Archive for Kids Stuff

Kittens! – Wordless Wednesday

FFR Princess Moonstone

We had three little kittens born four weeks ago this past Sunday to our mama cat, Princess Moonstone (Princess or Prinny). At first they look like little rats, but they are adorable now and worthy of a blog spot. Ha ha! They are so hard to photograph because they wiggle so much! For the photos below I had to tuck them in my arm and have the girls take the photos. When I tried taking the photos with the girls holding them, the girls let the kittens crawl up their arm, their shirt and we were not getting anything but laughing (and frustration) done. ;)


Happy Month Old Birthday!
(taken on Sunday, October 20)

Kittens 4 weeks old_

Kittens 4 weeks old_2_

Kittens 4 weeks old_3_

From left to right the children have named them: Selene, Sir Hiss (actually should be Lady Hiss, doesn’t she look like a badger?) and Tabby or Freckles.


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3 Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids from Mega Bloks

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

I don’t know about you but I have been thinking about Christmas lately and the fact that I have nothing bought. Edit: Now I do as I was able to find a few items this week!. We usually keep gift giving simple. It’s cheaper that way. We like to get the children something fun, practical or something they need.

Mega Bloks has some neat toys and we received three for review. I thought they’d make great Christmas gift ideas for kids!

3 Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids from Mega Bloks

1. Mega Bloks Skylanders Giants

Mega Bloks Skylanders Giants

N and Mega Bloks Skylander Giants 2_

The Mega Bloks Skylanders Giants is for 5 and up but our five year old found it difficult and needed help. He loves it. I just do not think he has the perseverance to sit there and do it. There’s 294 pieces! Every time someone built it for him, our three year old would knock it over or destroy it. Yes, he’s a little booger and no we did not do a very good job of staying on top of teaching him NOT to do that to his brother. Parent fail. :( I can admit it.

Mega Bloks Skylanders Giant 2

This Skylanders Giant is called Arkeyan Robot King.

2. Mega Bloks Barbie Build ‘n Style Pet Shop

Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Style Pet Shop 3_

Mega Bloks Barbie Build ‘n Style Pet Shop is loved by all our children ages 13 and down! It’s recommended for ages 4 and up. Our children all love animals and people figures to play with. Thankfully our seven year old is quite good at sharing!

Blondie with Barbie Build 'n Style Pet Shop_

Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Style Pet Shop

The Barbie Build ‘n Style Pet Shop comes in a box that has a convenient handle (not shown in my photos), so its 94 pieces can easily be stored back inside the box. Our box is a little beat up and I don’t think my daughter stores her pet shop in it. I think she kept the box for the sake of keeping it and keeps her Barbie Build ‘n Style Pet Shop set up on her kiddie table in her room.

Barbie is missing an arm and her head. Again our three year old was blamed for that mishap. I’m seeing a trend here, aren’t you?

Mega Bloks Barbie Build 'n Style Pet Shop

3. Hot Wheels Cars

Hot Wheels Car_

Our two older boys got the Hot Wheels Cars. They come with a little zip cord that enables the cars to zoom around on the floor or table and the boys to have races with their Hot Wheels Cars. This is our ten year old playing with his car. Our oldest son claims our three year old toddled off with his car and can’t find it. :( I’m sure as soon as I post this, it’ll turn up.

JAG with Hot Wheels Car_

These Mega Bloks toys are definitely great Christmas gift ideas for kids!


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InnoTab® 3S Learning Tablet Review and Giveaway

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product from Vtech in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet Kids_

It is pretty safe to admit our family has embraced the age of technology. While we don’t have every techie gadget on the market we have our share. More and more of our children’s education is relying on technology. That’s why we embraced the opportunity to review a Vtech InnoTab® 3S Learning Tablet

Features of the InnoTab® 3S Learning Tablet:

  • The InnoTab® 3S features VTech Kid Connect– an exclusive communication app that allows kids to be connected with their parents and friends through both tablet-to-mobileand tablet-to-tablet communication
  • The new 3S comes with a rechargeable battery pack with AC adapter and a kid-safe web browser
  • The new InnoTab 3S continues to provide access to VTech’s Learning Lodge™ app store, plus it comes packed with 20 free apps
  • Ages 3-9
  • All for under $100

InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet Review

Vtech Home Page

Our children love their new InnoTab® 3S Learning Tablet. We are still learning to use all the features. They haven’t text me yet and they really haven’t used the web browser much because it requires me to put in our network password. I think it would be nice if we could save that password just because it would be easier than logging in every time, but I understand that this is one of the safe browsing features. I like that we can add new websites under the parental controls.

