Sparkle Stories winner and a deal for EVERYONE!

Sparkle Stories have truly been a gift this last week.  I was flying solo this weekend as Super Mama and when bedtime rolled around I had no issues getting the boys snuggled in because they couldn't wait to hear the new story.  They have enjoyed all the stories.  Thanks to all that took the time to throw their name into the bucket.  It was a lot of fun to see.
I used Random Number Generator to select your number.   

Here is the list of people who entered in the order that you commented.  Since I am an amateur give away blogger I want to show you how I did things. 

1.  Amy
2. Christina
3. Kelly
4.  Shoan
5.  Haley
6.  Peggy
7.  Jennie
8.  Raina
9.  sshokoui@hotmail.com
10.  MOMOF2
11.  Christine
12.  youareyourown
13.  The Tompkins Family
14.  Lisa
15.  Lynelle
16.  Hannah
17.  Holly Fish
18.  Jessica
19.  Kim
20.  Jamie
21.  April
22.  Heather
23.  Amy
24.  Jessie

And the winner is number 10....MOMOF2!  I will email you the info.  You have 24 hours to return my email otherwise, I will pick a different winner. 

TO THE REST OF YOU.    The lovely folks at Sparkle Stories are offering a wonderful discount to all FOR THE LOVE OF NAPS readers — $1 for the first month! Choose from one of three Sparkle Stories story packages, and try four weeks of Sparkle goodness for one dollar. Go to: http://www.sparklestories.com/trysparkle/ Use the magic code  4F38 to receive your discount!.




One of our bedtime solutions, during one of the numerous "awful dreadful quirky stages" that our children have gone through, has been using books on CD to help them drift off to sleep peacefully. And when this mama is wearing her super cape and flying solo during the bedtime routine...having some fun audio books in my pocket are a huge help. I can read the crew a few picture books all together and then snuggle in the boys and hit play.  We don't use audio books every night.  We did for a while, always after reading with them.  But it is a special treat these days. 

Sparkle Stories, a unique children's audio book subscription, crossed my path recently and I have been lucky enough to get to try them out and GIVEAWAY a three month subscription to one of you.  Sparkle Stories is a unique subscription that delivers audio books to you on a weekly basis.  The stories are wholesome with cute characters and nice lessons.  The stories all range from 15-25 minutes long.  PERFECT to fall asleep to.   Your children can look forward to a new story each Friday.

 The Sparkle Stories are delivered to your storybox.  You can download them and burn them to a disc or play them on any MP3 player or ipad type device.  I put them on my  ipad and burned them to CD.  So we are set for travel too.  When I burned them I put each story on it's own cd but doubled it up.  That way they listen to the one story twice...helping with comprehension. 

Audio books are a great learning tool for children.  They allow the audience to practice their listening skills and let their imaginations create the images in their head -instead of limiting their thinking to the pictures in a book.  And how great to not have to leave your house to find a new story for your children to enjoy.

We are trying three of the series options.  And today we got our first stories.  Tonight they picked to listen to Luck and the BlueJay.

But here are the three stories and a little summary of what they are about.

Martin and Sylvia is one series.  The first story we received was titled:
Telling the Truth and a little blurb about the story...
Sylvia accidentally breaks one of Martin’s inventions, and blames the damage on their cat Pickles. “Pickles did it!” But oh how Sylvia feels miserable — all day! Momma knows just what to do: she whispers a little something in Sylvia’s ear, and Sylvia knows just what’s needed next.


Another series is So Many Fairies and the first story we received was titled:
Luck and the BlueJay
Ripley is a bold bluejay with quite a temper. For the past few years he has developed a reputation for his temper, and consequently, other birds have begun to avoid him. A host of fairies teach Ripley about finding inner peace and calm using the help of, well, something very surprising!


And another series is At Home with Martin and Sylvia and the first story we received is:
Visiting the New Baby
Momma’s assistant Amy has just had a baby, and Martin and Sylvia can’t wait to see her. They do all sorts of things to get ready to meet her: they make cards and little fuzzy gifts, and plan out a nutritious meal. But nothing prepares them for the magical moment of seeing a new baby for the first time.

