Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Having a hard time trying to find a name for your new elf? Try this website, it gives your new elf a first and last name!

Having a hard time trying to figure out what mischief for your elf to get in? Read more...

I wrote this post with a whole lot of ideas I had found around the web as long as thought of with my husband.

But, I received an email from a woman who runs a blog that has some of the same ideas I wrote here. She claims I stole her ideas. So, I have deleted all the ideas.

I do not need another blogger thinking I stole their posts because I might come up with the same ideas as them.

What you can do, which is what I did, is google Elf on the Shelf ideas.

I hope you have fun with your elf as much as we do!

Elf on the Shelf

Box the Elf anf Book come in

The Elf On The Shelf - The site is inspired by one family’s tradition of keeping a little toy elf on their shelf who would watch over the children and report back to Santa if the kids were to be put on the Naughty or the Nice list! (Clever idea, huh?!?) While visiting the site you can buy the Elf on the shelf book (including the toy elf!), You can register the name of your child’s toy elf at the north pole as well as do some FREE stuff such as: play games, print holiday coloring pages, find fun recipes for reindeer snacks and so much more!

I have been reading about the Elf on the Shelf for the past year. One of my favorite bloggers, Carlos Whittaker, made me laugh at his story last year and envy him for having the elf.

My husband's aunt surprised us by buying an elf for our family from Barnes and Noble. I was so happy and started thinking about all the fun and mischevious activities our elf would get into this year.

Our "brown" elf

The book

The children were as excited as I was about getting our own elf this year. We named him Zippy Sugar-Socks, or Zip for short.

This is such a great tradition and I recommend it to everyone. Not only is it fun for the children to find the elf in the morning and see what he/she is up to, but it is also fun for the parents to think of ideas on what the elf can do the next night!

Getting Ready For New Christmas Stuff

I don't know about your house, but at my house we already have way too much stuff and then, Bam! we're hit by dozens of new possessions every December 25th and never a place to put them.

This year I planned ahead. I brutally chose some areas where we have lots of stuff stored, but not used and got rid of the excess. Closets and drawers of clothes, and toys topped my list of places to reduce. I paid particular attention to the toys that my littlest ones continually dump out, but don't actually play with. Those went first. In fact anything that I notice is becoming a continual problem, I spend extra time deciding what to do with. Some of them get put away only to be brought out with permission, like the board games. Others are removed permanently from the house, like the building blocks that get spread, but not built with while some are just rearranged to a more convenient (i.e. out of reach of people under four feet) spots in the house.

I had to be very honest with myself about whether it was something I actually used or if I was holding onto it in case I might need it someday. Then I had to sneakily remove it from our house and donate it. My husband gets heartburn over giving anything away, so he couldn't be involved and certainly not the children so this was a one woman job from conception through execution. . . a sort of cradle to grave plan for slimming down the household.

I feel like I've got things under control going into Christmas and now hopefully it won't be so tough to find homes for all the new clothes, toys and other stuff we give one another for Christmas.

Strawllers Giveaway

WINNER drawn by www.random.org is ...... #3.

Congratulations! Please contact me with your mailing address.

We are giving away three, yes, THREE packs of 8" Pink Strawllers (3/8" diameter). That's 72 Strawllers total!

How to enter:

• "Like" 1 Size Doesn't Fit All on Facebook (1 entry)
•  Follow the blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Share this giveaway on Facebook; @1 size doesnt fit all is giving away @Strawllers products! (can be done daily for 1 entry a day)

Please go visit my favorite hair blog, Beads Braids and Beyond, to see her great review on Strawllers.

That's it! Pretty simple, right? Please leave *ONE* comment below to let me know when you do each one of the above. You will need to purchase bobbypins to use Strawllers. You can buy them at the dollar store for around $1.50.

This Giveaway runs from December 4 - December 20. The last day to enter is December 20th by midnight! A will draw the winners name out of a hat on camera.

Budget Date Nights

We all know to say "I love you" often. And we know we should spend time together. But when you've got a house full of kids, little money, and less time what do you do?

