Picture Perfect

When I posted this picture as part of the wedding post last week, I had a green light in the corner of my eye!  MaryAnne from Mama Smiles offered to photoshop it for me, and she did a great job.  I'm so very grateful for the people I have met and befriended in my blogging years.  I never ever would have thought I would know people online that I would call friends, but there are a few great people that I'm very happy to know, and MaryAnne is one of them.

This picture was taken with my cell phone in low light at a wedding reception, so it certainly isn't perfect, but I still love it.

Snacks and Stories

I love to make special snacks to go along with books.  I will be sharing them over at my new blog, Snacks and Stories.  That blog is public so there will be no personal information and no pictures of the kids over there, just snacks and stories.

Here are just a few things I have posted over there:

Snowflake Quesadillas

Art with Food

Jello Painting

and more!  So, click here to visit the new site and let me know what you think.

I will continue to post personal things and pictures here, so be sure to check in at both sites!

Busy Busy Busy

The last few days have been packed with appointments and activities, and tomorrow we are having a birthday party for C, so we have a lot of things going on right now.  I don't usually write posts when I won't be blogging or reading blogs, but I have already received a few emails asking if I was in labor or if the baby was born, so I thought I would let you know that we are just busy!

I hope to resume blogging early next week!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lost Posts

Am I the only one who is still missing posts?  This whole experience has been very frustrating.  I think Blogger could do more to keep us informed.  They have our email addresses - why can't they update us?  Why do I have to search for information?  According to Blogger, "nearly all posts have been restored" - Whoopdy doo!  I have two missing posts and one missing draft.  I guess I learned my lesson; it's time for me to draft my posts somewhere else.

Win Your Wish List

Growing Tree Toys is currently holding a Win your Wish List contest! Anyone who creates or edits a wish list at GrowingTreeToys.com from Oct. 1-31, 2010 is eligible to win - up to $1,000 in toys! Visit Growing Tree Toys for details.

I made a wish list and a few of my favorite toys from the list are:

The Guidecraft See and Store Dress Up Center

C and R both play dress up more than anything else and I think this is a very cool way to organize all of the dress up stuff we have thrown into bins.

Doinkit Magnetic Darts

I think T (my 13 year old)  would like playing darts.  I like that they are magnetic.

Magna Tiles 100 Piece Clear Colors Set

I think all three of my children (4, 6, and 13) would have a great time building with these tiles!

Are you making a wish list?

Tag, You're It

Jenny from Our Nifty Notebook tagged me in this fun game of questions.  The rules of this game require me to answer eight questions from Jenny and then come up with eight new questions and tag some blog friends.  Here is what she wanted to know:

1. What was your favorite childhood show/cartoon?  My favorite childhood show was Mister Rogers.  I watched this show until I was WAY TOO OLD, but I adored him.  I wonder what my children would think of the show.  My husband does not know this and when he reads it, he is going to laugh and laugh and laugh.
2. What does your child/children want to be for Halloween?  (At my house, this changes daily, so just use their latest idea)  This changes at my house too, but as of right now C wants to be a soldier and R wants to be Alice in Wonderland.
3. What's your favorite color?  GREEN
4. What is your go to recipe for parties or get togethers?  Rachael Ray's black bean salsa for an appetizer and Mexican Brownies for dessert.  Click on the links and try these recipes; people are always begging me to make these and give them the recipes.  You will love them.
5. What's your favorite website?  I love my library and the website is very helpful to me.  It helps me keep track of the books we have out, due dates, fines (ugh), and I can renew or reserve books with the click of a mouse. 
6. Do you have a favorite family tradition?  I love our Christmas traditions.  My favorite is purchasing frame ornaments with the year engraved on them and putting recent photos on the tree.  I love to look at how much the kids have grown over the years when we decorate the tree. 
7. If you had an extra $500, what would you do with it?  I would put most of it in savings, but first I would get a facial and a pedicure! 
8. Has your child/children started their Christmas list yet?  HA!  They started the day after Christmas!  Actually, they have not sat down to compile the lists, but the catalogs are already coming in the mail and they have plenty of ideas.

I am tagging the following bloggers:

1. Ticia from Adventures in Mommydom
2. Natalie from Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns
3. Leah from Almost Unschoolers
4. Lynn from Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile
5. Julie from Just Playin' Around
6. Sherri from Families Are Fun
7. Annette from Live, Learn, Love

Here are my questions for you:

1. What is your favorite fictional book?
2. What was your college major?  If you did not go to college, what would your major be today if you had to pick one? 
3. If you could visit one place in the world, where would  you go?
4. What is your biggest challenge as a mom?
5. What did you eat for breakfast today?
6. What kind of music do you listen to most often?
7. What is your least favorite chore?
8. Pretend that money is no object and you need a new outfit; where would you go to buy it?

