In the past two days I’ve gotten 3 fantastic prayer ideas that really inspired me.

This evening I was reading to my son from his devotional book:

Sometimes I feel like the wording is a little bit young for him (he’s five) with the simplistic rhymes, but he really seems to enjoy the stories, and there is a prayer included as well as an activity to bring the message home.

Tonight’s story talked about fear and worry. The activity said to take turns naming things that you are afraid of/worried about. After each person’s statement, you say “God said be strong and do not fear”.

I’ll admit, I don’t always do the activities (some are not the kind that you do when you’re doing the bedtime routine with your little one), but tonight we did, and I’m so glad. My son told me some things that were….enlightening. We’ll have to work that activity again a little more often!

This morning, one of my online friends whom I admire, Sue from The Homeschool Chick, had a great post about praying over your children. In fact, it was a FANTASTIC post, and I strongly encourage you to read it: How to Speak God’s Word Over Your Children.

Yesterday, I came across another great post about

Little Girl with Pray Rock Art Print by Laura Monahan

It’s official! Hubby has (finally!) agreed with my desire to homeschool my boy for Kindergarten this year. I’ve ordered our curriculum and supplies, and we’ll be starting school next week – hooray!

Just a disclaimer here, I’m sure the kindergarten public school in our town is just fine. However I feel like my own son would benefit from individualized attention, as well as a program that is tailored to meet his learning style and needs.

So I’m super-excited and a little bit nervous. I love the Hip Homeschool Moms Facebook site for the encouragement and advice over there. If you haven’t checked them out yet, please do!

Don’t forget to join up in the hop:

Hooray! Today’s my day to write on the Seeds of Faith blog.

I’m a bit exhausted today – the little one was up most of the night, and I had no idea if I would be able to write about anything, but as always the Lord is faithful and gave me the words to say.

Please go check out the post on Opportunities for Charity and let me know what you think!

I used to hate having to play outside with the kiddos. Seriously, I had no idea what to do with them.

Finally, I learned that you really don’t have to “do” that much. The key ingredients are:

• to relax
• to have fun
• to give yourself permission to PLAY like a kid again

My kiddos are just as happy being pushed on the swing as they are laying in the grass “cloud gazing” or digging in the sandbox. And I found out that it really is FUN for me, too.

Not only that, but we all tend to be at our best when we’re outside. We fight less, and I am not the main entertainment as often!

Here’s a neat trick that we tried the other day.

We took a bottle of bubble solution (you can get these pretty inexpensively at Wal Mart or Christmas Tree Shop), a big bowl and an empty paper towel tube.

Dip one end of the tube into the bubble solution, blow through the other end, and VOILA!

Nice giant bubbles, eh?

You’ll notice that after a few times doing this, your tube will get a little soggy at the end. I just snipped off the soggy part with a pair of scissors, and it was Game On again! (It’s better to use a paper towel tube if you want it to last you a little while).

One thing that I often marvel at is how different my 2nd child’s experiences are and at an earlier age than we ever would have thought to do things with our 1st child! I never would have thought to let my son paint at an easel at 18 months!
Though in my defense, #1 we didn’t have as many things when he was that age, and #2 he is the type of child that experiences things with his WHOLE body. He would’ve been wearing that paint within seconds, I’m sure of it!

At any rate, I found that my 18-month-old can very easily maneuver bubble wands that look like this:

I do have to apologize – I have no idea where we got them from. But she can either wave the wand around (some spraying bubble solution does happen, but it produces bubbles just as often), or she has mastered actually blowing the bubbles and she’ll get a couple that way.

Anyway, get out and enjoy these beautiful days, and remember to just have fun. Your kids will thank you – and even if they forget to put it into words, you’ll see their thanks on those sweet little faces!

Hey there! Sorry I’ve been missing of late….I’ve been doing a lot of work on other projects, including my Momkaboodle site.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that you can get 50 4″x6″ photos for just $5 – includes shipping – from Snapfish. Just enter code AUG50PRINTS at checkout.

This offer expires tomorrow, August 22nd.

If you recall, I had posted a while back about their offer for 99 photos for 1 cent. While that was a fantastic offer (and I was able to get 99 photos of my youngest’s first year of life), it ended up being over $7 when shipping was factored in. So this $5 including shipping is really a great deal. You’re still here? Hurry – I don’t want you to miss this deal!

photo credit: theritters

The kids and I had a FABULOUS day yesterday.  We spent just about the WHOLE day outside.  I have no idea why we don’t do that more often!

