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Archive for Jojo

InvitationBox.com Personalized Stationary For Kids

July 11, 2011 Jojo, Mom stuff, Reviews No comments

Photo on 2011 07 11 at 17 47 3 Jojo is in a major “reading and writing” phase. His number one wish is for things like paper or a desk.

He won a cell phone and said, “This is what I needed FOR MY OFFICE!”

He is 6.

Anyway, Jojo was THRILLED to get some Personalized Folded Thank You Notes from InvitationBox.com.

The art of writing a thank you note is a trait that every parent should pass on to their child starting at a very young age. Whether your child needs to write a thank you card for the birthday gifts he received from his friends or Mom wants to send a special note for a wonderful playdate, InvitationBox.com has a thank you card that will fit the bill. This online boutique offers classy, gorgeous note card designs for both children and adults, in a wide selection for every age. www.invitationbox.com

He got some tasteful stripey cards with his name on them, and some dinosaur stationary.

The icing on the cake was that he also got personalized children’s stickers with his name on them, one sheet in a pirate theme and one sheet in a dinosaur theme!

Totally awesome, a kid’s dream come true!

InvitationBox.com has all kinds of stationary, including birthday invites and stuff for grown ups in a variety of tasteful and/or fun themes!

Invitationbox 2165 444334711 View the whole selection at http://www.invitationbox.com

Photo on 2011 07 11 at 17 47

Look for @InvitationBox on Twitter and connect with InvitationBox on Facebook!

Lao Experiences Cooking School, Vientiane, Laos

May 14, 2011 Eating, Jojo, Laos, Teaching kids different cultures, Travel with children, Videos 3 comments

Laos is a fantastic place to visit. Places like Bangkok or Chiang Mai, Thailand, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam have their charms but are undeniably saturated with western influence.

Even after 9 years in Laos, I can still say that it is relatively “off the map”. In Luang Prabang, in Pakse, and yes, even in Vientiane, you can still experience true Laos.

Lao people are the true treasure of Laos, but when I am hosting guests, I still want to show them sights and get out and do stuff.

In Vientiane, sightseeing takes only about 3 days and you are pretty much finished.

So I was THRILLED to see that a new Lao Cooking School had opened offering one day classes (in English) to tourists.

The Lao Experiences cooking class is $35 a person, and it includes transportation to and from the school, originating in the downtown area, and of course you get to eat the food you make, and take home a little mini recipe book.

We made steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves, Lao tomato salsa, Lao egglant dip, sticky rice, grilled veggie kabobs, and mango with sticky rice dessert. We saw demonstrations on making Lao green papaya salad, grilled chicken, and grilled fish.

Jojo and I went together and I let him help me when it was safe and appropriate.

Lao Papaya Salad

Quickly grilling the banana leaf. I forget why. Maybe to make it more pliable? It got shinier.

Watching sticky rice cook in the steam basket. That is my boss holding him. I think they bonded!

Carefully filling palm leaves with fish for steaming.

He loves cooking!

Mango and sticky rice with coconut milk

Look Mama, a mango on a tree!

Eating the “fruits” of our labor.

A butterfly landed on his head and stayed there for ages!

For more fabulous photos, go look at my friend Sharon’s blog about her Lao Experiences cooking experience.

Jojo and I had a really good time together at Lao Experiences. It was fun to do something that we were both interested in, and I really am confident that I can make this stuff at home now!

The food was good and the instructors were sweet and patient. Class size is really small so you feel free to ask for help and as a bonus, you get to conversate with the Lao instructors.

Visit www.Lao-Experiences.com for more info about taking the class.

Kid-Made Gifts For Mom: Red Toolbox Carpentry Tools

May 7, 2011 Educational products, Favorite Things, Jojo, Reviews 2 comments

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and this year, kids can give mom a gift that lasts longer than macaroni and glue.

Red Toolbox makes a line of carpentry of tools ergonomically designed to fit a child’s grip as well as original carpentry kits that kids and parents can create together.

You know how we always bemoan the fact that Kids These Days don’t ever DO stuff? I see Red Toolbox products as a valuable investment for teaching kids how to do something useful!

Doing a Red Toolbox project is also instant quality time for kids and parents.

Kids can also spend quality time with dad by building mom a birdhouse or jewelry case to give her on her special day.

The Red Toolbox line includes a variety of REAL tools made especially for kids – including a 10 piece tool set, work bench, and kits such as a picture pack, newspaper stand and interactive mini-golf accessories that kids can build, then use!

These one-of-a-kind kits feature a level system – with Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced projects.

Each level increases in complexity – allowing kids to develop carpentry skills and enhance their creativity as they advance forward.

I was sent an awesome 8-piece toolset, a Images 634254983931757500 cordless drill, and a jewelry box/mini case kit.

We have done the free Lowe’s Build It events for kids many times; every time, Jojo wants to take the hammer home with us. He is SO pleased to have his own personal tools, just his size!

The 8-piece toolset includes safety Goggles, Tape Measure, Philips Screwdriver, flat screwdriver, Hammer, Saw, File, and a 2″ clamp.

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The project kits are affordable and useful items, providing an educational and creative experience for your child. The jewelry box kit makes a cute box with two drawers and a top shelf.

Any child would be proud to make this for their mom!

And look at this go-cart kit for $49.98! My kids would freak out! I always dreamed of building a go-cart when I was a kid. One problem was I didn’t know how to build anything. Or have materials.

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Red Toolbox products are currently available at Lowe’s stores nationwide and at Lowes.com. Learn more about the product line at www.red-toolbox.com.

I wish I had these when I was a kid! Thank goodness my lack of carpentry skills won’t hold my kids back from learning how to do things.

