Family

Traveling with Ease My teens are attending a homeschool science lab class at a nearby college, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from where we live. On lab days, we are usually rushing to get ready, get fed, and get out the door on time with all of our necessary supplies. To make these lab days easier, I've found that a little advance planning goes a … [Read more...] about How to Survive a Road Trip with Kids

Do you stay up late on New Year’s Eve to see the new year roll in? This is a holiday tradition that my night owl kids and I have kept, although Daddy refuses to stay up that late! We love to turn on the television as the final countdown begins and watch the sparkle ball drop in Times Square. Ringing in the New Year, Family Style This blog … [Read more...] about 17 Kid-Friendly Ways to Ring in the New Year

How to Manage a Houseful of Pent-Up Kids What can you do when it’s cold and dreary outside and you and your kids are cooped up inside? Everyone’s on edge, the kids are squabbling, and you’re ready to scream? With a clear plan in place, you can head off winter’s gloom and be ready to face each day until spring. Winter where I live is usually … [Read more...] about Conflict Management for Pent-Up Days

The new year bring lots of opportunities for family fun! A new year means new beginnings and a time for starting new traditions. There are so many things you can do to make the new year special--the possibilities are endless! If you want to plan some family activities in the new year, check out this New Year's Family Bucket List printable … [Read more...] about New Year’s Family Bucket List Printable

Countdown to Christmas Years ago, I made an advent calendar for my three boys that has little drawers that pull out. Each drawer is tiny, and I squeezed three little trinkets in each day's slot for tiny fingers to pry out. The first year, I put things like little candies, tiny plastic animals, bouncy balls, and finger puppets inside. The kids … [Read more...] about Christmas Around the World: Countdown to Christmas

My kids are getting older, with two of them already in their teen years. But, after a week and a half of rainy days, even my teens were showing signs of getting stir crazy. I knew I needed to come up with some ideas to get them busy in a productive way that doesn't include the video game box. With the weather changing rapidly, and more dreary … [Read more...] about 28 Rainy Day Activities for Kids

Getting Organized for the Holidays--Even at the Last Minute I don't know about you, but to me, the holidays really seem to come fast each year. In the midst of homeschooling, home-keeping, and caring for my mom after her heart attack, I am not prepared for the holidays this year (at all). And, with a little over a week left to get my act together, … [Read more...] about Mom’s Ultimate Holiday Organizer

Write a Letter to Santa: Free Printable It's that time of year--when everyone is making a list, and checking it twice. Your child can write a letter to Santa and draw a picture for him with this cute free printable activity. Just click here or on the image below, and download your free printable. You can print off as many as you need for each of … [Read more...] about Letter to Santa Free Printable Activity

To My Amazing Boys, You guys are my favorite people in the world. You never cease to amaze me with your kindness, your confidence, your goofiness, your enthusiasm, and your appetites! It is a joy to watch you grow into ambitious young men who are not only brothers, but also best friends. Though you are active and busy with your own school … [Read more...] about An Open Letter to My Boys

Life is Better at the Beach This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. I'm a beach person. But, I don't live very near the shore, and I don't get to go as often as I would like. Life Is Better at the Beach: Inspirational Rules for Living Each Day Like You're at the Beach is a wonderful way to escape for a little while and … [Read more...] about Life is Better at the Beach

Homeschool Dads are the Best! This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Father's Day is the perfect time to remember all the things homeschool dads do for their families. In many homeschool families, the moms do the bulk of the teaching with the support of their husbands. But, I've met plenty of stay-at-home dads … [Read more...] about Top 5 Father’s Day Gifts for Homeschool Dads

Creating a Lifegiving Home Sally and Sarah Clarkson's The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming is an inspiring guide to creating a special home atmosphere that is a haven for family. I'm a longtime fan of Sally's, ever since I discovered her books as a new homeschooler. Her "wholehearted" style of homeschooling appealed … [Read more...] about The Lifegiving Home

Happy Fat Tuesday, aka Shrove Tuesday, or Mardi Gras in French! Mardi Gras celebrations occur throughout the world, but the festivities in New Orleans that started in 1837 are probably the ones most of us associate with the season. When French settlers came to America, they brought this custom with them. If you visit Louisiana during this time, … [Read more...] about Celebrating Mardi Gras With Kids

Holidays take on a whole new meaning when you are able to participate and help out rather than just being the recipient of everyone else’s hard work. The true joy of celebrating is in sharing and blessing others—family, friends, and strangers alike. Having time off from school or work gives you more time to focus on the simple things that mean … [Read more...] about Celebrating the Holidays with Teens