Wordless Wednesday

Natural Bridge Wildlife Park just north of San Antonio

BOGO Angel Soft Tissue Coupon!

Here's a coupon good for allergy season... :) Enjoy!

Tickled Tuesdays

My alltime favorite joke...


Why don't cannibals eat clowns?
Answer: They taste funny!

I Heart Hoarders

It's one of my favorite shows... Hoarders. I DVR it and then use it to motivate me to fold clothes when the laundry monster has puked on my bed. Most of the people in the show have been affected by an emotionally devestating tragedy... death of a loved one, loss of love, etc. Some it's just how they watched a different family member grow up. But for all of them, it is certain it is a mental disorder.

I am a spiritual hoarder. I can't empathize with the hoarders on the show because I don't keep things physically, but in the past I have kept my past and held onto it tight. I've piled up memories, past hurts, guilt from hurting others, self-righteousness, pride, and every other ugly thing. This stuff is trash. God tells us that He removes our sin as far as the east is from the west…

Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

That’s good news. But why am I like the people on the show Hoarders? I know that God wants to come in and help clean house. I know He doesn’t expect me to just sit there but make decisions on what is important and what isn’t, what is trash and what is treasure. I’m just like those men and women. I don’t want to let go. I ignore the mold, the piles of poo that my sin has generated, the smell that even cases of kitty litter doesn’t cover up. I say, “That’s a project that I’m planning on working on later. I’ll deal with it later.” Or “There’s some use for that broken hanger; don’t touch it! I’m keeping it!” Or “There’s some use for me feeling guilty about something that is over, that I’ve been forgiven of. Don’t touch it! It’s my treasure. I’m keeping it!”

Obviously, I’m not always good about giving things over to God to dispose of. Is it my pride? Yes. My lack of trust for God(You know the Creator of all the Universe)? Yes. Am I a work in progress? Yes. My heart still looks like the inside of a hoarder’s house at times. I want to bring things in and keep them. Things that have no value in my spiritual life; things that will just pile up and grow mold and make me stink. Daily I have to ask Him to help clean up everything. And thankful daily He sees my heart. He knows when He opens the door it’s gonna be piled with my sin and gonna smell bad… sometimes real bad. I’m so thankful that God still wants to knock and still wants to come into my heart.

Mommy Tips Monday

Kids have trouble with regularity?

Tired and a bit aprehensive about using Miralax? 

I've got a new idea...  Prunes.  Ok, not a new idea.  But when my 4 year old figured out the natural benefits to eating this fruit "candy", he refused to eat them.  My new trick I'm about to try, drowning the prunes in powdered sugar.  Seems my kids will eat just about anything as long as powdered sugar is involved. 

Happy Regularity Everyone!

Things Toddlers Say

I never know how a car ride will go.  Usually, we are all happy and enjoy seeing things along the highways and streets.  Sometimes, though, my children have meltdowns and scream unusual things like my little girl last week sobbing and yelling hysterically, "I want my monkey cave!"

Things Toddlers Say

On our recent trip to San Antonio, my son wanted his picture infront of some cactus.  As I was just about to capture the moment, he said, "Spikey cactus cheese!"

Kellogg's Family Rewards

Has anyone else out there signed up for Kellogg's Family Rewards? I have! I've used coupons especially for the cereal and matched the same week that Kroger's has Kellogg cereal on sale and made out like a bandit! woot woot! Not only can you get exclusive coupons but you can earn rewards from your favorite Kellogg’s® brands. Click on the button below to get started!



"This post contains my affiliate link. This does not influence or change my opinion."

Raise Funds for Schools with Box Tops For Education. Join Today!

My oldest kids is just about to start kindergarten and for the last several years I have occasionally been collecting and giving away Box Tops for Education without really knowing how it all works. Here's a simple way to put it... Choose a school to support. Your designated school will receive all of your online Box Tops earnings. To get started click on the button link below and then enter your school’s ZIP code and follow the steps to sign up... Yep, that easy!




"This post contains my affiliate link. This does not influence or change my opinion."

Scholastic Books Warehouse Sales!

Scholastic Books Warehouse Sales!  Have you heard of these???  I hadn't until I read about it on the blog...  mylitter.com (ok, I LOVE the article she has on the babydoll bed she made - ADORABLE).  ANYWAY....  back to the Scholastic Warehouse Sale.  If you click on the link above you can enter your address to see if a warehouse sale is coming up in an area near you.  Here in Energyville (aka Houston), there's a bunch of sales coming up around the city and suburbs.  Can't wait to go to the big sale actually at one of their warehouses. 

Here's some additional info from their website...

