Wednesday, November 19, 2008

My girls!



I was so blessed by Katelin, Abigail and Elizabeth this past weekend. Abigail, Boatboy and I headed up to Ball State to visit Katelin... and it so happened Elizabeth was there visiting from Purdue. I was able to attend Katelin's church gathering and it was great. I am overwhelmed with joy every time I am around these girls. As most of you know I have had the privilege of being a part of their lives since they were in 7th grade! Wow! They are turning into such beautiful young woman and they are walking with the Lord every step of the way. They have shown me and taught me so much over the years. When I pray for LA and Boatboy's future wives, I can only dream that God would bless them with a girl like these three. I love you girls and miss you like crazy! Wednesday nights are just not the same!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What "Sweet" Sixteen?

Sadly, we aren't shocked over here at BPM over this. In fact, other research we've heard indicates the average age for a girl to give herself away is approaching FOURTEEN, not 15 as reported here by NBC.

Nonetheless...watch the video.

Be informed.

Don't be ignorant parents. It's lackluster apathetic parenting causing these horrifying numbers, not uncontrolable teenage hormones.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Personalized Photo Necklace WINNER!



Congratulations to DesignHerMomma! She won the Little Fish Design custom Wearable! Enjoy!

No further entires will be accepted for the giveaway. Thanks everyone! I'll do another giveaway again soon.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

#9: Top Ten Gifts That Give



Now, here is a gift with some heart and sole!

What if buying a pair of shoes could change a village? Provide health care? Educate a community? Protect against terrorism? Save a child’s life?

Introducing Preemptive Love's Buy Shoes. Save Lives. project. First they invest tens of thousands of dollars into Iraqi mountain villages in the purchase of these hand-dyed, hand-spun, and hand-knit Klash shoes by Kurdish families @ 40 hours/pair.



Watch this amazing video on how they're made...



Then they invest all the profits into heart surgeries for poor Arab and Kurdish kids that are dying from lack of government interest in their well-being. Outstanding!!

Their blog is moving. The joys and pains shared there are incredible. These aren't statistics. They're little boys and little girls. Like yours. Like ours. With names. Needs. Smiles. Fears. And, broken hearts that need mending.

from Monday, October 30th entry on Shanaw and Kale...
"...On Monday both girls had their final echocardiogram, revealing beautifully strong beating hearts. Shanaw and Kale have been fully released from the doctor’s care and are now on their way back to homes and families in Iraq with new hearts. Besides the presence of scars on their chests, you’d never know that these energetic, expressive girls were once dying from heart problems. How incredible that we get to be part of saving these kids lives!..."

At $100 a piece, the shoes aren't cheap. And, the style might not be for everyone. But, the energies behind the scenes are of the most admirable in the footwear business.

Here is a nice little interview from Relevant Magaizine with the founders of Buy Shoes. Save Lives.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

#10: Top Ten Gifts That Give



The first of our Gifts that Give this year is one of our favorites. It's extremely practical. It's done via a fantastic organization in Oxfam. And, while very serious, it's just very funny to us.

A goat!

You can gift the gift of a goat for only $50 through Oxfam's Unwrapped gift-giving program!

Check out this video...



If the video player is too large for your screen, just click on this link to view it: http://blip.tv/file/1443221/

"No kid-ding here—this gift is an invaluable resource for rural communities. A hardy goat is the gift of sustainability, which means fertilizer and food for families—especially those living in areas that cannot support less durable critters."

Monday, November 10, 2008

Boatboy's first cereal

Talk about night and day. If you remember how LA "liked" his first cereal, this is that much better. Because the Boatboy absolutely loved it!



"What just happened?"



"Hey! This is pretty tasty!"



"THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"

What boys have learned...

We're not really the forwarding type of people here. But, the content in this forward was pretty funny. Enjoy...

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words 'uh oh', it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject 'PB & J' sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Women will share this information with most all of their friends, with or without kids
25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Personalized Photo Necklace GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited to share this incredible company with you. You can actually wear your kids in a very fashionable, funky, creative way! Amy Baas, a freelance graphic designer and full time SAHM is constantly finding new ways to show off her kids, make gifts for friends and family and having fun while doing it!

Little Fish Designs "Wearables" jewelry was born January of 2008 while creating gifts for Amy's grandpa's 90th bday celebration - her first trial run necklaces and key chains were for her 7 aunts and uncles with photos of her grandparents - and from there she has done over 65 custom orders. Necklaces come in 3 different lengths and can be made horizontal or vertically, charms come in 2 sizes and can be purchased alone or can be paired with a necklace. Each design is sandwiched between microscope glass and hand soldered using lead-free solder. Necklaces come complete with 18" - 20" of ball chain to give it that dog tag feel.

