Family is what you make it

Although I like the thought of the Cleavers and the white picket fence, life has taken our family far from that. From grandparents who left this world long before all of my children could meet them to the other set that lives close by but chooses not to be apart of their lives on a regular basis, to families having squabbles and deciding they no longer want their family as their family. Kind of like a buffet. Luckily for my husband and myself we will be married for 25 years this coming October, have had 5 biological children while raising my biological nephew as one of our own from the age of 18 months, as well as including all of the childcare children we have watched as well as our children's friends over the years as part of our family. We always say once you visit Marksville you are family for life.

As my husband and I age we have made it even more important to take time out for family. Of course not we have to juggle our younger children with our older children's schedules as well as making time to spend time with our two grand daughters. On top of that we have a Saint Bernard, Mama cat and a mix of 4 of her kittens from her two litters, as well as my daughters beta fish. 

In a few weeks our third child will be graduating and moving on with life, joining her older siblings in the world on her own, but knowing if she ever needs support we will be here for her. Another step toward parenting and being a family, learning to let go. 

For your little kids:

1. Lily's Driftwood Bay 2. The Tigger Movie 3. Guess How Much I Love You: S1E5 Big Like You 4. Angelina Ballerina: Superstar Sisters

For your big kids:

1. Crash & Bernstein 2. Life with Boys 3. Spy Kids 4. Russell Madness (Available 5/10)

And for teens and adults:

1. Raising Hope 2. The Fosters 3. Gilmore Girls 4. Life Unexpected

New on Netflix for Kids and Families

1. All Hail King Julien (new episodes 4/3) 2. Littlest Pet Shop: Season 3 (4/21) 3. Lalaloopsy: Festival of Sugary Sweets (5/2) 4. Puss in Boots (new episodes 5/8) 5. H20 Mermaid Adventures (5/22) 6. Richie Rich: Season 2 (5/22) 7. Mako Mermaids: Season 3 (5/29)

What MarksvilleandMe has been watching lately.

We have been super busy so we didn't really get to watch many of our shows this month but we do have them in our Que to watch on a rainy or less busy day.

We have been watching Z Nation, Between, Residue, Bates Motel, Hart of Dixie, God's Not Dead, Box Trolls, Super Natural, while waiting for new episodes of Bitten, The 100, Hemlock Grove and many others. I add more shows to my play list then I can go through in a given month but give me a few days of being ill and I will plow right through a bunch.

Some movies and shows we would like to watch soon are Grace and Frankie, Wizard Paws,When Calls the Heart. I would also like to see NetFlix get other movies and shows they don't already have for instance they have Joy Ride 3 but not 2 or the first one, as well as Grimm, and Big Bang Theory.

#StreamTeam

Disclosure: MarksvilleandMe is a part of Netflix Stream Team receiving free streaming service and other gifts through out the year in exchange for us blogging about Netflix and Netflix streaming services.

Telescoping Handle Grip for GoPro

My husband has been talking about the GoPro and suggesting quite heavily that we should get this next time we have a little extra to spend. I have read many great things myself.

You can do so many things with this little camera from sports, daily life, mountain biking, and it can attach to so many things including this Telescoping Handle Grip which you can use to get footage of things you can't see, say when you are too short to see, or if you want to see over a fence, etc.


My husband has me quite excited and once I get it I can not wait to hook it up to my Telescoping Handle Grip and give it a run for it's money.

You can purchase the Telescoping Handle Grip for GoPro on Amazon.


What Life Balance has to say about their product.

The Telescoping Handle Grip for GoPro will carry any GoPro Hero while serving both as a handle grip and a telescoping pole.  Included in the set are three matching bonus aluminum thumb screws as well as a wrist strap and an original thumb screw.

You can find out more about Life Balance Gear on:

Website

FaceBook

Twitter

#lifebalancegear

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion using Tomoson.com. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Create Your Own Destiny

When I think of creating your own destiny I am reminded lately of my older children making their way in the world, with their own lives, spouses, children, and for my next oldest making plans to go to college. Something she has to decide for herself no matter how hard the choice is. 

She is finding that being an adult although sometimes fun can also come with lots of decisions she is not sure she is ready for. She isn't sure she wants to be what she has wanted to be for the rest of her life. Mind you with this particular daughter has always done things the way she would like things to be, she isn't like every other teenager out there. 

She wants to change the world, she loves listening to music from the 60's, putting together her own wardrobe by borrowing from mine and hers to make her own style. She loves to sing, act, make food, try new things, and is always willing to learn something new. 

She was asked for college who her role model was and her answer was that she does not have one, she paves her own path, she wants everyone to know they can be who they are all of the time and being like someone else is just holding yourself back from being the best you, you can really be. 

This reminds me a lot of my essays for college. I am very proud of her and a little more then excited to see what my children will create for their own destinies. 

Create Your Own Destiny.

MarksvilleandMe are making are way through all three of the titles below. 

1. Ever After High (2/6) 2. Mako Mermaids (2/13) 3. Richie Rich (2/20) Personally I have not watched any of the below titles but my girls or my grand daughter might have on their account. Someday, I will... For your little kids: 1. Build and fix things: Handy Manny 2. Make a discovery: Sid the Science Kid 3. Walk on the moon: Justin Time: Blast off!: S1E13 4. Explore the ocean: Octonauts Below you will find some movies suggested by Netflix but again I have not sen any of them but I am interested in FameHigh, I am assuming it is something like the movie or show Fame.  For your big kids: 1. Make sweet treats: Cupcake Wars 2. Get into show biz: Fame High 3. Represent Team USA: The Gabby Douglas Story 4. Master the kitchen: Chopped Except for Wahlburgers I haven't seen any of the movies or show below.  And for teens and parents: 1. Get the corner office: Undercover Boss 2. Travel the world: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown 3. Walk the red carpet: Liz & Dick 4. Run my own restaurant: Wahlburgers I love the fun idea that Netflix has this month, one which I have never made but very interested in doing in the near future. A Vision Board, should be interesting to see what the kids come up with compared to us adults. Vision Board To keep the kids chasing their dreams, map out those big ideas on a DIY vision board. Cut inspirational words out of magazines, print photos of favorite characters or add your own knick-knacks and trinkets. Learn how to make your own here. Now when I think of movies about creating your own destiny I think about Back to the Future, The Philadelphia Experiment, The Time Machine (1953), Butterfly Effect, The Terminator, Looper, or pretty much any other time movie you can think of because I think everyone at some time in their lives would like to go back and change at least one thing in their lives which would change if not re-create their destiny.  #StreamTeam Disclosure: MarksvilleandMe is a part of Netflix Stream Team receiving free streaming service and other gifts through out the year in exchange for us blogging about Netflix and Netflix streaming services.