Keeping it Real

I don't think too much about what our lives look like to others. I mean I take a few photos and put up a fun tutorial now and then. However, I started reading (completely innocent and kind) comments about All for the Boys on other blogs saying things like "Love this blog but be warned, it will make you feel like a lazy mother" or something to that effect. Then I got asked if I do a big activity or craft with my boys every day. PLEASE do not feel like a lazy mother, heck you like this blog because of the inspiration to play with your kids right?!

I am by NO means a perfect mother. I do believe I'm a good mom and you should too! (Mom, Grandmother, Father etc.) Our life is loud, bickering, messy, boring, unhealthy dinners once in a while but it's also laughter, love, respect, educational, fun... It's real and it's ours and I love it.

Everyone is different everyone's schedules are different. Heck even mine changes. I used to work full time out of the house with a 45min drive each way to the office. Now I work most days at home (still full time) and that has different stresses on us as a family but we take each change in stride and make it work for us.

To me the most important thing is remembering to take time to make special moments and memories with my boys. We go on one on one dates (their choice), I do fun activities like we show on the blog, we act silly in the grocery store, we make jokes, we take walks to the park, we dance in the rain. 

Honestly one of my 9 year old's favorite memories of fun times together is when we made a band with stuff from the kitchen. You know, banging on the pots and pans, throwing beans or rice into a jar. It was a few years ago (I was trying to keep them busy and from getting on eachother (and my) nerves) but he will bring it up every now and then. There are no perfect pictures, there isn't even a scrapbook page, just his very fond memory. And THAT is my goal as a mother. No fancy science tricks, no brand new toys, and no perfect photography needed. Everyone has what that takes.

(Cute DIY bongos from minieco)

So my advice to you is step out of your comfort zone a little and play with your kids.

Create memories.

And please remember that all you see on a blog are a few pictures from a few moments in our lives.  (and thank goodness there isn't any sound ;)

A Beaver Dam Party

Under the Sycamore is a blog I frequent and as soon as she posted her son's beaver party I begged (ok I asked nicely) if I could feature it here. A dam building, playing outside party perfect for the boys.

I love the dam building activity! We may have to do that just because.

Check out her blog for more fun inspiration not only from this party but everyday life as well! Thanks Ashley!

Dr. Suess!

First a quick update - my camera is broken :( It's in the shop so let's all keep our fingers crossed for a quick, not so expensive repair! Also, I'm working on spiffing up the blog and let me tell you I CANNOT wait to show you all. The first peeks I've seen are amazing!

Let's get on to some Dr. Suess shall we?! Tomorrow (March 2nd) is the day our schools celebrate his birthday. I thought it would be fun to share some Dr. Suess inspiration today!

Some of my favorite quotes

from vi.sualize.us

from bellarusticanashville

from Facebook Addict

from rachelle adelina

How about some Dr. Seuss parties or snacks?!

This party is so perfect from  Hostess with the Mostess (lots more over there)

Simple snack from my favorite book by Muffin Tin Mom

Green Eggs and Ham from The Girl Who Ate Everything

a cute packed lunch over at How Does She?

and some crafts!

Lorax Trees from craftjr

One Fish fishing from Heck Fridays

Don't forget your Ooblek! from wired.com

You could go see the Lorax with a matching mustache - from Babble

Or dress up from Dana MADE it

couple of cute ideas from Meet the Dubiens

Shadow Boxes

My boys LOVE little things. You know when you empty the pockets of your kids' wash and wonder why in the world they wanted to save those little "treasures"? When I saw this post from my friend Jennifer Kirk on Bloesom Kids

(cute right?!)

it reminded me that I never shared one of my solutions for one of my boys' most favorite little treasures LEGO minifigs.

A while back I had posted this picture on our Facebook page

Saying that I was working on a project for the boys' room. Well since I'm all about honesty. I've only gotten 2 (out of 8) of them done, but you still get the point.

 I swear I could have a wall of these things and still not fit all the guys we have in there.

I found these little shadow boxes at Greenbacks (a dollar store) and spray painted them black. I haven't sealed them yet and we are still deciding on the best way to keep the men from falling off. They stay on fine but if you run into the wall (which for whatever reason happens often here) some may fall. I'm thinking of glueing a small LEGO strip to the bottom of each box to set the guys on.

