Today's Post...

...is at The RHOK! I'm in High School Reunion Freakout mode! I mean really, you would think I have had 20 years to prepare for this thing so why should I be freaking out about it? It's less than 48 hours away and all I have ready are cute toes. Thanks Mother in Law!

#MilkUnleashed and on the MOOve: a Giveaway!

It is no secret. I am a busy mom with busy kids. Nutrition is important to me for my kids. Kids that are 11 and 5 who face it, just do not get a sippy cup of milk on the go anymore. They are straw drinkers, so therefore pretty much get a juicebox full of sugar or a soft drink and an occasional bottle of water, if I can force it down them. I am so sick of empty calorie drinks. I know you can probably relate. 

I've been seeing the shelf-safe milk at the stores. Yes, shelf-safe milk, the same milk that comes in our jugs just packed in a tetra pak carton. Milk that doesn't have to be refrigerated, labeled by a few brands and more that I love and trust for example- Horizon, Borden and Hershey's. I have tried the Horizon without knowing it was shelf safe and will be putting more of this on my list. When contacted last Friday by one of the company's I blog for about Milk Unleashed, I knew I had to look into this further. 

The 4-Crow's, Partners Hub and Milk Unleashed have teamed up to offer one of my readers a variety pack consisting of four shelf safe milks (white and chocolate) from: Hershey’s, LaLa, Horizon and Organic Valley. Plus the variety pack will have a cow stress ball and information on shelf safe milk.

All you have to do to enter is visit the widget below and then answer the mandatory question on the rafflecopter form. Bonus entries can be earned!

Now get to MOOvin'!

Disclosure of Material Connection: "I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kindergarten to Middle School, a Glance Back

The following was written by me on August 21, 2006. The original is actually in a scrapbook, remember those days? It has never before been published at The 4-Crow's, but seems fitting today as my little man takes another "first". Today he went to Middle School for the first time. He actually has a locker, seven different teachers and seven different classrooms. He looks me in the eye now and our weight both contains three numbers. He plays football, loves basketball and excels and both. Makes A's and B's, mostly A's. He is becoming a man, a fine God-fearing one. I am a very proud Moma. 

I love you Braden Chase, you make me so proud to be your Moma!

Braden- August 21, 2006

Braden's First Day of School
The night before school began, the Crow household was still in planning, Mommy and Daddy had made arrangements with wort to go in late and to take off early to ensure that Braden knew where to go and how to get there. However, there was still a debate, should they walk him to his classroom or not? Didn't the sermon that day at church talk about marital agreements? Mommy made one call to Grandma Betty to learn about "Baby" Jason's first day and solved that with no problems. it was settled, mommy and Daddy would take him to The Learning Center to catch his buts, follow the bus, watch him get off and then walk him back to The Learning Center.
On the morning of August 21, 2006, Braden woke up to a bright and beautiful day at 6:13am. His first day of kindergarten! He dressed up in his jean shorts, his black Broken Arrow t-shirt and his new Skechers tennis shoes. he ate a bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal. At 7:25am, he grabbed his Superman backpack and got into the Pacifica with Mommy and Daddy. They drove to The Learning Center at The Church at BattleCreek where Braden left at 8:15am to go to school on the "short bus", Mommy and Daddy followed closely behind. Once he arrived at Liberty Elementary, he unloaded and was sent to the gym. Mommy and Daddy came and got him and walked him to his classroom. mommy was dabbing the tears and flashing the camera. When Braden finally arrived down the long hallway to Mrs. Bules' room, he took one last picture before his "big" day and then he looked over and hugged his Mommy and asked in front of his teacher and the class "Mommy are you gonna cry?" Mrs. Bules smiled at Mommy and Braden. Mommy and Daddy gave him one more hug and kiss and told him to have a wonderful first day.
Lunchtime was a new experience for Braden, he walked to the cafeteria and had corn dogs, french fries and pineapple. he only had two choices for drinks, milk and chocolate milk. He chose the chocolate and informed his parents that he did not get a leg cramp (inside story). He also had ketchup, and guess what, had to get it by himself, well there is a first time for everything.
Braden's first day of school started out sunny, but soon turned cloudy and rainy. The skies dumped about three inches of rain and the school and neighborhood lost power until about 5:15 that evening. Braden met two friends. A girl in his class, who hasn't told him her name yet, and an older boy who rides the bus with him in the afternoon. At 3:40, school was dismissed. Braden cried a little because he couldn't find where to go to get on his bus, his "new older friend" helped him.
Mommy and Daddy were unable to get to the school on time since the traffic was backed up for a mile due to the power outage so when Braden arrived after school at The Learning Center, they were anxiously awaiting his arrival. They met him as he got off the bus, camera ready. Braden went in and went immediately for a snack Mommy and Daddy had to make him leave. Braden told Mommy and Daddy that Mrs. Bules was really nice when kids cry. He also told all about riding the "short" bus and the "long" bus. All in all, Braden had a wonderful first day of school. His Daddy asked him the golden question, "Do you want to go back?" and Braden gave the golden answer, "Yes"!

