wasn't intelligent; rather, he had better things to do than mathematics. He spent most of his time after school tinkering around on the family computer.

My parents could have taken the computer away as punishment for not doing his homework or for poor grades. Instead, they recognized that his passion would become his livelihood. Amazingly, they allowed him to switch from public high school to a more flexible private school that enabled him to develop his talents.

Eventually, he built his own computer in his room. He started an electronics consulting business. He then started an internet company. He attended high school in the morning and ran his company in the afternoon and into the night.

I bet you can guess the rest: he is a very successful businessman who owns two computer companies. He's taken some college courses, usually online, simply for his own edification, but his career is solid. He could probably retire and he isn't even 30. But he doesn't want to retire, because computer science is his life.

Meanwhile, as readers of the Karianna Spectrum know, I have a seven year old son who has plenty of quirks, but plenty of talents, too.

Throughout the years, I've been criticized on my parenting and he's been chastised doubly-so. While I love my son, I've seen teachers, medical professionals, and the public at large look down on his quirky and sometimes disruptive behavior. He was asked to leave a preschool and then expelled from his first kindergarten, a private school that I thought would be flexible in the same way that my brother's high school had been so many years ago.

We've had many ups and downs in his short educational career. I see qualities that will make him go far when he is older, but it is difficult for him to conform to societal expectations of who a first-grader should be. The exact qualities that make "spirited" children such a "burden" to their teachers are the same qualities that will help them think outside the box and be true innovators in adulthood.

Knowing that I must keep in mind my son's strengths as others are more concerned about his weaknesses I was eager to read Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them by Jenifer Fox. I received this book free-for-review from the Parent Bloggers Network.

Because those are nimbus clouds

The Cat has been educating me about clouds ever since the Parent Bloggers Network gave me The Zula Patrol Explore Weather. The DVD contains four episodes, but "Treasure in the Clouds," stuck as the Cat's favorite.

Every morning and afternoon, the Cat quizzes me about what is in the sky. He tells me what he thinks, and then asks if he is correct. Ummmmm. I am not sure. I trust that he is right, because he quotes what he has learned from those peppy Zula Patrol folk. Fortunately, we've had a myriad of weather the last few weeks, so we've had different types of clouds available for firsthand study.

The Explore Weather DVD was not the first my boys had seen of The Zula Patrol. I reviewed the Zula DVD about volcanoes and rocks back in September. The boys absolutely adored learning about science, and as I mentioned in my 2007 recap, they - particularly volcano-loving Spliggle - continue to ask for the Zula DVD.

Nearly two years ago, the Cat was asked to leave a private kindergarten. Among the unacceptable behaviors they cited, the most problematic was that he was pinching his classmates. When his teacher asked why, he couldn't answer. She asked me, but I didn't know either. The Cat hadn't pinched anyone before attending this school. I tried to get information about what was happing just prior to the pinch. Finally, we determined that the pinches occurred during times of transition.

One particularly problematic afternoon started because the other K-1 class came over to visit. When they left, the Cat pinched a classmate instead of saying "goodbye." This snowballed into a situation where the Cat couldn't explain his actions, so became more distraught when the teacher continually asked him "why." He didn't know why, and he was upset. The more upset he became, the more he acted-out, and the greater he was punished.

That day involved both a change in routine (that the other K-1 was invading "his" classroom) and then an unwanted transition (that his friend left the class to go back to his own.)

Although the Cat has matured a great deal since then, I was intrigued when the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Skill Building Buddies: Handling Transitions and Change.

The Cat's very first preschool experience ended in tears.

Mine.

I cried and cried the morning that the preschool director called to tell us not to come in. I was still crying when she came to pick up the fax machine she had lent me so that I could do the bookings for the preschool. (That's right, I lost my job in addition to losing a place for the Cat to go to school.) The Cat ran away, playing, oblivious at how deeply I was hurting - and completely clueless that the reason for my tears was directly connected to his behavior.

The Cat didn't know how to interact with his peers. He'd go up to a child, grin, and push them over. It wasn't meant to be malicious; it was his way of saying "Hey, let's play!" But he didn't know how to say "hello."

Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse from Notabilities begins with a lesson and song about greeting words.

I wish I had that DVD when the Cat was going through his first attempts at socialization.

I was one of those first-time parents who stocked up on the parenting books and magazine subscriptions only to quickly become bitter. The preachy tone of the books and the unrealistic up-beat nature of the magazine articles soured my taste, especially when the advice didn't ring true to my particular situation.

But when the Parent Bloggers Network asked me if I wanted to read Mama Rock's Rules, I was game. Sure, Rose Rock happens to be the mother of comedian Chris Rock, but what intrigued me the most about this mother extraordinaire is that she has raised ten children, plus "more than" seventeen foster children have gone through her home. Her house was "the place" to gather and after reading her book, I can see why.

Rose Rock is an educator specializing in preschool and special education. With that kind of training, plus the real-life training of being the mother to so many types of kids, she surely knows what she is talking about. Her co-author Valerie Graham is part of the on-air and production team of The Mom Show with Rose Rock (at WWXM-FM.) She is a mother of three and a grandmother of four, so she's got experience, too!

I have several blogs. I am an avid Flickr user. But family and friends deserve a more personal glimpse into the lives of my boys, so I happily agreed to try out Kinzin via the Parent Bloggers Network.

The site touts itself as a "free private family website," but I found it to be more of a combination of Flickr and Twitter or Facebook than a place to have comprehensive information about the children. For example, "Favourites" (yes, the British spelling) only allows four lines, as does "Wish List." The "status updates" only take about seven entries, and once they are gone, they are gone. I would have wanted a bit more space for user-driven content and an archive of the status updates. While having a huge page of status updates isn't practical, a "back" button with previous updates would be appreciated. "In the now" is literally current, but I like to have a history, too.

When I was younger, my mom taught me the "circle sweep" method of cleaning a room. From her older sister, she provided me a list of "how to be a good guest." It would seem then that I wouldn't need Were You Raised by Wolves by Christie Mellor, but when the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I'd be interested in perusing Ms. Mellor's advice, I was eager.

After all, while I understood the need to keep things clean and to be respectful, I didn't necessarily know the best methods to do so. Time spent perfecting a little whorl on an appetizer may not be the best spent. Also, advice that comes via parental lips isn't as revered as that which comes from your best friend, so I may not have listened to all of the wisdom my mom tried to impart. Thankfully, Mellor can be simultaneously a best friend and a mentor. She may be older than her target audience, but she is still hip enough to not create a stodgy new adult. Her tone is friendly and casual, but she is also direct. She can give advice, but she can also shrug and say, "more martini for me" which is something I would never expect to hear from my mother.

And about those martinis:

I have two boys. It is therefore not surprising that the word "bug" has been part of their vocabulary since very early on.

