Product Review Friday - Dapper Snappers

If you have skinny kids like me, you probably have a hard time keeping their pants up. You can find adjustable waist pants sometimes, but they aren't always the easiest to get. And they normally cost more. Oh, and I don't find them as often in shorts. So, there are things called Dapper Snappers. If the pants have belt loops, these "belts" will help keep the bottoms up. They snap over two belt loops (one on each side) and are elastic. There are 3 adjustments, so you can cinch in a few different amounts. So far they are working on one pair of pants for AJU5.

"Luckily" AJU5 can still fit into some 18M pants and most of her others are knit (i.e. lots f elastic), but she has a few shorts she couldn't wear after potty training because she was to skinny. That is the main reason I bought them. And I know they will work for many years - as I don't think either kid will be chubby (it just isn't in the genes around here). So, I will get more use out of them later too.

There are also supposedly similar things out there with alligator clips on the ends too. These would work for knit pants, but luckily we don't have a problem with those.

Okay... that was pretty bad writing. Oh well. It is what you get today as I dn't know if I will get another chance to write :)

Project Review Friday - Mimi the Sardine Bibs

AJU6, as you might guess, is not a clean eater. And a regular bib just didn't cut it for him. First, most of them are velcro, and he is strong enough to pull them off. Second, his sleeves got MESSY, and I would have to change him anyways. So, I knew I needed to get some new bibs for him. I had used his sister's sleeveless bib with pocket a few times on him, and the pocket really helped keep his lap and the chair cleaner. So, when I saw these on BabySteals, I snatched a pair. And they have worked great - well, as long as I put them on him.

First, they have a tie closure. This takes a tiny bit more time to fasten, but it means he can't take it off. Second, the sleeves work great. Occasionally the cuff of his shirt gets slightly soiled, but I am working on remembering to roll or pull them up a little before he eats. Then, there is the pocket that keeps the mess off the chair and floor - a big plus for me! And they do clean easy - I can rinse them off if they are bad, and I throw them in the laundry about once a month to get really clean.

Supposedly IKEA has a similar bib, but there aren't any around here. I haven't seen anything like these at Babies R Us, Target, or Wal-Mart, so I was willing to pay a little extra for these. I am normally not huge on all the green things (which is why these are more expensive), but I do understand why that raises the price.

Overall, I think it was a good buy. It is definitely saving some laundry. It will come in handy when we travel and don't want to bring a ton of clothes. And they are big enough for AJU5 if she would let me put them on her, so I know we have a long time before he outgrows them. Oh, and it might come in real handy for his birthday with cake!

Product Review Friday - PlaySet

After MONTHS of searching, and looking, and waiting, and looking, and researching and ... we finally bought a playset for the back yard. We knew we wanted wood with three swing spots, a slide, and a few climbing options. That was the easy part. The hard part was finding what we wanted in stock at a reasonable price. First we considered one brand that turned out to be EXPENSIVE - twice the price for a similar system. That brand is probably the best built, but we didn't think it was worth that price (they have some systems that cost more than an average new SUV...).

Then we found something we liked on Sam's Club's website that was out of stock. They said they would be back in at the beginning of June (or end of May - I don't remember). By the time they were back in stock, we realized it was 2x4 construction - something we didn't like. So, we started looking again. Then we found one we liked at Costco.com. But, by the time we decided to buy it, it was out of stock. We waited, contacted both the manufacturer and Costco, and finally gave up because it didn't look like it would be back in stock this year. So, the search continued. We found two that we liked - one at Home Depot and one at Costco - next. Then we spent some time laying them out in our yard, talking, and finally we were close to a final decision. AJU1 looked at them again online, and the one at Costco was no longer on sale (but still available). The one at Home Depot was now on sale, and it was the one we were leaning to anyways. So, we bought it.

It is a Gorilla playset, and we think it is just fine for our yard. The wood isn't perfect, but we knew that was likely (after reading reviews of every playset in the $1500 price range, we knew what to expect). It went together fairly easily, and the kids like it. AJU5 is happy with it, and AJU6 even likes some parts too.

