Have Your Next Birthday Party at Sky Zone Kansas City!!!

**Please check out my full review here where I talk about our experience!

Once again I must say I love being a mommy blogger! Thanks to Sky Zone Kansas City, Callie is going to get a super fun birthday party there for free! I get to review this awesome place we have been dying to go! The birthday party package includes 10 jumpers for an hour and a half, sky socks, pizzas and unlimited drinks! I can't wait to go and report back to you how awesome it is! Here's some info about Sky Zone:

Sky Zone is the world's first indoor trampoline park. We're the inventors of "fun fitness" and the makers of trampolines as far as the eye can see. We give you one of the greatest workouts ever combined with awesome, healthy fun. We've been voted the number one "out of the box" workout and the "best party ever." Experience WOW - the weightlessness of bouncing, flipping and landing in a pit filled with 10,000 foam cubes. 

We are dedicated to providing you with the pure joy that comes with flying. We are sky lovers, thrill seekers and people who believe that jumping is freedom. We believe fitness can be fun and play can be smart. We are healthy and bursting with energy. We fly high and keep it safe. We are Sky Zone. My Readers Save $3 Off Open Jump at Sky Zone and 10% Off a Supreme Birthday Party. Click on the Sky Zone coupon here for more information and to redeem.

Little Ones Using Imagination Versus Electronics

Igniting Imagination in Your Child Through Creative Play

While it is widely known that the early years of your child’s life are essential in helping them learn, develop, and play, sometimes it can be tricky to come up with new and creative ways to hold the attention of your baby or toddler. Rather than give in and give them your Smartphone, a tablet, or similar handheld electronic apparatus, give them something that instead forces them to use what’s arguably their biggest asset - their imagination.

Beyond the School Setting

While your child probably receives lots of stimulation in a daycare or preschool setting through organized activities and interaction with their peers, it’s up to you to take care of things on your own home turf. When you know where to look, your home offers endless opportunities for creative play with your child. Try dressing up and role-playing or other forms of “real-life play,” and make sure to have regularly scheduled play dates to encourage socialization with other children. Never underestimate the importance of art and music, either. Try forming a family band and put on a show for friends and neighbors, or have some fun with finger paint or a full watercolor set.

Here’s the bottom line – it’s up to you to make the most of your time with your children, and to create an environment that’s both enjoyable and ideal for fostering imaginative play.

Leavenworth Virtual School December Field Trip to Crown Center

I got the little kids up early for this awesome field trip! We hit McD's for some breakfast on the road and headed down to Crown Center in Kansas City. Here are the highlights!

At The Coterie Crown Center to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Lunch at Crayola Cafe

Eva and I love the white Christmas trees and had to get a shot with them

My 5 babies posing at Crown Center.

The play area always rocks

Joel is turning into Mr. Ice Skater ... at Ice Terrace

Eva and Samuel. He's wearing his Breathe Right strip he digs and Eva did not skate today.

Callie is Miss Ice Skater

Michael helping Sam along

Eva with me and Michael

Mommy skating swiftly by Samuel. Just kidding; I'm just posing; I only went around the rink like ONCE.

We got to meet Miss Aly and even the principal, Mr. Brinkman. We also met a few kids and parents and look forward to going on the next field trip. I wish we could make the Fun Fridays but they are an hour away and start in the morning ... if I want to do any homeschooling with my bigs I have to keep the littles asleep in the mornings. Maybe we can hit some of those in the spring after we are more on track and in the swing of things. The kids really like the virtual school Calvert deal ... and especially doing it through the Leavenworth school district. Who knows ... maybe we will even be moving closer to that area next year ...

#Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tickets for FREE from 101 #TheFox Kansas City

While running errands yesterday I heard something on The Fox saying CALL NOW to win tickets to something so I whipped out the cell and called. It was busy so I tried a few more times then:

"YOU ARE CALLER  NUMBER 11!"

I'm like, okay, (thinking, I don't even know what caller I was supposed to be to win).

"YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA TICKETS!"

And then I got REALLY EXCITED! I love this group and so does Aron ... they are the ones who do the rock n' roll Christmas songs with drums and electric guitar and generally kick butt. We have been wanting to see them for a long time and I ALMOST ordered tickets but just didn't. And now we are going for free! We were in the neighborhood of the radio station (Mission Bank Building) so I swung by with the kids to pick up the tickets ... next year I'd love for them to go with us but for now they are going to have fun with a sitter!

