Take Care of Mom this Mother's Day (Giveaway!)

Thank you Molly Maid for sponsoring this post. Be sure to take care of yourself and Mom this Mother’s Day! #MollyMaid4Mom

Breakfast in Bed? Flowers? Jewelry? A day off from laundry, dishes, and all other “mommy-duties”? Yep, all nice things to give Mom for Mother’s Day.  Most moms will admit that while treating her like the Queen she is,  is wonderful, Mother’s Day is all about celebrating who she is – a mom.  And as much as I love a quiet, relaxing massage, call me crazy, but I want to spend Mother’s Day with my kids. 

My hubby finds it humorous when I plan an outing on Mother’s Day – I think he expects I want to be off at the spa or locked away watching a chick-flick sans kids.  Nope, bring me exploration and a new adventure with the family any day.  I want to get out of the house, spending time with those I love the most.

In the past, we have explored zoos, new museums, parks and gone to restaurants of my choosing...every one of them creating a lasting memory of time well spent together.  If you are like me, and want to find something fun to do with your family this Mother's Day, click on the upper left hand menu box, "Texas Travels" and pick the location you want. We have tons of great ideas for you!

Regardless of how mom wants to spend her day, I think we can all agree that mom just wants to feel loved & taken care of on Mother's Day.   And the fine folks at Molly Maids want to help us take care of Mom this Mother's Day.

One of my least favorite "mom jobs" is cleaning house - cleaning toilets, ugh, I hate it! Having someone else do my house cleaning the week of Mother's Day (and maybe longer??) would be so grand. In fact, it would be the perfect gift for Mother's Day (hint,hint).

Molly Maids if offering one of my readers the chance to win a $100 gift certificate!! Check out the details:

Giveaway Rules
Win a $100 gift certificate toward a cleaning from Molly Maid!

Please note that Molly Maid does not offer service in the following locations: Louisiana, Wyoming, Vermont, West Virginia, Maine, Montana, and Alabama. Also Molly Maid does not have coverage in the following Metro areas: Madison, WI, Green Bay, WI, Buffalo, NY, and Syracuse, NY. If you live in any of these locations, you can still enter to win, but will not be able to have a home in those areas serviced. Home cleaning estimates will vary. Winner may use gift certificate toward total cost.

This giveaway will end May 7 at 11:59PM PT, so enter now! A winner will be selected randomly from the comments on May 8 and contacted via email.

Enter up to four times by doing each of the following:

• One Entry - Tweet about the Molly Maid contest (you can even use the handy-dandy Tweet below, if you like) and leave a comment here with either the Tweet or the URL to the Tweet. Please be sure to tag your Tweet with #MollyMaid4Mom.
• One Entry - Post about this contest on Facebook, and leave a comment here saying what you posted. Please tag the post with the #MollyMaid4Momhashtag.
• One Entry - Write a blog post about the contest and -- you guessed it -- leave a comment here with the URL to the blog post.
• One Entry - Just leave a comment on this blog post! If you do not have an account, please leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Sample Tweet: I just entered to win $100 toward a cleaning from Molly Maid! You can too! http://www.rwethereyetmom.com/2012/04/take-care-of-mom-this-mothers-day.html #MollyMaid4Mom

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member ofClever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

Friday Daydreamin': National Parks Week

Happy Friday! My favorite day to Daydream about where I'd rather be......

In honor of National Parks week here in the US, I am daydreaming' about a wonderful trip to this National Park in Wyoming in 2007.....

My hubby & I had the privilege of visiting Jackson Hole in August - it was wonderful - perfect weather, stunning views, and so much to do outdoors!  We white water rafted, hiked, and stood in awe of the gorgeous Grand Teton Mountains.

We will definitely be going back!!

Have you been to a National Park?  Have a picture of it?  Link up and tell us all about it here!

Hungry for more travel photo adventures? Please visit Travel Photo Thursday from Budget Travelers Sandbox and Delicious Baby's Photo Friday.

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Don't forget to sign up to win YOU or a SIGNIFICANT MOMMA in your life $250 in the Mother's Day Giveaway sponsored by 26 amazing blogs.  It is super easy to enter via a rafflecopter located here.  I would LOVE to see one of my followers win the cash! Click here to learn more!