While Husband is a self-proposed 'fraidy-cat when it comes to insects and spiders, my son the Cat is a bit more bold. Interestingly, it is only more recently that he has become more hesitant around bugs, although encourages "fairy flies" to stick around, even in odd places such as the car.

Spliggle has never been afraid. In his preschool class two years ago, he used to pull the bugs off the low windows. Last summer it was tough to get all the way around the lake because every few feet Splig had to pick up a ladybug. He adopts bugs and cries when they fly, scoot, or crawl away seconds later.

I knew the Discovery Channel Store's Bug Net Launcher would be for them. I figured the Cat could observe bugs from a safe distance and Splig could capture them without crushing them. I received this product free-for-review from the Parent Bloggers Network:

See that large quiz-link in my sidebar? Take the quiz. Really.

Everyone knows I am not much for developmental-stages quizzes; after all, it is deviance from such things that ends up with those pesky labels and what-not about which I write on The Karianna Spectrum. Every kid develops at a different pace, and I dislike anything that causes panic about "delays." But this quiz isn't about trying to measure developmental stages; rather, it is designed to suggest activities based on the particular point your child happens to be. It isn't a "tsk tsk" task, but rather a suggestion, a personalization. If your child knows "a" but doesn't yet know "b," Savvy Source will suggest activities to build on "a" to help develop "b." No judgment on whether your child is "behind," just ideas about fun things that might be appropriate for your kid while trying to develop things he or she hasn't yet mastered.

The quiz is from The Savvy Source, sponsored by LeapFrog's TAG system. Of course it doesn't surprise you that this all comes via The Parent Bloggers Network.

I took the quiz using Spliggle's abilities and then created some activities based on their list, such as listening to a song while using makeshift "rhythm sticks" and playing a simple rhyming game. Although some activities may seem "obvious," I frequently can't think in creative ways when faced with the dreaded "Mommy! What can we do?" question, so suggestions are very welcome. The graphic above-left is a screen-shot of Splig's links. It shows the various categories for which Savvy Source will recommend activities. Inside each category, specific activities are tagged with your child's name as a particular interest.

Savvy Source is more than just the quiz: members can access preschool ratings and descriptions of camps and classes. The quiz data is stored along with the suggested activities, so it isn't necessary to complete the entire quiz in one sitting or to memorize all the suggested activities. The activities are free, by the way. Although there are recommended products to buy, the real benefit of the quiz is finding out what parents can do at home to enrich their child without joining the flashing-lights and loud-sounds bandwagon.

So what about the LeapFrog TAG? That is a plastic "gizmo," yes? Yes. But it is worth it.

I've got to admit that while I was a fan of LeapFrog's earlier reading systems in theory I was less a fan in practice because those plastic book-holder thingies were a bit heavy and the kids couldn't snap-in the books without assistance. Storage was an issue, too, since the rigid plastic thing was larger than what typically fits in a bookcase, and the book cartridges inevitably ended up lost. Still, I was impressed with the work that LeapFrog has been doing.

But the TAG is such a fabulous improvement. The "reader" is a single wand that serves as a "remote" for the books as well as a storage device (no lost cartridges!) The wand can read the entire book, specific words, or create a little quiz based on the book. There are many titles of popular books available in TAG format. Splig loved the "Ozzie & Mack" book that came with the TAG, but has been reading "Pirates! The Treasure of Turtle Island" over and over and over again. (See his selection of books in the graphic at right)

The Cat knows how to read, but he still appreciates having the TAG wand available to properly pronounce a word about which he may be uncertain. Both boys enjoy having the books and wand in the van, a place where Mommy certainly can't read a book but would like to encourage her kids to do so. The wand is so portable that it is easy to bring along in the "busy bag" with a few of the TAG books.

The TAG reader wand holds five books at a time. The child's library online holds all the books, so it is easy to upload whichever books desired into the wand. The wand also reports back via the child's "Learning Path" to show the parent what skills the child has worked on, what activities the child enjoys doing, and how their learning is progressing. (To use this properly, I should ban the Cat from picking up his brother's wand, since that would skew the data - Ooops!) Readers can collect rewards for finishing various activities.

The LeapFrog TAG is a truly interactive and personalized system. Both it and the Savvy Source quiz are good opportunities to learn more about our kids' interests, learning styles, and progress, all while having lots of fun.

Believe it or not, school starts in about two weeks. And we all know what comes with school: new clothes!

Underwear is a very important piece of the equation. Sure, it may be more important for a sagging woman such as myself to have the proper foundation garment, but the boys can't very well go commando when no doubt there is "peeking" in those school washrooms. (Do they have mini-urinals in the boys' restrooms like they have mini-toilets in the girls'?)

My older son has very specific requirements for his underwear. He doesn't like tags. He doesn't like seams. He wants everything without "bubbles" (gaps and bunching.) And my younger son - who doesn't seem so worried about fit - wants flowers, plaid, or a cartoon character.

Via the Parent Bloggers Network we had an opportunity to try some Hanes Comfort-Fit Underwear for Kids. We received white No Ride-Up Briefs, plaid No Gap Fly Boxers, and white Shaped to Fit Crew Socks.

Of course my youngest son grabbed the boxers, declared them "shorts," and has attempted to leave the house with just them and a T-shirt on. Indeed, when I picked him up at preschool yesterday afternoon after their "Luau Party," I was only slightly surprised to see him shirtless, wearing just a lei and his Hanes Hawaiian Print boxers. (We received the plaid ones specifically for this campaign, but he already had other Hanes boxers.) He loves plaid (as do I) so he is excited about his new boxers. The No Gap Fly promise is good: had I not known there was an actual fly, I would have thought it was sewn shut.

My oldest son initially was skeptical about the white briefs. He dug around for his familiar "Cars," "Madagascar," and "Spiderman" varieties. He isn't in to change, so this didn't surprise me. But, with help from the Laundry Fairy, the next time he looked for underwear, only the new white Hanes were available. He scowled as he put them on, but got dressed without further hassle. Meanwhile, I thought about where I might purchase some green dye so they could be more appealing to my son's verdant dreams.

In the end, I didn't have to risk dyeing the new one-year-old carpet or my favorite pair of jeans while trying to wrangle boys' briefs. When the Laundry Fairy returned his usual underwear alongside the stack of new Hanes, my son actually selected a pair of Hanes each morning. On one hand, I am surprised, since I figured as soon as his beloved cartoon characters were back, he'd prefer those. But on the other hand, I'm not surprised, because the Hanes are soft and comfortable, whereas several of the cartoon ones are stiff with paint and - yes - dye. My son is exceptionally sensitive to texture, so I suppose in this case comfort trumped both familiarity and wearing his television preferences on his... um... bum.

