Yesterday, I had planned out a trip for me and my two-year-old son followed by a visit to the mall to get a birthday gift for a friend. However, my toddler had a completely different plan – one that didn’t involve sitting in a busy waiting room or standing in line ups at 3 different stores, but did involve a very passionate temper tantrum over a toy at one particular store.

When it came down to it; an enjoyable afternoon of chores and shopping turned into a 4-hour nightmare thanks to a cranky, crying, uncooperative child.

However, since I’ve discovered that tablets are one of the greatest recent inventions when it comes to keeping your kids busy on the go! I’m used to having to lug along an arsenal of snacks, toys, and pacifiers just to get us through a few hours.

But thanks to my iPhone, tablet and these five apps, I’m able to distract my little guy from boring line ups, stifling waiting rooms, and temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.

The following five apps are what I like to call my official “HomeDaddy’s little helpers” when it comes to keeping a kid occupied on the go…

1. Foo Pets (Free – for iPhone)

As soon as my son saw Blue’s Clues on television, he incessantly started asking, “Daddy, can I have a puppy?” However, before I ever bring a pet into my home, I’m convinced that I’ll teach my child responsibility first as well as basic animal care. I want my son to share in the responsibility that a puppy demands so I found the perfect tool in the Foo Pets app. This pet care app mimics the care of a virtual family pet in “Marmaduke,” the famous cartoon Great Dane, to ready the whole family for the challenge of a real pet.

2. Elmo Loves 123s ($4.99 – for iPhone and iPad)

Whose better to teach your toddler how to count from 1 to 20 than cute, furry Elmo? No one, especially when you consider all of the fun, interactive videos and songs that the character takes right from his popular show, Sesame Street. Ideal for kids 3 to 5-years-old Elmo runs through a series of math games—from identifying numbers, tracing numerals, counting objects, and even basic addition and subtraction.

3. Where’s My Perry? ($1.02 – for Android)

This app is based on the Disney channel show, Phineas and Ferb. The goal: to aid Perry the platypus in his mission to reach the headquarters of a lab. It challenges kids to think creatively by using problem-solving skills to progressively solve the games obstacles – such as getting an elevator to rise. This app is perfect for kids 4-years old and up!

4. Make Me Smile ($0.99 – for iPhone and iPad)

Teach your little guy or girl the power of making another smile with the Make Me Smile app that puts your child in charge of one very important task—making the sad monster on the screen break into a big toothy grin. Turn that monsters frown upside down by making funny faces, taping the screen, and laughing. Believe me when I say that this app will keep your toddler busy for hours on end and HAPPY for hours on end.

5. White Noise Baby ($0.99 – for iPhone)

Even though it might be the time you’ve designated for junior’s nap time, doesn’t mean junior agrees or will even settle down to sleep. Often times nap time for toddlers is fussy time, but you can count on the White Noise Baby app to help you sooth a finicky little toddler when they are being hard to please. I use even use mine when I’m waiting in a medical office for an appointment and in the grocery store line. The soothing sounds of white noise runs through a variety of relaxing sounds that will lull baby into a peaceful snooze.

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Top iPhone Apps for Kids

(in no particular order…)

Disney Fairies Fly: It might cost $4.99, but it is well worth it if you have a little one at home who loves Tinkerbell. It is easy for young kids to use, and it navigates one of the Disney Fairies through Pixie Hollow, collecting treasures throughout.

Scribble Lite: Free app that kids love because it is a sketch pad app. You can draw whatever you’d like and then shake the iPhone/iPad and erase it all. There are tons of different colors and options and kids love it because they don’t have to clean up crayons or markers! (Well, parents love it for that reason!)

Alphabet Animals: It only costs $.99 and it is perfect for kids to learn what animals make which sounds as well as teaching kids tips for learning their letters. The animals talk through the alphabet so it is a great interactive way to teach the little ones.

Snowman 3D: For the winter months, this is well worth the $.99 – believe me! Kids can build a ton of different snowmen with different 3D items. You roll the snowballs around to make each body part and then you can add as needed! It is easy for kids to pick up on.

Fat Cat: It is an educational app that allows the little ones to learn to read, spell and recognize letters. It is a great app because it is based on awareness of sounds and letter.