My Advanced Healthcare Directive

Dear Aron, Mom, Dad and kids ...

i'm proofreading this thing and it's getting me really worked up. i know this might not be binding or whatever but wanted you all to know that if something happens to me i think i prefer to live, however that might be ... on a machine or whatever. maybe give  me 5 years like that and then cut me off. i think that's a good amount of time to wait for a miracle and then let me go ... i don't want everyone visiting the freaking hospital every dang day forever and getting the kids all worked up plus the expense. so if it hits 5 years and nothing has happened, just pull the plug and i'll see you all on the flip side, kay? i love you guys. oh, and let the kids know i am okay with aron remarrying if he finds someone equally as rockin' as me or else ... even better ... someone more calm and chill than i am ... but she has to be fun. and try to keep homeschooling the kids if you can somehow.

Kerrie (Kethryn) McLoughlin

More Evidence That I Could Not Be a "School Mom"

Rarely do I have to deal with school lines ... dropping off and picking up ... since I homeschool. However, there have been times when I have picked up other people's kids from school and usually the system is pretty efficient both at the public and the private schools. That is, if everyone is on good behavior and isn't acting like a selfish douchebag and talking on their phone.

So tonight I had two little ones who were not feeling well. I usually take Eva to Religious Ed class and Sam comes to the nursery with me, where I work. If they knew he was 5 years old (even though not in kindergarten) they would wrench him from my arms and put him in a class, and over my dead body, friends.

Anyway, for the first time ever I did a Religious Ed drop off. No problem. The pick up was the issue.

So I get there and I get in line. I realize I am blocking another part of the parking lot and there is a 6 p.m. Mass so I back up to let people in and out. This does not mean I am going to let someone IN who is  picking up their kid. Their butt should be BEHIND me. Prepositions, people.

So this chick in a Traverse comes up on my left and puts on her blinker, like she needs in front of me. I am trying to be cool and think maybe she is handicapped and needs a spot for Mass. Maybe she is going to park up there for some reason.

The line moves forward and I let her in ... keep in mind by now there are like 10 cars behind me. She is front of me and trucking along and the kids start coming out. I see a kid going to her car. My kids come to my car. I get out of my car and go up to her window while in the line.

I knock on her window. Yes, people, I do get this kind of thing from my parents and it is called ASSERTIVENESS. Also, my personality is an ENTJ and this means I can't stand morons and selfish people and I have to point out to them when they are in error. I'm kind of a butthole that way but I also consider it a service. What I said to her is better than someone who might have kicked her butt another time in the future.

So she looks surprised and rolls down her window WHILE STILL ON THE PHONE. And I say to her:

"Um, you cut me off in the pick-up line. Next time you need to come behind me like everyone else did. Thank you."

And back to my homeschooling world where I belong.

#MommyScouts Pilot Program

So the dudes have Boy Scouts and we need our own thing. We need Mommy Scouts. A few years ago my oldest son was talking to a guy in his Boy Scout troop about something and saying he would have to ask his mom blah blah blah. The guy says, "It's not Mommy Scouts." This was to say that my kid, at age 11, should be organizing all his own crap ... and that I should not be in charge of any of his Scout junk. Scout moms know this is a joke. We keep the calendar and drive the kid places and harangue them to finish their stuff. Any kid with an Eagle award in Scouts has a parent or guardian not far behind who is now glad to have to break from the nagging about the 70 million steps each badge and each level of moving up takes to complete.

Oh, and who sews those danged badges on the shirts, anyway? Okay, my husband does, but my son ain't doin' in, that's for sure.

I am going to be posting some badge requirements for you to advance in Mommy Scouts ... the final badge coming when you get your kid out of the house, which may be when he/she is 18 and may be when he/she is about 45. For example, had my own mother been in Mommy Scouts, she would have received that final badge when I was 18. Then she would have had it snatched away when I moved back home TWICE. She would have gotten it back when I was about 22 and good for her for raising a fine young woman!

I have visions of selling specialized badges from my blog and also handbooks in the future. We'll see how far my half-assed self gets with this idea. Don't expect me to sit around sewing these badges on your shirts, ladies. Happy to take your ideas at mommykerrie at yahoo dot com. Yeah, I have to spell it out that way so dirty, nasty spammers leave me alone.

This blogger had the right idea back in 2009 and I applaud her. Hopefully I'm gonna run with hit! Here's her post about how we should have Mommy Scouts, and the I Didn't Kill My Daughter's First Boyfriend badge!

