So I’m assuming you’ve been pretty exhausted this week.  And I’m assuming this based on my own all-consuming tiredness.  The instigator of this epidemic of lethargy?  China! 
Well, ok, not so much China as the distance between China and the U.S.  I think the entire country has been up way past bedtime watching the spectacle after spectacle amazing-fest that is this year’s summer Olympics in Beijing!   
I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the Olympics, per say… but as a lifetime fan and avid viewer, I would consider myself a pretty accurate source.  And, I’ve been getting a lot of questions.  One of which I feel is only appropriate to address in this newsletter. (…)

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Planting flowers in a garden at home provides many great opportunities for parents to interact with their children.  There are many steps in the gardening process during which kids can help out and feel involved.  Here are just a few ways kids and parents can bond while gardening:

Pick out Flowers Together:  Bringing your child with you to the flower shop is a great way to get him or her involved with your gardening project.  You can allow children to pick out flowers (or flower seeds) that they like so that they feel more invested in keeping up with the garden as the flowers continue to grow.  This also helps you to bond with your child because they feel like they are having an influence over the decisions being made since they are getting to input their gardening ideas. (…)

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Although it’s sad, many animals are abandoned each year for a variety of reasons.  A great way to help these abandoned animals is adoption. 
Deciding what type of pet you would like to adopt can be a difficult decision.  After all, this pet is going to become a member of your family, so you want to make sure you find a pet you will be able to care for responsibly.  If you are busier during the day, you might want to consider a slightly older animal that is already house-trained and does not require as much constant attention as a younger pet.  That’s not to say that adult animals don’t deserve just as much attention as puppies, but older pets are generally more laid back and therefore better choices for busier families.   
If you are home often, a puppy could be perfect because you will be there to give it the attention it will definitely need.  Overall, whatever type of pet you choose, it will be happy simply because of the care and love it receives from you. 
There are many wonderful shelters around the country from where you could adopt your pets.  A great resource is www.petfinder.com, a website listing thousands of adoptable pets from different organizations.  You can search for adoption shelters by state and select the links to view their available animals. (…)

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Take a gander at the photographs taken from Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island and do your best to identify each species. No need to be an aviary expert! Just wing it! (…)

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Do you know your birds and like free gifts?

We have an incredible opportunity for you. (…)

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Camping is a great summer family activity, but it can also be a stressful experience if not planned out in advance. (…)

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