momof6malloyboys

Disney Birthday Boys!

2012-01-08T12:50:00.001-08:00

We had a blast at Disneyland celebrating Luke and Tyler's 6th and 11th birthdays last week!

2012 Traceable Calendars

2012-01-05T18:34:00.000-08:00

Free printable monthly calendar pages that have traceable numbers.

2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

December

MANILLA BILLS

2012-01-04T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Author of this post is Solomon Dejesus

I recently started to pay most of my bills on-line. My children talked me into looking into paying my bills on-line. Writing checks had been working for the last fifty years for me, so it was a little hard when I made the leap to paying most of my bills on-line. At the end of every month, I would usually sit and send checks to : lick creek adt, the gas company, the electric company, the cable company, the phone company, and anything else that came in the mail that needed to be paid. It wasn’t too big of a deal, but did create a lot of paper work. My kids set me up with a website called Manilla.com. It is like an on-line folder that manages all of my bills. My bills are linked with the website and it alerts me to when the bills are due. It also allows me to link my bank account and pay them on-line. It is a lot easier than I thought that it was going to be and much more green too!

Tons of Free Worksheets

2012-01-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before or not, but I offer free worksheets at DocStoc.com. I have over 1,800 worksheets posted as of right now and am always adding more.

Check them out here: Free Worksheets

School starts and I miss my kids - Guest post

2011-11-25T12:11:00.000-08:00

Guest post from: Steve Delaney

All of my kids have started school. There were times when I thought this day would never come. The day when I would have free time and be able to do what I wanted to do. I waited for the day when I could go to the grocery store without pushing the huge racecar cart for the kids. I thought this would be an exciting and wonderful day, but I find myself bored. I didn’t realize how much of my life my kids had become. I found myself sitting at home trying to find something to do. I thought maybe I would like watching more movies, so I ordered movie channels from DIRECTV. I thought I would want to read more, so I went to the library. The truth was that I missed my kids. I had been wishing away our time together and now I was wishing for it back. I guess I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have such great kids and such fun with them. Now I just want summer to get here so we can spend more time together.

Kids Are Enough - Guest Post

2011-07-06T00:39:00.000-07:00

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

It’s really hard to know when your kids are old enough to leave at home. I mean, I think I’m a really good mom but there’s nothing out there that tells you at what age your kids will be fine if you leave them home alone. My pediatrician said that 10 or 12 is fine as long as they know the rules about not opening the door or leaving the house but my daughter is 11 now and I feel as if she may still be too young. I don’t know, though, maybe it’s just me being overprotective. I convinced my husband to help me do a few things around the house to make it safer like go to allhomeSecurity.com for a security system and install deadbolts on all the doors, so that helps a little bit. All in all, though, I just don’t want Dora being home alone and scared in case something happens or there’s a storm or something. Guess I’ll have to get over it soon and let her grow up a little bit!

How To Change A Flat Tire

2010-07-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ugh! Flat tires! Nobody wants to deal with them, but if the inevitable happens to you, you want to know how to change a flat tire. Michelin Tires has teamed up with BzzAgent to get the word out on tire safety this summer and has provided the directions for properly changing a flat tire:

1. Safely pull over: Set your emergency brake and turn on your hazards

2. Prepare the tire: Remove the hubcap and loosen the lug nuts

3. Jack up your vehicle: Jack until the tire is about six inches off of the

ground — typically, the jack goes a few inches behind the front tires, or a

few inches in front of the rear tires (consult your vehicle owner’s manual)

4. Remove the flat tire: Remove the lug nuts, then position your hands at 9

and 3 o’clock on your tire and pull it straight off

5. Mount the spare tire: Align the holes on! the spa re with the threaded bolts

then replace each lug nut, followed by the lug nut across from it

6. Secure the spare tire: Lower your vehicle, then tighten each lug nut

followed by its opposite

7. Put away the tools: Replace the tools and store your flat tire

Learn To Play Piano With Beginner Piano Lessons

2010-06-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

We have this beautiful upright Baldwin piano, and only two boys who know how to play. Right now private lessons for four more boys is a bit out of the budget, so I was excited when I found http://www.beginnerpianocourse.com/ where the other four boys can learn to play piano.

Besides being affordable, I also appreciated the fact that instead of boring scales like in most courses, http://www.beginnerpianocourse.com/ features familiar songs like Amazing Grace and Fur Elise so that the boys feel like they are really playing the piano.

The lessons include not only easy to read sheet music, but also DVD lessons featuring instructor, Yoke Wong. Another thing that I absolutely love is that http://www.beginnerpianocourse.com/ offers a 30 day money back guarantee if you are not absolutely satisfied, but I know you will be!

Become A Mom Tester For Parenting Site

2010-05-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Do you love trying out new products and sharing them with your friends? Are you a Mom? If you answered "yes" to both questions, you might want to become a Mom tester. Parenting.com is looking for folks who would like to test items such as toys, games, books, DVDs, CDs, video games, health and bath products for babies and kids in general, health and beauty products for moms, and items such as strollers, carriers, etc. Sound like a great way to try out more goodies? You can get more details about this opportunity here.

Palmer's Project

2010-04-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is my son Palmer's project.

Little League Opening Season

2010-04-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today was opening day for Little League where we live. Tyler had a great game! For more pictures, click here.

Win Free Banners and Button for Your Blog

2010-03-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

One of my friends on Gather , Heather, is giving away free banners and buttons for your blog or website on a blog belonging to a friend of hers! If you are in need of a banner or button, head over here to enter the contest. There are also lots of great tips and fun reading to be had at both blogs!

You can learn how to turn a scarf into socks here like Heather did.

Or

Get some great printable coupons from Sarah here.

Cody Got His Yellow Belt!

2010-03-21T05:53:00.001-07:00

Cody justgot his yellow belt in Tae Kwan Do! He is so excited! Here are some pictures from the testing.

Mirror Fun

2010-02-13T14:35:00.001-08:00

I took the boys to Osh Kosh B'Gosh to get some new pants. While we were there they discovered that the mirrors on the dressing room doors were fun mirrors like the ones at carnival rides. They had a blast making themselves look "strange". More Pictures.

New Coupon: $.50 off Coca Cola

2010-01-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Coca-Cola coupons don't come along every day!

Click here to get a coupon for $.50 off a single-serve bottle of Coca-Cola at CVS.
There are also a whole bunch of other coupons for Frito-Lay, Lumene, CVS-brand beauty products and plenty of stop-smoking aids!

Win a Betty Crocker Cookie Gift Set

2009-12-05T21:07:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to host a Betty Crocker Cookie Mix House Party. Not only did the guests get to sample yummy cookies, but they also received the above shwag from me their hostess, and Betty Crocker. Even though all of my internet friends could not share in the party directly - I wanted to be able to share a bit of the yummy fun, so, I am giving away one of these party bags to one lucky internet friend!

The Package includes:

3 cookie trays

a Betty Crocker mixing spoon

Christmas cookies magazine from Better Homes and Garden

A recipe booklet with coupons from Betty Crocker

and

Your choice of Betty Crocker cookie mix

To enter:

1. Mandatory Entry - Visit the Betty Crocker website and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Better Crocker product is.

For Additional Entries:

2. Visit my Kids In the Kitchen Gather articles posted here and leave a comment.

Homemade microwave popcorn
S'mores Pudding
Yummy apple shakeups
Mummy Hotdogs
Mini apple pies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

3. Tweet this contest and leave me a comment below.

Winner will be drawn December 15th!

Teresa W. is the winner!

