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Top 10 Parenting Books for Raising Boys

July 22 by Janssen

Top 10 Books for Parenting Boys - This is such a great list, #3 and #5 are going on my audiobooks list!

I have a confession to make. Since discovering the absolute genius that is audiobooks (see here for a primer on how to get started if you've never read with your ears before), I'm rapidly reverting back to the bookworm I was as a child. It's glorious. I've even participated in a mini book club with my mom friends about the book Little Girls Can Be Mean. Having started exploring the topic of parenting girls, I now want delve into the subject of sons (appropriate since I have two of them). So, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: best books for raising boys, book nook, MPMK, parenting books for boys, parenting books for raising sons

Honk! Books for Your Truck/Train/Car-Loving Child

March 25 by Janssen

A dozen great books for kids who love trucks/cars/"mighty machines" etc. Our favorites are #s 1, 2, 11 and 12!

After the popularity of Princess Books You'll Actually Want Your Daughter to Read, Janssen and I knew we had to do a list for the boys.  We settled on vehicles because that's what the little guys in our lives are into (and my little girl as well - of course this list is for both genders).  Hope you enjoy this roundup - #1, 2, 11, and 12 are especially popular at our house. Last summer, my sister and I were driving in the car together, with no children. I interrupted her mid-sentence to say, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: books for boys, construction books for kids, construction vehicle books, truck books, truck books for kids, vehicle books for kids

10 St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids

March 10 by Janssen

We're on day two of forced homeschooling- it's time for some St. Patricks Day books!  With the Irish holiday just around the corner, these ten St. Patrick's Day books are perfect for celebrating all things green and gold. Whether you're looking for an informational book about the holiday, a classic folk tale, or just a fun tale of a tricky leprechaun, one (or more) of these books will fit the bill for your preschool or elementary-age child. There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: children's books, st patrick's day, St. Patrick's Day books, St. Patrick's Day books for kids

St. Patrick’s Day Treat: Rainbow Drinks

March 4 by Janssen

Such a quick and easy way to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with the kids - love the sherbet version at the end of the post!

I love celebrating the holidays with my kids - they have such a knack for getting excited about each and every one. But that doesn't mean I want to stay up all night frosting cupcakes! Simple but special treats that take under 5 minutes to prepare are much more up my alley. Here's Janssen with a great one... Last year, I made some of that rainbow jello that's floating around on the Internet to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It looked great, but it took hours to make (because it had to set between … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday Projects, Janssen, Seasonal Fun Tagged With: kid snacks, kid treats, rainbow dessert, rainbow fruit drink, recipe, st patrick's day, St. Patrick's Day dessert, St. Patrick's Day treats

Giant Chocolate-Dipped Marshmallows

December 3 by Janssen

I had grand ambitions of baking a fancy madeira wine cake for each of my neighbors this year... guess how far I've gotten. I think, instead, I'm going to make a batch or two of these over-sized chocolate marshmallows with the kids and gift a few to each neighbor.  I love Janssen's idea of putting them on a stick and adding them to a decorative bag filled with hot cocoa mix in the bottom! Psst one quick thing... Christmas is coming SOON, be sure to check out our SUPER POPULAR toy gift guide … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Janssen, Seasonal Fun Tagged With: chocolate dipped giant marshmallows, chocolate marshmallows, Christmas dessert, Christmas gift, Christmas treat, dessert, dipped marshmallows, neighbor gift, teacher gift

Top 10 Parenting Books for Raising Girls

October 22 by Janssen

Bookmarking this for later!!

Next month, I'll be having my third child and my third girl. Which means that parenting little girls is always on my mind. Whether you have a single daughter or a whole slew of them, these books are full of great advice on how to handle all manner of parenting issues, from education to bullying to the princess obsessions. Little Girls Can Be Mean: Four Steps to Bully-proof Girls in the Early Grades by Michelle Anthony and Reyna Lindert. Bullying is a hot issue right now, and this book is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, Parenting, The Book Nook Tagged With: books for parents of girls, parenting, parenting books, parenting books for raising girls

Books for the Fourth of July

May 17 by Janssen

Our resident children's librarian, Janssen, is here today with her picks for injecting a little history into your 4th of July celebration. Get those library cards ready! Let's be honest - on the Fourth of July, you'll probably be outside, watching parades, having a neighborhood BBQ, and watching (or setting off!) fireworks. There may not be a lot of time for reading. So we're sharing this book list a little early so you'll have time to read these books with your kids before the big day. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, The Book Nook Tagged With: 4th of July kid books, children's 4th of july books

7 Books to Get Your Kids to Stop Fighting All the Time

September 13 by Janssen

7 Books to stop your kids from fighting all the time - #2 is so helpful!

One of the things I want most for our family is a loving family culture, where unkindness and fighting isn't part of the daily makeup of our lives. But with three children all fairly close in age (they are each about two years apart), this can be a tall order. Probably just about every parent can relate to those moment where you can't take the bickering and teasing any longer and you just want to scream, "Can't you all just get along?!" I know I'm not alone in that because there are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Janssen, Parenting, The Book Nook Tagged With: books on sibling fighting, how to stop sibling fighting, parenting books, parenting styles

Strawberry Cream Cheese Flag Cookie Cups

July 4 by Janssen

Strawberry Cream Cheese Flag Cookie Cups - Such an easy, but impressive, 4th of July dessert that the kids can help make.

Whether you're hosting the 4th of July BBQ this year or attending one, this super simple dessert idea is sure to please.  Of course I love the festive presentation but my favorite part is that once you bite in you realize that what looks like a mini cup cake is actually a cookie. Plus it would go great with our homemade blueberry lemonade soda. And don't miss the variations at the bottom of the post - I'm digging the breakfast idea. Here's Janssen with the recipe... The Fourth of July is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Holiday, In the Kitchen, Janssen Tagged With: 4th of july cake, 4th of july cupcakes, 4th of july dessert, 4th of july potluck, 4th of july recipe, flag cookies, flag dessert

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