The kids are out of school and we are spending more concentrated quality time together than we have ALL year! Oh, there have been little things to do throughout the days like 1/2 day camp, VBS, the pool, hanging out with friends, park dates and more! We are enjoying soaking up the sun, catching up with friends, and just hanging out. There are moments of "I'm bored", "What's … [Read more...]
Raising Kids For True Greatness
This post contains affliate links and if a purchase is made a percent will go to supporting three kids and a fish. Three years ago we had our little love dedicated and our pastor handed us a book which we then tucked neatly away on a book shelf. Last month I was walking by the book shelf and I noticed a nice layer of dust collecting. I began to peruse the dusty books and once again found … [Read more...]
Summertime Family Fun
Bring on the lazy hazy days of summer! We are ready to enjoy some of the fun things that we have discovered over the years! Among our favorites are beach days, BBQs ,campfires with smores, swimming and catching fireflies! {Summertime Family Fun Printable} What fun things does your family do in Summer? … [Read more...]
Going On Vacation
You plan, you pack your bags, you spend quality time with the family, you sight see, you go from place to place, you eat out way to much, and you come home memory filled and sleep deprived. Welcome to family summer vacation! Where does it all begin? Choosing where to go for how long based on your budget. I had a friend in high school whose family would each put a destination in a … [Read more...]
Planting Flowers
Every year my blonde sweet girl and I carve out an afternoon to do all of our planting. Each year we add another type of flower, potted plant, or idea to our collection! There is nothing greater to me then planting something I know is going to grow big and beautiful and having the joy of sharing that time with my daughter. This year we came across two amazing ideas that we absolutely had to … [Read more...]
Dishing Out Discipline
The d word..a word that doesn't really give anyone the warm fuzzies. I am not talking today about the kind of discipline you need to lose those last five pounds, or to buckle down and get your work done so your boss doesn't breathe down your neck or even the ability to dial in and focus on a task. Today I want to talk about disciplining children. How do you manage the melt downs, temper … [Read more...]
Our Home-An Embassy
By definition an embassy 'is the official resident of an ambassador'. It's also the place where an out of country traveler can find safety if need be. A safe haven for the people there. My hubby and I desire for our home to be an embassy. A place where you are safe and free to be you. A place to let your guard down, to put your cozy clothes on and rest in the comforts of home. A place where … [Read more...]
Springtime Family Fun
Its that time of year...time to shed the scarves and gloves, time to open the windows, spring clean, and get out for some fresh air. Things are in full bloom and all that was asleep in winter is slowly coming awake. I feel like I am just breaking out of hibernation myself :-) Here is a list of great springtime family fun activities. Our family is absolutely more than ready to enjoy … [Read more...]
Surviving Dinner Time
Water spills, crumbs dropping all over, trying to talk over one another, whines of "I don't like this dinner", up and down and out of the chair a million times, crying, negotiating how many veggies to eat in order to get dessert, getting up to go to the bathroom, can I have seconds before you have even taken a bite, quick eating to be able to move onto homework and other activities, eating in … [Read more...]
Raising Little Ladies
A few weeks ago I wrote a post on how to raise a gentleman as we walk the journey to manhood with our sweet boy. This week I turn my focus to my blonde sweet girl and my little love. Equally important in teaching our son to become a gentleman, is raising our daughters to become ladies. Some of the focus is the same, some of it different. The things we are trying to teach them would seem … [Read more...]
The View From 4 Feet
My blonde sweet girl got a hold of my phone and started snapping away picture after picture. She runs excitedly back to me and shows me what she did. As I scroll through the pictures I am reminded that her view is different than mine. The lens through which she looks at things is different. I sometimes forget that. I forget that she doesn't always know how to make wise choices, do the right … [Read more...]
Raising A Gentleman
We are heading into the store and I see acts of kindness all around... a gentleman holding a car door open for a lady...another gentleman holding the store door open to let the someone else enter first..a gentleman picking up a package an elderly woman dropped. As my kids and I approach the building the door slams in my face.. my sweet boy let himself in and let the door close on his sisters … [Read more...]
Family Night With Make Your Own Pizza
My kids are growing up and it's happening really fast! Through the years people have gripped my hubby and I by the shoulders, given us a knowing look, or a pat on the hand saying things like...they grow so quickly, before you know it they'll be driving, the days are long but the years fly by etc...When the kids were very young...like newborn and early toddler age...I had to try very hard not to … [Read more...]
Ways We Show Our Kids They Are Valued
Recently, my hubby and I were talking about value and the different times in our lives where we have felt valued or not so much...growing up, at our jobs, through friendships and relationships. We began to talk about how we show our kids that they are valued, appreciated and that we are proud of them. What exactly does value mean? hmm, good question. There are different … [Read more...]
5 life lessons from Disney’s Frozen
Disney movies are among our family's favorites especially since our girls are all about Disney princesses! Each movie plays out the traditional story line in some way..boy meets girl...boy and girl fall in love...someone tries to destroy their perfect happiness...all that and sprinkle in some other story lines and comic relief and you have Disney animation in a nutshell! Over the … [Read more...]