Sponsored article, the author was provided product for review.
I never imagined that I would be a mother of five children. When I was growing up in the eighties my friends and I would talk about what life would be like when we were adults. We often dreamed about what careers we would have, who our husbands were going to be and how many children we would have. I was going to marry my latest crush, be a famous actress or singer and have two or three kids. God had other plans.
I met my husband Chris shortly before I graduated college. We got married a few years later. Early on in our marriage we moved around a lot. We lived in Wisconsin, California, and Washington State before finally settling down in Illinois, where we live today.
Our youngest child was born in Spokane, Washington in 2010. Back then Chris and I always joked that our home was like a zoo. We had a fourteen-year-old and four other kids 5 and under. They were all crazy blessings with unique quirks, personalities and special needs. I told Chris that I needed to start another blog to document our life with our young, special children. We already referred to our home as the Talbert Zoo, so we decided that would be the name of my blog.
I also decided that my children all needed to be named after animals. As a teenager my oldest was very talkative, messy, and enjoyed helping me take care of her little siblings. She was like a mother goose. So we named her Goose. Our second child, another girl, has always loved to sing, dance and entertain others. She also is very independent and likes to take charge like the king of the jungle. We named her Kitty. Our third child, a little boy is very unique and special. He was diagnosed with autism at an early age and is very bright. In fact he might be a genius. He is a fast learner, started talking at five months, taught himself how to read by the time he was three and captured our attention and hearts when he was little. Chris and I decided to call him Parrot. In 2010 our fourth born, another son, was only a year and a half. He was very mischievous when he was little. I remember we had pancakes for dinner one evening and I didn’t clean up right away. He climbed on the dining room table and helped himself to the pancakes. He used to climb everywhere and he started walking the day after his first birthday. Today he is a very active and athletic eight-year-old. We call him Monkey. Our youngest was a newborn back in 2010 and all we did was snuggle and cuddle with him, like a little teddy bear. He will always be our little Bear.
Chris and I still call our home the Talbert Zoo. Today our family is even crazier. Sure I don’t have four kids five and under anymore, but I have five children with special needs. My oldest was diagnosed with autism, anxiety and depression when she was 15. We are speculating that there might be more going on with her. Kitty started pulling her hair out when she was four. She has full blown anxiety induced trichotillomania. Both of my girls are on the same medication to treat their anxiety and depression. Parrot has high functioning autism. Monkey has learning disabilities and ADHD, which he is on medication for. Our youngest, little Bear also has high functioning autism.
Raising these children is challenging. My life has been blessed five times over. I have many stories to tell which I plan on documenting in my next book. Our home will always be the Talbert Zoo. Now we can greet our guests with a beautiful sign hand crafted by, GiftedOccasion.com .
Welcome to the Talbert Zoo
Gifted Occasion can customize signs, wedding guest books and cutting boards with your family’s name, special dates or just about anything you would like.
Gifted Occasion also carries a wide selection of nautical signs, kitchen signs and nursery signs. All of their products are hand crafted out of wood. I love the beautiful design and finish on my welcome sign.
These signs look beautiful near your front entrance or to add that extra touch to your home decor.
GiftedOcassion.com is offering a gift certificate valued at $100 to one Healthy Moms Mag reader. In order to enter the contest all you need to do is leave a comment at the end of this article. What would you order from GiftedOcassion.com?
For extra entries you can like and follow us on social media, subscribe to our newsletter and RSS feed. We have provided links at the end of this article for your convenience. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry.
This contest ends on March 23, 2018 at 9am CST.
Signs and Gifts from GiftedOcassion.com
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I’d get the Turtle sign as a gift for a friend who keeps turtles.
I would get a wedding guest book or a sign for my upcoming wedding this year!
The family sign
My family has rental cabins so I would order a Welcome sign for the cabin.
we are redoing our front room in Kraken (octopus) theme i see lots of pics that would flow nicely thank you for your generosity
Like the family sign.
I’d order a wedding gift of a family name sign!
I would choose the “gather” sign.
I follow you on pinterest (yarbr012)
I follow/like on facebook.
I follow on instagram @yarbr012
I would get the personalized welcome sign!
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Twitter follower as well 🙂
I love the, “Be Our Guest” sign. My dining rooom needs some love.
I would definitely get a cute hanging sign, like the ‘Wine tasting daily’ sign and a personalized sign. Even a sign for my kitchen – the Bon Appetite lobster sign is adorable!
