Click on image!

Had I not just won this in a giveaway, I’d be buying it, because, well, it’s awesome, isn’t it? This print is going to be perfect for guiding me as I continue to try to be a good mom to my boys, and I’ll probably be framing and displaying it smack dab in my kitchen (or maybe another room, haven’t decided yet), so I can keep myself on track.

You like? Click on the image, and you’ll land on the etsy shop of Chrissie Grace, the wonder woman who made this, and you’ll also have the good fortune of seeing all her other inspirational work. The I Believe print is a favorite of mine, and I love, love, love the checkbook covers. You’ll see when you arrive just how rockin’ this place is, and I bet you’ll want to treat yourself (or a loved one) to something grand (yet totally reasonable in price). You can also try to win some goodies by connecting with Out of the Blue Delivered on Facebook — lots of giveaways there, (it’s where I won the print pictured above).

Writes Chrissie about herself:

I am a stay-at-home to four beautiful children. I am also an artist, author, and poet.

“in His grace” is full of whimsical art inspired by the word of God. 25% of all proceeds go directly to CBC Seminole, a local foster and adoption agency.

You can read more about my everyday life and projects on my blog at:
http://www.chrissiegrace.blogspot.com

Nutty for Nintendo DS

I’m thinking we might not actually speak to Joey and Danny all day today. Why? Because they each got their very own Nintendo DS, and they are completely plugged in. They are lost, gone, totally tuned out.

All year long, they’ve wanted these gadgets — they’ve been pretty sure they were the only boys in the world without them, actually — and while we went back and forth and at one time even vowed we would definitely. not. buy. them. (because once they get something electronic, it’s nearly impossible for their minds to focus elsewhere), we bit the bullet and bought them. We even plan to let them play their hearts out for a day or so (it is Christmas, after all). Then we’ll set some limits. We won’t tell them that today, though, because, honestly, I don’t even think they are capable of hearing right now.

Merry Christmas, Joey and Danny — and to all you loyal readers, too!

Model Material

Someone told me recently that Joey and Danny should be models. I don’t remember who it was, but I think it was a female person, perhaps commenting on a Facebook photo or something. I promise I’m not making this up, just so I can brag about my boys and how cute I think they are.

I was flattered by the modeling compliment, but since I have no idea who paid it (chemo brain), I can’t say I really let it sink in too much. But now that I see these guys posing for the staged shot to the right (they were showcasing some breast cancer gear for another post), maybe they could make it in the world of posing. Well, except that 8-year-old Joey, although very dramatic and animated, claims he’s too shy to get up in front of people, and 6-year-old Danny has a tendency to roll one eye and goof every chance he gets. Yea, maybe modeling isn’t in the cards.

But I do appreceiate the vote of confidence, from whoever it was who sent it my way.

Joey Drama

]]> http://bravingboys.org/2009/09/11/modeling-boys/feed/ 1 http://bravingboys.org/2009/07/03/busch-gardens-boy/ http://bravingboys.org/2009/07/03/busch-gardens-boy/#comments Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:08:16 +0000 Jacki http://bravingboys.org/?p=124 Poor Danny. The guy was sitting next to John in the very front car of the Gwazi roller coaster at Busch Gardens today when a supervisor came by and told us she needed to check his height. He’d already been measured twice for the ride, and twice he was given the green light to board the Southeast’s largest and fastest wooden coaster — 7,000 feet of track, and Danny could taste every inch we were about to travel.

But he didn’t ride, because the supervisor said he was not tall enough. He’s 47 inches. He needed to be 48. We’re all for safety, and after riding the monster myself, I’m pretty sure Danny would have been tossed around a fair bit. But he should have been stopped at the front gate, not once he was buckled and ready to roll.

John and Danny exited Gwazi. Joey and I rode. And my little guy was awarded Quick Que passes for the trouble he was caused — and we jumped six times to the front of the lines at the park.

Danny recovered from the sting of his ejection, and he had a ball at the park. He rode the upside-down Scorpion, the neck-whipping Cheetah Chase (42-inch rule on these two), the Log Flume, the Sky Ride, Bumper Cars, and pictured below is our not-quite-tall-enough man on the Congo River Rapids, just minutes before he and John were soaked through to their socks.

Congo River Rapids, Busch Gardens, Tampa

Gosh, I love boys who are worn out at the end of the day from good, hard, physical activity. And I love a good water bottle that keeps boys hydrated, because, well, it’s quite hot and unbearable here in Florida.

So, here’s the water bottle I’ve been lovin’: The Insulated Polar Bottle. Joey has white, Danny has red, and I have pink — yes, I have my own, because while my guys raced around the track, I did too. Incidentally, I kept up with Danny on the half-mile run, but never could catch up with Joey.

This spiffy water bottle comes in 20-ounce and 24-ounce sizes, sells for $11-$12 and is available in all sorts of cool colors. We got ours at Sports Authority. But you might find better prices at Amazon.com.