Kerrie and Crew Wrap-up: Kick-Butt Field Trip, Planning a Vacation

I've been so busy with the family lately and the blog took a backseat ... but here are a couple of posts you can link to and find out what I'm scheming lately! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Coming up in December is the best field trip day ever, packed with 3 fun activities for the kids and me (I'm learning grammar real good with the kids lately ... haha!)

Here is where I talk about the possibility of planning a trip to New England with Mr. Kerrie and the kids. We would have to drive there to save a ton of money and the thought of popping my mommyvan on a ferry over to Martha's Vineyard and having the kids experience that is so exciting! I love having something to plan for ... it's the actual saving that is the hard part! These are pictures of Marblehead, Mass., where Mr. Kerrie used to go visit his Aunt Frances. Her house was just a short walk from the water.

#Halloween Week Craziness ... October Insanity, #WorldSeries #Royals

This post is kinda for my parents and Mr. Kerrie's parents so they can see all the cool stuff we have been doing with the grandkids lately. Somehow into all this crazy I am also fitting the Leavenworth Virtual Schooling and it's still working out really great for us! When I can catch my breath I will post more on that on my homeschooling blog! For now, here are some photos!

Science City with 2 of our Connors friends! Thanks for the pass, Dad and Nancy!

Trunk or Treat at our church

Boo at the Kansas City Zoo ... thanks, Mom and Dave! Finally got to ride the boat after all these years!

Leaving the zoo, with friend

Walking home from church last Sunday just for exercise and leaf crunching.

Monday at Johnson Farms with friends ... so many awesome friends!

Tuesday at Deanna Rose

More pix of Wednesday to come because we had lots of Royals party fun with friends ... for now this is what I have ... there was also a homeschool party but the best shot from that day is me flipping off the camera and I was too lazy to make the pic NOT sideways so this is what you get instead (I'll share it another time ... I know you love to see me misbehaving) ... Mr. Kerrie found us $1 T-shirts so now we are OFFICIAL MAJOR ROYALS FANS!. We don't care that they lost. We still LOVE THEM!

Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream #HolidayGiftGuide

*Please check out my full review of this product here.

I have the opportunity to review Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream and am super excited about it! Here is some information about it while I wait for my actual product to try so you can read up on it and purchase it if it sounds like something you would love. I'll be back in about a month to write my review!

From the manufacturer:

Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream is GUARANTEED TO LEAVE YOUR SKIN FIRMER, tighter, more toned, moisturized and more youthful looking. It's PROVEN TO STIMULATE COLLAGEN and reduce fine lines and deep wrinkles so you can avoid painful and more expensive procedures like facelifts or Botox injections. With a tested history of safe and gentle action by a LONG LIST OF SATISFIED USERS, this non-irritating cream is well-suited for all skin types. SIMPLIFY YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE with this convenient anti-wrinkle cream, moisturizer, day cream, night cream, peptide cream, and makeup base. Paraben-free and cruelty-free, the cream features 3 clinically proven active ingredients. Check out our TOP RATINGS ON AMAZON.COM. $5 Off Wrinkle Cream Normally $29.95 - Amazon coupon code: USFG5OFF Apply coupon code at Amazon.com checkout for $5 off Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream normally $29.95. Free shipping for prime members.
http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=11838&dealid=1799 @usfg

Say Goodbye To Wrinkled, Sagging, Dry Skin In Just A Few Short Weeks!

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Simply massage on Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream after washing your skin in the morning and again at night.

Will It Work On My Skin Type?

Anavita's non-irritating cream is well-suited for all skin types with a tested history of safe and gentle action by a long list of satisfied users. It is recommended for normal, dry, oily, and sensitive skin.

Your Single-Bottle Solution To Combat The Signs Of Aging

You no longer have to buy a collection of products to fight the signs of aging since Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream serves as a moisturizer, day cream, night cream, and makeup base. 

Our unique formula stimulates collagen production and rebuilds the cellular matrix of the skin using three clinically proven ingredients - a super-absorbent form of hyaluronic acid, Argireline (5%), and Matrixyl - a combination that makes this anti-wrinkle cream for face and neck extraordinarily effective.

Your skin will benefit and look years younger from our high quality ingredients that are paraben free and not tested on animals. You will have smooth, toned, attractive skin again.

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As a company based in Tennessee, USA, we take great pride in our skin cream. The Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream is manufactured for us in Canada under strict Canadian cosmetic manufacturing guidelines.

You want to look your best, and we want to help you achieve that with a great product for smoother, younger-looking skin.

