What is a Monkey Caddy?

The Monkey Caddy is a changing table solution to keep everything within arm’s reach. It quickly and easily attaches to your changing table without any tools. There are multiple compartment configurations to meet each individual family’s needs. There are even hooks, exterior pockets, and a slide out shelf to help you change baby with ease.

Safety is so important when changing baby, they can wriggle away so easily! Having a well organized diaper changing station adds to that safety because everything you could possibly need is right at your fingertips. There is no need to turn around or bend over to grab a diaper, wipe, outfit or anything. Eyes and at least 1 hand can remain on baby at all times, keeping them safe.

As you can see in the video above, the Monkey comes beautifully packaged, making it a perfect gift for a new mom or mom-to be. Installation is simple and you can use the compartments however suits you best. The timing on receiving this item is perfect because Theo is just moving to his own room, instead of being in the bassinet in his parent’s bedroom. In their they just had a changing pad on top of a dresser with a basket full of supplies. Now the changing table in his bedroom is all organized.

I’m sure you are wondering how much the Monkey Caddy costs and where you can get one. The baby diaper caddy is available on their website. The cost is $59.00. They also have a link so you can add it right to your Babylist gift registry and that is super convenient.

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About Miracle in East Texas

Inspired by one of the most improbable true stories ever, this is the entertaining tale of two aging con men at the dawn of the Great Depression and the biggest oil strike in the history of the world.

Irving Tanner, Jr. (Lou Gossett, Jr.) recounts the 1930 legend. Times are hard when the unluckiest wildcatter in the world, Dad Everett (John Ratzenberger), teams up with Doc Boyd (Kevin Sorbo), a charming snake oil salesman. Together they convince several new widows (Sam Sorbo, Paula Boudreau, and others) to invest in their worthless oil wells.

Then, the unthinkable happens! Now our two Casanovas faced with a challenge: declare another dry hole for a clean escape, or bring the well in like genuine oil men and likely spend the rest of their lives in jail?

Meanwhile, some of their investors are angry and fixing to do something about it. And one of them is truly a “mountain” of a man (Tyler Mane).

What happens next? Doc preaches, the Good Lord teaches, and a judge reaches a surprising conclusion. The mostly true story will make you laugh, shed a tear, and give you pride in the God-blessed American way.

Sorbo Studios

This movie is produced by Sorbo Studios. Miracle in East Texas is directed by Kevin Sorbo. It stars Kevin Sorbo, John Ratzenberger, Lou Gossett Jr., Tyler Mane, Sam Sorbo, and Braeden Sorbo.

Miracle in East Texas is only in theaters THIS WEEKEND October 29-30, 2023 so get your tickets NOW!

Who Should See Miracle in East Texas

If you are a US history buff, homeschool family studying American History, someone who enjoys uplifting entertainment or a lover of movies based on true stories, then this film is for you.

Homeschoolers, you can download free curricula for the movie here. There is also a discussion guide available here.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

You know I am always honest in my reviews…I dozed off several times during this movie. While the underlying message of redemption and God’s provision is there and the acting is good, the story is slow and very repetitive.

The first part of the movie is Dad and Doc pulling the same scam over and over again on different widows, it felt like seeing this twice would have gotten the point across without boring the viewer.

We enjoyed the ending and seeing how God showed up for His people, I’m all for a happy ending-even in an historical piece. It is an important story from American history that needs to be told, one I wasn’t aware of, as a homeschool mom who taught a lot of American history, I enjoyed learning something new!

Make plans to go see this movie this weekend. You will learn some American history and see a story about hope, redemption, forgiveness and God’s provision.

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This set includes a set of 48 pebbles in 4 sizes and 6 colors plus 12 double sided activity cards. The cards follow through a few levels that include:

• Matching Shapes
• Matching Colors and Shapes
• Stacking Challenge

This activity set can be used for a lot of educational activities including patterning, color recognition, sorting, sequencing, counting and creative play. The pebbles are great for tactile learners and sensory play, building, math manipulatives, and even language development and descriptive skills.

