Each issue features a young animal on the cover, a simple story, a maze, some questions and answers and a matching game. Often there are cards to cut out of different animals. The square magazine is just right for small hands, and kids enjoy reading the pages over and over again.

The National Geographic Little Kids site is a bit thin on the magazine description. They’ve developed Little Kids for ages 3-6. We also subscribe to their National Geographic Kids magazine which is great for the early grade years.

It’s official, we created a market and the products are here!

Today the questions for the safer sunscreen shopper concern application, scent and staying power: which is easy to apply and how white will it look, will my kids be okay with the smell, is it too slimy, and is it well mixed or will we notice that sometimes we get red faces even when reapplied in a timely manner?

We’ve learned these are personal questions best resolved by trial and error–we might love Badger and someone else finds it too white and cakey. Sometimes we dabble with new products, otherwise we stick to what’s become the usual. Our sunscreens of 2011 include California Baby lotion and stick, TruKid Sunny Days stick and Marie Veronique Kid Safe Screen, and we remain big fans of Epicuren Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 20 for adult faces.

The SafeMama Sunscreen Cheat Sheet offers the easiest to use sunscreen lists and safer sunscreen information.

The game has a good rhythm for three and four year olds, and our older kids like to play too. It moves quickly enough to keep everyone’s interest, and also allows time to talk about planting, harvesting and the change of seasons.

In less than 10 minutes, we have ice pops ready to eat. The Zoku is durable and requires only a few parts. For best results, we’ve learned to stay within the fill lines and wait until the Zoku thaws to wash, otherwise water freezes in the mold bottoms and makes removing the pops more difficult. The Zoku also makes a great gift for families.

Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup

We give the kids a dose half an hour before bed which seems to lessen the coughs that start when they lie down. They drink the syrup from a spoon or mixed in a little water or juice. We recommend the large size bottle as Black Elderberry Syrup is so effective the whole family depends on it!

Oompa Toys has the best selection of organic stuffies, as Amelia calls them, from Kallisto, Sigikid, Lana Organic and other great brands like the Kathe Kruse Bunny Towel Doll (or Lamb) a favorite first lovey for babies.

Kids make strong connections with their stuffed animals–they remember how and when they arrived and are reluctant to ever give them up!

My Little Buddha is now on Twitter! We’ll be talking (tweeting!) about more of our favorite toys and gifts for the holidays.

We love the simplicity of Kids Konserve lunch gear!

Two moms started Kids Konserve with the idea of reducing waste in kids lunches. The Kids Konserve Lunch Kit includes everything we need to pack a preschooler’s lunch: organic cotton lunch sack, stainless steel unlined water bottle, BPA and phthalate free sandwich wrap, two stainless steel food containers and an organic cloth napkin.

The reusable kits are available in three lunch sack patterns–natural, caterpillar (pictured) and butterfly. Kids Konserve also offers extra stainless steel food containers, sandwich wraps, water bottles (you can order with custom logos too), thermos, ice packs with sweat-free cover, and reusable party supplies for class events. They’ve just added insulated lunch bags made from recycled plastic bottles.

Kids Konserve helps schools raise awareness about reducing waste. Oliver’s preschool and Wyatt and Amelia’s elementary school both participated in the Kids Konserve Waste Free Lunch Fundraiser. Kids Konserve donates 10% of each sale to the school, or the school can pass on the discount to students. The fundraiser and just seeing kids with the lunch kits in class inspires everyone to pack environmentally friendly lunches. And Kids Konserve makes it so easy!

Oliver and his great grandma sitting on the porch.

Mother’s Day is a moment to recognize ourselves while we celebrate just being together with our families. We love flowers from the garden and scribbley drawings. And if someone happens to ask what else we really want for Mother’s Day, being moms, we’ve started a list.

On Mother’s Day we’d like to:

1. Lie down for at least 30 minutes, then read the paper or a book while drinking a cup of tea with honey.

2. Take a walk.

3. Appreciate and perhaps be appreciated for the fact that it is so much work.

4. Stay in the moment.

5. Listen more to our hearts and less to the thoughts hovering in our heads.

Happy Mother’s Day!

TruKid Sunny Days Sunscreen Lotion and Sunscreen Stick saved us. The lotion has a light, pleasant smell and goes on smoothly (no white! as Amelia demands). The Sunny Days Sunscreen Stick works everywhere, we keep one in our bag so we’re prepared for afternoons at the park. The kids like to use the stick themselves, we just make sure they cover all the spots and don’t get too messy.

Lyndsey researches products carefully and likes the helpful, informed people she’s talked to at TruKid. For more on sunscreens, see our New Favorite Sunscreens List.

Our kids are excited to open their snacks at the park (even the rice crackers they used to call their least favorites). The Feeding Set works well for toddlers and preschoolers, and the containers are great for baby food too.