The Grass Ain't Greener

This morning was rough.  Very rough.  

I woke up WAY too early from tons of bad dreams.  My coffee tasted absolutely nasty.  Microwave died.  The Chief lost his baseball jersey that he needs for tonight - and was being a total turd about finding it.  

Con-Man tried to just wear the same clothes from yesterday and threw a tantrum most 2 year olds couldn't match.  

And two (I won't name names) of my boys peed the bed last night.  

NOT a good morning.  

I lectured them all - about disrespect, responsibility, cleaning their rooms, etc.  I hate lecturing.  What I hate the most is that it doesn't work and I sound like a broken record.

I see other kids behaving and taking care of their things - maybe the grass IS greener.  

I always wonder what it will take to get things through to my boys.  

Then I started thinking...

Lately we've been working hard around our yard.  Apparently, the lawn was pretty well neglected when we bought our house. We have de-thatched twice, applied fertilizer and weed treatments, water often, and have reseeded heavily.  All this work, and I still don't see a difference.  Except bare spots!  UGH

Ugly, right?  And that's right in our front yard!  But what can we do?  Keep tending it, keep nurturing it, and keep hoping it'll all come out right.

And it does - see what I found when I looked a little more closely this morning:

Sweet, new, green baby grass.  Doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing.  Growing in strong.

So what will I do with my babies today?  Keep tending, keep nurturing, and keep praying that it all turns out the way it's supposed to.

Love Our Children - Stop Bullying

I’m in a local playgroup.  It’s a great group where the women all know that they can come together for support, advice, to share in good news and bad - not to mention bring our kids together to play and interact.  Recently a friend came to the group with a heartbreaking problem.  Her daughter is being picked on - bullied - at school.  Other children are making fun of her because she is different than them.  This mom wanted advice - what can she do to help her daughter, what can she do to ensure that her daughter comes to HER for support?  While we all tried to help with what advice and support we could, it’s hard to know exactly how to handle bullies.  

One of my own children has been bullied at different times.  In kindergarten, while riding the bus, he was taunted, hit, kicked, even bitten by a 4th grader.  He didn’t even come to me and tell me until it got so bad that he was crying, bruised and had just had enough.  He’s made fun of quite often by peers because he stutters, even by “friends.”  He has an amazing personality and the biggest heart you could imagine.  He always fights for the underdog and he sticks up for other kids that are being bullied - but he doesn’t know how to stick up for himself when it happens to him.  

It was recently brought to my attention that April 2nd was National Love Our Children Day.  While that day has passed, I think every day is a good one to focus on our children!  Love Our Children USA is a national nonprofit group that focuses on the prevention of all forms of violence and neglect against children.  They teach effective parenting solutions and create programs that empower positive changes in parenting and family attitudes.  Love Our Children USA has an amazing website that gives information for parents as well as kids on how to deal with bullies and abuse.  

It is so important to educate our kids while they are young!  While it’s extremely heartbreaking to see our little ones be bullied, can you imagine how you’d feel if you found out YOUR child was the bully?!  We have GOT to put an end to this.  As parents, it is our job to foster a respect for others - no matter how different they may be.  As a country, the US especially is such a melting pot, yet we thrive on pointing out someone else’s “weaknesses,” usually in an attempt to make ourselves feel better.  How can we stop?

Here are a few sites that I think can help.  

Love Our Children USA

Stomp Out Bullying

Parenting Education to Stop Bullying

Zoo Fun with Monkey Man

This week we took a little trip I've been wanting to take forever!  To the Houston Zoo!  I love going to the zoo, seeing the animals, teaching my boys about them.  But since we moved here, we hadn't been to the local zoo.  I think I might have been more excited than Monkey Man!

The day was gorgeous for it - overcast, not too hot, not too windy.  Just nice!  The really great thing about that is it means the animals come out and are more active.  Here are a few highlights for Monkey Man, one of his playgroup friends, and I!

Crawling through a tunnel inside an aquarium

Checkin out some birds as tall as they are

Fascinated by the meerkats

Mr Regal himself - right before he got frisky with his little woman 

 Loved this carousel 

One of us together 

The ADORABLE baby elephants!!!  I could have watched these two play for hours.  So cute!

Does this chimp remind you of anyone?

Yep, I thought so, too!

The Chief's Big Day

Some of you may know that my oldest son, The Chief stutters.  It started when he was around 3 years old, which can be totally normal!  I tried to get help back then, but was told that he would probably outgrow it by age 5.  

By 6 years old, The Chief was stuttering so badly that he would not start conversations with friends.  He wouldn't order his own food when we went out to eat.  He wouldn't answer questions in class. It absolutely breaks my heart to see my kids struggle with things like this.  I think one reason this issue bothers me so bad is that I was painfully shy growing up and I feel like because I never spoke up and talked to peers, I missed out on a lot of fun!  And a HUGE problem is that The Chief has been bullied in the past.  When he was in kindergarten he was being picked on and beat up on the bus coming home from school - by a 4th grader!  He didn't tell me anything until one day when it just got really bad - the kid actually bit him, breaking the skin, on his arm and punched him repeatedly.  He said it started when the older boys made fun of the way he spoke.  

In first grade, someone finally listened to me and we got him into speech therapy - both privately and through the school system.  We saw an amazing difference in a very short time.  Within a month, he was so confident.  While in the mall food court, he walked up and ordered his own food - beaming the whole time.  I couldn't hold back my tears.  