Ms. Ange's Music with Mar ~ Austin, Texas

 I used to be a working momma and never had opportunities to try fun classes with my children until Child #3 came along.  Having stayed at home with #3, I love taking him to try different programs & classes that are available in our community.

We haven't had the best of luck - let's just say that #3 is not the child that sits still with his hands in his lap, sweetly listening to the story (that was Child #1).  And when we got dirty looks from the mommas at the Library Story time because I couldn't get him to stop running around the room, zooming like an airplane, I knew that wasn't the place for us.

So I was hesitant to try a "music class", but my friend talked me into trying a weekly "Music with Mar" class held in Round Rock.  It was exactly what #3 needed!

 Music with Mar teaches to the "whole child using music" and provides interactive movement & music classes for the parent and the child.  Though silly songs, instrument play, dancing, and listening, children are getting a good music AND academic foundation.

Ms. Ange creates a wonderful environment that invites you to play with your child.  As a former teacher, Ms. Ange knows how to interact with the children and gets them to join in the fun quickly. We danced, and songs and giggled through the entire 45 minute class. 

 My son loved the instruments and puppets.  I loved the helpful tips Ms. Ange provides the parents... "When your child can step & clap, they are showing signs of reading readiness."

The classes are so affordable too!  Only $7 per family - so yes, if you have 3 kiddos, it will only be $7 - where else can you get quality, educational fun like this?  Ms. Ange also provides a 5 class punch card for $30 and is offering no expiration right now.

 Ms. Ange's Music with Mar classes are held twice a week in Round Rock:

Wednesdays @ 9 am

Babyearth 

106 E Old Settlers Blvd. Ste D-100

Round Rock, TX 78664

Thursdays @ 10 am

The Book Spot

1205 Round Rock Ave #119

Round Rock, TX 78681

Blue Bonnet Cafe ~ Marble Falls, Texas

"It's What's  Cooking in Marble Falls." - this sweet slogan is so true.  For one of the best home-cooked meals and amazing pie, everyone in the Hill Country knows you head to Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas.

With a cozy, down-home atmosphere, the Blue Bonnet cafe is busy at all times of the day.  Could be their yummy pancake breakfasts, big platters of chicken fried steak, or just pie that keeps everyone coming.  Yep, I think a LOT of people are there for the pie.

Blue Bonnet Cafe offers a Pie Happy Hour! (Monday-Friday 3-5 pm) The menu boasts 14 different pies to choose from and you an get that plain, heated up, a la mode with whip cream or ice cream - I tell ya, it is a hard decision.

Luckily, when we went over Spring Break, all 5 of us ordered a different slice, so we could sample - Lemon Cream, Apple A La Mode, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Meringue, and German Chocolate - all for one table. Just look at how tall that meringue stands!

We did order dinner - the plates are big, so bring an appetite or save room for pie - so despite that, we had no trouble clearing off our pie plates.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe is the perfect place to stop and get a bite (and a slice of pie!!) after you visit the Longhorn Cavern State Park or take a trip on the Vanishing Texas River Cruise.  Maybe you worked up an appetite climbing Enchanted Rock or picking strawberries at Sweet Berry Farm?  Maybe you don't need any other reason to go there....except for a piece of exceptional pie.

More Fun Things to do in the Hill Country:

Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm

LBJ Ranch at Lyndon B Johnson National Historic Park

Longhorn Caverns State Park

Inks Lake State Park

National Museum of the Pacific War

Enchanted Rock

Vanishing Texas River Cruise

Sweetberry Farm in the Fall

Picking Strawberries at the Sweetberry Farm 

Salt Lick BBQ

Texas Travel Facts for Blue Bonnet Cafe:

Location: 211 Highway 281 Marble Falls, Texas

Hours: Mon-Thurs: 6 am - 8 pm

            Fri & Sat: 6 am - 9 pm

            Sun: 6 am - 1:45 pm

Recommended Time: 1-2 hours (depending on the wait)

Good to know: the line to get a table moves pretty fast (and it is worth the wait!): don't forget about Pie Happy Hour M-F 3-5 pm; For all the wonderful recipes, grab a copy of Blue Bonnet Cafe Cookbook

Website:http://bluebonnetcafe.net

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum ~ Waco, Texas

When I told my kids we were going to go to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum over Spring Break – they looked at me strange.  “You mean we are going to a baseball museum?”, my daughter asked.  And yes, this is the 11 year old that had Texas History last year.  I knew then, I had to brush up on my history.

