Carol of the Bells Muppet Style

Demi Live in Argentina

This is for my daughter. So she can see this without having to deal with YT comments.

Transmission Problems

Transmissions - A Primer

Well, I'm having problems with the transmission in my Saturn SL-1.  This really sucks, because it's really the first big problem I've had with the vehicle.  Other than this, I've had to have the brakes replaced and oil changed, but for the most part it's been worry-free.

But now, right before Christmas the dang thing has to do this to me!

So, before I go pay someone a ton of money to fix my vehicle I thought that I would educate myself on transmission in general.

Any information anyone wants to give me would be greatly appreciated.

Saturn SL1 Information
Carfax Info

DOT info
Registration law
Denial Penalties

Couponing - The Odyssey Begins

Inspired by the Shop for Free lady, I am starting my research into coupon-ing and I am going to post relevant / useful links here.

Shop for Free - Forums and tips on how to drastically reduce your food bill.
Brag book for coupons  - a different way to organize your coupons
Double coupons in NC - I live in NC so this is important to me.  If you can double your coupon and find a sale at the same time, you can pay almost nothing for certain items.

Family Dance Time

In an effort to lose some weight, I am proposing that we institute a family dance time, to begin after dinner at least three times a week and lasting for 15-30 minutes. This will give us a chance to have some wild, silly, jumping-around time together as well as burn a few calories.

I am going to do some research to see if anyone else does anything similar and I will post the results here.

So far I'm finding reviews for products. Like this one:

Family exercise video

But that is not really what I'm looking for. I'm really looking for a family that is doing this, and are blogging about it.

What Matters?

I just read this really nice post about what life really means to you, and what one can do to figure out that life-long question.

Star Wars Pillow Case

I think it was for Christmas, I bought a set of Star Wars sheets and pillow cases off eBay for my daughter. She loved them even more than I could have hoped. Last week we had to strip her bed just to wash the sheets, and we put another set on there. Two nights ago, she came to me and said "Daddy, I want my Star Wars pillow cases on my pillow, they're my favorite". Even though it was closing in on 11p.m. at the time, how could I refuse such a request? My little Sweeboo was asking me sweetly to put Star Wars pillow cases on her pillow! I love my little girl!

Working on my Lawn Tractor

Well, I've had a Troy-Bilt Pony for several years now, and have never had major problems with it until this year. I have had it serviced several times now and it is starting to become a headache. At this point I don't want to pay to have it serviced again, so I am trying to learn how to self-service the thing. To that end I am researching how to do minor repairs on the mower.

This is a video tutorial on how to use a mutimeter to check a car battery. I assume it would be the same for a mower battery.

More to come!

More Links:

Test Car Battery With a Multimeter

Again

Testing Household Batteries

Yahoo Answers re: LawnMower Batteries

The Mind of Poe - Family Mind - Poemind Music - Darth Poe - Poe-litics - Poemind A.D.D. - Poemind Affilliate Marketing

A Family Tent

I have yet to take the whole family on a camping outing and would really like to do so this fall. To that end, I really need a nice tent that will comfortably hold four individuals, have some sort of rain cover or porch area and won't break the bank. If anyone has suggestions please leave them in the comments.

I will post more as I research.

I'm starting here:
About.com

Tent Buying Tips - As a rule-of-thumb buy a tent that has a capacity rated two people higher than the number that will actually be using it.

Family Tent Comparisons

Coleman Evanston 8 Tent

Outbound Cliffside 7 Tent - 7-Person, 3-Season - $249.95

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The Mind of Poe - Family Mind - Poemind Music - Darth Poe - Poe-litics - Poemind A.D.D. - Poemind Affilliate Marketing

Nature Rocks

http://www.naturerocks.org

I've just stumbled upon this via GeekDad and it seems like a really cool site for those families that are looking to connect with nature and with each other.  It helps you find parks and recreation sites in your area that you can explore cheaply if not for free.  

So check it ou!

Family Yoga?

Well, I have been interested in Yoga for a long time.  However, I have never made it an integral part of my daily and/or weekly routine.  Now that I have a family it seems even harder to make time for it.  So what I'm thinking is that I need to find a fun and interesting way to bring my family into it, instead of finding time alone in which to do it.  I think by doing this I  may be able to keep up with it on a more consistent basis.

So I'm starting my search for ideas on Family Yoga.  Let me know if you have any ideas!

Peace!

