by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on July 16, 2009
Playing computer video games is fun no doubt, but being able to kick it up a notch and play against other kids around the planet in multiplayer games. That’s right, your kids don’t have to sit at a computer competing against a computer they can play games with other kids. This not only teaches them to use strategy and pay attention to what is going on, but it creates friendships that would not otherwise have been forged. With Cranial Crunch your children can join tournaments that highlight their Nickelodeon knowledge; they can take the Rugrats on a food fight frenzy around Paris, or get soaked playing Wave Rave in a multiplayer game where only the best will stay dry.
Of course there’s more to be a kid than food fights and water gun battles, much more. Strategy games are great for getting the mind to work, and that is exactly what happens when you play games that have your kids favorite Nickelodeon characters such as Timmy Turner battling against aliens bent on destroying the earth, or iCarly who is devoted to being green and tries to get her cafeteria into a recycling craze, and your kids won’t get enough of Planktons Krusty Bottom weekly that has them taking pictures like the paparazzi, of the slimy undersea activity in Bikini Bottom.
All in all, Nick.com has hundreds of games that your kids can play, all of them super awesome, none of them boring, and there are enough games to keep even the pickiest of video game players happy, and you as a parent don’t have to worry about the games they are playing, because they are Nick games, with their favorite Nick characters. You, yourself may be surprised to find yourself playing one of the many adventure games or even getting caught up in a food fight in Paris.
by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on May 22, 2009
As an ambassador for Graco Nation, we are always receiving great perks. Like yesterday, when we received a fun little surprise… A birdhouse kit!
Zach was so excited when he saw the kit and immediately began inspecting it’s contents…. wood panels, glue, nails, and even paint.
He wasted no time but got to work right away, while a couple little brothers watched.
Just adding the perch and it was done in record time!
Way to go, Zach!!
Please note: We received the bird house kit as a
gift from
Graco Nation. This is not a sponsored post, nor a review.
by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on May 13, 2009
We love anything strawberry around here – strawberry jam, strawberry smoothies, strawberry cake. But, there is nothing quite like the juicy, fresh-out-of-the-garden strawberries.
Just ask Josh. Over the weekend he was super excited to pick them straight from Mimi and Poppy’s garden. He was the only one who seemed so interested in seeking them out, snipping them from the plant, and even washing these red little gems. I’m sure his favorite part was nibbling on them through the process, though.
Did you know that the strawberry is not a berry, but are actually considered an
accessory fruit? It’s true. True berries, such as blueberries and cranberries have seeds inside. The strawberry, however has its dry, yellow “seeds” on the outside – each of which is actually considered a separate fruit!
More fun strawberry facts:
- Seedy characters. On the average, there are 200 tiny seeds in every strawberry. If all the strawberries produced in California this year were laid berry to berry, they’d wrap around the world 15 times. That’s enough strawberries to provide every U.S. household with 12 pint baskets.
- Great tip for summertime! Strawberry juice combined with honey will reduce inflammation or sunburn. Rub the mixture thoroughly into the skin before rinsing off with warm water and lemon juice.
- A healthy snack. Eight medium-sized strawberries contain 140% of the U.S. RDA for Vitamin C. One cup of fresh strawberries provides about 88 milligrams of ascorbic acid, which more than meets the Recommended Daily Dietary allowance of 45 milligrams for the average adult. Vitamin C is well retained when the strawberries are handled carefully. Capping, injuring, cutting, or juicing, however, will reduce the vitamin content.
- Are you weird? Respondents to a recent national survey labeled strawberry lovers as “health conscious, fun loving, intelligent and happy.” Non-strawberry lovers, on the other hand, were described as “weird, boring, stuffy–picky, fussy eaters who avoid healthy foods.”
And some fun activities to do with your kiddos:
- Grow strawberries at home or visit a strawberry farm
- Hull and halve strawberries and you’ve got heart-shaped stamps. Let the berries stand at room temperature a few minutes after slicing to get the juices flowing.
- Have a strawberry taste test. Small and medium-sized strawberries tend to be a little sweeter and more flavorful than their giant counterparts. If you happen to find both a huge strawberry (usually from the supermarket and shipped in from a large farm) and a small strawberry (from local farms or your own garden), do a quick taste test. It’s a good lesson that bigger isn’t always better!
How do you like to eat your strawberries?
Facts courtesy of The California Strawberry Commission
Activities found at preschoolrock.com
by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on February 18, 2009
Have you ever made Kooky Dough? This stuff will keep your kiddos occupied for quite some time on a cold winter’s day! It’s super easy to make, using only three ingredients:
* 1 cup flour
* 1/4 cup salt
* 1/2 cup water
My kiddos are able to mix it all on their own, and then they each choose a color to dye it… Fun!!
What isn’t so fun is the mess!! But hey, they have a great time and their imagination runs wild with this Kooky Dough!