Stride rite Cyber Monday Celebration

2009-11-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Stride rite is celebrating Cyber Monday, this Monday the 30th,by holding a Fan Celebration Day on www.facebook.com/striderite. The day will be full of fun and prizes! Stride Rite Facebook fans are invited to log on Monday, November 30thfrom 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST for hourly giveaways with amazing prizes including gift cards and gift bags from Stride Rite Children's Group brands including: Saucony Kids, Sperry Top-Sider Kids, and more. There will also be a fan-only coupon for Cyber Monday shopping onhttp://www.striderite.com/ and a mystery prize valued at over $600 that fans can enter to win throughout the day!

To kick off the festivities, Global Influence is hosting a Twitter Pre-Party Sunday, November 29th from 9 to 10 p.m. EST. There will be seven Stride Rite gift card winners and participants will be among the first to learn about the Fan Celebration Day on Facebook. To learn more and RSVP, please visit :http://tinyurl.com/yfjucsj

My football boys

2009-10-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

My boys are loving their football season despite the fact that they've only won 1 game! Here are my football boys.

Luke wants to join in, and Tyler really has a game face!

Back To School Party and Prizes!!!!

2009-08-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

24/7 MOMS is ready to kick off a New School year with a 2 hour virtual Back To School party and they are giving away over $3000.00 worth of fabulous stuff!

When: Tuesday August 11, 2009 Time: 7:00pm PST / 10:00pm EST
Location: www.247moms.com

Driving!!!

2009-07-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Our oldest boy, Parker is 16 years old, and officially behind the wheel. Scary to say the least! It is difficult knowing that your kids are growing up, and even worse when you know you are trusting them behind the wheel of a dangerous machine. One thing I have found to help us make it though this process is the free book written by MetLife® Auto & Home and reviewed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) which outlines routine driving skills into lessons parents can teach their teen.

You can get your own copy here.

Yobaby Review and Coupons

2009-06-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

My kiddos love to eat yougurt, and one of their favorite brands was yobaby from Stonyfield farms. Yobaby uses all natural, organic ingredients in all of their recipes, so you know that you are giving your little one something that is not only yummy, but good for them too!

There are several flavors available including: apple, blueberry, vanilla, and banana.

You can find coupons for Yobaby here.

Posh Tots Coupons

2009-06-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

Save $100 on any purchase of $750 or more at Posh Tots. Use coupon code CJ750 during checkout to get $100 off $750 or more at PoshTots

How to Change a Frog Into a Prince

2009-06-05T00:05:00.001-07:00

As a mom to 6 boys, I absolutely LOVE this poem! It captures the role of raising a boy so well:

How to Change a Frog Into a Prince
by Anna Denise

Start with the underwear. Sit him down.

Hopping on one leg may stir unpleasant memories.

If he gets his tights on, even backwards, praise him.

Fingers, formerly webbed, struggle over buttons.

Arms and legs, lengthened out of proportion, wait,as you do, for the rest of him to catch up.

This body, so recently reformed, reclaimed,still carries the marks of its time as a frog.

Be gentle. Avoid the words awkward and gawky.

Do not use tadpole as a term of endearment.

His body, like his clothing, may seem one size too big.Relax.

There's time enough for crowns. He'll grow into it.

Sunday Stealing: The "Get to Know Your Friends" Meme

2009-02-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday Stealing: The "Get to Know Your Friends" Meme

1. What is your occupation right now? Substitue teacher and a city councilman

2. What color are your socks right now? white

3. What are you listening to right now? my hubby is watching ESPN in the background

4. Last person you spoke to on the phone. my husband

5. How old are you today? 33

6. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? gymnastics

7. What is your favorite drink? Diet Coke

8. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes

9. Favorite food? pizza

10. What is the last movie you watched? He's Just Not That Into You (hilarious!)

11. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

12. How do you vent anger? yell

13. What was your favorite toy as a child? a Cabbage Patch Kid

14. Living arrangements? With hubby and 6 boys (also my mother lives with us)

15. What was the last thing that you cried about? can't remember - probably during a movie - I am one of those people that cries during Hallmark commercials

16. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Carisa since 3rd grade

17. What did you do last night? went to the movies

18. What are you most afraid of? fire

19. In how many areas of your country have you lived? 4

20. What is your favorite flower? orchids

Anonymous Donors Help With Woman's Heating Bills

2009-01-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the generosity of strangers, 72-year old, Mary Burris was able to pay her $500 electric bill. The woman's home doesn't have central heat and she was using her stove to generate heat. Her electricity was on the verge of being shut off on Wednesday because of a $500 past due bill.

Burris' story was shown on a local news station and two viewers decided to step in and help. Two individuals agreed to pay Burris' bill.

Neighbors also stepped in and purchased Burris four space heaters and covered the home's 20 windows with plastic to keep the cold air out.

Burris said she's grateful for the strangers' kind gesture and said her future looks brighter.
Have you ever helped someone in need of assistance?

New Year's Resolution to Get Better With Finances

2009-01-04T15:51:00.001-08:00

Like may people, I am using the new year as a great time to re-look at our finances. Here are a couple of things that I have decided to focus on so that we will have a bigger saving account by the end of the year:

1. Establish an emergency savings account that is equal to 3 months of our monthly expenses. We need to have savings to cover ourselves when all of those "little" emergencies that come up. I don't sub in the summer and my hubby's hours always get cut, so we end up in a bind each year. In order to do this, we will set aside a consistent amount each paycheck.

2. Clean-up our debt. We are lucky enough not to have too much in credit card debt - we have under $3,000, but we have a lot of medical bills that we need to take care of. All US residents have the right to a free credit report each year, so I will be ordering one for my husband and I today from this free annual credit report site. Because you are allowed one report per bureau each year, some experts advise staggering requests (ie. requesting one from TransUnion this month, one from Equifax in May, and one from TRW in September. This will allow you to order three credit reports per year, and provide you a way to monitor your credit throughout the year. We will set aside an amount to pay towards debt reduction each month - as we pay off a debt, that amount will be added to the debt reduction amount as well. If we are able to build up our 3 month reserve, that amount will also go towards debt reduction.

Do you have any New Year's Resolutions regarding your fnances?

Save Money On Dryer Sheets

2008-12-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to save money on dryer sheets, but still want the benefit of soft laundry, try this tip: Spray a washcloth with a 1/2 and 1/2 solution of hair conditioner and water, then toss into the dryer with your wet clothes.

Contests To Enter

2008-12-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

1. In need of a camcorder? Enter here to win a compact DXG-567 HD Camcorder.
2. Have a teen in your life? You'll want to enter Baby Phat's contest to win 10 $100 gift cards here.
3. What's better than Hershey's chocolate? A Hershey's shopping spree! Enter here.
4. If you are a techno geek, you will want to enter this contest for Techno gear.

She's back, but will the Turkey Lady live to see another day

2008-11-27T17:10:00.001-08:00

Dance in High School Musical 3

2008-11-22T22:23:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Letters From Santa

2008-11-16T18:10:00.001-08:00

Looking for a fun, inexpensive way to surprise your child? Head over here to print out one of 16 Santa letters to mail to your child. Great gift idea for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and more. PDF version is free; editable Microsoft Word version is just $5.
These letters are for all ages from Baby's first Christmas to a letter to a "not so nice" adult!

Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder RECALL!!!

2008-11-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

Check your cupboards and make sure that you don't have any Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder on hand because the FDA has recalled some containers that may contain small fragments of aluminum.

The recall only includes two (2) production codes of 21.8-ounce containers of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder. Printed on the bottom of each plastic container is a production code of "82255880" or "82265880" with a best by date of "August 2010."
No other Nestlé Nesquik products or production codes of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder are affected by this recall.