The biggest hits for AJU5 are the swing, wheel, and telescope. She refuses to slide, but she will try everything else. AJU6 likes to play in the fort part and occasionally likes the slide. We got him a swing (LittleTykes), and he isn't sure about it. But, AJU5 likes it (we can swing her really high in it). Hopefully the playset will grow with them and will be something they can explore ON THEIR OWN before too long :)

Product Review Friday - Personal Financial Software

We started using MS Money shortly after we got married. In almost 8 years, it became very easy to use, and it was user friendly (as long as you are used to Microsoft at least). Then, about a year or so ago, they stopped selling it. My husband tried to adjust something on the version we had, it we lost the ability to download our transactions from our banking companies - about a year before this would have happened otherwise. So, we had to switch. Basically, the only option out there is Quicken, so he ordered that.

We aren't huge fans of it. It is harder to reconcile the transactions. You can't easily see the number of transactions needing to be reconciled per account. It does download the transactions "well," and it tracks our spending like we want. We don't have a set budget, so that isn't important to us. Maybe if we had a strict budget it would be a better program...

*We are fortunate at this point to have surplus each month after paying our bills, groceries, tithe, and depositing a set amount in savings. That remainder then is currently being used mostly for the backyard "remodeling" which is making our credit card bleed (well, until we pay it off each month). So, in a sense we have a budget, but because we have the surplus, we don't have to stress over it or even worry about it at all.


** I know have another blog for my cloth diapering journey. If you want the url, let me know. I am using my name there (but not the kids), so I won't link to it here.

Product Review Friday - Cloth Diapers Part 2

So, Monday I got a package. Iw as so excited. It contained an Econobum package (three covers and twelve prefolds), a FuzziBunz one size pocket diaper, a Bummis Swimmi diaper, and a Kushies swim diaper. Since I have only used the FuzziBunz and swim diapers once, I will just review the Econobum now.

After playing with them for a day or two, I have decided to use the Econobum package for AJU5 and stick with the GroBaby covers and Gerber DSQ prefolds for AJU6. The main reason is that the Econobum works great for AJU5, where the other option led to more leaking. AJU6 has only leaked a few times, and those I think would have happened regardless of what kind of diaper he was in! Also, the Econobums are thicker, so they look big on him.

So, here is what I like about them:
Covers are big! AJU5 is only on the middle setting (she was on the last setting for GroBaby).
The covers are easy to rinse and dry if it is a very soggy diaper.
The prefolds are very soft and hold a lot.
They don't leak until the prefold is almost completely soaked. GroBaby would leak once the "target" was soaked, but these tend to allow for more distribution of liquid.

Negatives:
Covers are fairly thin. Some reviews I read/watched were worried that the covers would tear, but I don't see that happening unless you really tugged too hard.
Bulky. The softer, more absorbent prefolds are also thicker. On AJU5, this isn't a problem. She is big enough that you don't notice. But, on AJU6 they look big.
It is made by the same people that make Flip and BumGenius diapers. This company is very strict on pricing, meaning you often can't use coupons with them (like save $5 on a purchase of $40 or more). Luckily the site I bought from had a free diaper coupon that does work (which is how I got the FuzziBunz).


For $50, I think this is a great package! It works okay for smaller babies and great for toddlers.

Product Review Friday - Cloth Diapers (The Early Stages)

A few weeks ago, I actually ordered something from BabySteals.com - three GroBaby shells with 150 of their disposable liners. Once they arrived, I also bought a dozen Gerber Diaper Service Quality PreFolds. And so the cloth diapering began.

