Growing Smalls: June 2018

Friday

Meet Kit Kat & see what we did to give her a nutritional boost

I would like to officially introduce you to our newest family member.

Meet Kit Kat. She is right around the same age as Baby Kolton and they have developed the sweetest bond. That is until she tries to play with his toes.... Silly Kitty...

Kit Kat is such a playful kitten chasing rocks and attacking the dogs like she's one of them. Oh she's gonna be a good little mouser when winter hits.

But like most kittens do, Kit Kat loves milk... Like formula milk.... She's eaten so many stinking bottles she might make me crazy! Kolton was waking up in the middle of the night to eat. After he was done eating I would put his bottle on the night stand until morning when I did the dishes. But they started disappearing and I really thought I was losing my mind.... Even the ones with just water in them. The nipples had become Kit Kat's favorite toy... UGH! This one was from this morning! AFTER I TYPED THIS EVEN! I sooo know better but I went outside to water the animals and she slipped past me... Anyone need a kitten?

So when it came time to place our monthly Chewy.com order I ordered Royal Canin Mother & Baby Cat ultra soft mousse canned food. I figured she needed just a little extra boost since she was trying to drink Koltons milk.

The mousse texture helped ease the transition into solid foods. I was really surprised at how fast she scarfed down the can of food that I stopped cutting it up for her after the first one.

The specially developed formula meets nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile and helped build her immune systems natural defenses. It's really important to know that Kit Kat's getting the nutrition she needs to become a strong adult cat. She is an outside kitty but comes in during the day or when it's super hot out. Even though she's an outside cat, she's still a very spoiled one and we want to protect her the best we can against nature and wild animals that may pose to be a threat.

Mother & Baby Cat by Royal Canin is a great nutritional booster for the kitties and is made right here in Missouri.

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We received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for an honest and non-biased review. While we have been compensated for our review with the product, our reviews our own opinion based on our personal experience and realize our experiences may be different than our readers. This page may contain affiliate links in which we receive a small compensation for your purchases. This allows us to continue to offer you our services.

Wednesday

Sleep ZZZ Pillow- Helping kids fall asleep and stay asleep

Isn't she sweet? This picture was taken when I woke up before the kids after they decided to camp outside under the stars. I never thought they would stay out there all night but here they are sleeping peacefully as the morning comes to life. Gosh I love living in the back roads!

Of course the camp-out was not without it's necessities one of which is that super soft Sleep Zzz Pillow. I got it for her just a little over a month ago when Kolton got his new nursing pillow and she has slept with it every single night since! (Regardless of inside or out!)

The Sleep Zzz Pillow is kinda like a body pillow for kids but wraps around them making them feel snuggled inside which promotes falling asleep faster and less waking up in the middle of the night. The stuffed "arms" of the pillow can also act as a buffer and help prevent a little one from falling off the bed, or at least rolling around all over the place.

As the parent, I like how easy it is to wash. The cover is easily removable and washable. We wash it just as often as the rest of her sheets and blankets without any trouble. I also like that the cover is removable because when she decides to change the colors of her room or bedding, I can simply order a new cover and it's going to match. No need to order a whole new pillow!

I don't mind the kids having those "special items" they just can't sleep without. Especially when those special items help them stay asleep at night. Layla was getting up a couple times a week for whatever reason and I think in the past month since she's had this pillow she's only came to our room once. That's a win in my book! Check out Sleep Zzz Pillow at the following links. And if your in the market for a great nursing pillow, check out Kolton's One Z Nursing Pillow. He uses it for EVERYTHING!

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Tuesday

FREE PEPSI STUFF!

Pepsi has released free codes to help get you started in their reward program and some of their rewards start out at just 1 point!

GO HERE to sign up for a FREE REWARDS account!

Once your signed up enter the codes below for FREE POINTS!

Other ways to earn points are:
Buying select Pepsi products and entering the codes that can be found under the cap.
Refer friends (You get 5 points for every friend. That adds up FAST!)
Follow Pepsi on Twitter for bonus points
Scan Receipts on their website
Click on the link for Pepsi.com and Pepsi Shop from the home page
Take a survey

Current Codes:
I'll update when new codes are generated.

SIGN UP HERE for a free Pepsi account and let us know what rewards you're saving for!

