3 Apr 2019

We are the Gardeners

by | posted in: Books | 8

Spring is here in Augusta!  I’m hoping it has arrived where you are just so you can soak up all the scents of the flowers, hear the birds (we have a nest of 6 on our front porch), and enjoy the longer days with plenty of sunshine.

And just in time for spring growing season, Joanna Gaines (and her kids) have released their new book We Are The Gardeners.  Let me tell you – the illustrations and the prose of this book are so endearing!  I have the perfect family to gift this to!

My boys love to get out and play in the dirt, and we love to work mostly with daddy in the yard, but I know another family who do more gardening then we do so I can’t wait to gift it to them.

The life lessons that are pointed to in here (from Chip) are great for young kids – to learn that gardening is not just about plants and flowers.  I love how they talk about protecting it too – especially for raising little men!

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love this book!

If you would like to win a copy of it – just tell me your favorite thing you like to grow in your yard (or maybe you are just an indoor plant – let me know that too).  Thanks Tommy Nelson for my book and the giveaway copy!

4 Oct 2018

DIY to Build Community

by | posted in: Uncategorized | 2

Some times it is really easy to build community over food and pretty things.

Some times you need a project.  My friends over at A Hosting Home built a barn door for our Master bedroom and I will be doing another post on that soon to show it off – in love is a short statement!

But, my mister may be talented in many things, but when it comes to an “expert” home project, he’d rather bring some one in.

So I mentioned it to my friend Ivey yesterday and her and her expert husband in the home projects department – came over today.  How fast!  And we had fun, they worked, and had another mini food styling shoot with the new Best of Augusta magazine.  I saw my first photo in an ad in the magazine – here’s to more, right?

And we had pumpkin muffins.  And I painted.  Always paint, right?  And that is a great way to build community: projects, food, coffee, and pretty things.  All while wearing yoga pants and I hadn’t even showered after exercising.  It was ok.

And I’m ready to giveaway this Bible – perfect for the girl in grade school in your life.  Ok, I say girl because it is yellow and sparkly on the cover.  But, I mean, whatever.

Tommy Nelson sends some great things my way.  This is the International Children’s Bible edition.  Topics that kids may want to know more about are bolded within the text.  Beautiful full color illustrations portray different Bible stories.  It would be a great hardcover, durable Bible for your little girl.

How to win: just leave a DIY project you are working on – or would be a dream to work on. 

And if you are curious, my mister loves the pumpkin muffins at Panera.  These muffins are a copycat recipe.

This post was sponsored by Tommy Nelson.  All opinions are my own.

2 Oct 2018

Big Trucks

by | posted in: Books | 4

Ever since my boys were little, they have loved mighty machines.  There was a show called Might Machines on Netflix for years that we watched constantly.  Always singing the songs.

My older boys favorite word before he could really talk was “boowah” – for bulldozer.

Tommy Nelson sent me a great book called Big Trucks, about these mighty machine friends.  It is a touch and feel book so it is helpful when teaching toddlers about tactile and touch and feel things.

I love the touch and feel aspect of this book, but also the encouragement between the main characters and the fact that they work together..

As soon as the box came to our porch, we opened it up, and have read it several times already. And now the younger is showing the older all about the touch and feel parts.

Great book for toddler (boys, especially)

Do you want to read this with your toddler – You can win one.  What was the first fun thing your child would say?

Thanks Tommy Nelson.  All opinions are my own.

21 Aug 2018

Dinner for Dinos

by | posted in: Books | 7

Meal times at our house aren’t where I want them – but nor are they are bad as they once were.

AD

I remember when our older was little, we’d spend every night sweeping up the crumbs on the floor thinking this season would last forever.  Then we had a second little boy.  So, the season stretched on.

But, then you know what, they learn how to eat.  Now, we seldom have to sweep the floor, though my husband is gracious and sweeps our eating area!

Now, we don’t have to deal with messes all the time, but instead we are teaching our boys how to have conversation at the table, no burping at the table, not to try to be silly and make the other one laugh at the table, how to sit and wait for everyone to finish or not start until every one sits down, not to bring toys to the table.

Instead, we want our table to be a life-giving spot. A spot to talk, enjoy good food, talk about our days, share life together.  We’ll get there.  Its not where I want it to be – but we can take steps every meal to get there, right?