You keep a few easy, little planning required dates up your sleeve to pull out once a week.
Here are some ideas:

• Get a movie from the library or video store and watch it after the kids are in bed. Make a tasty dinner or dessert (or both) to have during your movie. Cook something the kids won't eat (or don't deserve, like steak).
• Go do something athletic, like swimming at the pool, running, playing tennis, the driving range, or whatever you enjoy.
• Go window shopping at the mall.
• Take a walk in a beautiful place, like a park or a pretty neighborhood.
• Take a picnic to a beach or a state park.
• Go see the tourist sites near you. Usually we take our kids these places, but wouldn't it be so nice to go without kids for once?
• Go to a play or musical production put on by a university or college near you. Often these performances are free or very inexpensive.
• Cook something together then eat it.
• Go lay out in the backyard wrapped up in blankets and look at the stars.
• Go out just to get dessert. A whole meal can be expensive, but dessert is more doable. Linger for as long as you like.
• Play card games or board games together or with another couple. Don't forget the snacks.
• Go sledding together. Bring hot drinks or visit a restaurant for hot cocoa afterward.

These are just a few ideas to get your brain thinking of nurturing the most important relationship you can ever have.

Life Application Study Bible Devotional Review

I have to admit that I was very excited to be receiving a copy of the Life Application Study Bible Devotional to review. I have always heard great things about the Life Application Bibles, Books, and more. The Life Application Study Bible Devotional completely lived up the the high expectations I had.

The Life Application Study Bible Devotional is organized into 52 weeks with a central theme for each week. Each theme is based on an event from Jesus' life, beginning with the announcement of his birth and ending with his final instructions. As you read each week, you'll find five daily devotionals and one weekend devotional. The page layout is well organized- with a scripture verse to read, an instructional note about talking to God, and questions for journal entry.

My personal opinion of this devotional was that it is a great daily resource for those of us who desire a closer, more intimate look at Jesus. It offers up thought provoking questions that helped me understand the bigger picture, and how what I am reading and learning about Jesus's life can be used to improve my own life. I really loved everything about this devotional, from the format to the easy to read Bible passages, to the length of the devotionals. This would make a great gift for a loved one, or a great tool for personal spiritual growth. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to know Jesus better.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Books as part of their blogger review program . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Record Keeping

There are some essential records you should have organized and ready to go. A copy of them should be in your file, or even better in a specific notebook dedicated to your most important papers. A second copy of these papers should be kept in a trusted friend or family members home or in a safe deposit box or on file at your attorney's office. Your spouse should know the location of these documents and also at least one other trusted friend or family member, probably the person you would choose to be the executor of your estate.

Items to keep in a safe deposit box or your lawyers office:

• A general power of attorney for your spouse, which will allow your spouse to make financial transactions in your name, the specifics of which will be spelled out in the power of attorney, should you become incapacitated. (both spouses would prepare one for the other). To be legal it must be notarized and signed by witnesses. Be very careful who you entrust with this power, the transactions they make in your name will be legally binding upon you.
• A will signed by you in the presence of witnesses, include the name of the person you designate as the guardian of your children and the person you would have to be your executor.
• A living will

Information to keep in duplicate notebooks, one in your home and one in the home of a very trusted friend:

• Vital statistics sheet with information about names, birth dates, birthplaces, social security numbers, parents names, and birthplaces for all the members of your family.
• Emergency Contact Sheet
• Personal Medical history of each family member. Pay special attention to listing any medications or allergies, include where shot records can be found
• Sheet explaining the location of your legal documents, should they be needed. Don't forget marriage and birth certificates, social security cards and military papers as well as your power of attorney, will and living will.
• A sheet explaining your will concerning your surviving minor children should you die or be incapacitated. Who will be their guardians. (this is also part of your will)
• A sheet describing your household financial obligations, to whom do you owe money every month and in what amounts. How are the payments made? When are they due? In case you are incapacitated and someone else must take over your household business they will need to know these things or you could face serious consequences including the loss of your home, large fines, and so on.
• The locations of utilities in your home and how to shut them off, the utility companies information, a recommended real estate agent should someone else need to sell your home, upon your death for example, the location of spare keys (one set should be kept with the duplicate notebook), important computer passwords so your financial information and so forth can be accessed by a spouse or executor in case of your incapacity or death.
• Information on your pets and how to care for them.
• Important information on any of your children that a person unfamiliar would need to know should they suddenly become the guardian of your child.
• Your desires for your funeral, if any.

None of this stuff is much fun, but it's not expensive to arrange and not really too difficult. For most people's estate a computer program that generates these legal documents is adequate. It's really tempting to put off, but especially if you have kids, don't.

