Maple Leaf Mommy

I mentioned a little while back how excited I was to have discovered Grassroots, an eco-friendly online Canadian storefront based out of Toronto. As you know my daughter has just recently started junior kindergarten. Providing her with litterless lunches is a priority for me and Grassroots was a great place to start as they have an excellent selection of litterless lunch options to choose from.

One of the items I chose was an Organic Cotton Lunch Bag.  I made the classic "order-it-online" mistake with this one, and misjudged the size. The website clearing states that the dimensions are 11.5"L x 8"W x 4.5"D, yet I managed to visualize a slightly smaller bag. Now don't get me wrong, I love this bag. I think it's a fantastic quality item. However, the size doesn't work for me for G-Girl's lunch. This bag is actually quite large, which is a bonus if you want to fit a nice sized lunch in there, but for my four year old it's overkill.




I love that this bag is made of 100% organic certified cotton and I think the robot print is adorable. The Kids Konserve Thermos that I also got from Grassroots is a great fit. And would easily sit in there along with fruit, a drink and more. Personally I find the sack to be a bit big to use as a lunch bag for a small child, as it takes up too much space (aka all of it) in her backpack. Though it would be fine for if I wanted her to carry a lunch bag along side her backpack.

With that said, what I have been using the bag for, and loving it as, is a snack tote. Two sippy cups, some cut fruit, a couple of cookies or kinder eggs, heck even a spare diaper and some wipes. I can fit all of that in her and the generous handle works well for hanging off the baby stroller. I love the way it snaps closed. I also love the lining on the inside of the bag. Any stray drips from juice cups wipes right off. This bag has been on a few outing with us now and we get compliments whenever we use it, as it's way cute. Folks also immediately notice how handy it is, and how perfect it is for holding my kids bevvies and snacks.

This is how it's seeing duty at my house, as the perfect snack carrier.

I've run it through the wash once thus far, and it came out looking crisp, and pretty much like new. I realize the real test is in washing it two dozen times, after my daughter spills something sticky on it. Yet I was still impressed that the colours on the adorable robot image remained nice and bright after it's first go through the washing machine. I did take care to follow the instructions and turn it inside out, wash it on cold, and not toss it in the dryer.

Overall, I love this bag and would recommend it at a snack tote, or as a lunch sack for an older child or an adult. This organic cotton lunch bag is available from Grassroots in four different designs and costs $17.99.  

EDIT: I later revisited this item. Check out my review recap here to discover how this item did over the long haul.

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About a year ago now I was struggling with potty training G-Girl and was ready to offer her whatever form of bribery requested. We talked it over and what she wanted most was music classes. (ahem, you may remember that in particular she was fixated on learning to play the banjo). I looked around for age appropriate music classes and found there really wasn't much out there. While searching around on the web I found Kindermusik, read up on their program, and thinking it sounded perfect started to search for local classes.  Unfortunately at the time the closest "local" classes where being held out in Puce, a 30 minute car ride out in the county, which since I had no access to a car, might as well have been the moon. So I gave up on the idea of music classes, talked G-Girl into an alternate form of potty time bribery (pennies and hotwheels), and moved on.

Then a little while back I received an email from a lady named Sue, informing me that she was offering Kindermusik classes here in Windsor! To say I was super excited would actually be a bit of an understatement. Unfortunately at four years old G-Girl was now too old to take any of the classes currently being offered, but I was really eager to take Baby-G and check them out.

First, Baby-G is shy and terrified of strangers. When G-Girl was little we took her to baby sign language classes, which was an incredibly positive experience for all of us. Unfortunately when Baby-G hit the right age to start sign classes, nothing was available locally. We still did baby sign with her at home, which I think she has definitely benefited from, but that's a topic for another day.  My point here is, we've been feeling guilty that Baby-G hasn't had the same experience of getting out, taking a class, and mixing with other babes.

Second, I was excited because this particular class offers age appropriate musical engagement for my little one; something that research has shown has a beneficial impact on learning vital skill sets such as; social and reasoning skills, creativity, literacy, and gross and fine motor skills, to name just a few.


Sue is currently offering two levels of Kindermusik classes; Village: Feathers for ages Newborn to 18 months and Our Time: Wiggles & Giggles for ages 18 months to 3 years.

Since Baby-G was just over 18 months old, I decided to take her to the Wiggles & Giggles preview class and at first I wondered if I had made the right decision.  Like most kids Baby-G loves music and even simple sounds and beats will usually get her bopping and dancing.  The class started, we sang, did silly motions, and clapped and beat our hands on the floor. Other kids were interacting, dancing, moving around the room and playing.... My girl was standing like a log, chewing on her fingers and looking slightly confused. I started to think that maybe she would have been better off in the newborn baby class, as opposed to the toddler one.  Then all of a sudden halfway through the 45 minute long class, something clicked for her and she began to smile, move to the music, and attempt to mimic the teacher in using the sandblock musical instruments. Ok, cool! Looks like she's having fun!

Then something a bit shocking happened. My shy baby, my baby who when we have company over is scared to even enter the room, wiggled on over one mom down and took a seat right on a strange ladies lap. I was a bit surprised to say the least. When she then got up and moved on down to the next mom and took a seat, and so on continuing down the line until she was four mom's over, sitting on a total strangers lap and grinning at me; I was dumb-founded. I guess she found the class setting comfortable! I decided that we were definitely going to be coming back next week, and taking the rest of the classes! 

Kindermusik classes are available in Windsor on Saturday mornings. The classes take place in the back room of Bump Maternity & Baby (1719 Wyandotte St. E.)  As I've mentioned previously anyone can take a free preview class at any time. You just need to contact the instructor by email and let her know that you'd like to come out and check out the class. As long as there are spots left open, you can join in at any time and you only pay for the number of classes remaining.You can read more about the classes being offered in Windsor by visiting the instructors website, here: www.kindermusikwithsue.com.

Disclosure: I am receiving Kindermusik classes "at cost" in exchange for doing a series of posts on our experiences with taking the classes.

My husband has long been awaiting the moment when he could introduce our kids to Star Wars.  He tried getting G-Girl to watch the first Star Wars movie when she was three, but she didn't want to see anything with even the hint of violence.  As soon as people started shooting lasers, she was done.