Do you have any tips on how to make meal times

better with young school age kids?

Tommy Nelson sent me this book about dinosaurs and dinner.  Yes, I thought it was a perfect book for our family because sometimes we have dinosaurs at the dinner table with us.  In this book the author talks about shopping for food, the health benefits of certain foods, eating foods you may not like, setting the table, eating everything and not burping, and enjoying the food.

So, if your kids love dinosaurs and you want a book about how to eat at the dinner table – then this book is for you.  You can win a copy of this book for yourself.  Just tell me

What is your child’s favorite meal? 

What meal will they gobble up and ask for seconds and want every meal?

16 Aug 2018

Finding Gobi (giveaway)

by | posted in: Books | 1

(AD : I was given this book by Tommy Nelson in exchange for an honest review of the book and this giveaway is also sponsored by them.)

We are big dog lovers in our house – until they get up to us.

I grew up with such a fear of dogs.  My brother had a dog when we were little.  Smurty was his name (I think).  He died of heart worms.  My brother loved dogs, and still does as he has several rescue dogs.

I was bitten by a family’s dog in middle school and remember being terrified of walking home from the school bus because there were pitbulls in the neighbors yard.  I just walked or ran as quickly as I could.

My husband loves dogs . He had a beagle growing up called Cagney – like the 80s tv show.

Our boys love dogs.  But, they love them until they get up close to them and see how big or how loud they are.  Even if the dog is cute and friendly they don’t want anything to do with them unless they are at least 10 feet away.

We aren’t planning on getting a dog anytime soon, even though we have the perfect backyard for it.  We don’t have the time or money for the vet bills and another mouth to feed.  We won’t be having any family pictures with little fur babies in it.  I’m a boy mom, not a fur mom.  I think they are adorable, but for someone else.

Unless, you can offer me a cat.  Yes, that’s right, I’m a cat person.  A cat is introverted and content to curl up on the sofa.  That’s me. But, my mister and one of our boys is allergic – so that won’t be happening either.

So, how do I get my boys to love dogs – I read them dog stories.  Our boys have stuffed dogs that they have named and carry with them everywhere.  And that’s as good as its going to get for a while.

Finding Gobi is a little tale about friendship, companionship through the rough times in life, and faithfulness.  These are all traits that I’d love to see our boys develop as they get older.  Persevering and faithfulness are two character traits that our world sees greatly lacking in men.

If you’d like a chance to get a copy of this board book about a dog named Gobi for your son or daughter, a great read aloud for little ones, just comment with what your ideal pet would be?

Thanks Tommy Nelson!

27 Jun 2018

God Bless You and Good Night

by | posted in: Books | 3

 

Bedtime may not be the smoothest time of our day in our home, but we are getting there, and there are several things we enjoy doing right at bed time.

The boys brush their teeth.  We usually sit and read our Bible story (right now we are going through The Jesus Storybook Bible).  Then my mister puts the boys upside down and I tickle their tummy.

We trade off who puts the boys in to bed each night, and who goes second.  When I am the first to put my older to bed, I read him a little bit of a chapter book we are working through together.  Right now we are almost finished with Farmer Boy.  Then my mister will come in and make up a story and listen to E make up a story too.

With our younger son, we read a book sometimes and sometimes we just sing a song with him.

With both boys, I love to kiss them good night, get zerberts, another hug or two, and tell them for the 6th time goodnight.  The last thing I always tell them, even if its been a super long day, is I love you.  And I mean it.  That’s what I want to go through their heads as they drift off to dream.

Hannah Hall wrote a cute animal board book, God Bless You and Good Night.  It talks through a night time routine with cute parent/baby animal pairings.  Its cute and will be a favorite in your home by your little ones.  My older son liked the raccoons the best.

Thanks Tommy Nelson for this book and they want to give you one too!  Just leave a comment with your favorite part of your bedtime routine with your children.

Last year: book on marriage

Two years ago: Recipe for peanut butter bars

25 Jun 2018

Night Night Jungle

by | posted in: Books | 1

One of the aspects about God that we love to teach our kids is that He is Creator.  Really, that’s like the first thing they need to learn and know and trust through faith – God created them and all they see.  He is the Creator and therefore in charge.

This little board book, Night Night Jungle, is a great book to remind them of so many of the animals and trees that God created.  It is a snuggly book to read while you are tucking in your kids.

