We finished putting the kids to bed and I mentioned for probably the 20th time that it was such a great day. My husband, Carlos, laughs at me because that is what he does when I get all hyped up about something. The day really ranked up there as one of my favorite days of the year, a …
What I’m Loving Common Sense Media Common Sense Media provides independent reviews, age recommendations, and other unbiased information on all types of media. I often try to watch a movie or TV show first before deciding whether my kids are ready to see it or not. But, realistically, I don’t always have time for that. …
My 3-year-old and 5-year-old are obsessed with car washes. Their grandpa sometimes takes them through the car wash for fun; they read books about them; they act it out, each taking a turn being the car. It’s a no-brainer that a car wash for their play cars would be a huge hit. With a few things I …
I have mentioned several times that I get easily bored with homeschool routines and strict structure. I have learned to discipline myself but I also try to consider and accommodate my boredom when possible. I found that having an environment prepared for learning really helps to keep days running smoothly and encourages learning throughout the entire day — not just during …
When we were leaving Costco the other day, an older man tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I just wanted to tell you that you’re a good mom … I can tell because your kids are so well-behaved.” I jokingly responded, “They aren’t always.” He smiled at my comment but then proceeded to say that …
I’ve meant to write this post for a while now but every time I thought about starting, I realized we don’t have a lot of typical days around here. We have a loose weekly routine and some steady anchors in our daily routine — I intentionally leave room for flexibility and spontaneity. It took me a …
While I was at an indoor play area waiting for my friend to arrive, I watched all the moms around me. Sitting next to me were 2 moms with tiny babies and one-year-old toddlers running around. I am pretty sure one of them had an older toddler running around too. I watched these moms bounce a …
What I’m loving Smiling Mind: Mindfulness app I have mentioned several times in the past few months how mindfulness is something that has really been helping me focus on being in the present moment and helping with keeping my anxiety in control. A friend recently recommended the Smiling Mind app and it is amazing! It …
The beginning of January is typically when people feel like making goals and starting fresh, but that has not been the case for me in recent years. One, because the holidays extend into January in our house, and, two, because I decided hibernating is a better use of the month. That being said, I do …
I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but Eden turned 8 this week! I wrote about our birthday traditions back here. The kids love them, but they are all still simple enough that it isn’t stressful. This year I decided to give the kids coupons in addition to their gift. They were a huge hit, and Judah …