The man that narrates the stories is very soothing.  It is just right for a calm end to the day.  The boys loved listening to the stories last night...even though there weren't dragons or Star Wars guys in them.

So a three month subscription...that is a couple hours of audio books ladies.  Perfect for in the car, bedtime, naptime, quiet time, art time (they can listen and you can pause the story so they can draw what they see in their imagination).  The possibilities are endless. 

Give a shout out and tell me one thing you are doing for you 

SCRATCH THAT - Miss Syd is ALMOST 13 months

Miss Syd is ALMOST 13 months.

Loves mama's phone.

Little Legos.

And avocado.

I swear she tries to say Henry.

She looks for them.

And naps when they are both away.

Like she knows it is good to nap when they are away so she doesn't miss when they are here.

At Christmas she was shy and clung to me.

On her birthday she went right to the Grandmas and Grandpas.

She plays at ECFE.

But still prefers to be close to mama.

 She still wakes in the night and we are about to embark on the stopping nursing in the night thing.

She still sucks her two fingers and holds her arm up across her face for comfort.

  

 She is starting to play with toys.

She loves to put things in and take things out.

She bops to music like a gifted keeper of the beat.

She loves doors and windows.

She crawls fast.  Really fast.

She wakes up these mornings and spends some time with just daddy.

She is okay.

But as soon as mama appears then it is all about snuggling and whining and clinging. 

frustrating. but also adoring.

She goes along for the ride to drop the boys off or pick them up.

She sits pretty good in the Target shopping cart...she is starting to try and spin around in the seat though.

She will talk loudly to the boys when she knows they are playing around but not near her.

She is learning the word no.

Playing peek a boo makes her smile.

Singing songs and dancing in front of her makes her giggle.

She knows what she wants and she will let you know what she thinks of you if you don't give it to her. 

She makes her daddy and I pause and smile and watch her.

I think we are both taking her in and realizing how glad we are to have her.

How amazing the time has flown.

And how quickly she is becoming her own little person.

We love you Miss Syd.

We love you so much.

A Crafty Valentine dream is squashed.

Pinterest is addicting and inspiring.  And I have been seeing such cute Valentine ideas.  So before we went shopping for our supplies/Valentines etc.  I showed the boys these cute ideas.  I didn't use the word cute though...  I had high hopes that they would be excited to do something crafty and unique.  I said,    

"cereal-sly, aren't these cool!"

Source: bestfriendsforfrosting.com via Sarah on Pinterest

or, "Check these out.  We could totally do this!"

Source: Uploaded by user via Sarah on Pinterest

And, "These are SUPER awesome."

Source: zakkalife.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

And the boys smiled and giggled.  But they still insisted they wanted to go to the store and pick out a box of the darn cartoon ones.  So that's what we did.  BUT LOOK!  For a whooping $5.00 each boy got to pick their dream box.  And they both sat down and didn't complain a bit about writing them out.  Henry got lots of practice writing his name.  LOVE THIS.  And Charley finally was able to write his friend's names and his names fast enough that he didn't get bored with it and small enough that he could do it himself to his satisfaction.  We went back today to buy an extra box so they could just have fun doing the sticker puzzles but all of them were sold out (the kind they picked).  Glad I had my act together in time. 

**While shopping for their Valentine cards we ran into a mom from Charley's class.  She told me that her son was the same way.  He wanted the store bought.  But she said that her kindergarten daughter is making her own with doilies and sparkles and all that jazz.  She tipped her head at Sydney and reminded me that I still have a chance at a crafty homemade Valentine. 

****The boys did sound interested in doing these cute ones for their teachers!  We won't buy the rolos until this weekend though...because if we bought them today...well let's just say, they wouldn't be here by Tuesday.

Source: make-it-do.com via Sarah on Pinterest

This morning as we were packing up for school Charley said, "Remember mom, next Halloween I want to go to Tar*get to get my costume."  Ugh.  Already they are insisting on store bought instead of creatively put together by us. 

Ordinary moments...a glimpse at our life lately...

Early mornings mean that mama and Miss Syd get to snuggle in our pink and red pjs.

Early mornings mean that bath time in the evening is calming and does it's job.

I finally ordered a picture of our tribe to replace the picture of just the boys.

This instagram picture does not do it justice.  But I am pretty happy with it.