Potentially Offensive Product Review: #Jamberry Nails

Star-crossed on thumb, see below for other names

I can't ever decide on my jamicure so I pretty much picked 4 from the accent sheets I send out as samples and then something different for each thumb! I posted this and then started selling Jamberry the end of March and now am I Senior Lead Consultant! Exciting stuff!

Children's Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by Books

Trips to the school library are full of endless possibility, seemingly so are trips to various costume stores, thrift shops and online shops in the hope of finding that perfect child Halloween costume. Let your imagination get to work, and check out some of our tips for the best child Halloween costumes based on books:

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

An iconic story of boyhood, friendship and adventure, Robin Hood is still so popular in children’s literature it’s hard to believe it was written over 130 years ago. Today’s Robin Hood might just be a little more badass though. Polish off that bow and arrow sharp shooter!

Little Red Riding Hood

Made famous in the variations by the Brothers Grimm in the 19^th century, Little Red Riding Hood is continually readapted in literature and film, lately in TV’s Once Upon A Time and Grimm. The tale is old as time itself, and the red cape is iconic. Your daughter will look gorgeous in a red and black corset style dress with petticoat. Look out for the big bad wolf!

Where’s Wally

The Where’s Wally books have kept many a child entertained on rainy afternoons or during silent reading periods at school. They continue to be a parent’s dream come true when looking for some peace and quiet. This costume is comprised of the trademark red and white stripe jumper and the round black glasses. Everyone will be able to spot your kid from the crowd this Halloween!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Written in 1900, there’s a pretty good chance most of us have read the Wizard of Oz, or at least seen the film or play. Like so many of these classics, the Wizard of Oz transcends generations and continues to be adapted in popular culture. The best part of the story are the many facets and rich characters to draw inspiration: Dorothy, of course, is the quintessential character, but think about the witches, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion or the Scarecrow.

Harry Potter

Last year the Harry Potter books had sold 400 million copies,  making them one of the best-selling book series in history. There are no surprises as to why, kids (and adults) can’t seem to get enough of the Potter franchise, as the last four books in the series set records as the fastest selling books in history – pure magic! The stories are vivid, entertaining and intense: is no wonder they’re reading by a vast majority of kids. It also doesn’t hurt that the costumes are pretty awesome! Check out the Gryffindor robes and a pretty creepy looking dementor (along with some other awesome child halloween costumes) on Spirit Halloween.

Cat in the Hat

Another absolute classic, the Cat in the Hat is a book that gets passed from generation to generation and proves to be a crowd favourite each time. Dr Seuss’s playful, nonsensical narratives make the perfect children’s story. From his incredible imaginations comes such crazy characters as Thing 1 & Thing 2: grab a best friend or sibling and make a dynamic costume duo!

Check out these Dr. Seuss halloween costumes on Pinterest.

Hunger Games

The latest young-adult literary craze to sweep the world, Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy has amassed a huge following, surpassing Harry Potter as Amazon’s best seller in 2012. In a similar style to Hermione, young girls are aspiring to a strong and dynamic female heroine: Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is the leader of the revolution and is a hugely popular character within children’s literature right now. Make sure you have your bow and arrow and Mockingjay pin to complete her look.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Written in 1865, Alice in Wonderland (as commonly called) has had a long literary history. Another example of literary nonsense, author Lewis Carrol distorts normal possibility and plays with logic – perhaps what makes the story so attractive generation after generation. Alice herself is the figurehead of the whole crazy tale, and makes a great child’s costume idea, so do the Cheshire Cat and Mad Hatter. We’re all mad here!

Get creative this Halloween and think outside of the box for your child's halloween costume – right into a book. Make sure you read it after Halloween as well!

My Jamberry Promotion!!! And an Update

I joined Jamberry nail wraps at the very end of March of this year and have slowly been moving up the ranks. I was concentrating mostly on selling the wraps because I love them so much. Building a team never crossed my mind. But then I found myself with 10 wonderful women on my team and this last month a couple of them turned into absolute rock stars, which means they pushed me over the edge from Lead Consultant to Senior Lead Consultant! Here's the post about it on my Jamberry blog (yes, I have a Jamberry-specific blog so I don't drive you away with my nail wrap art love affair here!).

Positive thinking, loving what you do, prayer, partnerships, giving incentives to downline and customers and just trying to practice good customer service and be a good person = my keys to success.

Update: I hit Premier Consultant in April of 2015! Next stop is Team Manager!