Although we received Shaped to Fit Crew Socks, both boys have been going sockless in honor of summer vacation. They live in their sandals and refused to put on socks for me. "These are so very soft," said my youngest, though, and I concur. They seem like fantastically thick, extra-comfy socks. The real test will be when my oldest finally has to wear sneakers for "Club Fit" (we old-folks know it as "P.E.") once school starts. Fortunately, from reading the other reviews, I anticipate they'll be a hit.

Hanes Comfort-Fit Promise guarantees better-fitting and more comfortable basic essentials for boys and girls or your money back. But I seriously doubt you'll ask for your money back. Specially-marked packages have the opportunity to earn additional underwear, so you can still save money in the end. Also, keep an eye on the Parent Bloggers Network Blog for a Blog Blast coming up August 22nd where you can win some Hanes Comfort-Fit Underwear for your own kids.

Last autumn, I volunteered to bring the pumpkin pie to the First Grade Thanksgiving Feast. The pies needed to be cut into uniform pieces to serve four classes worth of students. Since most store-bought pumpkin pies contain cloves – which the Cat is allergic to – I was going to make homemade pumpkin bars. They cut easily into squares (easier to serve than pie slices!) and would no doubt adhere to the school’s “Wellness Policy” because I knew I wasn’t going to use additional sugar, and I use real vanilla, no artificial flavors, and no funky preservatives. It seemed like a winning situation.

But I made a tragic mistake: Instead of just showing up with 13,284 pumpkin bars, I emailed the woman in charge of the volunteers to let her know of my plans. She had said to buy “four Costco pies and cut into bite-sized pieces.” I figured the mention of Costco was an attempt to let people relax about not having to bake themselves, so didn’t think there would be any reason to object to someone who wanted to take on that responsibility. So, when I volunteered, I said I’d happily bake bars.

Her response was, “The committee decided to serve Costco's pumpkin pies,” but that I was “welcome to bake a special pie for [the Cat.]”

In Michelle Lamar and Molly Wendland’s The White Trash Mom Handbook they refer to such committees as “The Muffia,” a term they lovingly lifted from I Don’t Know How She Does It. Indeed, this particular lady is leader of our school’s Muffia, but unlike White Trash Mom’s assertion that the Muffia wishes to condemn those who aren’t perfect, this particular “you must only bring store-bought goods,” was a twist on that. It is almost as though this particular woman wanted to make sure that I didn’t get credit for being capable enough to bake enough pumpkin bars for around eighty First Graders. (And, in this cruel twist, this meant that my son would be singled out as not having what the other kids had – and I had to foot the bill for all that nasty artificial crud, the leftovers which were returned to me, of course.)

Later, a fellow non-Muffia-Mom (who White Trash Mom would simply call a Fellow White Trash Mom - but I view this particular friend more as a Hippie-Free-Spirit more than straight from the trailer park) ran into the aforementioned woman shouting out directions to her volunteers. My very strong, unflappable friend whispered nervously, “I am SCARED of her!” Indeed, upon speaking to other moms, I learned there was no “committee” that decided on the Costco pies. The “committee” was just Muffy.

I received The White Trash Mom Handbook via the Parent Bloggers Network. It is written by the same gal behind the blog of the same name, plus with “inside-information” from her former-Muffia Friend “Tacky Princess.”

While I don’t listen to “Country and Western” or quite feel comfortable wearing tie-dye, I got some great tips from this book. Part of the White Mom Trash Philosophy (thankfully spelled out quickly at the start of the book) involves not worrying so much about what other people think. Indeed, I am very guilty of that: I am an approval-seeker, which means those “Muffia” folks definitely have a victim in me. (I have plenty of juicy anecdotes like the pumpkin pie one.) But if I learn to “take a chill pill,” I should be able to accomplish much more than if I am trying to live up to an unattainable standard of perfection.

Indeed, White Trash Mom talks about how the perfect people must have help. And in my neighborhood, they do: nannies, housekeepers, personal chefs, and personal trainers. I do not. And yes, I am sure there are plenty of folks in our school who don’t either, but the most visible folks are also the most pampered.

Being “White Trash” is not about bucking all expectations and rebelling loudly, because as is mentioned many times in the book, your kids will suffer. On one hand, being “White Trash” is “still holding on to the flicker of light [you] had before having kids,” but on the other hand, “you need to be involved in some manner because the school needs you,” so “think of yourself last and put your child first.”

“White Trash Mom” and “Tacky Princess” give a run-down on school volunteer opportunities with their unique cost-benefit analysis (ROI: Return on Investment.) They mention ways short-cuts can be taken without anyone getting truly hurt. It is essentially all about balance: not trying to be Superwoman, but also not being a complete slacker.

I admit that I found a few contradictions in the book, but that is because there are many contradictions in real life. For example, the book disapproves of the Muffia’s over-scheduling of kids’ activities, particularly sports activities where the child is unlikely to ever play professionally or even in college or high school. But one of the pieces of advice (that I cheered!) was to sign up kids for activities outside of school. That way, if a bully at school is making life miserable, the kid has friends from outside of school.

Indeed, my kids’ activities are primarily with kids who don’t attend their school. (And yes, the Cat’s soccer team is a “club sport,” where he had to try out. But I think everyone made the team. Shhhh! Don’t tell him!). My own tumultuous social life in elementary school was balanced by the many hours I spent dancing with kids who didn’t know my in-school social status. Having that outlet physically and socially was valuable for me, and I hope it is for my kids as well.

But I do agree with White Trash Mom that it isn’t productive for the kids to be pushed in multiple sports if it is all about the parents’ benefit instead of for the kids’ enjoyment. Knowing when it is about the kid and when it is about the parent is hard.

The White Trash Mom Handbook begins with a dose of social philosophy and psychology, and then continues on to actual “tips” to hopefully decrease stress while still supporting teachers in the “unwritten curriculum.” It is about keeping up with expectations and appearances in a way that benefit, instead of hurt, the kids. Tips about handling work, cleaning, and cooking are all in here. I’ll happily contribute to The White Trash Mom Cookbook (yes, I see a companion book in the future) because while the recipes in that section indeed look yummy and easy, I have a bunch of easy recipes that don’t rely so heavily on the processed foods. Being healthy need not be a Muffia-trait.

Even if you don’t like the term “White Trash Mom” – put away your biases or I’ll accuse you of being part of the Muffia -- The White Trash Mom Handbook is worth a read. (pick it up at Amazon) It challenges us to be true to ourselves and our instincts while still accepting responsibility for our kids and household. The book is humorous, practical, and surprisingly thought-provoking. It is going to take some effort to wean me from my wanting-to-please-everyone ways, but at least I know there are others struggling with the same tendencies.

