S Club Mama

I promise I will write my recap of my half soon...I just need some energy back before tackling that. So for now I want opinions. I'm so so so so so tired of my current hair. I'd really like to dye it BUT that upkeep is more expensive than I can handle right now, so I'll go for a cut (once I find a date when I wouldn't have to take my kids). I don't know if I have the guts to make a drastic change...but part of me really wants to. But then if I hate it, there's that awful growing out stage! Ugh. I've been scouring Google about half an hour looking for haircuts I like. Here's what I have so far. REALLY drastic more drastic bangs...but you can't seem to do short hair without bangs perhaps too choppy for me...I don't always do my hair pretty much a shorter cut than what I have but otherwise the same I wish I could see this hairstyle not done... and even shorter version of my hair cut Most of these women have angular chins ...

Mama Kat's (pretty much) World Famous Writer's Workshop gives us bloggers a break on figuring a topic once a week. It's been awhile since I've participated but I love Mama Kat & always read her blog. This week I'll be writing on prompt #5: What’s your stance on ‘labeling’? Were you labeled as a child? Have you labeled your own children? How do you feel about this?  I wasn't labeled as a kid. My school didn't have a gifted program so the only labels were for those who needed extra help. I really wish I would have gone to another school with a gifted program. I think being challenged in school more growing up would have helped me (maybe) with acting out in high school. I also would have been better prepared for college. Having two sons who have labels (autistic and speech delayed) gives me conflicting feelings. I have a good friend who HATES labels - and I understand her feelings. Labels can give kids opportunity to put down or make fun of those who...

If you've known me for awhile, you know that I love (LOVE) The Biggest Loser. We started watching in 2007, off and on Season 3 & 4. I remember watching Caroline Rhea as host but not much else about the season; I don't even remember Kim as a trainer. The next year, we really got in to Season 5 (the one with Ali Vincent as the first female winner). And from there I've been hooked! Big A says I always get very involved in what I watch. It's true. I get really freaked out by scary movies because I'm so in to them. I get very much into The Biggest Loser in the same way; I just have my favorites and I want them to win. I dislike when something is unfair or someone is rude. I'm the sucker with my mouth wide open at a "shocker" that Big A saw coming a mile away. All that to say, I was psyched when Amy & Marty Wolff from BL Season 3. I didn't watch Season 3 but they were on last year's Thanksgiving recap episode. I've read articles about...

Remember my review post and giveaway about L-Bows, the cute little bows my friend Laura makes? She is hosting a contest to win an adorable one-of-a-kind swirly Husker bow (or another red team bow)! If I win this bow, I will take the readers who helped me out and host a giveaway for this very bow on my blog. So to enter to win this blog, please go to Facebook and "like" L-Bows . After that (this part is also mandatory), please leave a comment saying "Randi sent me." If I have the most "referrals" then I win the bow...and get to give it away to one of you! Go. Now. :)

Had a date night with this kid while the other two went fishing. Learned a few things. 1. We cannot divorce. Ever. Not because God says not to (ok that too) but we couldn't separate these kids from one another or their daddy. Squirt threw a HUGE fit when I drove off with just him and not his Bubba or Gaga (Moose or Daddy). 2. The local tanning place/cafe/movie rental place (yes, you read correctly, that's how we roll in Northeastern Kansas) makes delicious blueberry scone-things. 3. I love him so much! Ok I didn't need a reminder but it was nice to have a date, even when we have one 4 days a week when Moose is at school. Ok My husband just called me from upstairs, so it's time for bed. ha!

Headed up to naptime. So sweet. No pulling, no yanking. Just hands held. Leading. Why can't it be like this all the time? ...because this wouldn't be nearly as sweet.

See our fun lunch?  Grilled cheese, bananas, and a strawberry.  Yum!

Today is a movie day...again. This one is prompted by Moose's being sick. The kid is so stubborn he refuses to throw up even when I KNOW it'll make him feel better. Ugh! So to cheer myself up, I get to pick a winner. ... Wow that was easy. Only one entrant. Seriously? I know that my blog gets more traffic than that! C'mon, I don't have super big requirements for giveaways! Oh well, the lucky winner of the UPrinting.com labels is... Becky from Turn Around & Say Hello . congratulations, Becky! I'll email you and then you can email me your address.

Tonight (I'm writing on Friday), I was getting the boys ready for bed. I had the door to their room closed to let their space heater heat things up before bed. We were in the "hallway" and Squirt reached up to his growth chart and tore it down. It ripped the top section off. Not a big deal, right? But how do I react? "No! Oh Squirt, why did you do that?!" Not yelling but definitely not calm. And then, a mirror was put up to my face... Moose's whole body tensed up as he reached for his brother and squeezed him. And what did I do? Yelled at him...making him and Squirt both start to cry. Lately, we have been having problems with Moose's...temper, I guess. He gets frustrated and squeezes people (or in one instance, he took a classmate by the neck). And tonight, it hit me like a ton of bricks. He reacts physically how I react emotionally. He has that instant response of "No!" *heavy, heavy sigh* I've spent the last hour cleaning up ...

Metamorphoo : Greek for "transformation." Root of the word "metamorphosis." This is the primary goal of The Truth Project : for individuals to be transformed into the likeness of Christ by gazing on the face of God. This process is not easy and we often struggle with God's Truth claims in the "cocoon. our caterpillar!! Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. - Mark 9:2-3 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the...