Okay, my bloggy friends, consider yourselves tagged.  I can't wait to read your answers.  If I didn't tag you and you want to play along, feel free to post your answers.  If you read my blog, but don't know the seven bloggers I listed above, click on the links and check out their sites.

GALTime - AMBASSADORS WANTED!!!!

GALTime.com, the online magazine for women, is going regional and is looking for AMBASSADORS in cities across the country.

GALTime is looking for writers and bloggers to help with local content - events, happenings, and anything relevant to your respective market.  In return, you will be promoted on the GALTime.com local and national site, plus you will be tied to a traditional media partner in your market.  There are also opportunities for you to make money through GALTime live events in your area!

Are you interested?  Write to ambassadors@galtime.com.  Put the word "Ambassador" and your city in the subject line.  Please let them know that you heard about it here at Superheroes and Princesses.

Raising Playful Tots Index

I am so happy to be listed in the Raising Playful Tots Index. If you are wondering what this is all about, here is one quote from the site: "Compiled in one place are bloggers who love play. They promote early childhood play with a variety of play activities and inspirational ideas for our under 8 children in one place."   

Click here to read the list and find a lot of great blogs.  I am happy to say that a lot of my blogland friends are on the list too! 

Superheroes and Princesses is listed at number 33 in the top 100 list and it definitely made my day to be mentioned.  It always feels good to know that someone is reading my blog and thinks it is noteworthy!  Thank you for reading. 

Blog Award

I love blogging.  My real purpose for blogging is to preserve family memories.  I want to remember as many details as possible.

I never expected to make any friends through blogging.  If you asked me if it was possible to create friendships over the internet before I started blogging, I would have told you that you could not create "real friendships" and people who claim to have done this are probably weird.  Well, call me a weirdo.

I am rambling here, but I recently received a blog award from a few blogland friends and I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate the award.  It is so nice to know that people enjoy reading what I write here.

Ticia from Adventures in Mommydom, Natalie from Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns, Angela from Confessions of a Non-Domestic Housewife, Sherry from A Little Fun With Me and Lu, and Shannon from Mommies Little Artists were kind enough to think of me and pass along The Lemonade Stand Blog Award.  Thank you so much for reading my blog, and for sharing the great activities you do and ideas you have on your own blogs. You should also know that I would be giving this award to all of you if you hadn't given it to me first.

The Lemonade Stand Award is awarded for being a blogger who shows great attitude and gratitude. The rules for accepting this award are:
- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.

- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.

- Link the nominees within your post.

- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

There are so many blogs that I enjoy reading.  Today, I am passing this award along to:

My Family, My Forever - because you are truly one of the most genuine people I know and I value your friendship
Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile - because you have introduced me to so many wonderful books
Frugal Family Fun Blog - because so many of the great ideas that my children give me credit for actually come from you
Our Nifty Notebook - because you are so sweet and I always enjoy the honesty in your blog posts
Teach Mama - because we seem to think on the same wavelength so often, and because you help me teach my children valuable pre-reading skills 
A Mommy's Adventures - because your posts are always a joy to read
Funny Days with Mommy and Maddie - because you are a New Englander, you share awesome recipes (cranberry bliss), and your crafts are great too
Live, Learn, Love - because you are one of my original blogging friends
The Activity Mom - because you have so many incredible ideas
Our Random Acts of Reading - because I love this project and I really want more  people to visit your blog to learn more about Random Acts of Reading

Go visit some of these great blogs.

Hello!

We have moved, but we are still getting organized. In the meantime, for those of you who wanted to see that photo of my sister and I when we were kids, click here for the updated post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all enjoy this day with your families. We will be moving over the next few days so hopefully I will have some time to blog soon. Have a wonderful day!

My Interview

I was interviewed for an educational activities column on Examiner. A different blogger is featured each week, and this week you can find me there. Here is the link. If you read it, let me know what you think!

Growing and Learning by Leaps and Bounds

Growing and Learning by Leaps and Bounds was accidentally deleted. YIKES! If you are looking for Shannon and her awesome posts, you can now find her at Mommies Wise Little Bookworms.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

I saw this on Valerie's Frugal Family Fun blog and had to try it for myself.

C and R did not have a lot of patience with me on this. I really wanted to add more stars and try to get them together in a few photos but they were not interested. It was fun for me though.

If you are not familiar with Valerie's blog, you should check it out. I have bookmarked so many of her ideas to try that I think I should start a Frugal Family Fun folder. When you visit her blog, be sure to read the comments. Her husband, Mark, comments regularly and he cracks me up.

