Praises of a Wife and Mommy

Flickr Credit: Carrie Stephens There’s no getting away from it youngsters are mischievous, and the kitchen is full of items that can cause serious harm to a curious child. This holiday season forget about baking, hot ovens, and small hands and instead whip up some kid friendly sweet treats! Your little ones will love decorating them with buttons and candies while older kids can experiment with different flavors, styles and colors and all without a dull Christmas cupcake in sight! Rice Krispie Snowmen Soft, squidgy Rice Krispie snowmen are delicious as well as being great fun to make and then decorate. Warning, this recipe can get a little sticky so be sure to have a damp cloth on hand for getting melted marshmallow off of small fingers. To make a snowman, you’ll need lots of white mini marshmallows, butter and, of course, Rice Krispies as well as loads of yummy sweets for decoration. We’re talking tic-tacs for noses, choc chips for eyes and so on plus extra whit...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Flanigan House!   This year we downsized the Christmas tree as we are redoing our living space and are going to be getting a bigger couch soon.   Thanks to Target we got this beautiful tree for only $27!  WOOT!  My favorite think on the tree is the new star on top.  I love the distressed wood look with the lights.  

Sometimes you just need everyone to read this... and live it! 

When you decide to move with your family, it can be a challenging time. You need to look at different properties until you find the right one for your family . But as well as checking out the condition of the home, you need to discover more about the area. After all, you don’t want to end up moving to somewhere that’s not appropriate for your family. Therefore, here are some essentials things you must check about the location before selecting a property! Public Domain Pictures You need to check out the crime rates It’s so important that you check how safe the area is before your select a new home. After all, you don’t want to move somewhere that is going to put your family at risk. There are some easy ways to find out about the crime rates in the area. For one thing, you could look online; there are so many sites which inform you about crime in the location. Also, you could contact the local police in the area to discover more. By checking out how safe the area i...

Did you enjoy your family time??    WE DID!  We don't live by family so when we get to see them it is like needing to review the last several months and realizing how fast our kids are growing up!  

Mary Engelbreit presents A Night of Great Joy, a delightful picture book that celebrates the joyful season of Christmas. This book tells the story of the nativity through the performance of a children’s Christmas pageant. With adorable illustrations and simple storytelling, Engelbreit paints a wonderful picture of the night that Jesus was born. A Night of Great Joy recalls that fateful night with wonder and awe. From the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem to the gathering of many before the baby Jesus, this holiday treasure leads children through the tale of the birth of Jesus, guiding them with the star of Bethlehem. Mary Engelbreit, New York Times bestselling illustrator of the blockbuster Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas, brings readers a new holiday picture book that’s sure to become a family favorite. My Review: This book had me giggling because of the pictures.   As you read the story and imagine the story like a narrator in a play and then look...

Ready for your first “real” Bible? Great! You’ll love how you can read this Bible all by yourself. The print is easy to read and  The Beginner’s Bible ®art is fun and will help you better understand the stories in the Bible. Features include: Presentation page so you can make this Bible your own. Complete text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) of the Bible—written for kids just like you! Large print is easy to read. 20 full-color pages of  The Beginner’s Bible  illustrations help you better understand the stories. 66 book introductions and outlines explain who wrote each book of the Bible and what you will discover as you read. Dictionary of key Bible words will help you when you come to a word you don’t know. Reading plan of 150 famous Bible stories will give you a great overview of God’s Word. Brand new vibrant, three-dimensional art. My Review: I bet some of you are won...

The festive season is an expensive time, for obvious reasons. Christmas presents, food, drink, decorations and so much more. But there are a few other additional expenses too that you might not have thought about. Don’t be caught off-guard. Being aware of these hidden costs can help you plan and budget better and prevent running out of money or worse- running up debt. Here are a few of the things to watch out for. source Travel Will you be traveling to see family and friends this Christmas? If you’re going away then you, of course, have things like plane, train and bus tickets to think about. But even if you’re just visiting locally, the cost of fuel can add up. When you’re to and fro to parties and other social gatherings, driving to drop off charity boxes, going Christmas shopping and everything else- your gas usage is likely to be higher than usual Postage Most of us send at least a few cards and gifts in the mail each Christmas. And postage isn’t something you...

The top poem was for dad and the bottom poem for me!  :)   My heart melted when I opened mine...I had to work a long day for conferences and when I came home Titus was so excited for me to open it up.  I love him!  He is my little turkey! 

Written for children ages four to eight, Christmas Love Letters from God cleverly combines both prose and poetry as the story of Jesus’ birth unfolds. The book includes seven stories, beginning with Isaiah’s prophecy and ending with the visit of the wise men. Following each story, the child will find his or her own letter from God, folded into a small envelope attached to the page. Each letter begins with a space in which to write the child’s name, so each one can be specially addressed to the child. Written as if God is speaking, each personalized message gives the young reader a sense of wonder as they discover anew the Christmas holiday and the birth of Jesus. A very special Bible verse, entitled God’s Perfect Promise, also accompanies each story and letter as God’s personal words of love, promise, and hope. My Review: I have reviewed other "Love Letter" books and I adore them.  My kids enjoy having a letter just for them each time.    This version is a goo...

Christmas is coming! Are you planning a Holiday Gift Guide, recommended Christmas reading list for kids, or 25 Days of Christmas Books feature this year?  If so, Zonderkidz has some exciting new Christmas-themed books to share. Listed below, you will find our newest Christmas titles for kids: A Night of Great Joy Author/Illustrator:  Mary Engelbreit Description:  New York Times bestselling illustrator Mary Engelbreit presents A Night of Great Joy—a delightful picture book that celebrates the season and tells the story of the nativity through the performance of the children’s Christmas pageant. This book celebrates diversity by featuring child character illustrations of many races and ethnicities. Booklist says Engelbreit’s  A Night of Great Joy is “a colorful picture book will please her adult fans while pleasing many children.” On sale date:  October 4, 2016 Retail Price : $16.99 More Info & ...