A year later and my husband decided to give it another go, his reasoning being that he was about 4 years old when he first saw Star Wars in the theatre. And this time it worked. He is super excited to be sharing his favourite films with her, and G-Girl has been enjoying watching the "special movies that daddy watched when he was a kid!" The two of them curl up on the couch downstairs and watch and discuss, and then I get the G-Girl recap when it's all over.

I found my daughters versions of the films to be somewhat amusing, so I though I would share with you the G-Girl version of the first three Star Wars films:

Episode IV: A New Hope
There are good guys and bad guys. One of the really good guys is a farm boy. He's a hero! He has friends. The farm boy and his friends rescue a Princess. And then they all get nickles. (Translation - The heroes all get medals at the end of the film.)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
They get captured, up in the clouds! Three guys get captured then the other good guy saves them. Up in the clouds!! (Apparently Cloud City is quite exciting when you are four.) It had a sad ending. (She didn't want to elaborate on why exactly she thought it was sad.) (I thought she'd get excited about Yoda, but nope. Zero interest in the little green guy.)

Episode I: The Phantom Menace
There are two Jedi and a little boy. The little boy gets to fly a spaceship. Wahoo!  One of the Jedi falls down a hole and dies. It's a little bit sad, but it's ok because there is still one Jedi left to take care of the boy! (I love how in her mind it's all good as long as there is someone left to take care of the kid.)

Yes, my husband decided the perfect order for the films to be viewed by someone who has never seen them before would be the first two original films (Episodes 4 & 5), then the Anakin backstory/flashback to episodes 1, 2 and 3, followed by Darth Vader's defeat/redemption in the final film (Episode 6). Yeah, I told you, he has been putting way too much thought into this and planning it for quite some time.

A while back I had the chance to check out one of the cute Mini Lalaloopsy Dolls, and it didn't go over all that well with my then three-year old G-Girl.  However, I had a feeling an older kid would appreciate the doll, so I found her a home with my friend Kim's daughter.

Now, here is Kim with a guest review  on their experiences with the doll:

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When I found out for my second child I was having a girl. I was thrilled! But I also vowed she was not going to be one of those frilly princess types. As you can see from the picture I lost that battle. My princess ballerina is never too far away from her next costume change and always has some sort of doll / stuffed animal in tow. Entire sections of our home have been transformed into her play castle areas for her and her entourage.


Ever since she was given her Mini Lalaloopsy™ Peanut Big Top™ she has carried this doll around. It has been to the beach and out to dinner. Over to Meme's and friends. The very fact that her room is such a disaster and she always knows where this tiny doll is amazes me. Personally I love it too. I love the little personalities they come with and how they create this sense of magic (her is " was made from bits of a brightly-coloured clown costume. She is a silly prankster who's a little bit clumsy and loves to make her friends laugh. She has a pet elephant. Sewn on Date: April 1st (April Fool's day)") I love their simple ragdoll design and the way she maintains that ragdoll feel even though she is made from plastic. She moves just like a ragdoll it is actually quite cool.

Her younger brother even loves the doll and I am thinking of getting him the little boy pirate ragdoll and they will be able to play with their dolls together with hopefully little or no fighting over who gets to be which character. There are tons of accessories which I can't wait to get my hands on and cute little playsets. The pirate doll is larger size which means Princess G is also going to gain a larger size doll which I am sure will be set up in her own little palace as soon as she comes home from the store.

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Here's the pirate boy Lalaloopsy doll Kim was talking about, Patch Treasurechest. Isn't he adorable?

Cool Offer Alert - Little Tikes is now offering money saving Lalaloopsy bundles when you buy direct via their website. You can pick up a full sized Lalaloopsy doll, along with the matching mini doll, for the same price you would pay for for one large doll by itself.

Disclosure - I received a free mini doll, which I then passed along to a friend. As always, my opinions are my own and were not influenced by the company, or by the free product received.

I have some exciting news to share with you: Kindermusik classes are now being offered here in Windsor!

I had read up on Kindermusik a while back and thought it sounded like a fantastic program, but wasn't able to find any classes nearby. So when I recently received an email from a lady named Sue, informing me that she was offering Kindermusik classes here in Windsor, well to say I was super excited would actually be a bit of an understatement.

Why am I so hyped about Kindermusik?

Take a look at the Kindermusik webpage and you can read up all about how age appropriate musical engagement can help your child develop all sorts of important skill sets; everything from early literacy skills to reasoning skills, and social and emotional skills, just to name a few.

The basis of the Kindermusik class is to move, dance and play to the music. Parents take part in the class, interacting with their kids, singing, dancing, and playing simple musical instruments. The take home materials, combined with the experiences you have together in class, give you music based activities to enjoy at home with your kids.

Baby-G and I have actually already been out to our first free preview class and we loved it.  It's an experience I definitely recommend and I'll be writing more about it soon.

Yep, that's right, we went to a free preview class. And here's the cool part - anyone can take a free preview class at any time. Just contact the instructor by email and let her know that you'd like to come out and check out the class. If you enjoy it you can register at the end of class, and if not, no harm no foul.  I was there when some folks were deciding to come back again, and other's weren't.  The instructor was not only good with the kids, but also a pleasure to deal with, and wasn't pressuring anyone to sign up or come back again.  I think it's very cool that you don't need to neccessarily register right at the begining and take all of the classes. As long as there are spots left open, you can join in at any time and you only pay for the number of classes remaining, plus the cost of the take-home materials.


Currently two different classes are being offered in Windsor:

Our Time: Wiggles & Giggles
for ages 18 months to 3 years,
Sat 10:00 - 10:45am,
runs for 16 weeks and started on Saturday Sept. 10th

Village: Feathers,
for ages newborn to 18 months,
Sat 11:00 - 11:45am,
runs for 8 weeks and started on Saturday Sept. 10th

The classes take place in the back room of Bump Maternity & Baby (1719 Wyandotte St. E.), and as of when this was written spots were still available in both classes. Check out the instructors website for further info: www.kindermusikwithsue.com.

Disclosure: I am receiving Kindermusik classes "at cost" in exchange for doing a series of posts on our experiences with taking the classes.

Baby-G enjoyed exploring the playground equipment...

...and mucking about in the hay.

G-Girl also enjoyed checking out the playground...

...and munching on one of the Kinder Surprise eggs I brought along as a treat.

