I found an interesting app called The Social Express via Smart Apps for Kids. The app uses interactive lessons to help children and young adults develop skills they need to build relationships and navigate social situations. It sounds like it could be of great app for my PDD-NOS daughter. It’s got some great testimonials as well. The only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger yet is that it is $89.99! Right now there is a contest to win a free copy. If we don’t win it, I’ll seriously consider paying.

This past February we went to Disneyland and stressed out the iPhones to check line lengths and text when we split up because the girls wanted to go on different rides. Typically around 2:00 PM my phone would dip below 20% and my wife’s would hit it a little later. The first day we just stayed together, but eventually a 5-year-old and 10-year-old run out of rides they can agree on. So the next day we said we’d take an afternoon break and go to the car to recharge our phones. It just so happened that we were apart and my phone was fading fast it was time for the break. We had some tense moments relaying where we were, where we were going, and I had a 5-year-old who was melting down to top it off.

So for our April trip to see The Mouse, I bought us a pair of New Trent External Batteries. Two because I figured we should have a backup even if we are split up, and to keep in each of our cars as emergency phone power. I decided on this model because it seemed to hold a good charge and the pair wouldn’t be too expensive ($45 ea.). The unit is a about the same thickness as an iPhone and a little wider. Not really small enough to fit in the same pants pocket as the phone, but easy enough in the same jacket pocket.

How did they work? Great! It was so nice to be able to not stress about the battery getting low, I just plugged in the iPhone and got a full-recharge. The device holds 2-3 phone recharges and I was even able to give a charge to someone while we were in line for Space Mountain. Since the trip, I’ve used the device several times when I’ve forgotten to charge my phone.  I’m not sure what more you could ask of a device like this.

мека мебел

Or in this case, a “Nu Thang.”

I know some parents like having embarrassing pictures and videos of their kids they can pull out at graduations or weddings, but in the age of YouTube we might want to rethink that as the shame could go global. :0

икони

Concordia Publishing House has just released 16 titles from its Arch Book series as iPad apps. Each one is $1.99. I bought The Parable of the Prodigal Son for the girls to try out. I’ve been considering doing something similar so I hope these are successful. I quickly put the app through it’s paces and it’s not bad, but it’s somewhat lacking when compared to the Dr. Seuss books. The highlight of the words is rather weak (I like the animated zooming of words personally) and the timing of the highlights is uneven, sometimes coming before the word is spoken, sometimes almost after. Also, there is no interactivity with the pictures. The leading edge of iPad children books apps like Food Fight! animate most of the images when clicked on and even have rudimentary games. What this points out to me is that while the content of Christian apps may be more important the quality of the app will still be judged against all apps. These quibbles aside, I’m really glad CPH is bringing the Arch Books to the iPad.

As soon as I open the garage door my 4-yo greets me with, “Let’s take a bath with Jesus!” My first thought was, “What in the world have the girls been doing today? I hope this isn’t some type of ‘Jesus is my Homeboy‘ thing.”  Turns out my wife had gotten her a toy set with Jesus, the Apostles (I wonder which one is Judas), and a boat. Well she spent the afternoon splashing around in the sink. I told her that Jesus could walk on water (this one sank) because he was God. Although we didn’t take a bath with Jesus, I did get a chance to teach her a little more about our Savior.

Last night we were at some relatives house and while I was throwing my nephew (3 yo) around and tickling him my wife warned me to check to see if he had on a pull-ups or underpants. “You better check because you know what happens when you tickle your daughters,” was her warning. Well, later in the evening I’m playing with my 4 yo and blow a zerbert on her neck. She immediate stops laughing and says, “Daddy, I have to go potty. I got an accident.” Needless to say my wife was none too pleased

So everyone set their clocks an hour forward on Saturday night which means everyone lost an hour of sleep. 4 year olds do not understand this concept. All my daughter knows is that Daddy woke her up while she still wanted to go nenne (Japanese for sleep). Needless to say, she wasn’t the most active participant during the service, but she did hear the Word of God preached and was given a blessing and reminder of her baptism at the rail, which she responded to with a raspberry. I could only thank God that salvation is His work.

Just before last night’s Ash Wednesday service my 4 year-old pulls me aside and tells me this:

4yo: Let’s go to church. That’s where Jesus is.

Between saying “no” and being defiant in general she must be listening a little.

While drying my 8 year olds hair last night we had this conversation:

8yo: Dad, tomorrow is Fat Tuesday.

Me: What’s Fat Tuesday.

8yo: It’s when we get to eat sugar all day!

Me: What?! .

8yo: Yeah, we get to eat whatever kind of food at school.

Me: Okay, I’m not sure about that, but what’s Wednesday?

8yo: I know, Ash Wednesday. You know, when you get the ashes on your forehead.

Me: What season does that start?

8yo: Spring?

Me: Um, what church season does that start?

8yo: …

Me: Not Advent, but ….

8yo: …

Me: Lent

8yo: Lent, right. I just forgot. I’m giving up unhappy emotions for Lent.

Me: What?!

8yo: Yeah, you’re supposed to give something up for Lent so I’m going to give up unhappy emotions

Me: Hmm, that’s kind of interesting. Seems pretty hard, I just give up breakfasts. But why do we give up things for Lent?

8yo: …

Me: To remember and be sorry for our sins. So what do we have to do for our sins to be forgiven?

8yo: Give up something?

Me: Hold on, what did Jesus do?

8yo: He died on the Cross to forgive our sins.

Me: And what do we have to do for our sins to be forgiven?

8yo: Nothing, it’s a gift.

Me: So why do we give something for Lent?

8yo: To remember our sins.

Me: Yes, whenever we think about what we’re giving up for Lent we should think about our sins and that Jesus has died for them.

8yo: Thanks, dad. Is my hair dry yet?

Mostly a reminder to myself to take any opportunity to walk through what we believe with my girls, but this may be a helpful reminder to others.

My daughter goes to a Catholic school and it gives me a great opportunity to catechize her. In this clip, we talk about the Prayer of Sorrow.