Bob the Builder has been a staple of our household since the Cat was a toddler. One of his first toys was a counting hammer, and his first underwear had images from the series. His bath toys were Bob-themed (even a shampoo that had a Scoop toy as its lid.) Oddly, neither boy has watched the series itself with any regularity, although they very much enjoyed the DVD I reviewed for PBN earlier this year. Still, Bob the Builder is recognizable and comfortable to my kids, and so when I learned of Bob the Builder's Can-Do Zoo via the Parent Bloggers Network, I expected we'd have two very happy boys in our house.

Indeed, this educational computer game combines both the "tool and construction" fun that many young kids are apt to enjoy, plus the universally desirable animal theme. The story itself is fun: Bob must construct the Bobland Bay Zoo to house all the animals currently making their home in unexpected places. The monkeys are on the monkey-bars at school, of course, and the alligators are in the swimming pool. This topsy-turvy situation brought giggles to the boys.

The player must escort Bob through the planning and construction process of the zoo by mastering several tasks. Each activity brings the zoo closer to completion and earns the player a sticker that can be used to construct scenes in a "sticker book" portion of the game. The activities involve memory, sequencing, matching, color and shape recognition, and pattern completion. Each activity can be done in "easy," "medium," or "hard" modes.

Splig started on the easy mode, but soon started trying the "medium." The Cat started on "hard" but decided to go to "easy" to get the hang of it before going back to "medium" and "hard." Can-Do Zoo is aimed at 3-6 year olds. Spliggle is four and definitely in that target ability level. The Cat is seven (and a half) and found most tasks pretty easy, although there are still some activities in the "hard" level that provide a challenge for him.

Both boys enjoyed the "free play" section of the game where they could skip over the story (along with its little video interludes) so they could play a particular game over and over again, both to become better at it and to earn lots of stickers. The boys spent an entire afternoon doing the exercises repeatedly so they could earn the stickers. This reward-based system works so well with the boys that they remembered another educational reward-based game I reviewed for PBN and have been playing that game religiously alongside Bob for the last couple weeks.

Since there are only five different games, the capacity to become bored is greater than with more complex computer games; however, this also means that younger players won't be overwhelmed with too much detail. Since there are only five habitats to complete, even the very beginning players can reach the game's completion, which isn't always the case with story-based games. I know the Cat wanted new challenges, but he's also a year and a half above the suggested age-range for the game. Spliggle seemed satisfied with the Can-Do Zoo's scope and definitely enjoyed giggling at the animals.

--

Download a free trial of Bob the Builder's Can-Do Zoo.

When the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story, I agreed because I was curious. The early reviews sounded fabulous and the cover shot looked perky and inviting. Yet I didn’t think I would be so engaged by a novel about infertility.

First, I don’t have any experience in the subject. Sure, it took a few more months to conceive my second son than my first. And yes, I felt disappointed and annoyed when it didn’t “work” month after month, but “month after month” was probably less than eight. I have no frame of reference other than recalling how desperately I wanted each of my kids, and watching the struggles of friends who haven’t been as lucky.

Second, the subject of infertility is a “downer.” But Maybe Baby is anything but. In a way, I feel bad for laughing at some points; and yet my chuckles are testament to Matthew Miller’s amazing ability to entertain and engage his readers. We forget at times that this novel has a heartbreaking longing at its core, and yet we cannot forget because Miller’s personality is such that we can’t help thinking “This guy would make such an excellent dad!”

He is the guy you want to be your best friend. He is an entertainer. He is resilient, yet sensitive. And most importantly, he is honest. His descriptions, manners, desires and temperament show he is an excellent fit for fatherhood.

The memoir is not the same story page after page; each new adventure of Matthew and Constance may have the same ultimate goal each month, but the journey and twists are different. The obstacles they face include flat tires and “no semen after noon” rules at the hospital. And of course there is the financial aspect: “We keep paying to have wands shoved in your hoo-ha, for me to masturbate at the hospital, and for us to be criminally disappointed every month,” Miller writes a conversation with Constance on pg. 206.

This book is educational and entertaining all in one. New to me, but Miller describes on pg. 222 the bizarre-yet-logical “cum courier” role: “… the endocrinologist conductor shouted, ‘Last Call!’ for the express brassiere train for which my semen now held a one-way ticket…” A dry description of how the woman should carry her partner’s semen to the hospital in her bra to maintain optimum temperature wouldn’t have been nearly so entertaining. I can’t help laughing at his descriptions of procedures that should be embarrassing, like huddling in a bathroom that smells of “poop in a peach patch” to unromantically create the seed from which his maybe baby might occur. But I feel mortified on his behalf, too.

Miller is not a “victim” despite his position. His voice is strong. His character, solid. And yet he and his wife have been denied month after month after month. There is no condescension as I desperately wish for a happy resolution. “They deserve it,” I think, as I turn each page hoping for that “Hey! We won the conception lottery!” declaration. Throughout the book, each pregnancy announcement is someone else in their family.

Maybe Baby is definitely worth your while. The story is compelling and romantic without being sappy. Sounds cliché, but I laughed and I cried. Further adventures of Matthew M.F. Miller are at maybebabyblog.com.

This is not a cooking blog. But for today, humor me.

Friday October 10th is World Egg Day, and in honor of this, I will share with you one of my favorite egg recipes.

For the sake of completeness, I have posted a Flickr set of our adventures, plus have created little videos throughout the process. (Husband remarked “What’s with the multi-media extravaganza?”)

Usually folks only consider omelets, quiche, deviled eggs, and other very “eggy” tasting dishes to be made from eggs. But there are plenty of other dishes that have eggs as a major component. Egg sushi, for example, is super-yummy, and not necessarily what one considers first when thinking about egg dishes, especially if you up your wasabi factor.

Well as much as I love sushi, today I will make Norwegian pancakes.

Most people think of flour, and probably sugar, when they consider pancakes. But my favorite pancakes are primarily egg. Sure, the flour is there, as is milk, but the only sugar is whatever you put on top or inside, like syrup. And so, today I share with you my grandmother’s recipe for Norwegian Pancakes. This pancake is not quite a crepe, but is thin and versatile. Using a variety of fillings or toppings, this recipe can take on many forms.

First we had to go to the store because we realized we didn’t have enough milk:

The Cat told me he was happy to play video games instead of helping me and Splig cook the pancakes:

Before we made the actual pancakes, I prepared the fillings. One such filling/topping was (surprise!) eggs! I hard-boiled them to use later:

Our science-lesson break: how to tell the difference between the fresh-out-of-the-fridge eggs that I’d need for the pancakes proper versus the hardboiled eggs we’ll use as a filling?

Splig helped me slice the hard-boiled ones nice n’ purdy:

And then we were off to make the actual pancakes:

The three basic ingredients are eggs (6 of them!) milk (2 ¾ cups) and four (1 ½ cups.) Even these primary ingredients can be altered to taste, such as using gluten-free flour. Or you may want to use soy or rice milk to avoid casein. If you like chocolate, use chocolate milk. I wonder if using coconut milk would create a fun variation of this recipe, especially with chocolate chips as a filling?

