Remember the post of me riding my bike like a super cool dude? Well, now I am even better at it. I’ve been practicing and building my riding muscles. I don’t need mommy to push when I get stuck, I just use my powerful legs.

I want to ride my bike all over town, but mommy says I need more practice, have to wear a helmet, and have to listen when mommy and daddy says stop. Why do they have so many silly rules. I just want to ride. How about you talk to them for me, okay?

Oh, and there are other rules too. I have to keep both hands on the handle bar, have to not crash into the cars on purpose, and not go past a certain line in the driveway. I need to start making rules for mommy and daddy to follow.

Balboa thinks everything that moves in the wind is an animal he has to hunt down and eat. Mommy and daddy get mad, because he will throw it up in the house. The have to keep him on a leash to keep from running all over the driveway to eat falling leaves and sticks.

I know he’s not hungry, because I help mommy and daddy feed him in the morning.  Do your doggies eat things they are not supposed to and then get sick?

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

http://www.BakingInATornado.com                        Baking In A Tornado

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/                          The Insomniac’s Dream

http://dinoheromommy.com/                                  Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com                    The Pursuit of Normal

http://themomisodes.com/                                     The Momisodes

http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com                    Searching for Sanity

www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com                    Black Sheep Mom

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/          Moore Organized Mayhem

www.dailydoseofdamn.blogspot.com                       Daily Dose of Damn

http://www.tinystepsmommy.com                           Tiny Steps Mommy

http://momrantsandcomfypants.wordpress.com        Mom Rants and Comfy Pants

My subject is “You have created your own tv network. What shows and commercials will be aired on your network?  What shows/commercials will be banned?  It was submitted by www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com .  Here goes:

So, this was so exciting to me and then I got scared…Would I be able to pull this off and make it interesting to read? Would I be able to write this without sounding like a crazy woman? Would I be able to write this without going on a anti-society rant?

Well, I hope I did a good job. I couldn’t think of a network name, so I leave that up to my readers. What name do you think would be fitting for this lineup of shows?

NO MORE

Caillou, or other kid shows that feature spoiled and whiny kids with parents who are idiots and let hem get away with EVERYTHING. I was going to add a video, but I didn’t want anyone to suffer.

Reality or TV shows featuring ONLY woman who emphasize that being rich, thin, and sexy is the best.

Reality or TV Shows that portray beauty coming from designer labels, lots of makeup, barely-there clothes, and starving themselves.

Reality or TV shows that portray people acting dumb but pretty/handsome is popular and cool.

I didn’t find this funny at all…I found it rather weird and sad.

WE NEED MORE TV SHOWS AND REALITY SHOWS 

featuring mothers and fathers who have a positive body image and show their sons and daughters how to do the same. Kids look to their parents for acceptance, if a mother or father hates the way they look, kids will learn that and then look to a partner to make them feel better about themselves. I know I refuse to be negative about my body and when I put on eye makeup, I simply say I am making my eyes stand out even more. I don’t wear cover up, I don’t have anything I don’t like about my face. I am happy with who I am and I want my son to look for that in his future partner.  

featuring mothers of all faiths who are passing their beliefs down to their children

featuring families of all races, sizes, beliefs who are just like you

featuring kids who act out, have special needs, get in trouble, get into fights, make bad decisions. Their parents aren’t perfect and they fight with the kids. The episode doesn’t always end happy, but they are a family and love each other.

featuring families teaching their kids to be responsible for their actions and think about others.

featuring families that instead of teaching our daughters “don’t get raped” teaching our  sons “don’t rape”.

featuring families that show their kids how to respect themselves and stand up for what is right and not to get pressured into doing what is wrong. Being who you are is tough, but in the end the joy and power form it is intoxicating.

ONLY COMMERCIALS

featuring women and men of all shapes and sizes using products that moms and dads actually use and love…and really work.

featuring brands of clothes that appeal to EVERYONE and not discriminate against a certain size or race.

that DON’T use sex to sell a product…more often than not sex has NOTHING to do with the product.

What shows or commercials would you cut? Which ones would you add or create?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP!

Oh, and remember (pay close attention…this is the important one)…HAVE FUN!