I know the camera and video camera gets used a fair amount. The children have fun taking goofy photos or videos or practicing their photography.

The children’s favorite activities is to play the beanstalk game. They have to check their bean plants every day to care for them or else they die. Kind of helps teach responsibility. The children love to see how much their beans have grown day by day.

Vtech My Magic Beanstalk 1

Vtech My Magic Beanstalk 2

InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet Downloads

Though there were free downloads with the InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet, I did purchase a few more for the children just so I could understand the selection, purchasing and download process. It was pretty painless and easy. Similar to downloading apps to a cell phone. Edited 12/27/13: But in comparison, there are more free apps available for other tablets, which I did not realize until much later. It is costly to buy more apps, something I cannot seem myself doing much of now that we have a Kindle Fire.

InnoTab 3S Downloads

The Learning Lodge is where parents and children can access “hundreds of engaging, age-appropriate games, videos, e-books and music, endorsed by VTech’s team of educational experts”. Word has it the Learning Lodge will expand its current library of 350 titles to over 600 titles by the end of the year.

I did find the InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet a little slow when changing screens, but overall I really like its features and having this as an addition to our children’s educational program, even our big kids (ages 10-14) like to use it!

Vtech InnoTab® 3S Learning Tablet Giveaway

One of you has the chance to win a Vtech InnoTab 3S Learning Tablet by entering below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Kids Apps from Cupcake Digital Education

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

My iPhone homepage

We are living in the day of apps. Our children LOVE going on my iPhone. Over half of the apps on my phone are kids educational apps. We use my iPhone as a part of our homeschool curriculum. If we are working with one child, another child can be using my phone, as it keeps them occupied.

Cupcake Digital Apps

We were gifted three new kids apps for review. They are Fraggle Rock Game Day – Cupcake Digital, Wubbzy’s 123 Learn & Play – Cupcake Digital and Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends – Cupcake Digital. Our children are really enjoying them.

Review of Kids Apps from Cupcake Digital Education

Fraggle Rock Game Day – Cupcake Digital

Fraggle Rock Game Day

Fraggle Rock Game Day 2

Fraggle Rock Game Day 3

Fraggle Rock Game Day 4

Fraggle Rock Game Day 5

Fraggle Rock Game Day 6

Fraggle Rock Game Day 7

Counting, tracing and games.

My five year old liked this one and Wubbzy’s 123 Learn & Play the best.

The whack a raddish game is hilarious! I even want to play that one! ;)

Wubbzy’s 123 Learn & Play – Cupcake Digital

Wubbyzy's 123 Learn & Play

Wubbzy’s 123 was good for my five year old. I am not sure how much my three year old understood it but he tries. It’s a bit too young for my seven year old but she still had fun doing it.

Wubbzy's 123 Learn & Play

Wubbzy's Learn & Play 2

I thought counting meatballs was fun! ;)

Wubbzy's 123 Learn & Play 2

Wubbzy's 123 Learn & Play 3
Tracing

Wubbzy's 123 Learn & Play 4
Coloring/Paint


Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends – Cupcake Digital

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends

Book, coloring and games.

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends 2

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends 5

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends 3

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Best Friends 4

Our seven year old daughter liked this app the best. She said because it’s nice. :) She’s a girly girl and loves to do the hair and nails game the most because I keep finding photos stored on my phone! She saved me the trouble for the sake of this review – in house help!

Our older daughter even enjoyed playing around with this app.

Strawberry Shortcake and Friends App

These kids apps are definitely keepers and you can find them on iTunes or follow the links in this review.