I am a Kinder Mom ambassador, and a play-date at the orchard was the perfect excuse to share some of the free Kinder Surprise eggs I have received. I don't feel comfortable posting pictures of other people's kids, so you don't get to actually see the girls playing with the pull-back race cars they got in their eggs. You'll just have to take my word for it that they were having a blast.

Over all, the girls had a fantastic time playing around at apple orchard (we were at Thiessen's, for the curious locals).   The hay loft was so much fun... think giant ball crawl, with slides, only replace the plastic balls with hay. And yes, we did also pick apples, I was just too busy trying to keep the kids from immediately eating them to take any pictures of the actual apple picking.

This post is for my fellow bloggers. It's all about blogging nitty gritty, like setting rates, and getting paid for your work. If you don't blog you may want to skip this one. On the other hand, if you're intrigued about the back-end business of blogging then by all means, read on.

I was invited to speak on a panel during the upcoming She's Connected conference on the topic of Rate Cards, Guidelines, & Disclosure:What is the average price for ads, reviews, giveaways and posts?  I was going to refuse, because honestly... I don't have a clue.

When it comes to setting rates, I feel like it is a case of the blind leading the blind, in some sort of giant game of pin-the tail on the donkey. There are no clear rules to this game. We are writing the rules as we go along. Other folk have gone ahead of us, taking a stab in the dark, but for the most part they aren't yelling out to let us know if the hit the donkey square on or not, and there is no helpful referee on hand, to come along and help us take off the blindfold and take a peek to see how our jabs measure up. Personally, I'm not really sure what the donkey's butt is supposed to look like, let alone where it's located.

Andy Pixel

I am just making this up as I go along.  I only recently made a media kit and set rates for myself.  I have only been paid a handful of times for my work and I really don't have a clear idea of what the going rates are, though I would certainly love to find out.  What could I possibly contribute to this panel? Then it occurred to me, I think many of us are in a similar state -- just making it up as we go along.  I was persuaded to take part, based on the fact that no one really knows the "going rate" and that the purpose of this panel is to discuss fair compensation and try to arrive at some sort of consensus.

I think it's safe to say that the majority of  bloggers start out knowing nothing about working with PR, and need to learn what is expected of them "on the job" so to speak.  There is no "school of blogging", only a really wacky system of the job training; consisting of a combination of figure it out yourself, look it up online, and help from a friendly veteran or two.  On the other hand PR professionals are just that, professionals. They most likely went to school for that paid position they are emailing you from.

I am going to be honest and say that when I started out blogging in September of last year I knew wanted in on this free stuff thing.  Like many others, I saw bloggers getting review products for "free" and I thought, "Hey that looks easy, I could do that!" All you veteran bloggers are laughing right now, because you know -- it turned out to be not quite as easy as it looks.  As every other blogger out there knows, running a blog is actually a lot of hard WORK.  It can be fun, it can be rewarding (both financially, and in the sense of community building), but it is tons of work. There is actually a lot of back end stuff that goes on, that no one ever sees. Coding, HTML, SEO, photo editing, button ad creation, emails back and forth with product reps and other bloggers, etc, etc. If you stop and figure out your rate of return vs the number of hours spent working on the blog -- well, I don't know about you, but for me the numbers are depressingly low. Yet, I still do it, because it is FUN, interesting, and challenging.  And yes I will admit, one of the things that drives me to continue on is the knowledge that I could potentially make it to the "bloggy big time" and actually make some money off of this thing.

When I first started out blogging I didn't even know bloggers could get paid for writing. I think this is pretty common (correct me if I'm wrong here guys).  I knew that folks were receiving free product for review, and some sites obviously were running ads - so they might have been making money from that, but actually getting paid for your posts, sponsored posts, blog tours, brand ambassadorships... I had no clue these opportunities even existed.  Yes, bloggers include disclosure language but they usually say something relatively obtuse like "this is a sponsored post brought to you by x", or perhaps the slightly more forthcoming "I received free product or a gift card to help facilitate this review".   No one comes right out and says "I received $50 cash, a salad bowl and 6 free product coupons in exchange for writing this post".  We don't want to look like tacky money grubbing freaks. And that's fine. But it also leaves new comers in the dark, as to what we should be charging, or even if we should be charging at all.

As my blog started to grow, and I am guessing this is a pretty common scenario, I began to receive press releases from companies big and small and I had NO CLUE how to handle them. When clothing company x sends you a blanket press release highlighting their new line of clothes and suggesting that you "might want to share this with your readers", what are you supposed to do?    What is the etiquette?  Many of these PR "pitches" reeked of spam, and I was tempted to just hit delete... but I also was worried about offending someone.  Am I supposed to be writing about this stuff? Is this what the "big gals" are doing? If I don't take this (ahem) opportunity, and for some of these emails I use that term rather loosely, am I putting myself on a the black-list, never to be contacted again?

Even more confusing was when I started to notice other bloggers posting these same "free opportunities", but including disclosure language at the bottom that they had received X in return for this post.  Were the PR companies sending out tiered pitches? Offering cash and incentives to large blogs, but asking the small fry to do it for free? Or were you expected to write back and request payment??

Sometimes when I am feeling particularly cynical I envision a group of PR reps sitting around discussing the "lifecycle of the mommy blogger". That we are the subject of a graph, where they try and plot the optimal moment between noob with no audience, and veteran blogger who actually demands pay. I picture this graph hanging on the wall along side some sort of pie-chart, showing how many bloggers burn out after x months, etc.

As some of you may know from my mentioning it previously, for over a decade I ran a small business selling retro toys on eBay.  To sell vintage toys I needed to know the going rate that collectors were willing to pay. To hold a successful auction, I didn't just start it at a penny and hope for the best. I spent time following other folks auctions, looking for trends, and searching through closed listings to see how much an item sold for in the past, and then I used that info to come up with a fair price.

What should you charge as a blogger?  What are PR reps willing to pay?  If you don't know what other folk are charging, how can you ask for a fair rate? (Yes, their has to be tiers, and pay-scales.  If I am just starting out, and have a lower readership reach I can't expect to get paid as much as someone who has been doing this for three years and has five times as many followers.)

I know this has been addressed by others in the past-- I think we as bloggers need to work together to take off the blindfold and figure out where the donkey is. I think we can all readily agree that we deserve to get fairly paid for the work that we do. I think we need to openly discuss rates, so that we can arrive at a consensus of what that fair compensation is.

What do you think?  Willing to share your "top secret" info? Please help me out and fill out this quick anonymous survey. I would love to go into this panel with some feel for what other folks think about rates. 