Scene: The boys are watching a preview for "The Lion King" (on "The Fox and The Hound" VHS). Hyena 1: "Did we order this dinner to go?" Hyena 2: "No, why?" Hyena 1: "Because there it goes!" Moose: "Because scary ghost!" as he runs across our living room. Oh I love that boy!  Winner of the L-Bow bow is Apryl of Studied to be a Mommy . I used random.org to pick a winner. Winner will be notified by email. Congratulations to Apryl and thanks to everyone who entered. Please remember that I have the UPrinting.com labels up for grabs (great idea for Christmas labels!) and I will have another giveaway soon!

Moose has been having a difficult time this year with following directions. His teacher says she can tell he's testing the waters, seeing how far he can go. I've noticed it here, too, at home. I know this is an important developmental milestone that all kids reach (usually much sooner than 4-years-old, too). It's also a frustrating milestone. I dislike hearing that Moose tells his teachers, "no, I don't want to follow directions." He does well sometimes and he knows the answer to the question, "are you going to follow directions today?" That doesn't mean he will, unfortunately. That being said, on good following directions days, I am elated! I'm elated that he loves his teachers so much (which he does regardless of how he acts - same with how he loves me regardless of how he acts). I've written a social story for him about following directions. He loves social stories. He does even understand the ones I've written. Apparently it...

UPrinting.com is one of the versatile printing companies found online. They are well known for their labels because they can customize it according to your needs, offering unique custom labels . My family has a large print of our family photo hanging on our wall that was printed by UPrinting.com. It's one of my favorite pictures - mostly due to the high quality of such a large photo. GIVEAWAY! The great people at UPrinting.com have a wonderful prize in store for one of my readers!  250 Labels! (2"x3.5" 70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing, 4 Business Days Turnaround including Free Shipping). To enter the giveaway: (MANDATORY) Tell me what you would have printed on your labels if you win.  OTHER ENTRIES (OPTIONAL): - Like UPrinting on Facebook - Follow UPrinting on Twitter - Like S Club 4 on Facebook - Follow S Club Mama on Twitter - Sign up for Giveaway Blogs Limited to US REsidents 18 years old and above only. Giveaway is open until Tuesday, Sep...

This is about what I remember from 9-11. I was a sophomore in high school, sitting in my school's computer room, waiting for class to start. A guy from my class came in and told us a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought he was joking - I don't think I was the only one. Our teacher turned on the tv...and that's what I remember about most of the rest of the day. In almost every class (except English) we stood or sat in horror as our nation was attacked. Friends of ours had an uncle who worked in the Pentagon, but that was as personal as it was that day (he was fine down in the bunker of the Pentagon). But in the days that followed, learning the names and seeing the pictures of the fallen...then it became personal. Not because I KNEW any of them but because we are one nation, under God. One world created by the same God. He created them same as He created me. Human beings were just killed in the most indecent manner (if there is one) without a judge, w...

Did you see my new little family silhouette at the bottom of the page? I'll give you a minute to scroll down.... .... .... ok you're back. Isn't it cute? I think it's a great representation of our little family! I think the mom seems pretty happy and short enough to be me. The dad isn't quite as tall as Big A or as built, but he'll do. Moose isn't quite that small and wouldn't wear a vest - but he'd be the one standing there so nice for a family picture. The character I love most is Squirt. Our little jumping bean. What a perfect little characterization of our son. Anyway, just wanted to point out that little tiddly wink - click on it below to check out their website & make your own family silhouette.

The winner for the Aurora Softy Soakers giveaway is.... (drumroll here) Chicken Little of Journey of a Whittle! Please email me your address so I can pass it along to the company so you can receive your prize! Congrats and thanks to...well, the only other person who entered. :) C'mon people! My entries are few and easy, give it a try! Try your luck by entering to win an L-Bow hairbow , too!

  Go Huskers ! images taken at the Lincoln Children's* Museum.  *That's right, a kid museum.  Who says parents can't have fun, too?

LABOR DAY GIVEAWAY! L-Bows is the brain child of my friend, Laura. Besides being my best friend, Laura is a stay-at-home mom of 5 foster sons (one of whom she and her husband are adopting!) - not to mention on weekends they often have more children through respite care. I know how busy two boys make me, so I know that Laura is super busy! However, she has carved out some time for a home-based business: L-Bows ! L-Bows - isn't that a fun name? Laura has that fun, quirky sense of humor that you want in a friend. My only wish was that my boys could wear her bows because they really are cute. I spent a good twenty minutes trying to pick out just the right bow to review. I ended up choosing this beauty: Now I may not have a daughter, but I do know a quality bow when I see one! I love the colors of this bow and just how girlie it truly is! The blue zebra print is so popular now, too! And L-Bows has so many other designs of ribbons and bows. You can check out the selection o...

This is excerpted from my husband's Facebook status: Big A: so where did September come from? Kurt: It came from God...He created it so that football could exist...and mankind rejoiced! Big A: ah yes how could I forget that famous verse from the book of Huskers 15:7 which says "And the Lord God said Go Big Red." Cale: Big A it is actually spelled Huskiah 15:7 Matt: I like the part in chapter 18 where the demons are driven out of the Iowa fans and they come to see the error of their ways. They leave their lives of failure far behind, trading their ugly yellow in for beautiful scarlet. It just shows how there's hope for every man. I "like" this conversation and leave you with this for the weekend: Go Big Red!

The winner of the Gruffalo DVD is Becky D of Two Ladies and a Gent . Congrats Becky! Email me your address at sclubmama (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks to everyone who entered. Be sure to enter my giveaway for the Aurora Softy Soaker (ends Sept. 8th). Disclaimer: Winner was chosen by random.org.