Questions for Friday, May 17th: (Special thanks to Brooke (@HallBro) from Brooke and Michael, Pam (@trooppetrie) from Troop Petrie and yours truly for these 5QF question suggestions! I would love to link you in a future 5QF, so follow me on Twitter (@5crookedhalos) and/or like my Facebook page and watch for my Thursday shout out plea for questions! Remember to @5crookedhalos me and use hashtag #5QF if you go the Twitter route!)

1. Do you have a doppelgänger? When I was about seventeen I was helping out in a university administration office.  I had to open applications and file them in appropriate drawers. Well, when I opened one file, it was me! I was as if someone had taken my high school class photo and put it their application. She had my black curly hair, my style of cut, my nose, my eyes, my face. It was the freakiest thing I had ever seen and I always wondered if I would ever run into her.

2. Do you keep your car cleaned up? NO…I am terrible with that ask my parents or hubby. BUT NOW with the FlyLady I do. Every Friday, I clean my car which is even dirtier. Between traveling from one to school to another, I sometimes eat in my car and the mess builds. I have tons of audio tapes, bags, books, and test everywhere.

3. What is a current fashion that drives you crazy. Girls wearing clothes are are too tight, short, or low. As a teacher I always made sure I was covered up and wearing appropriate clothes. Now, it seems that girls are expected to wear almost nothing. Cleavage and butt cheeks show with no shame at all. They have no clue about dressing respectfully or respectful. They have no clue that you can show your curves while being covered up.

4. How often do you go grocery shopping?  I used to shop every other week, but then I would always need more bread, eggs, almond and rice milk. Now I shop once a week according to sales. Some items are weekly necessities and others are purchased because of the sale. It makes it easier to save money, not waste food, or run out of food and make annoying unexpected shopping trips.

5. What has been the best surprise of your life? My son, sure we did IVF but there was no guarantee it would work. When I told I was indeed pregnant and then watch my son grow inside of me and eventually brought it home…Well what a true miracle and surprise from God.

First off, I’m Thankful…

That my son will be soon be four. I have been blessed with watching him grow from a preemie to an exuberant, energetic,
and loving four year old.

That my hubby is starting to use the term “weekly home blessing” and “FlyLady” even though he still does not help with the cleaning. 

That I can get out and walk with my son most days after work. Nothing better than enjoying the beautiful weather and exercising with the little guy. Besides pushing him around is the best way to burn calories and making him walk up hills gets all those sillies out.

That hubby is willing to go out to the garage and get items I need when I fear a killer, mutant raccoon is on the loose.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My son is able to put his clothes away just by using labels on the drawers. We have been working on this for quite some time and he’s a pro now. He may not fold the clothes they way I would, but the fact that he puts them each item in the correct drawer is wonderful. 

Having the labels helps hubby too, not that he actually puts the clothes away, but at least he knows where to find them, sometimes.

This is actually MY dresser when I was a teenager…still in pretty good condition and love using it for our son.

I do have to update the labels since some are missing and some are falling off. I just print out images for clothes that just about
match a current article of clothing son has.

I label the towels in our kitchen. We have dish towels for drying dishes and towels/rags for wet cloths for when son eats or cleaning up spills. Even with the labels, I think hubby still gets confused.  Our microfiber cloths are under the sink, I don’t want them being used frivolously. I should label under the sink as well, just to be on the safe side.

I prefer to cut up old rags, shirts, and pajamas. Some people seem to get VERY upset by this, but I like being able to throw them in the wash and use them again. 

I also have labels for our laundry. I do our son’s clothes along with mine and take care of the towels and rags. Hubby has his own basket and I am thanfkul I don’t have to wash his stinky clothes. He would NEVER wash Dino’s clothes or put them away, but he does toss things int the laundry basket.

UNFORTUNATELY he couldn’t rememebr what side on which side to throw the clothes and towels in…what’s really werid is son can remember!!!! hmmmmmm……

I’d think hubby gets it right eighty-five percent of the time…even with the labels.

This IS my hat, Mommy

showing off his “Big Boys Rule” shirt…He looks so tall in this photo

Balboa just wants to sleep…anytime he can relax and not hear Dino scream is a good sleep. YES, my couch was neat with the pillows and blanket, but between hubby and the dog, they destroy it.  -.-

]]> http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/15/dinosaur-silliness/feed/ 16 mrskcanino Wordless Wednesday LIFE WITH A BOY undies on head big boy balboa http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/14/cranberry-pork-chops-or-mac-and-cheese-casserole/ http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/14/cranberry-pork-chops-or-mac-and-cheese-casserole/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:23 +0000 Karen http://dinoheromommy.com/?p=3312 ]]>

Our meal plan for this week is….

