Boys will be Boys Archives - The Joys of Boys

10 Reasons to Visit Legoland CA

April 30, 2013 By Kara 1 Comment

This past week I have been recovering from our family vacation to Southern CA. If you have ever traveled for any amount of time with little kids, you know the week after your vacation is all about recuperating from your vacation. Agree?

As promised, this week I will be sharing my favorite things we loved about Legoland and a few tips to make any Legoland vacation “SO MUCH FUN” (words that were repeated and repeated by 4 year old the entire time we were there). I’ll start today with our favorite things about Legoland. (This post is in no way compensated. We just had a great time and I wanted to share. )

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Filed Under: Boys will be Boys, For the Boys, Snapshots of My Life, Travel Tagged With: Lego, Raising boys, Travel

Monday Motivation: He’s Just a Little Boy

April 29, 2013 By Kara 8 Comments

It’s baseball season in my neck of the woods, which means we have been spending A LOT of time at the ball park.

With my two oldest playing, we are averaging 4 games/week plus practices on top. It can get crazy but baseball is my sport.

My boys play soccer and basketball at other times of the year as well and I love to watch them, but I basically grew up on the baseball (softball) field. I took my position on 3rd base pretty seriously and even though I ruined my right shoulder for life, and I can no longer play more than a few minutes of catch with my boys (and sometimes not even that), the thrill of the game comes back to me as I watch my boys play and at times, my competitiveness starts to come out.

But, I am definitely not the most competitive parent at the games. I’ve heard pretty much everything coming out of the mouths of some. Last week there was nearly an all-out brawl at a coach pitch game. COACH PITCH! We’re talking 7-9 year old kids who had to sit and watch the adults make fools out of themselves (yes I’ll say it like it is). These kids are little and excited to be playing and yet often, we parents take the fun out the game by taking things too seriously.

I came across this quote awhile ago and have saved it because I need this reminder every year when baseball season rolls around. And yes, I get a little emotional when I read it. I guess it really puts things into perspective.

He’s Just a Little Boy

I love sports and I think sports can be really beneficial for kids. And don’t get me wrong, I want my boys to be competitive in a healthy way. I want them to try their best and give it 100% but I also don’t want them to forget that in the end, it is just a game. You win some and you lose some. One of my first blog posts was last year at this time where I listed 20 Benefits of Kids playing sports. Our children can learn so much and make some great memories, but if we take the game too seriously and come down on them too hard, then it’s no longer fun. We just have to remember that “He’s just a little boy and not a man yet. “

Filed Under: Boys will be Boys, Just for Mom, Monday Motivation, Parenting Tagged With: boys and sports, Monday Motivation, sports

Family, Tradition and Wrangler Jeans

March 5, 2013 By Kara 1 Comment

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today! I spent the morning going on a walk and spending time in my garden. There is just something about springtime that makes me happy. Also, springtime around here means we are getting ready for the County Fair. This is the first year my oldest son has been old enough to show an animal in the fair. We’re starting him off with a pig even though I’m sure my 100%, strictly cattleman grandpa probably wouldn’t like that very much. Wrangler Jeans for County Fair

I grew up on a farm/cattle ranch and I started showing steers in our Livestock show when I was my sons age so it has been fun being outside and teaching him how to work with and be around animals. Being around the farm so much lately has me thinking a lot about my grandparents.

This past month marked 2 years since my grandpa passed away and next week marks 5 years since grandma has been gone. It seems like just yesterday that I was a little girl exploring their farm. We would spend our time there exploring the pastures, riding horses and “Big Red” the 3-wheeler, working in the garden, mowing the lawn and feeding the cattle and stray cats, or just sitting on the front porch enjoying the perfect summertime weather with a Popsicle in hand, listening to grandpa tell stories.

Grandpa's farm

My grandpa was the epitome of an All-American cowboy and cattleman. And my grandma was a perfectly patient cattleman’s wife. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boys will be Boys, For the Boys, Just for Mom, Snapshots of My Life Tagged With: #cbias, Raising boys

Sometimes Playing is Hard Work!

January 15, 2013 By Kara Leave a Comment

If you are a parent then you have probably experienced that moment where you are going about your business and then suddenly realize that you haven’t seen one of your kids in awhile. My 4-year-old is normally either right at my side needing something, or ~~torturing~~ loving on his little brother. So when the house is quiet, I normally know something is up.

I was cleaning the kitchen the other day and I noticed I hadn’t seen him in awhile. My older boys were not home so I was curious to where he was. I panicked just a bit as I went from room to room, calling his name and couldn’t find him. Then I went outside around the house calling his name and still couldn’t find him. I’m a worry wart and I admit it. At this point my adrenaline is pumping as I’m thinking of all of the bad things that could have happened to him. (Yes, I’m also an over-reactor.)

And finally I walked back in the house to call my husband and found this:

He was dead asleep in the ball pit. Suddenly I felt funny for overreacting but I got over that pretty quickly and just enjoyed a 3 hour break with some peace and quiet that doesn’t happen very often around here. I guess playing hard is hard work!

Where is the funniest place your children have fallen asleep?

Filed Under: Boys will be Boys, Snapshots of My Life Tagged With: boys will be boys, children, play, Raising boys

Cinnamini Buns

September 21, 2012 By Kara Leave a Comment

The weekend is here! I am so ready for a break from the run-around. We made up these yummy mini-cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning for fun Friday. So super easy and fun for the boys. A perfect way to start off the weekend.