So far, I am not minding the change. We still use disposables for night time and if we are going to be out of the house for more than an hour or two. But, I am saving at least 4 disposables a day this way. So, in about 4 months I will have paid for what I bought (about $100 so far). I have 15 prefolds (had a few already that I used as burp clothes) and three covers, and I have realized I need more. I want at least two more covers and another dozen prefolds (or other reusable liners) so I don't have to do laundry each day. I can reuse the covers if the kids don't get too soggy or have a blow-out, but often I am ending up with both kids needing a new cover within an hour or two of each other. It takes 3-4 hours for the covers to dry (hanging up), so I either have to use a disposable or throw a cover in the dryer most of the time. I am waiting to see if BabySteals has any good steals in the next week or so though before I spend about $60 on what I still need (there are hints they are having cloth diapering things up soon).

As for work, it isn't a lot more effort for me to cloth diaper. I do have to rinse off some of AJU6's dirty diapers, but other than that, it might take me an extra 15-20 minutes a day to load the washer, take everything out and hang it up, and then fold the prefolds so I can just put them in the covers.

One thing I do like about the GroBaby covers is they are one-sized. I can use the same cover for AJU5 and AJU6. I just have to use the snaps to make it a little shorter for AJU6, and that is easy to do. I also fold the prefolds differently for each kid. The Gerber prefolds are a little too long for the covers "naturally", so I fold them the other direction for AJU5. This gives her extra material to fill where a girl natural needs it. For AJU6, I just fold down 1/3 of the diaper, giving him more absorbency where boys need it. I will probably buy the Green Mountain prefolds next, and they might be a little smaller. Hopefully they won't be quite a bulky on AJU6, as some of his shorts just don't fit over the diaper well.

And now I know some of you might be wondering why I changed - I was tired of having to buy diapers for AJU5. She is resisting potty training, and spending about $40 a month on her diapers alone was getting to be a pain. Now my diaper purchases go at least twice as far, meaning I don't have to buy them nearly as often!

Product Review Friday - Wrap & Tie Carrier

So, I bought an Infantino SlingRider when AJU6 was born. I read about possible suffication, but because of how I planned on using it, I wasn't worried. I would walk around with im in it (and my arms under him) until he crashed, and then I would sit down and let him lay in my lap. Doing that, I wasn't afraid of him suffocating because I wasn't keeping his neck pushed to his chin. But, when they were recalled, I decided to send it in. I wasn't using it anymore, so why not get something different? I chose the Wrap & Tie because the other options we either already had (shopping car cover) or didn't need (plastic toys). Our other carrier was showing signs of wear, and this one was cuter and had a higher weight limit.

I am happy with the new carrier. I have only used it around the house, but it is very cute. I first tried it out with AJU5 because she is still about 8 pounds litter than the max weight and AJU6 was asleep. She rode on my back for a good 30 minutes and loved it! She has gotten in once or twice since then (because she asked). AJU6 isn't so quick to go for a "ride," but he is still fairly happy it in. One thing I don't like is the amount of fabric at the legs. It is fine for AJU5 since she is bigger, but I have to do a lot of adjusting so I am not making AJU6 do the splits. It has a band to wrap around this area for when the baby faces out, and I have to use that when he faces in as well.

It some ways it is easier to use than my Snugli, but in other ways it is harder. I have found it is easier to put the straps through the loops before putting it on, and then I just slide AJU6 in once I have it on and tighten it. It was a huge challenge to put the straps through the loops and balance him the first time! I do love the amount of adjust-ability. I found the buckles and straps on the Snugli to be a pain to adjust because there were so many places you could adjust them.

The Ergo or other carrier might be better, but for the price, I like the two I have. They work well for us, and that is all that really matters!

Product Review Friday - Store-Brand Diapers

Like I said before, I love the Kirkland diapers. They are soft, hold quite a bit, come in a huge box, and are fairly cheap. One big problem is the diaper sizes though. They start with a Size 1-2, and there is no overlap is weight sizing between this size and Size 3. So, we had to start with other brands for AJU6, and we are using another brand now for him as well. I initially bought Pampers newborns, because I love the wet indicator line. We also had some other samples (free) that we used. After going through a box of newborns and a box of Size 1 Pampers, I decided to try the Parent's Choice brand at Wal-Mart. They worked, but I didn't like them. They were very stiff and had no softness to them. Luckily by the time we had used all of those, AJU6 was big enough for the Kirkland 1-2's. So, we stuck with them until recently when we started to have a little leakage with big explosions. He leaks around the leg openings, so it is a size issue mainly.

