the great escape

by Holly on July 28, 2010

The boys are running away tomorrow.

It will certainly be quiet around here.

Three boys walking on a railroad tie

Their plan was initially to be implemented today, but they realized they would miss robotic camp in the morning if they were gone.

They have carefully packed:  a bucket full of Easter candy, two large bags of chips, a wooden spoon, a sign, a butterfinger bar…

They started to take water and sodas out of the fridge, but I mentioned that they might get warm by tomorrow afternoon.

They have located a fire engine sleeping bag, a snoopy sleeping bag and several connecting tunnels that will be their shelter.  They are sure to need the blue and white blanket, Teddy, elephant, a folded blanket and an unfolded blanket – both green.

They are running away in protest of harsh living conditions.

And to eat candy.

All the candy we want!

At first it was going to be only the two older boys.

Camping isn’t for babies!

But then I hinted that they might encounter bugs while camping.

Rhett can come too!

They are going to stay up all night.

They are going to do whatever they want.

They are going to eat lots of candy.

The boys are running away tomorrow.

It certainly will be quiet around here…

{ 21 comments }

reading attack

by Holly on July 27, 2010

My boys tolerate my blogging.

When I pull out my camera, they either scream and run or start making faces that they know I won’t photograph.

*sigh*

When I pull out my video camera, their reaction intensifies.

This week I wanted to do a video for the VTech V.Reader as a part of the final week of the VTech Voices blogging extravaganza.

I needed them on board.

I needed them to help.

I decided to let them write the video and then we would film it together.  My idea was to use a Seuss-like rhyme and have them fill in the blanks.

The blanks got a little out of control.

It definitely didn’t turn out like I planned it in my head.

It definitely qualifies as the most violent video ever produced on the behalf of VTech.

I definitely love it.


{ 11 comments }

ode to step stools – the giveaway

by Holly on July 26, 2010

As the boys have grown and I have tried to give them the opportunity to be more independent.

Independent = not screaming for me every moment of every day.

One of the things that is EXTREMELY helpful in this independence endeavor is the stool.

Because I believe that there is no excuse for ugly ANYTHING, I look at the stool as a work of functioning art.  I walked around the house tonight taking pictures of the stools strewn around my house (most of them are located in bathrooms) just for fun…

I have collected them over the years and find that they boys pick them up and take them where they need them.

It is a form of stool migration.

Which brings me to the point that if you have kids, you can’t have too many stools.

Today I am giving away A STEP STOOL FOR KIDS from Step Stool Supply.

A random comment will be selected to win their choice of a stool from the STEP STOOL SUPPLY Kids Step Stool page with free shipping.

You get a super cute stool to match your decor and less screaming for mommy around the house.

I am simply here to help.

Here is my favorite:

It is easy to enter (please leave a comment for each entry):

  • MANDATORY (scary word, eh?) – leave me a comment about one of the crazy things your child has yelled at you (or something you have heard from someone else).
  • Tweet/Facebook this contest.
  • Subscribe to the June Cleaver Nirvana RSS feed (and/or join my Google Friend Connect).

The contest will end midnight on next Monday, August 2, 2010.  You may tweet/FB once a day if ya wish.

I will contact the winner via email and obtain their contact information for Step Stool Supply who is sponsoring this contest.

Good luck!

{ 117 comments }

boy + dog + pool

July 25, 2010
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We spent the day at the pool (not ours) with a dog (not ours) and it was pretty magical.
Reid(7) and Taffy(dog years) splashed, swam, jumped and fetched for hours.
At first Reid was throwing a ring into the pool for Taffy to fetch.
Then Taffy started dropping a torpedo into the deep end for Reid to fetch.
After [...]

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i bought vibram five fingers gorilla feet shoes

July 22, 2010
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Every once in awhile I have run into someone wearing what appeared to be gorilla feet:

It is hard to avert your eyes.
I mean, I don’t MEAN to stare…but really they are ridiculous looking.
So, of course, I had to buy a pair.
But give me a break on the gorilla look, I chose a cute little ballet-like [...]

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encouraging a young reader & v reader giveaway

July 21, 2010

This week with VTech Voices is full of fun.
We are being challenged to come up with a list of ways to encourage kids to read.
If you have been around The Nirvana for any length of time, you know that I have been trying out a few of my own this summer:

Bribery

Scheduling reading time

Threats

(not really me)
Oh, [...]

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proof of maternity

July 21, 2010
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I truly believe that there aren’t many problems that can’t be solved by a good bath.
It appears that my boys agree.

And if a few bubbles are good, then more must be better.

Yep.  He is standing…

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5 tv shows that you will find on my TiVo

July 20, 2010

The Closer – This is hands down my favorite show.  It has intelligent people acting intelligently.  It also has a strong quirky factor which I can appreciate.
Project Runway – This is reality TV at its best.  A simple challenge, process, drama and conclusion all within an hour.  Since the finished product is on display for [...]

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tossing memories

July 19, 2010
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I have been married for almost 20 years to a pack rat.
A very sweet pack rat.
The way I cope with blog-Stedman’s multitude of treasures is to give him his own space and shut the door.
I don’t go in.
Ever.
It is scary in there.
He currently has several areas which are zoned Holly-free:  the room he has his [...]

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slices of vail

July 18, 2010
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We were in the Vail Valley last week.  It was incredibly beautiful.
And the perfect temperature…in the shade.
I have 1000s of pictures.  Approximately 67% of them are of poppies.
The poppies were so vivid.  I may post a poppy a day for the rest of the year…
Many of the photos above are from the Betty Ford Alpine [...]

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the legend of bitter holly (part II)

July 16, 2010
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Part I is here… and this is a very complex story that would be difficult to jump right into.
We left Bitter Holly in the hallway adjoining the important meeting room where she was sitting with other adults. She is talking on an emergency phone call from the electrician that installed her right under-cabinet light that [...]

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