We asked the kids to list a few items they’d like to have for Christmas this year. Of course, they won’t receive all of these items, but I’m pretty sure “Santa” would appreciate a list with alternate options:)

Roman’s list includes toy cars. These wooden toy cars available at TULP Kids would bring a bright smile to his face. I love all of the color options. The cars are simple, functional, and well crafted. All of our top requirements for play items!

Hello, there. I’m sorry that I’ve neglected to update this space more. It’s been pretty stressful at our house. Elijah has a terrible bout of Eczema that has him miserable and the rest of us mystified on how we can make him comfortable.

We’ve tried everything from a cream prescribed by the pediatrician to a recommended OTC lotion – both with no relief!

There are dry, flaking, and peeling patches all over his body, including his little tush! He scratches them until they’re raw and bleeding. Several spots of skin on his legs are gone!

His scalp is riddled with bloody sores. We’ve cut his fingernail really short, and coaxed him into wearing a hat in hopes that he won’t scratch as much. I know this isn’t a realistic deterrent.

Does anyone know of any remedies for Eczema that really work? I must admit, the inability to “fix this” saddens me.

I’m curious to know how many times you’ve thought about digitally transferring your 8mm, 16mm, or 35mm film to DVD? For me it’s each time I open our hallway closet, and see a big pink photo box filled with photos and hundreds of forgotten film strips.

Have you heard of Video Conversion Experts? Their company provides film conversion services. It’s a great service to invest in if you’d like to preserve those special moments that you have captured on film.

Their services are not just limited to film. For those of you who have hundreds of hours of video footage stored on bulky VHS tapes, Video Conversion Experts can transfer those too.

From now until October 30th you can save 35% off their services. This would make an awesome holiday gift for family members.

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I love every single stitch of this! I’m new to Tiny Revolutionary, but their “Giving Tee” line has my undivided attention. They supersede being just another cool tee by going one step further – charitable giving.

The donations from the sale of these tees (available in infant to adult sizes!) varies from funding educational programs to providing medical procedures to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access. What’s extra awesome is that you and your little ones will have a fashionable reminder of the power of giving.

Sometimes a revolution is needed for change to happen. Even a tiny one:)

There’s only 21 more days before Halloween! Can you sense my excitement? The kids are sending subtle hints that I should take it down a peg:) I’ve heard faint whispers of “mom, calm down” each time we pass a sign announcing Halloween activities and events at the local pumpkin patch.

I’m sorry, but isn’t a girl entitled to find a bit of happiness in pumpkin patch visits, corn mazes, and entering (and winning!) pumpkin decorating contests? I’m crossing my fingers that my secret weapon: Handmade Holiday Crafts arrives in the mail soon. Everyone knows I look to Martha for decorating ideas. She’s like a Pumpkin Spice Latte with extra whip cream- just awesome.

Does your family plan an annual Fall trip to the local pumpkin patch?

{above photo from Kam’s World}

I’ve been known to voice my opinion on the importance of fatherhood. How it’s equally as important as motherhood. Last week I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my inbox to read tips provided by Tom Watson, author of Man Shoes, on how to be a better father while trying to survive a faltering economy. I acknowledge that most of my readers are women, I still hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the tips, as well as feel free to pass them on to a father or father figure you know:

Share Time – Don’t spend time with your kids, because that term makes it sound like you are giving away time that you could be using for other things. Share time with them, because sharing indicates that you both get something out of that time. It’s important for your kids to know that you aren’t paying attention to them out of obligation, but rather, because you need to be with them as much as they need to be with you.

Make a Schedule – Stability and security are important to kids, so set up a time every week that is just for them, and do your best to make that time on your calendar immovable. Give them something they can look forward to on a regular schedule and it will show them how important they are to you and help you build a trusting relationship with them.

A Little Time is Better Than None – If you’re working two jobs or work out of town and commute home on the weekends, they will understand if you don’t have a lot of time to spend. Even if you can only block out a couple of hours every week, that can be enough. As long as you keep to the schedule and don’t let them down, that time will be as valuable as if you spent the entire weekend with them.

Don’t Plan Big – Parents who work a lot sometimes feel guilty about neglecting their kids, and they cater to that guilt by making big plans with their kids on a regular basis. They feel that doing something lavish and expensive will somehow be seen as a payback to their kids for not seeing them often. The pitfall is that the bigger the plan, the bigger the expectation. The truth is, kids don’t care. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make big plans all the time. It could be as simple as going to the park to fly kites and eating a brown bag lunch together, and most kids would be happy with that.

Are there any parenthood tips you’d like to share? And isn’t this one of the cutest father and son moments ever?!

