I share my birthday month with a lot of amazing people.

But one of my favorite of those born in July is Lily, from Lily’s Life is Great!

Can you believe that to celebrate her birthday this year Lily and her Mom put together a raffle for both Parker and his bud, Jax?

Oh, yes she did.

Not only that, TEN TIMES during the month of July Lily will be hosting FREE giveaways! Like today! The giveaway is a pool and the cutest little beach towel you ever did see. You’ll have to go and check it out: Swimming Pool and Beach Towel!

Next go and drool over the raffle items. Can you believe the stash that Lily and her Mom have put together to be raffled off for Jax and Parker?

Would you mind helping spread the word about this most awesome of birthday gifts?

Just tell ‘em Parker sent ya!

I knew we were in trouble when I heard the first clank.

The total seizing up of the motor was just icing on the cake. My washing machine’s final attempt at being a show off.

I called the repair guys. I described what had happened. I even demonstrated the sound my washing machine was making right before it’s final spin.

The verdict? Too expensive to repair.

Which wasn’t exactly what I had been hoping to hear.

So I began the research for a new washing machine.

I drooled over the bright and chic front loaders. But I knew that wasn’t going to ever happen.

Then I read a few articles about all the problems concerning mold and front loaders.

Which made me feel much better.

Cause sometimes I’m shallow like that.

I was amazed at all the not so nice feelings consumers are having with the more energy efficient machines. Seems like when you purchase a machine that is suppose to get your clothes clean, people get a tad bit snarky when they come out still smelling funky.

The whole idea of a washing machine being able to gage how much water your load of clothes needs to become clean hasn’t exactly been perfected yet. Or so over 500 customer reviews say.

After much worry, research and crossing of fingers, we made our choice.

Just in the nick of time as my children were beginning to debate whether or not we should start doing laundry in the stream that runs behind our home.

Seems as though even 14 year old boys have standards as to how long they are willing to wear the same pair of underwear.

Which was news to me.

Salvation came early this morning in the back of a Sears truck.

Here she is on her maiden voyage. She doesn’t totally match our dryer. Stuff like this would have driven me nuts a few years ago. But I got over that flavor of crazy about a zillion medical bills ago.

She sounds just like a space ship. I’m sure my clothes will be an out of the world type of clean.

You can believe me on this because I never lie.

But you’ll need to remember that lying and stretching the truth are NOT one and the same.

At least not when we’re talking about washing machines. Or my weight.

Just sayin’.

I made a quick stop into the Dollar Store yesterday. I needed to pick up some items to use for homeschooling.

I learned that when shopping at dollar stores you’d better grab it while it there. Cause the next time you visit it won’t be. Hence the Christmas colored pom-poms in June.

I looked high and low for a large holed bottle of some sort. I still am in need of some Tinker Toy sticks. Until then I’ll have to make do with dry spaghetti noodles.

Okay. Since transparency seems to be the cool term of the day, I’ll confess. I didn’t pick the star erasers up at the dollar store. They were .19 cents each at the teacher supply store. Shoot me.

Clothespins of many colors.

These are window clings. But they stick on all kinds of surfaces. Including Parker’s easel. Which is right at his eye level. Perfect.

I’m still hoping to turn up some smaller sized tongs. Like sugar cube tongs. Not the giant man-eating size that seems to be popular now.

And guess who decided that he lurves (and I mean lurves) Barney. sigh. I broke down and bought one of the newer dvds. But the new guy doing Barney’s voice is horrible. It doesn’t even kinda sound like Barney. So I’ll be getting my yard sale mojo on hoping to score on a few older dvds or VHS tapes. And maybe a puzzle or two.

Not too much though. My older kids insist on making choking and gagging sounds each time anything Barney comes out to play.

Sometimes it is so bad that I actually have to pull out the scrapbooks and show them carrying around their very own tattered purple dinosaur. Or remind my now 18 year old that she used to cry at the end of a show, “Barney, come back!” “Please, come back.” “Baaaar-neeey”

Heh, heh. I knew all the hours spent keeping those memories alive would pay off one day.

My all time favorite price.  FREE!

https://www.glidden.com/promotions/free-paint-giveaway.do

Pick a color online (at the site above) and Glidden will send you a Free Quart of any color of paint you choose. It comes in an eggshell finish which will be perfect for a couple of crafts I have in mind.

And did I mention that it’s FREE?

Cause it totally is.

Offer good until July 2 or until supplies run out.

Hat tip: Thrifty Decor Chick

I’m closing the comments here in order to entice you to go straight over to 5 Minutes For Special Needs and enter to win one of these excellent Sand and Transportation Stations from Step2 for your own Brave Hero.

Note: This is a compensated (Parker received his Sand and Water Transportation Station for free) review and giveaway from Step2.

It was a warm summer’s morning. Parker had been signing “outside” since he woke up, hours before.

Finally, after the medications, the morning therapies, bath time, trach change and breakfast, it was time to go outside.

When you are a medically fragile kid with special needs your whole world becomes the area within your backyard fence.

And it is your Mom’s job to try and provide as many typical experiences as possible.

Despite all the cords, tubing and bags and bottles that trail after you each step of the way.

Because typical is often found in the eye of the beholder.

On this most magical of mornings, Parker stepped out into his world to discover the Sand and Water Transportation Station sent to him by Step2 toys.

We set Parker’s table up with rice and water. Because sand and trachs make this Mama even more nervous than usual. But the beauty is that you can use anything in this toy made by Step2.

Birdseed
Different colors of water.
Jello
Clear water with different colors of ice cubes.
Popcorn
Dried beans and lentils.

Only your imagination limits you and your child’s experience with this toy.

And may I just say, Parker luuuurved this toy. Thank you, Step2

He delighted in it.

He engaged with this toy. Which made his Mama’s heart sing.

And now the good folks over at Step2 would like to offer YOU a chance to win a Sand and Water Transportation Station.

Entering is easy. Simply visit Step2 toys and then come back and let me know what other toys interest you. Don’t just cheat off of the comments of others……..go to the site and look around for yourself.

Easy no?

Other ways to win:Want to earn an extra entries?

1. Follow us on Twitter. We are 5MinSpecNeeds

2. Tweet this giveaway @5MinSpecNeeds

3. And while you’re at it, how about a little Shout Out for Step2?  A company that understands the value of advertising directly to parents of children with special needs. Just leave your lurve in the comments section.

This contest will run through Friday, July 10th.

Offer available in the U.S. AND Cananda!

Please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions.

You can also find Tammy and Parker hanging out at their other blog, Praying for Parker and on Twitter where they are known as ParkerMama.

but this is totally the reason I had kids.

The soon to be 14 year old………..

was joined by the brand new 18 year old.

Slave Labor. It’s a good thing.