The ingredients:

2 ¾ cups milk

Once the ingredients are all set, it is time to actually create the batter. The method is pretty simple: add the eggs and flour together, and then slowly pour the milk in the mix. Don’t stir too quickly or the batter will have too much air in it and won’t cook well. Certainly my grandma and those before her used a wooden spoon and a bowl for the mixing, but we use an electric mixer at its lowest speed. (Don’t forget to scrape the sides with a rubber spatula!)

Splig shows the process:

(Yes, I said “6 cups eggs” but really I meant “six eggs.”)

Once the batter is ready, fry up the pancakes! I use an electric frying pan set to a click under 350 degrees. Husband mocks me for my electric frying pan, but I’ve never been able to make Norwegian pancakes properly without it.

Set to a hair under 350 degrees, butter it up (yes, I use actual butter) and pour in the batter. As soon as the pancakes are solid enough to flip (they switch from shiny to matte,) flip ‘em. Less than a minute on the second side will do.

Here’s my how-to:

The next part is the creative part: either slap it on a plate or roll it up with or without fillings. Growing up I had my mom create a little roll with syrup inside. My kids love chocolate chips and marshmallows the best. I line up the toppings in a little line, and then roll the pancake around it. Of course it melts into a gooey yumminess. No syrup necessary for pancakes that are already filled with sugar!

The fillings need not be candy: fruit will do too, or more savory tastes like onion, peppers, or bacon. This pancake can act as a crepe or as an omelet. Ham, cream-cheese, and more eggs would be tasty. (I think the eggs as a garnish is great.) Add some caviar if you so desire. There are plenty of possibilities.

(Embarrassingly I say “sour cream” when I meant to say “cream cheese.” Indeed, sour cream would also be a great filling/topping, as would something like whipped cream, ricotta cheese, marzipan… whatever taste you are after.)

Here is the pictorial process involved in the green onion – cream cheese – egg variety:

- put the cooked pancake flat on a plate
- lay the toppings in a line
- fold over one side
- fold over the other side : now you have a roll!
- garnish if desired
- eat it up

And here is the finished product of the chocolate-chip-filled ones:

Do the kids like ‘em? Well sure:

But then Splig wanted to let me know that my version (onion, cream cheese, and extra eggs) wasn’t his cup of tea:

So there you have it. If anything, you’ve learned that Splig has a very unusual fashion sense and likes to be a complete goofball. You’ve also learned that Kari’s Kitchen is not ready for prime-time. But I also hope you can take my Norwegian Pancake recipe and modify it to your family’s tastes and needs. Happy World Egg Day (on the 10th!)

Thank you to the Egg Board and the Parent Bloggers Network for letting me know about this excellent holiday.

The Cat loves animals. After all, his nickname is from how he decided to become a cat as a toddler. His actual name is rather unusual in its spelling, and so much like me - it is rare to find something personalized.

Take his love of animals plus his desire to have something personalized, and you've got Billy Blue Hair. Their "Billy and Me" category contains a personalized educational DVD entitled "Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?" Through The Parent Bloggers Network, the Cat received his own personalized DVD.

The cover of the DVD has his name, spelled properly. Then within the video, his name crops up as Billy addresses him throughout the adventure.

Initially, the Cat was a bit skeptical. He loved the DVD cover since it has his name on it, but when he read the title, he remarked, "Well giraffes have long necks because they need to be able to reach the leaves on the trees." I nodded, but told him the DVD would be more than just that.

Indeed, the Cat was captivated by the show. He giggled at Billy and was clearly excited that Billy spoke directly at him. The show itself begins in a cartoon universe, but then switches to a live-action nature filmy-type thing. While the footage is what you might expect on the Nature Channel: beautiful and high-quality, but usually accompanied by either a too-sophisticated scientist's analysis or that preachy drone of those old school filmstrips, Billy's narration is upbeat and fun. He appears as his cartooned-self at the bottom of the live action. He talks about what the viewer is seeing. He poses questions to the viewer to keep them engaged. And of course, when he uses the child's name, they'll no doubt pay attention. Billy also adds some little cartoon elements to the show, like putting a hat on a lion.

The Cat's attention didn't waver. He was fascinated by the animals and definitely glad that Billy kept saying his name. He watched the whole thing several times over before moving to a new activity. My guess is that younger kids would be similarly captivated because Billy makes the education fun. The nature tidbits are broken up by Billy's storyline, which helps maintain interest. Billy talks to the kids, so keeps them involved in the learning process. I certainly learned new things about some of the animals, too. It is a nice painless way of learning something.

Spliggle wishes he could have a personalized DVD. Ironically enough, Splig's name is more common than the Cat's, and yet it is not part of Billy Blue Hair's database of over 400 names. Fortunately, the Cat's name sounds like a more common name, so it was included. Billy Blue Hair can customize the spelling of the name: the DVD comes with a personalized cover and a personalized title screen on the actual program. As long as a name in the database sounds like your child's name, you can purchase the personalized DVD with any spelling.

In that regard, some of the "over 400" names in the database are actually alternative spellings. (But even if your particular alternative spelling isn't listed, you can order it.) Honestly, some of the names in the database seemed very unusual, while some of the more "common" names I would have thought would be included, aren't. Thankfully there is a "request form" on their website so perhaps they will add more names to the possibilities.

Billy Blue Hair also has a "standard edition" which is non-personalized. As much fun as the personalization is for the packaging and the seven times Billy pronounces the child's name throughout the show, it isn't vital. When Billy poses questions to the audience without using a name, the interaction is still there.

Check out the Billy Blue Hair website to see if your child's name is listed. If not, request it - or get the standard version.

Alright, so I had already received a competitor's product for review, but when the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the V. Smile Cyber Pocket from VTech, I instantly said "Yes!" After all, both my boys have non-educational "just for fun" handheld video game consoles, but until the V.Smile showed up on our doorstep, we only had one educational hand-held video game.

Yes, boo-hoo!, but don't you want both kids learning in the backseat of the van?

Yup, I thought so. Two educational handheld games it is!

The Cyber Pocket has a different "look" than what the kids are used to: this looks like a mini-laptop computer, with a little flip-up screen. Of course both boys were very interested, especially when they saw the game that came with it is called "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure" and sports a photo of a cute alien.

Zayzoo includes several different components including singing songs (great for the preschool set) or practicing filling in missing letters of common words (excellent to reinforce those early reading skills.) The Cyber Pocket system itself is recommended for kids age five and older. It is therefore not a surprise that four-year-old Splig found some of the games too challenging; however, he still loved them. The Cat is seven, and enjoyed playing "Math Mining," "Alien Beat," and "Language Learner" the most, but has yet to explore several of the games available.