For more information visit the FDA site.

Baby Wee Wee (Pi Pi)

2008-10-12T14:45:00.001-07:00

Now I had one of those dolls that "goes to the bathroom" when you give it water when I was a little girl, but when I saw this video I had to squirm. My little doll was pretty gender neutral, but this one is really accurate to the point that I'm a bit uncomfortable.

This doll is sold in the UK, by the way, so I'd love it if someone from the UK could fill us in on this. Is it a popular doll? Am I a prude for being a bit grossed out by it?

Swan Lake

2008-09-14T16:23:00.001-07:00

I am a huge ballet and gymnastics fan, but I have never quite seen something like this - it is amazing!

You will never see anything like this ballerina and her LIFTER! Enjoy! Click on:http://www.sonnyradio.com/swanlake_0001.swf

The International Space Station, with MUSIC! : )

2008-08-15T19:22:00.001-07:00

Ever wondered what it would be like to live in Space? Check out this cool video!

Win A Sony Digital Picture Frame

2008-08-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

With 6 kiddos and thousands of family pics, I've been wanting one of these for awhile! So, you know my fingers are crossed, hoping that I win this contest from Lisa Reviews. It is worth about $249.99 and holds up to 1,000 pics!

My Entry for 5 Minutes For Mom Summer Fun Contest

2008-08-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

This photo was entered in The Summer Fun Photo Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom.

New Family Photos

2008-07-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

We recently had some professional photos done of the fam, and here are a few of my faves. I will be posting some more pics later this week.

Top 3 laughing babies

2008-04-28T19:48:00.001-07:00

This is too funny!

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

2008-04-20T17:27:00.001-07:00

This is my little guys' new favorite video.

Test Your Awareness: Do The Test

2008-04-06T11:29:00.001-07:00

How aware are you?

Ahhh! The life of boys!

2008-03-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

I was always a girly-girl growing up - so it has been quite the adventure having 6 boys!

Are You A Peep Fan?

2008-03-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

With Easter only a day away I can hardly hide my excitement, not my addiction, that's right - I am admitting it! I am a Peepaholic! Ever since I was a small child I have craved the sugar coated marshmallows that would find themselves planted in my Easter Basket. And I know that I am not the only Peep fan out there, but who would have guessed that there was actually a science to Peeps?
And who would have guessed that there are actually people who gather statistics as to how many Peeps are sold each year (over a billion are sold between Feb 15th and Easter if you were wondering)?
And the makers of Peeps have even surveyed other Peep aficionados to see HOW they eat their peeps: Just Born's recent research, the 2006 State of Marshmallow Peeps found the most popular way to eat Peeps is fresh from the box (26.5 percent), followed by biting the Peeps' heads first (17.2 percent), stale or matured (8.5 percent), swallowing Peeps whole (7.8 percent), licking off the sugary coating (3.1 percent) and lastly, frozen (3.0 percent).
How many Peep fans do we have here?

What Does Your Birthday Say About You?

2008-02-27T22:27:00.001-08:00

Your birth date describes who we are, what we are good at and what ourinborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and thechallenges we are facing.
To figure out your Birth Number, add all the numbers in the birth Datetogether, like in the example, until there is only one digit. A BirthNumber does not prevent you from being anything you want to be, it willjust color your choice differently and give you a little insight.
Example March 20, 1950 3 + 20 + 1950 = 1973 1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20 2 + 0 = 2 Keep going until you end up with a single digit number. 2 is the Birth Number to read for the birth date in the example. _________________________________________________________________ #1 THE ORIGINATOR #2 THE PEACEMAKER #3 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY #4 THE CONSERVATIVE #5 THE NONCONFORMIST #6 THE ROMANTIC #7 THE INTELLECTUAL #8 THE BIG SHOT #9 THE PERFORMER =========================================================== # 1 - THE ORIGINATOR 1's are originals. Coming up with new ideas and executing them isnatural. Having things their own way is another trait that gets them asbeing stubborn and arrogant. 1's are extremely honest and do well tolearn some diplomacy skills. They like to take the initiative and areoften leaders or bosses, as they like to be the best. Beingself-employed is definitely helpful for them. Lesson to learn: Others'ideas might be just as good or better and to stay open minded. Famous 1's: Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Hulk Hogan, Carol Burnett, WynonaJudd, Nancy Reagan, Raque l Welch.
#2 - THE PEACEMAKER 2's are the born diplomats. They are aware of others' needs and moodsand often think of others before themselves. Naturally analytical andvery intuitive they don't like to be alone. Friendship and companionshipis very important and can lead them to be successful in life, but on theother hand they'd rather be alone than in an uncomfortable relationship.Being naturally shy they should learn to boost their self-esteem andexpress themselves freely and seize the moment and not put things off. Famous 2's: President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Whoopee Goldberg, ThomasEdison, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
# 3 - THE LIFE OF THE PARTY 3's are idealists. They are very creative, social, charming, romantic,and easygoing. They start many things, but don't always see themthrough. They like others to be happy and go to great lengths to achieveit. They are very popular and idealistic. They should learn to see theworld from a more realistic point of view. Famous 3's: Alan Alder, Ann Landers, Bill Cosby, Melanie Griffith, KarenRoundbutt, Salvador Dali, Jodi Foster.
# 4 - THE CONSERVATIVE 4's are sensible and traditional. They like order and routine. They onlyact when they fully understand what they are expected to do. They likegetting their hands dirty and working hard. They are attracted to theoutdoors and feel an affinity with nature. They are prepared to wait andcan be stubborn and persistent. They should learn to be more flexibleand to be nice to themselves. Famous 4's: Neil Diamond, Margaret Thatcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, TinaTurner, Paul Hogan, Oprah Winfrey.
# 5 - THE NONCONFORMIST 5's are the explorers. Their natural curiosity, risk taking, andenthusiasm often land them in hot water. They need diversity, and don'tlike to be stuck in a rut. The whole world is their school and they seea learning possibility in every situation. The questions never stop.They are well advised to look before they take action and make sure theyhave all the facts before jumping to conclusions. Famous 5's: Abraham Lincoln, Charlotte Bronte, Jessica Walter, VincentVan Gogh, Bette Midler, Helen Keller and Mark Hail.
# 6 - THE ROMANTIC 6's are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong familyconnection is important to them. Their actions influence theirdecisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help.They are very loyal and make great teachers. They like art or music.They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6's shouldlearn to differentiate between what they can change and what theycannot. Famous 6's: Albert Einstein, Jane Seymour, John Denver, MerylStreep,Christopher Columbus, Goldie Hawn.
#7 - THE INTELLECTUAL 7 's are the searchers. Always probing for hidden information, they findit difficult to accept things at face value. Emotions don't sway theirdecisions. Questioning everything in life, they don't like to bequestioned themselves. They're never off to a fast start, and theirmotto is slow and steady wins the race. They come across as philosophersand being very knowledgeable, and sometimes as loners. They aretechnically inclined and make great researchers uncovering information.They like secrets. They live in their own world and should learn what isacceptable and what is not in the world at large. Famous 7's: William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, JoanBaez, Princess Diana.
# 8 - THE BIG SHOT 8's are the problem solvers. They are professional, blunt and to thepoint, have good judgment and are decisive. They have grand plans andlike to live the good life. They take charge of people They viewpeopleobjectively. They let you know in no uncertain terms that they are theboss! They should learn to exude their decisions on their own needsrather than on what others want. Famous 8's: Edgar Cayce, Barbara Streisand, George Harrison, Jane Fonda,Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, Nostrodamus.
#9 - THE PERFORMER 9's are natural entertainers. They are very caring and generous, givingaway their last dollar to help. With their charm, they have no problemmaking friends and nobody is a stranger to them. They have so manydifferent personalities that people around them have a hard timeunderstanding them. They are like chameleons, ever changing and blendingin. They have tremendous luck, but also can suffer from extremes infortune and mood. To be successful, they need to build a lovingfoundation. Famous 9's: Albert Schweitzer, Shirley MacLaine, Harrison Ford, JimmyCarter, Elvis Presley.