In return, I promise to share the results from the survey here on my blog, so you guys can use this info to help in determining  your own fair rate scale.  Also, for those who aren't attending the conference - I will report back afterwards with a recap of the panel discussion.



Feel free to chime in on the comments below. I am really eager to see what you folks have to say on this topic.

First - I have a horrible confession to make, I actually sort of enjoyed not having G-Girl here for part of the time. Having just the one child to watch means I get to Do Stuff during naptime, without first playing the ever harrowing Can We Get the Naps to Match Up Today? roulette.

G-Girl safely made it through her first week of school. Her continuing reluctance to actually tell us what goes on all day is a bit of an annoyance, but we can tell a bit of what's going on by the things she's brings home with her like....

... an expanded vocabulary. She picked up the following useful phrases this week: "Bonjour mes ames", "big jerk" and "stupid head".

... leftovers.  She continues to bring at least 70% of her lunch home with her each day. As far as I can figure out, the problem seems to be that she is spending her eating periods either playing or taking potty breaks.

... artwork. She brought home a lovely colourful picture of a little person, with someone else's handwriting on it. When asked why she didn't sign her own name she informed me that "Little people don't write words, so someone did it for me."

... other new ideas.  Of all things, she now refuses to participate in clean-up time unless I make a "ring and a ding sound with the bell thing" like the teacher does at school. 

... tiny ugly germs. Yes, G-Girl already managed to bring home something truly special to share with the family, a cold. Darn tiny ugly germs. I'm waiting to see if she feels better in time for school tomorrow.

So what sort of interesting things have your kids brought home from school thus far?

Cheers to week two!

For many years now I have been in a monogamous shoe relationship. I realize I am in the minority, but I am not a shoe crazy kind of gal. For me, comfort is key.  I have one pair of shoes, my comfy hiking boots, which I wear all of the time. I don't do heels, heck I don't even do "dress" shoes.
A couple of months back I noticed another blogger giving away a pair of Algeria shoes and something about them really caught my eye. So when Alegria approached me and offered me a review pair to try out, I said yes as I thought it might be nice to have a pair of dress shoes, something I haven't owned in years and years. But to be honest, I had my reservations, as I am a one shoe kinda gal.

Then my pair of Alegria shoes arrived, and I fell head over heels in love with them. From the moment I first opened the box, I knew these shoes were something special.  I was impressed by the little touches, like the fact that they came packaged with a spare set of "regular" non-ribbon laces, or the fact that the tines on both sets of laces are made of the same metal, in the exact same same shade, as that on the eyelet holes.

I chose a pair of Abbi style Alegria shoes in Tortoise finish.

I am in absolute LOVE with the ribbon laces.  It's not a novel idea to me, as I have used ribbon as laces in my boots in the past. (It's what I wore at my wedding!) However actual ribbon shoe laces with real tines on the end are 100% classier then cut end ribbon from the fabric store.

Okay, so they look cute and they come with really nice laces.... but how do they feel?

There was no need to break these babies in, as these shoes felt cushy and comfortable from the first step. The "rocker outsole" did feel a bit odd at first. I felt like I was pitching forward with each step, particularly when walking down stairs. However, I quickly adapted. Once I had worn the shoes for 10-15 minutes, the rocker sole felt normal, and cozy, really, really cozy.

The rocker sole is supposed to "induce a normal walking motion" and help in reducing stress on your muscles, joints and back. The leather insole has built-in arch support. The latex memory foam & cork form to the natural contours of your feet. They market these shoes to nurses, teachers, and other folks who spend their days up on their feet and having worn these out and about on a couple of shopping excursions I can definitely understand why.

Alegria's comfy rocker sole shoes come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. I really have a soft spot for the unique colours available; like the shiny bronze and silver metallic patent finishes, and the embossed prints, and funky artwork. So, yes, I've cheated on my boots... and what's even worse --I WANT MORE. These retail for around $120, and I think they are worth every penny. They are almost as cozy as my favourite pair of hiking boots, but with a much classier look. I would love to pick up another pair in the Paloma or Dayna style, or my new favourite; the Viki boot.



Have any of you ever tried out Alegria shoes before? What's your favourite style? Check out the latest Alegria Collection at www.stephappy.ca, and follow Alegria Shoes on Facebook to receive updates on new styles as well as news about promotions and giveaways.

EDIT: I later revisted this item. Check out my review recap here to discover how this item did over the long haul.

Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of Alegria shoes. As always, the opinions stated are my own and were not influenced by the free product received.

A little while back I won a $20 gift credit to Giving Gifts and Lisa, the owner, was kind enough to work with me to turn my credit into a couple of "back-to-school" review items.

You could win your own $20 credit to Giving Gifts.  All you need to do is follow Giving Gifts on Facebook. Every 100 fan milestone she reaches, Lisa draws another $20 winner! (aka when she hits 400 another $20 winner will be drawn).

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I am picky about what my kiddo drinks. She only gets 100%, no sugar added, fruit juice, and even that I mix so that it's half water. When we started to prep for sending G-Girl to Junior Kindergarten my husband said to me, "Well, I guess you'll have to start giving her straight juice as she'll need to take juice boxes to school.", and without thinking I nodded and agreed.  It wasn't until a few days later that it occurred to me that I could just send her with a reuseable bottle (Yes, I'm a little slow).  Then I had to hunt down the right bottle, and thankfully it didn't take me long to find it.

A few month's ago I purchased a 1 liter Earthlust water bottle from Giving Gifts as a gift for my Mom. Having seen the bottle in person, I knew it was a quality piece of work. While looking for a bottle for my daughter I noticed Giving Gifts also carries smaller 13oz Earthlust bottles. Perfect!

Check out this this gorgeous 13oz. Earthlust water bottle. Made from high quality food grade stainless steel, which is naturally safe unlined. Earthlust only uses non-toxic paints and BPA-free polypropylene caps.

Initially I had concerns over G-Girl being able to open and shut the Earthlust bottle on her own. It took her a couple of tries to get it down pat, but that was mainly because the concept of screwing a cap on or off  was new to her. She now easily opens and shuts it. The mouth of the bottle is a good size for her and she drinks from it easily, without making a mess. I removed the clip and she likes to loop the ring on the end of the screw top over her thumb and "wear" it while drinking. Which I think is perfect, as I like the idea that she's not setting the top down someplace potentially dirty and then putting it back on the bottle.

