A Busy Mom's Guide to Stress-Free Family Travel Stress-free family travel is something that we've worked hard to achieve. The truth is, when it comes to family travel, a little stress is to be expected. Unexpected detours or an ill timed stomach bug could send your stress-free trip into a panic. With a little bit of planning, and a few helpful tips, you can make everything go a lot smoother. We've used all of the tips below many times traveling the world as a military homeschooling family, so you can say they are tried and true. Here are 5 tips to help lead your family into stress-free family View Post
7 Tips for Cooking With Young Children
7 Tips for Cooking With Young Children Many parents stress out at the idea of including their young children while working in the kitchen. And truthfully, we've been there. There are many dangerous things in your kitchen such as a hot stove, sharp knives and products that they shouldn’t be taste-testing. It’s no wonder parents stress over the idea of including their toddler in the kitchen. Today we want to challenge you to sit back, relax and read these 7 tips for cooking with young children. You will be surprised at how well you and your child will do in the kitchen when you follow these View Post
20 Free Menu Planner Printables
Are you trying to save money on food? Menu planning is one of the simplest ways to save money on your grocery bill and avoid those costly last-minute trips through the drive-through lanes. Not only does menu planning save you money, it saves you time and stress fumbling around trying to figure out what to feed your family at the last minute. Have you been there? I sure have. I have searched the Internet for some great menu planner printables to help both you and I gain a little more sanity during our busy, child-filled days. Here are 20 FREE menu planner printables to help you get your menu View Post
(NON SCARY) Kids Halloween Costumes
Trick or treating on Halloween is a fun and sugar filled event for children. So many good memories can be made, and trick or treating with your kids is a great way to spend Halloween night with them! But sometimes it can be a tough decision for your little ones to figure out what they want to be for Halloween. There's so many options available and it can become overwhelming for the parents. However, here we have some (non scary) kids Halloween costumes that will make your children shine and have an amazing Halloween night! (NON SCARY) Kids Halloween Costumes for babies Tinker View Post
7 Ways to Turn Pumpkin Carving into a Sensory Experience
7 Ways to Turn Pumpkin Carving into a Sensory Experience You might think that carving pumpkins is just for older children who are able to use the cutting tools and cut out elaborate patterns and designs; but the truth is that carving pumpkins can also be the perfect sensory experience for toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary too! Carving a pumpkin with younger children can not only be fun, but you can turn the activity into a sensory experience and teach them valuable lessons in the process. Take a look below at 7 ways to turn a pumpkin carving into a sensory experience for your View Post
5 Easy Steps to Go Dairy Free
Two years ago we learned that our baby boy was allergic to dairy products when he was 2 months old. Matthew was exclusively breastfed, so I was the only one in the family who needed to eliminate dairy. For the first week or two, I tried to simply avoid the major dairy products. Every other day I would discover milk in unexpected food products in our refrigerator or pantry: salad dressing, crackers, bread, tomato products... milk seems to be in almost everything! It wasn't until I cleaned out our shelves and created separate shelves for regular and milk-free foods that I was able to fully View Post
4 Ways For Mom to Stay More Energized
Are you a mom looking to stay more energized? If so, I am glad you are here. One thing I quickly discovered as a mother the last 17+ years is that if if my energy levels are down - I am in big trouble. From my senses being dulled to my patience becoming short, I had to find some ways to stay energized to be sure I was being the best mom for my children. I cannot count the days that I've been exhausted and still had to remain awake and focused in order to make sure that our children were taken care of. Most of the time when this happens it is directly related to me not taking care of View Post
From Discipline to Discipleship
I sat at my desk, pouring through emails about soccer, school, classes and business. Lessons needed planning and tests grading. The stack of bills needing attention leaned precariously towards the edge of my desk, threatening to throw themselves overboard. Spread too thin, I struggled to mentally organize and prioritize my many responsibilities. My time, so limited, pressed into me like a weight too heavy to shift. My chest tightened when I heard the rumblings drawing closer to my home office, “Liiiii-deeee-yaaaaa! I’m telling mom!” Enter my two youngest daughters, eyes full with hot View Post
Are We Passing On A Counterfeit Faith?
Are we passing on a counterfeit faith to our children? In today's culture it is so easy to do. Let me explain. Are We Passing on a Counterfeit Faith? We all want the best for our children; there's no doubt about that. We all want our friends, acquaintances, and family members to know, love, and walk with God. Most of us would even admit to being aware that we are called to also want the same for our enemies. It makes sense, then, that we would never knowingly hinder anyone on their journey to, or with, God. But it seems that we are often doing exactly that by communicating, modeling, View Post
15 Classic Books for Tween Boys (Ages 9-12)
In today's culture, finding quality classic books for tween boys isn't as easy as it used to be. Long gone is a world with solid morals and clear lines of socially acceptable behaviors. Thankfully there is a time that we can draw back to that has persevered many of the values traditional families have held in high esteem without sugar-coating real life challenges. Today I want to share with you 15 classic books for tween boys that will not only keep their minds and creativity flowing - but will teach them valuable life lessons throughout each page. 15 Classic Books for Tween Boys Charlie View Post