Big Scare Today!

2008-02-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

This morning my 13 year old asked me, "Mom, what's wrong with my eye?" I looked at it and the left eye was totally drooped. At first I thought it might be a stye or a bug bite, but I couldn't see a bite mark or a sore of any kind. I asked a nurse friend to look at it and she didn't see anything either and told me to take him to the doctor. We went to the doctor here in town and she told us to take him to the emergency room because he might have had a stroke or Bell's Palsy.

Needless to say I was a nervous wreck, but we made it to the hospital. After a long wait, they finally said that they thought it was an eye infection and prescribed some antibiotic drops.

Thank God it was nothing serious!

Mag My Pic

2008-02-21T06:55:00.001-08:00

My boys love all the internet programs where you can upload your photo and make it into something fun (the cubes, elf yourself, etc.). We just found a new one where you can put your picture on the cover of a magazine. This site allows anyone to become an instant covergirl (or boy as the case is in my home). I even made my dance class girls little stars!

You can also browse covers other people have made with it! Lots of fun!

Renting Toys?

2008-02-21T06:29:00.001-08:00

With 6 kids you can just guess that we are drowning in toys. Someone recently pointed out this site to me where you can actually rent toys. The concept is similar to services like Netflix, only you are renting a package of toys. You are allowed to borrow 4 to 6 toys at a time and shipping is included. The toys are sanitized after each use.

What do you think? Would you consider borrowing toys for your kids?

2008-01-31T19:50:00.000-08:00

The winner is Utmom of my 5 Little Monkeys! Congrats!

Look What We Want!

2008-01-19T23:04:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't this little boy look absolutely adorable tooling up and down the street (ok - my front yard) in this too cute for words pedal car? That's what I think too! And so I entered this contest sponsored by 5 minutes for Mom. This little beauty is available at their website along with other retro toys and pedal cars! They retail for $259. My little guy is an absolute Mustang fanatic and would go absolutely gaga over this one!

Are You Nanny Deprived? Take This Quiz to find out..

2008-01-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

1) Have you ever eaten a random cheerio, puff, or pretzel just because you had no where else to put it?

2) Have you ever vowed to never again wear white due to constant grime, bodily fluids, and dirt showing minutes after you've gotten dressed?

3) Have you ever used your garden hose to wash down a high chair, stroller or child?

4) Have you ever walked around with a half eaten cookie in your pocket?

5) Do you look forward to going to the doctor or dentist just so you can sit in the waiting room and read a magazine by yourself?

6) Have you ever used a public restroom while holding a child on your lap because there was no where else to put them?

7) Have you watched Yo Gabba Gabba? I'm so sorry if you have!

8) Have you spent at least two consecutive days in sweats?

9) Have you ever counted down the hours until bedtime?

10) Have you perfected the fine art of changing pee soaked sheets while still mostly asleep?

11) Have you been forced to discuss or explain the plot of a Disney movie while trying to merge onto an interstate in rush hour traffic?

12) Have you ever had to use preschool safety scissors to cut a major package because that was all you could find?

13) Have you ever cleaned grilled cheese off of your sunglasses?

14) Have you ever answered the door wearing "princess jewlery"?

15) Have you ever run out of batteries on PURPOSE?

16) Have you named your dustbuster and consider it part of your family?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, you truly are Nanny Deprived!

Thank you to Amanda at Nanny Deprived http://www.nannydeprived.com/ for allowing me to use this! Check out her site for other funnies and lots of great Mommy and Baby gear!

Products Made In the US

2008-01-17T09:43:00.000-08:00

I can hardly believe it, but this little guy is about to turn 2 a week from today. My baby is no longer a baby! WAAAAAH! But along with sadness comes the (pains) I mean joys of celebrating his birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (the family tradition - lol!).

Those toy scares from Christmas are still looming in the back of my mind as I go looking for birthday presents for the little guy. Did you know that 45 million toyswere recalled last year, and none of them were made in the US? I have found an amazing assortment of stores on-line that sell made in the US products only, but one of my favorites so far is Made in USA forever, not only do they have great toys, but they also have men and women's clothing, things for the house and more. The prices are very reasonable, and I have found things not only for Luke's birthday like this cool fire truck and this , because just like mom he's addicted to the computer, but I've also found some things for the older boys when their birthdays come around in April and May (3 of them all at the same time - ARGGH!).

I also checked out the about us page at Made in USA Forever (because I'm nosey that way) and was pleased to see that the company was started by a dad in California -there is a pic of him and his adorable baby girl (I am a sucker for things like that!) I also appreciate the fact that toys made in the US keep jobs here in the US, and are better for the environment (other countries do not have the pollution standards that we do). So... I'm off to shop a bit more, just wanted to share the site in case anyone else is concerned with the safety of kid's toys these days.

Ten Books Your Child Should Read by Age 10

2008-01-16T16:57:00.001-08:00

Disney Family recently posted a list of top 10 reads for kids. The list included:

1. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," by Eric Carle

2. "Goodnight Moon," by Margaret Wise Brown

3."The Little Engine That Could," by Watty Piper

4. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

5."Go, Dog, Go!," by P.D. Eastman

6."Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak

7."Where the Sidewalk Ends," by Shel Silverstein

8."Charlotte's Web," by E.B. White

9. "Ramona the Pest," by Beverly Cleary

10. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," by Roald Dahl

I definately agree with most of the books on this list, but was a bit disappointed that no Dr. Suess books made the cut! And 2 of my all time favorites - Love You Forever and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day were also missing. Any of your childhood faves miss the list?

Is Your Family Prepared?

2008-01-12T20:06:00.001-08:00

Nobody wants to think of the possibility that something bad could happen to your family during a natural disaster, but with the flood coming just a few miles from my home and effecting many of my friends and community members, I realize just how vulnerable and unprepared we really are.

Hoping to become a little more prepared, I've been doing a little research on-line and found that the Red Cross has an AMAZING site filled with usefuil tips, checklists, and just about everything you need to prepare your family for the unexpected.

One thing that I found particularly interesting was the suggestion to call Red Cross to find out what disasters are most likely to happen. This would have been very helpful in our town, because most people did not expect a flood in a desert, but, if they had checked here they would have known we actually are living in a flood plain.

Some things we will be doing include:

1. Making a disaster plan with set locations to go if anything were to happen- one locally and one a little further out. We will also give family members these phone numbers to reach us in an emergency.

2. Checking our our insurance coverage to make sure we understand ALL of our coverages and lack of.

3. Preparing a disaster kit and putting all important papers in a fire proof safe that is easy to grab if we were evacuated.

Flood!

2008-01-06T11:08:00.001-08:00

Our tiny little town has made national headlines due to a flood! A small section of our community is currently under up to 8 feet of water in some parts. A levee broke on part of an irrigation canal after heavy rains. We live in a desert, so this was completely unexpected for many.

As many as 300 to 400 homes are destroyed. Luckily no one has been injured due to the floods.

We are ok - we live about 3 miles from the flood. In fact, we didn't even know about the disaster until friends and family members started calling us from all over the country to see if we were ok. Then we turned on the news to see what they were talking about.

Please keep the families who lost their homes in your thoughts and prayers.

