Mom of Two Boys: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

My Favorite iPhone Apps...

I've had my iPhone 4 for less than a year...

When I was upgrading, I wasn't certain I would use an iPhone enough to warrant the cost...

But to my surprise it has been very useful, entertaining and well addicting...

Here are a few of my favorite FREE apps...

Pandora ~ stream your favorite music for FREE. I love choosing a kid's station (i.e. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and plugging my phone into my car so the boys can listen to their music without buying a bunch of CDs...

Netflix ~ ok technically the app is free BUT you do have to subscribe to Netflix. We love that our kids can watch available movies on our phones through this app on car rides, while waiting for food at a restaurant, etc....

Facebook ~ If you have a Facebook accout this app is a must...a quick easy way to stay in touch with your FB friends...

Redbox ~ If you rent movies through Redbox this app is AWESOME! You can see what movies are currently "showing" and if the DVD you want to rent is available...But the best part is you can RESERVE the movie for pick-up {so much better than driving all over town looking for a certain movie-not that I would do that}...

Pinterest ~ An already incredibly addicting website is even more addicting as an app you can scroll through anytime you want...I do wish you could edit your pins and boards with this app though...

Overdrive Media ~ Are you an avid reader? If yes, then this app is for you...If your Public Library participates, you can check out ebooks, download them and read right on your phone...I couldn't believe it...and no late fees because when your time is up...the book simply disappears...you can bookmark your place electronically...there is a setting for night reading...and the app tells you how many days you have left before the Library takes the book back...

Well that is my two cents...

What are you favorite apps?

Any I need to download?...

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Boy Mom Blog Hop...

This morning I stumbled onto this super fun Mom of Boys bloghop...

I am so excited to participate...

My name is Mandy and I am a Mom of Two Boys {hence the name M.O.T.B.}...

I generally blog about my boys and the joys {and surprises} I have found along the way...

I love fashion and sometimes will share my own personal style or that which I wish was mine...

I enjoy taking pictures of my family and learning to edit them into something beautiful...

I married my husband 15 years to the day after our first date...

This year we celebrate 5 years of marriage...

I always thought I wanted girls before I had my boys...

Aidan Kale turned 4 on June 6th...

I often write about Aidan's battle with Hirschsprung's Disease...

The funny things he says and asks...

How hard it is for me to watch my first born grow up...

And how incredibly PROUD of him I am...

He is such a smart little boy with a great personality...

A social butterfly with a kind heart...

Kamden Kane was 2 on February 14th...

As his birthday suggests he is a sweetheart...

But tends to exhibit very ornery behaviors...

We love Llama Llama books...

Books that make noise...

Books that rhyme...

And anything they can get their hands on until I say time for bed...

We have clutter...

We have mess...

Stains on our carpet...

Sand in our bathtub...

And children in our bed...

But we make no excuses...

This is our life at Mom of Two Boys...

I am super excited to meet MORE moms of boys!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Consignment Bragging...

A random stop at a consignment store across town...
And an adorable shirt dress from White House Black Market for $10.00...

What have you thrifted lately?
{And yes, I am at the tanning salon}...

Photoshop Elements 9...

I know that once I learn to use it...

Photoshop Elements 9 will be a very good friend...

But right now there are late nights full of frustration and NOTHING to show for them...

Hopefully I can post some of my work soon!!!!!!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

All-Star Season...

Our nephew just finished his first season of All-Stars...

And even in less than ideal conditions...

We spent a few evenings in the stands...

The Logan "fan club" knows how to have fun...

Beat the heat...

And battle mosquitoes...

All while watching #2 play right field, left field, second, shortstop, and third...

Cheering for singles, doubles and stolen bases...

Frustrated at times by bad calls...

Never failing to come home covered in good ol' infield dirt...

And letting him know that even though this season is over...

He will always be a star in our eyes...

Thursday, July 14, 2011

According to Aidan...

When my gas tank gets low and has 50 miles until E it makes a beeping noise...

So Tuesday on the way to my nephews All-Star game it beeped...

Aidan "What was that noise?"

Me "The car is telling me it needs gas soon."

A "Where is a gas station?"

M "Don't worry buddy I don't have to get it right now."

A "Mom, we need gas."

M "Yes, I know but we can get it after the game."

A "Do you see a gas station?"

M "No buddy but we are going to the baseball field."

A "I don't think that is a good idea."

Yesterday we found out my sister is indeed having a little girl...

She and I each have two boys so this will be a wonderful addition to our testosterone charged family...

M "Aunt Jessi is having a girl."

A "I know."

M "Do you want a baby girl?"

A "No way dude!"

M "You don't want anymore kids?"

A "No more kids!"
M "It will just be you and brother then?"
A "Yes"
M "You like babies don't you?"
A "Yes"
M "But you are sure you don't want another one in our house?"
A "Yes I am sure."
M "You don't want a baby sister?"
A "No!"
{Guess that solves that!}

One evening Aidan asks out of the blue...

"Mom what happens when I yeave {leave}?"

M "Leave where?"

A "Grow up and leave. What happens to you and Daddy?"

M "We live here and you come visit."

A "I don't want to yeave."

{Mommy doesn't want him to either}

When Aidan gets in trouble he has started saying things like this...

A "I don't know why you always do this to me!"

M "What?"

A "Hurt my feelings!"

{Gets me every time}

And finally...

Last weekend I was getting ready in my bathroom and the boys were being very good just watching TV {normally they are in the middle of everything I do}...

I'm almost done when Aidan comes in to check on my progress and I ask "What have you been doing?"

A "Watching Sponge Bob."

M "You know you aren't supposed to watch Sponge Bob."

{I am just not a fan}

A "I know."

M "Then why didn't you come get me?"

A "Because I didn't want you to turn it off."

{At least he is honest}

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Bloggers Guilt...

I'm starting to feel like my old blogger self again and I have to say a HUGE thank you to my readers who have not left me...

After the May 22nd tornado that destroyed a large part of my home town I felt very shallow writing about anything other than what I saw around me each day...

I didn't want to post what I was wearing knowing that many I knew and loved were wearing whatever they could salvage or whatever was given to them...

I hated to be sarcastic when I knew I had so much for which to be grateful...

I didn't want to talk about bargains or even shop when I knew I had more than enough...

It was even difficult to blog about my boys when every night Aidan Kale asked to sleep with his bedroom light on and to check the weather on our phones for a tornado warning...

I know that life in our Midwestern town will never be the same...

I am still haunted by stories of what happened...

How close we came to losing loved ones...

I will never forget the sound of breaking glass...

Forcing my body as low as it would go covering Kam...

Literally thinking we were going to die...

But even as I write those terrible phrases...

We are healing...

And I find that I want to blog again...

I want to see what you are wearing...

Making...

Doing...