I have drank from this bottle myself and found zero taste transference. None of that weird tinny taste, that I have found with some of the other metal water bottles I have tried out. I also love the vibrant colours and the cute but not necessarily kiddie graphic.  I used some leftover dishwasher safe stickers from my daughter's Bynto lunchbox to label her name on the bottle, as that's something the school requires.

I am a complete klutz and twice today I knocked our new Earthlust bottle off the counter and gave it an unplanned 3 foot drop test. Given the loud clang it made when hitting the ground, I was expecting a dent and I was a bit surprised to find not a scratch on it. I'm impressed! My mom has been using hers almost daily since April and it has been holding up nicely. I'll let you guys know what this one looks like by the end of the school year.

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend Earthlust.  They make lovely bottles; durable, well made, easy to open and close, and the 13oz size is just right for my four year old to take to school with her.

Earthlust bottles are just one of the many awesome eco-friendly, fair trade items that Giving Gifts carries. Feel like shopping? I'm excited to announce that Lisa has set up a special discount code for Maple Leaf Mommy readers. Enter the code "MapleLeaf" and get 15% off everything at Giving Gifts (until September 30th).

EDIT: I later revisted this item. Check out my review recap here to discover how this item did over the long haul.

I was excited to discover that Converse has slip ons for the younger set. They're called "Simple Slip"s and they come in cute animal patterns like these:


They also come in patterns like this:
Yeah, I got all geeked out when I saw this oldstyle batmobile slip on shoe. Too cool! Right, I have girls. Why are you looking at me funny? Girls can totally wear Batman shoes!


Ok, so they also have sparkly girly shoes, that I have to admit my G-Girl would probably go gaga for.


But my favourite? They have a Dr. Suess line. Aren't these awesome? When I look at these I start to wonder if they carry Dr. Seuss Converse in adult sizing.

And here's the really nifty part.... Those laces? They're just for looks. Converse Kids are designed with "easy slip" technology. Designed for ages 1.5yrs and up, these toddle sized shoes are made to slip on and off in a jiffy.

This doesn't even touch on all the styles available. Check out the Converse website. There are 213 different styles of kids shoes to choose from! So, what pair would you pick?

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Today was G-Girl's first day at Junior Kindergarten.  She had some last minute reservations. She was so excited that she had a hard time falling asleep last night, so I wasn't surprised when she told me she was tired, and felt like maybe she wasn't done sleeping. She didn't like the change in our usually leisurely mornings. She complained that there was no time to read or play, as we had to focus on eating breakfast and getting ready to leave. She then tried to tell me that she was sick. That her throat hurt, and she thought maybe she shouldn't go.

It was so tempting to keep her home. I did have second thoughts later, thinking dear God I hope I didn't just send her to school actually feeling ill, but I think she just had a bad case of the jitters. I almost wanted to laugh at my four year old pretending to be sick to get out of going to school. I thought you had to be in at least grade one before you started trying to pull that one.


I did not tell her that I would miss her like crazy. I told her that I was very excited for her, and that I couldn't wait for her to come home at the end of the day and tell me all about it.

On the walk to the bus I had to hold her backpack for her.  It was too heavy because of the extra set of clothes and wear-indoors at school shoes she was carrying.  She worried that she wouldn't be able to carry the bag when she got off the bus. Now, since fifteen minutes previous she was lugging it around the house proudly proclaiming how strong she is, I figured she would be ok.  I assured her that once the extra clothes and shoes came out and stayed at the school, her bag would be lighter. She then started to worry about the shoes.

"It is very nice out today. I wish I was wearing my Crocs with no socks".  I informed her, not for the first time, that she must wear socks and shoes to go to school. "All day? I can't wear shoes all day?! My feet will get sweaty!! I don't like sweaty feet!"  I assured her that when she got home after school she could take her shoes off and air out her feet. I told her if she liked she could take a bath, and wash her feet. She wouldn't be swayed, and continued to obsess over being forced to wear shoes. Of the many things I thought she might get upset over, this I never imagined.

I was so worried about making it to the bus on-time, that we got there about 20 minutes early.  I knew which intersection we were supposed to be catching the bus at, but not what side of the street.   I was worried we might be standing in the wrong spot, and I was completely paranoid that the bus was going to pass us right by.  So when a bright yellow school bus approached and didn't make to stop, I literally jumped into the street and attempted to flag it down. The driver completely ignored me, and continued on his merry way. Visions of having to take the public city bus, and of arriving an hour late for G-Girl's first day of school, danced through my head. I checked the time and realized we still had at least 10 minutes until her bus was supposed to be there.  What followed was an agonizing 10 minutes, where in I jumped into traffic and flagged down four different school buses, only to have each one turn us away.  No. Not the right bus. I go to that school, but she's not on my list. (Panic: What if they forgot to add her name to the list??) What bus company does she go with?  (Panic: They have different bus companies?? ) Is it a short or a long bus? (I don't bloody know, it's our first day!)


Finally I saw a mother approaching with two young children in tow. She stopped and stood on someones lawn across the street. I grabbed the kids, headed that way and asked if she was waiting for the same school as us, and thankfully she was.  The bus arrived within half a minute of our introductions. I held G-Girl's backpack for her as she went up the stairs, handed her bag over to her and said have a good day.  As I started to head back over to where I left Baby-G sitting in the stroller, I turn to see my daughter standing in the bus, just past the drivers seat, looking utterly lost.  I had to go back to her and tell her to go find a spot and sit down.  Then I stood and waved and waved as the bus pulled away, though I couldn't see her looking out the window.
 
I murmured my thanks to the other mom, turned to walk home, and then I started to cry. I was shaking, and tears were streaming down my cheeks. I was glad that Baby-G was down in the stroller, and not in my arms. I bit my tongue and tried so hard not to cry. I felt like an idiot walking down the street barely holding back from sobbing.

As much as I have been hesitant about sending her, worrying over my decision  and considering keeping her home... I did not expect to cry. I was shocked to find myself a sobbing mess this morning. I reined it in. I had to. I didn't want to upset Baby-G with a hysterical mother. I hung out with the babe, who seemed to be missing her sister and was being a bit annoying with wanting to nurse non-stop. She passed out on me hours before her normal naptime and I luxuriated in the fact that, with G-Girl gone, I had a chance to Get Things Done.

