Smucker's Kidvitations

This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Smuckers.

The school year is right around the corner for most of us, and summer's togetherness will soon be replaced by a potentially hectic new schedule. With early mornings, and late nights as they get older, there are times I feel like I haven't seen the kids all week.

When we need to reconnect a little, when I fix my kids' lunches, I sometimes put a note in with them as a surprise, just to let them know I'm thinking of them, and am tuned in to what's going on at school, e.g. "I love you, and good luck on your test!" My older ones fix their own lunches, and I will sometimes sneak a note in theirs as well. (As far as I know, they've not been beaten up for it.)

The nice folks at Smucker's have taken the lunchbox note a step further, and given the lunchbox note a little twist. Smucker's Kidvitations are a cute way to make a note for your child's lunchbox to let them know you're thinking of them, and are looking forward to doing something special with them later. Check them out!

The contest

Enter for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift Card.

To enter, leave a comment below and share how you share a moment with your kids on a busy day

Contest ends 10pm CST August 25, 2010.

Rules:

* No duplicate comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link to your tweet in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US-Residents aged 18 and older
* Winner will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Be sure to check the BlogHer.com Smuckers official rules

But, there's more!

Check out the BlogHer.com Smuckers roundup page for 9 other chances to win and an additional sweepstakes for a chance to win a $400 Visa Gift Card.

Create a Kidvitation!

Home can be a busy place with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s why it’s important to set time aside to spend with your kids. Use Smuckers® Kidvitations to invite your kids to share a moment with you over a perfect PB&J.

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and The Laughing Cow.

When fitness attacks

We've tried to help our kids stay active and be physically fit. They all play sports and enjoy outdoor activities, so I'm glad we don't have to fuss at them to get out there and do something.

My daughter plays a lot of volleyball.

I love that she is fit and gets lots of exercise, but I watch a lot of volleyball, and I do mean a lot.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love it, but after a while the games kind of start to look alike. My daughter is a setter, so she often does the same motions over and over again, and it can be a little hypnotizing, but every now and then something happens that breaks up the monotony a little.

A lot of play goes on right at the net, and there can be a lot of action with players hitting, blocking and setting, and it can be hard to tell what's going on when people get bunched up there.

It doesn't happen ofter since she is the setter, but, every now and then, my daughter gets to hit the ball over the net(as opposed to setting it). Hitting is actually a very complicated process that requires timing and strength not only to hit the ball hard, but to get up high enough to get the ball over the net.

One day, it kinda went wrong.

It was a very large, crowded tournament with courts and people as far as the eye could see. During one very intense, close game, my daughter's team was battling it out with another team to determine placement in a championship bracket.

Every point was being hotly contested and tempers were flaring. The play was at the net, and she had a great opportunity to get up there and kill the ball for the score.

She's got a great jump, but something went wrong on the ascent, the descent or something.

In one swift motion, she moved forward, hit the net and was clothes lined, cartoon style. Somehow, as she went down, she took a player on the other side of the net down with her, and they were left in a heap on the floor (no one was injured).

Play stopped, and it had gathered attention even from the neighboring courts. Everyone looked at the referee for a call because it was an important play.

After a few moments, the serious, very intense official says, "I have no idea what just happened. I have never seen anything like that, we're just going to start that one over."

Did fitness go wrong for you? Do tell, for a chance to win!

Share a funny story in the comment section, tweet or blog about this entry (be sure to leave a link to your efforts in the comments below), and you will be entered to win a $150 Visa gift card.

Two (2) valid entries per person, please.

Please keep your comments G-rated as any profanity or offensive content will automatically disqualify you from sweepstakes entry.

Sweepstakes dates are 7/21/10-8/15/10. Find out more from the official contest rules.

Also, be sure to visit The Daily Laugh hub at the BlogHer.com special offers page to read funny content each day and for a weekly chance to win a $100 Visa gift card at the “Play For Laughs” game, as well as to visit the 11 other Daily Laugh Curators who are also giving away $150 Visa gift cards each month.

If you share something really funny, we may even use it in The Daily Laugh!