Hours and Hours of Physical Activity with Glow Battle

Ya know... I spent the last couple of weeks not letting the kids play Glow Battle because they had been acting up, didn't get chores done, or were just flat out grounded. That's supposed to be good parenting right? NOT rewarding your children when they miss-behave. But then.... I got to thinking about it.... We have a box full of "safe" weapons, a new game, and a fabulous opportunity to wack the tar (safely of course) out of the kids. Who wants to play?!

The rules to Glow Battle are pretty simple, but fun to read. The writer really made them easy to remember with remarks like "It's fun to hit your friends, not crash into each other." or "Again, with capital letters and explanation points: NO HEAD HITS!!!". Yes, even though the game encourages striking each other with the glow wands, there are rules to help make sure everyone plays in a safe manor.

Home Station lights

The point? Glow Battle is a outdoors physical activity game, for 2-10 players, to primarily be played in low lighting conditions. Glow Battle comes with regeneration station lights for each team to make a home station, which is where everyone starts until it's time to attack your opponents. Each player is equipped with a glow bracelet and a glow wand to attack each other. If a player gets hit once, they turn their bracelet to a flashing mode and have to return to their home station before continuing to play. A second hit makes them out.

I love that the kids have to return to that home station because that's just that much more physical activity in the game. And since the game is pretty flexible, we made our stations further apart for that very reason.

We let the kids play a couple times before joining in. It was fun to see them racing back and forth through the yard chasing each other. This game encourages so much physical activity it's great!

My favorite part of the Glow Battle game? There's more than one way to play! So of course tag like I mentioned above, but then you can use the station lights to play it as Capture the Flag, or Death Race where you pass the other teams station lights without getting hit. There's also a Gladiators, Knights of Old where the team protects their King of Queen, Thieves and Guards, Vampires, Steal the Beacon, and even Double Weapons. Then how about a Wound Variation? If you get hit in the arm you lose the ability to play with that arm! All the options that come with this game are crazy cool and provide hours and hours of endless play!

Holy smokes! I hadn't seen the kids run around the yard that much in a very long time! If your looking for a physical activity game for your kids during the summer break, check out Glow Battle and see how many different ways you can play!

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Calling out all creativity for SculptaPalooza! + GIVEAWAY

We're calling out all creativity for our new game SculptaPalooza! I can craft, meaning I feel creative most the time right? Holy smokes SculptaPalooza had me second guessing my creativity and everyone laughing as we attempted stay on track and properly play the new game.

SculptaPalooza is super neat and is a really great game for my group of kids! Although we have played it with as little as two players, SculptaPalooza can be played by as many people as you have available simply by dividing everyone up into two teams. I love that because sometimes we really have a house full!

SculptaPalooza is a hands on sculpting game that encourages creativity and critical thinking. Each team takes turns rolling the dice which helps pick a category and then sculpting whatever object is listed on that card in that category.

Also on the dice is a lightening bolt for a lightening round where the team has just 60 seconds to act out as many clues as possible. During the lightening round you can sculpt props and move around helping your team to guess the object. But the cool part of the lightening round is everyone can guess!

SculptaPalooza is adjustable in so many different ways! While the game was developed for ages 10 and up, SculptaPalooza comes with blank clue cards that you can edit for easier objects or the lightening round cards are also pretty easy.

Want to make the game go by just a little faster? Generally the game is played with the team that first gets 20 points wins. Each correct guess is a point and although they can add up really quick while playing the lightening round the score board is also marked for the first team to pass 10 points.

SculptaPalooza is a great game for parties, family game night, or just to keep the kids entertained! I love how adjustable the features are. The creativity and hands on interaction is great at keeping the kids entertained and the clue cards are never ending! SculptaPalooza is definitely a favorite here for sure!

Check out SculptaPalooza at the following links and let us know who in your house would love to give their creativity a spin!

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We received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for an honest and non-biased review. While we have been compensated for our review with the product, our reviews our own opinion based on our personal experience and realize our experiences may be different than our readers. This page may contain affiliate links in which we receive a small compensation for your purchases. This allows us to continue to offer you our services.