Harmony also practices sharing when we play with the Rainbow Pebbles. She plays alone for a while and then she usually hands me a pile of pebbles and says that those are mine and asks me to create with her. That is a very important skill for a big sister to initiate!

Since I introduced this toy to Harmony, it is one of her favorites every time she comes over. She loves to play with her “rocks”. The small pebbles are a chocking hazard so she plays with adult supervision and we don’t play with them when her little brother Reuben is with us.

I highly recommend Rainbow Pebbles for kids ages 3+, especially 3-5 year olds and tactile learners will benefit from the different levels of play. The smooth pebbles are almost soothing to the touch, making play more enjoyable. You can get this toy at Amazon and Walmart for about $25.

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Many thanks to Pure Flix for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions
are 100% my own.

About An Unlikely Angel

Janie is a workaholic who is falling apart at the thought of becoming a first-time mom. She whispers a small prayer for help and it’s answered in a very unlikely way when an angel intervenes and fast forwards her life. Will her second chance change how she approaches life? Janie is lucky enough to be given a second chance, but will she change before it’s too late?

Who is this movie for?

• Parents who are trying to do it all and need to know they aren’t alone on the journey.
• Someone who needs a reminder that it’s ok to not control every aspect of your life.
• Anyone who needs help coming back to basics in an overcomplicated world.
• The person is looking for a second chances at prioritizing what’s truly important in life.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

An Unlikely Angel isn’t just a feel-good movie, it’s a movie that makes you re-think your priorities. A movie that reminds you that faith and family are the most important things. This movie reminds us to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

The acting is great, the cast fits well together and I was happy to see that one of my favorites, Robert Amaya, is playing Gabe, the angel in this story. Janie prays a simple prayer for help and God sends Gabe to do just that, by being available, gentle, thoughtful, and helpful.

Watch An Unlikely Angel on Pure Flix starting August 26th!

Giveaway

I’m giving away a 3 month subscription to Pure Flix to a US based reader of this blog! The giveaway ends 9-9-22 at 12:00am. The winner will be verified-make sure you actually leave a blog comment-and then their information will be sent to the sponsor for fulfillment.

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Our Homeschool Journey

In a nutshell, because I could talk for days on this subject. I went to college to be an elementary school teacher. My degree is in Elementary Education, Music Education, and Vocal Performance. During my internships and first job as an elementary music teacher in the late 1980s, I saw a lot of things happening in public schools that I didn’t like. The top of the list was the lack of respect for authority, or anyone really and the beginnings of the “everyone gets a trophy” mentality. I later taught music at a private Christian school and I taught private music lessons, mostly to homeschoolers. This is when my eyes were opened.

The homeschool families I taught were wonderful! I had never heard of homeschooling before. At the time I was pregnant with my second child and my oldest was 2. I spent that year getting to know these families, learning about homeschooling ( I had never heard of it before). By the fall of that year, after lots of prayer and many confirmations from God, the decision was made to homeschool our boys instead of put them in Christian school.

We homeschooled all the way through, birth-high school graduation, 16 years in total. My youngest graduated in 2012 and I still miss homeschooling every single day. Now I mentor new families who are thinking about homeschooling. I’m also excited that my daughter-in-law plans on homeschooling my grandkids!

About Homeschool Awakening

THE HOMESCHOOL AWAKENING releases in theaters nationwide June 13 & 14! Get your tickets NOW! Hear more about the value of homeschooling from a homeschool dad himself: Kirk Cameron! Homeschooling is a lifestyle first and an educational philosophy second. God gave your children to you, you are their primary teacher.

Synopsis

Families across the nation are experiencing the homeschool awakening, taking advantage of the freedom and opportunities for self-discovery — with the world as their classroom. Join award-winning actor, Kirk Cameron, as he dives into the adventures of dynamic American families on a mission to put fun and faith back into learning. The Homeschool Awakening explores the ins, outs, and honest answers to homeschooling’s most frequently asked questions.

The Homeschool Awakening is only in theaters for 2 days so make plans to attend and get your tickets.

Who Should See This?

• Everyone-the general public needs to have their eyes opened about the truths of homeschooling.
• If you’ve ever considered homeschooling, even for one second-this is for you.
• Homeschoolers-your resolve to homeschool will be stronger after viewing this film.

