Now that we've packed

I realize that what we really really could use for the Peanut (and also the Bean when she gets big enough to carry her own luggage) is one of these:


Now if it seems like I'm on a Melissa & Doug kick I kind of am. Between the giveaway they've offered to sponsor (if they reach 200 likes on their facebook page from my giveaway post, you can click this link or the one their logo in the sidebar to go see what they're offering) to the fact that Birthday Party Season is fast approaching I've been visiting their site often.

So what about the Trunki appeals? Well it's red (the one pictured is red, there are other colour options) it has wheels and a handle and with all the stuff we bring for the Peanut when we go traveling, she could totally stand to have her own suitcase.

For Your Own Comfort and Safety:

I say it every time

and then I end up packing just as much as every other year.

This year I really tried and I think I managed to really cut down on what I've stacked in the suitcase. The problem seems to be that when I pack I get big ol' case of the what ifs. You know, the what if we decide to go out for dinner? What if it gets cold? What if we end up at a beach? Which reminds me I should make sure the bathing suits are packed....

See what I mean?

If you haven't had a chance to enter my latest giveaway there's still time. If you know anyone with kids, please pass on the link, I order to have a prize to giveaway we need 200 new fans for Melissa & Doug!

The things that run through my mind

when I'm breastfeeding the Bean.... (but before we go any further make sure you enter into teh Melissa and Doug Seaside Sidekick giveaway )

Well, mostly I read. I'm nearly done the Orange Prize Short list with a handful of the long list already crossed off but tonight I finished Wendy Law-Yone's The Road to Wanting and found myself with no books within reach so my brain did a little wander and I found myself thinking about the first book I remember reading as a child which led to a short list of books that I remember from childhood.

On the top of that list is Dr Seuss' One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. I remember my Dad reading this book to me and my sister when we were little and giggling when we got to the part where the narrator says "I don't know go ask your Dad"

OK, if I'm going to be honest the first book that popped into my head was the Hobbit. I first picked up the Hobbit when I was eight or nine and I've read and re-read it over and over and over ever since.

The third book that popped into my head was a book that I didn't even read when I was a kid. In fact I've never read it at all. It was a book that was read out to us during a story time session in our school library and for some reason I never managed to get it out of the library to finish it but If I was ever to come across the book I would totally be reading it. So the name of this book that made such an impression on me? Roger Wolcott Drury's The Finches Fabulous Furnace. A book about a family who moves into a house that is heated by a tiny volcano.

We've been reading to the Peanut since she was the Bean's age and the books that have made an impression on her are Ted Dewan's Bing Bunny books and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The ones that have stayed with me are Sam Mc Bratney's Guess How Much I love You and Neil Gaiman's Blueberry Girl

So what books do you remember from your childhood? Which books do you read to your child (if you have one) that will always remind you of story time) that most lovely of moments in each day?

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

We're on vacation, we packed up and left town yesterday and are now living and breathing vacation time. There are no "have to" and "I really should"s here.

So we're hanging with the Ma-in-law. in the haunted house she lives in. eating fried dough for breakfast with real maple syrup and the promise of strong roasty coffee in a while.

The Bean weathered her first cross province trip well; ending the day with a massive tummy upset that had us changing the bed and giving her a second bath where she splashed and kicked and gave us a few more grins and giggles to let us know that she was all better before promptly falling back asleep and staying that way (even at this moment)

I've set up a few scheduled posts to fit in here and there while we're busy doing vacay things. I'm hoping to add a post here and there while we are here but if now I'll be giving a full recount once we're home and settled.

If you have a moment, know some beach loving kids and want to try for a fantastic sand toy gift set be sure to click on the Melissa & Doug link in the left hand column there's plenty of time to enter!

New Starts

On Thursday I get to have some much needed one on one time with the Peanut. It's her kindergarten orientation in the morning and the Bean is going to hang out with the husband while we head out to see the Peanut's classroom, meet her teacher and hopefully make a friend.

It's a big step for her and I'm getting a little misty thinking about my little Peanut headed off to school next September. It seems like just yesterday she was the size of the Bean and rolling over. Kindergarten has sneaked right up on us

Once that's done and we head home to make sure that the Bean hasn't decimated the husband; it's packing time so we can introduce the Bean to Grandma, Great Grandma and all her aunts uncles and cousins (not to mention a side trip to the Royal Tyrell so that the Peanut can exalt in all things prehistoric.)