One of my boys love animals.  So, as we were reading this he wanted to tell me all the facts about these animals that he saw in the book, they took turns pointing out and naming the different animals, and tip-toeing around the “jungle” in their pajamas.

If you would like a copy of this through Tommy Nelson (who also gave me this book in exchange for a review), then just ask you kids what their favorite animal is and leave it in the comments.  My boys’ favorites are cheetahs and jaguars.

3 Jun 2018

I Prayed For You

by | posted in: Books, parenting | 2

(This book review is sponsored by Tommy Nelson Mommies.  I was given this book and all opinions are my own.  Thanks Tommy Nelson!)

Praying for our children… it is one of the biggest privileges of a parent’s life…and the one I do the least.  There are days I’m so overwhelmed by the task of parenting my two boys, wondering how they will come to know the Savior, wondering how they will learn not to strive with their brother.

I can vividly remember mornings or nights, standing at my bathroom sink, tired…and thinking how I need to pray more because I can’t do this parenting thing on my own.

Then I let the cares of every day life – in the moment life – distract me from praying as fervently for them as I would like.

This cute bedtime story book  goes through many of the milestones in the years.  Giving us as moms ways to pray for our kids.  You can tie these into prayers from Scripture (and not just from a book) for your kids.  You can keep a journal of these prayers.

One way this book fell short was it ended with a parent’s prayer.  Where you could take it: Jesus is our Great High Priest.  He interceded for you even when I fail to pray for you as I should.  He is the one who prays for you every night and every day.  That is His job!

I have a I Prayed For You book to giveaway!  Would you like it? If so, just leave me a comment and tell me one prayer you like praying for your little one.

27 Mar 2018

The Prayer Bible

by | posted in: Bible, Books | 1

Raise your hand if you have more than 10 Bibles in your house?  We do…and we’ve even purged so many!  What do you do with Bibles you don’t need/want anymore?

(This post is sponsored by Tommy Nelson. All thoughts are my own.)

Well, I have a new Bible to give to yall today.  Its called The Prayer Bible and Tommy Nelson put it out this Spring.  I think it is a good one for you to share with your school age son or daughter.  The cover is neutral so it can be for either a boy or a girl.  I know that is a secondary topic, but Bible covers are important! 🙂

It is a thicker Bible, but its hardback, so it would be durable.  I think it would be more for one your child could use as they learn to do their quiet time.  Maybe you could teach your child to have their quiet time in their room, and then discuss their thoughts and readings with them.  This Bible offers many devotionals and Q/A about prayer.  I’ve not read every single article, but they ones I read were really good and great for a school-age mind.  Especially as they are starting out in their faith (hopefully) and learning how to pray.

A good tool in this Bible is the Prayer Article Index in the front.  If your child is struggling with something in particular, they can read one of these articles.  I wish the articles were listed by topic and not by title, but they would always be good to read.  There is a verse topic index in the back. That’d be great if you are trying to teach your child what the Bible says about a variety of topics: like happiness, wisdom, and obedience.  You really want to get to a point with teaching your child to understand the Scriptures that you aren’t just pulling out a verse, but i know you don’t always have time for an expositional sermon when talking with your kids.

Come along side your kids when they are learning to read the Bible and to pray.  Its going to be a great adventure for your faith, their faith, and y’all’s relationship.

If you want this Bible, Tommy Nelson has one for you, just leave a comment on the blog to be entered.

31 Jan 2018

God Bless My Family (Giveaway)

by | posted in: Books | 1

If you asked my older son what his favorite thing in the world was: he would probably say dogs.

What is so funny is I think every one in his class knows it.  Such a sweet little friend as his school brought him a stuffed animal doggie because he wanted him to have it.  So, sweet, right?

The hearts of little preschoolers!

We’ve enjoyed the God Bless My (Series) by Hannah Hall.  The latest one is a sing-songy rhyming book about family and it is illustrated with dogs.  So, even though this book is definitely more for babies and toddlers, I knew I had to get it because of my son’s affinity for dogs.

So, thanks to Tommy Nelson Mommies, you have the opportunity to win a copy.  So, whether you have babies or toddlers or even older kids who love dogs – this would be a great book for your family.

Just leave a comment here to be entered!

Thanks Tommy Nelson for the book and the giveaway!