**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. ​  But, all opinions expressed are my own.

    Lindsey was going to write this post because this is the book she bought for her nephew, Spencer, for his birthday, and he loves it! But, being a lawyer interrupted her ability to post this week, so I am filling in for her. 
     I go over once a week and eat lunch with Spencer.  He brought me out this book to read with him because it is his new favorite. Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter is an adorable interactive board book that has a funny way of showing the consequences of breaking one rule, "Don't Push the Button!" It had Spencer and I both cracking up.  I was impressed with all of the cognitive skills this simple book addressed, from once to many and counting and colors and of course, cause and effect. 
     Don't Push the Button is also available in hard cover and on Kindle. (Personally, I think the Kindle in this case wouldn't be as effective.) Plus, there is even a Christmas edition of the book! Whatever version you purchase, your kids are going to love it! 
     My experience has been that kids love interactive books and there are more and more to choose from these days!  I don't mean just your basic lift the flap books or push the button for sound, although those are also popular, but I mean the kinds that really get the child involved in the book!  Here are a couple more to check out: 

     Here in Phoenix, school is out!  Can you believe it!  So, to keep kids busy and learning throughout the summer, interactive books are a good way to go to keep them interested in reading.  Don't forget to check out your local libraries for their summer reading programs!  There are often fun rewards and treats for kids who keep reading all summer. In Maricopa County, there is a program to help keep kids incentivized to  read through the summer. Check it out here! 
     In Phoenix, the University of Phoenix and the AZ Diamondbacks have teamed up on a 20 min. per day reading program!  Click here to find out about it! 
      Barnes and Noble are giving books to summer readers! Find out here! 

    Last, but not least, I want to tell you about a great tool to keep track of your kids reading this summer!  It is a really terrific, interactive chart found on Everyday Reading!  You really need to take a look at it.  I love this idea so much that I made engineering print sizes of them for my grandchildren! They were free to download and super inexpensive to have printed at Staples!  I had 4 of them printed on 24 x 36 inch paper for under $15.  One will totally work for multiple kids and they are customize-able.  I had mine printed for 4 families of kids just as they are.  

The moral of today's WTRW is, get those kids reading throughout the summer! Let us know how it goes!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. ​  But, all opinions expressed are my own.

       Salmon is probably my very favorite food and when it is prepared with this recipe, I could eat the entire fish.  I know that you may hear from famous TV chefs that you should never mix fish with cheese.  But, I am here to tell you that salmon with Parmesan is delicious.  My son had friends that would ask if I was making salmon for dinner to see if they could come over and have some.  That is how good this fish is.  I am fairly surprised that I haven't shared this with you before because I prepare it and eat it as often as I can and never tire of this salmon.
      I am not giving you a recipe to print out because it doesn't have exact measurements.  I will just tell you what I do.  It is super easy, quick and I never like any preparation of salmon better that this one. 

• Line a baking sheet that fits in your broiler with aluminum foil.  Pour some olive oil on it in a large squiggle, maybe about 4 Tablespoons.  Heat your broiler to medium heat.
• Wash your salmon off and lay it skin side up on your baking sheet. I don't like to deal with the scales or the skin, so I have found this easy way to remove the skin. 
• Place the pan with the salmon under the broiler for a few minutes until the skin begins to brown or blacken slightly.  (I have a gas oven/broiler, so you need to watch how your fish cooks in your broiler.)

• Carefully, because it will be hot, pull off the skin.  I use a fork or knife to help me get under the skin, but it will peel off really well.  Discard the skin. 
• That side of the salmon will be cooked nicely.  Flip the fillet over to the other side. 
• On the uncooked side, sprinkle on seasoned salt, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese to taste.  I have used both the fresh, good kind of Parmesan and the green box kind, both are delicious.
• Put the fish back under the broiler and cook until lightly browned and the fish is cooked through.  Again, this will depend on your broiler.  You can cut the fillet in the middle and check it if necessary.  Don't over cook it!  You want the fish to be moist and flaky.
• Slice the fillet into serving portions to serve.  It is delicious with a green veggie and rice or just about any side that you want.  

    Let me know if you give it a try! I am pretty sure you will love it! 

Something to serve the fish on and something to get the fish smell off of your hands! 

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. ​  But, all opinions expressed are my own.

    Hi everyone! Welcome to Fun Friday!  Today we are thinking about an upcoming weekend, Memorial Day!  Do you have house guests coming for the long weekend? Or, is this a just a great weekend to spend enjoying your kids and family?  Whatever your situation, this Pancake Sundae Station will be a big hit with everyone. 

        We have about a billion pancake recipes on the blog here.  Just peruse through our breakfast section and you will find them! Today we chose to make Root Beer Pancakes for you.   I posted this recipe in the early days of the blog.  (When you go to it for the recipe, you will be able to tell that it was the early days of the blog.)  I did update the recipe for you because I don't know if Root Beer is just less strong than it used to be or what, but I find that my pancakes don't have the strong root beer flavor that I want from these pancakes.  So, I added a tsp of root beer extract to kick them up a bit. 
        Not only did I add the extract, today I was making this for Maddy who is vegan.  So, instead of egg, I used chia seed instead. Did you know that you can use chia seed as a replacement for eggs?  Even if you aren't vegan, that is a handy thing to know!  Just mix 1 T. of chia seed with 1 T. of water and let it sit for about 10 min and then use it like you would an egg.  This proportion equals one egg. So, if you are ever out of eggs, just pull out your chia seeds!  Chia seeds are very healthy, too.  Maybe that can counteract the effects of the root beer? 
       Another good alternative for your Pancake Sunday Station would be Chunky Apple Pancakes with Red Hot Syrup!  The red syrup would look so patriotic! You can choose to make whatever pancake recipe you love and make it as healthy or not as you want.  I think that in this instance, dollar sized pancakes are best. 

Setting up Your Pancake Sundae Station

    Many of the things we used in our station came from Dollar Tree.  They have an entire patriotic section on their website. 

• Mini plastic Uncle Sam Hats come 3 in a package. 
• I love this eye catching patriotic plastic tablecloth!
• Of course, the red plates are always at Dollar Tree.
• I even picked up the chocolate sauce at our Dollar Tree!

​

     Many of the things we already had on hand, like the mini crate and the red pedestal tray.  Just look at what you have hanging around your house. 

Suggested Pancake Sundae Bar Toppings:

    Oh my goodness!  The sky is the limit! 

• Chocolate syrup (you can purchase it or make it.  Here is our recipe.
• Maple syrup
• Caramel sauce
• Jam
• Fresh fruit (We had strawberries and blueberries. But don't forget peaches, bananas, apples...)
• Nutella
• Peanut butter
• Butter (of course)
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino Cherries
• Sprinkles

​You get the idea! 

     Finally, let everyone build their own sundae!  They can be as healthy or as unhealthy as they like, and they will have a lot of FUN doing it! 

For more patriotic party plans, check out this post: