It’s MY Binky Recalls Personalized Pacifiers Due to Choking Hazard

If you have any of the following pacifiers, be sure to quit using them and following the above link to find out what to do with them.

This morning we are saddened by the sudden loss of our projection TV. This is the TV we had in the loft and was used primarily for gaming. I am not sure what we will do now that it has quit working, quite unexpectedly I might add. We can’t afford another large screen TV at the moment and I will not allow games to be played on the plasma downstairs. I guess we just won’t be playing any games for a while. Expect my kids to dress in black for at least the next week.

Melanie at Livin’With Me! is hosting a giveaway for products from the Stubby Pencil Studio.  Stubby Pencil Studio was started by Kate Rosenthal in 2006 when she realized the need for eco-friendly and do-it-yourself art products for children.

Here is what the $70 prize package will include:

Green to the Letter Stationery set including:
4 packs of Color ‘n Kids cards (winner’s choice of styles)
Set of 10 Smencil pencils
Set of 12 eco colored pencils
Set of 12 Watercolor crayons
Box of 24 Soy crayons
Trio Pencil Sharpener

This giveaway will end on July 4th at 11:59pm EST.   Be sure to visit Livin’With Me! to enter.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can use this coupon code: BDAY08 for a free pack of Color ‘n Kids cards: Six Birthday Wishes ($7.95 value) good thru 12/31/08. The coupon code goes in at checkout - on the review your payment page - on the left hand side there is a spot to click that says Questions, comments or BONUS CODE.

Have fun and good luck!

I got a new Gary Fong Lightsphere II (cloudy) for my camara today.  So I decided to play around with it and see if it lived up to it’s reputation.  I have to say, it is awesome!!!!  Elle decided she wanted to pose for me.  Instead she insisted on jumping up in down.  Still, I think the pictures turned out pretty cute!

• Dollar Tree Recalls Glue Guns Due to Fire Hazard

• Nordstrom Recalls Girls’ Sandals Due to Choking Hazard

• Jardine Cribs Sold by Babies”R”Us Recalled Due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazard

I got a couple of toots this week.

• JD came home from a sleepover at a neighbors house right on time and I didn’t even have to call and remind him!
• EL is starting to read a little. She knows _an and _at words and has knows a lot of the basics, such as cat, dog, mom, and dad. I am so proud of her.

Today I am going to share my kids favorite summer reads.  I have a 4 year old, a 12 year old, and a 14 year old.  So you can see that we have a variety of summer reads in our house.

Here are my four year old daughters favorites:

Here are my 12 year old sons picks:

My 14 year old sons picks:

See more Kids Summer Reading picks at The Friendly Book Nook.  what are your kids reading this summer?

Wal-Mart Recalls Additional Charm Key Chains Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

• Children’s Overalls Recalled by Sara Lynn Togs Due to Choking Hazard
• Children’s Merry-Go-Rounds Sold Exclusively at Toys R Us Recalled by Pacific Cycle Due to Fall Hazard

Father’s Day is just around the corner.  What have you decided to get your Papa for his big day???

Once you know what you are going to get him, why not print out one of these certificates to go along with it.  You can print out certificates for dads, grandpas, and other special guys - for FREE! They make great last-minute gifts for all the special guys in your life and are perfect for Father’s Day or any time. Choose from a variety of certificate styles, both colored and black and white for you to print out and color:

• Printable Certificates for Dads
• Printable Certificates for Grandpas
• Printable Certificates for Uncles
• Printable Certificates for Guys

• Backyard Leisure Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard
• The Children’s Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets Due to Excessive Lead

I found the neatest website for preschoolers and early readers.  It promises to help your children learn to read and it is FREE!  It is fabulous and my daughter loves it.

Starfall is an educational website that is used by parents and teachers as an inexpensive way to inspire a love of reading and writing.  Primarily designed for first grade, Starfall is also useful for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and second grade.

Here is just a couple of examples of what other parents have to say about Starfall:

I’ve told every mother I know about this site, especially ones with children who are having trouble reading. When I ask how their children are doing now, the parents tell me they are amazed by the results. Your site makes kids want to read!

— Parent, Ontario

Both my 5 year old and 3 year old basically taught themselves to read thanks to your website. My 3 year old is reading easy reader books already and my 5 year old (who has been reading for over 2 years) is already at a 3rd grade reading level! The variety of subjects on your website is amazing! There are few moments in my life that have made me smile more than hearing my daughter say, “We just finished Offenbach, but can we listen to Tchaikovsky before bed?” Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful, wonderful website!!!

— Homeschooling Parent, Texas

If you know of similar educational websites, please let us know by leaving a link in the comments section.

1. Simmons Kids Recalls Crib Mattresses Due to Entrapment Hazard
2. Children’s Animal Tracking Explorer Kit Recalled by MindWare; Contains Chemical That Irritates Skin and Eyes

George Ella Lyons is an Appalachian author and poet with a long list of children’s books to her credit. Her poem, Where I’m From, begins in this way: I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride…

Years ago Fred at Fragments from Floyd set a challenge to adapt the poem to your own history.  Below is my version to share with all of you. 

I am from Silver Creek as it flows past Aunt Deedy’s home, from French toast breakfasts and peacock calls.

I am from the pink stone house surrounded by farm land.

I am from the tobacco flowers blooming in the fields, the honeysuckle so sweet on the vine.

I am from Sunday suppers and gap teeth, from Robert and Linda and my grandparents who loved me so well.

I am from the games of Rook and Scrabble.

From mud puddles and tree forts, where cousins cavorted on those long summer days.

I am from Kirksville Baptist and memories of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Christmas programs that still fill my mind.

I’m from the Kentucky hills, Parkerhouse rolls and pecan pie.

From the smell of Grandmother’s cooking, the sound of Granny’s sewing machine, and the hum of Papaw’s tractor.

I am from dresser drawers full of photographs that capture my ancestors as they were and they are precious to me.

If you make you own version, please be sure to share a link to it in the comments section.  I would love to read about where you are from.