And hey, have you entered into the Seaside Sidekick giveaway yet? If you've entered, thanks, link the post to your friends and family because once Melissa and Doug get 200 new fans on their page from my giveaway they'll send a prize pack including all the sets written about in the post to one lucky entrant.

Seaside Sidekicks Giveaway

When I'm looking for toys for the Peanut and the Bean I go out of my way to find playthings that are well made, educational, affordable and (this is purely a personal preference) not awash in pink.

So it's not surprising that Melissa and Doug is one of our favourite go to places for play things. We're always excited to receive Mellisa and Doug toys and art supplies. Since imagination and creative play are practically built right into their toys it's no wonder that they are among the most played with at our house. The Peanut gets hours of fun out them and once the Bean gets to be big enough to play too, we know she'll be getting just as much fun as her big sister.

So the Peanut has been chomping at the bit for sandbox weather since sometime last November, and with a summer filled with beach outings on the horizon we're thinking about some new sand toys. Lucky for us Mellisa and Doug have just introduced some cute sand toys that could provide endless entertainment at either the sandbox in our back yard or the beach.

Now, I can totally picture any number of under the sea role playing opportunities with The Seaside Sidekicks Sand-Molding Set, "Hello Mr Sea Turtle, have you met my little friend Tiny Blue Seahorse? He's been simply frantic to meet you, he's a huge fan of your work in sand molding."

"Why, Tiny Blue Seahorse, I'm simply delighted to meet you! might I offer you some tea?" And now that I've got my lackluster try at writing gripping dialogue out of my system...

With each mold nesting inside the next, this set just screams to be packed up to the beach; compact toys are a must when you're headed to the sea side via public transit and you have to make sure you have plenty of diapers and wipes along with the other beach day must haves like lunch and a change of clothes.

The Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cupcake Set is a must have for any little baker and I have to say that the unique hinged cupcake molds are genius! The tropical colour scheme is lovely and the sea creature cake toppers are too sweet for words. The sea turtle, little crab, sea star and the gold fish toppers create the perfect set.

I can see the Peanut baking sand cupcakes, building mini castles and using the icing to create even more fun designs in the sand.


I am eternally amazed by the bottomless well of creativity that the Peanut and her friends delve into when they play. The Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set is a fun set featuring everything needed to cook up some beach time fun; bowl, whisk, mixing spoon measuring cups and a sifter.

Not only can I see the Peanut keeping busy making sandcakes with this set but also some seaweed soup too. Plus I'm sure (little budding paleontologist and treasure hunter that the Peanut is proving herself to be) that she'd also use the set for digging up dinosaur bones and panning for gold.



If you're going old school and a pail and shovel are all you need to get your sand party started then the Clicker Crab Pail and Shovel is the combo to get. A bright red to stand out against the sand on the beach with a friendly infections face to bring a smile to your face. This sturdy pail is perfect for hauling water and filling with sand for sand castles and other sand sculptures. It's also a pretty cool place to hold all the shells and pebbles your little collector brings back to the blanket.

And about now I'm guessing you're wondering what is all this about a giveaway? Well, Melissa & Doug has generously offered to send a prize pack of all four of the sand play sets I've talked about here once they get 200 Facebook followers from this giveaway! Pretty exciting right?



To Enter:

Mandatory Entry

Jump over and “Like” Melissa & Doug on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did.

You can leave it at that if you want but for all the eager beaver's out there, extra entries can be had by doing any or all of the following (just remember to leave a separate comment for each extra entry that you complete):

- Subscribe to Melissa & Doug’s Treasured Toy and Birthday Club e-mail list
- Visit PeanutButterPie on Etsy and tell me which item you like best.
- Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post in your comment
- Follow PeanutButterPie on Twitter and tweet the following (worth 2 extra entries) :

I entered to win a @MelissaAndDoug prize pack for some prime sand play this summer from @PeanutButterPie! http://bit.ly/jzBWCg

Rules

Contest ends just in time for the beginning of Summer on June 20th 2011 at 9:00 p.m. PST. Deadline for this giveaway has been extended! The cutoff for entries will be June 27th at 9pm PST. An extra entry will be given to all those who entered before the original deadline as special thank you. I will select a winner at random from all eligible entries. I'll email the winner before posting an announcement on here so please make sure that you have a way for me to contact you.

If the winner does not respond within 48 hrs of being notified, I'll pick a new winner. The prize will be mailed directly to the winner by Melissa and Doug.


Good luck!

Disclaimer: I have not received any monetary compensation for holding this giveaway. The giveaway is contingent on the giveaway sponsor receiving 200 new fans