Let’s Get Ready with Cedar Valley Publishing

From now through August 2009, LEGO Education is sponsoring a hands-on activity challenge for educators, (including home educators!), to design and submit an activity using only the parts in a free kit supplied by LEGO. The activity could range from a simple construction to an advanced math application.  Your imagination is the limit! The Grand Prize Winner will get LEGO Education products and gift certificates valued up to $250; eight monthly winners will receive prizes worth up to $100.  Entries will appear on the LEGO Smart Blog as they are posted to the website.

See the website for all the rules and to request your kit:  http://www.legoeducation.com/forms/activitycontest.asp

I wrote this article for the Moms in Business Network.  I hope you enjoy it - and visit the MIBN, where you’ll find a TON of great information to help you grow your home business and network with other career-minded moms!

How To Create a National Platform with Only a Computer and a Phone
Part of the MIBN “Market Your Business TeleCircles” Series

Stacey Kannenberg is an author, publisher, speaker, motivator, consultant, blogger, keynote, spokesperson and Mom CEO.  As the “Get Ready to Learn Mom”, Stacey is a nationally renowned education expert and award winning author with an expertise in children’s education and “Mom-entrepreneurship”.  She is the Founder and CEO of two publishing companies:  Cedar Valley Publishing and Stacey Kannenberg Unlimited, an Imprint of Cedar Valley Publishing.  She is the co-author of the award-winning and state approved, Let’s Get Ready Series with Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten! and Let’s Get Ready For First Grade!

Stacey just released the highly anticipated Spanish/English Bilingual Edition of Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten!   Prepararse Para Kindergarten!  Stacey is the publisher of two books by Syndicated Columnist and National Radio Host/Personality, Jodie Lynn.  Jodie’s titles are Syndication Secrets and Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) Having, Doing, and Surviving It All!  Stacey is also the publisher of the soon to be released books by Barb Rockaway:  Mommy, Where are You? and Daddy, Where are You?

Stacey is a Principal, Consultant and the Chief Connecting Officer for Mom Central Consulting and the VP of Mother Talk, where she specializes in viral, grassroots and word-of-mouth marketing to brands, businesses, authors and publishers.  She is MOM to Heidi, 9 and Megan, 7 and wife to Michael and resides in Fredonia, WI

JOIN  Moms In Business Network Now to Get On this Call  PLUS Get Much, Much More.

Sam is the real life inspiration of Let’s Get Ready For First Grade! He is one of the characters in the First Grade book and has a dedication on the back cover.  His family galvanized our community to raise over $450,000 to build Possibility Playground in Port Washington, WI.  Cedar Valley Publishing and the Kannenberg family were proud to be part of Sam’s Dream Team. 

This past weekend was the Run, Walk & Roll that raised an additional $8,000 funds for expansion.  According to Sue Meyer, Sam’s amazing mom, “Sam participated in the 5K walk…more of a roll since he spent most of the time in his wagon.  He also helped pull his friend Patrick Schmit in his wheelchair during a portion of the walk.  But in the last 20 yards, he ran to the finish line just like all the other runners and Bill Schanen (publisher of the Ozaukee Press) captured his victory!!”

Okay, so if you liked Sam’s first picture from the Run, Walk and Roll for Possibility Playground.  You’re going to love this one too!!!

Way to go Sam!!! You continue to inspire us all!

Another way to help Sam is to visit The National Association for Child Development.

This is hilarious!!! Please watch this video and vote!!!

Vote for @ConsumerQueen for the Swiffer Award http://tinyurl.com/own7qs #CNQueen Looks like you can vote once everyday!

Thank you Stacy DeBroff for sharing your painful story for the first time nationally:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/

Mike and I have yet to actually take separate flights, but it is discussed at every booking!!!  But, in our 16 years of marriage, we have only taken two flights together, without the children.  The last time we all flew together, my husband and I decided that we would rather us all be together than having the possibility of having a set of us left behind to deal with the grief and second guessing everything!  My husband is flying this week and will also be doing a float plane in the Canadian wilderness and I am always so thankful when he returns.  I actually wanted to purchase a $4 tool for his pocket - complete with waterproof matches, rope, compass, siren, and flashing light and he rolled my eyes and said “I will be fine.”  But, as I said, I will be happy when he is home safe and sound!

As a new mom with fond memories of road trips with my family when I was younger, here are a few of my favorite tips I share with families I work with as a travel planner and family travel expert:

1. Get the children involved in planning the trip - especially if you have teenagers! This way they are less likely to complain, will take pride in knowing they helped choose the itinerary, and will know a bit more about trip destinations.  Make it fun!
2. For families with infants and toddlers, consider using a baby supply service such as Baby’s Away.  These companies can arrange for baby items such as cribs, strollers and supplies to be delivered to your vacation destination so you’ll have less stuff to lug around.
3. When staying in a hotel or rental home, bring baby-proofing items like outlet plugs and a portable gate. This will help with curious toddlers. Also, a few hotels offer these items for their guests, so ask when you call for a reservation.
4. When road-tripping, pack a small bag of essentials to keep in the front seat. Keeping certain items handy will prevent you from having to stop and dig through the tightly packed trunk.
5. Before the trip, come up with a family plan of what to do in case someone gets lost. For example, each person should carry emergency contact numbers, including children.  Also set a specific location to meet and stay put should the group be separated.
6. Have the children engage in creative games such as License Plate Bingo or Count the Cows.   Not only does this keep young minds entertained, it is fun for the whole family!
7. Create a toy box or back pack for each child.  Have the child participate in choosing what items to pack in his or her bag.  Or purchase one such as Little Learning Hands Company’s wonderful “Are We There Yet?” Busy Bag.
8. Highlight the road trip on a road map or the destination on a World map.   Have the children give periodic updates as to where they think you all are.
9. If a portable DVD is part of the family road trip, make sure to bring headphones as well!
10. Pack the car the night before and start the trip out very early in the morning so the children will sleep for the first few hours.  They will awake around breakfast time and mom and dad will have had several hours of quiet time!

Most importantly the time we spend with our families away from all the stresses make memories of a lifetime.  Enjoy this summer, have fun and explore!  Happy Travels!

Jenny Reed is a first time mom and owner of www.OurCruisePlanner.com, a full-service travel agency with no service fees.  She loves all things travel and specializes in family travel, Disney and Alaska travel.  Follow her on Twitter too @TheTravelExpert.

Last Day of School

“You’re a very special person,

And I wanted you to know,

How much I enjoyed being your teacher,

How fast the year did go!

Please come back to visit me,

As through the grades you grow,

Try hard to learn all that you can,

There is so much to know!

The one thing I tried to teach you, to last your whole life through,

Is to know that you are SPECIAL,

There is no one else like you!

Author Unknown

Here are a few items to help you remember to celebrate you and your successes:

• Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
• Rubber Band - to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out.
• Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s.
• Pencil - to remind you to list your blessings every day.
• Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s O.K.
• Chewing Gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything!
• Mint - to remind you that you are worth a “mint”.

Then, I shake their hands, tell them one or two quick words of encouragement, and wish them a happy and safe summer vacation.  Hoping that all of you have had a very successful school year. 

‘Talk to each other, support each other, take care of each other.

The above was seen at  Mr. Marjan Glavac author, editor, teacher FR-EE subscription to How To Make A Difference Newsletter http://www.howtomakeadifference.com/ebook.htm.  ‘There are no boundaries for the journeys of the mind.’