Winter Adventure Guide

If you've never been to The Happy Family Movement you are in for a fun surprise. They are an amazing little family committed to fostering loving relationships and creating memorable experiences. 

I've shared their Fort Building kit before but they have something new up their sleeves. The Winter Adventure Guide

It's a PDF guide FULL of indoor adventures for you and your kids. I'll be completely honest and tell you that I was skeptical at first I mean I can just look up ideas for us to do online right? Well when Jenny asked me if I'd like to look over this new guide I figured I'd give it a shot (for you all) and see what it was all about. I didn't have to write a review or anything about it, but I have to, I really do.

I was VERY suprised. There is so much love and work put into this guide and it was evident right away. Once I got past that and actually read some of the ideas (broken down into quick activities, and longer 3-4 hour activities) I was blown away. Some of the ideas are simple fun family activities but with everything thought out for you. There are printables, and checklists to make sure you have everything ready to go.

My boys got so excited reading it over deciding what they wanted to do. We live in AZ so winter is our time to play outside but I don't think that even matters - this is awesome any time of year. 

If you are willing to get down and dirty and play with your kids but just want some inspiration to quickly turn to - you want this guide. Seriously, buy it, print it out (or at least the checklists and printables) get everything ready in a little box and you'll be ready to play whenever you need to. You'll be a hero!

The only bad thing is now they want to do all the activities ;)

My boys are 7 and 9 and obviously loved it. I'd say it's great for kids 3-10ish depending on the kid? Love, love, love this guide and how it gets parents/families to PLAY!

It's on sale through tomorrow (1/27/2012)  for $10 and the regular price is $15 and worth every darn penny.

But if you're dragging your feet here's a coupon code for you (not for those on sale but will help extend the sale)!

Real Rooms

I'm sure you've seen lots of amazingly decorated perfect rooms around the internet. I LOVE getting inspiration from pictures of kids' rooms. However looking at those can sometimes make us think our rooms aren't good enough or will never look that good. You know what? Who cares. We do what we can do and as long as our kids are happy what does it matter if their rooms aren't fit for the cover of an interior design magazine?

Thinking about all of that got me to thinking maybe I'm the only one who thinks that? Maybe I'm the only one whose kids' rooms aren't what I had envisioned when I was little and planning my perfect life. So I asked a couple of my blogger friends to share their kids rooms, right now however they look.

The thing I love the most out of all of these rooms is that you can see personality of the parents and kids. You can tell each of these parents has a sense of design/art/style and yet there are actual kids living/playing/messing in these rooms. Some are clean, some aren't so picked up and yet they are all so fun in their own ways!

Here are 2 rooms from my friends over at The Happy Family Movement. They actually blogged about their rooms on Monday

Kelly from Kelly Noel Photography has some sports loving boys - this room is SO perfect for them!

Jen from The Brothers Trimm shared these pictures with me of her colorful, adorable room.

Here are some pictures from Alison over at This Homemade Life - boys obviously live here ;)

and here are a few shots from Jen from Ambrosia Creative (love the poster) she posted about their rooms here

and probably way too many pictures of our rooms ;) I obviously have 2 very different peronalities here!

Apparently we hang up markers with tape? Anyway there it is the boys' rooms in all their lived in glory :) 

So what do you think? Are you still inspired even though we aren't ready for a cover shoot? Did you like a peek into some bloggers' real kids rooms? I was!

Car Storage

There is something about the beginning of the year. A fresh start, maybe new toys over the holidays, that gets people wanting to organize. While checking out a new followers blog yesterday I came across her solution for storing Matchbox or Hot Wheel type cars.

From DAT's so Cute 

I don't know about you but my boys LOVE to see their collections all lined up and these solutions are perfect for that.

From the Style Files

from Lumber Jocks

from Ikea Hacker

From Joscie Jones and Company

Bedroom Inspiration

I thought I'd post some of my recent favorite bedroom inspiration for a really fun post I have planned for next week. When we moved into this house I loved looking at bedrooms online and picking and choosing some of the fun things I wanted to ad to the boys' rooms.

I REALLY love everything from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child but here are 2 of my favs

Love this baby room from 6th Street Design School

Love the wall in this room by Jute Interior Design from Houzz

These "book" shelves from A Little Tipsy are too cute!

and I'm always up for planets or maps like in this room seen on BHG

Now I don't know about you, but my kids' rooms have NEVER looked this good. Next week I'm sharing some REAL kids rooms!