I clicked the wrong size so it takes up the whole frame.  But it fits.  So that is fine.

Henry's early wake time has him curled up enjoying a cartoon every afternoon.

I also got the picture wall all finished. 

I have tackled projects like our front craft closet.  Ed doesn't think we need this space...but I remind him that there are women who have whole rooms devoted to their crafting.

And does everyone agree that no matter how well you think you have craft crap organized..it will still be a mess in a couple days.

We have these great friends that got a new bedroom set. 

And they offered us their old one.

I got us some new bedding too.  It is a little crazy but it is bright and fun.

In this picture the duvet hasn't been inserted into the cover so it looks flat.

 And since the rest of the room is lacking a lot of other decoration...it works.

The set came with the bed frame, bedside table, and dresser. 

This has changed our lives, thank you Katie and Casey.

Our bedroom is no longer just a dump spot but a place where I fall asleep much more peacefully.

Syd has blossomed at ECFE and now is down and playing just like the big kids.

She is even making her own little friends.

This little guy found her very alluring.

Target has some cute little separates for only $5.00 a piece. 

So little sis got a few new items...including these little blue and white stripped leggings that I love.

After busy mornings at ECFE class, Sydney and I fight over the last avocado.

I have mastered picking out great avocados and have gotten really good at cutting them up.

This is one of my favorite snacks these days...

sprinkled with just a teeny tiny bit of kosher salt.

And after snacks or lunch I have taken time this week to sit and relax.

Still loving Words with Friends and Doodle Find is a new obsession on the iPad.

I even enjoyed one of these Dr. Peppers...that I haven't had since I was pregnant.

Lately, I am trying to capture the beauty in our ordinary moments around here.

Snuggled in, finding contentment in the simple little things.

It has been a week that has pushed me as a mama.

And the week isn't even over yet. 

But I notice that recognizing all the little moments that make up some of the best moments in our day...make the sometimes long days ...well, not so long.

Today:

On our way to Henry's school I decided to keep Charley home.  He just has a cold, and I would normally send him to school with it.  But it has his face all dry and crusty and since I LOVE him and am cringing if he comes close...I figured we would take a day and try to get things looking a little less crusty.

So the boys are enjoying each other.

Syd didn't take a morning nap. 

So she is going on hour two this afternoon.

We bought new chalk today at the store...I know, totally weird for February in MN. 

But there is no snow and the temps are a wee bit more mild so I think we will head out and do that later.

To those that are aware of my week...2 down, 2 to go. 

I wanted to thrive and not just survive...but I think we will just celebrate the idea of "survival" this week.  And if there are moments when we thrive...well bonus!

To Colleen and Raina - GO! 

quick thoughts to start my day...

Cinnamon rolls are how we roll this morning.
Frosting smiles, sugar highs, with a latte side for mama...Thursday mornings like this deserve a treat.

Crabby moments happen when Sydney finds it funny to throw her hard boiled egg all over the kitchen floor laughing...and as I pick it up she is giving me the bonus of smooshed strawberries...possibly one lands in my hair and I have to sit pause and breathe and then maybe laugh- inside of course- because Miss Syd knows NO and we are working on this.

Sparkle Stories are saving me these nights. The boys are so excited to hear the stories and that means it is quiet by 7:30 in our house. Go here to enter to win some Sparkle Stories.  More than 20 people have entered.  woo hoo! 

Ipad app that has me so distracted...doodle finds. Annoying but has you wanting to play one more time. Because, one more time means you will beat your Brother in Law Andy's score.

How to Live on the edge as a stay at home mom...drive your kids to school with no bra on, in your pjs, not showered, not brushing your teeth, or combing my hair. . Woo hoo! Better drive the speed limit. Really chance it by whipping through the Starbucks drive thru lane.

Celebrate your victory by taking a long hot shower once boys are at school and little sis is down for a nap. We'll see.

More blogging to come.

Kid Activity: Silly People

In 2009 I posted this kid activity and recently I tried it again with Henry. It requires just a wee bit of prep. I cut out people and chopped them up. I think back in 2009 I called it 'Doctor' and put the spin on the activity that Charley had to help people have all their body parts again. This time I used the spin that Henry was just assembling funny people. He giggled.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway here.