I realized the Size 3's were just too big. I knew I could go with Huggies (like I did with AJU5), but I thought I would try the Up and Up diapers (Target brand). They seem to be working well. I like the pattern on them (blue and green dots), and they are somewhat soft - not as soft as Pampers and Kirkland, but no where near as abrasive as Parent's Choice.

Product Review Friday - Joovy Caboose

So, I went with the Caboose. Price wise, they were almost identical. I could get the very very basic Baby Trend Sit-n-Stand for $99, a "standard" Sit-n-Stand for about $130, or I could order the Joovy Caboose online for $129 with the parent organizer, free shipping, and no tax (from Joovy itself). I ordered it Tuesday morning, and it arrived yesterday. That means they do indeed ship the item the day you order it (as we are a two-day shipping on UPS and Fed-Ex from their shipping locations). I almost immediately put it together, and at AJU5's request, we took it for a test drive.

It was fairly easy to put together - attach wheels and canopy and put the parent organizer on. I have left the kid tray and car seat adapter off for now as AJU6 is big enough to sit upfront out of his car seat but isn't big enough to make any use out of the tray (and it would just be in the way of getting him in and out easily). The opening and closing are a tiny bit harder than the Sit-n-Stand, but it is still fairly simple. It just takes two hands instead of just one...

As for size, if I were to take the canopy off, the Caboose would be an inch or two taller than my single Graco stroller (part of the travel system). It is narrower than the Graco, so it takes up just about the same amount of space. Unfolded, it is a little longer than a single stroller of course, but it is still easy to steer. I had no problem making the 90 degree turn on our side walk nor spinning the thing in circles to entertain the kids. It did get a little hard to push over our very beat up side walks (i.e. read falling apart), but I was still able to get through the gravely mess.

One common con of the Caboose over the Sit-n-Stand seemed to be the size of the basket underneath. I think it is pretty big actually. It should fit our diaper bag and a blanket/coat with no issues. Plus, as someone said in a review online, you can use the kid handles in the back to hang bags off of if you are taking it shopping. Another common con I read was about the back seat sliding. Yes - it does slide, but it takes force to get it to move. It did not slide while AJU5 was on it unless I intentionally was moving her forward. I like that I can move it so she has more room when the front seat is reclined.

So, overall I love my new stroller. I can't wait to test it some more - probably at the zoo and mall in the next week or so! And yes - mine is yellow...

Decisions, Decisions...

I am trying to decide what stroller to buy. It is between the Baby Trend Sit n Stand and the Joovy Caboose. They are about the same price and have basically the same child seats (AJU6 will get the front full seat while AJU5 gets the back bench or can stand). The Baby Trend (BT) is a little longer supposedly but a little more flimsy. But, the BT has a better basket underneath and a better parent organizer. Unfortunately, there isn't a Joovy in town, so I can't test drive it...

Anyone used either one? I need a double stroller that will fit through a normal doorway because I take the kids to work with me. I don't want a huge stroller because, well, they are just HUGE! And, AJU5 likes to stand in strollers anyways :)

Ugn... I hate making decisions but I need to soon! I want to take the kids to the zoo, but I don't want to have to have AJU6 in the carrier the whole time (because it gets hot and uncomfortable after about an hour)...

Product Review Friday - Infant Clothing/Sizing

Above is a picture of Carter sleepers in sizes NB and 3M. Can you tell which ones are NB?


Here is a hint - there are not three NB sleepers!


Any ideas?