Tagged - Again!

2008-01-03T14:45:00.001-08:00

I have been tagged again! This time by Renee Baker who asked me to list seven informal things about me, then tag others (Sorry!) So here goes:

1. I am addicted to sugar in almost any form - mostly candy - Twizzlers, Kit Kat, JuJubes, Jelly Beans, Hot Tamales, etc.

2. My favorite movie as a child was Annie and I now have a red little poodle named Annie.

3. My favorite thing to do to exercise is tap dancing.

4. I majored in accounting in college - and regret every second of it - especially at tax time when everybody asks me to do their taxes.

5. I hate eating fish - I am a Pisces so I feel somewhat cannibalistic - go ahead and laugh at me - how many of you won't eat deer because of the whole Bambi thing - enough said.

6. My favorite author is Jodi Picoult who coincidently publishes her books every March right around my birthday. The last one, 19 minutes actually has my birthday in the first sentence.

7. In high school I once resisted the invitation of a very cute boy to skip class to go get doughnuts because "What wouldI tell my kids?" (I obviously didn't have any yet, but I was already worried about their values!)

Now the FUN part: I will tag: Dawn (because she has a cute little guy), and Veronica (because I just found her fun blog and it will remind me to go back and read some more!)

Pay Per Post

2008-01-03T14:15:00.001-08:00

Yeah! My blog has FINALLY been approved for Pay Per Post!!! I guess in the past I have not been prolific or consistent enough in my blog postings, but I have finally been fairly regular about my blogging. I have achieved one of my New Year’s Resolutions (to be better about blogging) and it’s not even the first week! LOL!

Anyway, the idea behind Pay Per Post is that advertisers pay you to blog about their site or product. Your opinions can be negative or positive and you can pick and choose which opportunities you take. When you get to the home page, you will see a list of featured opportunities, and the amounts you would be paid if you choose the opportunity (you have to be qualified for certain opportunities). The amounts of pay appear to range anywhere from $5 to $250. Scrolling down the home page, you will find a list of Pay Per Post’s top earners. The all time figures feature people with figures around $11,000 to $18,000. If you are a little more analytical (like me) you can click to see monthly top earnings around $100 to $200 or daily at $45 to $60 – not too shabby. We have college on the horizon for a few of our boys, and we are doing whatever we can to save up for that expense - even a few extra dollars a month will come in handy!

Next to that section you can find a featured blogger of the day – not only do they pay you for your posts, but they give you a little free advertising.

I have just been approved, so the verdict is still out on availability of offers, speed of pay, etc. but I will keep you updated. Blogger friends who have referred me have raved about their services. I will tell you that I was pleased with the customer service prior to approval – they give you tips and advice on why your blog might be rejected.

Another thing that I like is that they have blog ethics They require full disclosure that the posts are paid posts.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-01-02T09:55:00.001-08:00

The Kids clowning around with the Santa's friends costumes at the Nutcracker.

New Year's Eve Well Wishes

2007-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

Messages and wishes for the new year from people around the world will float down on the New Year's Eve revelers in Times Square when the confetti is dropped for the first time ever this year.

People from all around the World were invited to post messages on a website with Times Square with their wishes for the New Year. These wishes will be printed out on small pieces of paper and mixed among the more than one ton of confetti that is dropped on Times Square on New Year's Day.

The messages have ranged from serious to silly, and have included "everything from wanting to be taller or having a smarter boss to healthy children and asking for the safe return of a child from Iraq".

What would your message say?

Why God Made Mothers

2007-12-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Kids.... you raise them the best you can, and then they start talking! Here are some
BRILLIANT answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions!!

I also wondered what my kiddos would have to say, so I included my 7 year old (Tyler) and 5 year old's (Cody) answers as well.

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
4. Because he loves us ( Tyler's answer AWWWW!)
5. So you can have a mom (Cody)

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers & a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
4. I say Bones (Tyler)
5. Bones and Blood (Cody)

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds & angel hair & everything nice in the world & one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
3. Love (Tyler - he must want something)
4. I give up (Cody)

Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mom?
1. We're related
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
3. Because he loves me! (Tyler - major sucking up here!)
4. Because he knew I would like her (Cody - he must want something too)

What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom & none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
4. Kelly (Tyler)
5. You Mama! (Cody)

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs & YES to chores?
4. That he has to be good (Tyler)
5. What kind of ring he was going to give you ( Cody - I nearly spit my Diet Coke all over the screen at that one!)

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world ... and my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
4. Cause he's cute. (Tyler)
5. Because you wanted a baby. (Cody)

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
4. You and Daddy (Tyler, although when he was 2 he told us he was!)
5. Mom (Cody - scoring extra brownie points)

What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.
5. They are different people (Tyler)
6. One's a boy and one's a girl. Daddy's have itchy kisses. (Cody)

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
3. Make hats (Tyler)
4. Loves her Cody Allen (self explanatory!)

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
3. To be nice (Tyler - OUCH!)
4. I don't know, you're perfect already ( Cody - who will be driving the car of his choice at 16!)

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it & not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
4. Make her take me to Burger King all the time (Tyler)
5. I want her to have more nice stuff ( Cody - who has a crying mommy now!)

Dream Kitchen

2007-12-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

My Dream Kitchen looks a lot like the one above! I would love to ave a kitchen big enough to fit more than 1 adult comfortably (that way we could actually wash the dishes as wer are cooking!). I would love a center island not only to prepare food, but to leave space for dishing food out. Serving 6 boys takes its toll! Another must on the dream kitchen wish list is cabinet space! We have very little storage space in our current kitchen and I would LOVE to have room to tuck things away out of sight when they are not in use.

So what would your dream kitchen look like?

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

3 Wisemen Bearing Gifts!

The Malloy Family Christmas Update - Kelly

2007-12-25T19:04:00.001-08:00

Kelly continues to be the busiest of the Malloys - not only caring for the family, but for the community. She continues to kep busy with directing children's theater and dance with the most recent production of The Nutcracker and the upcoming auditions for High School Musical.

She also works for Healthy Communities and the City of Fernley Youth City Council working with youth in our community.

Some highlights of 2007 were Aladdin Jr., The Spring Dance Recital, The Nutcracker, a trip to Dallas for the Mary Kay Seminar. and marching in front of the 4th of July parade (despite the fact that she did EVERYTHING to stay OUT of that parade!)

2008 looks like it will be great with High School Musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - AND Maybe , just maybe a run for political office. Kelly has been approached by many people in the community asking her to run for City council after a speech she recently gave. (I don't know if I am the politician type so we will have to see!)

And.... I have all of these wonderful Malloy boys to keep up with!

The Malloy Family Christmas Update -Luke

2007-12-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

Luke, the baby of the family, is barely a baby anymore - he will be 2 in January. Where does the time go? Luke has been busy keeping up with our wild and crazy family and fitting in perfectly. He is our smiley little guy and always up to something.

Highlights of Luke's year have been getting a new baby cousin, and driving his family crazy with hours and hours of Yo Gabba Gabba on tv.

He is looking forward to further torture as he hits the terrible twos!

Christmas Update on the Malloys- Cody

2007-12-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

Cody has left babyhood behind turning 5 this year with a big shebang at the birthday party capital of the World - Chuck E. Cheese. Our little sweetheart is now a Kindergartener and is hard at work learning his numbers and his letters. He also figured out how to tell time (on a real clock - no digital watches for this little guy!).

Cody made his acting/dancing debut as a little gingerbread man alongside his best buddy, Andrew, in the Nutcracker.

He has been enjoying our weekly visits to the Kids Museum in Carson City and hanging out with his brothers.