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Family sign..😊
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GET YOUR DRINKS SIGN WALNUT
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i would order a welcome sign
The family sign
I really love the Stay A While Sign!
I already love your page on Facebook.
I am a member of the Google + community.
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These are so cute! I would order a family sign.
I love the family signs! I like the Fahey’s design the most, I think. Our last name is so long that it’s hard to imagine on a sign!
I love the Aloha sign. Hawaii is my favorite place in the world.
i would order the Family name sign! its so rustic!
I would order the Family sign.
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followed you on pinterest – https://pinterest.com/nidhi09/
Joined your G+ community. – nidhichauhan09
Subscribed you on YT – nidhi chauhan
I would get the family sign.
Definitely family sign!
I’d get a welcome sign personalized!
I love the welcome sign.
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I would do a welcome sign with our last name on it.
I Love the Paglia design cutting board!
I am a new twitter follower @kel_lee213
I am a new follower on Pinterest
I’m a new YouTube follower
I am a new Google+ follower
I would order a sign with our name on it! Those are BEAUTIFUL!
I would love to to have a personalized sign like the PERSONALIZED SIGN VAN MOPPES DESIGN
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personalized welcome sign
I’d get the Love Sign in white!
I love the Personalized Sign, Johnson Design
I follow on Twitter: @mereanne18
I’d probably get the personalized welcome sign, as well as the “all you need is love” hanging sign. They are very cute. These would make great gifts!
I would get a sign for my son’s room. I’m not sure which design, maybe the octopus.
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I would gift this to my sister. She would want the personalized sign- with her family name- that also says established on the date that she was married.
I am an email subscriber.
I liked on facebook.
I joined on G+ as wen budro
pinterest wlburro
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The white wash “kitchen” sign would look nice in my kitchen!
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I’m also a FB fan! (Wendy Riding)
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I would definitely get the Family Sign! I love all of them, they are so beautifully done! 🙂
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With the $100, I would probably get three of their seaside/nautical signs, I’ve been looking around for some seaside bathroom decor!
PS. Thumps up for being Catholic and a mum of 5! Number 4 is on the way for me!
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I would order a sign for my fiancée and I!
I would get a sign for my bedroom, and one for my mom for mothers day! With what your offering and the great prices I will have money left!
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I’d get the PERSONALIZED CUTTING BOARD, PAGLIA DESIGN – I think it’d be great for my mom-in-law!
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I would buy the DREAM SIGN LARGE.
The Wedding Guest Book Penelope Dominic Design would be what I would choose .
I follow on twitter @nancy_loring
I already follow on facebook nancy loring
I follow on instagram @rymagdeni
I follow on google+ Nancy Loring
I follow on pinterest Nancy Loring
I follow on youtube Nancy Loring
liked tweeted,and followed. i love the family signed
The Beach House sign.
I would get the personalized sign, street family design!
I would get the FPERSONALIZED SIGN, DICKERSON’S DESIGN.
I follow you on twitter.
I like you on facebook.
I subscribe to your newsletter.
I would get the family sign and hang it in our entry way/laundry room!
I would get a family name sign and a coffee sign.
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that is so nice- i would definietly order a sign for our new house- cogbill est 2004
tcogbill at live dot come
thanks
I love so many things. I would get a family sign for my house.
One of the things I would get would be the All you need is love sign!
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My best fr of 25 years is moving across the county next week.. I’ve been looking for a house warming gift so hands down I’d love the Home Sweet Home sign with the walnut back finish. It would be perfect in her new Colorado home.
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I think i would get a couple of the nautical signs and definitely the baby sleeping sign as a shower present for my niece
I like the Personalized Sign Van Moppes Design the best, and the aloha flower is such a nice touch.
I follow you on YouTube (Yona Williams).
I follow you on Twitter (yonawrites).
I follow you on Instagram (yonawrites).
I would order a family sign for the front of our home.
I love the Personalized Sign, Johnson Design. I love it!! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Twitter. @kdonelson kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Facebook. Kristie Morrison Donelson. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Pinterest. Kristie Donelson. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Google+. Kristie Donelson. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Instagram. kristie.donelson kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Follow on Youtube. Kristie Donelson. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
Get newsletter. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you. Happy Easter!
The Family sign is cute! erinnsluka @gmail
follow on facebook-wow