Why, hello! How was your weekend? Our annual Parish Fair Day was held this weekend. The schools were closed so the children could attend the fair. Fun Fact: Louisiana is the only state composed of parishes. Three days filled with ferris wheels, cotton candy, candy apples, gooey caramel popcorn, funnel cake, and crisp cool weather equal an awesome family weekend!

Now back to reality. I have a standing date with dirty laundry:) Before I go, I’d like to share a video with you. As the weather gets cooler, and my kid’s continue to outgrow their jeans at record rate, TUE’s saving tips are just what I need!

Some people pat me on the back and call me awesome for having 7 kids, while others openly question my sanity and place bets on what year I will plan my great escape to the state mental hospital.

Today, in a moment of weakness, I jumped ship and sided with Team Others. Instead of a mental hospital, I imagined my great escape to be a beach in Barbados surrounded by Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.

I bet you’re wondering what prompted this thought? How does one suddenly trade in Mrs. Brady for Carrie Bradshaw? Simply: a broken camera. Or should I say a demolished? Pulverized? Terrorized camera?

Big sister Brooklyn and her sibling sidekicks – Eden and Elijah – apparently snatched my brand new camera from my purse, ran into the bathroom, and threw it into the toilet. Then they snuck into the kitchen, grabbed a carton of eggs, a few sticks of butter, ran back into the bathroom, tossing everything into the toilet – on top of the camera.

Where was I, parent, mother, adult supervisor? Oh, silly me! I was knee-deep sorting dirty drawers and mismatched mud-stained socks in the laundry room, while my children were supposedly napping. For the astute: Yes, they were “technically” unattended. But this isn’t about that.

This is about an on-location, unedited moment filled with dirty laundry and toilet water hands. As I sat on the bathroom floor surrounded by three very remorseful crying toddlers, (who’ve never experienced a bathroom time-out before) one dead camera, remnants of butter, and slimy egg goop, for a split second I whispered aloud: Is this the end of my rainbow?

Parenting is hard. It will spin you out many times, before even considering spinning you back in. There are no time-outs. There’s a universal house rule: Parents must keep going. You’re on constant duty: diaper duty, breakfast duty, lunch duty, dinner duty, laundry duty, carpool duty, the kids are fighting “oh now I’m a referee” duty.

{I know that top psychology schools will say all this is perfectly normal. Perhaps an early childhood education degree, though, would help me to understand the inner working of my kids’ heads.}

The reality is, I love my life, my kids, my husband. Do I enjoy every. single. moment? No. I don’t. Who among you cleans up vomit or washes poop stained Superman undies with a smile? Enjoys bare-hand diving into a toilet to remove race cars, chalk, apple peelings, spoons, or even cameras? Bedtime showdowns? Raise your hands. Speak clearly and slowly. The Council patiently awaits a response.

Why, it’s only a broken camera. I know this. I’ll buy another. My children, my family, the moments, our lives together are irreplaceable. Along with the smiles of firsts, the tears of joys, the constant giggly laughter, I embrace a few bumpy roads and cracked eggs.

{above photo from D Sharon Pruitt} {sponsored links are included in this post}

Today, I was sitting and thinking about the next phase of my life, and what will it bring. Do you do this? Ever wonder what’s next? It’s not that you’re unhappy about what came before, you just want to make each moment after greater. At least that’s my thoughts.

I took a glance back at my Happiness List and realized there’s not a single thing crossed off. Time is ticking. I came to the realization that I shouldn’t wait until the onset of menopause to get my second wind.
Got Menopause?

So then I made another list: “Things To Do Before I Start Having Menopause Symptoms” thinking this would give me the needed motivation (and laughter) to complete at least one task on my Happiness List. It didn’t. The idea was awesome – inside my brain.

So then I thought: maybe I’m a list addict. A person addicted to making lists, but never completes a single task on the list. It sounded plausible. Now all I needed to do was make a list of my symptoms and run them by The Google to be sure.

So then I started to make a list of my list addiction symptoms. I even titled it: “List Addiction Symptoms.” I know what you’re thinking. Awesome list title! Why, thank you very much! As I’m making a list of my symptoms, I realize that I’m doing “it” again. I’m making another list. When will the madness end.

So then I decided I must get a second opinion to all this list business. I write out a text to my husband detailing my problem, how it started, and what I’d like the final result to be. Send. Two minutes later I receive a response. “I think you should write out a LIST detailing your reasons for not completing prior LISTS.

Why, I married a genius!

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Are you a fan of online magazines? I am. My favorite is Sweet Paul Magazine. It’s an online package of the most delicious things: from style to food to crafts to party ideas. The Fall issue is here.