It's been a rainy and fairly cool summer so far, but we're trying to still enjoy every moment! Shopping Local at Madison Road Artisan Market This girl has been reading like CRAZY and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! Lots of cloudy, rainy soccer games. And of course, summer projects - we still need to finish painting the bathroom! Just the sweetest! And these too! From our garden! We LOVE Art for Kids Hub! She's 3!! Highly recommend this balance bike we got her for her … [Read more...]
Summer Stuff We Love
In honor of my kids finally being done with school and on summer break, I wanted to share with you some of our favorite summer stuff we love, the things that are bringing us joy, or making our lives a little bit easier, this summer! I'd love to hear from you too, share your family's summer essentials with us! As we go through our daily routine: Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones I got this devotional book after searching around on Amazon for a devotional book for … [Read more...]
Entertaining and Educational YouTube Channels for Kids
It's finally June!! For many of us, summer break is just beginning. For others of us, we have a few more days of school left. (Hurry up, Summer!) But hopefully most of us are working on our intentional summer plan and routine for our kids. So, I wanted to offer a few fun ways for your kids explore some new hobbies or activities this summer, while also helping to keep them occupied for a bit! It's a win-win! Over the past year or so, my kids have really enjoyed learning new things and trying … [Read more...]
On Parenting with Grace and Second Chances
Last week, I was sitting on the floor with my daughter, helping her sort hundreds of tiny rubber bands by color after I accidentally knocked over her Rainbow Loom band storage box that had been left open and sitting precariously on our dining room bench. As we worked, she talked. (I love that about working side by side with my kids, how they talk and open up, especially when I'm helping them with something.) And she told me something I will cling to as a mother for a long time. "Mom," she … [Read more...]
Chocolate Peanut Butter “Ice Cream”
By Rachel Line (my sister!) Yesterday I was super hungry when my son got up from his nap. He usually has a snack, and I decided to join him. But what should we have? I saw the bananas laying on our counter and I thought of the piles of frozen bananas in my freezer. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana "Ice Cream"... perfect! I've been making this special treat for several years now, and I love it for so many reasons. It satisfies my sweet tooth without all the unnecessary ingredients of … [Read more...]
An Intentional Summer Plan and Routine for Kids
Summer break is right around the corner! While I'm completely looking forward to not sending my kids out the door to school every morning and not spending hours each day in the car driving for carpool, I also get a little squirmy thinking about all of us at home together all day, every day. The fighting, the whining, the sibling rivalry, the messes. Oh, the mess of having three kiddos at home all day. Shudder. But then there's also the great stuff too. The beach, the pool, the backyard … [Read more...]
On Grief and Grace (or Why I Hate April)
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise - Victor Hugo Life has been full and busy around here for the past few weeks, and my mind occupied with projects and deadlines and activities for the kids. Finally, at the end of last week I felt like I could come up for air. Except when I took a deep breath, it wasn't a breath of fresh air. It was heavy and filled with dread. April and Easter are right around the corner, and I hate April. This is strange, I know, because most people … [Read more...]
Encouraging Your Kids to Love Reading
The UPS truck pulled up in front of our house and my daughter could not contain her excitement, she had been waiting all week for her new Kindle to arrive. Every day she'd run into the house after school and ask, expectantly, "Is it here yet?!" And every day when I answered, "No, not yet," her face would fall and she look up at me with sad eyes. So on this day when the UPS delivery man jumped out of his truck with a small brown box, she was so ready. But then he went up to our neighbor's … [Read more...]
The Best Way to Fold and Organize Your Kids’ Clothes!
Let me just start off this post by saying that I am NOT a naturally organized person or a naturally good housekeeper. You know those women whose homes seem to always be clean and in order, even when you stop by unannounced? Yeah, I am definitely not one of them! Because keeping a clean and organized home doesn't come naturally to me, but I wish it did, I have read A LOT of books on organizing, decluttering, and cleaning. Over the years, through a lot of trial and error and with many relapses … [Read more...]
Dear People Who Want Me To Vaccinate My Child
Dear Government officials, Pro-Vax parents, and Media pundits who want me to vaccinate my child, Here I am again, drawn into this issue that I said I would never talk about because this whole discussion, debate, argument, whatever it is, makes me absolutely crazy. I'm hearing loud and clear right now that you want me to vaccinate my child. I get that you're passionate about it and you're just trying to get your message across. I think you fail to understand, however, that I'm actually … [Read more...]