Though I have to admit, I became anxious and restless waiting for 4pm and bus pick up time to come around. Baby-G and I walked down to the bus stop and G-Girl rolled in just a few minutes past when I was told to expect her. She was dozy, half-asleep, wondering where she was and disappointed that she now had to walk home.

I asked about her day and she said it was good.  She seemed most excited about the fact that she got to have recess, and three times at that. Her father came walking down the street to meet us, he got a giant running hug. Me? As I later sat on the floor helping her unpack her school bag she randomly blurted out, "I didn't miss you at all." in a sort of mean tone. Ouch. Shot down.  I mentally counted to three and said, "Well, that's good. I'm glad you had such a good time that you were too busy to miss me!"

Her father and I carefully tried to pump her for information on her first day, and were stone-walled. There were kids. No she didn't play with them. Yes, she made some friends, but she didn't remember their names and couldn't tell us anything about them.  She played. She ate. No they didn't teach her anything. They just sang a song. It was in French. She said she didn't remember the words, or even what it was about.

I had concerns over my slow-poke eater and timed lunch periods. She claims she ate until she was full, which just happened to be right when recess started. She told me she ate part of her snack-time apple and tossed the rest, which is fine. I looked in her lunch box and miraculously it was empty! However, she then told me she dropped it and dumped the leftovers on the ground while waiting for the bus home. So I have no way to tell how much she actually ate. She came home ravenous. The moment we set foot in the door she immediately demanded food and drink. Once we were at home G-Girl was hyper, loud and and crispy fried. Which is pretty much what I expected from the combination of exciting day plus no nap.

She later said a few things that caused me concern. Things like “I would sneak up and Bam! take the toy and run and Slam! put it in the fridge as fast as I could. I was being a mean monster and sneaking up and stealing the toys. No, it was ok the teacher didn’t say no. Some of the kids were screaming and yelling. Everyone knew I was the bad guy. I was the monster!”.  That sort of thing; where her father and I aren’t certain if she is describing some sort of approved play activity, or the most dreadful behaviour problem ever.

The note that came home from the teacher just said that G-Girl had a great day and that we would need to buy her a larger backpack.  It sort of kills me; not knowing exactly what she did all day. Can I just attach a micro-cassette recorder to my kid or something. Maybe some serious James Bond type spy-wear, so then I could know what she actually did all day?

I guess the important part is she had a good time and she is looking forward to going back on Thursday. Does it get any easier, sticking them on that bus the second, the third day, and so on? I still get a bit of a lump in my throat thinking about it. Sigh.

(As an aside, re: my morning bus antics - Yes, I know, this is why this have a day set aside to introducing your kids to the bus. A day we missed by waiting so late to enroll. So all this extra stress and panic, totally my fault. Also, the bus drivers were very polite and patient with the crazy lady dancing around in the street and accosting them.)

I think someone has a bit of starting Kindergarten jitters. Someone other then mama that is.  My brave and fiercely independent G-Girl has been clinging to me all day, asking for hugs and constantly touching me, pulling my hair, tugging on my skirt,and generally driving me NUTS.  She has also been asking lots of questions about what exactly she will be doing at school. She is still excited, but a bit more apprehensive now.   As she worded it at dinner the last night, "Well.. I am excited, but not excited, but not, but I am.", which I think is G-Girl code for excited but nervous.

© Blotty | Dreamstime.com I suddenly realized I am going to need one of these.

I have been waffling  back and forth between worrying what sort of stupid things she might get in her head, to worrying that she won’t learn anything at all.  However, my biggest fear right now is her making it safely there and back on the bus on the first day.  At one point during our introductory interview the J.K. teacher actually said to me that since they don't give out the children's bus ID tags until they have attended the first day of school that "...for the first day, you just put her on the bus and hope for the best.  We do meet the bus when it arrives, but there are lots of kids so we can't make any guarantees."  You are telling me you can't guarantee that my kid will end up at the right school?  You are kidding right? I guess most folks drive their kids on the first day, which is not an option for me. I am making a tag to put on her backpack, and I have been drilling her on not just her full name and address, but the name of her school and her teacher's name. Worrying over the bus reminds me of a post Jen over at Mom vs the Boys wrote last fall, when the school managed to misplace her little one. Yikes.  Right then, so let's try not to panic, shall we.

© Denise Kappa | Dreamstime.com

Tomorrow I shall walk my never-been -outside-of-family-care four year old daughter to the bus stop and "hope for the best".  The bus picks her up around 8:30 and will be bringing her back around 4pm.  Such a long day for such a little person to be on her own.  I am taking comfort in this post written by ex-kindergarten teacher Multi-Testing Mommy, and trying my hardest to remember to breathe. However, I think my stomach shall remain in knots until I safely pick her up at 4pm.

Anyone else still having jitters for their little one's first school day?  Or for those of you who already got through the first day, how'd it go?

Date Night. Two words I only wish I heard more often.  I firmly believe that finding time to connect with your better half is super important, not only for your relationship, but also for raising a happy family together. With small children in the household it isn't quite as easy as it once was to organize an evening's worth of one on one time, but it is still definitely a priority.

What about you folks; How often do you manage to have date night; Need an excuse to arrange for a little quality time with your sweetheart?


Multi-Testing Mommy and I are here to help! We want to give you an excuse to celebrate date night.  We are hosting a Canadian's Only "Date Night" twitter party, and we've lined up some absolutely fantastic prizes to help with your big night out (or in).


Win a pair of fancy ( & comfy!) Alegria Shoes, perfect for a night out on the town. The winner will get one pair of shoes in their choice of size and style (based on availability). A value of $129.99.
Prize provided by Alegria Shoes.
Twitter: @AlegriaCanada
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StepHappyAlegriaShoes
Website: www.stephappy.ca


Win a pair of Cineplex IMAX tickets and take your sweetie to see an IMAX film. These tickets are good at any Cineplex theatre across Canada and will grant admission to any feature film available in IMAX or IMAX 3D.    You can take a look at the complete list of Cineplex IMAX locations here. If you don't have an IMAX theatre in your home town these tickets can also be used to get into a Front Row Centre Event or a Real D 3D film.  Passes expire on Oct. 31, 2011.
Prize provided by Cineplex IMAX.
Twitter: @CineplexMovies
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cineplex
Website: www.cineplex.com

Here's the fine print from the back of the passes: "Participating Cineplex Entertainment LP ("Cineplex") theatres will exchange this ticket for one general admission to a Front Row Centre Event or a feature film available in IMAX of IMAX 3D or  Real D 3D or premium seating or VIP auditorium identified on the back of this ticket. If the Front Row Centre Event is available in IMAX or IMAX 3D, Real D 3D, premium seating or VIP auditorium, this ticket may be applied towards the purchase of admission to the event with the payment of applicable surcharge. No time extensions on expired tickets. This ticket cannot be combined with any other promotion, coupon, voucher or special discount offer. This ticket is not for re-sale and has no cash value. Not valid for earning SCENE points. Additional restrictions may apply."