Christmas Update On The Malloys - Tyler

2007-12-21T21:16:00.000-08:00

Our little Christmas "Baby" is about to turn 7 on the 27th! This year has been a busy one for the first grader with a trip to Ozzfest (which wore him out as you can see above), losing his first tooth, learning to read chapter books, (you can see him reading to Cody here), and having fun at the kids' museum in Carson City. Just watch him jam there..

Tyler is all boy! One of his friends, Janell told him he had super hero powers because he is amazingly strong!

He wants to play Troy in High School Musical, so we are working on breaking it to him that he is only 7. Wish us luck on that one!

Christmas Update on the Malloys - Palmer

2007-12-21T20:58:00.001-08:00

Palmer has officially entered the big kid zone (aka he is now a middle schooler!). In addition to starting 6th grade, Palmer has had many highlights this year including the trip to Ozzfest with Dad, being surrounded by cheerleaders at Discovery Kingdom, and being picked for the magic show during the same trip.

Palmer's flair for the dramatics has not gone unnoticed this year earning him the lead role in Aladdin (he also played the Sultan in an alternate cast), and Fritz in the Nutcracker.

This same flair also saw him learning an important lesson this year when he was forced to cut his hair. Mom said, "You can have disrespectful hair or disrespectul behavior but not both." As you can see from the pics, Palmer made the wrong choice this fall!

Other than suffering from the normal middle child syndrome, Palmer manages to be a pretty likeable kid (Most of the time!). He is looking forward to High School Musical working hard with his best gal pal Morgan gearing up for auditions (He is going to kill me for mentioning that part!)

Christmas Update on the Malloys - Powell

2007-12-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

This year marks Powell's first year into the dreaded teenage years! His 13th year has come with lots of improvements. He continues to work on communication issues, but it is becoming much less of a problem. His grades have gone up (especially since they realized that he can barely process information visually and have made adaptations with his IEP to read things out loud for him and getting books on tape.

Our non-verbal boy also got a speaking role in Captain Bree Scourge of the Sea (with 6 lines!). He has put his birthday present of a new Zune to use downloading over 500 songs and is now seen with earphones permanantly in his ears.

He is a great help with Tyler and Cody who fight over who gets to play with Powell "the mostest!"

He is looking forward to singing and dancing in our spring production of High School Musical and to his recital in the Spring (he just took up hip hop dancing!)

Christmas Update on the Malloys - Parker

2007-12-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

Parker has had a busy year. He started his Sophmore year and has maintained his 4.0 average. He has finished ALL of the math required to graduate high school and will be starting college Trig at Western Nevada Community College in January (remember - he is only supposed to be a Freshman this year!).

In addition to his scholarly persuits he actively works on film podcasts, video production and he got his first job! He works at the City of Fernley maintaining their website which is located here. You can also check out his video of all the Fernley Fall Fun!

He also continues to be active in drama staring as Jafar in Aladdin Jr. and Herr Drosselmeyer in the Nutcracker!

Did I forget to mention he is still only 14?????

We love this kid!

Christmas Updates On The Malloys - Ryan

2007-12-21T19:33:00.001-08:00

So, I think my husband resembles the guy in the picture with the boys - I think that is him, I'm not quite sure since he has worked SO MUCH OVERTIME this year we hardly remember what he looks like! Seriously we are really proud of him and we appreciate all the hard work he does to keep our family afloat!

Highlights of Ryan's year was taking the boys (Tyler and Palmer) to Ozzfest (Not my thing at all - but I guess opposites attract!), eating a Madagascar hissing cockaroach at Discovery Kingdom this fall (only my husband!), and becoming an uncle! Just in case you thought we had a new baby and forget to tell you - the tiny baby in the first pic is our new nephew Ender who was born just a few days before Ryan's birthday this year. He is son to Kelly's brother Brian and his wife Tawni, and quite a cutie!

We are looking forward to seeing Dad more in 2008!

New Way To Get Rich? Sell Your Kids Presents on ebay.

2007-12-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Like many parents, a guy in Montreal had braved the Christmas shoppers to nab the uber popular game Guitar Hero 3 for his 15 year old son. Just like my hubby!

The story takes a twist when the man (who does not want to be named) came home to find his son and his friends smoking pot in the backyard. And just like any other parent, the man proceeded to his computer to list the game on ebay.

The father wrote in his ebay ad: "I finally got the Holy Grail of Christmas presents pretty much just in the nick of time. I couldn't wait to spread the jubilance to my son,"

An Australian man was the winning bidder at (sit down for this part)$9,100!

So would you sell your child's christmas present on ebay as punishment?

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-19T08:13:00.001-08:00

This picture is from last year (and one of the boys missed the shot!) - but we are all hoping for some snow so we can do it again!

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

Luke meets his buddies Santa and Frosty at our production of the Nutcracker

Kids In The Kitchen

2007-12-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

Russian Tea Cakes (The EASY way)

I love baking Christmas Cookies with my boys- Especially when I can find ways to make them easier and quicker. (Boys are not known for their patience - they want them and they want them NOW!)

Ingredients

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® Create 'n Bake® refrigerated sugar cookies
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in flour, pecans and vanilla until well blended.

2.Shape dough into 54 (1-inch) balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheets. Cool slightly on cooling rack.

4.Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on cooling rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Win $25!!

2007-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

With Christmas only a few weeks away, who wouldn't love a contest with the chance to win $25 in cash?? Blogscape is offering just that opportunity! The contest ends on December 24, 11:59 PM CST so hurry over for your chance at an extra Christmas present! Details are here.

Oompa Toys Giveaway

2007-12-09T06:01:00.001-08:00

With all of the toy scares as of late, it is nice to know that some companies are making child safe toys that are fun to play with! Oompa Toys is on the top of my gift giving list this year, and CPA Mom is giving away this Play Puzzle Farm. Head on over there to enter - you only have until Dec. 12th at Midnight - so hurry!

Guitar Hero 3

2007-12-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

My hubby is on his way home from acting out a scene from the movie Jingle All The Way - the one with that actor turned Governor racing about town looking for the toy to surprise his kids on Christmas morning. We have been searching for Guitar Hero 3 on the wii for almost a month!

Tonight after our performance of the Nutcracker DH searched the net and lo and behold they had 1 at the Circuit City about 45 minutes from here. He raced into town at 10:00 at night to go get it and the mission was a sucess.

I would almost give him father of the year award - Except for the fact that I KNOW who this present is really for! LOL! Maybe the kids will be able to pry it away from him on Christmas morning - maybe!

Nutcracker Rehearsal

2007-12-01T17:15:00.001-08:00

Today was our first dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker and it went so well! We have 89 kids in this production, so getting them all to do what they are supposed to do and be where they are supposed to be has been.... um... interesting! The first picture is of my 8 to 12 year old class who will be dancing the Arabian, the next is of my 6 to 8 year olds who are the Spanish dancers, the third picture is of my 4 -5 year old class, my little Oriental dumplings. The girls above are in my 3 year old class - aren't they adorable?????? This is how a mom of 6 boys gets to get into all of the girlie stuff!

Sonicare

2007-12-01T16:40:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to buy a Sonicare forever, but as a mom, I just couldn't justify spending that much money on myself - and for a toothbrush no less! One of the side effects (I mean blessings) of hosting parasites (carrying my 6 beautiful boys) has been pure dental havoc! My once beautiful cavity free teeth have turned into a mine field - literaly! My dentist urged me to get a Sonicare, but, I just wouldn't do it.