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Fruit Sparx Candy Review

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Halloween is right around the corner and my daughter is already excited about all the candy.  Sparx has a wonderful product!   Recommended by dentist & hygienist, it is 100% Xylitol and tooth friendly!  These all natural sugar free candies are also gluten free.  They come in citrus, berry, & fruit flavors.

My first question was what is Xylitol? Direct from the Xlear.com site – here is the answer.

“Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from natural sources. It is also produced in the human body as a by-product of a normal metabolism. Our xylitol is of the highest quality possible. It is a pharmaceutical grade, meaning it must be more that 99.95% pure, and is made from non-GMO (non-genetically modified organism) corn fibers. It does not contain any of the corn grain and it is tested to ensure that no corn allergens, mycotoxins, or corn proteins of any type are in the product.”

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Fruit Sparx Candy Review

Sparx candies are tiny dot like goodies; they are on the hard side.  I would recommend these for your older kids, just because you don’t want your younger kids swallowing a bunch of them at a time.  My daughter and I shared a package and I really enjoyed them, she kind of wished they weren’t as hard to chew.  You can get a great Halloween bag with all the flavors or order you favorite flavor directly from Xlear.com.  They sell them in tubes and are only 1.49 each!


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Dino Dan Review and Giveaway

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

Dino Dan ~ Dino DVD 4 Pack

dino-dan

 

We are pleased to review another WONDERFUL children’s DVD ~ DINO DAN!

DVD synopsis: Follow the adventures of paleontologist-in-training Dan Henderson as he imagines dinosaurs into the real world! Join Dan as he plays a game of chase with his prehistoric pals, races against a T-Rex, and time travels back to the prehistoric era.

Dan uses the scientific method to gather clues and solve mysteries. Enjoy over 4 hours of dino-rific fun!

Dino Pack Includes: 4 DVDs of action packed adventures, including a brand new, never before seen DVD!0084350100474_500X500

 

DVDs feature these Dinosaurs:

Ø      Brachiosaurus

Ø      Compsognathus

Ø      Edmontosaurus

Ø      Tyrannosaurus Rex

Ø      Quetzalcataus

Ø      and more!

Our Review:

ALL of my children loved the DINO DAN DVD’s… yes all of them! There was a little something for everyone (including me) to enjoy in this series!  I have a five year old daughter, a 7 year old son, and a 9 year old daughter…and yes even the girls LOVED DINO DAN! The program is crafted to give information for all levels of learners as Dan goes on his adventures. This was important to us because we could watch the series as a family!

As a mom I loved that all of my children loved the program. I also loved the historical aspects and scientific qualities of the DVD…my children were learning while having fun watching DINO DAN…definitely an added plus!

Do not miss out on DINO DAN!

You can also get a FREE Dino Dan App at DINODAN.com/DVD

Also… for additional Dino Dan fun Visit Dinodan.com for fun interactive activities!

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Find out more about available Dino Dan DVD’s at http://www.ncircleentertainment.com/dino-dan/b136078

DVD is scheduled for release on November 5th, 2013

Dino Dan DVD Giveaway

Enter to win your own Dino Dan DVDs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 


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LeapReader “Ready, Set, Read & Write!”

I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

I am thrilled that I was able to be a host for the LeapReader “Ready, Set, Read & Write” Party, sponsored by Leapfrog!  LeapReader is the complete learn-to-read-and-write solution.  It combines reading, writing, and listening into one easy and fun system.  LeapReader uses books, flash cards, workbooks, audio book apps, music apps, and even trivia apps to enhance the learning experience.  If you’ve never tried a LeapReader, you must.  It is lifechanging!  My son and I call it a magic pencil, since it knows everything.

LeapReader1

The activity book that came with the LeapReader was great.  It really taught us how versatile the LeapReader was.  For example, we turned to the page featuring “Cars” and the LeapReader read it to us.  It also had a game to play, and it would sound out the words for you if you touched the words with the LeapReader.