We:

• played outside in the morning: having races with ping-pong balls and straws – so fun!
• had swimming lessons for my 5-year-old
• spent some time at the lake after lesson “swimming” and trying to catch these crazy minnows (no such luck).
• had a picnic lunch outside
• created a worm farm while the baby napped
• did some work in the garden together

What a fun day!

It’s days like these that remind me how special it is to be a mommy, and how blessed I am to be home with them.  It wipes out all of the days of fatigue, power struggles, major meltdowns and “crazy yelling mommy”.  It’s these days that I live for.

Thank you Lord for this special, gentle reminder!

We’re off to swim lessons again today and then to work.  Hopefully these great feelings will carry us through today, too!  If you wouldn’t mind, please pray that I will have inspiration at work today to keep the kiddos engaged and outta’ my hair for a little bit (without tormenting each other).  Thanks!

Before you go, please check out my Dapper Snappers Review and Giveaway

Oh, and if you’re coming from iFellowship, welcome!  I will try to get to everyone this afternoon or evening.  If you haven’t linked up yet, please do so below and don’t forget to visit our hosts over at Seeds of Faith!

I contacted Michelle, the mompreneur behind Dapper Snappers, and she very generously agreed to do a review and giveaway on my site. In addition, she is offering a Dapper Snappers coupon code for The Helping Mommy readers!

Dapper Snappers are a neat little contraption designed to hook through your child’s back belt loops to cinch the waist of their pants.   My 5-year-old is SO tall.  We have to go for the larger size in pants to get the right length, but the waist is so big that his pants fall down when he’s running.  Poor kid!

The first thing I noticed when I opened the envelope that the Dapper Snappers came in, was the adorable packaging:

Isn’t that cute?  It’s hooked around little cardboard belt loops that look like pants.  Love it!

Anyway, the website says that it’s for kids 9 months – 6 yrs (one size fits all).   I’ve tried them on my 5-year-old’s pants, and on my 18-month-old’s and I have to say that it works great.  The dapper snappers are made of an elastic-y material, and you have two sets of the bottom-snaps to choose from, making this easily adjustable.

A word of caution: remember to take it off and put it someplace safe before you throw it in the hamper.   I’ve put mine through the wash, and there weren’t any problems…..except for the fact that I couldn’t remember which pair of pants they were on (or who had worn them last), and we had a heck of a time finding it!

Couldn’t the kids just wear a belt?  Sure, if you want to add one more barrier between them and a successful trip to the potty!  Because the dapper snappers only use the loops in the back of the pants, it won’t interfere with potty training, etc.

The other day my son was picking out a pair of shorts.  I told him that they were too big and that he’d have to find a different pair.  He returned with “Yeah, but Mommy, it’s not anything the Dapper Snappers couldn’t handle!”.  So true, my son!  (I think the shorts were without belt loops though, so they did pose an issue after all).

We are very happy with the Dapper Snappers, and I will be needing to get several more pairs of them!

Here it is in action:

I think I may have taken liberties and used an extra belt loop…..but it still did the trick!  Sorry the picture is cropped kinda’ funny.  The poor kid sat in the wet grass just before this Mama-razzi accosted him with my camera and I just couldn’t post a big old wet spot on his drawers.  (money’s tight – trying to save on some future therapy bills!) 

These are not currently being sold in the big-box stores, but if you go on the Dapper Snappers website, you can do a search by state to find them in your area.

You can also purchase them on the website for $9.95/single pair or $26.85/3-pack. Oh, and did I mention that they come in multiple colors? Sweet!

You can use code HelpMom15off for 15% off your purchase of Single Dapper Snappers (Dapper Snapper Multipacks and Fundraisers not included). Code expires August 21st, 2010.

Michelle is offering 2 pairs of Dapper Snappers for one lucky reader. Are you ready to win? Here are the rules:

Please make sure to include your email address in your entries so I know how to contact you if you win.

Mandatory Entry (must be done for bonus entries to count)
Go to Dapper Snappers and tell me which color is your favorite.

Extra Entries Please leave a separate comment for each entry awarded

• Like Dapper Snappers on Facebook and tell them that The Helping Mommy sent you – 1 extra entry
• Follow Dapper Snappers on Twitter: @DapperSnappers – 1 extra entry
• Follow me on Twitter: @sdakin105 – 1 extra entry
• Tweet about this giveaway. Don’t forget to include @DapperSnappers and @sdakin105 in your Tweet – This can be done daily, 1 entry per day
• Subscribe via email on my sister site, MomKaboodle (must be verified) – 3 extra entries (3 separate comments)
• Follow me via Google Friend Connect on this site, or on MomKaboodle – 2 extra entries PER SITE

Some extra rules and my disclaimer:

Although I received a pair of Dapper Snappers to review and keep, I was not monetarily compensated in any way, nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review about this or any product. My opinions are my own.

