Why Did The Fish Leave A False Name?

So, Why Did The Fish Leave A False Name?

Because he was trying to be Koi. 

 

What do you call a fish with no eyes?

Fsh

What do you get if you cross a Wolf with a Koi?

A Koiotie!

Ok, ok enough with the terrible puns. :)

So The Daddy had been working to get our Koi pond up and running and now it looks amazing.

We were all excited that we could actually buy some koi to occupy the pond!

 They can keep all those froggies company.

The kids and I each got a koi fish of our own, and The Daddy picked out two catfish.

They are all small now but will grow pretty big!

Which is what the kids are doing in the last three photos, showing how big they think their fish will get. :)

So cute!

Im sure you're all wondering what we named the fish right?

Well Kiah named hers Ponyo, Zander named his Nemo, and Brucey named his Dory.

The Daddy named one of his catfish, Cat and the other Fish. - Genius I know.

And I will leave you with one last pun for the night, you ready?

So I named MY koi fish, Sequoia.... Get it? 

Se-KOI-a!

*tehe* 

I crack myself up. ♥

The Best Ever

Being a Mommy is an amazing gift and privilege.

There are so many wonderful joys to have in a momma's world.

Unfortunately... being a mommy is also very hard work.

There is worry, stress, late nights, early mornings, cleaning, cooking, little privacy...

and the list goes on!

Sometimes its easier to focus on the negatives when you are tired, stressed or having a bad day.

Its easy to complain, or get upset with the kids over silly things, or take them for granted.

Or maybe that's just me??

I decided I need to stop that.

I'm not going to be a "Debbie Downer."

I want to focus more on the good, the real JOYS of being a Mommy.

Joys you really can't get from anyone else but your little blessings.

So, I sat down and made a big long list...

Which I have been sharing one or two a week through these Mommy Joy Meme posts.

I hope you find them encouraging.

Sometimes we all need a good reminder of all the things we tend to forget to appreciate. 

We are on #10 today! :)

Recently at one point or another I have heard "You're the best!" from each of my kids.

Serious... hearing this makes me feel amazing!

So many times I feel like a failure and I suck as a mommy!

But when I hear this, it feels great. 

What a joy that my kids love me anyways, despite all my flaws. ;)

Share with me YOUR mommy joys. :)

Mommy Made Is Now Taking Sponsors!

I am so excited to announce that Mommy Made is now taking sponsors!
Because I am just starting out I am offering ALL July ad spots for FREE (promo code below).
Yup you read that correctly!
There are only 18 available spots, 3 large, 5 medium, and 10 small...
So it will be first come first serve.
If  the ad says currently booked please DO NOT reserve a spot for next month with the free coupon code. Thank you!!

 
Once I approve ads, they will go up immediately, and then I will move the start date to July 1st
because I want sponsorships to always start at the beginning of each month.
This means you will get a Month AND One Week for FREE!

I guarantee you that if you sponsor this blog, I will work HARD for you.

I will make sure your voice, blog or shop is heard and known, and that traffic is sent your way!

If you need to get the word out about a certain new product, sale or special blog post,

simple let me know and I will gladly help spread the word.

I do ask that if you are a sponsor of my blog (and take up this free offer)
that you also be a FOLLOWER of my blog! Thanks!!

Stats as of June 2012:
170 GFC Followers
168 Facebook Followers
380 Twitter Followers
830 Pinterest Followers

The Daddy Ads are top ads, they come with the option for a SOLO feature/Giveaway post.

Daddy Ads may also take over my blog for the day with a fun guest post. 

The Mommy Ads comes with the option to participate in a GROUP Giveaway, 

and a Group Sponsor welcome post.

The Kiddo Ads comes with the option to participate in the Group Sponsor Welcome Post.

All ads come with several social media mentions throughout time of sponsorship.

Purchase your ad with passionfruit! 
Use code "FreeInJuly" to for your FREE ad!

Thank you for your interest in advertising on Mommy Made

Reaction Time

On Father's Day I shared a post with a little survey the kids took.

All About Daddy According to The Kids.

Well I just couldn't help but share these couple of photos

showing The Daddy's reaction to their answers!