When we first turned on the system, it took some time to figure out what to do. The stylus on the lower screen corresponds to the cursor on the LCD upper screen. This is rather tricky to co-ordinate, so I was relieved that finger-joystick controls were available instead. There are both right-joystick and left-joystick positions for the console. This is the first time in a video-game situation where I've seen particular attention to whether a person might favor right or left hand.

Still, I wish the stylus were easier to use. Although the "write on one surface, see the result on another" might help hand-eye coordination in the youngsters, for this nearly-35-year old it was too tricky. I like to write directly on the screen. One advantage of not writing directly on the LCD screen, though, is that the screen life will be much longer. Many of these "write on the media" products have the potential of getting scratched and worn over time.

When the Cat tried out the system, he was frustrated by trying to use the stylus to play the game. He didn't have any trouble working the navigational screens, but when he had to actually control the character, the finger joystick made much more sense. Still, the game prompts, "Use the pen to move Zayzoo!"

I don't know whether the stylus is used exclusively in some games. If so, this would require an initial adjustment period.

What I was most intrigued by, though, was how many skills this single game covers: spelling, synonyms, antonyms, 3D puzzle building, logic, arithmetic, vocabulary, sentence structure, reading comprehension, beat and rhythm, and more. With such a wide variety of skills emphasized, kids can be both confident in the skills they've already mastered (earning lots of coins!) and challenged by those things that they are still working on, but having fun in the process.

One especially fun feature of the Cyber Pocket is that it can be plugged into the television screen via the included cable. Sure, there are plenty of TV screen video-game consoles out there, but none that you can then take with you in the van on a road trip. While at home, the kids can choose to play the Cyber Pocket with a large screen; but then on the road, in a comfy arm chair, or in their rooms, they can relish in the portability of the system. I like that there is a headphone jack so I don't necessarily have to listen to their games. I must listen to their laughter and squeals of delight, though.

The Cyber Pocket comes with a "V.Link," a little device that is a USB-port on one end and a connector to the VTech on the other end. A smiling glittery piece of toast serves as the slider between the "connect to VTech" and "expose USB port" configurations. Okay, he isn't a piece of toast, but the smiling computer screen logo looks very much like that tasty breakfast staple.

Kids can connect the V.Link to their console to download their scores; they then connect to the computer to record those scores. In the case of "Zayzoo: An Earth Adventure," kids can earn gold coins during console play that can be used on the V.Smile website to unlock special bonus games. The Cat hasn't earned enough coins to unlock anything yet, but I am certain he'll enthusiastically try, then reveal in the accomplishment.

Both boys love this system. Although we are just getting to know it, I have a feeling it will be used quite frequently at our house.

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Up Tuesday: A side-by-side comparison of Leapfrog's Leapster2 and VTech's VSmile Cyber Pocket, a Smackdown! if you will. Stay tuned...

Both boys were ecstatic when Trick Tracks from Hot Wheels arrived thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network. They received two separate packages on different days, so the enthusiasm was doubly-exciting.

First they got the Triple Stunt Starter Set. A few days later, they received the Power Loop.

Both package-arrival days, the boys crowded around me as I opened the box. They tried sticking things together before I had a chance to unfold the instructions. But as it turns out, I should have just let my eldest go at it on his own. My attempts to set up the stunts ended up incorrect; but my seven-year old figured it out fine. It was like a bad movie where the lead character keeps repeating the same error:

- The first Hot Wheels package arrives and I was ready to cry because I didn't get it right. Eldest saves the day.

- The second Hot Wheels package arrives and I was ready to cry because I didn't get it right. Eldest saves the day.

Why I was incapable of sticking together the little plastic bits? I don't know. I stuck something in slot A that should have been slot B, but I swear I couldn't tell from the illustrations. I think my son was doing it in a logical fashion, which makes more sense than trying to decipher drawings. (Of course, my son's version matched the drawings exactly.)

The track is plastic, as are the various connectors. The track is pretty slick, which means it can be difficult to snap together some of the junctions, especially since the little plastic buttons have the potential to have a little "spillover" from the mold from which they were created. I would have appreciated metal snaps or something else a bit more secure than plastic-on-plastic for some of the pieces; but, the truth is that even with one loose side (we couldn't "snap" it in,) the trick still worked well.

Similarly, I didn't quite understand how everything was supposed to work. The instructions read, "All green buttons are launch buttons. Red buttons are reset buttons."

There are no red buttons. Or at least I don't know what the red buttons are.

There are some green buttons (which means "a dual-lever on which there is a green circle," not an actual button,) but from what my boys figured out, the surest way to launch is to slam a car into a blue-gray cone-shaped thing that serves as the end of one stunt and the beginning of another. If done properly, the car ending one stunt will trigger the next. This means you must have more than just the single car that comes with the Trick Tracks.

I was also a bit confused about the enclosed rubber-bands. While I figured out the most obvious one (which triggers a loop-d-loop,) there was another one that I simply couldn't figure out from the drawings. I think the other bands were extras in case of snapping.

My boys were able to get the majority of the stunts to work properly, no thanks to my confusion. Even though I think there are some other actions that can be performed with the set-up we have, the boys are extremely happy with the combinations they've devised.

View the video below to see the glee:

Once the Trick Tracks are set up, one must either have a very large storage space, or one must dismantle the various loops. I used a large storage container so that we could store both the Triple Stunt Starter Set and the Power Loop together along with the instruction sheets, extra rubber bands, and the cars.

As I find them, I'll add the boys' existing Hot Wheels cars to the box so that everything will be organized. It is unlikely that customers will want to dismantle the whole set to the point where it may fit back in its original box, but sticking the Trick Track in an existing train-table or large bin with toy cars works.

The boys continue to take out the box of Trick Tracks even though they weren't big car-guys before these Hot Wheels products arrived. They've added in their own little touches, like paper canopies that go over the track, or elephants onto which the cars can leap when released from the Power Loop. These toys certainly have the potential for creative combinations and additions.

Both both the Triple Stunt Starter Set and the Power Loop can be found at Amazon - plus I'd recommend getting a bunch of cars so the stunts can continue domino-style or when the cars get shot into the air, over an elephant, and slide under the couch.

Anyone who expects to receive a holiday card from me this year should look away. Visit this post after you've received the card in the mail. Hahaha, who am I kidding? You know you want a sneak peek.

This year I got lucky. I got Minted from the Parent Bloggers Network. No, "Minted" is not like being wedgied. Rather, minted.com is a fabulous online stationery store with fabulous holiday photo cards.

These cards were designed from a variety of different sources (via a "design challenge".) Winners are available to purchase.