When we moved, I knew that he could go backwards a bit.  I wasn't prepared for how badly he'd slip though.  What's funny about The Chief's stuttering is he speaks completely fluently when he's nervous, angry or excited.  It's when he's calm and comfortable that he stutters.  There are times at home that he can't even get a sentence out - and he'll give up and say, "never mind."  UGH It kills me!  

About a month ago, his new school speech pathologist called me at home.  She said that there was a school musical about bugs coming up, and she'd like for Caleb to try out for a speaking part.  He'd never even brought home the form for me to sign!  I agreed, that even just trying out could help boost his confidence.  She explained to him that if he got too nervous, he wouldn't HAVE to do it, but that we'd really like him to try. She explained that many many kids were trying out, so he probably wouldn't actually get a part, but it would still be good for him.  A week passed and I got a letter in his folder.  The Chief got TWO speaking parts!  All the parts are small, he's only got 8 lines total, but he got the part!!!  I'm so proud.  I can't even describe to you the joy this brings my heart.  My little guy is working hard to move past a major struggle and overcome his fears.  

Now, comes my part.  I have to make him a costume - which is due this Friday!  He's decided on being an ant.  Wish me luck.  And you better believe I'll be the most proud mama in the place!

If you have a loved one who has fluency issues, and want more information, here is a good place to start: The Stuttering Foundation

T-Shirt Printing Review!

There have been a few times in the past when I wanted custom t-shirts made.  I have settled for just looking up a local company in the phonebook and got pretty bad results.  Designs that crack, peel, or fade quickly when washed and dried, or colors that just don't look the way I wanted.  So for the most part, I've been scared to find a company to work with to make custom shirts.  Until now.

I was recently given the chance to work with T-Shirt Printing to review one of their shirts.  This is a company that specializes in custom screen printed t-shirts.  They have many garment colors and really high quality screen printing.  

I received a gray shirt with the above monkey design on it.  The shirt is 100% cotton, very soft and washed and dried well.  The screen printed monkey design also faired great in the drier - that's not always the case with other shirts I've had in the past.  T-Shirt Printing has a GREAT product!

They don't only work on t-shirts.  T-Shirt Printing will also put your logo or design on hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, workwear and kids shirts!  I really love that they will do your custom design for any occasion and you know it will come out perfect and will last you a long time.

I highly recommend T-Shirt Printing for all your custom screen printing jobs!

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.

Baby Bond Product Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I am so excited to have the opportunity to review a Baby Bond nursing cover! I nursed my youngest son for a year, and went through several covers that I wasn’t too crazy about. Since I knew what I DIDN’T like, I was really excited to see that Baby Bond is different!

One thing that I LOVED about nursing my son was the bonding experience - and a big part of that was making eye contact. With so many nursing covers, you just can’t have that. But Baby Bond allows you to maintain eye contact, while still being modest.

There are three styles:

The Original - It’s worn like a sash - you separate the layers of fabric to achieve latch on. Belly and back remain covered by your own shirt. Has a built in terry velour burp cloth and stores in matching pouch.

The Flex - similar to the Original, but has a removable double layer terry velour burp cloth.

The Couture - is adjustable, creating a custom fit as your body changes! It’s a hybrid between a nursing top and a belly band - it can be worn to nurse from the top or bottom of your shirt. It rolls up into a self-storing pouch.

I chose the Couture in black. I really cannot believe how much I love this cover!!! It’s very lightweight, but well constructed. It’s a simple design, so easy to figure out, but they even include a tag on the cover with picture-instructions! This Baby Bond cover provides great coverage, whether worn as a sash, or as a belly band. And I love how easily it folds back into it’s pouch - very easy to throw in the diaper bag.


Now for the REALLY exciting part - You have the opportunity to win ANY in-stock Baby Bond item!


Here's how to enter:
Visit Baby Bond and tell me which nursing cover you think you'd like
Follow For The Luv Of Boys via Google Friend Connect
Like For The Luv Of Boys on Facebook
Tweet about this give away
Share this giveaway on Facebook
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Leave a separate comment for each item you do to receive one entry.  Be sure to include a valid email address so I can contact you if you win!


Giveaway is now closed!!!


Winner chosen by Random.org

Sometimes it pays to be the last comment!  Congrats to Libby!!  Please respond to my email within 48 hours or a new winner will have to be chosen!

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.

April Fool's Day Fun!

April Fool's Day is one of those fun little days were we get to be silly and have fun!  I don't really like to do mean pranks, but I do like to fool people.  

Probably my best prank was pulled on my husband's old coworkers.  I was always sending good food to work with my hubby - breakfast burritos, sweet breads, and all kinds of really yummy homemade cookies.  I'm not the world's greatest cook by any means, but I make some great cookies!  Well, one April Fool's Day it hit me - I could change up a tried and true recipe and pull a prank.  I made snickerdoodles.  Only, instead of sugar, I used ALL salt.  And instead of cinnamon on top, I sprinkled chili pepper.  I brought the plate of cookies to my husband with a stern warning for him to not try them at all, but sit back and watch.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall.  He said everyone was in a meeting together and was so excited to see fresh baked cookies.  One after another they took a big bite, chewed, looked confused and spit it out.  lol  The downside, they never trusted my baking again!  

In the spirit of fun, not mean April Fool's Day festivities, here are some of my favorite ideas I've run across lately.  I'll be sure to post and let you guys know when I try some out!

This is Fakin' and Eggs that I found on Family Fun.

This mashed potato sundae is from Martha Stewart

And how stinking cute is this Mock TV Dinner from Delectable Edibles?!?!

What fun things do you have planned?