Want a free $100 Gift Card???

My friend Heather always finds great deals! She shared with me this great blog: http://www.moneysavingmom.com. Today, they are giving away 5 $100 gift cards to the store of your choice! Can you just imagine the great Christmas gifts for yourself...errr...I mean everyone on your list?!

Go to the money saving mom site for details on how to sign-up....and for Heaven's sake, sign-up!

Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart

I love to read. This often drives the Mr. batty. I can get so entranced by a good book that I usually don't hear my name called until the third round to which I intelligently reply, "Huh?"

So, to my delight, and my husband's annoyance, I have to share with you this great read by Des Moines author, Kimberly Stuart. This book was so good, I finished it in two days! *disclaimer* (no children, husband or pets were harmed or neglected during said literary jaunt).

The book was passed to me by my good friend Heather over at onederrblog. She asked me to read it and give it a review...ummmmm...free book AND I get permission to take a break and read it whenever?! Sign me up! I went into it knowing I would review it honestly for all of you. I have to say that I've read Kimberly's other novels, so I had a pretty good feeling about this book.

So, here goes! This book was incredibly entertaining. I'm not one to laugh or cry while reading...I think that's kind of weird. But, I laughed... OUT LOUD! Which annoyed my hubby further. Kimberly's writing is smart, witty and CANDID. She captures the plight of her characters honestly, making them relatable and in the end hysterical. The novels heroine finds herself facing motherhood and all the ups and downs that go along with it (see...relatable!). By the time I was finished, I wanted Mia to be my new BFF. I love how Kimberly writes about the good and the uncertain, even as her characters explore their faith in God. The characters are genuine and endearing. I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll stop there. But, do plan to add this book to your 'have-to-read' list. After reading a ton of heavy non-fiction recently, I was looking to just kick back and be entertained...and entertained I was.

So, if you are looking to shirk your laundry and dusting duties; kick back with a cup of tea and grab Stretch Marks...this is the book for you.

More PICS!!!

There are a few things I said I would never do if I had a daughter:

1) Allow her to go out half-naked

2) Dress her up in tutus and fairy wings

3) Give in to tantrums

Well, I've done all three and even documented it for posterity. You've been gracious enough once to indulge me in viewing a photo montage of my kiddos...so, I thought I'd press my luck and go for round TWO. My friend Nicole sweetly agreed to come to my house and do a mini photoshoot of the little miss. Here are the fruits of her labor...I personally feel her subject is so sweet...but, I'm a little biased.

But, Daddy, I want a GOLDEN EGG!!!

Family Pictures...

Those words strike fear in my heart. I dread family pictures. Growing up it meant standing in line at K-mart in a funky outfit with my three siblings. When the middle school years hit it meant me with a frizzy perm, glasses and braces smiling awkwardly into the camera lens. Don't even get me started on high school...there's a reason I never break out my old yearbooks. Bad. Bad. Bad.

Now, it means wrangling my crying munchkins, bribbing the little Mr. with fruit snacks and wiping the little Miss's drool strings from her chin just before the camera flashes.

Yes, it's a grueling and painful process my friends. The only reason I partake is because the grandparents would otherwise disown me.

There is a bright sunny spot to my glum sounding post...her name is Nicole Young (cue sun rays beaming through clouds and an angelic choir). A few weeks ago I got my family 'picture perfect' and we hauled ourselves and our gear to meet Nicole at the Papajohn sculpture garden downtown. Then, Nicole took over and worked her magic. The girl is a genius behind the lens, not to mention the most patient photographer ever! My kids were smiling and happy and that made this mama VERY HAPPY! I don't know how she did it, but she captured my sweet family as I see them every day. The pictures are so natural (for once I don't have a cheesy forced smile...or maybe I still do, but my cute kiddos distract from it!) . This gal is so talented.

Thank you Nicole for your patience and for taking such great family photos! You have forever changed my whole outlook on family pictures...I am putty in your hands!

Ladies Who Lunch...

When I was a little girl, my mom, grandma and I sort of had a little tradition. I think it was an unspoken tradition. We would set out fairly early on a Saturday morning and go SHOPPING. The aim was to beat the crowds and hit as many of their favorite stores before I got cranky. I would walk as fast as my short, stubby legs could carry me and we'd hit em' all. Honestly, I loved every minute of it. I'd watch them try on stylish outfits and if I was good...there was usually something in it for me too...like a COOKIE! Or sometimes a browse through the toy store...just to 'look', but grandma couldn't resist and usually I'd come out with some little treasure.

Then there was LUNCH! Mmmmmmm. We'd stop in some restaurant, grab a booth and I would slide in next to grandma. She would read me the options from the kid's menu, using her pinkie finger to underline the words 'grilled cheese', 'hot dog', 'macaroni n' cheese' etc.
Then there was the other unspoken tradition...the argument between grandma and mom as to who would pay the check. Mom would insist, grandma would quickly grab the check and threaten that if mom didn't put away her money, then this would be the last time we went shopping. Just so you know...this little argument still continues to this day.

I'm happy to say that I get to continue this tradition with my mom. I took my mom to lunch at
my favorite spot, Flarah's in Beaverdale. Of course what good is a tradition if we don't include the next generation...so Eva tagged along. We stepped up to the counter placed our orders and...mom and I both started to pay...mom (grandma) won. We ate, chatted, cooed over Eva and just enjoyed being ladies who lunch.

The Difference Between Boys and Whales...

Pre-kids, dinner conversation was candlelit, romantic, and covered various adult genre. It was educated adult conversation. These days? Well, it's certainly educated. But, with a three-year-old...ya never know what you're gonna get! Take last night for example. The convo started out simple enough. "Mommy, whales have holes." See. Simple.

It took a very abrupt turn. "The holes shoot water...out of their neck! Or wait....out of their back? The water shoots high. I don't have a hole on my back. I don't shoot water...I do shoot water but it's out of my mouth in the tub. I'm not supposed to drink the bath water. The whale is really Big...but, God made me little. Can I go in a whale? Jonah was in the whale's throat...then he shot out of the hole. And went to Ninevah. Marlin (from finding Nemo) and Dory came out of the whale's hole (spout)." This went on for quite some time then turned to Pirates, what babies eat and so on. Now, Mr. J and I did have input somewhere in there...but, it wasn't much...we just couldn't seem to fit it in before the next question or statement was spoken. Want to know something? I loved every minute of it.

The Pirate and the Strawberry...

What do a pirate and a strawberry have in common? Well, nothing. Except that in our household they happen to be siblings. Here are a couple of pics of my sweet kiddos in their costumes right before we headed out the door for our church's fall fun night! Ethan's dream of becoming a pirate finally came true. His favorite accessories were his cowboy boots (from Aunt Lanie and Uncle Ryan) and his sword. And Eva? Well, her accessories were her red chucks and her chubbiness. There's nothing better than a chub-i-licious strawberry. Don't you just want to nibble her up?

Here are the kiddos with Miss Colleen from church...she is so sweet...and the kids absolutely adore her! We look forward to Fall Fun Night every year! It's a fantastic outreach to our community and the staff and volunteers work so hard to make it great for everyone! It's the ultimate kid zone...candy, bounce house, games, petting zoo, face painting. The candy is EVERYWHERE! And so is the gospel message. Which is the sweetest of all. Thanks for a wonderful night Federated! And just so you know...candy was apparently on the breakfast menu this morning.