Wat Phousi Temple, Luang Prabang Laos With Kids

May 2, 2011 CanCan, Deaky Deke, Jojo, Laos, Luang Prabang, Pictures, Teaching kids different cultures, Travel with children 2 comments

I first went to Luang Prabang, Laos in 2004. I think I went twice, once in December 2004 and again in April 2005. Both times, Jojo was a teeny tiny baby.

Last weekend I went back, now as a mother of two rowdy boys, and I think I can chalk it up as one of the easiest and most family-friendly trips we have done.

Here was our experience today at Wat Phousi, a temple on a mountain top. It is something like 300 steps to climb to the top.

The climb…

Touching history (anti-aircraft gun and machine gun turrets from the war in the 1970′s)…

Rainbow!

Stunning views of Luang Prabang town (Jojo took the picture of me!)…

Exploring…

The descent…

The boys had a really fun time climbing and exploring, even though they whined at first, they also whined when it was time to leave. They really loved climbing all over that gun.

We were sweaty, but it was worth it.

Admission: Adults 20,000 kip

Kids: free

“Leave to See” Music Video

March 20, 2011 Jojo, Videos No comments

Jojo decided that he wants to be an actor (he DID want to be president, but then he found out actors make more money. And with money, you can buy ANY FOOD YOU WANT.)

Today we made a music video for Nashville-based recording artist Trent Dabbs.

Jojo has a great capacity for silliness but he sure does deadpan well. I think it runs in the genes.

Childhood Aspirations

March 13, 2011 Jojo No comments

4 up on 2011 03 05 at 03 50

Jojo: When I am grown up, I want to be a President. Of the United States.

Me: What do you want to do when you are a President?

Jojo: When you are President, you can eat any food.

Me: You know, the people in movies, actors? They have more money than the president.

Jojo: Really?

Me: Yeah, they can buy lots of cars and stuff.

Jojo: I want to be an ACTOR!

Behavior Charts for Kids

March 8, 2011 Jojo, Mom stuff No comments

I have never been much for goal setting and that kind of thing, but at school, Jojo is on a “behavior plan” in which his teacher created a list of prompts to help him make wise choices.

It is kind of like a flow chart of choices, and he has really responded well. There is some external motivation involved; I think the reward is that we will take him to the store to buy a special snack when he gets 10 gold stars or something.

Jojo’s teacher is an amazing person who sends class newsletters that she creates in Comic Life.

I, however, do not aspire to such time-consuming greatness. For me, I was lucky to find behavior charts on GoalForIt.com that you can customize for free, then use online or print. Or both I guess.

The behavior chart doesn’t take long to create, and I think it is important for kids to have a clear idea of what is expected of them.

I find sometimes that I have been assuming a lot about what Jojo understands.

When Jojo was 4, I had told him several times in a day to “stop being mean”. Finally he asked me what “being mean” was.

Oh.

That certainly put the whole day into perspective.

And that is what happens when Mama A-S-S-U-M-E-S.

Nickelodeon Arts and Crafts

February 27, 2011 Jojo, Travel with children One comment

Every afternoon on our seven day journey with Norwegian Cruise Lines, we had the option of joining in Nickelodeon Arts and Crafts.

We went on every day except one.

We colored a SpongeBob bandana with fabric markers:

We colored a SpongeBob t-shirt with fabric markers.

SpongeBob and Dora canvas tote bags:

A cardboard color-your-own photo frame: CIMG3488 And SpongeBob bracelet craft kit!

All of the Arts and Crafts were free to make, and we have some fun souvenirs from our Nickelodeon All Access Cruise!

Slime Time Live: Nickelodeon All Access

February 26, 2011 Jojo, Travel with children No comments

Ever since its inception, Nickelodeon has been synonymous with SLIME.

Naturally, on the Nickelodeon All Access Cruise, slimings occur daily.

Children and adults are chosen to participate based on their level of wild and craziness when the game leader says, “WHO WANTS TO PLAY???”

Jojo figured out the formula and got to go on stage TWICE in one day.

The first was during Slime Time Poolside, which takes place every day at 3pm.

The games are usually relay-style efforts, such as this game of passing “plankton” water balloons with plungers in order to fill a “chum bucket”. If your team wins, the team captain gets slimed. If your team loses, the team captain has to smash a pie into their on face.

Hmm. Is it better to win or lose?

It didn’t matter to Jojo, He beamed with pride just at being chosen, and said his name bravely into the microphone. He didn’t understand that the game leader was making fun of his name when he asked, “Jonas?! Do you have any BROTHERS?!”

He just answered, “Yes. A three year old one.”

…

The evening performance of Slime Time Live was more impressive. An entire family was chosen as team captains.

One family represented Red Crew, and the other, Blue Crew.

The families answered trivia questions, and watched as kids played games to earn points for the team.

Jojo was part of a green slime bucket brigade to fill a container held by a man sitting in a rotating hula chair.

In the end, Red Crew won, with a score of 140 to 10!

Blue Crew dutifully pied themselves in the face.

I don’t know who came up with these great “prizes”, but the kids go crazy!

Nickelodeon knows what kids like!

My First Time Slimed: A Beginner’s Guide

February 24, 2011 Jojo, Travel with children 2 comments

I had a special shared experience with my 6-year-old son Jojo. Both of us got slimed for the first time, together.

We didn’t know what to expect when we stepped into the Slimulator on the Nickelodeon All Access Cruise. But now that we have lived it, I can tell you what you need to know.

Pre-sliming, seated in the Slimulator. Before entering the Slimulator, you should remove your shoes.

Prepare for an icy blast of green goo.

Note: white undergarments or light pink clothing were not a good idea. Choose dark colored swimwear or pack special slimable clothes from home, such as those you might do plumbing repairs in around your house.

Brace for impact.

If you or your sliming partner feel freaked out due to sensory issues, try to laugh it off.