Sun: French toast and ham
Mon: Pork chops with cranberry sauce and sliced apples
Tues: Mac and Cheese Casserole
Wed: Burgers and Fries
Thurs: Tilapia and fish sticks, rice/veggies
Fri: Pizza

~~~~~~~~~

Cranberry Pork chops

cranberry pork chops along side left over french toast and ham for hubby.

So I tried this pork recipe my mother suggested beyond delicious.  Dino DID NOT APPROVE this at all, maybe I should have breaded it instead.

Ingredients:
1 apple sliced
1 pack thin sliced pork chops
1 can cranberry sauce (style of sauce depends on your preference)

Directions:
Grease the pan with olive oil
placed sliced apples on top of pork chops
scoop chunky cranberry sauce on top
cover and bake in the oven at 300 degrees for about twenty minutes

I could have seasoned the chops or apples, but this was a quick dinner to make on a Sunday night for Monday night’s dinner.

~~~~~~~~~

Mac and Cheese Casserole

I wanted to spruce up our mac andcheese by making it into a casserole. I know some casseroles are made from scratch, but I don’t have time for that, LOL. I made this last night for tonight’s dinner. I stole a small bite before I popped it in the fridge and it was delicious, I KNOW Dinosaur will love this dinner. 

Ingredients:
2 boxes mac/cheese and make according to directions (we used almond milk as a substitute)
shredded cheese
veggies of your choice
bread crumbs
meat optional

Directions:
make mac and cheese according to directions
grease casserole pan and spread mac and cheese in an even layer
add cooked broccoli and cauliflower
sprinkle on shredded cheese, and bread crumbs on top of the cheese heard the bread crumbs a nice crunch to the casserole
bake in oven at 350 for about ten minutes to melt cheese

I’d really like to try a vegetarian meal, that’s NOT just mac and cheese or pasta, for not only health reasons but to also save money on meat. Any suggestions on meatless meals I can make the night before and are budget friendly, as well as, tasty for a four year old?

Linking up with

@sayitrahshay Suggested this weeks list, Has there ever been a #mondaylisticle for real or imagined band names?

Can I say I was just stumped by this one. I listen to audio books as I commute to work and if it is music, it’s mostly my son’s songs. Then I decided to make up band names that revolve around my life.

1. DinoRoars that’s pretty much what my son does all the time…sounds like a great band name to me

2. Use Your  Good Eye This is what my MIL would say to hubby when he was growing up. He could never find anything or always lost his things. Funny how that still happens.

3. Waiting for Bedtime What I pretty much do around dinner time every night

4. Fart Sniffers Between hubby, son, and the dog…this is what happens in our house.

5. Don’t Eat Your Boogies YES…often said by me ESPECIALLY in public.

6. Watch Out for Legos Every parent can attest to the dangers of stepping on these, as well as small cars and dinosaurs

7. Eat Your Dinner or No Dessert Thought I would never have to say that, but I do

8. Loud and Louder My son’s two volumes

9. Why Won’t Anyone Listen to Me? Often just talk to myself since no one listens to me…*sighs*

10. Mommy’s Just Going to Cry in the Bathroom Sometimes it works and sometimes they follow you in

TURN DOWN the volume…like I said he’s REALLY LOUD.

Do you think he’ll make a good rock star?

]]> http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/13/thats-the-name-of-a-band/feed/ 14 mrskcanino http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/12/blessed-with-motherhood/ http://dinoheromommy.com/2013/05/12/blessed-with-motherhood/#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 10:17:52 +0000 Karen http://dinoheromommy.com/?p=3306 ]]> Many years ago motherhood was just a dream. Many years ago I feared that I would never be a mom, but you came into my life.

You, my dear son, have shown me what motherhood and unconditional love really means.

I may joke about how crazy and loud you are. I may joke that I sometimes bang my head on the wall with your incessant screaming or jumping. I may complain about lost toys, ruined furniture, uneaten dinners, and temper tantrums.

Motherhood is hard, we sometimes need to vent to other moms, it does not take away from our love or devotion to your children. Venting and laughing with other moms does not take away from being awesome mothers, it only makes our bonds stronger and our appreciation of what we have deeper.