Luckily, for me, I was chosen for a BZZ Agent campaign for Sonicare and I got a free one in the mail last week! I really love it! I get that fresh from the dentist feeling everytime I brush my teeth! I don't even have to move the brush around my mouth - you just place the brush on your teeth and it does the work for you. There are different size bristles that actually get in between your teeth. I love it!

And one of the best things is that it comes with its own sanitizer/cover. I keep hearing all these bad stories about how germy your toothbrush gets... so, now I don't have to worry anymore.

The only problem now is that all the boys want sonicares too! I figured we could get the extra brushes - but they are really expensive too - $23! A bit pricy for my taste! But, I will be enjoying my present for now - solo!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2007-11-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was dressing the boys up in Halloween Costumes and now tomorrow is already December! We've already gottten the tree up (on Thanksgiving), the stockings hung (last night), and all those miserable (um I mean wonderful) singing characters are up. Batteries will come out tonight (check!).

And.... we are ALMOST done with Christmas shopping - yeah! A very good thing since we will be slammed with Nutcracker rehearsals and performance for the next 2 weeks. We had our photo session on Wednesday, so I will post pics from that soon. I don't have any of me in my costume yet because (Drumroll please) - I lost weight and have to have the costume taken in! WOO HOO!

Get Paid To Blog

2007-11-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

I recently signed up with a service called smorty that pays you to blog! Smorty gives you the chance to write your opinion about a product or service (something you may already be doing) and to be paid for your opinion.

With Smorty you are paid weekly(through PayPal) for giving your opinion about subjects that interest you.

One of the things that most excited me about Smorty is how quickly I recieved my first opportunities. Only a few short minutes after registering, I was presented with 5 unique opportunities ranging from shopping cart software, on-line casino review, and debt solutions. I am able to pick and choose the offers I am interested in reviewing. Other pay per post sites I have joined have taken much longer to offer me opportunities, and I had no selection to choose from.

Would you like to get paid to Blog? Well, you can if you can answer "yes" to the following questions:

1. Is your blog over 3 months old?

2. Are you an active blogger? (Do you post at least 2 times a week?)

3. Is your Blog free of any violent, hate, or adult content?

If this descibes your blog, you are ready to blog for money!

Head over to http://www.smorty.com/ and open an account today!

Businesses can also advertise on blogs through Smorty as well!

Wordless Wednesday

2007-11-28T21:10:00.001-08:00

My Pooh Bear

Christmas Fun

2007-11-24T19:55:00.001-08:00

Looking for something to keep the kiddos busy this holiday season? Want to send a letter to Santa? Head over to the Northpole for lots of fun Christmas activities. Send a letter to Santa, play some fun games, find some yummy recipes, see if you are on the naughty or nice list, keep track of Santa, and so much more!

Tagged

2007-11-22T19:35:00.000-08:00

Amy over at http://kelly4.blogspot.com/ tagged me for this nablopomo meme.

I have to list seven weird or random things about myself. (Only 7???? How will I narrow it down? LOL!)

1. I have 6 boys! I don't think that is particularly wierd myself, but all the stares at the stores and the questions, "Are they all yours?" make me think I might not be the norm.

2. I teach tap and ballet - Gotta get my girl time somehow! LOL!

3. I hate when my food touches on the plate.

4. I always order the same thing at a restaurant - I rarely experiment!

5. I collect Disney snow globes.

6. I took the "scenic route" through college - it took 10 years to get my degree.

7. I am actually going to dance in the Nutcracker in December -(after having 6 babies! YIKES!

Here are the rules:1. link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.2. share seven random and/or weird things about yourself.3. tag seven people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.4. let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blog.

I'm going to have to sort of break rules 3 and 4 because everyone I know who Blogs seems to already have posted this one! So..... I am tagging whoever has read this and hasn't done this one! Let me know in the comments you let me tag you and I'll visit and read your wierdness!

Go Elf Yourself!

2007-11-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

I can now safely say Christmas is on the way... I have turned my children into elves!

Check out this fun site http://www.elfyourself.com/ and get ready to have some fun! Just upload pics of family and friends and "Go Elf Yourself!"

If you would like to see ours we are here:Older boys and baby nephew: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9577177125

Youngest boys and newborn pic of baby nephew: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9577096150

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

From Our Family to Yours -

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Malloys

Wordless Wednesday

2007-11-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

Reason #464 why Dad should not be left home alone with the kids.

Ahhhh.... The Joys of Living In A Small Town

2007-11-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

When we first moved to the town we live in 7 years ago it was literaly nothing more than a map dot -with little more than 1 grocery store and a McDonald's. Well, fast forward a few years and we are one of the fastest growing cities in the country and we now have a Taco Bell, Jack in The Box, Arby's, Wendy's, and as of 5:00 PM last night- A Burger King.

Of course we had to head over on opening night because Thing 1 and thing 2 (I mean, my children) have been begging to go since they broke ground. We were not the only ones -there was a line to get in the door - At Burger King!!!! We crowded in the building to be the 27th customer EVER served and the kids had a blast.

I am not the biggest BK fan in the World, but I did find it rather amusing that we were there with almost every other person in town. Small town happenings - Gotta love it!

Wordless Wednesday

2007-11-14T13:44:00.001-08:00

Kids In The Kitchen - Handprint Pumpkin Pies

2007-11-11T21:28:00.001-08:00

Handprint Pumpkin Pies

Need a way to keep the little ones from underfoot while you're slaving in the kitchen on Thanksgiving? Why not get them involved? Little ones can smash the potatoes, pour the ingredients, or even lend a hand with these fun pumpkin pies!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 15-oz. pkg. refrigerated piecrust
1 16-oz. can packed pumpkin
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees, then begin making the turkey handprint for the pie. Trace your child's handprint on a piece of lightweight cardboard, then cut it out to create a stencil. Place the stencil over one of the circles of pie dough and cut around it, adding turkey feet to the bottom of the hand.

2. Place the cutout on a nonstick baking sheet. Brush with water and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.

3. Next, place the remaining circle of pie dough in a 9-inch glass pie pan. Press the crust firmly against the sides and bottom of the pan. Crimp the edges.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and pumpkin pie spice. Mix until smooth.

5. Pour the mixture into the piecrust and bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

6. Place the baked turkey cutout in the center of the pie and allow the pie to cool before serving.
Makes one 9-inch pie.

Some Dental Freebies

2007-11-11T19:16:00.000-08:00

The tooth fairy has been a frequent visitor at our house these days as our 6 year old finally starts to lose his teeth! In honor of her visits I have scoured the web for some fun dental freebies for you!

Colgate Healthy Bedtime Habits - sign-up and keep an on-line log to earn a free character toothbrush for each child in your home

Reach Access Daily Flosser Aquafresh

Arm & Hammer Toothpaste - skip the intro, choose "Oral Hygiene" from the "Roll over to Choose a Solution" menu, click on the giant toothbrush, click on "Free Sample"

House Meme

2007-11-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

Heather over at http://notadiylife.blogspot.com/ did this fun little Meme, and I decided to play along as well!