I have so many favorite designs.

I of course have my favorite posted below! A wearables necklace is such an incredible unique gift. And let me tell you...a Nana and/or Grandma goes absolutely crazy over these wearables! It is such a treasured piece to have or giveaway. Not only are the prices great, but Amy is so incredible to work with!




FREE CHARM OFFER:
Any order placed (custom or pre-made) will receive a FREE SMALL CHARM from now until Dec 15th by putting "blondespoopmascara" in the subject line. You can purchase pre-made necklaces from the Etsy store at littlefishdesigns.etsy.com


THE GIVEAWAY GOODS:
Your very own custom 1" x 2" necklace with small charm.

TO ENTER:
All you have to do is head to Little Fish Designs, take a look around and...

A) Leave a comment telling me one thing you just LOVE and...

B) Let me know who will be featured in your small charm if you win.

I will pick a winner November 14th. Be sure to leave your email address. You will be notified via email and I will post your first name in a victor post here on my blog. Subscribe to my blog and you can earn an extra entry! Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

(re) introducing the Top Ten Gifts That Give



We're gonna try this again. A valiant effort was put into it this time last year, but we didn't have time to pull it off. What's "this" you ask?

There are only two potential histories behind the reason for the season. One is the birth of Jesus Christ. One is the life and legacy of Saint Nicholas. Both of which relentlessly gave to those less fortunate. One of those guys even died for the cause.

Research tells us that if we make over $48k household income a year, that we're in the richest 1% of people in the world! Those things considered, doesn't Christmas come with a responsibility to give to those less fortunate? Which we have determined is not us. "Us" meaning that if you're reading this, you have a computer and therefore are rich...or at least employed by the rich.

We don't claim to be staking new ground with this topic. And, this is no War on Christmas, either. We're just feeling a bit more personally accountable to respond to the Christmas consumption mindset our culture is promoting. Thankfully, others have gone before us in the effort. In the days to come, we'll outline our Top Ten Gifts That Give. So, here's to saving one less gift receipt, wearing that sweater Aunt Pollie gave you (but, only when she's in town) one less time, and keeping one less paisley tie in the closet for the next white elephant gift exchange.

...stick with us as we work to gift the gift of giving this Christmas season.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Halloween

By the time Friday finally came, LA had been wearing his froggy costume almost every day for two weeks. And, thanks again to the awesome momma on Craig's List that gave us the costume for FREE! He loves it!



Froggy LA and Princess Ella playing in the leaves at a big party north of the city.



"Ribbit!"



Boatboy was a pumpkin and so was Baby Sadie (Ella's little sis).



Huddle up for storytime!...



...and then complete breakdown. We're talking ...bawling and screaming. Pooh (Owen) is trying to figure out why in the world the Froggy just lost himself completely. All the other kids dressed up? Something he heard in the story? Did he think his Momma bailed on him? Don't know. Do know Mrs Blonde still counts herself pretty dang lucky. This is the first time LA has ever lost it to the point of needing to leave. At almost 2.5, that's not all that bad. But, leaving the party was indeed required.



Brother froggy and brother pumpkin.



Boatboy smiling at Dadda.



Froggy LA riding his bike around Papa and Nana's yard awaiting the trick-or-treaters.
Off to visit a couple neighbors while Amos and Crystal man the candy bowl for visitors.
VIDEO:
Back from trick or treating and LA has a greeting for a little girl he was certainly fond of...






We had fun. Hope you did too!

the great pumpkin adventure

So, we're just getting some shots up now from last weekend's venture south with Papa and Nana to get the boys their pumpkins.



Thank you to the Canon timer and fencepost for this one.



Don't read this, just look at that shot again! How many girls are we going to have to beat off of him in a couple years?!



The Boatboy and Mamma snuggled up tightly.



Help! A sasquatch is taking LA into the woods!



Oh, shew......it's just the husband.



pure cuteness


Nana and BB LIVE in sephia.


Papa and LA scoping out the horses. He didn't want to ride one. LA that is. Pretty sure Papa didn't either though.


At the pumpkin patch and catching a spin before we head out with ...


... a wonderful wagon full.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The "racecar"



So, I brought in the race car from the garage and cleaned it off for little Boatboy. Even though his little feet don't quite touch, he still had a blast!