The Mom Maven’s Thoughts

This film made me wish I had more kids! LOL I miss homeschooling, the bonds we built with our boys are so strong because of the time we spent together as a family learning, traveling, and working.

There are so many incorrect things currently being taught in government schools, I wanted my kids to know the truth. To be able to do that, we start with the One True God and His Word. Education that starts with God and a Christian worldview is devoid of all of the immoral teachings that are currently in classrooms.

The Homeschool Awakening shows real families, many of whom have brought their children home from public schools for one reason or another. You will see the freedoms homeschoolers have to school on their schedule in whatever way suits their children. You will be encouraged and inspired to invest in your child’s future.

Homeschooling doesn’t make life perfect, you will still have hard days and days you wish your child was gone for 6 hours BUT the relationships built and lessons learned far outweigh the struggles.

Giveaway

One winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card! The winner will be confirmed and then emailed. They will have 24 hours to respond to the email to claim their prize.

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Check Out All the Bamboo Bamboo Products Here

I received the Little Fish Bamboo suction plate for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Why You Should Use Bamboo Bamboo Products

Sustainability-Bamboo is super sustainable. It matures in only 3-4 months! It regenerated from it’s own roots so it doesn’t have to be replanted and it doesn’t require the use of pesticides!

Reusability-I don’t know about you, but those cheap plastic toddler plates just don’t hold up to frequent use. I have thrown out several because they were peeling.

Affordability-Most Bamboo Bamboo tableware costs $16-21 a piece. This may seem steep but they last a lot longer than the cheap plastic plates.

Suction-Every parent has had a toddler toss their plate of food off the high chair tray and onto the floor. Thanks to the silicon suction base which sticks to any flat non-porous surface, no more flying plates!

Adorableness-Most of the plates are animal shaped with two or more compartments. Choose your child’s favorite animal, or collect a menagerie to make meal time fun.

Important Things to Know About Bamboo Bamboo

• Hand wash only. Wood can crack in the dishwasher.
• Please don’t microwave. Extreme heat can shorten the life of the product and honestly, we shouldn’t be microwaving kid’s food anyway.
• They are located in the UK but have very reasonable global shipping rates and times.
• The website includes a blog with lots of recipes and parenting advice.
• Their Instagram is also fun to follow.

I’ll be adding a few more plates to my cupboard! I’ll also be adding them to my must-give baby shower gifts. That way whenever they are ready to wean they have the perfect plate to start solid foods.

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Way back in 2011 I told you about the Kendrick brother’s fourth movie COURAGEOUS. I actually wrote 7 posts about this film and the important message it has about fatherhood. It’s hard to believe that this movie is 10 years old! This weekend, September 24, 2021, COURAGEOUS LEGACY is being released in theaters!

Ron and I watched COURAGEOUS LEGACY last night. This is a remastered, special-edition release for a new generation. This updated version of the film includes an enhanced look and sound along with impact stories, new scenes, and a new bonus ending you don’t want to miss! Get your tickets NOW!

A lot has happened in the decade sine COURAGEOUS hit theaters, but God’s plan for families and for fathers has not changed. God has called fathers to lead their families well, to disciple them, provide for them, and to protect them. This movies is just as powerful as the original was 10 years ago. I cried, several times-even though I knew what was coming because I’ve seen the original many times.

The statistics on how fatherlessness effects the lives of children are staggering. Honestly, if men would step up and be the father that God intended them to be crimes, drug use, suicide and many other social problems would decrease dramatically. The Kendrick brothers know this well, COURAGEOUS was their first film on the subject and earlier this month they released the documentary SHOW ME THE FATHER, which shares a lot of the staggering statistics surrounding fatherlessness.

In the movie, the men sign a resolution and vow to hold each other accountable for upholding this resolution. The resolution starts with “I … , Do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.” It continues on will 11 more “I Will” statements. Just think what this world would be like if more husbands would truly commit to taking full responsibility for their families. So many lives would be changed!