Minor Emergency

My two-year-old daughter had a minor emergency a couple of days ago. She was playing with her brother on their sister's bed (she was at her nana's house), the top bunk bed, and what happened next is anyone's guess. If you ask my son he says "she fell or jumped off the bed". If you her, she says "Elliott pushed me off the bed".
I was downstairs talking to my husband. We both heard a "thud" and then crying. We ran up the stairs to see my daughter crying, laying on the floor, and blood coming out of both of her nostrils.

I began to scold my son, thinking he pushed her off the bed. Then, I stopped myself and apologized to him. I asked him what had ahppened, and I got his reply. I asked my daughter, and she told me her reply.

We took Frankie (the two-year-old) downstairs where she vomited. We think she vomited because she was crying and had herself worked up. We got her cleaned off and calmed down and looked at her face again. I have never seen blood coming out of both the nostrils at once that would not stop, not that I have vast experience, but it was bad.

I took her to the emergency room, nowhere else being open after hours and the doctor told us she did not break anything. (Thank God) She has a couple of bruises on her face and she would complain of her nose hurting, but she refused any medicine for it. We had to take her to the doctor the next day, and they confirmed that she did not break her nose, had no swelling, and no bruising, and that she would be fine. She's okay now though and no permanent damage done.

You know how you say, I would take the pain over my children anyday? Well, I did! On my way up the stairs to find out what the screaming and crying was all about I broke my pinkie toe.

Organizing Your Family

A mom or dad or both, have a busy schedule with meetings, appointments, work, school, play groups, and to-do lists galore. Life will be more peaceful and more stress free if you can organize all these appointments.

To organize your families life you need some basic tools. First a calendar. This can be kept on a computer, a wall, or in a planner. I keep mine on the computer, which I can use on my iphone and share with my husband and my mother. I also write the current weeks major items on a wall calendar on my kitchen cabinet. Write down what everyone is doing and at what time. Jot down items needed for the appointment or other details. Color coding can be helpful if you have lots of kids or lots of appointments or both. Include things like time for exercise and dates with your spouse as well. Those things should be considered not optional and should not be canceled, barring a major mishap.

The second thing you need is a place to write down needed groceries or household items. I keep mine in an app on my iphone so I can read my list more easily at the store, which I have copied from my running list I keep all month, stuck to the fridge. The list keeps me from worrying that I've forgotten something and keeps me from having to spend a great deal of time riffling through my fridge and cupboards to see what we're low on.

It may seem at first as though all this organizing takes too much work, but the piece of mind it brings is worth it. You no longer have try to keep all those dates and items in your head. You forget appointments and responsibilities less often and you know right away if you are available for further duties. It's wonderful to say to someone with confidence, "I can't, I've got an appointment at that time, but perhaps we can do it . . . "

Treat your schedule like it's as important as the CEO's and people will respect you more for it.

Parenting Experts

I recently have been researching potty-training boys, getting children off the bottle and sippy cup, as well as other "tasks" I need to have my family accomplish and ran into many authors claiming to be "experts"...and now I need to vent. Be warned...

The glut of parenting "experts" irritate me to no end. At the beginning of my parenting journey I paid some attention to them, but it didn't take me long to reject their "advice" which often reaches a fever pitch of social pressure to conform.

I hate parenting magazines, those spreaders of dubious conventional wisdom, those would-be trend setters, those holier-than-thou receptacles of parental perfection.

I don't believe in parenting experts. Experts in any field are incredibly rare, but experts in social science fields, those that study human behavior, are non-existent. This is so because humans are such complex and unpredictable creatures. If people always behaved logically it would be possible to study, analyze and come to conclusions. People are far more emotional than logical, however. Even people who cultivate their powers of logic and pride themselves on being unemotional decision makers are still creatures of emotion.

As for parenting experts, their case is laughable. First parents are told to lay their children on their stomachs to sleep, then it's the back only, then the side is best . . . the penalty for non-compliance is the death of the child.

At one time parents were encouraged to be strict and to use corporal punishments when necessary, then any parent who would think of hitting a child, even a swat on the backside, is considered horrible and lawmakers contemplate legislation making spanking a crime.

Parents are told that kids must not watch TV, then told that without the aid of computers a child cannot learn. The proper way to teach a child to read has flip flopped dramatically over the years. The case for affection toward children has evolved more rapidly than the proverbial common moth. We're supposed to shelter them , then it's, no teach them to be tough in a tough world. First, kids must listen to classical music to be intelligent, then we're told that all that doesn't really matter. First it's indecent to allow a little girl to experiment with make-up, then we're told it's an important part of growing up. What's a harassed parent supposed to think?