.......LA doesn't miss out on anything as you can see. I found him sitting in the car, drinking his milk and watching Praise Baby this morning. When I asked him why he was in Boatboy's car he said, "I am a big baby." I always tell LA that Boatboy's toys are baby toys. So he wanted to let me know that he was a "BIG baby!" So I laughed and let him sit in the car. It can't be comfortable. Not as comfortable as it once was for sure.

It's amazing to me how involved LA is these days with his little bro. I love it! Most times it makes me tear up.

The best is when he sings "Jesus Loves Me." That sure makes up for the times when he is acting up! I never want to miss those glimpes of Jesus in my children. I always want to be so thankful for the amazing family God has given me!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Teething Bling by Smart Mom Jewelry giveaway

Congrats to Shannon!! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Teething Bling® was inspired by babies who like to tug on our jewelry. If you have a little one who is teething you know what I am talking about when I say "they want everything in sight in their mouth." And if you are expecting you will want one of these!

They have many brilliant products and they're all created by two moms. My little guy favors the bangles. You might be thinking are these really safe. YES! Smart Mom uses only the highest-quality, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone in the entire Teething Bling™ line. The material is non-toxic, latex-free, food–safe and even dishwasher-friendly!

If you don't already think they're a great company...They give back too!! This month, Smart Mom Jewelry is supporting breast cancer awareness with a special online offer. Purchase anything from their Think Pink line and they donate 20% of every sale to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

In honor of the many mothers and children who inspire us daily, a percentage of all retail sales goes to these worthy organizations:

Cure Search

Dress for Success

The Giveaway Goods: I am excited to tell you that I have a Onyx Donut Shaped Pendant to giveaway! (shown above)


To Enter: All you have to do is check out Smart Mom and tell me your favorite item and who would be using this pendant if you won! And if you would like an extra entry please subscribe to my blog! Please leave me your email address as well.

To Win: Hope I select you! :) I will pick a winner on Nov.1st! You will be notified via email and I will post your first name in a victor post here on my blog. Thanks for stopping by!

More giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

LAnesta

No, not this...this >>>




When a guy is tired...a guy is tired.

Not your grandma's crochet

THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED!!

CONGRATS to Sarah from http://thepitterpatterboutique.blogspot.com/

I have always wanted a grandma around to crochet me blankets, slippers, berets, scarves and gloves. Have you ever started a project and never finished? Me too. I have started so many projects thinking this is the year I am going to learn to crochet a scarf and it has never happened. Thankfully, I have come across someone amazing!

Let me introduce you to Miss CaitiJo of CaitiJo crochet! CaitJo is an 18 year old independent crocheter from Georgia. Lets talk about her products. Quality. Innovation. Stylish. And great pricing.



I was so excited to receive my blue beret for the chilly season. I love, love, love it! It is so warm and cozy. That's me wrangling the boys for the classic pumpkin patch photo. Turned out pretty well we think. Of course, there's a slight chance we're bias...

She has so many beautiful items to offer. And if there is something you would like, she will make it for you!! How great is that?! So, for all of you girls like me who have half-knitted scarves stored up in a bag in the back room closet, you can now have the handmade comfy, cozy slippers of which you've dreamed. All of CaitiJo's products also make great gifts!



The Giveaway Goods: I am excited to tell you that I have a pair of CaitiJo charcoal grey slipper socks. They are wonderful! They are super comfy, have great give and are very soft!

To Enter: All you have to do is check out CaitiJo crochet and tell me your favorite item! Please leave me your email address as well.

To Win: Hope I select you! :) I will pick a winner on Halloween, this Friday the 31st! You will be notified via email and I will post your first name in a victor post here on my blog. Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A morning of fun!!




LA and I made some Halloween cards this morning. He is so into crafts these days and I love every minute of it!!!!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

autumn cuteness


Crystal took LA and Boatboy in for a photo shoot early last week. This one's our fav!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

friends and brothers



After a full day of museum fun, we got to dine and commune with some dear friends on Friday night. Above is our LA aside Trouble, the B Man and PK. Which sounds a lot like a hip hop group now that I re-read that.



Can you tell it's past their bedtimes? After about 7 photos, things go silly...LA is just zoned out, Trouble is demanding her paci and baby Birdie is jamming her fingers in the B Man's ear and then some. Good times.



The first LA/Boatboy bathe together (sort of). Boatboy will be out of his baby bathe very soon.



The toddler wanting in on the infant toy action. Cuteness!



We're brothers. "I see you over there."

Sing Song Saturday

The boy pretty much sings, plays drums (air or real) or plays guitar (air, no real yet) all the time...



Rockabye Baby



No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed




Jesus Loves Me