10 Summer Outdoor Activities The kids are finally out of school and enjoying their playtime outside. I know the “I’m bored” responses are going to be headed my way soon... so I thought I’d share a few summer outdoor activities I suggest to my own kids to get them off the couch. 1. Swing: This can be a tradition swing on a swingset, or consider fashioning an old tire and rope to a tree, or even just a rope hanging from a tree with a few large … [Read more...]
Helping Children Handle Their Mistakes
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Everyone makes mistakes, and we start making them at a very young age. What is different about the mistakes that we make is how we handle them, and this is something that we learn at the same age we start making them. As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children how to handle the big and little mistakes that they make. Turns out that the best way to help children handle these mistakes has a lot to do with the way we handle them … [Read more...]
Happy Easter | Happy Spring!
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Here are just a few shots of this morning’s festivities. My “bucket heads” waiting to go hunt for eggs. Emma running to show me what she’s found. Ethan proudly showing me his almost full bucket. Emma excited about her basket full of goodies. We also got the children “spring” presents... fun things to do outside. Emma got a pogo stick. Ethan got a scooter. He is a lucky boy, as his Daddy just ran … [Read more...]
Tips for Photo Journaling Baby’s First Year
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Tips for Photo Journaling Baby's First Year The first year of a child’s life is also the most photographed year of their life, mostly due to our wanting to capture their every waking moment. True, that first year comes with a lot of firsts and each of these is exciting no matter how many children a family may have. In order to create a more meaningful collection of photographs that tell your child’s story, it is best to take photos with the … [Read more...]
Why Frugal Living Can Enrich Your Life In The New Year
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Why Frugal Living Can Enrich Your Life In The New Year You may have said to yourself, “I need to start living more frugally... but it’s just such a change, I am not sure I will even know where to begin.” This is just one excuse many people give themselves when it comes to living frugally. Since a new year is upon us, now is the time to start living frugally and here are 10 reasons to do so: 1. You will be getting ahold of your finances, … [Read more...]
Wordless Wednesday | Then and Now Photos
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Wordless Wednesday | Then and Now Photos The kids and I went back to a local farmstead this summer for a day of fun. On the way out my oldest daughter reminded me we had taken photos in front of the waterfall when the kids were little. So, we decided to take them again. I wish I had remembered where they were sitting, but this is a close reenactment. … [Read more...]
Happy 7th Birthday Sweet Emmaline
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Happy 7th Birthday Sweet Emmaline Today is our sweet Emmaline’s 7th birthday. It seems like yesterday I spent my days snuggling in bed with her entranced in her sweet baby smell. She quickly transformed into our little busy toddler that lit up the room with her smile and could bring on the clouds with her sad face. It took a little persuading on our part, but she finally took to her role of big sister and relishes in the fact … [Read more...]
Happy Fifth Birthday to Ethan!
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Happy Fifth Birthday to Ethan! It’s so hard to wrap my head around the fact that my sweet baby boy is turning 5 today! It seems like just yesterday I was walking (and walking) trying to get him out... now he won’t stop growing! Ethan’s first “real” picture. I just love profile sonogram shots :). My last photograph pregnant. Here I am in the elevator on the way up to labor & delivery! Here he is minutes old, meeting me for … [Read more...]
Our Holiday Weekend
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Our Holiday Weekend Our holiday weekend started out with a bang (sorry, couldn’t resist). The kids were super pumped to see the fireworks as well as spending time with their friends. Our cal-de-sac has traditionally been active on the 4th at night, this year was no exception. If anything, more families were celebrating. The displays were fun and some were surprising... I actually think Ethan got a little more … [Read more...]
I’m Having a Moment | Conflicts Frustration & Cravings
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It’s only Tuesday and I’ve cried or been near tears too many times to count this week. Let’s start with frustration. I mentioned earlier that we have started to eat cleaner foods... more organic, non-GMO, whole foods. That combined with eating a vegetarian diet has taken a wide assortment of food selections and narrowed it to a tiny window. At least it felt like a tiny window the other night. It’s typical for me to get frustrated a couple of … [Read more...]