Not only were the kids SO excited to show off their "Daddy Knowledge" to him,

but he completely enjoyed their answers as well.

Ahh sweet memories. ♥

Pinterest Link Up

Hello! Today I am excited to be co-hosting the 
"Blog Hop - Let's Have Fun #4"!!

Your Host:

The DIY Dreamer

This Week's Co-Hosts:

Brag About It
Leen Machine Paper Studio
Mommy Made
Whimsical Whimsies
Yeung Mother Hubbard
The Dreamy Meadow

This week's Blog Hop - Let's Have Fun
is a PINTEREST Hop!!


If you do not have a Pinterest Account, please let me know and I'll send you an invitation.

RULES:

1- Follow your hosts.  

They are the first 7 in the linky and they will follow you back.

2- Link up your Pinterest link (not your blog).
Please note that links that are not directed to Pinterest will be deleted.

3- Check out the other blogs on the list and follow some.

4- Grab the button below and place it somewhere on your blog.

This will help increase the success of the Blog Hop.

You can even Facebook or Tweet about it.

 

<div align="center"><a href="http://thediydreamer.blogspot.com" title="The DIY Dreamer"><img src="http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d189/lexieex/The%20DIY%20Dreamer/BlogHopFun1.png" alt="The DIY Dreamer" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

HAVE FUN with the Blog Hop!

Boredom Busters: Summer To Do List (And Link Up)

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, and I am sure I am not alone in that.

But often times it can be filled with phrases like: "I'm bored",  "What can we do/there's nothing to do".

I dont always have ideas right off the top of my head, so I decided to make a list.

This is a list of 55 things "to-do" this summer (or any time of the year, really).

They are in no particular order, just fun things and ideas for when we get bored or just because!

Some are just ideas, many have links to tutorials, diy, or recipes.

Also after my list, I have a link up!

 I would love for you to link up and share your fun kid/family friendly crafts, recipes or ideas.

If you enjoy this list & link up, please pin this post!

1. Make Homemade Bubbles
2. Create Bubble Art
3. Go Camping
4. Make root beer float pop-cycles
5. Star Gaze
6. Have a water balloon fight
7. Make Playdoh
8. Make fun shaped crayons
9. Swim as much as possible
10. Make Water Sponge Bombs 
11. Write and send out "snail mail" letters to friends/family
12. Make Oobleck
13. Make our own puzzles
14. Make Jello Playdoh, then turn it into Jello Cookies!
15. Make a Treasure Hunt
16. Go Fishing
17. Play ball 
18. Make Your Own Bean Bag Toss
19. Make up stories
20. Tye Die some T-Shirts
21. Message in a Pancake
22. Paint or Create self-portraits
23. Make Salt Dough Hand Prints
24.  Have a Mommy Daughter Manicure day
25. Do a 30 Day Drawing Challenge
26. Photograph Nature
27. Find shapes & things in the clouds
28. Make Super Hero Capes 
29. Make a Bird Feeder
30. Make Smores
31. Sit & Sing around a camp fire
32. Make Grass Sock Heads (Using clear cups this time!)
33. Watch for shooting stars
34. Make Trix treats!
35. Have a scavenger hunt
36. Create some fun science experiments
37. Become "Starving Artists" with Sandwich Art
38. Read books
39. Make things explode
40. Stay up late
41. Teach the kids how to sew
42. Make friendship bracelets
43. Attempt to do draw with light
44. Use old magazines to make a collage
45. Make Fun Photo bookmarks!
46.  Visit Grandparents
47. Create an "invisible" sensory tub
48.  Donate old toys
49. Enjoy glow in the dark drinks
50.  Go on family walks
51. Create our own Lava Lamps
52. Have fun with food
53. Have many family movie nights
54. Interview the kids
55. Teach the kids to cook a meal

Now for the linky party!

Please link up YOUR boredom buster posts.

Share with me your kid or family friendly crafts, food, to-do lists.

Anything that could help bust boredom this summer!

This is not required, but I would love it, if you link up to either tweet or pin this post!