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, located in Waco, Texas is a wonderful place to learn the colorful history of the Texas Rangers – the oldest state law enforcement agency.  Visitors learn about the history of the Texas Rangers through exhibits, which includes badges, firearms, saddles, photographs, and other artifacts on display. 

We learned so much that day – how in 1823, Stephen F. Austin called for a group of men “to act as rangers for the common defense” and in 1835, the new Republic of Texas established three companies of men that would be the main defense of Texas for many years.  The museum provides many great stories & situations the Rangers have encountered throughout their almost 200 years of service to Texas.  There is a great 45 minute film that provides a great history as well.

In what could be a very heavy museum geared to an older generation, the museum does a great job of bringing in their young visitors too. My children enjoyed sitting on the wooden horses, handling the heavy pistols, and putting together the rifle. 

They also enjoyed mom making them dress up in Western garb and act out the scene of a Western show.  At least my son got to play the part of the Texas Ranger!

Lastly, we were handed this fantastic Scavenger Hunt – we were instructed to find hidden pictures of bandits through out the displays and unscramble a code they had.  My kids LOVED that!

But their favorite part of the tour? Finding the $1000 and $500 bills.  “Are they real?”, my son asked.  Luckily, a very knowledgeable museum employee standing nearby informed us that they were indeed real – but they are not in circulation anymore, as the “big bills made drug trafficking too easy.”  She also told us that 90% of the artifacts in the museum are all original.  HOW COOL!

Moving past the displays, you enter the actual Official State Hall of Fame, which memorializes Texas Rangers who gave their lives in the line of duty or served with great distinction.  It is very humbling to see the all that collective protection gathered in one central place.

We had a wonderful time at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum.  I think we didn’t fully know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised.  Paired with a trip to the Cameron Park Zoo , the Dr Pepper Museum, or the Mayborn Museum Complex and you have a great day!

Texas Travel Facts for Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum:

Location: 1300 S. University Parks Waco, Texas

Hours: Mon - Sun: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Admission: Adults: $7.00

                    Children (6 to 12): $3.00 (under 6 are free)

Recommended Time: 1- 2 hours

Good to know: Check the great website for additional historical information, great gift shop, Children can join the "Jr. Ranger Program"

Website: http://www.texasranger.org/

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Don't forget to sign up to win YOU or a SIGNIFICANT MOMMA in your life $250 in the Mother's Day Giveaway sponsored by 26 amazing blogs.  It is super easy to enter via a rafflecopter located here.  I would LOVE to see one of my followers win the cash! Click here to learn more!

My children and I were invited to visit the museum and were provided admission. I was not financially compensated for this post.  All opinions of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum are strictly my own based on my experience.  

I Want You to Win $250 for Mother's Day!

I am so thrilled to be able to bring you an amazing Mother's Day Giveaway that is so simple, it will rock your socks!!  Want to win $250 for YOU or that SPECIAL MOMMA in your life?  Check this out!

Here at R We There Yet Mom? we are excited to collaborate with A Family Village to celebrate YOU or your Mom. We have teamed up with our closest 26 friends to bring you a fun cash giveaway!

One lucky winner will win $250 to be deposited directly into their PayPal account!! Awesome right?

This giveaway is sponsored by 25 incredible businesses and blogs – and you will love getting

the chance to check them out.

To enter, you are REQUIRED to simply follow each of the steps using the Rafflecopter form below! Also, go check out the fabulous business owners and bloggers involved in this event.

Giveaway starts 4/22 at 12:01 am EST and ends 5/13/12 at 12:01am EST. Good Luck!

We Love our Readers, You deserve to win $250!

The cash giveaway is open to all worldwide (paid in US dollars) and will be paid directly into

your PayPal account.

This giveaway is brought to you by:

Austin Couponing

Family Volley

Embracing Life, Love & Art

Danielle Elwood Dot Com

FoodieGems

Mentor Leadership Team

Sadie: The Paper Crown Princess

Keep it Complicated

R We There Yet Mom?

