Welcome to the Carnival of Family Life #24! Did I get that number right this time? In any case, WOW… we’re up to 24! That’s two dozen… two regular dozen, anyway. Not two baker’s dozen. We won’t reach that lofty goal for two more weeks.

In the past few weeks, the Carnival has gotten so big that it takes almost two days just to create. With over 30 posts this week, you’ll have lots of reading material to keep you laughing, thinking and, for some us, procrastinating. I say “Hurray” to that.

Next week, the Carnival will be hosted at Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood. Don’t forget to get your submissions in by Saturday, October 28 at midnight Hawaii Time. You can submit your posts via this form.

This week’s winner of a box of chocolate covered macadamia nut candy or bag of kona coffee is Chris Dolley and the Tribbles. Contact Kailani at The Pink Diary to receive the gift. Just for clarity, my kitten made the selection this week. It really was only a contest between Zeus and the Tribbles.

Now that the work it all done, sit back and relax. And, while you’re enjoying this week’s edition, eat a donut in honor or the Carnival’s 24^th edition!

Stories

• Chris Dolley shares the continuing tales of the five Tribbles and the rest of kitty clan in A Hard Day at the Office.
• Mama Duck shares a Thursday Thirteen: 13 Favorite Phrases of the Week posted at Lil Duck Duck.
• Ken, of Daddy Forever, presents his rendition of the famed Goodnight Moon in Goodbye Pumpkin Patch.
• The perpetually funny Madeleine Begun Kane presents False Alarm posted at MadKane.
• Kristi, of Here In Idaho, recounts her attempt to teach her daughter how to behave in Stinknasty’s Mantra
• If you can’t relate to Michelle’s post right now, you will one day. At Scribbit, she retells her story The Things You Learn at Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Batya, of Me-Ander, presents her maternal thoughts in Taking Advantage.
• Next week’s host, Stephanie of Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood clearly demonstrates of Life Languages Live in an amusing tale about her children.
• At Echoes of a Cold Moon, ZenKitty describes how she handled a personally challenging day for both herself and her family. Read her story in My First Kung Fu Tournament.
• On Making Things Up, Melissa shares how they “scored a little adult conversation this week” in Channeling Mary Poppins.
• Kids are always surprising us. At Snow White, 7 Dwarfs and PDD, Supermom-in-NY offers a cute story called Chippen Pweeze!
• Kerri at Play Library shares this year’s Halloween adventures in Bob the Builder – Can I Wear It?

Announcements & Tributes

• Over at Have Passport, Will Travel, Alex announces the birth of his friend’s baby in Rob and Jo’s New Arrival!!
• In a beautiful tribute to her mother, Liz of This Full House, shares Picture Perfect Thursday – Mom & Me.
• This week at Pass the Torch, Kelly Curtis announces the start of The Experiment. Good Luck, Kelly!

Reviews and Information

• Are you curious about ADD or ADHD? RDoctor offers some information and a quiz to get you started.
• At AskPatty (Automotive Advice for Women), Jody DeVere interviews teen author, Stephanie Esterline, about her book “This Girl’s First Car.”
• Also at AskPatty, Jody reviews a neat gadget called, “CarMD” in A Woman’s Best Friend. While your there, check out why the ladies at Ask Patty believe Women Rock Those Parking Spots.
• Jen introduces her new web site dedicated to travel called Family Trip Deals. Read the Welcome post for a great introduction to the site and stay tuned for great travel tips.
• Over at Dating Pro Blog, Julia ponders the possibilities in “What if there was a profession of a Net Matchmaker?!

Crafts & Recipes

• If you love cats or just want to “scare” off unwanted guests, Zeus and Marina offer the recipe for The Kitty Litter Cake over at the Zeus Excuse.
• Here’s a fun project courtesy of Erica of Littlemummy called Bark Rubbing.
• Over at DaddyMadeIt, Jldude describes how to make a Haring Screen T-Shirt.

Musings from the Family Frontlines

• Over at the Pink Diary, Kailani, keeper of the Carnival, thinks ahead by thinking back in The Bull of the School
• In her post Finding Rhythm, Rebecca rethinks her daily schedule. After you read the post, visit her blog, What Did You Do in School Today, for updates on her efforts.
• Here’s a post that will generate some discussion. Visit Jennifer’s Blog Three Sons and a Princess to read her case against homework entitled, “Is Homework Bad for Kids?”
• Tired But Happy presents her thoughts on kindness in Sharing Coupons With Strangers.
• At Useless Drivel, Off Route 75 creatively expresses his thoughts on parenthood in Full Measure. This is a must read for any parent!
• Over at Babylune, Kate notices that “For working mothers there is one perfect childcare solution: Grandma” in My Sister & Women Like Her Are the Luckiest Women on Earth.
• Christina of SoloMother ponders The Importance of Ritual. And, as a great segue into the next Carnival section, Christina offers some practical and touching ideas.

Tips & Advice on Parenting, Relationships and more

• Matt Smith offers Romantic Bible Versus at Romantic Tips for Married Couples.
• Momma Duck of Ducks in a Tub provides some helpful bedtime suggestions in How My Babies Slept Through the Night and Were In There Own Rooms by Three Months Old.
• At Intenstive Care of the Nurturer’s Soul, Hueina Su presents from Self Sacrifice to Self Love. – a must read for Mothers.
• Amy of Mom Advice presents Take the Mom Advice Challenge: Bring Back Family Night.
• To quote Holly of Holly’s Corner Blog remarks, “When it comes to communication technology, striking a balance between the time spent using it and the time saved using it can be more like a tightrope walk than a stroll down a bike path.” She offers tips in Simple Balance: Technology & Resources II.
• Over at Let’s Talk Babies, Lisa Mitchell offers Discipline: An Important Part of Parenting.
• And, here at Everything Under the Moon, I continue my series Southern Eye for a Northern "Guy" with the season of Summer.