2015 McLoughlin Family Christmas Letter ... #Funnoying?

Thought you might enjoy seeing our 2015 Christmas letter. I strive for a balance of informing and entertaining without being braggy or annoying. I'm not sure I hit it every year but it gives me a good record of what we did that year so I can pop a copy in our binder. I think I made up a new word for it: it's funnoying. It's fun and a little bit annoying at the same time.

Merry Christmas once again from the McLoughlins! Here’s all the latest for this past year …

            Aron built a cool new front porch on our house this year after doing some traveling to Houston and Arizona. He also worked on a side job of making cabinets from scratch for someone’s kitchen. He also grew a rockin’ garden which yielded tons of green beans, carrots, herbs and spaghetti sauce and salsa. He’s also the car fixer, dishwasher fixer, printer fixer, EVERYTHING fixer and all-around best dad ever. He needs to fish more, though.

            Kerrie is now homeschooling 5 kids while running her businesses (proofreading, writing ebooks and articles, Jamberry and Younique) with family dog Snoopy under her feet most of the time. She also took on the volunteer job of third grade religious education teacher, helps out at co-op and is the proud Confirmation sponsor to longtime family friend Julia.

            Joel is 14 and is currently the Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout troop and has the rank of Life. He wants me to let you know he owns and is responsible with lots of weapons. He enjoys his co-op classes of Music Appreciation, Drama and PE and will be Confirmed in the spring. He’s getting super social with co-op friends at various activities and dances, as well as his Theology of the Body for Teens course. His belated birthday gift from us was his bearded dragon Oliver.

            Michael is 12 and always entertains us with his deadpan humor and brilliant jokes! He’s taking PE, Science and LEGO Robotics in co-op and is making new friends. He takes care of Jiggy the tortoise, who he has had for about 4 years now. He discovered a book series he enjoyed, devoured all 9, and is back on his book-reading strike.

            Callie is 10 and gave volleyball a shot this past fall and did really well with it. She is still the fashion queen of our house, sings well and is hoping for a sewing machine for Christmas. She loves her PE, Science and LEGO Robotics classes at co-op. She is helpful around the house and is an entrepreneur, with her own little at-home massage business (Mommy gives her 99% of her business).

            Eva is 8 and loves her Catechesis, Science, Storytime and PE classes at co-op with her friends and also enjoys lunch and recess. She likes to play My Little Pony, Shopkins and Barbies with her best friend, who is also named Eva. She is a happy girl who is part homebody (happy to sit around coloring) and part lover of on-the-go fun.

            Samuel is 6 and is in the same classes as Eva at co-op and says he is having a good time there. He enjoys all types of sports and shooting Nerf guns and taking Joel’s Airsoft Gun Training Classes in our basement. Sam made money this past summer selling cupcakes Mommy just made for his birthday, lemonade and sand from the sandbox on the street corner in front of our house.

            Springtime found us in Houston, Texas and Galveston Island while Aron traveled there for work and let us tag along. In October we got to go to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park for a week that included nature hikes, Omaha Zoo, Children’s Museum and more. The rest of the year we swam, went strawberry picking, spent time with our wonderful neighbors and other friends and family, saw the Royals Celebration Rally (oh, what a day!), and just had a blast with life in general, appreciating every day!

            As always, you can check out more of the family fun at TheKerrieShow.com. Have a fabulous 2016!

The McLoughlin Family (Aron, Kerrie, Joel, Michael, Callie, Eva and Samuel)

HOPE{LOVEYDREAMRPRAYVLEARN&SINGTLAUGHJACCEPTASLEEP

Important Traits of a Good Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor to Look For

Everyone gets sick from time to time. Hopefully, you and your family are blessed with good health. Unfortunately, you can never be too sure when you or a loved one will suffer from an illness that will make life miserable. When this happens, it is important that you have an experienced ear, nose and throat doctor to turn to so you can get back on your feet again very soon. There are many of these doctors out there to choose from. Unfortunately, they are not all created equal. Here are some of the most important traits of a good ear, nose and throat doctor that you need to look for.

1. Excellent bedside manner

Bedside manner is something that many doctors are sorely lacking these days. This is why it is important to do a little research about a doctor before you make an appointment. A doctor's bedside manner is most important if this person will be taking care of your children. A visit to a doctor can often be a very scary ordeal for a young child. Therefore, you need to find a doctor who understands this and works well with children. The doctor must be friendly, speak in a relaxed voice and keep the child at ease. There are many doctors who do not have children of their own. These doctors usually lack the subtle qualities that make up a good bedside manner.

2. Many years practicing medicine

You should always look for a doctor who has been around a long time. There is no substitute for many years of experience when you are talking about medical care providers. Try to find an ear, nose and throat doctor who has been practicing for at least a decade. Older doctors are usually better at working with kids. You should be able to find out how long a doctor has been practicing by looking at their website. You can learn more now about an outstanding medical practice by visiting Spring Medical Associates.