Links to start with:

About.com's Family Yoga page

Good info of Yoga for kids

Types of Yoga

More to come!

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The Mind of Poe - Family Mind - Poemind Music - Darth Poe - Poe-litics - Poemind A.D.D. - Poemind Affilliate Marketing

Children and Music

I'm thinking about creating a music game for children using my recording equipment.  I'm not sure now how to structure the game, but the idea would be to have simple singing exercises pre-recorded to which they would sing over top on another track.  This would allow them to hear themselves to a greater degree than a voice student typically gets to hear.  And if you've ever heard struggling singers, or have been one yourself, you can appreciate the value of being able to hear oneself.  A person can be told that he/she is singing off pitch, but until he/she can hear for him/herself it won't make much of an impact.

So to that end I'm researching the vocal ranges of different ages of children.

I found this website that has a 10 point checklist for writing music for children that says the music should be from middle C to the G above for young children, and that can be extended by a few notes each way as they enter into the lower grades.

But I plan to post those activities here, for anyone to use as they wish.  So keep checking back!

The Mind of Poe - Family Mind - Poemind Music - Darth Poe - Poe-litics - Poemind A.D.D. - Poemind Affilliate Marketing

Happy Anniversary Donna!!! Cinco De Mayo

Fifteen years ago today, I met my beautiful wife, Donna at her front door on N. Eastern street, Greenville, NC.  We have been together ever since and my life has never been the same!  She is my soul mate and best friend, and I don't know what I would do without her.  We have two beautiful children that keep our lives full and active and my life is very happy.

I love you honey!  

Empty Threats

Here is a great post about Empty threats.  We've all made them.  Don't lie!  Honestly, I try really hard to keep from doing this, but it still happens.  Telling your kids that you are going to do something that you have no real intention and/or means of doing is obviously not a good thing.  But how bad is it really?  I would think that it would slowly erode your credibility in your children's eyes.   

The Morning Battles!

My family has been fighting the morning battle for a while now.  Now, to be clear, this doesn't happen every day, and sometimes we will go a week or more at a time without the explosions, but when it happens it never fails to bring me down.

So, I've been doing a little research and I've found these links that have some possible solutions/things to try.  Let me know if you have any tried-and-true methods of getting your little ones up and out the door without them or you exploding.

http://childcare.about.com/od/behaviors/tp/gettingkidsup.htm

http://www.worknwoman.com/worknmom/askmom/ask5.html

http://mommysavers.com/boards/family-matters/64599-getting-child-up-morning.html

http://wondertime.go.com/parent-to-parent/article/morning-rush-hour.html

http://www.familysanitysavers.com/morningmadness.html

Bring the Playing Back!

I have thought for quite awhile now that societies' recent fixation on schooling and standardized testing will eventually have a detrimental effect on society as a whole.  Now it seems as if this is indeed the case.  Here is a terrific article on this subject: It's Time to Bring Playtime Back

Thomas the Train Deal - Today Only

Thomas & Friends Entertainment Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Check it out 5 DVD's for just $28!  Today only!

Dora Gets a Makeover

What??? What is going on? Must we do this to everything? Is it really necessary to age Dora so that she will appeal to older girls? Why does she need to appeal to older girls?

In case you haven't heard, Dora is getting a makeover to look like a tweenager.  This is ridiculous in my mind.  Luckily my kids are old enough now that the Dora days are behind me, but I feel for those parents who may have to endure this new incarnation of Dora.

City of Ember

I have long been a Tim Robbins fan.  His acting has always had a sense of gravity that breathes life to any part he plays.  He is simply believable.  Which to me is about the strongest compliment you can give any actor.  

In the movie, City of Ember, Robbins plays a father who lives in a subterranean city, called Ember.  This city has been underground for so long that it has forgotten that they ever had another existence, and deny that such an existence could even exist.  His son and his friend fall upon clues that, indeed, there is a world outside of their subterranean prison, and if they don't get out soon, they will all be plunged into darkness.  

This is GREAT movie for families.  There are a few startling moments that might not be suitable for very young children, but my four year old handled it quite well.  I loved most because it would appeal, I believe, to adults without children just as well.  It was well acted and scripted throughout and the cinematography was excellent.

I would highly recommend this for you next family movie night.

All in the Family

I am father.  I am a husband.  I love my family.  I will discuss family matters here, those that I can discuss publicly that is.  If I come across books, movies, game, etc. that work well with the family I will give you the low down on all of that.  Stay tuned!