I have three teenagers. They all loved trick-or-treating with friends well into their teenage years–and I happily let them! Initially, I questioned my judgement…Aren’t you too old to be trick-or-treating? But I quickly realized, there are MUCH BIGGER FISH to fry with teenagers…this is not a battle worth fighting. In fact, now I celebrate their…
Family
FlyLady Routines — Bless Your Home and Family!
Here’s the truth. I’m a very messy person at heart. I was the kid in elementary school who stuffed bent folders, stubby pencils, broken crayons, and crumpled notes into her desk. Oh how I envied my friends who kept their desks meticulous–shiny folders all in a row, neat pencil boxes (actually filled with pencils and…
Easy Family Recipes — make every day special
These days I don’t always have much time for cooking (maybe it’s not so much the cooking, but the clean-up)! As a homeschool mom, I feel like I am.always.in.the.kitchen! So when I do take the time to make something for my family (beyond peanut butter and grilled cheese), I want it to be something they…
20 Marriage Tips After 20 Years
Last summer my husband (Jason) and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! And now I’ve officially been married half my life! We tied the knot just one month after my 20th birthday…wow! I felt very grown-up back in 1997—totally ready to take on the world with my new hubby! And I guess you could say…
Staying On or Off Disney Property at Disney World
Planning a trip to Disney World is so exciting! Deciding where to stay is one of the first things to knock off the “to-do,” list! We’ve visited Disney World five times with our family, and we’ve stayed both on and off property! (We’ve got 6 kids and have done Disney with toddlers, teens, and everything…
Get Organized — Homeschool Planner
Today I’m sharing tools and the Homeschool Planner I created to help get me organized! My hope is this comprehensive planner will help you tackle your own “to-do,” lists and help keep your homeschool planning simple, flexible, and organized! Organization and Mental Health For me—keeping organized is a big part of healthy living. I’m prone…
Kid Activities — Are the Sacrifices Worth It?
The last snowflakes just fell on this year’s Nutcracker ballet. It was beautiful—truly lovely. I wish I could just watch and enjoy the show—but instead I sit with shoulders tense, holding my program in a death grip and barely breathing. My eyes following my fourteen year-old daughter’s every move. Partly because I know the hours…
Preparing for Twins — What You Really Need!
Discovering I was pregnant with twins was truly the biggest surprise of my life! After the initial shock wore off, I began working through the logistics. I had lots of questions, like… “How will this work…Where will they sleep? Can we all fit into our vehicle?” (We already had 4 kids…so we didn’t have a…
5 Must Bring Items to Disney World – Save Time and Money in the Parks!
A trip to Disney World is so exciting—we have visited four times with our family and absolutely love it! If you’re a little overwhelmed about planning your family’s visit, I’ve got you covered! This post is all about 5 Must Bring Items to Disney World —items you definitely should bring, but you may not think of….
A Momo Twins Pregnancy: Part 3 Ready Or Not, Here Come the Babies
My first week in the antepartum unit was fairly uneventful. I was actually enjoying having all my meals delivered, having daily housekeeping service, and having zero laundry–it was a real mommy vacation! I would walk the halls of the maternity floor, read my stack of books, and binge watch TV. Oh and nap…Ah–the naps! Whenever….
Developing Gratitude in Your Child — Start One Simple Habit Tonight!
My six-year-old may be the perfect child…If only he ate something besides yogurt and graham crackers—I truly think he may be perfect (not that I’m biased or anything). The sweet baby has been JOY since the day he was born. His name, Asher, means Happy, Fortunate, and Blessed–and suits him completely. He was our SURPRISE…
How to Plan a Disney Vacation
We love Disney World! I think families are either in one of two camps—the Disney LOVERS or the Not-So-Much. We are wholeheartedly part of the first camp! And I say this as someone who does not love crowds—I’m actually a crowd avoider. I don’t do local festivals and carnivals because I cannot even handle that…
Jesse Tree Christmas Tradition
Preparing for Christmas Today, Audrey (my 14 year old daughter—equal parts Peter Pan and 40-year-old mom), excitedly announced that in exactly one month we will be hauling up all the Christmas boxes from the basement—it will be the weekend before Thanksgiving. Umm—thanks, Child—you can stop with your countdown—I still need to buy Halloween costumes! But…
Ultimate Guide to Preschool Toys and Gifts
I’ve been told we have a lot of toys… But, you have to remember—I have 6 kids! So yes, I do have a lot of toys. And some of them are pure junk and destined for the trash can. However, most are part of a collection, slowly acquired over 18 years—toys that have been well…
A Momo Twins Pregnancy: Part 2 — It Gets Real
Finding out you’re having twins is a huge shock… We don’t have twins in either of our families. My grandmother gave birth to 10 kids—zero twins. Here’s a picture of my sweet, giant family–not a single set of twins: I always wanted twins…I would hold onto a glimmer of hope at each of my initial…
