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Pirates & Cowboys:Titles, Pictures & Sheet Music
Pirate Ship
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First CD: Titles, Pictures & Sheet Music.

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Super Mono Man!

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More great kids' music at
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Chuck Brown's Chuckleberries

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Terrific site for learning about music, Ricci Adams' Music Theory

Do you play the piano?
All Songs for You & Me are available.
You can find some great arrangements
for your SATB chorus too. Linda's Sheet Music

Toys I Really Like

Musical Toys!

Wonderful toys for all age kids
Learning With Toys

My favorite old-fashioned toys are at
Hearthsong! icon

Kids love the Happyville Blocks!
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See wonderful Coloring pages at Jan Brett

Cherry Tree Blocks from Magic Cabin
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More great recipes and ideas from
McCormicks!

Fast and easy meals from Minute Meals

"Courage is the gift that lifts your spirit."
Sandra Walston's Words of Wisdom


PRIME TIME MOMS!

"Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Childrens Hour."
 — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wouldn't it be nice to recreate that magical Children's Hour? You can, with Prime Time Moms. Here you will find the way to settle your children, get to know them better, and create a little space and time for your family at the end of the every day. Together we will collect materials for your Prime Time Box: a special assortment of games, books, puzzles, and toys just for Prime Time.

The years from birth to age 5 are so important to your children, and so fleeting. Give yourself and them a calm, helping hand in learning, loving and living.

I'll also provide easy, delicious recipes and menus to prepare during Prime Time, and links to places for more recipes and ideas.

I've tried to think of every feature you busy, stressed-out moms need to help you with all your jobs, but if I've missed something, let me know! I'll put your ideas right here for everybody to share.

I've been a mom, a teacher, a volunteer at clinics for children and at schools. I've found wonderful, inexpensive toys, puzzles and games, children's clothes and gifts, special greeting cards, and many other items that are delightful, unusual, and sometimes hard to find. I provide the links to those outlets so you don't have to do the search, get in the car (again) and hunt. You can view everything on line, order if you like what you see, and, like magic, it will come to you!

Prime Time!

Here's how you start:

  • Turn off the TV
  • Turn off the Game Boy and Play Station (ignore the indignant screams)
  • Put the special Prime Time cloth on your kitchen or dining room table
    I recommend a washable, picnic-style tablecloth you can wipe off
  • Pull out the special Prime Time box (or basket) and set out the toys, games, books, or puzzles
  • All the kids, including the baby, sit around the table
  • If you have a visiting child, set a chair for him or her
  • Leave a place for you!
  • Turn on a soothing CD (Songs for You & Me or Pirates & Cowboys would be good!)
  • Set out an apple cut up, some celery sticks with cream cheese
  • While you get dinner, the children write, draw, color, read a book, practice writing their letters, play a game, work a puzzle, play Money Trading, paint with water, talk, tell jokes....
  • Tip: It's okay to eat supper in your p.j.'s; if everyone's really tired, take baths early, get in your pajamas (you, too), and start Prime Time then.
  • Whenever you have a minute, sit down and play too. Listen to the music, sing, laugh...

Prime Time Box Suggestions
  • Crayons/Coloring Book/Drawing Paper
  • Balancing Moon
  • Deck of Cards
  • Matching Memory Game icon
  • Here's little fun game from me, print as many copies as you need from Adobe Acrobat! Money Trading Game
  • Nifty Tree Fort from MagicCabin icon
  • Library books just for now
  • Writing paper/pencils





Recipes
Recipes you can print and save, with a copy for a friend.



Mrs. Murphy's Law:
Housework expands to fill the time available.

Homemakers' Corollary:
Housework, done properly, can kill.

We wouldn't want that to happen!

Prime Time Moms' Housework Tip: The 20 Minute Plan
(from the Boston Globe Chatter Line, sometime around 1965!)

Take 20 minutes and do one task, such as:

  • Take all the glassware (or dishes) out of one shelf of the kitchen cupboard, run it through the dishwasher, light cycle. Wash the cupboard, lay fresh paper down, and when the glasses are clean and dry, put them back.
  • Remove the refrigerator vegetable bin, wash it out with hot, soapy water, throw all the yucky stuff away, put a clean paper towel on the bottom, replace good vegetables, return to refrigerator.
  • Tidy up one shelf of linens: refold all the sheets and pillow cases, roll up the quilt covers,wipe down the shelf, replace linens in order with singles, doubles, etc. together in piles.
  • Just before your shower, move everything out of the bathroom except the towel and bathmat. When you get out of the shower, wipe down the shower stall and sink with your towel. Clean the toilet, wipe the outside of the toilet with a clean rag, wipe down the baseboards, then the floor, throw all the cleaning rags and towels in the wash, and replace the towels, hamper, etc.
You will never have to do the dreaded "Spring Cleaning" again! (Like we ever did, but it's a nice thought!)

If you have a tip for this page on the 20 minute plan, or a quick, easy, delicious recipe to share, please write me at Tips for Moms

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