3. They explain the problem

Many doctors are so busy that they want to rush you out of their office as soon as possible. They examine you for a few seconds and they write you a prescription and move on to their next patient. You need to find a doctor who sits down with you and explains what is wrong and how you can change your lifestyle to remain healthy. This will benefit you and your family.

The Lovely Candy Company Review #Candy #Yum #GF

Here was my post with my pre-review about The Lovely Candy company, which includes all the links for purchase and information. Now it's time to get down to the REAL review, peeps. The scoop. My honest opinion of this product.

Ah, look at all that lovely candy on my table. Literally, it's Lovely Candy!

Okay, so when this product arrived I was floored at how amazing it was. All the kids and their friends got to try it and also my writer friend Christine, who was over, as well as my husband. They all loved it. I loved it. I could snuggle up with a bag of the Caramels and a good TV show and kill the entire bag in no time. SO YUMMY.

The company sent over 6 varieties and they were all wonderful. Yes, even the black licorice, which is not really my thing but some people love it.

Head to the top of this post and hit the pre-review about the product for the buy link and more information about the company and how they have gluten-free options and other accommodating awesomeness.

I give it 5 Lovely Candy Company Caramels, my highest rating!

Try some!

Moscato and Emergen-C ... Healthy Alcohol!

Okay, so I discovered something cool. Maybe it's been done before but I figured it out on my own and dig it! I RARELY drink alcohol. Maybe some moscato in the summer and every now and then I might try it again but I don't like wine or beer or hard liquor of any kind. Still, I like things to be multi-purpose as much as possible. We've been feeling a little yucky around my house lately and the Emergen-C is free-flowing (miracle product, especially for those of us who are older and slower to heal and get better from illness). I figured, why not mix my moscato and Emergen-C?

My friend Jill's son and my own son (besties) getting ready to leave for a movie (Star Wars). They always have time to pose for a picture!

Any flavor will do and probably you can put it in any kind of alcohol. I imagine something like vodka with an Emergen-C packet would make your hangover not so bad, but I haven't had a hangover since probably 1990, so what do I know?

Shopping for Clothes for Children on a Budget

Shopping for clothes for children can be quite a hit to the family budget. Moving through the new trends, changing of seasons and children growing quickly, we can find ourselves constantly spending lots of money on new items. Although some might think that the only way to refresh your kid’s wardrobe is to get brand new clothing while emptying your wallet, the truth is that you don’t need to spend so much to purchase good, quality products. Finding inexpensive but durable clothing for your children might seem difficult, but actually all you need is to have a little creativity and an eye for a good deal! With the following tips, you will realize how simple it can be to save money on kids’ clothes:

Let’s start with one of the most known ways, which isn’t actually used sufficiently – coupons. Many people know there are some attractive savings to be made with coupons, but most of them don’t use promos, perhaps because aren’t sure how it works or think it’s too much hassle. Actually, on the contrary, it’s super easy! One of the ways is to get the coupons online, which is quite convenient. Just go to a website such as Discountrue and choose the store that you’re interested in – be it Target, Kohl’s or any other shop, and you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. Some retailers are even offering promotional specials via email, where they send you a code or  the coupons directly if you are registered on their sites. On the other side, if you are not a computer person, there is also a way to get them directly at the stores. This is a very easy and effective way of saving money; just keep in mind that the codes might expire, so watch out that none of them go to waste.

Another tip you should remember is to shop sales or end of season clearance sales. Most retailers hold sales that can go from 30% up to 60% off the price, and sometimes even more. You should also easily be able to find clearance racks that offer 50% off and more on selected items. Some might think that these don’t have much to offer in terms of quality or design, but if you make the time and take a good look through the racks you’re sure to find very good deals. Sometimes you can even find brand new items for as little as $1!

Now all these ideas help you buy new clothing for your children in stores, but what about used clothes? You would be surprised at how much you can save this way. With a little patience and attention to details you will get pretty good deals! Many people think that thrift stores offer used clothes that have been worn out, but the truth is you also can find a lot of brand new clothing in excellent condition, sometimes even with the tags still on;you just need to stay perceptive. If you are looking for specific brands, the recommendation would be to go to the places that price the items by gender or size. For example, all kids clothes can be priced at $2, so you can find a used T-shirt for the same price as a never worn before dress – in this case it is clearly more profitable to buy the brand new dress. If you are not so focused on specific brands, then the recommendation would be stores that price their items individually, so this way a no-name, good condition dress would have a lower price than a brand new dress, and of course this would be your best option. To make sure you’re getting the right product, remember to always check your items for stains and look to see if the zippers work and that the buttons are in perfect condition.

The above mentioned tips are only a few ideas you can use to get started. From sales, clearance, coupons to thrift shops and even garage sales, you’re sure to see the results soon enough. You will be amazed about how much money you can save while still dressing your kids in good-quality clothing!