Maybe you are reading this and feeling like you have failed your family; stop that right now! None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes. One of the themes of this movie is that while we may not have started well, we can finish well! Ask God and your family to forgive you for not being the parent that He has called you to be. Then ask God to help you to walk out what He has called you to. Praise God that He is a God of second, third, fourth…etc chances! He wants to help us all be closer to Him, but we have to take the first step. If you have questions or need help, please reach out to me. I’m here for you.

Courageous Legacy Ticket Giveaway

I am giving away a pair of Fandango codes so that you can go see COURAGEOUS LEGACY in theaters! The giveaway is open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 12:00am on Saturday 9-2-21. Please follow all rules listed in the giveaway.

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Get you opening weekend tickets NOW!

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You may have missed last week’s announcement but, I’m a grandmother now! Ok, technically I’m a Cici but let’s not get picky. Yes, Aaron and Summer had Harmony Iris on June 20, 2020 at 5:24pm. She is a beautiful little bundle of joy!

Actually though, I’ve been a foster grandmother since Aaron and Summer became foster parents last fall. They currently have two toddler brothers in their care so yes, they have their hands full.

Being a Cici to theses children has meant a lot of babysitting and driving the kids to and from preschool. Of course, driving youngsters around means using car seats and one thing I’ve learned, my fingers aren’t as strong as they used to be. It’s difficult getting the boys out of their car seats in the third row of the minivan!

Recently, I was introduced to UnbuckleMe, a new product that was on Shark Tank earlier this year. I received 2 UnbuckleMes for the purpose of this review. I keep the blue one in my car and I gave the pink one to Aaron and Summer.

About UnbuckleMe

The dynamic mother/daughter duo of Occupational Therapist and Grandmother Barbara Heilman and her Daughter, Mom of two and a Child Passenger Safety Technician, Becca Davison created UnbuckleMe to help support caregivers with hand or wrist weakness and offer support to many families in their daily routine.

With the simple and handy UnbuckleMe solution you can unbuckle kids and grandkids in your vehicle at your arrival without pain. The Unbuckle tool uses leverage to make it easier and reduce the force by more than 50% to unbuckle their car seat buckle.  UnbuckleMe does not attach to the car seat for safety and works with all push button child car seat buckles.

The founders share it is important that UnbuckleMe is readily accessible to use when you need it, but also remains out of reach of children when not in use. They recommend storing in the side-door or seat-back pocket of your car, although many may prefer to attach to a keychain, or keep handy in a purse or diaper bag. UnbuckleMe is patented, made from BPA Free Plastic and Made in the USA.

You can get your own UnbuckleMe for $14.99 and free US shipping on their website or on Amazon. There is also a store locator on the site to see if it is available in a store near you.

MomMaven’s Thoughts

Unbuckle Me has been a lifesaver. I’ll be buying it as a go-to baby shower gift from now on. I have used it several times when I’ve had to pick the boys up from daycare. I have weak hands and slightly long fingernails. Both of these add up to make undoing the car seat buckles very difficult.

Unbuckle me is well made and fits easily in my purse when I am driving Summer’s minivan instead of my car. I’ll be buying it as a go-to baby shower gift from now on. You need to go buy one for your friend who just had a baby!

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I am a veteran homeschooling mom, we homeschooled our boys from pre-school through high school. I also have my BS in Elementary Education and I am here to tell you, its not that hard to continue your child’s education at home, even without the support of your local school district.

Many times on this blog I have shared that my belief is that a parent’s job is to raise well-rounded, self-sufficient, productive citizens who love Jesus. Notice that academics aren’t specifically listed in that definition. Yes, academics are a large part of being well-rounded but this unique time in our world is a great time to focus on other things in addition to academics.

Learn Home Management Skills

Children ages 2 and up are able to help with home management aka chores. I had no problems when my sons bought houses and got marries young because I knew they both knew how to manage their homes, even if their wives didn’t. Home management really goes beyond basic chores of washing dishes, laundry, sweeping, etc and into true maintenance. Middle and High Schoolers can learn how to change the air filter, how to use a plunger, how to change the vacuum bag etc. Teens need to know how to change a tire, how to change the oil in their car and other basic vehicle maintenance.