Pay It Forward

Recently, a blog that I follow with great interest, Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile, had a post about a Pay It Forward game. I had the opportunity to receive a mystery package and then continue the game, so I jumped at the chance. I think it is fun to receive a little surprise in the mail, and I love the idea of sending out surprises to three of my bloggy friends. Luckily, I was one of the first three people to respond and I received my package in the mail this week. I screamed with excitement when I opened the package because inside was an Explore Utah Activity Book! This book will be a big hit when we learn about Utah for our Fifty States Project. Honestly, I am so excited about this book that I would love to just abandon my plans and jump to Utah. I am trying to be patient though!

So, would you like to play along? The first three people who comment to tell me that they are interested in playing will receive a mystery package from me. The only rule is that you have to agree to pay it forward by doing the same thing for three other people. There are no rules about what you send; it is just a little surprise to brighten the day of one of your blog readers. Honestly, I have no idea what I am going to send and it will probably depend on who wins.

Now, hurry up and leave me a comment!

Teach Mama

Do you read Teach Mama? You should. Her blog is amazing and I have used so many of her ideas. I am especially fond of her Quick Tricks and her Early Literacy Games. Anyway, her blog post today features me and some of my favorite math activities! Go on over there and read it! Let me know what you think.

You love me, you really love me!

I am so grateful for the friends I have met through this blog. I never expected to befriend people this way, and I truly feel blessed to be able to share ideas and learn from other bloggers. Two of my blogging friends have honored me with blogging awards and I am finally passing them along!

Ticia from Adventures in Mommydom gave me the Super Comments Award. If you are not familiar with her blog, check it out. She writes about everday life with her twin boys and daughter. I am passing the Super Comments award along to Valerie at the Frugal Family Fun Blog. She has the greatest ideas, and her comments are always so genuine. I am also passing this award along to Susana at Our Homeschool Fun. Susana comments with great regularity and is so nice. Also, if you are looking for giveaways or need a place to publicize your giveaway, she is the host of Friday's Gracious Giveaways!

The blogger buddie award was given to me by my friend Kristi from the Orange Juice blog. She tells it like it is and I love that! Kristi is funny too, and she emails me. She also sent my children postcards from CA for our fifty states project; how nice is that? If she wasn't on the other side of the country, I'm sure we would actually hang out!

I am happily passing this award along to my friend The Dairy Queen. We worked together to create the Super Summer Swap, and she is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. The Dairy Queen also sent my children postcards from her home state and from another state where she was vacationing with her family! Go visit her blog because you will love her, and while you are there congratulate her - she is pregnant with her third child!

Thank you for reading my blog, passing awards along to me, and befriending me!

Replying to Comments

I LOVE comments! What blogger doesn't? It keeps us going; it makes us realize that there are people out there who actually care about what we have to say! Anyway, occasionally people ask questions in the comments section and I try to reply as soon as possible. A while ago, I read this post by Carisa at 1+1+1=1 and realized that commenting and responding is much easier if you set your Blogger profile to show your email address. Why is it easier? When you leave a comment for someone, they can respond right from the comment without having to go to your blog and leave a comment in a post.

If you are not Blogger savvy (I am soooo not) and need directions, go over to the Homeschool Creations blog and read this post. It really is easy to do. If I can do it, you definitely can.

If you are concerned about linking your email address to your Blogger profile, consider setting up a gmail account. I did this and all of my email from that account is filtered into my personal email account. Simple!

Please consider doing this so that you can get quick answers to any questions you may have, and so that we can all communicate a little easier!

Subscribe to my blog via email

If you look on the left side of this blog there is a new feature. You can now subscribe to my blog and receive all of my posts via email. You don't have to worry about missing a thing because my posts will be delivered to your inbox. So, if you like to read my blog please consider subscribing.

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Friday's Gracious Giveaways

I love giveaways! I bet you do too, and now you will be able to find a bunch of great giveaways at the weekly blog carnival hosted by Susana at Our Homeschool Fun. Susana will be hosting the carnival every Friday beginning tomorrow!


If you have a giveaway that you want to link to her carnival, here are the rules:

1. You must always link back to her blog, Our Homeschool Fun, on your
"giveaway" post.
2. You may choose to use the "Friday's Gracious Giveaways" button in your
post, but do not have to.
3. Your giveaway must meet ONE of the following criteria to be linked:
homeschool/education related, children/baby related or Mom/family related.
4. Please enter your "Friday's Gracious Giveaways" post link and not your
front page blog link back to the "Mr. Linky".

Please email Susana at customblog@gmail.com with your giveaway details if you
would like to be featured in the upcoming weeks!

If you don't have a giveaway to post, but just hope to win something cool, then be sure to follow her blog and enter to win those giveaways! How cool is this?