Build or Boom- A Family Game Night Addition

We've added another game to our Family Game Night box and this time it's Build or Boom from Goliath Games. This two person game has the kids racing against each other to build their structure before their project is "blown up" by their opponent.

Build or Boom is pretty neat! I wish there was an option to add additional players but the race is interesting and of course winner can always play the next person.

The game is super simple but really challenging. Build or Boom starts off with a blueprint card, then on your stand you build the structure as fast as you can racing against the other player. The first person to complete the structure on the blueprint card hits their dynamite which is an air-pump that "blows up" the other persons structure.

Build or Boom definitely requires a flat steady surface. I had to move our table over a couple inches so it didn't wobble while the kids were building, although I kinda found it entertaining when the structures toppled over when I leaned on the table. Mean Mom, I know... They only had to start over twice....

I really like that the game encourages some critical thinking and building skills rather than just the roll of a dice. Build or Boom is super easy to understand, set up, and there are plenty of blueprint cards that have been keeping the kids busy and entertained!

Build or Boom is another great game for the summer break and Family Game Night! Be sure to check it out at the following links;

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We may have received one or more of the products mentioned above in exchange for an honest and non-biased review. While we have been compensated for our review with the product, our reviews our own opinion based on our personal experience and realize our experiences may be different than our readers. This page may contain affiliate links in which we receive a small compensation for you click on. This allows us to continue to offer you our services.

Monday

The kids are getting little wiser with Wise Owl + GIVEAWAY

When we first moved out here to the middle of no where, I told Miss Layla I would build her a different type of swing for every part of the yard. 2 years later..... Yea life happens. But a couple of weeks ago we were offered the opportunity to test out the Wise Owl Hammocks and although I never thought of a hammock as a swing I was quick to realize the kids were gonna teach me a thing or two.

From Wise Owl we received a two person camping hammock and an Owlet Kids Hammock. They are super compact, the biggest at just 8 inches tall making them easy to take anywhere!

I have to admitt, I was a bit thrown off by the title of a "kids hammock". If you have been following along, you may have noticed my kids are tall and have grown very well. Both Maison and Layla had always been tallest in their class and Jeramiah is becoming built like a little brick house working this summer. So we put up the two person hammock and let the kids have at it until I was ready to review.

Eventually, hubby informed me that it was sitting too close to the ground because the tree's I choose were too close together and he put up the kids owlet. Wise Owl sent plenty of the heavy duty rope to make the hammocks reach trees that were further apart, I just really liked this spot in the yard so that's where I started.

I was quick to notice however, the only difference between the two is the length and width. The two person hammock is 10 feet long and 6.5 feet wide while the kids owlet is only 6 feet long and 3.5 feet wide. But once we had the owlet out, I realized even I fit in it. Both hammocks have a 400 pound weight limit supported by the tripple interlocking stitching in the parachute nylon. The soft material is really nice and doesn't stick to you like other outdoor fabrics. I even put Baby Kolton in the owlet and he loved it!

Both hammocks came with nautical grade nylon ropes and two steel carabiners so I'm also not worried about them slipping with anyone in them. They are incredibly strong and very supportive!

So, just another toy or something worth purchasing? These hammocks from Wise Owl are definately worth the purchase!

The first weekend the hammocks were set up, Jeramiah used the two person one to sleep in. The kids set up a campsite with the hammocks, a fire pit, and some movies with a projector screen I found on Amazon. The kids camped outside all weekend! It was almost like we had the house to ourselves we seen them so little!

<------ Seriously, Jeramiah's asleep in there!

Since we've put up the Wise Owl Hammocks, I find the kids outside more and more every day! I've really been surprised at how much use these hammocks are getting! I've found Layla in them more than once reading.. Yup I said it READING! She's been reading her Very Bad Cat book even though summer is here and she's officially out of school. I asked her what she was doing and the response was "Swinging". So never mind the book, she found a minute when the boys weren't in the hammocks and took advantage of the opportunity. I joke and say the kids are "getting a little wiser in their Wise Owl". Wise enough to stay outside anyways! I just love seeing them outside rather than glued to an electronic.

The hammocks have been up now for almost three weeks and the kids never seem to get out of them! Be sure to check out Wise Owl and all their products at the following links;

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Saturday

6 Ways to Use a Nursing Pillow

How many times have I used my One Z Pillow in the last two weeks? Every single day! I've really surprised myself on how many ways there is to use a nursing pillow.

