100 Books in 100 Days

Brady finished preschool last Thursday, so summer vacation has already started in this neck of "the woods".  I wanted to make this summer really special for my family and wanted to intentionally plan some activities for the boys and myself to do.   So, we have started this week "strong" and I hope to continue with this same gusto as the summer continues!

Last summer we had season passes to a local amusement park, and we definitely got our money's worth from those passes, but this year we chose not to purchase those passes.  We decided that we wanted to explore other places without having the thought, "but we have season passes, let's just go there!"  I am not saying that it is "bad" to have a season pass to anything; we just wanted to try something different this year (and we will probably get season passes again next year - because we did have a LOT of fun!).

So, what is on our plate this summer?  I don't have it all laid out yet, but I do know that it will include some "themed" weeks, bowling, watching some free movies, going to story-time at the library, swimming at my sister's house, playdates, soccer camp, and going on various "field trips".

I got the idea of having themed weeks over at "Life as Mom"  - she creates a "home camp" for her kids and calls it "Camp Wannlaffalotta."  I am using some of her ideas as a springboard for use with my own kids.  This week, we focused on the "Oceans of Fun" theme.  We have checked out LOADS of books from the library, made many crafts, had fun with food and watched a few videos!  It has been a lot of fun, and I have been pretty flexible about it too.

We have SO many library books in our house - some from this week's theme and some for next week's theme.  When I was looking at all of these books, I said to myself, I bet that we will read over 100 books...in 100 days.  Today is day 4, and day 100 will be August 31st.  I figured that I would make it easy on myself as far as the ending point to my 100 days...and that is how I chose the beginning date...and it really does not completely matter, because I am sure that we will read 100 books before August 31st anyway!

Here are some of the books that we have read so far this week - and notice that they are not all ocean themed:

1. Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House by Cynthia Rylant
2. Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble by Cynthia Rylant
3. Disney's the Aristocats
4. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
5. 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle
6. Duck, Duck, Goose by Tad Hills
7. Yummiest Love by Lisa McCourt
8. Otter on His Own: the Story of a Sea Otter by Doe Boyle
9. Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea by Lisa Wheeler
10. Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle
11. Exploring the Deep Dark Sea by Gail Gibbons
12. Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea   by Marcus Pfister
13. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
14. The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole
15. Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett
16. The Marshmallow Incident by Judi Barrett

We are well on our way to 100 books!

So, what are you doing this summer?

WINNER for Spring Brunch Anyone?

Thank you to all who entered the Spring Brunch Giveaway, sponsored by McCormick Spices!

I used www.random.org to choose a number and comment #2 won....

CONGRATULATIONS to TCC who won the Spring Brunch Giveaway!  I will be contacting you soon to get your information!

If you did not win this week's giveaway, stay tuned for another giveaway coming soon, also sponsored by McCormick!

Have a great weekend!

Giveaway: Spring Brunch Anyone?

I was SO excited when I was contacted to participate in a Spring Brunch Program sponsored by McCormick.  I  enjoy cooking and I already use McCormick spices, so this was right up  my alley!  When I opened the box that arrived on my doorstep, I found all of the spices and food coloring that you see below!  Pretty amazing!  Although I have not had the time to host a Spring Brunch yet at my house...I am looking forward to using these spices in some yummy recipes that my family will enjoy!  There are a few recipes that look delicious on McCormick's website which include, Spiced Springtime Sugar Cookies and Cheesy Bacon and Egg Casserole or maybe this Stuffed French Toast!  Plus, I have quite a few other recipes that make good use of the spices that were sent to me...I am excited to get into the kitchen and cook!

Would you like to receive this same package of spices on your doorstep?

If you said yes, then leave a comment on my blog and tell me which of these spices you use regularly/most often. I will close the comments on Friday, May 27th at 9pm and then I will randomly choose a winner!  Please be sure that I am able to contact you if you are chosen as the winner!  Comments left on facebook do not count as an entry.

Update: Blogger is seeming to have problems with allowing people to leave a comment on blogs at the moment.  I am not sure what they are going to do to fix it yet, so if you would like to leave a comment, please hang on while we see what is going on!  You can try leaving your name and url if you would like - I have heard that it might work that way....

Crest Pro-Health Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway that I held for the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean toothpaste and mouthwash.  I chose the winner randomly using Random.org, and the winning entry was #5.


Congratulations to Uniquely Me!!!!!  I will be in contact with you soon!


Stay tuned for more giveaways coming your way soon!

Review and Giveaway: Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean

Things have been a little busy around here with parties to plan and parties to go to, and changing our diet to one that is more healthy, so blogging has not been at the top of my list of things to do.  However, taking care of my teeth does not get pushed aside during these busy times.  It definitely stays on my list of things to do! Enough dental work has taken place over the years, and I am really trying to take better care of my teeth! (Wish I did that when I was younger!  Oh well - you live and learn!)