I had a difficult decision because there are so many amazing designs. Several designs are available in a variety of colors, plus any design can be personalized in color, font, wording, and so forth, so the options are endless - with one exception I'll note shortly. It took several days for me to narrow down my choices. I ended up doing mock-ups of four different cards before I selected the Cheery Winter Swirl Holiday Card.

One factor that complicated my decision was that I really wanted to include information about our family (a la the traditional family holiday letter.) Some of the Minted designs included an option for a "timeline." This clever take on the holiday letter is something I thought would be particularly exciting for those families who had specific events they wish to highlight: faster and more interesting than a lengthy letter.

But I wanted to highlight more general things, like the Cat's soccer success and Spliggle's gymnastics affinity, both of which don't have "dates" attached. As these cards are highly customizable, I decided that instead of four timeline dates, I'd have four "timeline" titles that were actually our names. I could then write a little paragraph about each family member's activities for the year.

Like this [screenshot, so enlargement links don't work]:

As much as I like the result, I really connected with the Cheery Winter Swirl. But - yes, you guessed it - this particular design didn't have a "timeline" option: just a flat card or a fold-over [blank inside.]

I wish all cards could do the timeline. For example, in the card I previewed above, had the mint background been red and the font set to match the Cheery Winter Swirl design, we'd be in business: no swirls necessary on the inside time-line unless the designer wanted to specifically create a layout for this. I would think (naive, I know!) that this very simple layout could work for any card (even the vertical ones could simply open up to have the timeline horizontal; I wouldn't mind tilting a card to see it.) But alas, while many designs have this option, many do not.

Once I made up my mind about the cards themselves, I had to decide whether to have plain envelopes, printed envelopes, or address labels. I selected gorgeous swirly address labels with our name and address printed in block letters above the swirl.

One thing that made me a bit nervous about ordering address labels, though, is that frequently such things are so shiny that one cannot use pen without creating a smudgy situation. Pencil is too light, and it is tough to find dry pens dark enough to make an impression (figuratively and literally.) I am pleased to report that the address labels I received from minted.com have a tiny bit of sheen to them - indicating quality and style - but are primarily matte, and can handle my favorite rather wet black pen. Although it required a bit of drying time, within a few minutes I could wipe my hand across it with no smudge.

Purchasing the cards was a tad bit nerve wracking because I wanted to make sure I had made The Right Choice. Finally satisfied, I placed my order. An email arrived two days later asking me to approve the proof. The proof wasn't attached. I wrote back and within 20 minutes, "Rick" apologized and attached the proof. He made an interesting modification to our card to accommodate our hyphenated last-name personalization. As he did this, I realized I wanted to drop the "s" (Because while "The*Harrisons" sounds fine, "Johnson*Harrisons" sounds a bit off; whereas just "Johnson*Harrison" looks classy, especially given the little star-as-hyphen the Minted designer created for us (instead of "The*Harrisons" like above)

And then the proof came back with a printed envelope rather than the way-cool address labels.

A bit sheepish on the "I want to drop the 's' in the family name" and "OMG I thought I ordered the address labels but maybe I didn't because you gave me the printed envelope," I wrote the designer back with the "I do not approve this proof" box checked. I felt guilty, but need not have, because within two days I received a new proof (and an apology about the envelope printing versus address-label mix-up,) and it was good to go. I need not have been worried about placing the order because I had an opportunity to alter the design even after the first proof (customers receive two free proofs; a third is $50.)

After I said "yes," I had a quick moment of freak-out because I noticed that one under-the-line letter came mighty close to the "All is calm, all is bright" text. I hoped they wouldn't run together, but crossed my fingers that the designer would nudge the two apart. The small size of the proof made it a bit difficult to tell what the spacing was like. (I understand why they don't do a larger one - we don't want folks just printing it off on their home computer.) Again, I need not worried, the finished cards look wonderful.

My order mailed four days after proof-approval (which was two business days.) I ordered on a Monday and the completed order was shipped the following Tuesday, and that had included the one proof modification - so most cards would likely ship same week as order. The package was beautiful - the cards were surrounded in shredded black paper, carefully cushioning them. The stack was shrink wrapped, as were the envelopes and address labels. Everything was carefully packed such that they would arrive unbent and beautiful. The insides were tied with a mint green bow and a sticker specifically saying the order was for "Kari" packed by "Rob."

The whole process was very personalized. I knew if I had any questions about the design, I could email "Rick." And if the package had been damaged in some way or packed crazily, I could blame "Rob." (Instead, Rob gets tremendous kudos for a beautiful presentation.)

The cards themselves are absolutely gorgeous. They are sturdy, high-end, and made from 100% post-consumer waste.

This amazingness does come with a price, though. These cards are very expensive. Even with the discount I received for being a reviewer, I spent more this year than I did on our cards last year, which in many ways were comparable in quality, design, and customer service.

The ultimate question: will I go to who we used last year, or use minted.com the next time I need to order cards?

The answer: I am not sure. I have been exceptionally impressed with both companies, so will likely go on which design options are available at the time. Yes, the price might be a consideration, but if I really like a minted.com design, I'd be willing to pay more, especially if it is printed on recycled paper. Yes, the competitor also has some designs on 100% post-consumer waste, but there are many more options at minted.com. I could gush for days about both companies, so rest assured I'll check out both sites when I need some cards!

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Just for fun, here is the stamp that will complete our look for our card mailing this year:

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I can't wait to mail these out!

I'm going to outright say it:
1) I didn't think I'd be the kind of mom to give her kids video games
2) I've been very, very lucky in the "free video games" department

What I'm going to talk about today is not in that shoot-'em-up, let's totally zombie-out-your-kids category. (Most of the games we have are exceptionally tame and have changed my mind about "video games.") Thanks to the Parent Bloggers Network, the Littlest Pet Shop : Jungle game for Nintendo DS made its way to our home, and thank goodness it did.

Before Littlest Pet Shop arrived, my boys were fighting over Mario Kart. Sure, we have Mario Kart for the Wii and Mario Kart for the DS, but in the car, only the DS will do. "I need it for my tiny 'puter!" one boy would exclaim as the other gleefully drove his kart around. (Yes, there is somehow a way for them both to play at once using a single cartridge, but I haven't figured it out yet.)

I knew Littlest Pet Shop would appeal to my youngest (age 4) because he loves our cat, our fish, and recently raised some little caterpillars to become butterflies. I knew Littlest Pet Shop would appeal to my oldest (age 7) because he desperately wants a dog, used to pretend to be a cat, and likes snuggly things. Both are boys, but I wasn't concerned with the stereotype that Littlest Pet Shop is only for girls because it isn't. Deer and zebras are manly, yes? (Okay, they have wide adorable eyes, but my boys love 'em all the same.)

I figured my oldest would keep playing Mario Kart, and then my youngest would be happy to take on Littlest Pet Shop. What I didn't anticipate was that Littlest Pet Shop would end up being the preferred game, so much so that the Mario Kart cartridge is actually lost somewhere because one boy took it out of his "tiny 'puter" to put in Littlest Pet Shop instead.