How about a little common sense. It'll help a lot if parents just stop listening to the experts and start using their own powers of deduction. Every parent is different, unique in personality and approach. Every kid is different as well. There is no universally correct method to raising a child.

That's not to say that one should never listen to others advice about parenting. My mother has given me valuable advice, I have bounced ideas off of friends, and I have read parenting books and gleaned valuable knowledge. However, I never consider any earthly source a perfect infallible receptacle of wisdom. I take it all with a grain of salt and implement the things that work for me in my own home, while rejecting the rest.

Six Ways To Help Your Blogging Friends

As a blogger, I have joined several blogging communities to get the word out there about my blog, to show that I like other's blogs, to meet other bloggers, and to discover new blogs. If you are a blogger, you might have done the same. Some of these communities are; Google Friend Connect, Facebook Pages, Twitter, Myspace, Networked Blogs, and Blog Frog. I am sure there are more out there, but these are all I have had the time to find. If you know of any more, please leave a comment, I would love to join them, and I am sure I have readers who would love to join them as well.

As a community of bloggers, we want other bloggers in our communities to succeed, but what can we do to help our sister bloggers? Here are six tips to make our communities stronger.


1. Visit their blogs regularly. I keep a list of about twenty blogs I visit each day, and a similar number that I visit on a weekly basis. I also keep more than a hundred blogs in a site reader tool so that I can follow their posts as well, but I view them as more of an “extended family;” I only visit their site (and give them ad views) if their post really interests me.

2. Be aware of new blogs in the community, and give them a shot. I’m regularly introduced to new sites on these and sometimes find neat posts from people I haven’t read in a while.

3. Comment on posts. If you see an interesting post, don’t hesitate to add a comment to that post. Not only are you starting a potentially interesting conversation, you’re saving a good blog from the dreaded “0 comments on every post? No one must read this awful site” syndrome.

4.. Link to posts you really like there in your own blog. If you see a writing in a blog that you really like, don’t hesitate to link to it, particularly if you can contribute a good deal of additional thought to it. Not only are you coming up with a solid post for your own blog, you’re driving some attention to a neighbor who will appreciate it. The key, though, is quality – don’t just link to someone because you can, link because what they did was good and you can add something to it.

5. Add a permanent link to their blog on your own blog. If a blog consistently posts things you find valuable, add them to your site as a permanent link. But don’t add too many – a list of twenty links might be investigated, but a list of hundreds might not. Also, don’t sweat it if they don’t reciprocate with a permanent link; although it’s a nice touch, it might be the case that they’re trying to advertise blogs they like and they’re not as familiar with your blog as with others.

6. Be stingy. Don’t link to everything that a single blogger writes, just link to the posts that really make you think or inspire you. This way, you are simply showing your readers the good stuff (which you are, of course). I used to read a blog quite regularly that turned into a “suck-up fest” for another blog… eventually, I just started reading the other blog and didn't bother with the first.

Take the initiative and visit some blogs in your community today!



 

Eden Fantasys Holiday Shopping

I had so much fun blogging about this last time, I'm doing it again!

When I reviewed Eden Fantasys last time, I got some great sex toys for my husband and I to share.

Eden Fantasys has such great selections and customer service, that I am going to shop their for my husband and myself for the upcoming holiday.

I know my husband and I both enjoyed what we received last time and know we will both enjoy the products we order this time.

I am so excited to share with you the new products Eden Fantasys has to offer. I received an email the other week and was so happy to hear they are now selling Bath and Body Products, Makeup, Holiday Outfits, and Club Wear!

I love a lot of the items I see on Eden Fantasys, but here are a few I am looking into buying for my husband and myself for Christmas.

• I like Fantasy body finger paints. Just because we are older, does not mean we do not like to finger paint. What other way to explore your significant other's body and have fun while doing it. The flavors are even edible! You get four flavors; apple, blueberry, cherry, and strawberry.

Why I would like to buy it;

I would love to be able to run my fingers all over my husband's body while having fun finger painting. When I am done, I can then run my tongue all over his body to enjoy a sweet taste in my mouth of my favorite flavor! I also can not wait to have him enjoy the finger paints on my body.

• I am also interested in the Red Maid Corset. Who doesn't like to play dress up for their man once in awhile? The available sizes are; small, medium, and large.

Why I would like to buy it;

I would love to be able to show my husband how sexy I am and how much fun we can have role-playing. Once you have kids, the fun in your sex life sometimes goes down hill. Wearing this costume and showing him I can clean anything he would like me to clean for me, would make our sex life have a spark back in it again!