A String of Pearls

Kids Kitchen

Domestic Disturbia

365 Things To Do in Bastrop, TX. 

A Star in My Own Universe

Little Boo Creations

TrackerSphere

Whit’s World

Pagette Callender Photography

Food Good, Laundry Bad

With Just a Bit of Magic

cafe mocha reflections

Young Work At Home Moms

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Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Daydreamin': Texas Love

Happy Friday! My favorite day to Daydream about where I'd rather be......

Growing up in Texas, I visited the Hill Country all the time.  I love the rolling hills, cedar trees, and untouched feel to it. I knew that it was good ranching country, but never really looked past the lakes I loved so much.  Until recently. 

I took my kids out to Stonewall to visit the LBJ Ranch & the Texas White House.  It is a self-guided tour and they provide you with a delightful narrative CD to listen to as you drive around the Ranch.  One particular moment, as the CD played an inspiring Texas song, I looked out the windows and gasped.  The sight (not captured as well as I’d like in photo), truly displayed Texas.  Rolling hills, green grass, slow-moving cattle, and a country song on the radio.  It was my quintessential Texan moment.

Just ignore the airstrip on the right where President LBJ would fly “Air Force one-half” to his Texas White House.  That was totally out of place.

Have a great photo of a spot that made you gasp? Share it or your favorite vacation photos with us! Link up below and please visit some of the other links today as well!

Hungry for more travel photo adventures? Please visit Travel Photo Thursday from Budget Travelers Sandbox and Delicious Baby's Photo Friday.

Waterloo Ice House ~ Austin, Texas

Don't you love days where unexpected fun just kinda falls in your lap? You go to a place, not knowing what to expect, and you have the best time?

My little guy (he's 3) and I have been exploring every Wednesday as the 2 older kids are in school.  It has been so much fun, as we have been able to play at some really cool locations like the Play For All Abilities Park last week.  This Wednesday, I had a few errands to run and then I promised him I would take him to a "park" (does a playscape count?).

We were meeting some new friends at the Waterloo Ice House on 360/Capital of Texas Hwy.  I googled it - saw there was a playscape - thus it became the "park".

We had the BEST afternoon there y'all. If you are looking for a relaxing weekday location to get the kids out to play - this is it.

I was able to drink my ice tea and have a delicious cheeseburger (yes, I indulged!) while my guy ran around the sand pit and playscape for 2 hours.  He made new friends, played with trucks, climbed up & down the playscape, and barely came over to get a drink.

I sat under the shade of big oak trees, enjoyed the cool April breeze.  It was incredibly relaxing and I think  it could be a great place for play dates.  There is a ton of seating and a outside bar that opens in the evening, along with horseshoe pitches and a few tvs.  It looked like a great place to hang out on a Friday night with the entire family.

I loved the Hill Country feel to it - ice cold beer, burgers in your backyard - can't get more relaxing than that.  Having been around since 1976, Waterloo Ice House has perfected the atmosphere.  With 8 locations across Austin, there is definitely one near you....though I can't say if it has the amazing backyard feel to it that the 360 location does.

What? You already knew about this place?  You mean, this is not Austin's best kept secret?  Well, consider yourself reminded.  Your welcome.

Other Fun Things to Do in Austin:

Austin Bats 

Austin Children's Museum

Austin Mural Scavenger Hunt

Austin Nature & Science Center

Austin's Park

Austin Zoo

Big Top Candy Shop

Bullock Texas State History Museum

Cathedral of Junk

Cedar Rock Railroad

The Dinosaur Park

Dino Pit

iFly

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures

Mt. Bonnell

Pioneer Farms

Texas Military Forces Museum

Texas State Capitol

Texas Travel Facts for the Waterloo Ice House (360 location):

Location: 6203 Capitol of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX

Hours: Mon-Sat - 7 am - 11 pm / Sunday 8am-10pm

Good to know: Wear flip flops for the kids to play comfortably in the sandpit; wipes/sanitizing gel to clean hands for meals

WebsiteTexas Travel Facts for the Play for All Abilities Park:

Location: 151 North A.W. Grimes Round Rock, TX

Hours: 6 am - midnight

Admission: Free

Recommended Time: 1 hour

Good to know: Don't follow GPS instructions to get there - there is a new entrance to get to the park off A.W. Grimes (right near the Railroad Track Bridge); bring bikes/trikes to ride in the Mini Township only; 

Website: http://www.waterlooicehouse.com/