House meme:

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Mary Kay Red Fig and Tea Body scrub
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No
3. What would you change about your living room? Make itbigger!
4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean - That will last - Yeah right! LOL!
5. What is in your fridge? Lots of things! String cheese, milk, juice, soda, yougrt, turkey, etc.
6. White or wheat bread? Wheat
7. What is on top of your refrigerator? Knives - and I'm not sure - I'm not that tall!
8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? We don't have a shower curtain in our bathroom - we have a door. The boys have fish all over theirs.
9. How many plants are in your home? None. I have a black thumb!
10. Is your bed made right now? Unmade - Hubby works nights and he just got up a little bit ago. I know- excuses, excuses.
11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub
12. Is your closet organized? Somewhat - the boys have a way of jinxing my organization!
13. Can you describe your flashlight? No - we have a few
14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? Plastic - we have 6 boys who tend to break things - enough said.
15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No
16. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? Garage? What is that? LOL! Ours was converted before we bought the house. We do have a storage area and that is cluttered!
17. Curtains or blinds? Both
18. How many pillows do you sleep with? One.
19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? No
20. How often do you vacuum? Rarely - we have hardwood floors so we sweep daily.
21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard, although I would love a soniccare one day
22. What color is your toothbrush? Pink.
23. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? Yes
24. What is in your oven right now? Dinner! Barbeque Beef Turnovers - Yummy!
25. Is there anything under your bed? A storage container full of fabric that I WILL use one day!
26. Chore you hate doing the most? Cleaning the toilets - That is man's work! LOL!
27. What retro items are in your home? Well, my house was built in the 70s - does that count?
28. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? Yes, It is also my dance studio where I teach tap and ballet.
29. How many mirrors are in your home? Five.
30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? No - the kids and the hubby would find it!
31. What color are your walls? Purple - well, lavender really. Dark blue, red, grey and sky blue.
32. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? Just my attack poodle!
33. What does your home smell like right now? Dinner
34. Favorite candle scent? Vanilla
.35. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? None
36. What color is your favorite Bible? Green
37. Ever been on your roof? No way!
38. Do you own a stereo? Yes
39. How many TVs do you have? 2.
40.How many house phones? 1
41. Do you have a housekeeper? I wish!!!!!
42. What style do you decorate in? Ummm - homey I guess!
43. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Solid
44. Is there a smoke detector in your home? Two
45. In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip? Assuming all of the people were out of the house, I would grab my laptop and family pics.

If you decide to do this Meme - Let me know and I will check it out!

Kizoodle - Shop For Free!

2007-11-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

I just joined a new site called Kizoodle. Using Kizoodle is almost like getting stuff for free because you never exchange money with anyone!

Here is a simple overview of how it works:

Kizoodle is an open swap forum where you post things to "sell" for credits, after you successfully "sell" an item then you can "buy" things with the credits in your account. The only cash you will ever spend is on shipping your items that "sell", but you request credits to cover the shipping costs.
What types of items are available to buy on Kizoodle? Everything for baby, kids, and moms!!! Including homeschooling supplies!
How do YOU get started with 7 Kiz Credits in your account and start swapping in Kizoodle? Follow these simple instructions:

Sign up for your account here: http://kizoodle.com/MemberLogin.aspx?su=1
Sign-in to your account with your username and password
Click on "My Kizoodle" in the menu on the left, then on "My Kiz Store" in the pop-up menu Enter this promo code: GLNYDE and you will receive 7 Kiz Credits in your account!!!!

What's next? To use your credits to start "buying" items, you need to first list at least one item and successfully "sell" it
1. From "My Kiz Store" click on "Post an Item"
2. Fill out the form with information about your item, you can also upload a photo of the item (I highly recommend taking the time to take a photo of your item, it will "sell" faster)
3. You have complete control of how many credits you request for the item and for shipping, but the general guideline is that one credit equals about one dollar.
4. Browse the store by clicking on "Go Shopping" to compare your item with other similar items posted (but don't get too excited about the things you want to "buy", you have to focus on "selling" something first!)

Guess what I'm doing today? Looking for stuff to list on Kizoodle so that I can start getting the stuff on my wish list! I hope that you are as excited about Kizoodle as I am and I look forward to reading your posts about your experiences using this new tool for the budget-conscious mom!

Aquadots Recall

2007-11-10T20:43:00.001-08:00

Well, I can scratch another toy off of my son's Christmas list. This time they are recalling Aquadots, a popular craft kit with tiny beads that fuse together when sprayed with water. The very same chemical that causes the beads to stick together can also be toxic when swallowed. Children who have ingested the beads have become comatose. Other possible complications include slowed breathing and seizures.

Anybody else longing for the toys of old?

Personalized Bling

2007-10-29T23:31:00.001-07:00

Are you ready to win some seriously personalized bling? Then head over to http://fussypants.typepad.com/whatsmartmommiesknow/2007/10/operation-bling.html

for your chance to win your very own custom choice of one of her fabulous creations! There nothing like a little jewelry to boost your mood and even better when someone you love is part of it!

Word Smarts

2007-10-29T15:30:00.001-07:00

Do you think you are pretty clever? Try out this site http://www.freerice.com/index.php

For every word you get right, the United Nations World Food Program will donate 10 grains of rice. There are 50 word levels, but most people don't get past 48 - I got stuck around 47 before I decided to give it a rest (hey -we can only waste so much time! LOL)

So test your smarts and help out a great cause! How high could you get?

Homeschool logo design contest

2007-10-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling kiddos - and their parents too :) are invited to enter lifelearning.org's logo design contest:

Best Homeschooling Award - Logo Design Contest for Homeschooling Families

Put your graphic skills to use and get the chance to win $100! Entries must be recieved by Dec. 1, 2007. Full details are available at their website.

Good Luck!

London On My Mind

2007-10-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

I know the title of the song is really Georgia On My Mind, but articles like this one: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977147255 have caused me to have London on the mind. I have never been outside of the US and I am positively itching to go to Europe.

I would love to take the boys to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace (especially the changing of the guards!), Kensington Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The London Eye, the Botanical Gardens, the list goes on and on! We are big Harry Potter and DaVinci Code fans, so we would have to take those tours as well.

So, all of this daydreaming had me thinking, how expensive could it be? Maybe this dream could become a reality… so I did a little research and found this website: http://www.visitlondon.com/people/ which had tons of info on what sites to see in London, how to visit on a budget (yes!), and even this great section for kids: http://kids.visitlondon.com/ (Does having 6 kids make that section a no brainer? LOL). I even found some affordable hotels at London Accomodation. So, maybe my dream may become a reality! Just wish me luck in convincing the hubby!

Oompa Toy Giveaway

2007-10-15T19:26:00.001-07:00

It has been hard to miss all of the toy recalls this year, and with Christmas coming up, I have been worried about what toys would actually be safe.

The people at http://www.oompa.com/ are also worried about toy safety and they show it with an extensive list of where all of their toys are manufactured.

Even better than safe toys is Free safe toys, and you can be the lucky winner of one of these Maggy Cachatou Sorting Farm valued at $36.49. Just head over to Mom Views http://momviews.blogspot.com/2007/10/oompa-toys-feature-review-and-contest.html to enter!

Good Luck!

Win The Jungle Book on DVD

2007-10-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Jungle Book is one of my favorite Disney Movies, and Sheila over at My Memories is giving away this DVD. How cool is that? She is giving away the 2 disc 40th anniversary edition DVD to one lucky reader at http://4mymemories2.blogspot.com/2007/10/dvd-giveaway.html

Hurry over there, because the contest ends on Oct.12, 2007.

Good Luck!

Digital Camera Giveaway

2007-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Nurse, cook, maid, chauffer, the roles of mommy are many, but one of the best roles is that of photographer. I LOVE LOVE LOVE taking pics of the boys! Hamming it up, or sweetly asleep I can't wait to snap their pic. And now you can help cure cancer with this cool pink cam from Casio.

In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Casio is painting the town pink with their Casio Pink EX-Z75 digital camera specially bundled with a camera case with pink stitching and a pink ribbon-clad lanyard to show support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

If you want a chance to get one free, headover to one of my fave blogs 5 minutes for Mom http://www.5minutesformom.com/2440/casio/ and get yourself entered to win a camera and help a cause!