Life With 4 Boys

When You Feel Like You've Failed Your Child

2012-06-01T09:38:00.001-04:00

As I have mentioned here before, my second oldest son Jordan who is 10 has a learning disability in reading. It is quite severe and for years I have fought with the school to get him tested and to get him the help he so desperately needs. The problem is, in the public school system, that is often easier said than done. For years I have gone into countless appointments at the school begging

The "I'm Bored" Chore Jar - Summertime Sanity Saver

2012-05-31T08:40:00.001-04:00

Today is the last day of school for my boys and summer is almost here. With four boys to keep occupied by myself all summer and with me being 8 months pregnant, this summer is going to be interesting to say the least. One of the most dreaded phrases that my boys utter all summer and I am sure other kids do as well is "I'm bored." You know, the same phrase you hear after you have just done

Claritin Provides Fast Relief from Seasonal Allergies

2012-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

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Cut the Pests from Outdoor Fun with Cutter Products

2012-05-29T21:03:00.000-04:00

I mentioned last week that we were gearing up for our first outdoor BBQ of the year. Part of the preparations were making sure the yard was sprayed for mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other pests with Cutter Backyard Big Control Spray Concentrate. This stuff worked great and left me wondering why I never did anything to get rid of the pests before. As the weekend drew closer and our Memorial Day

Johnson's Baby Cares Teams Up with Save the Children

2012-05-28T22:17:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day was only a few short weeks ago and it only took that one day for me to realize how truly lucky and blessed I am to have my boys in my life. If you had told me years ago that I would be the proud mother of four boys, I would have looked at you cross-eyed, but here I am. It is truly the most amazing experience, but I know all to well how unfortunate some others around me are as well

Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake Recipe

2012-05-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am not the biggest fan of cooking. If you have been around my blog for any length of time you know that. However, I am a fairly decent cook and am always on the lookout for simple recipes that are easy to make and tasty too. Years ago I had a cake similar to this one at an picnic and I decided to try my hand at recreating it for our BBQ this weekend. It really is easy and tastes oh so good.

4 Top Tips for Planning an Outdoor Party

2012-05-25T09:11:00.002-04:00

Seeing as this is Memorial Day weekend and everyone is gearing up for some fun outdoors, including us, I thought I would share some of my top tips or planning an outdoor party. This weekend, friends and family will flock over to our place for some good food and plenty of fun. Planning an outdoor party can present some challenges though and if you aren't careful, can get pretty pricey too.

Finding the Perfect Gift for Any Occasion

2012-05-24T08:31:00.001-04:00

We all have the people on our list who are impossibly hard to shop for. For me, my mom presents the biggest challenge. Anytime you ask her what she wants, she always says nothing. With answers like that, it can be almost impossible to settle on the perfect gift. Flower delivery from Interflora solves that problem though, and can help you choose the right present for any occasion. Whether you

Evolution of a Mom

2012-05-23T13:14:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I got to thinking about how much our roles as moms change throughout the years depending on what our children need from us or how they view us. I thought it was pretty funny the changes we undergo in our children's eyes, so I made a little graphic to display the humor behind the evolution of a mom. Enjoy!

DIY Yarn Wreath with Two Tone Felt Flowers Tutorial

2012-05-21T10:07:00.000-04:00

I saw an adorable yarn wrapped wreath with felt flowers on Pinterest the other day. The problem was that it led me to an Etsy store where the wreaths were for sale for $40. Not being the one to want to part with my money, I started thinking of how I could make the same wreath on my own but for less. Below is a yarn wrapped wreath tutorial and I threw in a two toned felt flower tutorial as well

Weekend Funnies - Picture Dump

2012-05-19T10:43:00.003-04:00

Just thought it was time for a little extra weekend fun. Need a laugh this weekend? The funny photos will help bring a smile to your face. In fact, some of them had me downright rolling on the floor with laughter. After all, the weekend is a time to de-stress. Right?

32 Weeks Surrogacy Update - 3d/4d Ultrasound Photos

2012-05-18T09:17:00.000-04:00

By now, pretty much all of you know that I am a gestational surrogate for some amazing IF's (intended fathers.) The time is flying by at this point and it is hard to believe that this long journey is almost over. I am 32 weeks as of yesterday and this big girl is growing like a weed. I had a 3d/4d ultrasound done yesterday and wanted to share an update and some pictures from it with all of you

Schwinn Bikes for All Stages of Life (Sponsored Video)

2012-05-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

We all remember the thrill of our first bike. Those vibrant colors, the shiny new metal and the experience of trying something new and exciting. Then, there was the bike you had as a pre-teen growing up. Mine was light blue. I can still remember cruising the streets of my neighborhood with my friends, passing that cute boy that lived in the house on the corner and not having a care in the

Caption This Kid 5/16

2012-05-16T08:30:00.000-04:00

Another hump day is hear and Caption This Kid has arrived to add a little fun to your week. If you have not participated before, it is simple. Just leave a comment below with your best caption for the kid in this week's photo. One comment will be randomly chosen next week and the winner will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card. It's that easy! Our winner from last week was comment 12 from Piper!

