Some folks are anti-bribe. That’s totally cool… for some folks. I’m totally down with the bribery. After Cy was born, Cora Jane started potty training and Eli started speech class (best South OC speech therapist ever… I’ll fill you in later).

There was a lot going on.

I trucked on down to the Poo Poo Present store (aka The Dollar Tree) and spent $60. As in 60 things. I put everything on the bench in our entry so the kiddos could admire the loot. Everyday Cora Jane was accident free, she got to pick from the bench and everyday Eli did his speech homework 3 times (he had to earn it), he got to pick from the bench. Before the stuff was gone they were solid in their new routines. It worked.

Here’s the way I look at bribery…

They worked to earn their bribe. Just like my husband works to earn his paycheck. The promise of something good to come is a part of life. Like working hard in school means getting good grades. Being kind and gracious means having genuine friendships. Do a big project at work means a bigger bonus. It’s not like I’m giving them presents for every little thing.

You know, like putting on their shoes.

I give them a skittle for that… and only if I’m in a hurry… 

Any thoughts on bribes???

It’s MOMday!! I feel a little last minute this month because I’ve been a little busy…

Luckily, I get to open with two pretty cool announcements (No mom, I’m not preggers). First, we are adding another AMAZING business to the MOMday Morning fun. Drum roll please……

Soni from Stringbean Company!!

I’m a huge fan of her blog, her store and her products! I know you’ll like her too! (see all my posts with Stringbean stuff)

Second, our MOMday Morning cash prize is now $100!! Can you believe it!?!? Just in time for the holidays!! We are so excited to bless you with even more cold hard cash along with this month’s prizes!!

Let’s get started!

You all know the guidelines…

This month we’re featuring Pretend City’s Good to Go from Head to Toe program and Dr Ann Corwin aka The Parenting Doctor.

I met Dr Ann at a free class held at Pretend City (yes, FREE!), called Toddler Talk. The casual (free) class takes place in a play type setting. Toys are set up for the kiddos and Dr Ann teaches on topics the parents pick as they play. When one of the kiddos has a major meltdown a little squabble breaks out, Dr Ann shows the parents how to handle the situation. The (free) class was SO informative and practical!

Check out some of her advice about tantrums, potty training, sucking thumbs & using pacifiers, and lying!
Some of my favorite advice from the (free) class was, “our job as parents is not to shelter our children from disappointment but to teach our children how to respond to disappointment in a healthy way.” The more I think about that statement the more it resounds in my parenting everyday!

Giveaway time!!

The prizes are…

… a Lid of your choice…

 … one of our NEW Pirate tees…

…and $100 cold hard cash!!

AND, I’ll choose (through random.org) 2nd, 3rd & 4th place winners who will each receive a copy of Dr Ann Corwin’s Parenting Passport as well as a $10 gift certificate (via gift code) to Eli’s Lids!

How to win… (open to all US residents)

Main entry (mandatory): Now that the “holidays” are officially here, I can use some inspiration for family fun ideas! Leave a comment on this post with a fun holiday family tradition.

So you want extra entries??

I don’t blame you!

These prizes kick a&$!!

~Follow Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G., Stringbean Company,  Eli’s Lids & Pretend City on Twitter or let us know you already do. (1 entry each, separate comments please)

~Tweet the following about MOMday Morning. (1 entry every day!)

Win $100 cash by spreading holiday traditions for #MOMdayMorning http://bit.ly/aMBWhG @BlessedNest @BYOG & @ElisLids @StringbeanCo

~Become a fan of Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G., Stringbean Company, Eli’s Lids and Pretend City on Facebook or let us know you already are. (1 entry each, separate comments please)

~Do a Facebook status about MOMday Morning, include the link. (1 entry every day!)

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F.Y.I. – I’ll be adding MORE extra entries midweek because I like to stir the pot a bit!

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you follow Blessed Nest, B.Y.O.G., Eli’s Lids & Stringbean Company on twitter leave 4 separate comments!

For more detailed rules go here.

***Giveaway open 1 week! Ends MOMday (Monday) November 8th 9:00pm PST***

Thank you for serving, loving & nurturing us throughout the years.

Tonight at 6:30pm I’ll be on the debut of OC Family TV on COX 3!

But if you don’t have TV (like us) then you can watch my fifteen minutes of fame here. Well it’s actually 2 minutes of fame (from 3:10-5:10, mom).