Answer - the third and forth from the left. The fifth one is 3M! Some of them had never been washed (brand new), but the two monkey ones on the right have been washed the same number of times. The red sleeved one has been washed the most since it is a hand-me-down.

Really Carter - can't you make clothes the same size? It is bad enough trying to remember sizing differences between brands.

Product Review Friday - Overnight Diapers (Revisted)

So a month or two ago I bought the Pampers nighttime diapers instead of the Huggies because they were cheaper. Conclusion - they don't work as well! Based on weight alone, they don't hold as much as the Huggies. So, we are sticking to the Huggies brand. I did buy AJU5 a package of Pull-Ups from Costco that contains some nighttime pull-ups. Those seem to work about as well as the Huggies Overnights, although we have only used them once. We will wait until she is a little more willing to sit on a toilet before using the Pull-Ups since they are more expensive.

But, my friend put AJU5 in a standard Pampers yesterday (thanks for changing her while she was at your house), and they seem to hold more than standard Huggies or Kirtland diapers. I wish there was consistency in brands! But, then again during the day you don't need them to hold as much normally. So, the others work just fine.

Okay, enough on diapers... Now to pray that in the next 9 months AJU5 will sit on a toilet and be willing to start using one! I don't want to have two kids in diapers forever!

Product Review Friday - DVRs

Okay, so this post isn't about specific DVRs - it is more about how much I love being able to record TV. We actually use a program called SageTV which runs via computer to record shows. We had to pay for some hardware and a one-time purchase of software, but that is it. I know other options have monthly service charges, but I am not all researched-up on those...

So, here are the big benefits of a DVR:

• Commercial skipping. Most DVRs will mark commercials and automatically skip them. They skipping isn't always perfect, but you do get to "miss' most of the annoying commercials with no work!
• Favorites! Most DVRs allow you to record all airings of a favorite show. You may also have options as to which episodes of a favorite are recorded (like channel, time, or first-run restrictions). This means you don't have to think about when your show is on.
• Library of Shows. This is a big plus for toddlers. We record all of the Curious Georges and Word Worlds that are on our PBS station. Then, we can cycle through the list and watch them when she wants TV. Once we have watched all available episodes once, we can go through the list again. It is like having a DVD with all of the episodes on it for free1

Do you have a DVR? Do you like it?

Product Review Friday - Bed!

So, we have had our new king sized bed for over a week now. Sleep still isn't perfect for either of us, but we feel that we are sleeping better than we did on the old one. Of course, being very pregnant doesn't help me sleep in the least! And AJU1 is learning to sleep on his side more than his stomach, so that is resulting in him waking more at night we think. But, all in all, it was a good purchase.

Now for the details. We looked at a lot of beds. We had test runs on Sleep Number beds and Denver Mattress beds. We laid on a few other beds at Sears. Then we looked at the numbers. A good Denver Mattress bed was more than half the price of a lower-end Sleep Number bed. The other brands really ranged in price between these two mostly. Online reviews for beds area ll over the place, so you can't get answers there (some people love the beds, others hate them). So, in the end price was the deciding factor.

We went with the Denver Mattress Doctor's Choice bed. We can buy two of these for the price of many other king beds, and the life span is supposed to be about the same. We already have one Denver Mattress bed (guest bed that used to be ours), and it wasn't bad. It was a lower end one, and we slept okay on it for about 3-4 years. And, it is still in good shape (hence why it is the guest bed - we didn't stop sleeping on it until we moved tot he master bedroom in this house and decided not to move it because we knew we wanted a king bed soon). We considered spending a little more for the one with the individually wrapped springs, but we decided against it. We don't wake too much because the other is moving (unless we get hit), so we didn't think it would be worth it.

What brand bed do you sleep on? Is it comfortable? Would you recommend it or not?

Product Review Friday - Shopping Carts

This week we have been to three stores - Target, WalMart, and Costco. Each of these stores has shopping carts for at least two.