Nursing

Of course you can use a nursing pillow for nursing duh.... But the One Z Pillow is pretty neat! The square part rises to become a very supportive back which I love because I'm not sure I've ever seen a nursing pillow with a back like that. Then there's an adjustable clip to help hold the pillow in place, snug and supportive around you. The creators of One Z Pillow also have Twin Z which is specially made for moms of twins.

A sick baby

So the nasty summer colds are working their way through the house. I have felt awful all week but my biggest worry is Kolton feeling this way too. His poor eyes were a little runny and he started to sound girggely so I grabbed the One Z Pillow and used it to help him sit upright so the drainage doesn't build up in his cute little head. Believe it or not he was not feeling well when I put him in the pillow as a seat but I still managed to get a smile out of him.

Acid Reflux
We have been so fortunate to not have any acid reflux issues with baby Kolton. He does get super super gassy but we have been so blessed that he's only spit up a hand full of times and not have any reflux issues. I can remember with some of the foster babies propping their mattress up an inch or so at the had end. Well this pillow would be great for a baby with acid reflux to help keep them in a more upright position.

Photography prop

Now it's really hard for me not to blast you with a bunch of pictures here. I only took close to 100 to get some of the cutest shots. But I wouldn't have been able to get any of those sweet poses without the One Z Pillow. I used the clasp to hold the pillow secure and used a blanket to tone down the super cute sea life design. I got some of the sweetest shots for Baby Kolton's 2 month pictures.

This one worries me. He has such a personality already I can
only imagine what he's thinking!

Protective Buffer
Yup I said it! KEEP AWAY FROM THE BABY! Is that really that hard to understand? My big kids spend all day in school around a 500 other nose picking, butt wiping no hand washing children. I don't like my big kids super close to his face but every now and then I come in from chores and find cute pictures like this on the camera. Ok..... at least I know they weren't picking him up. I feel safer knowing I put Kolton in the One Z Pillow and that's where he will be when I come back in from getting some outside work done.

Tummy Time
This was my primary purpose for wanting a One Z Pillow because I love watching Baby Kolton grow and get stronger with more coordination. I just can't believe some days how smart he is! Tummy time is essential to that development. The removable cover for our One Z Pillow was really easy to put on and has that bright sea life design which is made of a super soft material. Kolton rubs his hands and arms across the material and loves looking around. This is a perfect pillow for tummy time!

We love our One Z Pillow! ItI can't wait to see all the different ways we keep finding to use it. Do you have any other ideas? Leave us a comment below and check it out at the following links;

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"My Very Good, Very Bad Cat"

Have I mentioned how much I love the selection at Chewy.com? Last month I seen the Chicken Soup for the Soul My Very Good, Very Bad Cat book and since we had just gotten a new kitty, I knew I had to order it for Layla. Now I will tell you, although Miss Layla is still pretty young, this is an adult level book. There's not many pictures in the 375 pages so as I say with all my reviews what may be right for my family might not be for yours. Layla is such an outstanding reader I knew she would be able to work her way through it without any problems and of course she is.

I been finding Layla in all the quiet places throughout the house and the yard with this book including the hammock we received from Wise Owl. (More on that later!) It's just so nice to see her in a paper book rather than the tablet and other electronics.

As you can see I managed to get my hands on the My Very Good, Very Bad Cat book. The stories are short and sweet making this an easy read to pick up and put down at any point. That may be why it's so easy for Layla as well. I like that all the stories aren't the same concept over and over. Each section is a little different from Chapter 1 being about ornery cats to hunting, healing, and heroic cats. There's so many cute stories, (101 to be exact) I completely understand why Layla can't put this one down.

Our Kit Kat Kitty! Kolton loved her until she bit his toe that
was peeking out of the blankets LOL

For under $15 you can get this book at Chewy.com and the royalties from this book will go to the American Humane Association. Be sure to check it out at the following links;

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Friday

Congratulations to our Facebook Winner!

Congratulations again to our Facebook Winner Davis R.! He won two Toothfairy Bags by sharing and tagging three friends in a giveaway on our Facebook page!

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