I love my son, love him more deeply than words could ever explain. I loved him when I first saw him as a three day embryo when he implanted that wonderful Saturday morning. My love grew each day for the beautiful son growing inside of me. My love grew when I finally held you in my arms. I knew at that very moment you were my life, the beautiful gift that your daddy and I created. You are a gift from God, a blessing, a miracle I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Linking up with

I learned to ride my tricycle on my own. I kept falling and tipping over and my mommy had to walk behind me to make sure I didn’t tip over as I turned the handle bars. Mommy made sure I didn’t fall over from going to fast and had to remind me to look where I was going and to not get to close to the car or I could hurt my hands.

I wanted mommy to keep holding on to me, I was scared. The more I practiced, the more she let go of me. I didn’t understand why? I thought she was being mean, but then suddenly I was doing it all on my own. Mommy looked so happy and said she was proud of me.

It took a couple of times, but I did it all by myself!!!

I think she was even crying a bit. Why do mommy’s cry when they are happy? That makes no sense at all.

Mommy even got a video of me in action. Look at me, I’m rockin’.

Don’t I have a super cool bike?

get in shape. Don’t get me wrong, I am not going to diet or change the way I look because I hate my body. I truly believe we women need to love ourselves and show positive body acceptance for our children. How will they know to love themselves if we don’t show them?

I do however, want to get in shape. I want to be able to run and jump around with Dinosaur without feeling like I might collapse form a coronary. I want to take long walks up hills and not fall over and lie on the floor like a beached whale. While on vacation, I want to be able to do whatever Dinosaur wants and not hold him back because I can’t.

I want to eat healthier meals and try to limit the processed foods and hormone-filled meats that come into our home. I can’t buy organic, just too expensive, but I can cook a few vegetarian meals that will ROCK!

A strategically placed post-it note near my pillow ensures that I WILL do Yoga in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP! 

Oh, and remember (pay close attention…this is the important one)…HAVE FUN!

Questions for Friday, May 3rd: (Special thanks to Gassy (@gasfamily) from The Gas Family, Brooke (@HallBro) from Brooke and Michael, Pam (@trooppetrie) from Troop Petrie, Kate (@KatieB38) from Kate’s Life, and lovable, furry ol’ me for these 5QF question suggestions! I would love to link you in a future 5QF, so follow me on Twitter (@5crookedhalos) and/or like my Facebook page and watch for my Thursday shout out plea for questions! Remember to @5crookedhalos me and use hashtag #5QF if you go the Twitter route!)

1. What’s the one personal hygiene thing you will not do in front of your spouse? OH BOY, Can I really share that on this blog, LOL. I think it would have to be anything related to when AF visits the house. I’m sure he’s seen things by accident in our eighteen years together, twelve of which we’ve been married. Though I would prefer him not to, but that is marriage, right? Now as a mom I try to keep the door closed.  My son is slowly starting to understand privacy, since I give it to him when he’s in the bathroom. 

2. What’s your favorite thing about a newborn? Of all the things I missed about Dinosaur being a baby, the thing I miss the most is the unspoken connection I felt with him. We still have that connection, but as a newborn I had to rely on his facial expressions, coos, and movements to understand what he wanted. I loved looking in his eyes and seeing his love for me and recognizing my love for him.

3. When is “too young” to have a Facebook account? Oh wow, there are some adults that are even too immature to even have Facebook, LOL. I think I would freak out when Dinosaur has a Facebook page, but I hope not till high school. I mean, middle school is really young right? Dino is just about four, I can’t imagine the teenager he will be and what will happen. Oh man, I can’t even imagine him a teenager, LOL.

4. What are your hoping for for Mother’s Day? I gave hubby a list of links for crafts he can do with our son. That is what I want most for Mother’s Day gift, a handmade gift made by both my boys. A gift my son can see me proudly hang on our wall or use. Then I want some time to myself, after working all day and traveling from school to school, I really just want time to myself.

5. What was the best field trip you ever took in school? I honestly don’t remember my field trips. My years at Catholic school were a blur, I was bullied and have pretty much blocked it all out. I have been informed we did go to a ranch one weekend when we were in eighth grade and I happend to be taking our son to that same ranch. For me, it’s really like the first time going there, so I can’t wait.