As you can see, EdenFantasys has a variety of new items to choose from for couples. If you are looking for a great place online to buy items for your husband and you, this is the place. I am not saying you and your husband should do this, it is up to you whether you and your husband like to shop at websites like EdenFantasys.

Disclosure: 
EdenFantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, provided me with a gift card in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

 

My Monster Burrufu

My Monster Burrufu is a storybook about a young girl who finds more than just dust in the attic of her new home. By the way, did you know that monsters are good luck? Well, now you know.

This is an enchanting story about an outgoing, unique and friendly little girl who tries with all of her might to befriend a very reclusive monster, who just wants to be left alone in his lonely attic to write his stories and eat stolen chocolate chip cookies. The book is peppered with beautifully drawn black and white illustrations, and the dialogue is enhanced by increases and decreases in font size to indicate yelling and whispering tones. It's a sweet story that is fun to read, especially out loud in different voices!

This story has a very important central moral: don't judge someone by how they look; it's what's inside that counts. It's a kind of "don't judge a monster by his fur" type of moral, which is applicable to children and adults alike.

My Monster Burrufu was created by Alberto Corral, a character animator at Dreamworks Animation. He, like Burrufu, also loves dessert. Alberto told me, "I love movies and stories in any form. That passion took me to write a children's book."

My 7 year old daughter appreciated the moral of the story (it is geared toward the 8-12 age range), my 7 year old daughter and my 2 year old daughter loved hearing the story and looking at the pictures.... This is truly a tale that children and parents can all enjoy.

Farm Rich Cheese sticks

My children and I love cheese sticks! When we are at a restaurant, if they offer cheese sticks as appetizers, we will most likely get them.

We have searched high and low looking for cheese sticks that can be made to taste like the cheese sticks we buy in the store.

Now...we finally found them with Farm Rich.

Description: You may remember tasting your first cheese stick when you were a kid, probably while sitting around a table with your parents at one of your favorite restaurants. Now, you can introduce the wonders of cheese sticks to your own kids at home. In the process, you might even develop some sort of a cheese stick bond with them.
- Made with 100% real mozzarella cheese

- Breaded and seasoned to perfection
- Good source of calcium and protein

- 0g trans fat per serving
- Comes in 10 oz snack pack & 52 oz value pack

I am so glad we found these, thanks to the nice people at Farm Rich for giving me a coupon for a free product. I have bought plenty more since, and plan on buying a ton more in the future.

Not only do these cheese sticks taste better than the restaurant ones, they are cheaper and offer more!

 

Hormel® Compleats® Kids microwave meals

Between not having enough time to cook, tons of afterschool activities and pleasing picky eaters, sometimes getting kids the proper nutrition they need can be challenging. With back-to-school season upon us, it’s important to figure out ways to keep children full and energized with nutritious meals and physical activity! 

Designed for children ages 3-8, Hormel® Compleats® Kids microwave meals heat up in 45 seconds and are available in four flavorful varieties. These meals offer great-tasting options that will please the pickiest eaters and provide nourishment you can feel good about. Hormel® Compleats® Kids microwave meals have no preservatives, artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup or trans-fat, contain three grams of fiber per serving and are a good source of protein, meeting the healthy food regulations established by the U.S.D.A.

 The Hormel® Compleats® Kids website, www.compleatskids.com features a variety of physical activity ideas, a board game style chart to track daily physical activity and a certificate for kids who have committed to eating healthy and being active every day.


These are great for a family like mine. My husband and I have been so busy with school. To be able to pop one of these in the microwave for each of my children for dinner and to know they will get the best nutrients available, is wonderful!


Visit Hormel's website for coupons!

Bryton Pick

I was given the opportunity to review a 3 pack of these reusable picks. I have gave myself enough time to see if these are really "reusable up to 30 days" as stated on the package.

I do not have braces, but I have tight teeth that I find hard to floss in between. These picks work wanders! They also can be used after the 30 days, even after using them twice a day, can you believe that?!

I am so thankful to have found picks that actually work for me.

Please go check out Bryton Pick's website where you can get more information on their product and see a cool video on how to use their product and how you can purchase them.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

What...When...