All About The Daddy According To The Kids

I found this cute printable for Father's Day.

I thought it would be SO cute for the kids to fill them out for The Daddy.

 I couldnt help but share their cute and fun answers here. 

(Ive put an * by the ones that were true or mostly true)

My Daddy is _______ years old.
Kiah: 27*
Bruce: 30
Zander: 3

My Daddy weighs _____ pounds.
Kiah: 130 pounds
Bruce: 105 pounds
Zander: 6 pounds

My Daddy was born in: (State)
Kiah: California*
Bruce: In America*
Zander: Uuhh Number Four

My Daddy's favorite color is:
Kiah: Green *
Bruce: Green*
Zander: Blue

My Daddy's favorite super hero is:
Kiah: Super Man *
Bruce: Super Man *
Zander: Me "Naner" (thats how he says Zander)

My Daddy always says:
Kiah: "He always says I love you.. Unless he says 'Come here' if we are in trouble." *
Bruce: "I Love You" *
Zander: "I Love You" *

My Daddy's job is:
Kiah: Yard Work and helping to take care of us. *
Bruce: Army *
Zander: Uhhh Build a bridge for me.

My Daddy always:
Kiah: Does Yard Work *
Bruce: Does Yard Work*
Zander: Do Yard Work*

My Daddy laughs when:
Kiah: I get hurt, but dont actually cry.
Bruce: He always laughs at me
Zander: At the super market

My Daddy's Favorite food is:
Kiah: Enchiladas *
Bruce: Subway *
Zander: Macaroni

I love my Daddy because:
Kiah: Cause he is my dad! He takes me on daddy daughter dates, and he does everything with me.
Bruce: Because he is handsome!
Zander: Because he gives me candy.

These will all certainly be fun to read and remember in the future!! :)

Summah Time, Summah Time

One of ALL our favorite things about SUMMAH TIME is being able to go swimming.

Fortunately we are blessed with a swimming pool right in our back yard.

The Daddy just got the pool cleaned up and running. So the kids and I enjoyed a nice dip.

Squinting in the sun//No Makeup Momma!! 

 Bruce//Kiah

So I asked the kids what their favorite things about summer where.

Here is what they had to say!

Kiah:

Swimming, No School, Camping, family time

Bruce:

 Swimming, Starting football practice, camping

Zander:

The sun, Birds, Swimming

And here are my own personal favorite things about summer time:

No Schedules! Sleeping in. Sun bathing. Swimming. Flip flops & tank tops. BBQ's.

Family Time. Tan lines. My birthday! Late nights. Night swimming. No makeup.

What are YOUR favorite things about summer?

Sometimes..

My Headband: Much Love Illy

Sometimes being a Mommy is HARD.

Sometimes I get tired and grumpy.

Sometimes I turn into the Mommy Monster.

Sometimes I just want to be alone.

Sometimes I want to be the only "baby" that The Daddy Spoils.

Sometimes I just want to lay in bed and do nothing all day.

Sometimes I feel like the worst Mommy in the world!

Sometimes I take for granted all my blessings.

Sometimes I am selfish.

Sometimes I forget about all the Mommy Joys.

Sometimes this Momma just gets into a funk that seems hard to break.

Sometimes I have to just pray and Thank God for this Life.

Sometimes I am reminded just how BLESSED I am.

Sometimes cuddles and silly faces are NEEDED much more by ME than my little ones.

Sometimes the simple words "I Yuh You, Momma" bring tears to my eyes.

Sometimes I think about life without my kids and it scares me.

Sometimes I feel like I love them so much it hurts!

Sometimes I realize the work God is doing in me & I have a changed heart.

Sometimes I need to STOP and remember all the little things that mean so much.

Sometimes I have to make time to take care of myself.

Sometimes I need to spend more special one on one time with each of my little loves.

Sometimes a simple smile from one of my little loves, melts my heart.

Sometimes knowing that I am needed makes me feel like the most important person in the world.

Always, I am loved!

Always I am a Momma.

Always I am blessed.

Always I will LOVE my kids!

Always God is Good.

Always I need to remember that Life is short and we need to enjoy each moment and each day.