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I didn’t catch the entire Presidential debate, but I caught most of it and obviously got the gist of what was going on. In all honesty, I was not impressed with either candidate for many reasons.

First, the challenger – I felt he was ignorant in more ways than one. First, he talked over the moderator, Jim Lehrer, more than once and I just felt like he was out of line. Plus, I didn’t like his arrogance by constantly rolling his eyes and smirking while President Obama was talking. I understand that they should be contradicting each other and making their points known, but I truly believe there is a way to be tactful. I didn’t mind his points and when he started talking about his plan of attack, but it was the gestures and such between that that annoyed me. I think he has a great plan and he was prepared for the debate, but he just came off wrong to me for his mannerisms.

Now on to President Obama. I thought he was truly over-prepared and didn’t give it his all. In football terms, I think he left some on the field and shouldn’t have. I think he should have counter-attacked better rather than the way he went about his business. I always thought he handled himself well through the last campaign and the past four years – in terms of public speaking and conducting himself – but I think that last night he didn’t get his point across enough.

The talk shows this morning are talking about how it went from Obama being almost a shoe-in to Romney making a little bit of a push after last night. The main states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are all that matter in my mind, but who knows.

Anyway, there are two more debates (I believe) this month so I will be anxious to see how both respond. The election is closer than we think so the next five weeks should be interesting. I love this stuff.

Until we meet again…

HD (HomeDaddy!)

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Top Sexiest Women Golfers (in no particular order – and yes, my head is in the gutter so deal with it!)

Natalie Gulbis – I know that I say in no particular order, but damn she might be the best out there. She has sexy written all over her and also isn’t afraid to show it. The tight tops aren’t a mistake on her part, she knows damn well what she is doing. Plus go ahead and google her name and see the photos of her. It is well worth it.

Cristie Kerr – She might not be the top of too many lists, but she is a little bit older than the others and has that professional hotness to her. I like it. She carries herself with an attitude on and off the course which makes her even that much more attractive. She is in control, if you know what I mean.

Sara Brown – She was on the Golf Channel’s “Big Break” and finally made it on Tour in 2011. And wow! She made her presence felt (and I’m not talking about her play on the course). She has a great body and seems to have a big of swagger going around the course which makes her even hotter.

Anna Rawson – If Natalie Gulbis is on top of the list, then Anna Rawson is a CLOSE second, believe me. She is so sexy and has the body of a model, rather than a golfer. She has it all and isn’t afraid to show it. She gives sneak peaks from time to time, just enough to keep your mind wondering. Feel free to look up her photos too!

Blair O’Neil – Blair O’Neil has that “girl next door” look to her, but if she was the girl next door when I was growing up, I’d be all over it! She is amazing and is still young, so she has the pizazz to really strut her stuff.

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Well we are moving quite quickly on the selling and buying of houses and it looks as if everything is going to work out. We had to do a few odds and ends on our current house – little things that even I could accomplish myself – and also we had the owner of the house we are buying do a few things. Other than that, we are moving ever so closer to making it a reality. It is getting to a point where it is becoming more and more real to the entire HD family. Let’s hope the loan process and all of that good stuff goes off without a hitch though!

This past week I had a chance to watch a movie for the first time in a LONG time and I watched Project X. I was skeptical going into it because I wasn’t sure whether it would seem real or if I thought it would be another stupid high school kids flick. I was wrong. That movie is classic. It pretty much shows three HS kids who aren’t popular but throw a kick-ass, insane, almost unrealistic party. It literally makes you wonder whether kids can pull this stuff off. The house ends up getting burned. The one kid’s dad’s car ends up in the pool. The cops obviously come and it becomes insane. I went give away the complete ending, but if you are having a few beers and want a few laughs, I’d suggest watching it. Maybe because it takes me back to my past days and wishing I would have been a part of something like that party!

I’m already watching the Ryder Cup so that is going to take up most of my day – love this event. I love seeing the patriotism for a sport that you don’t typically think about that way. And there is already an argument between the Americans and Europeans! Let’s go! USA! USA! USA!

Until we meet again…

HD (HomeDaddy!)

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