“Blossoming, a beautiful thing that happens in springtime.”

—Ebaby!’s Andy, speaking about new growth -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

We sure love our pets. There are many ways to pamper them. There are things such as pet restaurants, where your pet may enjoy a cooked meal. There are even pet hotels designed to meet all of your pets needs on vacation. But maybe one day, we realize we over pampered them. Maybe, they get fat.

Some people might just take their dog on a walk or let their cat go outside. But some others purchase a cat treadmill instead. Cat treadmills are regular treadmills for cats. You can tie a ball of catnip to the front, and your cat might run a mile trying to get it! Yet, are these really necessary?

Dominique just bought a cat treadmill. Listen as her and Nestor discuss in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“We did link up in Atlanta and record some tracks and… they’re amazing.”

—Hip-Hop Artist Chance the Rapper, speaking about recording songs with Childish Gambino (Billboard) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In songs and movies, the holidays are often called the most wonderful time of the year. Spending time with family and friends, creating traditions, and going to parties all make the season special.

However, the holidays could also be named the most expensive time of year. Buying presents can strain your budget. When your expenses exceed your income, you might be worried about how to pay your bills.

One way people make ends meet is by temping. Adding a part-time or seasonal job might make your life busier for a time, but it will definitely help you make more money. It’s also a good way to take a sneak peak at another job. Maybe you’ll even end up getting hired permanently!

Learn what advice Rafael gives Jeff about seasonal work in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Almost everyone has been to a magic show. And one of the most classic magic tricks is to pull a rabbit out of a hat. The magician begins by showing the audience that there is nothing in his hat. It is filled with air. Then, out of thin air, he pulls the rabbit from the empty hat! The audience will linger after this trick, trying to understand it because when something appears out of thin air, it appears from nowhere.

Often, we use this expression when a person surprises us. Maybe, your friend told you she was going to hit the road. But when you turn around, she’s there again. Almost like magic, she appeared out of thin air. You can’t blame someone for feeling surprised when something appears in this way. And sometimes, it’s hard to accept that the person or thing is really in front of you.

Andy and Kelsey are both trying to make things appear out of thin air in today’s English soap opera. Watch to see if they can make a happy plan appear. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“So, even though Nicaragua has been great and all, I can’t help but feel homesick.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about missing her home -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

You have butter, Rice Krispies, steak, and seaweed. What are you going to make for dinner? Can you make something that is tasty and presentable with these ingredients? This is the question chefs on the TV show Chopped must answer. On this show, chefs compete to make the best food with the strangest ingredients. They have thirty minutes to create this high art.

After the chefs come up with their dish, they must share it with the judges. These celebrity chefs critique this food. They talk about what they liked and what they didn’t. Then, they choose the worst dish and say goodbye to the chef who created it. This chef has been chopped!

Marni is telling Romeo about Chopped. Will she be ready for her own Chopped challenge? Find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I know. I’m peaking. After this, it’s going to be a steady downhill.”

—Olympic snowboarder Red Gerard, joking about winning a gold medal at the age of 17 (Jimmy Kimmel Live) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When we’re young, we expect that our parents will be together forever. Unfortunately, this isn’t always what happens in life. Divorce affects children and teenagers in challenging ways. Sometimes kids blame themselves for their parents’ break up even though it’s not their fault.

Even adult children of divorcing parents have a hard time understanding what’s going on, but it’s most difficult for the people going through the divorce themselves. Parents fight over custody of their children. Couples fight over things, or over who will live in the apartment or house. People who are divorced are often wary of making another commitment.

Lily and Rafael discuss their experiences with divorce in today’s English lesson about families. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Triple axel, backspin, sow cow. These words sound like another language, but actually, they’re all names used in ice skating routines. One of the more popular Olympic events, ice skating is also a fun hobby for many people.

In the winter, frozen lakes offer a great spot for people to skate. More serious skaters spend time practicing daily on an indoor rink. Successful ice skaters have amazing balance. They are confident and dedicated to learning their sport well.

People who only skate once in a while might have to admit that they’re terrified to try a move like a jump. If you haven’t had someone to show you the ropes, it’s probably best to simply skate in circles around the ice.

Find out who loves ice skating (and who is scared of it) in this English lesson about winter sports. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com