Guest Blogger and Giveaway!

I am so excited to introduce you to our guest blogger today!

Like, really really excited!!

Lindsay is a local Mom of three boys who blogs, and co-owns an awesome 

Eco-Friendly business called Earth Monkeys!
She and her family recently had their home made over by Extreme Makeover Home Edition!

She's honest, hilarious and encouraging. And she's also doing an Earth Monkey Giveaway!

Make sure you click "Read More" to find the giveaway!

{Kids} Life Before…And After…

Although my oldest is only 6, I barely remember life before kids, do you? There were so many things I took for granted… like peeing by myself and not having to say the words “is that poop or chocolate” 17 times a day… Although it’s like a blurred vision, here’s what I do vaguely remember ….

BOOBS!!!!! Although I don’t really need to say more if you have breast fed for even a second…let me just say the reward for nursing a child for months … and feeling like a freaking dairy cow 24/7 …. should not be smaller, flatter, stretch-marked boobs…seriously, am I wrong? However I do have to say Victoria Secrets has come to my rescue with the “bombshell” bra… although I usually shop clearance at Target for my bras and undies… dropping $50 on the VS bra was like buying a boob job in a bag and I couldn’t be happier:)

WORK-OUTS… I can remember the day when I would just go work out at the gym whenever I wanted… I was 20 pounds lighter and I actually thought the gym was a required part of my existence…now you would either laugh or cringe watching my workouts… although I LOVE our boot camps (ummm that’s just a fancy way of saying all of my best friends meet at my house to work out in my backyard:) there is rarely a day that goes by when one of our kids doesn’t cry through the entire work-out. We do crunches while our toddlers straddle us and use us as trampolines and somebody’s kid is always trying to get a pony ride while we do push-ups… it’s a friggen circus and anything but glamorous.

SLEEP… I remember complaining if I had to get up before 11 on a weekend… ugghh I was so annoying!!! And let me just say, if you don’t have kids and make any sort of ridiculous statement like the one I used to make… you’d better not be within slapping distance of me!! I was so stoked this morning that only one of the boys got up last night and they all slep until 5:45…that NEVER happens… two days ago Crew, our youngest, came in at 4 am and body slammed my head until I couldn’t take it anymore and got up with him. And the dark circles and bags under my eyes are now permanent fixtures on my 30 year old face…someday though… I know I will be able to sleep again … and then I will have no excuse for being the wicked witch of the west.

ROMANCE… ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Let’s just say romance these days equals a date on the couch after the kids go down or a quick “rendezvous” while they’re taking a nap… hmmm TMI?? JJ

LOVE… Even with the saggy boobs, no sleep, extra 20 pounds and general lack of adventure, glamour and romance…LOVE makes it all worth it!! It’s amazing to me how much LOVE I have for these grubby little monkeys. It’s amazing that no matter how crazy they make us…how much heart break we experience on their behalf…how hard they make life…there is an unending well of unconditional love for them. It’s depth is unexplainable to anyone that doesn’t have children and honestly it wasn’t until I had kids that I realized that the love, grace and forgiveness I have for my boys is only a fraction of what God has for me. My boys complete me and as we were wrestling on the floor last night while my hubby was cooking dinner I thanked God for such a hugely blessed life!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lindsay and the Earth Monkeys are giving away an Earth Monkey Set! This includes a Bib, Paci-Pac and Port Pad and you get to choose the color! These are all organic and eco-friendly items! 

I drive a 2002 Honda Odyssey with McDonald's' french fries (much to Gena's dismay) ground into the seats and the fragrant aroma of spoiled chocolate soy milk in the carpet.

Our family is walking chaos... with three boys 5, 3, and 2, we are never far from disaster striking which usually manifests in forms like pooping from one end of the kitchen to the other or attempted shankings with broken toys.

The past couple of years have been the most challenging of my life. We have faced disaster in almost every aspect, from a failing consulting business (note to self, don't quit job and start new business in a new field with no experience in a down economy) to our older two sons being diagnosed with autism. [Update... however we were recently chosen to receive a home from ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition... so I'm thinking those years of struggle were worth it:):)]

Autism can be lonely and so many days we just can't even leave the house, so I am excited to help build a community of love and support with other moms. Being a mom is hard... with or without special needs kids! It's time for us to join together... stop judging each other, stop pretending we have it all together and just be free to be who God made us to be

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