Living Room Makeover Before and After

2012-05-15T14:25:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I shared our dining room before and after photos with you and now the living room is ready to reveal. This has been a few months in the making, but we did a complete overhaul and it was well worth the wait. It went from old grungy green carpet to hardwood flooring, from built-in floor to ceiling wallpaper to beautiful paint with bead board and from scratched up furniture and

Picture Translations for Common Kid Phrases

2012-05-14T10:44:00.001-04:00

"You're Mean!" We all know that kids are usually straightforward with what they say. There usually is no interpretation needed. In fact, some common kid phrases can create an instant picture image in our head that says it all. You know that phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words?" Well, in these cases it is completely true. "Oops" "Uh-Oh" "It Wasn't Me" "It Was an Accident

I've Made It To The Big Time Or So My Son Thinks

2012-05-12T10:41:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, Jordan brought me home a Mother's Day card. I have gotten cards from the boys in the past, but they usually just say "Happy Mother's Day" and "I love you." When I read this one, it was too awesome not to share. I guess this is how you know you have been a blogger for a long time and your kids clearly enjoy the perks. I bet you all didn't know that I am one of the best bloggers in

Get Crafty This Summer with Factory Direct Craft

2012-05-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

Summer is quickly approaching. The boys only have a few weeks left before they are out of school and I am nearly 8 months along in this surrogacy. What does that mean? It means this crazy mama is running scared trying to find things that will keep them busy while keeping my home from looking like a tornado hit it. I have also been looking for some great DIY materials to help spruce up the

1-800-Flowers Vase Expressions, Perfect for Mother's Day - $50 GC Giveaway

2012-05-10T22:01:00.003-04:00

It's that time again. The time of year when we should all get down on our hands and knees and thank our poor mothers for putting up with us and not giving up on us before we reached adulthood and realized that they were right and we were wrong. The time that we ourselves as mothers should be showered with praise and presents for just one day. Hey, having someone do the dishes for us doesn't

Caption This Kid 5/9

2012-05-09T08:53:00.002-04:00

It's Wednesday again, which means another dose of Caption This Kid. Congrats to our winner from last week, Ty! Don't know how it works? Leave a comment below with a caption that you think is perfect for the kid in this week's photo. Why should you do it? Simple, because the winner that is randomly chosen by next week will win a $5 Amazon gift card. Just a little way to have some fun halfway

4 Summer Updo Hair Tutorials for Short to Medium Hair

2012-05-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

When the hot weather rolls around here in Florida, the last thing I want is sticky sweaty hair on my neck and face. I started searching for new summer updo hair tutorials that would work for short hair a while ago and thought some of you might find use in them too. These are all adorable and pretty simple for a quick trip to the park or a day at the beach! 1. Double Messy Bun Short Hair Updo

Raising a Round Child in a Square World - Or Why I Hate Awards Assemblies

2012-05-07T07:26:00.003-04:00

The world can be a great place when you are exactly as others think you should be. When you conform to societies views of what is right and perfect. However, when you slip through those cracks and start to become round in a square world, it can be a frustrating experience. As a mom of one son who has a learning disability it is disheartening to see your child struggle and try their very

Kick Back With The Girls at Outback - $90 Gift Card Giveaway

2012-05-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

As moms we all know how important it is to take some time for ourselves. Unfortunately, this is usually easier said than done. Last year I posted about the Kick Back with the Girls promotion from Outback Steakhouse and it is that time again. Time for you to take a break from the laundry, dishes and mischievous children and have a girls night out! No to mention, if you are pregnant like me, a

Caption This Kid 5/2

2012-05-02T08:05:00.001-04:00

Last week I introduced a new weekly segment on Life With 4 Boys called Caption This Kid. The idea is that each Wednesday I post a new photo of a kid and you all leave comments below with a suggested caption for the photo. It is all in fun and the more humorous the caption the better! To add to the fun, I will choose one comment using random.org and announce the winner the following week. That

Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort - Perfect for Families #HiltonSandestinMoms

2012-05-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I let you know a bit about the amazing Hilton Sandestin Golf Resort and Spa, showed you the large rooms, breathtaking views and shared about their kids' programs. Today I had a chance to take advantage of many of the family friendly amenities they have and had a great time. It has been a long time since I went somewhere I truly did not want to leave. Many places have made me