Win a trio of Ethical Bean Coffees, a perfect beginning or ending to any night out. The winner will get to pick three roasts of their choice from Ethical Bean's line-up of eight coffees - each made from the world's best fairtrade certified, organic beans.
Prize provided by Ethical Bean Coffee.
Twitter: @ethicalbean
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethicalbean
Webpage: www.ethicalbean.com



Win one of three Kara Vita prizes:
Kara Vita Hand Tender hand lotion, to keep your hands silky smooth while out on that romantic night.
Kara Vita Sundressed self-tanner, to give you that sun kissed glow without any harmful UV rays.
Kara Vita Flawless Finishing Minerals and Brush, to even out your complexion with a light, silky mineral powder.
Prizes provided by Kara Vita.
Twitter: @KaraVitaCanada
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaraVitaCanada
Webpage: www.karavita.ca

Win a set of the new Norwex Marine Organics Bath & Shower Gel + Body Lotion, and smell good, naturally.
Prize provided by Mandy Kuelz, Independent Norwex Sales Consultant
Twitter: @MandyNorwex
Facebook: Mandy Knows Norwex on Facebook
Website: mandykuelz.norwex.biz


Win a pair of pretty panties from Panty by Post, and have a little something new to wear underneath whatever you wear on your special night.
Prize provided by Panty by Post.
Twitter: @PantybyPost
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pantybypostcom
Website: pantybypost.com

Win a box Purdy's Chocolates and indulge in a little decadence. The winner will receive 18 pieces of Turona, Purdy’s Chocolates’ newest piece and also one of the most decadent. The two-layer piece includes a soft puree of almond, hazelnut and creamy milk chocolate entwined with a French pastry flake, and is combined with a rich dark truffle before it is enrobed in decadent dark chocolate. It is a true piece of chocolate perfection!
Prize provided by Purdy's Chocolates.
Twitter: @PurdysChocolate
Facebook: www.facebook.com/purdyschocolates
Webpage: www.purdys.com

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Fantastic prizes, right; Wondering what do you need to do to take part?
* Follow all seven sponsors on Twitter: @AlegriaCanada, @CineplexMovies, @ethicalbean, @karavitaskin, @MandyNorwex, @PantybyPost, @PurdysChocolate.
*  Follow the hosts: @MapleLeafMommy and @MultiTestingMom.
*  R.S.V.P. by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.
*  Join us on Twitter on Tuesday September 20th at 9pm.
*  When taking part in the chat use the hashtag #CDNdatenight
*  While anyone is welcome to stop in for a chat, the prizes are available to Canadian residents only.

If you've never taken part in a Twitter party before, don't panic. It's very simple. You can check out this post Multi-Testing Mommy wrote on How to Take Part in a Twitter Party for some pointers.

To R.S.V.P. simply fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. The first nine steps (following both hosts and each sponsor on Twitter) are mandatory and you need to complete them to be eligible to win. Don't panic. It's easy. You just need to follow on Twitter all seven sponsors, and the two co-hosts, and then check it all off below. After that there are a few bonus entry options, such as Tweet about the Twitter Party, post our button on your blog, or write a blog post about the party.  These are optional entries, but we sure would love if you'd help to spread the word.  If you have any questions, or problems with filling out the form, feel free to comment below or email me and I'd be happy to help.

I am super excited to announce that I have been chosen as a Kinder Mom ambassador!  I love Kinder Surprise eggs.  I'm also pretty fond of the Bueno bars and some of the other Kinder chocolate treats, but really you can't beat the eggs. Yummy milk chocolate plus a toy surprise, how can you go wrong?

I was 18 or 19 when I received my first Kinder Surprise egg.  It was a gift from my boyfriend, the fellow who was later to become my husband. He gave me a Kinder Surprise egg as a little surprise present. It became somewhat a tradition with us.  We bought and gave each other Kinder Surprise eggs for occasions big or small. At one point we even went so far as to order a box of Lord of the Rings themed Kinder eggs direct from Germany (They had Lord of the Rings themed toys in them, such as tiny treants. So very cool!)  Then there were those huge Kinder Eggs, which came out around Easter and Christmas.  I have several rather nifty Christmas "decorations" packed away in the attic which originally came from Kinder eggs.

I had a small Kinder Surprise toy collection going for a while. I didn't keep every toy, but I did keep many of them. They lined the front of my bookcases. They moved with me, from one apartment to another, and finally into our first house. At some point during my first pregnancy, in a fit of baby-proofing panic, we packed up and gave away all of the Kinder toys, a decision which I regret to this day. 

This year for Christmas we gave my daughter her first Kinder egg. One of the gigantic Christmas themed ones. She of course loved everything about it. She ate tiny bits at a time and the giant chocolate egg lasted her two weeks.

Her younger sister is a put-absolutely-every-thing-in-her-mouth chocking hazard on legs, so I have to be careful about what little bits are left lying around. But at four years old G-Girl is just the right age to appreciate Kinder Surprise eggs.  As much fun as I had receiving them as an adult, I get an even bigger kick out of seeing my little girl open one.

I was really excited when I found out that I had been chosen as one of 60 Kinder Ambassadors. So I told my daughter about it, and that we would be receiving some Kinder eggs in the mail. Which was a big mistake. Every day for the past two weeks she has been asking me, is today the day? the day when we get Kinder eggs in the mail?

Well today... today was finally the day.


She was so excited when we opened the box, which on top of the much anticipated Kinder Surprise eggs, included a sampling of some of the best toys from their new 2012 line up.


Like this cool sailboat. Once assembled the mast for the boat is both longer and wider then the capsule it came in. I always marvel at the ingenuity that goes behind fitting something like this into a wee egg. My daughter of course LOVES it, and can't wait to open the next one.