Target (and Lowe's) have the ones with chairs facing each other in a separate compartment. The view from said chairs is not good, and I don't really know how well they would work with two kids because the area is just so small.

WalMart has ones that face away from you, but again they are separate from the cart. These seem to work a lot better! First, they still allow for a smaller child in the cart seat (unlike the Target ones). Second, the kids have a view! Finally, they aren't fighting for space really. They are sitting next to each other, but there is ample leg room, etc.

Costco has more traditional carts, but they are wider so the seat is big enough for two. The big advantage here is that it is easier to drive/steer! You don't have an extra long cart with an extra set of wheels to try and maneuver around the store. The kids still have a view, but are facing you with these carts.

So, which do I prefer? WalMart and Costco are pretty even. If you have three smaller kids, the WalMart ones are probably best. But, they are harder to maneuver, especially when you are looking at clothes (aisles aren't too bad).

Have you tried these shopping carts? Which ones do you like?

Product Review Friday - Winter Clothes

Yesterday AJU5 and I went to Ross and Burlington Coat Factory to try and finish up her fall/winter wardrobe. We have hand-me-downs already as well as a few leftovers from last year that still fit and some jeans I bought already. But, making outfits was proving to be a challenge because the tops and bottoms didn't necessarily go together. So, I though Ross or BCF might have some inexpensive separates (I did buy one shirt at Target earlier this week too).

End Result - One long sleeve shirt, one jacket, and one package of 24 month Carter onsies (that I had looked for since early summer). I was definitely hoping for more success!

My big issue is that so much is sold as outfits! AJU5 wears a 24 month top and an 18 month bottom. So, outfits just don't work (unless I buy the shirts small and her belly shows or the pants so big her feet are completely covered). Well, Carter 18M outifts barely fit on top right now, and I am not going to spend money on something she will outgrow by December for sure. So I am stuck!

I wish there were more options! I might head back to Target next week and see if I can find any more Circo tops that go with the pants she has. I might also hit JcPenney because Okie Dokie brand items are normally separates too. But, those are the only brands I have found so far that sell the majority of their items as separates!

So, how is Fall clothes shopping going for you? Have you faced any of these challenges?

Product Review Friday - Airlines

AJU5 has been on four trips involving planes and has one more next weekend before a (probable) long break because, well, she will be 2 and no longer flying free!

I didn't fly much growing up. I think there was one or two trips before high school and then one then. My senior year of college I flew a lot because of varsity sports (we didn't fly any my junior year though). Then I flew a bunch visiting AJU1 while we lived in different states. Since we have been married, we have flown some too, but driving is more common for us.

Through all of this, I have flown a large number of airlines - Southwest, American, Continental, United, Delta, Northwest, Frontier, and British Airways (at least those are the ones I remember). With AJU5 we have flown Southwest only, but next weekend we are flying Delta/Northwest because AJU1 had enough points for a free ticket with them (due to his work travel).

So, which do I prefer? Well, I don't think it matters too much. Each airline has its quirks. And each airport throws in another set of quirks totally independent of the airline. I like that Southwest doesn't charge for bags - that is a HUGE plus in my book! But, if it wasn't for my husband flying Southwest for work so much, we might not fly them. They aren't always the cheapest without free tickets even if you add the bag charge in...

I don't mind Southwest's seating policy either. We almost always get A boarding because we check in 24 hours in advance. And, when traveling with an infant in arms, it is easier to get a seat for them this way (although not always available). The time I didn't get A boarding when I traveled with AJU5 alone, I was still able to get a good seat (rows still empty) during family boarding.

So, what don't I like about some airlines?

• When they overbook a flight. This happened once when I flew Northwest for work two years ago. I checked in about two hours early at the airport (nothing better to do - was already out of my hotel room, etc). But, I didn't have a seat assignment because they were over-full and waiting to see who showed up. It was very annoying especially since I was 19 weeks pregnant and less than one week post kidney infection (and still not feeling 100%).
• When they are notoriously late. Luckily we don't live or fly to busy places like the northeast. But, I am impatient! All of the airlines we have flown from here have been close to on time unless weather caused the delay. But, I have flown Continental through Houston before - and I am never doing that again! There are regular delays out of there for sure!
• Uncomfortable planes. United tends to have very little leg room, so my husband avoids them at all cost. Some of the "puddle" jumpers are also bad. But, the others are all about the same...