Don’t forget cooking, baking and menu planning. Let the kids help plan and prepare meals. Kids love to bake and practice math skills at the same time. Let them organize and approved snack list including approved snack time windows so they won’t spoil their meals. Giving kids control of some things helps them feel safer and with all that is going on right now, we all want to feel safer.

Enjoy Self-Directed Learning

Is there a subject your child is passionate about? Do they love dinosaurs, horses, wars, coding, knights, art, music, cooking or just about anything? This break from structured schooling can allow them to dive deep into subjects that truly inspire them. They can read books, watch documentaries, create projects, teach the rest of the family about their topic. Kids learn a lot when they are studying something that really excites them. We just have to facilitate that learning by going to the library, helping them find appropriate videos etc and then watch them soar.

What about Preschoolers?

Preschoolers are easy practice sorting, counting, colors, shapes, number recognition, and letter recognition using items you have around the house. Let them color and create, do puzzles, sing and dance! If you want more ideas, checkout my Preschool Homeschool Pinterest Board.

Enjoy Family Time

Read a book out loud, no matter how old or young the kids are. Pick a book that is appropriate for the median age of your family. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to develop vocabulary. Stop and talk about new or different words. Have one child keep record of these new words so that you can really learn them.

Some of my favorite read aloud books for families with Elementary kids:

• Black Beauty
• The Borrowers
• Charlotte’s Web
• Pippi Longstocking
• The Secret Garden
• The Wind in the Willows

Play table games. Table games require strategy, patience, taking turns, and following directions. Games for older kids may also require money management and more math and reading skills. Family board games are a great screen free way to spend time together.

Some of my favorite family board games for families with kids 8+:

• Apples to Apples
• Blokus
• Catan
• Clue
• Farkle
• In a Pickle
• Monopoly
• Sequence
• Spontuneous
• Uno

Work on large jigsaw puzzles. I just purchased a few large jigsaw puzzles and created a sturdy puzzle mat out of foam board and adhesive black felt. I can have the puzzle on our large ottoman when we are working on it and it can be stored in the spare bedroom when we aren’t working on it.

Play LEGO, have a daily dance party, do karaoke, family movie night…be a family!

Spend Time Outside

Soak up some vitamin D daily by being outside. These activities are for places where spring has already sprung like it has here in Florida.

• Take a walk
• Ride bikes
• Play with sidewalk chalk
• Play tag
• Look at the stars

I hope some of these ideas have helped you figure out some fun and educational things to do with your kids while they are home on this extended break.

The post Things to Do When Your Kids are Stuck at Home appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Children learn best by imitation. They see others doing something and they want to do it too. This is why we often hear that parents need to model the behaviors they want their children to have. When our children observe us praying, reading Scripture, and attending church, they want to be a part of those activities.

I have volunteered in Children’s and Youth Ministries for almost 40 years, I believe wholeheartedly in age appropriate spiritual education. The 60-90 minutes a week a child is in Kid’s Church is not enough to be the sum total of a child’s spiritual upbringing. That is the job of the parents. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ” Proverbs 22:6.

The question I hear most from parents is, “What should I be doing at home?” My answer always starts with the basics I’ve listed above-pray, read the Bible, and attend church. This is where the Faith Forward Family Devotional comes into play.

About the Faith Forward Family Devotional

This devotional is written by Ruth and Patrick Schwenk. They are the coauthors of For Better or For Kids: A Vow to Love Your Spouse with Kids in the House and the creators of TheBetterLifeMinistry.org, which is home to TheBetterMom.com, ForTheFamily.org, and RootlikeFaith.com. Patrick and Ruth have been married for more than twenty years, have four children, and have been in full-time ministry for more than fifteen years. They live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Faith Forward’s goal is to help you raise faith-filled kids who know, love, and live for God. Each of the 100 devotions include a Bible passage, teaching applicable to children of any age, a key idea to learn and remember about God, questions designed to spark discussion, and a guided family prayer. You can purchase your copy of the devotional here. You can also enter to win a copy of the book here. However you acquire your copy of the book, I pray that it blesses you and your family.

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