They love this game.

I am happy because the "Hey, let's go buy a dog" talk has diminished considerably. Although, my youngest thinks it would be cool to go get a zebra, because apparently he owns one on his game.

I am happier, though, that the games contained within Littlest Pet Shop have translated to real life. Sure, many people would find this unlikely, but take a look at the evidence. One of the games to earn coins (for care of the pet and purchase of new pets) is a color-in-the-lines game.

Well, Splig has brought home lots of drawings like the below-left from preschool recently:

Honestly, I wouldn't have thought a four year old could color in the lines so well, but he's done it at home, too. Littlest Pet Shop requires precision to earn coins. My son has thus learned to be precise (losing a couple styluses in the process) generalizing this to "real life."

If your kids like the idea of a pet, but might not be ready for the real-life responsibility of taking care of one, Littlest Pet Shop might be a good option. It combines the pride of ownership (and ability to name each pet) with things - like dressing up your pet - that probably wouldn't occur in real life, unless you're a Paris Hilton type with doggie sweaters. Add to it some skill games and you've got a well-rounded, entertaining, non-violent game that is worth the "screen time."

Don't tell the kids, but Santa might bring Littlest Pet Shop: Winter Edition to our house this Christmas. (There is also a Garden version.)

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Check out what other PBN bloggers think about Littlest Pet Shop!

UPDATE: I reviewed Dreambox's K-3 content April 2010. The below review is from February 2009 when Dreambox was K-2 - Please read ahead to learn more about the program, and then check out my K-3 post!

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I took my eldest son for his eight-year-old checkup today. On the standard questionnaire about whether he lives with someone who smokes, or if we have guns in the house, there was a question about screen-time. I had to check a box if my child spends more than an hour per day watching television, playing video games, or engaging in activities on the computer. I'm an honest gal, so I checked the box, even though I knew the underlying question.

As expected, the doctor asked me about my admission. I explained that yes, he spends quite a lot of time on his computer, but for mathematics enrichment.

The doctor beamed, "Well, of course, any educational content is absolutely fine."

We then got into a discussion about how plenty of homework assignments need the resources on the internet, and how differentiated education is important.

Every parent thinks his or her child is brilliant, but let me tell you about my second-grader: he loves math. He thinks math is fun, and yet I know he is bored during regular class instruction time. I therefore jumped at the chance to review Dreambox via the Parent Bloggers Network. I want to capture and preserve his love for math, build on it, and prevent him from lagging behind later because he isn't stimulated enough now. Combining his love for computer games with mathematical instruction is a perfect marriage of interests.

We have many flashlights around the house, but the batteries are all dead because the boys play "pirates" from under couch cushions and bean bags. The flashlights roll under the furniture, out of sight, and clicked in the "ON" position. Or the flashlights will be exactly as I left them: one by each bedside and one in the hallway, but yes, the batteries will be nonfunctional even though I swore I put in fresh ones just the other day.

It was with great enthusiasm that I accepted the Parent Bloggers Network's query to review Sylvania's PalPODzzz, a combination night-light/flashlight.

Splig was thrilled to receive a little ladybug PalPODzzz; the product also has a rocket ship version.

PalPODzzz plugs into the wall, so the "pod" base doesn't get lost, and the issue of dead batteries is moot. (The landfills rejoice!) The removable flashlight portion is automatically charged when it is plugged into the base; again, no dead batteries.

The idea is that during the night, the PalPODzzz functions as a nightlight; but then the flashlight can be removed as needed (and will illuminate automatically.) No fumbling around to find it when necessary. This also means that if the power goes out, the ladybug (or rocket) will remain lit since it has already been charged.

I love this idea - but Splig loved the ladybug too much to let it rest on its green leaf base. The ladybug went on the same adventures that our standard flashlights did: in the couch pillows, under blankets, between bean bags, and under beds. The little ladybug had so much fun that it wore out its charge.

Alas, the ladybug hasn't found her way back to the pod. I'd gladly purchase some extra bugs to rest on the leaf, or perhaps I'd get a second PalPODzzz. Once we find the little ladybug, I'll have to explain to her that she is to return back to her leafy home at the end of each adventure; I hope my boys will back me up on this.

Sylvania's PalPODzzz is a great idea - but it may be too fun to serve its purpose completely.

The Cat is quite intelligent, at least in academic matters. He's creative, curious, and can make connections very well. But somehow, if the intended connections, schemas, rules, and intuition is in regards social skills, he stumbles. He's one of those "quirky kids" who was diagnosed with pdd-nos, a "catch-all" diagnosis on the autistic spectrum.

As part of his IEP, he receives pragmatic speech and social skills group pull-outs at school. Truthfully, I haven't seen results. He's laughed at social skills DVDs and seems to enjoy them (particularly when the kids act goofy as part of the "how not to behave") but hasn't really put the information to use. One year we sent him to a social-skills camp, but while that may have helped him pay attention to his behavior, I actually wonder if being so analytical about it actually created an artificial situation: he ended up being hyper-sensitive to each mistake, which then created panic and an inability to remember the "correct" response. And then there is the matter of positive role models: he was with some kids who really had some odd social behaviors.

It is embarrassing to admit, but there are certainly times when I want to just throw my arms up because he's done something inappropriate, seemingly without "common sense." And then there are those days that he seems totally "normal" waving good-bye as he says brightly, "Bye Katie! See you tomorrow!"

There has been quite a lot of chatter about bloggers' roles in product reviews - apparently some have been sued by manufacturers based on the words they posted - scary! Plus there has been some talk about how "valid" or "honest" the reviews are if they are essentially advertisements or other types of paid product placements.

And so, behold a rather long entry in which I address some of these issues as they relate to me and this particular review blog. This isn't meant to be some grand piece of writing, but rather an entry to "have it all out there."

As a result of the backlash, many of us are issuing little disclaimers on our reviews, emphasizing that either we weren't paid for the review - or disclosing that we were. I've been doing this already, either writing that I received a product or service "free for review" or disclosing whether the review is via the Parent Bloggers Network, Mom Central, BlogHer, or other review program where the client has paid a fee to the organization that then finds reviewers for the product. On the flip side, I typically mention if the review is for a product that I purchased myself - and it impressed me enough to mention here.

Most of the reviews on this site are through one of the aforementioned organizations. I receive products from them, and then post my impressions of those products. In some cases I receive a small stipend ($10-$20) but in most cases my "reward" is the product itself. I am not obligated to post a positive review. But, it should be noted that these reviews are self-selecting: when the call goes out to review a certain product or service, I will not reply unless I already think this product will be a match for our family.

Believe me, I have turned down many products simply because I know I'm not the right person to review them.