SO, which airline do you fly most? Which do you like the best?

Product Review Friday - Huggies Overnights

AJU5 was having a problem with her diapers leaking at night. She ended up with a wet pajama pants every morning for a week. So, I bought some Huggies Overnights to try last week. After 8 days of use, we have yet to have a wet pair of pajama pants in the morning! The diapers are just as heavy as they were before, but these ones seem to hold the moisture a lot better! So, we are sticking with them.

Now, the only downside of these is that they are more expensive than standard diapers. At diapers.com, they cost $0.39 each versus $0.27 for the Huggies Snug n' Dry (note: I don't buy from diapers.com, but it was an easy place to look up the price!). But, being able to wear a pair of pajamas two nights in a row and not having to decide if the bed needs to be changed makes it worth it! If we ever go on long car rides again, I will be using these as well. AJU5 did leak some on our trip to the in-laws last time... But, we don't plan on driving anywhere for a while!

Have you used these diapers or similar ones? What do you think about them?

Product Review Friday - Riding Toys

Okay, so I mentioned a while ago I bought AJU5 the Leap Frog Firetruck ride-on toy. Overall, it is a great toy. But, what makes it great isn't the Leap Frog part - it is the ride on part. I think any similar style ride-on would be just as much a hit!

When AJU5's cousins were here a few weeks ago, the two boys (2.5 and 4.5) played with it a lot! So, it is a toy that fits large age groups. We actually have friends with similar ones that their almost 6 year old can still play with (she is almost too big though). For $20-$40, I think it is worth it for sure!

Now, what I don't like - the lack of volume control on these things! AJU5 likes pushing the buttons and all. I don't mind that she likes that part - they are almost all educational (shapes, numbers, colors, etc). But, it is very loud! It is louder than our TV most of the time (i.e. when we aren't watching action-packed shows/movies). Why can't they put a volume control on them? The "standard" volume could be the loudest, but then parents could turn it down some to. Another thing I would have liked is an on/off switch. Yes, you can take the batteries out, but that involves a screwdriver. So, it isn't practical for turning it off for a short period of time.

If I had it to do again, I would try to find a basic one without sounds, etc and save that for another (separate) toy. But, they are harder to find it seems (all of the ones I have seen in stores lately have had sound). So, I will deal with what we have and enjoy the fact that it can keep her entertained for a while. She even likes to give her stuffed animals and baby doll rides!

Do you have a ride on toy for your kids? Do you like it?

Product Review Friday - Delivery Service

Okay, UPS and FedEx have made changes to the way they deliver things that makes there service terrible! They no long walk to your door, ring the bell, wait for you, hand you the box, and then leave. Now, they walk to the door, put the package down, ring the door bell, and "run" back to their truck as fast as possible. They are no longer allowed to enter homes (safety issue supposedly). That means even if you are getting a big item they need a dolly for, they will just leave it on your doorstep! This isn't terrible if your husband is home or will be home later. But, if your husband is out of town (or you are elderly, etc), yeah- big problem!

Recently we purchased an entertainment center online. It came in two boxes - both of which were very heavy. Then, we had to request two pieces be replaced (no issues there) and got two more boxes, slightly less heavy but still big (side panels). All three times they just rang the door and left. Luckily, AJU1 was only out of town when the side panels arrived, and I was able to carry those into the house. I called and complained since one of the times they didn't even ring the bell, and I was told about not entering the house. And they would remind the guys to ring the bell...

It used to be just UPS that was terrible about leaving quickly with small items. But now it is both and even with large items. It is very frustrating!

Have you experienced this?