LeapReader4

When we turned the page to the “Leap and the Lost Dinosaur,” my son loved pointing the LeapReader on the different pictures and learning fun facts about them.  He was engaged the entire time, and was learning.  It is the best of both worlds!  Another page he loved was a game you played with the “Muscular System” page.  The LeapReader would give you a clue and you had to point to the answer.  For example, touch the muscle you smile with.  We played that for a good ten minutes.

LeapReader2

The LeapReader flash cards were a hit, too.  You are able to mix and match letters to build words.  It has rhyming, spelling, and singing games as well.  My son’s favorite were the singing games.  If you touch one of the pictures with the LeapReader it sings a song, spelling and sounding out the picture.  It actually made him start to remember how to spell the words, it was very catchy!  My favorite feature was the included sight words list.  Just touch the word with the LeapReader and it would say it.

LeapReader6

We attempted the Writing books, but my son was more interested in hearing the stories than writing.  Some of my friends’ kids came over and tried them, and they had a ball!  The LeapReader really tells you step by step how to write Upper and Lowercase letters, while saying letter sounds.  I found it amazing that the writing magically appears on the special paper.

LeapReader5

Each of the writing activity sets includes a workbook filled with fun activities as well as extra writing paper so you can practice.  The activity books are so interactive that the kids are constantly engaged.

LeapReader3

The Get Ready for Kindergarten book is a must for all preschool aged children.  It teaches letters, vowels, beginning sounds, blends, patterns, numbers, skip counting, math, months, seasons, community places, and more.  This was my son’s favorite book.  He plays with it almost daily.  There is so much to do on each page, that he rarely does the same thing twice.

My son really enjoyed reading the Monsters University LeapReader Interactive Book, too.  You can either touch on the book picture and it will read it for you, or you can touch word by word to read and follow along.  For now my son likes to listen to it, but I’m sure in no time he will be wanting to touch word by word.  This will then teach him how to read.

I am absolutely in love with the LeapReader “Ready, Set, Read & Write” system.  In additon to all of the workbooks, flash cards, and books you can buy for your LeapReader, you can also download apps to put on the LeapReader.  Mine was conveniently loaded with two audio books, learning music, and a trivia app.  Let me just tell you how amazing this is for travel.  My son brings this in the car, plugs in his headphones, and enjoys listening to the stories and music.  With a touch of a button you can switch between apps.  The LeapReader is lightweight so I carry it in my purse or diaper bag when we are out and about so he is always entertained and more importantly, learning.  The best part is that no batteries are required.  Simply charge it with the included USB cord and you are good to go!

I can honestly say that this LeapReader is life changing.  I will be telling all of my mom friends about how great of a learning tool this is.  It is great for reading, writing, and listening skills.  My son has yet to become bored with it, and continues to ask me to buy more books or apps for him.  I love that he asks me to buy him books rather than toys.  The LeapReader is definitely going to create lifelong learners for all children who use it!

www.LeapFrog.com

I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty.  The opinions expressed here are my own.


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Picking to Win with Capri Sun Big Pouch

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Capri Sun Big Pouch

Our teens and tweens sampled three flavors of Capri Sun Big Pouch products this weekend for the first time. GASP! I know! They’ve had regular Capri Sun pouches, just not the Capri Sun Big Pouch. Capri Sun Big Pouch Fruit Punch seemed to be the flavor that was enjoyed the most, as Capri Sun Big Pouch Maui Cooler and Capri Sun Big Pouch Strawberry Kiwi were more faintly flavored according to my crew. Our teens enjoyed drinking Capri Sun after our “Pickers Adventure” and after working hard fencing for a couple of hours. We had to put up more fencing for our cow since she grazed through her new pasture this week. Oh the joys of rotational grazing! Capri Sun Big Pouch products are available at Walmart for just 88 cents a piece!

Capri Sun Big Pouch and American Pickers on History

Mike Wolfe, creator and star of American Pickers on History, in conjunction with Capri Sun Big Pouch are sponsoring a contest called Picking to Win with Capri Sun Big Pouch for you all to enter! The grand prize is a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. Contest winners (and 3 guests) will meet and do a half day pick with Mike Wolfe, creator and star of American Pickers on History. How exciting is that to all you pickers and history lovers! To enter the contest all you have to do is go to the highlighted link above, enter your name, email, address, birth date, phone number and agree to contest rules. Then upload a photo from your picking adventure of what you found on your pick and you are done! Takes no time at all.