A few weeks ago, I was sent the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean toothpaste and mouthwash.  They work together to fight plaque and gingivitis while providing an invigorating clean!  I was interested in knowing what this "Invigorating Clean" would feel like, so I was happy to try it out!  Well, I have to say that after using the toothpaste, my mouth and lips felt fresh and a nice tingly feeling was left behind.  I really did enjoy it - and I am still using it!  I had to have Dawson try the mouthwash, because the Crest brand does not work well in my mouth...it gives me sores in my mouth (I have to use another brand that starts with an "L"...and that brand gives my husband sores in his mouth!).  He liked the mouthwash - it worked great and his mouth felt tingly - kind of like the toothpaste!

So, would you like to try this out?  If so, you can enter my giveaway for the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean toothpaste and mouthwash! Who wouldn't like some free toothpaste and mouthwash - one less thing to put on the grocery list!  So, read below for the details of entering!

To enter this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment on my blog and you can let me know what brand of toothpaste you are currently using (comments on facebook will not count)

2. This giveaway will end this Friday, May 13th at 9pm.  I will then choose the winner and contact you - so make sure that I am able to get in touch with you in some way.

Good Luck!  I will be having some more giveaways late this month, so stay tuned!

A Sneak Peak of My Monday

Today was a busy day, but a good day.

Here is a glimpse...well, let me backtrack to the middle of the night...

I was woken up in the middle of the night to take one son to the potty (which is much better than changing sheets the next morning...or middle of the night!) and then later on in my slumber, my 3 year old and his blankie came in to  my room and climbed right into bed with me.  I was so tired, that I decided to let him snuggle there with me.  I am not sure how long he was there, but I eventually turned over to Dawson and asked him to take Smiles back to his bed...and he did!  (He is the best husband!).

Okay, now back to this morning:

All of this happened before 9:30am: said goodbye to Dawson, showered/got dressed, folded some laundry, got the boys up, suggested clothes for them to wear today, helped them get dressed, fed them, and got them out the door

10-11ish Smiles had an eye doctor appt - everything went well, but they gave him those eye drops that dilate the pupils...which he does not like at all (who does?).  I really like his eye doctor - he is awesome with the kids! (Even Brady likes him!)

11:30-12:30 Back home.  Time to make lunch and call my mom - I need to take her to the chiro today...which is fine, b/c I could use an adjustment too.

12:45 - out the door to go to story time at the library

1:15-2:30  Story time and spending time at the library with some friends

2:45 leave the library and pick up mom.  Go to the chiro and get adjusted.  Stop by CVS - I am in there for about 10 minutes.  Drop mom off at home and I go home

4:30ish ?  Get home, give the kids a snack, get ready for the board meeting, throw some dinner together - and whatever else I had to do!

6:15 Dawson arrives home.  I talk with him and give him the run down of what I am thinking of saying at the school board meeting.  He prays with me.

6:45 I am off to stop at CVS - there is something else that I needed to get there.

7:20 I arrive at the school board meeting and talk briefly with a former colleague and then make my way into the board room.  I say what I wanted to and listen to everything that is going on.  I don't always like taking the time to go to the school board meetings, but I am thankful that I have gone to them and hope that I am able to continue to go to them so that I know what is going on in my school district.

9:30 Finally home from the meeting and find that my kids are wanting kisses from me...which only makes them hyper!  So, they did not settle down until about 10pm!!!!  Their bedtime is 8:30 the very latest!!!!  Tomorrow morning should be "fun" to wake them up...I think that it will be breakfast in a bag and milk in a sippy cup which they can eat on the way to our Moms Meeting tomorrow morning!

This was a busy day, but not a "hard" day and not too exhausting - just very busy.  I am thankful for my health, for my family and for my God who has helped me through this day without feeling stressed out.  Normally, I would have been setting up for our Moms meeting, however, I was not able to because Dawson had to work overtime and I had the school board meeting.

It was a good day.  Not everything turned out the way that I may have wanted it too.  However, my son's eyes are healthy, our car is running fine, we borrowed the Nemo soundtrack which I really enjoyed (thanks for finding it, Brady!), we all got great and well-needed adjustments, there was food to feed my family, my husband has a job and makes me smile, CVS had some great deals, and I had the freedom to voice my opinion at a school board meeting.

I am so thankful that the Lord helped me move through this day with grace and ease.  The dishes are not done, the laundry is backed up and I could name many other things here that are not "done" at the moment...but I choose to focus on the positive - I am thankful for the dishes and pots and pans that we have to cook with and eat off of and I am thankful for the clothes that we have so that we have more than one outfit to wear.

God is so faithful.  God is so good.

Birthday Party Planning Thoughts

If we had the parties in January, I would have thrown a McQueen party and a Rain Forest party for my two boys.  However, since we had to push the parties off, this gave the boys time to chance their minds and now we are having a Winnie the Pooh party for my 3 year old (this Saturday) and an Under the Sea party for my 5 year old (some time next month).

Usually, my mom has helped with making special cut out cookies for the parties and my sister has made the cakes, however due to the limitations of health and time, all of that is on me...and I am taking it on!  I am actually going to do some things a little bit different than I did previous years, and I am hoping that we will have nice weather.  

The weekend, our guests will be visiting each of the Winnie the Pooh characters "homes" and doing some sort of activity while they are there.  I still have to a lot to do to pull this off - but I think that it will come together!  Time to put more of the thoughts in to action!