If you like the show be sure to contact COX3 to tell them you want more OC Family TV!!

Looking for something fun and Halloween-y (ha… weenie!!) to do with your kiddos tomorrow? Look no further! Bring the kiddos to Pretend City in costume (to see the NEW Curious George traveling exhibit), get their teeth checked, take part in fun activities and the first 40 kids who participate get a goodie bag.

Inside the museum you’ll find the Curious George Costume Party, trick-or-treating throughout the “city,” pumpkin decorating in the art studio & Early Literacy Program volunteers will be reading to kids while they wait for their dental screenings.
(The free 10 minute dental screenings run from 10am-12pm, but do not include admission to the museum.)

AND…

Saturday at 6:30pm you can enjoy OC Family TV on COX3 with awesome crafts from me!! Yes folks, I’m a cable TV star. Not really. But the crafts I’m sharing are awesome. REALLY!! I’ll post my segment Saturday 🙂

A little black felt and orange spray paint can turn anything into a jack-o-lantern!

(I decorate these suckers for every holiday)

Make spooky bats with your kiddos with my latest video at OC Family.

After the pirate par-tay we hopped on a shuttle to the Tall Ships Festival.

It was our first year and we weren’t disappointed! Eli was in HEAVEN. He got to hold real weapons, meet real redcoats and chat with real pirates. It was a dream come true for the little fellow. We are so blessed to live near Dana Point’s Ocean Institute.

Walking with my boys.

(It still sounds so strange to say “boys.” As in plural. As in I have 2 sons!)

We grabbed dinner with a few of our friends who stayed late at the festival. (Hi Woodalls and Moores!) There were 3 couples and 8 kiddos in all. We were quite a spectacle!

At home Eli got to open his presents. (Since we request “no gifts,” we open ours after the party!) Eli loves cards just like his Daddy. He admires each one and we save them in a basket to read throughout the week. It’s pretty cute… and that means a lot coming from an anti-card-person like myself. This years favorite card was from Yaya and Papu with pop out windows of a pirate ship picture.

Dear Eli,

We are so proud God chose us to be your Daddy & Mommy! At 4 years old, you continue to grow in physical strength as well as in strength of character. Watching your compassionate spirit is inspiring! Thank you for reminding us of God’s unconditional love and grace daily. You are brave and full of joy. We are so glad you are YOU, and you are OURS!

All our love,

Daddy & Mommy

Micah 6:8

I have never bought paper throwaway plates/cups before… till baby#3’s arrival in June.

(Guilt about excess waste and the environment and all.)

What a sanity saver.

 It saves so much time on clean up at lunch and breakfast.  

REALLY!

AND

The winner of the Discovery Science Center & unlimited rides at the Pumpkin Factory is…

#1 Naomi!!!

If you didn’t win get your coupons here!

(now you have the ROSS song stuck in your head)

This week I got a cute leaf bowl and vintage looking turkey plates at ROSS…  We were at ROSS to pick up some shoes for Eli, because he only has one pair at the moment – Rainbows (filp flops) that are 2 sizes too small (once again I get the Mother of the Year Award). I saw the bowl and plates and instantly fell in love. I ran over to Hot Hubby to show him my amazing find and the conversation went like this…

Me: OMGosh! Look at these! The plates are only $2.50. Is this an awesome find or what??

HH: What are we going to use the plates for?

Me: Um… to eat off of… duh!

HH: We have plates.

Me: Yeah, but these look like vintage plates and we can use them in the Fall. It will be festive! It will totally become an enduring memory for our children… they’ll remember our Autumn candlelit dinners with these plates forever. Then when we die they’ll fight over them.

HH: Um…OK. What are you going to do with a leaf bowl?     Me: An easier question to answer would be, what can’t I do with a leaf bowl?? I can put anything in it for potlucks and when I have to make something for big family gatherings. AND everyone will say how awesome it is because it’s a bowl that looks like a leaf… are you not seeing how adorable that is??

HH: You never have to make anything for big family gatherings because everybody knows you suck at cooking aren’t blessed in the kitchen.

Me: So you think I shouldn’t get the delightful leaf bowl?

HH: Well, if you can find a good use for it…

Me: I’ll eat my cereal out of it if I have to…

And I did!