100 other winners will win a picking kit. The items included in the picking kit Capri Sun Big Pouch contest are: Messenger Bag, Magnifying Glass, Gloves, Bandanas, Flashlights, Journal, Pen, T-shirt, Kid Pickers Book (signed by Mike Wolfe, creator and star of American Pickers on History) and Carabineers.


Capri Sun Big Pouch Pick Adventure

Capri Sun Big Pouch #Shop Pick

As I mentioned in my intro, we went on our own picking adventure. We love antiques and history so my teen “Om” and tween “JAG” helped me pick in the barn we are renting. When we made the agreement to rent the barn it was “as is” so a lot of OLD stuff was left in there. We assembled our own picking kit of gloves, a bag, flashlight, pen and notebook. My son and daughter grabbed a Capri Sun Big Pouch Strawberry Kiwi and our picking kit, then we headed to the barn.

We discovered a couple of old milk cans, an old gas can, thermos and bridle or halter as shown in the photo collage above. We have no idea the value of any of these items but we’d love to find out! I entered the photo of my son in the Picking to Win with Capri Sun Big Pouch contest. Be sure to enter your own picking photo!

Feel free to follow Capri Sun Big Pouch on Twitter (Please use hashtags #shop #CapriSunPickers and #cbias) and Facebook. Have fun picking!

What are your favorite places to pick? Your favorite pick items?


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A Surprise for Lily

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

A Surprise for Lily

This review was written by my second oldest, “B”.

A Surprise for Lily is another great book. The fourth in the series written by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. I really like the Lily Lapp books. Lily has grown and matured so much throughout the series. A lot happens in this installment.

Lily’s cousin, Hannah, and her family moves away and her grandpa passes away. I really felt bad about it for Lily because Hannah was her best friend. Lily misses them very much. Lily’s brother, Joseph, finds/gets a dog which he names Dozer, short for Bulldozer. Joseph loves his pup and makes excuses for every naughty puppy thing he does, such as: stealing boots, pulling clothes off the line and digging in the garden. Lily does not quite appreciate Dozer’s talent for getting into mischief. :) I like Dozer, but could understand why Lily found him annoying. He caused Lily and Mrs. Lapp an awful lot of extra work.

The long awaited baby “sister” arrives and turns out to be a new brother, much to Lily’s disappointment. Poor Lily, she waited so long for a sister.

Other news, Danny started going to school with Lily and Joseph, a new family comes to town, the Hershbergers, who have six children (3 boys and 3 girls). One of the boys, Harvey, who is nine and a bit of a trouble maker…..until Lily’s mother helped the new teacher (Teacher Judith) with English classes and outwits him. He suddenly never acts up again. I don’t think I could have treated Harvey the way Mrs. Lapp did. She did an amazing job.

Aaron Yoder still plagues Lily but she, Aaron, and Harvey actually became friends in this book, after the boys helped Lily in two incidents – both involving Dozer, who she learned to appreciate and love. I loved the fact that Harvey, Aaron and Lily became friends, it showed how much Lily had grown up.

Two thumbs up from “B”!

“Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”


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Alphie the Squid App Review

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Alphie the Squid App Review

Help Alphie the Squid to grow up big and strong on this new app.  Guide Alphie through the maze of the ocean floor, along the way you need to watch out for riptides, sharks and other obstacles. Alphie needs eat along the way to help him battle the riptides, there are little fish along the way for Alphie.  You earn points by finding treasure and treasure fish!

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The animation of this app is vibrant, inviting, & funny and the music is great!  This app is addicting for adults, yet very friend for kids. This Alphie helps kids with swiping action as well as learning about fish.

 

657817239_4Check out the Alphie Trailer on YouTube!

 

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Alphie is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod, and android products.

 

Don’t  forget to like Alphie on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

 


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