The gentle ticking of playing cards shuffling, the smell of my grandmother’s Spanish Coffee Cake, and laughter filled the room. It’s these memories of my grandparents’ home that I remember from my childhood. It was a place where extended family would gather for every holiday and as many would trickle out, our family would stay…
By 2 years old, we start expecting our children to help with the pets. Yep. You absolutely read that correctly. Only 2. But some of the important conversations that kids need to be a part of in caring for animals typically are not discussed until it becomes a lecture about not neglecting their responsibilities. In…
After a long day of screaming kids, trivial battles, and the endless cycle of trying to pick up after my children who are constantly making messes, I am completely and utterly exhausted. The belief that self-care in the form of me time where we begin indulging in ourselves, treating our desires, and letting loose is … well… not accurate….
My oldest is a hands-on girl. Many time she needs to be working with a concept in her hands in order for her mind to fully grasp it. It’s how she’s wired, so when we tackled basic graphing skills, of course, the obvious choice was to make it something that worked her fine motor skills…
In front of a group of complete strangers, my three year old daughter stood gleefully screaming a verse she had just learned the night before. Fearless, she continued to participate with this group of children she had never even met before despite weekly meltdowns of not wanting to participate in her own class at home. And…
Sweet spring rain and wonderful family memories flood my March and April. We spent 5 solid weeks back at home with my parents. In that time the kids spent quality time with their grandparents and some of the most beloved time spent was getting to plant rows and rows of tomatoes. Each morning my 3 year old…
The leaves are wistfully flying by, a faint smell of campfires looms in the distance, and everyone is drinking a pumpkin spice something-or-another. And that’s when you know fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. It’s such a magical time in its own right without adding in the supernatural stories, magnificent costumes……
Over the years, essential oils have gained popularity. Looking back on when I first started using them, I remember not even knowing what I was looking for and I came home with a commercial cleaner that claimed to used oils. To this day, I don’t know if it did or not, but it was my…
The big bad boogie man that is the internet is something that many families with young kids shy away from. However, knowing which sites are best for learning and how to keep them safe on them in the process is part of equipping our children for life. In fact, if they can’t get online, they…
Stepping back in time, I remember as a kid entering old courthouses and libraries where the musty, vanilla-like smell fills the room and the continual click of microfiche breaks the silence. My parents both did genealogy. We had an entire walk in closet dedicated to the books, the copies, and the old photos that comprised…
Elections are coming, elections are coming! And it’s an exciting time we live in. We have had our first African American president and now we have the first woman to run for president from a major political party. Plagued with ads on television, on the highway, and everywhere we turn, it’s apparent even to young…
The day finally arrived. My brand new, shiny, hyped up instant pot arrived at my doorstep. I was so giddy. And as much as I wanted one and had heard about them I found the manual completely overwhelming. I also kind of regretted not doing some research to find out how to use an electric…