Fall is here! Each time October hits I know it's time to go over my "Every 6 Months Checklist." Here are some things I do for my family every 6 months:

1. Change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
2. Have my family practice our basic drills--What do we do if there's a fire? Who do you call in an emergency? Do we answer the door or ever tell people that parents aren't home? etc
3. Update our 72 hour kits with fresh food and water, bigger diapers (for growing baby!), and bigger changes of clothes for my kids.
4. Replace used items in our first aid kit and check medicine expiration dates.
5. Check and re-stock our emergency car kits.
6. Double check my food storage inventory to make sure it's updated and on track.
7. Flip evaporated milk cans, check expiration dates on food storage items, organize as needed.

At the same time, I usually do a really thorough fall cleaning of my house and shed (I have a whole cleaning checklist...I'm a little insane, but it works for me!) and take unnecessary clutter to the dump or donation center. It always seems like a lot of work, but the house feels so complete when I'm done. Everything is clean, organized, and orderly. The sense of accomplishment is worth all the work!

Rumble Zap Pow

Rumble Zap Pow

Rumble! Zap! Pow! by Diane Short and Illustrated by Luke Daab is a sweet and fun little Bible that packs a quick punch in a short space. All the stories focus on ways that God proved himself mighty throughout the Bible and each story features a Mighty Thought (kind of like the theme), Power words (or key verse), and and activity to drive everything home.

I think this children's Bible is an ideal pick for little boys for a whole host of reasons! My son  loved the comic book style. I think it keeps him actively involved, following all the different pictures around the page. All the comic book style action words really take the stories into "boy language" and speak straight to their little sound-effect sensibilities! And there is just the cutest little sheep super hero who introduces all the stories- so that appeals to both mom and boys!

I will say that it is pretty surface, as Children's Bibles tend to be, but if you are just looking for a good overview of Bible Stories that present them in such a way that your kids are sure to listen, then you will most definitely enjoy Rumble! Zap! Pow!

I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Where Will You Go from Here?

Where will you go from here? By Valorie Burton

I do not feel this book is meant for Christians. I mean, it should not be categorized as Christian. This book does not seem to be Christian to me.

In the modern world where the term "Christian" has almost come to simply mean people who hang paintings on their walls with the word "faith" written in the sky, I have become very leery of just accepting the statement that something is "Christian". The reason why I find the book very NOT Christian is because with in the pages the reader can feel better about themselves and hopeful about God's future for them without any mention of Christ! This is a HUGE problem. There are a few problems which I will address in this review which sprout off of that, and maybe only one positive thing I see in the book, which is why I only rate it 2 out of 5 (and that very graciously).

One of the first problems I noticed with the book is the verses which she takes out of context. She takes verses which cannot be fully understood without a knowledge of Jesus, and continues to apply them throughout the text without any reference to Him.

With all of this said, if you pick this book up and are expecting great exhortations from the Word by someone who has been there, put it back down and pick up another one. If you are mature in your faith and want to read it out of curiosity, be careful, you may be able to glean a few accidental Biblical principles (which is the only positive), but don't expect a truly Christian worldview.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

We Are Family Sofabed by Claus Molgaard

My husband, like most dads, would love for our children to sleep with us until we all die. I, on the other hand, can not wait for the day I have my husband and my bed back to myself.

Since we had our first child in January 2004 we have had a child in bed with us. Our oldest daughter, Asha, slept in our bed until she was 3 1/2 years old, when her brother was born. Our son, Elliott, who came along in August 2007, slept in our bed until he was about 2 years old, when we moved to a new house in August 2009.

Elliott and Asha now share a room, where they have brand new bunk beds. Sometimes Asha and Elliott will sleep in their own bed, but most of the time they sleep in the same bed. Our youngest, Frankie was born in March 2009, she still sleeps in our bed. And I honestly have no idea when I will be able to get her out of my bed.

I have tried on occasion to get Frankie to sleep with her brother for nap time, which she will, but only once in awhile. I have yet to get her to sleep in the bunk beds with her brother and sister.

I came across this sofa-bed when I was looking around on the internet for new furniture last year. I have five people in my family; my husband, my three children and myself. This would be good for us, from my husband's perspective. We could have one bedroom, and everyone could sleep together. 

This sofa-bed gives everyone their own bed, but lets everyone sleep together in the same room, giving the children and husband the illusion that everyone is sleeping in the same bed.

Of course, we did not get this sofa-bed. I did not show this to my husband last year, mainly because I did not want this sofa-bed, but also because I can not find where to buy it online or offline.

What are your thoughts on this sofa-bed? Is your husband like mine, would he love this idea or would he be totally against this? Are you like me, totally against this or would you be totally for this sofa-bed?