Additional Warehouse Sale Info

• Take an extra 50% off permanently reduced red tag items!
• Maximize Title I funding and purchase order dollars.
• Hundreds of items $2.00 or less.
• Great way to refresh school, home, and classroom libraries!
• Save more with Build-a-BOX!* Fill a box with books from a specially selected collection. Pay only $24.95 plus tax for each box you build.
• Preferred payment methods: credit cards, checks, purchase orders, and Scholastic Dollars. Note: Items purchased with Scholastic Dollars do not qualify for further discount pricing and will sell at the full cover price.

*Participating locations only. While supplies last. Locations participating in Build-a-BOX are identified with a symbol.

Things Toddlers Say

As we were leaving the house one day, my little girl yelled out the car window, "Bye bye ants!"

Weeee! It's Freeee!

Are you headed to our neck of the woods this year? Whahere's that youin's ask? Houston folks! And lookin' to save some dough? Well then check out this link for FREE admission to different museums in the Houston area...

http://houstonmuseumdistrict.org/free-admission-times/

woot woot!

Mom-isms

You know, those things you never thought you'd be saying but years later here you are spouting these nuggets of wisdom...

No, no! Don't lick each other! Don't lick the stroller! Don't lick the wall!

Arrrgh! Do they make Purell for tongues???

Review: Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Last week, we went on a wonderful family vacation to San Antonio!  It was so much fun!!!  On our first day we stopped on the northside of S.A. to visit the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.  IT WAS GREAT!

We got there about 1 hour before the entrance gate closing time and paid as we drove up.  Note that sometimes discount coupons can be found on their website.  The ones we found were $2 off per person.  Admission also gets you one bag of feed per car. 

You can opt to purchase more feed bags(we got two more) and also the small booklet with information about the park and the different animals in the different parts of the drivethrough and other enclosures.  We got the booklet mainly for our 4 year old who loves animals and enjoys learning about them.  He used it almost the entire time and would point to the pictures when we saw the animals along the drivethrough routes.  Eventually, I was relagated to be the official "animal finder" and handed the catalogue so my kids could do more important things like throw feed out the window and oooh and ahhh over the unique creatures. 

The catalogue also had information on the several endangered animals in breeding programs at the ranch such as the white rino and the Bactrian camels.  WOW!  When I first found out the price of admission it seemed a little high to me, but when I found out all the conservation things they are doing at this wildlife ranch I was more than happy to pay to contribute to their efforts!

Let's see, other things to see and do at the ranch include visiting the cafe, the gift shop, the walkabout, and the "petting barn".  We LOVED the petting barn which was a giant metal barn with pygmy goats.  My kids(who are toddlers and one preK) thought these were great because the goats weren't too big to overwhelm them.  The walkabout included monkeys, macaws, chickens, and other animals but my favorite were the lemurs on their own little island.  The coolest thing though was seeing the BABIES (yes teensy tiny little lemurs)!!!  Oh, my, how adorable!

So would I recommend the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch?  Oh, yes!!!  It is great!!!!!

Things Toddlers Say

Tonight during prayer time, my little girl said, "Thank you for my toys and wall and food and pillows and bed and God and Daddy and brothers and Mommy and ..."

Late Term Abortions

I don't really understand these.  Although I don't agree, I can see where someone could convince themselves that before so many weeks in pregnancy that a baby could be called something other than a baby.  But when a baby is especially past the 23rd week...  how can they think  that what they are chosing is anything other than murder?  How can the doctor's that have recited the hippocratic oath still preform this surgical procedure to end a life?  I just don't get it.

Tickled Tuesdays!

Oh, no!  This is totally me!  Except my car now doesn't stall since we got the "new to me" vehicle! 

 

MALE VS. FEMALE AT THE ATM MACHINE

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

’Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles.

Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, "MALE & FEMALE" procedures have been developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.'

*******************************

MALE PROCEDURE:

1. Drive up to the cash machine.

2. Put down your car window.

3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.

5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

6. Put window up.

7. Drive off.

*******************************

FEMALE PROCEDURE:

(What is really funny is that most of this part is the truth!!!!)

1. Drive up to cash machine.

2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.

3. Set parking brake, put the window down.

4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.

5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.

6. Attempt to insert card into machine.

7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.

8. Insert card.

9. Re-insert card the right way.

10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.

11. Enter PIN.

12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

13. Enter amount of cash required.

14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.

15. Retrieve cash and receipt.

16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.

17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of check book.

18. Re-check makeup.

19. Drive forward 2 feet.

20. Reverse back to cash machine.

21. Retrieve card.

22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!

23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.

24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.

25. Re-dial person on cell phone.

26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

27. Release Parking Brake.

Bed Bug Registry

Anyone planning a vaca soon??  Well, you might just want to check to make sure your hotel isn't on the BedBugRegistry website!