This giveaway will run until 11:59 pm EST on Friday, August 20th, at which time a winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond back, or they will forfeit the prize and I will choose another winner.

This giveaway is open to US & Canada. Thanks, and good luck!

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. –Isaiah 40:31

Thank you Lord, for these wonderful words!

I have been feeling somewhat weary and faint, burdened and ineffective. Kind of like Sysiphus from Greek Mythology – you know, the one that had to roll a huge boulder up hill, only to have it roll all the way back down once he got it to the top?

But I know that I can stand on God’s promise to renew my strength and to help me soar.

Thanks for stopping by, and please join the Seeds of Faith iFellowship blog hop below!

Oh, I have a currently have a neat giveaway going on, and I have another one coming up in the next day or so, so stay tuned!

….no, I’m not.
I’m not perfect…
….but I like what I’ve got!

Do you know that Laurie Berkner song?

Well it certainly describes how I feel -- a whole lot of the time!

We had a rough day today. One of many, unfortunately. But with God’s grace we made it through. Hop on over to the post I wrote for Seeds of Faith today to find out more. I’d love to hear your suggestions, as well!

Oh yeah, here’s the song for you to enjoy:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uoKvs5a-fQ

The winner is comment #9, Libby.  Congratulations!

My little boy (who will be 5 next week!) is a bundle of energy. He’s ALWAYS in motion (including those jaws: jabber, jabber, jabber)!

I’m also constantly telling him to take something or other out of his mouth. I don’t know where the appeal is, but EVERYTHING goes in his mouth.

I came across Kid Companions Chewelry, and was so excited when they agreed to do a review and giveaway on my site.

What is Chewelry? I’m so glad you asked!

It is a wearable, chewable necklace. It is great for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder and oral motor issues. It also used to help kids with ADD and ADHD to focus on tasks.

photo courtesy of Chewelry.ca

Now my son has not been diagnosed with any of these disorders, nor do I think he needs to be (except in moments of dire frustration and aggravation!). Hehe, just kidding….sort of. But the kid does need to MOVE, and he does love to chew. We received the green heart necklace, and I had to condition myself not to immediately say “take that out of your mouth!”.

One of my favorite things about the design is the break-away clasp. You have to be so careful with anything the little guys put around their necks. If they’re running and get snagged on something…..yikes. If you tug on the Chewelry (with less than 5 lbs of pressure), the clasp will release making this safe for them to wear. You can even choose to personalize your Chewelry either with the child’s name, or even with any type of allergies they may have – peanut, dairy, etc.

Pierrette and Lorna, the co-owners of the Kid Companions line truly put a lot of thought into the design of this product. The heart shaped pendants have a dip in them as well as a rubbery protruding shape that allows for extra fidgeting (or “worrying”).

All parts can be washed with soap and water. The pendant itself is top-rack dishwasher safe. Everything is non-toxic and FDA approved. There is no latex, lead, BPA, PVC or Phthalates in the Chewelry products.

My son loves wearing the Chewelry, and it’s a relief to know that what he’s putting in his mouth isn’t toxic (which unfortunately we do have to worry about with toys. Yeesh!).

Please note that Chewelry is intended for children 3 and older.

Now, for the fun part! Kid Companions is giving away a Chewelry necklace to one of my lucky readers!

Please make sure to leave your email address in with your entry so I can contact you if you win!

Mandatory Entry (This must be completed for all extra entries to count)
Visit Chewelry.ca. Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know one thing you learned about Chewelry and which color you would choose if you were to win.

Extra (optional) Entries
Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry completed. (i.e., if you earn 3 extra entries, please mark as 3 separate comments).

1. Add yourself as a friend on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) – (give yourself 1 extra entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter (1 extra entry)
3. Follow Lorna from Chewelry on Twitter – (Give yourself 3 extra entries)
4. Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (leave me the link to your post) – (5 extra entries)
5. Visit my sister site, MomKaboodle and add yourself to the Google Friend Connect over there. (Give yourself 2 extra entries)
6. Subscribe to MomKaboodle via email (right sidebar). The subscription must be verified for this to count. – Give Yourself 4 Extra Entries
7. Tweet this giveaway up to 1 time per day. Don’t forget to add @LornadEnt and @sdakin105 to your tweet! (1 extra entry per day).

Contest Rules, etc: This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Friday August 6, 2010. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 72 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Open to US & Canada residents.

Although I received a complimentary Chewelry necklace to review and keep, my opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by the company. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.