A Letter for Kindergartner Kaybrie

Dear Kaybrie, 

How did this day arrive so fast? January 31, 2007 was just the other day it seems. The first time you left me was when the nurses took you to the nursery to "make" you cry, you haven't quit making noises since. When you went to Pre-K, I was fortunate to already be working at the center you attended. Today I woke you up at 7:30 am. You dressed in your Gymboree "Barbie Princess Charm School" outfit that Grandma bought you. This is the one and only outfit you actually went right to and picked out yourself for school. You saw it in the window and dragged Grandma down the mall to the store. You ate the Crow breakfast if champions, a brown sugar poptart. Then I made your hair big and curly! We then went outside and took the necessary first day school pictures. You will thank me later for these moments caught on camera.

 
Things have definitely changed in the 6 years since your brother began kindergarten, especially technology. The iPhone, Texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now a blog post- your daily adventures have pretty much been shared and seen by everyone this day. 

I of course am just now sitting down to write about your day from my perspective and make good on my promise to you to have every important life event documented for you and my grandchildren to read. One day it will mean something. Kaybrie Jayne, I love you and I have prayed for you all day today. Prayed that God continues to look over you and guide you daily in the decisions you make. When we arrived at your classroom this morning you immediately ran to Mrs. Ledbetter and hugged her. You were so scared and timid as your Daddy and I left you in your classroom. I have never seen you like that before. Your Daddy said for once he saw his personality in you. 

Your Daddy and I came home after dropping you off, he mowed and I crawled in to bed upset, wishing I had planned a "Mommy Cry Fest" lunch with my girlfriends.

At 3:40pm, it was finally time to go get you from school. We of course waited in the car pick up line for over 20 minutes, but finally you came running to meet us with that beautiful smile, which is proudly missing that one tooth, and told us all about your first day of kindergarten.  You were called a baby by a classmate and are very excited because there is only one day left until the weekend. And for some reason you learned how to clean the sink out. I sure hope that chore sticks.  

Kaybrie, just like you tell me every night before you close your eyes that I am the best Moma in the whole world, you are the best daughter in the whole world. I am proud of you and I will always be here for you.

I love you "my baby" girl,

Mommy

 

Today's Post...

...is at The RHOK!
When was the last time you practiced a random act of kindness? My friend Jamie's hilarious video of toilet paper and a bachelorette video got me to thinking that maybe I should practice what I write!

#TheAmericanBibleChallenge Premiers on 8/23: Review & Giveaway

"If you don't know your Bible, you don't have a prayer!"

A few months ago I told you about a new game show that would be aired this Summer.

A game show that is played for money, answering Bible trivia, that goes to charity. FINALLY God & Gaming come together for the good of charity!!! This has never been done before! A pastor and a game show writer helps produce this new game show that will premier on August 23, 2012 at 8/7c on Game Show Network. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is the host of this show. Church hymns are used throughout the show in a contemporary setting. I agree with Jeff when he says that God wants us to have fun! Being a Christian IS fun! From the preview I was able to see great care is being taken to present this show and the Bible to connect with America.  Here are a few of the categories in my preview. Real Housewives of the O.T.- obviously name these wives of the Old Testament Faithbook- What Bible character posted this as their status on Facebook? My TweetLord- Who tweeted this? I personally love, love, love this concept and look forward to watching it with my family. I can't wait to hear the contestants share their compelling back-stories as each team plays for a charitable organization- several of the stories already had me in tears. In celebration of television premier, I am able to offer one of my readers the two items:

The American Bible Challenge T-Shirt AND a Zondervan Quest Bible

Now, who is going to help me make #TheAmericanBibleChallenge a trending topic on 8/23!

Website: http://gsntv.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/
Trailer: http://gsntv.com/shows/the-american-bible-challenge/videos/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamericanbiblechallenge
Twitter: #TheAmericanBibleChallenge and @GSN
Help Make #TheAmericanBibleChallenge to be a trending topic on 8/23!

Disclosure of Material Connection: "I received one or more of the products or services
mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I
only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

a Rafflecopter giveaway