Red Gold 2-a-Day Crock-Pot #Giveaway 9/17/14-10/8/14

So here is a link to the Rustic Italian Chicken in the crock-pot that I made last week! It was yummers! And here is me with my little carrying case of Red Gold tomatoes and apron and spoon. So fun to get mail like this! I love me some red and some tomatoes! These tomatoes remind me of when my Grandma Stump would can tomatoes and they were so bright and tomato-smelling ... sometimes tomatoes these days smell all watered-down but hers were so vibrant in every way.

Mr. Kerrie had me laughing at this point!

Here it is in the crock-pot!

Starting on September 17 through October 8, Red Gold is giving away 2 crock-pots every day for a total of 44 slow cookers! You can find all their slow cooker recipes here. And enter the promotion here!

Thanks for reading and good luck!

My Basically Free Costco Membership and How You Can Get One Too!

Come on over and read about my Maiden Voyage to Costco ... super exciting day for me, as I have been asking Mr. Kerrie for a warehouse membership for 13 years now! Yes, I spent $350 total but that toilet paper is a HUGE ROLL and there are 30 of them and we are going to be wiping our butts with that stuff for MONTHS. Loved the 12-pack of organic mac and cheese. Almost got the 25-pound bag of sugar. I won't normally spend $350 because I had to get some fun things to try (sushi combo, spinach dip, Danimals), as well as some supplies for our local women's shelter. Oh, and Eva needed a jacket so that was about $15. I foresee getting out of there around $200 once a month ... except for at Christmastime! EEEEEEE!!!!!! They ALREADY have Christmas stuff out!

And head here to find out how I basically got my membership for free. And if three people sign up for a new Costco membership (not a renewal) using this referral link, I get my membership cost refunded entirely! That means $55 I can put toward ... well, $55 I can send to the dentist for those crowns he just put on. Oh, well!

How fast can 5 kids eat 72 waffles?

Talk Like a Pirate Day Freebies (Krispy Kreme and Long John Silver's)

Last weekend we went to Krispy Kreme and got a piece of paper about Talk Like a Pirate Day!!! Dress like a pirate and get a FREE DOZEN original glazed doughnuts! Check their website for details on what dressing like a pirate entails. I think we might give it a shot this year just for fun. I'm not sure if EACH PERSON gets a dozen ... that would be insane and does anyone know if doughnuts freeze well in that case?! (OMG, just checked the site and it is PER PERSON ... 6 dozen doughnuts, here we come!)

Last year Long John Silver's participated (one of my favorite places to eat EVER), but this year I scoured Google and their website and it doesn't look like this little holiday is catching on. So ... enjoy your doughnuts!

UPDATE here on how our day went and how easy it was to get the 4 dozen donuts!

Cute little pirate dude graphic taken from http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/2013/09/national-talk-like-a-pirate-day-freebies-2013.html

51% off a Collage.com Hardcover Photo Book!

Today I'm going to give Collage.com a whirl and see how easy it is to create a photo book. Collage.com is giving me a code to create a hardcover and a softcover photo book and I'm very excited but can't decide which photos to choose! I don't have time to do the physical scrapbooking anymore but would love to find a better system where I can pop pictures into a book and caption the pictures and then have it printed and mailed to me so I can put it on my shelf. My kids would love a Wyoming and a Branson album and how easy would a baby book be just popping pictures into one of these puppies and then it's DONE! No stickers, no paper, no mess! I'll get back to you once I'm done!

Create a professional photo book with a single click using Collage.com's One-Click Photo Book. Select photos of any size from Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or your computer and they will instantly suggest a clean, professional layout that you can further customize.

Deal: Use this link for 51% off a 20-page 11.5"x8" Hardcover Photo Book From Collage.com.

Crescent Hotel Orb and Ghost Shots, Eureka Springs, Arkansas 2014

So I have to post these pictures we took on the inside of the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas over Labor Day weekend this year. I didn't look at them closely until my mom came over yesterday and we started checking them out. Then someone told me that the lobby shot with my family looked like a face looking to the left of the shot. Do you see it? Skeptics are telling me the "orbs" are dust and the "face" is a smudge on my camera but then a smudge would be in every picture I took after that in the same spot.

I have seen my dead great grandpa (Guy Beard) by my bedside when I was sick as a child and you can call that a hallucination if you want. But how do you explain the Ouija board pointer moving by itself on the floor and off the board and onto my wooden bedroom floor when I was about 12? I tossed that thing in the box and never looked back. I'm not saying I want to tangle with the spirit world; I am simply acknowledging that it is there.

What is that over my husband's left shoulder? The kids think it looks like a face.