Friday, February 25, 2011

New Screen Time Rules & Free Printables!

As my boys have gotten older, their toys have gotten more high tech.  I'm sure it's the same with most families.  Top on their Christmas lists this year were DSi's, which they received.  

I had been tempted in years past to get them these hand-held video games, but I saw SO many kids act like complete zombies with them!  I'd see these video game zombies out to eat with their families, completely oblivious to anything going on around them.  I'd see them at the park, totally engrossed in Mario while other kids are running, swinging and playing!  

My worry was that my own children would turn into zombies - they'd have zero social skills, permanently bloodshot eyes from staring at that tiny screen, crooked thumbs from pushing those little buttons all day, and they'd forget how to actually get up and PLAY in real life!  I told The Chief and Con-Man from the beginning that there would be time limits in place - they need balance, after all!  

It didn't take long before they were glued, though.  As soon as homework was done, games were in hand.  As soon as dinner was over, or showers were done, or every time we were in the van - games were in hand.  I finally decided this was enough!  We have a new rule that started last week.  They have to EARN their screen time!  It's not hard to earn it - basically they have to go the extra mile to help me out.  The Chief has gotten creative - he's helped make their lunches in the morning and put up other people's laundry.  Con-Man is a pretty reluctant helper, but he's still been picking up the living room and putting school papers away.  The best part is that they are excited when they earn the time and they don't argue with me when I say it's time to put the games away!  They understand that they only get to play with the time they've earned.  I'm loving this system.

The next step of this rule, though was a little challenging for me.  I needed an easy way to keep track of the time they earned.  I wanted a chart or something easy for them to read, but didn't want to mess with stickers or printing out something new all the time.  Plus, how could I show that they used the time???  
So this is what I came up with:

The red check marks show the time earned - they are dry erase markers, so I just erase a check mark when they use the time up!  And of course these are color coded - like everything else in my house - blue for The Chief, green for Con-Man.  These charts will go on a shelf where we keep the DSi's and games so everyone can see at a glance if they've got the time earned!

Want to print your own?  Here you go!


Thursday, February 24, 2011

~{Fast, not fast enough}~

Yesterday was my 9th Anniversary.  In my family, that means an automatic free dinner pass - no cooking for mama!  Oh, I love those breaks!  We gathered up the kids and headed to our new favorite place for Cajun food.  
(mmmm crawfish)

While we were in the entry-way, waiting for our table, all three boys asked for quarters to get some candy. Monkey-Man got his favorite - Skittles.  He's jumping around on their once-red-now-dark-burgundy rug, popping one candy in his mouth at a time.  I'm checking in on facebook, watching the boys out of the corner of my eye.  All of a sudden in my peripheral I see a green Skittle pop out of Monkey-Man's little hand, fly up in the air, and roll about 5 feet on that nasty rug.  

{Now the next portion is all in slow motion:}
Monkey-Man and I both leap up at the same instant to get that coveted candy.  As I'm lunging, I'm also saying, "No, no, no!"  It must have been in that deep, slow motion voice because Monkey-Man didn't pause.  I'm watching him pick up that nasty little Skittle, the whole time words like E. coli, Salmonella, and Streptocaucus are going through my mind.  I grabbed his hand before it reached his mouth, but that stinker popped it in and chewed before I could wrangle it away.  I groaned, and sunk down in my chair, clearly defeated and disgusted.  

Then I hear laughter.  Wild laughter from the man sitting two seats down.  He told me that I'm fast, but not fast enough.  He wished he had a video camera to record the whole thing and watch over and over because it tickled him so much.  Then he reassured me that I probably ate even worse things when I was his age.  Doubtful - I'm not, nor was I ever a nasty little boy.

This, despite appearances, is a nasty little boy:

Friday, February 11, 2011

Bright Beginnings Infant Formula

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
Have you thought about trying Bright Beginnings Infant Formula? Now you can buy on diapers.com!  You can get REALLY great prices on 4 different kinds of their formula, including Soy and Gentle.  Buy in bulk for a bigger discount; and check to see if you'll get free shipping - many of the listings include it.  

Enter code GET10PCT to get an extra 10 % off your purchase!

Be sure to like  Bright Beginnings on Facebook - you can get more information about all of their products!
Visit Sponsor's Site

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Class Attire Chalkboard Tee - Review and Giveaway!!!


I was given the opportunity to review Class Attire's Chalkboard Tee for my little Monkey Man!  

The tee shirt comes with a chalkboard shape on it that your kiddo can actually color on with regular chalk! It's very flexible, not at all stiff like I expected it to be.  Monkey Man actually jumped up and down when he saw the shirt - he's VERY much in love with any shirt with a tie on it!  When I showed him that he could color on it, he actually squealed!  Obviously, he gives it two thumbs up!  When you are taking a break from coloring, you can put your chalk in the Chalk-It - a pocket on the bottom hem of the shirt.  You just wipe the chalkboard part of the shirt with a damp cloth to clean it.  The shirt is machine washable, too - even better for mom!  The shirt and 5 pieces of colored chalk come in a tube that can be reused as a bank or other items - they actually give you a print out with ideas for re-use!  

Here are a few pictures of the shirt in action!










Now for the Giveaway!!!
Winner will receive a single-use discount code to receive a free Chalkboard Tee from TheChalkboardTee.com!
Giveaway winner will be chosen from random.org on Tuesday, February 15th!

Mandatory Entry:
Follow For The Luv Of Boys publicly via Google Friend Connect (leave comment)

Extra Entries - leave a separate comment for each
Follow For The Luv of Boys on Facebook
Follow Class Attire on Facebook
Follow Class Attire on Twitter

Follow Fabulously Domestic via Google Friend Connect
Follow Fabulously Domestic on Facebook

That's a total of 6 possible entries per person!  Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each, including your email address!



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Great deal!!!

Hurry and print off this great coupon!  I think I know where I'm going for lunch later this week!


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails