I am in love...

with www.starfall.com! No, it is not a celebrity gossip site, like some of my other favorites ;)

It is an educational website that teaches letters, phonics, sight words, rhyming, chunking, sounding out words, and all things that children need to know in order to read. It also teaches numbers, counting, how a calendar works, and other math concepts. It also has a section with music, art, etc. Plus, they learn to use the computer and mouse. I had no idea Sam knew how to click and drag until I watched him play one of these games! Sam actually knows how to open Safari, sort through the bookmarks, find Starfall (the one with the star by it, duh), and choose the game he wants to play. This, however, is not always a good thing because in the process he usually erases some vital part of the toolbar. I thought we used to have iPhoto on this thing...

Anyway, this site can help your kid learn everything he will be taught in kindergarten. The kids can play the fun games while learning these concepts. It is nothing short of amazing!!

Gotta love technology! I mean, I don't have to learn my kid nuthin' anymore, the computer does it all for me ;)


PS. I have to give all credit to Carol (Nonnie Tuck) who introduced us to this website last year. Thanks!!

(Check your kicks for) Route 66

If you are lucky enough to one of those super-on-top-of-it gals who shaves their legs everyday, then you probably know the condition of your legs quite well. Or if you have two small children and/or a crazy life -I am blessed with both-, you probably get to shave once a month, when the moon is full or when all your planets align with Jupiter, and by some freak accident you have twenty minutes all to yourself. Hmm...spend it sleeping or shaving? Tough call.
But I digress.
I was shaving my legs the other day and, to my horror, noticed that they are starting to resemble a road map! Spidery blue roads winding up and down, little bruises as roadside landmarks ("You lookin' fer the World's Largest Ball A Twine? Well, follow this here twisty road down yonder to Kneecap Bend and take a left just south of Joint Junction. Thar it is. Biggest ball a twine you ever saw."), and thin red lines spindling around. ("You should go fer a pic-a-nic at old Capillary Creek. Nicest crick in four counties!") Huh, who knew my legs are a road map of the Deep South?
So, when did I get so old?? I thought I was way too young for veins and bruises and such!
Hmph! Probably happened somewhere between Shin City and Cracked Heel County if I had to guess...

If you are out and about....

Everything at Banana Republic is 30% off today! I wandered in this morning and found out they are having the sale today only in honor of BR's 30th birthday. Time to shop!!

Signing Time

Teaching Poppie some ABC signs.

If your kids do not watch Signing Time on PBS, they are missing the Tuck's favorite show! Or check out www.signingtimekids.org.

Hmmmm

I think she's a Vandy girl.

Let's pretend this never happened.....

I love how Mister is starting to be able to pretend while he plays. Carol and Hazen gave him a cool cash register as an early birthday present so we play store. He pretends to cook for me in his play kitchen. He even does some "magic" tricks, i.e. putting a napkin over his cup to hide it and then lifting it up with a triumphant "Ta-da!"
Lately I have noticed he plays what I call "Mocking Mom and her Parenting Skills" all the time. I overhear him talking to Lionel (his stuffed lion) saying things like "This is your last chance! You go timeout! No hitting! No say stop! You have two minutes! I count....1....2........3! Timeout!! You go to room. I put up gate. Warning! Next time get out of bed, gate! You stay here! Two minutes! Timeout!!" and on and on. Usually all the threats are all out of order and mixed up from different times he got in trouble, but he's got them all down. At least I know he hears me even if he doesn't listen, right?! That's good, right? Right?!
I really hope he is not airing all this dirty laundry at school...his teachers would probably get a real kick out of it.

Before you call DFACS, I do not trap him in his room with the gate. When he keeps getting out of bed at naptime, I put the gate up in his doorway. He has another door to get out but for some reason putting the gate up on one door really works. Great. Now I have jinxed myself and the gate threat will never work again!!

Happy Birthday Andy!! ****UPDATE

Andy is 30 years old today!!! On September 1, 1978, the world became a kinder, smarter, funnier, more beautiful, and sexier-Andy told me I left that out ;) - place. I love you, dear. Here's to 30 more!