Smokin' Crack

Ok, ok. The show Too Cute is one of my favorite shows EVER. You know the show on Animal Planet which follows baby animals through the first few weeks of their lives until the breeder finds them their new people to take the home. These people are also known as their owners but I have a feeling it might be they own the people due to the extreme cuteness of these puppies, kittens, piggies, and hedgehogs. So tonight, I'm surfing the internet looking at adorable teacup persian kitten pictures thinking maybe someday we will own a furry pet again until I exclaimed, "They're smokin' crack!" at the price... $2000 to $3000. Um, yea. I'm pretty sure only a drug dealer and/or politician could afford these.

Things Toddlers Say

This morning when we all got up and the kids were looking out the back windows at the flowers, my little girl exclaimed, "Look Mommy! The flowers are ballooning!!!" (aka blooming)

Things Toddlers Say

Tonight, while hugging my son goodnight, I said, "When did you get to big?" He replied, "I just ate some food and got big."

Ultimate Blog Party! #UBP13

It's here! It's here! Oh, my blogging life has been so slow lately with my other life is SO busy - you know family, kids, laundry, dirty diapers, sticky lollipop floors, and the like.

Thanks so much for hopping by! I'll comment or join back in a day or so from your visit. :)

NFL Moves to Help Kids Learn About Player Safety

Thanks so much for this guest post by John O'Connor at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!


Sports offer so many benefits to kids, not only do they keep children fit while having fun with their friends but they also allow children to develop life long traits such as teamwork and leadership. With all the great things that come with playing sports, they can cause some serious injuries. Players, coaches and parents must be aware of the risks and dangers that come with playing contact sports and ways to become educated on how to prevent these injuries from occurring. The NFL has been working hard to change the image of contact sports and spread the word about the importance of player safety.

The NFL has always taken some precautions to prevent injuries, such as preventing grievous harm against defenseless players like quarterbacks and receivers. For one, you can't hit a quarterback below the knees and you can't tackle receivers when they're catching the ball. Player safety has become a top priority for the NFL. In addition, the NFL has created the NFL Evolution, a campaign to educate parents and kids on safety during contact sports and preventing serious injuries. As a parent, it's exciting to see a higher level organization getting involved with youth athletes and helping them learn the proper ways to play sports. Athletes and parents need to be aware of the injuries that children can face while playing contact sports.

There are a few injuries that stand out more than others, including concussions, knee injuries, dehydration and heat stroke.

Concussions

Concussions are caused when someone is hit hard in the head, either by an object, falling on the ground or through contact with another player. When playing sports like football, concussions become all too common. They create headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea and even memory loss. In addition, being hit in the head can also cause hearing loss. The hearing aid provider EarQ recently joined up with the NFL Players Association to help former NFL players dealing with hearing loss and also to inform younger players and their parents about the connection between hearing loss and head injuries. Here are a few tips your children should be aware of while playing contact sports:

1. Remember to always wear the right helmet that fits your head. You don't want to play and lose your helmet suddenly. That's how people get hurt.

2. Learn how to use your body properly, don't tackle someone headfirst. That's another way to surely cause a concussion.

3. Check with a doctor after suffering any type of contact to the head. You don't want to leave a concussion untreated. It's important to take any suspicions to a physician.

Knee Injuries

There are all types of knee injuries that can cause problems for sports players. One of the things that can devastate a player early on is injury to the ligaments in the knee, such as a torn ACL or anterior cruciate ligament. This ligament helps protect the knee and keep it stable, helping it shift and rotate. It's important to almost every basic activity that uses legs from jumping to running. Some players actually still continue to play with a torn ACL, which increase the chance of further injuring the knee. It's important to rest after a knee injury and not immediately return to the field. These are some other tips to remember when preventing a torn ligament in the knee:

1. If old enough and cleared by a physician, participate in strength and conditioning programs to increase lower body strength as well as agility and core drills to improve balance.

2. Stretch before and after any practices, training or games. This is important to relieve tightness in muscles.

3. If you have problems with your knees, then see a doctor to help you get in a rehabilitation program right away. You can fix knee problems if they're caught earlier.

Other Injuries

The warmer months of the year can create serious problems for athletes who train outside like football and lacrosse players. Training camps can be especially brutal in the summer months. For these times, it's important that you remember not to strain yourself during the hottest parts of the day and stay hydrated. You don't want to have a heat stroke in the summer nor start to become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water or sports drinks during practice or games.

Parents can feel safer about letting their kids join contact sports if they educate them on player safety. The NFL has made it a priority to educate parents and kids on injury prevention. While NFL players recover from injuries and deal with the after effects of football, it's important to remember that education starts young.

Hi my name is John O'Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman, sports enthusiast and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. Check out my new blog at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!