Head on over to the Kinder Canada Facebook page and take a look at their gallery to see some of the other awesome toys in the 2012 line up. Such as a 22cm giraffe, pull back race cars and inflatable balloons! Just writing about it has me itching to go open a a few more eggs.

Oh and also, don't forget to check out the awesome giveaway on the Kinder Canada facebook page. You could win one of ten gift baskets full of over $200 in Kinder brand loot.  I would love to win one, wouldn't you?

So, am I the only crazy adult out there who enjoyed putting together little Kinder toys, even prior to having kids? What was your first Kinder experience?

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

I just found a cool new Canadian website. Well, it's new to me at least. Actually, they've been around for over 16 years and have two brick and mortar stores in Toronto, as well as the online storefront.   Where am I talking about?  The place is called Grassroots, and considering their many achievements, including being Voted Best Eco-Store in Canada by Today's Parent magazine, I'm a bit surprised I've never heard of them before.

Grassroots offers a wide range of eco-friendly products. When I was given the opportunity to pick a review item from their site it took me well over an hour to make up my mind, because there was just so much to choose from. Some of the categories they offer include: sunscreen, insect repellents, natural cleaners, bath salts, soaps, skin care,  organic bedding, baby slings, cloth diapers, home decor, electronics, gadgets, games, toys, stationary, office supplies, lawn and garden, clothing and much more.

They offer free local pick up for those in Toronto, free shipping within Canada and the US on orders over $99, and low flat-rate shipping costs for orders below that value. I like that the prices are in Canadian dollars. I like that they are proud to support small eco-friendly companies, and that they only carry products that are made observing fair trade, fair labour and human rights practices.

Take a look at a few of the awesome products they carry.....
These blank journals made from re-purposed hardcover books are so very cool looking!


As are these battery-free Fold and Play Recycled Card Board Speakers. Yes you read that right - portable, fold-able, speakers made from cardboard. They don't require batteries, and they are pretty to look at to boot. (Such a cool concept. Have any of you ever tired these? They are so nifty looking!)


And check this out! A kid-friendly "staple-free" stapler that uses tiny cuts and folds to attach up to four pieces of paper.


That's just the tip of the iceberg.  The Grassroots website site contains hundreds of interesting and unique, eco-friendly products. These are just a few of the items I almost chose while browsing through their exhaustive catalogue.  What did I end up picking? Well, you'll have to wait and see. I will tell you that it was something cool, and that it was something for back to school, and coming up soon you'll have a chance to read my review and to enter a giveaway too.

In the meantime, be sure to go check out the Grassroots website. You can keep informed about upcoming deals and promotions by following Grassroots on Facebook and Twitter.  They also just started a new series of biweekly Twitter chats, where you can join in some green themed conversation and have a chance to win prizes or giftcards from their store. The chats take place every other Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 EST, and the next one is scheduled for Sept. 21st.

Thank you to Maple Leaf Foods for the chance to test out their tasty hot dogs, and for sponsoring the giveaway.  Kerry W. of Brampton, Ontario and Doris C. of Stony Plain, Alberta each won $15 in Maple Leaf vouchers. Congrats ladies!

So here I am, sitting up until 1:30 in the morning, pre-filling out the Junior Kindergarten registration forms so that tomorrow morning I can take my daughter to register at the local French Immersion school.  We called to arrange a visit last Friday, and dropped in for a quick peek. We wanted to register on the spot, but were told to come back on Tuesday. I wish it were already done with, then I wouldn't be sitting her still worrying if I am making the right decision. It's difficult. My girl is blessed to have two loving parents in her life, who both want what is best for her. My husband believes putting her in Junior Kindergarten is the best choice for her. I have my doubts, but it is not just my decision, but his as well. And hers?  Well, she wants to go more then anything. 

I want her to take French Immersion, and I want to keep her home until Senior Kindergarten.  On the other hand my husband was leaning towards public school, and wants her to start in Junior Kindergarten.  He has his doubts about French Immersion. He is concerned that that her English won't develop as well, that we, as her parents, will need to learn French as well, that we won't be able to help her with her homework. The compromise? French Immersion, and starting in J.K.  I feel like as least now she will be learning something other then "socialization skills". Also, after having visited each of them, my husband and I both agreed that we liked the French school better. Still I wonder if I am making the right choice, and tonight, while it still seems revocable, I feel small and sad.

So I go back and I read the replies you folks made on my previous Kindergarten post, and I take comfort in your comments. 
I know several of you suggested that I could pull her out, after she starts, if it didn't seem to be working out.  But I just can't see doing that. She wants this so badly.  If I let her start school, and then later pulled her out I think she would be crushed. Things would have to go hellaciously wrong before I could consider this as a serious option.

As much as I wish that Junior Kindergarten were still a half-day program, and I feel quite strongly about this, I also feel that having her attend for only half the day is not the answer.  She would miss out on things her class-mates would be doing, and she would be marked as different, for having to go home after only half a day.  As well, while the school does have to honour your request to have your child attend only half a day, I don't believe they need to provide bus transportation. Which means unless I have a way to pick her up, she needs to be there all day.

I agree with the argument that children can learn socialization skills without attending public school.  However, we are not currently part of any regular play groups, Sunday schools, etc. I definitely feel that if I were to keep her home I would need to make more of an effort to get her out more regularly to the public library, the early years centre, play groups, something.  And to be honest, I'm not sure this is something I would follow through on, because I don't like people, and I like staying at home. There, I admitted it. Maybe my kiddo isn't the only one that needs to work on social skills.

She will be going on the bus, so she will be at the school all day and take a lunch.  This should actually work out better then having her walk home for lunch hour.  Though I do so hope that she will focus and actually eat.  As I've mentioned before my girl is easily distracted and eats at a snail's pace.  I still have concerns as to how much she will end up consuming within the relatively short lunch time period.

Nap-free G-Girl. Catch phrases included: No, I won't. I don't wanna. and Excuse me while I bounce off the walls.

I know in my heart that she will love it, and that she will thrive, or I wouldn't even consider sending her. I am still ridiculously nervous about going to register tomorrow. Silly, I know. I am eager to find out when and where the bus drop will be, so we can start to try and figure out a schedule. Kindergarten classes don't start until next week, so she should be starting on the 13th. I guess I'll probably be a nervous wreck until after that.  Wish me luck guys.