frances england

What a difference a year makes

by Stacy on June 19, 2011

Last year, there they were all cherub like, dressed up in Daddy’s clothes singing Frances England songs refusing to sit or stand still long enough to be photographed.

Life seemed so much simpler then … all those 12 months ago.

Well boo, I had a video of Sweet singing to her daddy all sweetly but I can’t get the sound to work :/

This year, they’re all grown up, still not sitting or standing still but even more reluctant to be photographed. Lucky for me, I’ve learned some new mad iPhoneography skills. Father’s Day Photo Shoots in just a few seconds flat. Whatever did I do before I had an iPhone?

Happy Father’s Day baby! Sorry nothing quite turned out the way we planned, thank goodness we’re so good at rolling with the punches and adapting to whatever comes our way. We had a blast this weekend and sure are proud to call you Dad.

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Last Minute Father’s Day Ideas

by Stacy on June 18, 2010

Father’s Day is just around the corner and if you are a procrastinator like myself, you may be starting to get a little frantic. No need to fret, I’ve gathered some ideas that will really make him feel like the World’s Greatest Dad.

Let’s start with something super simple, a musical e-card from one of my FAVORITE kindie singers Francesca England. The song, Daddy-O, is a keeper too, you’ll want to hear it all year long …

{Click to go to Daddy O e-card}

which brings me to the next idea a musical performance!! Also, brought to you courtesy of Frances England.

Watch the video and help your kids learn the chorus – I’m going to be ambitious and see if I can teach them to act out the letters too It will be cute no matter how it turns out Thanks Frances, you continue to make life in our home happier (still sing Tricycle to my youngest as a lullaby)

Ok, ok you’re saying that was all fine & good but what you REALLY need is something tangible you can give the Dad in your life that you can make … say, like right now? No problem …

This Baseball String Bracelet from I Can Find The Time is pretty Awesome

These upcycled garden accents from Naturally Educational are pretty cool too
(They are supposed to be coasters, but I want some in my garden )

And these Tokens for Dad from Eighteen25 might be my favorite of the year

But the Dad’s Brag Book on Frugal Family Fun is vying for the win

So many incredible ideas … so little time

Have a fun project planned for Dad? I’d love to hear all about it

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KSW Loves Jitterbug

by Stacy on April 16, 2009

Looking for a great way to entertain your kids when you’re fresh out of ideas? Wishing you had something kid-friendly to put on for your kids to dance or something mellow you could all listen to during craft time? Wishing that all the children’s music you’ve found didn’t make you want to bury your head in a pillow? Problem Solved! All of them … with one simple website, Jitterbug.tv

Jitterbug.tv is the brainchild of two amazing dads, Dan Gellert & Randall Green. An online video/radio interface dedicated to finding great Kindie (independent music for kids) both children and parents can enjoy. How great is that? This pair of dad’s of music loving three year olds, have done an amazing job hand selecting artists & songs and creating a super friendly website for parents and children alike. I was lucky enough to grab a few minutes of their time for a quick interview. Here’s what Dan & Randall had to say about Jitterbug:

KSW: What influence have your children had on the site’s layout and music choices?

Dan: Our 3 year old girls are the testers for sure. Having lots of thumbnail pictures was something I noticed Emily (my daughter) pointing to constantly. Also, the jitterbug logo was blessed by Emily as she gave the thumbs down to some other versions. Concerning music choices, It seems variety is embraced as well as consistency – Emily likes to know the same video will be there for her to come back to until she looses interest eventually.

Randall: Truth be told the catalyst for Jitterbug was probably Jacks Big Music Show and the fantastic musical guest appearances, including Laurie Berkner. The show and the musical guests made me realize that kids music could cross over as I really enjoyed the music almost as much as my daughter.

KSW: What has been your favorite music find so far? What about your children’s?

Dan: I like the Dog On Fleas band, and Emily is constantly changing her favorites, but some of her favorites have been Gustafer YellowGold and The Jimmies.

Randall: Hard question to ask us as we like so many, but Piper (my daughter) was initially a Laurie Berkner groupie but has recently turned her attention to Randy Kaplan.

KSW: Since starting Jitterbug, would you say you & your family have been brought closer together through the process?

Dan: Yes, I often hear “Let’s watch jitterbug” from Emily. I’ve noticed you cannot really be cranky or moody when watching stuff on Jitterbug, it always lightens the mood.

Randall: Yes, Jitterbug has been a “family project” with everyone involved. The first thing my daughter asks for in the morning is to see Jitterbug. The interesting thing is we all usually agree on the music.

KSW: Recommend three of your favorite (or your children’s favorite) videos?

Dan: I never tire of Ugly Fruit by Dog On Fleas and Emily often requests Malti by Dan Zanes and this Greek Lullaby

Randall: Guastafer Yellowgood, The Jimmies and Eric Herman

KSW: Have you added any music lately that relates to Earth Day, recycling, or any other nature/outdoor activity?

Dan: Well, the one that comes to mind for outdoor activity is Tricycle and Diggin in the Dirt by Frances England

Why We Love Them: Let me count the ways- No really, For starters, it’s FREE! Sure I tried finding kids music on You Tube once or twice but the quality was poor and the good stuff tended to get lost in the mix. Jitterbug.tv puts the best Kindie music at your fingertips and even offers a FREE streaming radio service. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned to Jitterbug to calm my children since our move in Feb. My little ones know many of the songs by heart and ask to see the site AT LEAST once a day.

KSW’s Top Picks:

Rainy, Rainy Day by Milkshake

Everything is Alright by Big Bang Boom

The Elephant Song by Eric Herman

3 Year Old Faves:

Willy was a Whale by Justin Roberts

Polar Bear over There by Uncle Rock

I Found It by Brady Rymer

2 Year Old Faves:

Spider Monkey & The Rhino Song from Big Green Rabbit

Animal Alphabet Song by The Hollow Trees

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