Kids
Travel & Vacation: Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade (Orlando, FL)
Karlie having a blast shooting laser during the Buzz Lightyear ride
We went on several rides at Disney with the kids and had a lot of fun! We were thankful for friends who guided us in the right direction and recommended certain rides for the kids. There were some hilarious shows we went to as well. A few rides the kids loved so much we went on them several times! 🙂 You can read more about our trip in the Walt Disney World post.
Mommy and Karlie’s screen shot from the picture they took during our first game, hilarious!
Daddy and Brina’s screen shot from the picture they took during the first game!
What did the four older ones get themselves into now!? Such fun exploring the place with friends!
It threatened to rain as the parade was starting but we were prepared with disposable ponchos
Disney – “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade!”
Mickey and Minnie Mouse – Your Invited, Celebrate Today!
Travel & Vacation: Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL)
We made it to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
A few months ago we had the opportunity to go visit friends in Winter Park, Florida. While we were there we took a day and explored Walt Disney World – Where Dreams Come True. The girls were so excited! Jake and I still have passes leftover from our honeymoon (which was my first time to see Disney World) so we only had to get tickets for the girls. It was so neat taking the kids and seeing their reactions to all the amazing rides and adventures at Disney World. We arrived right about opening time and stayed until they closed the park at midnight. It was a full day packed full of great activities and amazing memories!
Three girls watching all the people in front of us get onto the Frontier log ride
My seat buddy Karlie is loving the ride. Smiling the whole time but not taking her eyes off all the stuff around her.
Brina mesmerized by all the stuff to look at. Was the wolf scary B?! Good thing she has Daddy to protect her!
Karlie found a small purple flower that had dropped off a tree and gave it to me. Sweet girl!
Our family at Disney World
Ready for the next adventure, this time we need our 3D glasses!
Daddy and the girls in front of the Disney Castle. It was bright, hot, and crowded, but we managed to snap a quick picture!!
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
We had a BLAST last week spending some extra time with Jake’s cousins kids. They were great kids and we had fun reading, playing, and exploring together. It was neat having a 1 year and 2 year in the house in addition to 2 – eight year olds! 🙂 Hoping to get caught up on a lot of projects this week!
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 3)finished reading and started on the next one! 🙂 I love that the chapters are short so it is easy to read one right before devotions and bed.
Plan one special Activity with the FamilyPlay a board game– played a couple little kids games (the favorite this week with the younger ones was “Don’t Break the Ice”)- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before – we had a couple field trips, special events, and a busy schedule with little ones running around this week so we didn’t get our lunches packed every night this week
Daily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesTake care of, play, and enjoy extra time with the little ones staying with us this week– it was a lot of FUN!!! 🙂
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – Ummm…..I didn’t do my official exercises (does it count lifting little ones all week)?
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – was pretty busy and notice I got behind on my water a couple days last week
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s) – hoping to catch up this week
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – was catching up on a book that I needed to read for an upcoming meeting
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – made a little progress in the evenings but not as much as I hoped
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills- Work on Spring Cleaning – it was put on hold with the little ones here last week
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts – by the time the kids were in bed, house picked up and prepped for the next day I didn’t get a lot of creative blogging done this past week (hoping to catch up this week though)
Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention- Work completed for clients – got the projects I had to get done completed
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group EmailSend out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – went over our Grocery budget this week
- Payoff the Van – hoping to make an extra payment next week
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments (a couple have been paid off this month
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read Imagination Station: Revenge of a Red Knight by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 4)
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Play a board game
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
- Work on Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Send out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Stop ‘N Tow Game by MJ Moran
Stop ‘N Tow by MJ Moran is an interesting game that we have played several times. It requires more attention to detail and memorization but it is a lot of fun. I am cannot remember exactly where we picked up this game; it was while we were traveling several years ago. When we first got the game the girls were still too young to play well but since then they have learned how to play it and of course they always enjoy blowing the whistles! One thing I do want to mention with this game is…don’t play if you have a headache (the whistle blowing will probably be too much)! 🙂
- Colorful vehicles and road signs
- Includes 55 cards and 6 whistles
- 3 to 6 players
- Recommended for ages 8 and up
- Object of the game – to collect the most cards by memorizing the order of vehicles and being the first one to blow the whistle when certain road signs pop up
- Learning Benefits – memorization, attention to details, vehicles, signs, reading, and more!
- Whistles are dishwasher safe
This game is for a little older kids because they have to remember what each card means and recall from memory the stack of cards played before their card. After a few times of playing it the girls started really picking up on it. Since the players have their particular whistle in their mouths it is best to wash the whistles at the end of the game. Typically I wash the whistles with soap after the game and let them air dry before putting the game away. It is a super fun game, entertaining, and small (so you can take it with you on vacation).
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Travel & Vacation: Road Trip Snack Container
Have I mentioned before how much we enjoy traveling??? 🙂 We have been blessed with a number of opportunities to travel over the past few years. On a quick side note – While it is great to get away and explore new places it is always wonderful coming home.
You may have noticed one of my previous posts about these Road Trip Snack Containers here or here, but I want to encourage anyone with kids who take roads trips to try these out. These have come in very handy over the past few years at our house.
The girls are always super excited to see what I have packed in their snack containers. It helps with the “I’m Hungry” statement you hear in the middle of a road trip and it allows you to pack a little container for each kid instead of bringing the whole box of crackers or nuts or whatever it is you typically bring. Plus it gives the kids a variety of snacks to choose from, kids really do love having choices!
The girls have yet to finish an entire snack container on the trip so usually it provides snacks throughout the time you are away too. It always surprises me what they choose to eat first. I cannot count the number times that they go for the nuts or fruit over any of the sweet treats.
One Child’s Road Trip Snack Container
Items that we packed for this road trip:
- Animal Crackers
- Raisins
- Whole Cashews (without shells)
- Fruit Marshmallow Bites
- Cheesy Bugles
- Fruit by the Foot
- Peanuts
- Sweet Tarts
- Chocolate & Mint Swirl Marshmallows
- Golden Raisins
- Chocolate Covered Raisins
- Whole Peanuts (with shells)
- Fruit Chews
- Whole Pecans (without shells)
- Ritz Crackers
- Whole Pistachios (with shells)
- Organic Applesauce (in a squeeze bag)
- Flavored Peanuts
- Cheese & Peanut Butter Crackers
- 2 Packs of Flavored Fruit Drink Packs to add to their bottled water (1 Kooleaid Fruit Punch & 1Mixed Berry)
- Rainbow coated Sunflower Seeds
- Ritz Bites Peanut Butter Crackers
- Rice Krispie Treat
- 2 Million Dollar Mints
All packed and ready to close up so we can put them on the girls car seats before we go to bed!
We don’t stop a lot on road trips unless we need gas, go to the bathroom, or for a quick meal (a lot of times we’ll pack a picnic lunch to eat on the way). The kids are content to read, work on workbooks, play games, or occasionally watch a movie if it is a long road trip (our rule is that the trip needs to be 5 hours or longer before a movie is part of it).
We picked up the containers at Walmart for a couple of dollars. The stickers were at Hobby Lobby in the scrapbook section and we used a 40% coupon. We have used these Road Trip Snack Bins for several road trips with our girls and they have held up well. Once the trip is over and they have finished eating the items in the bins all you have to do is wash them and store until the next family adventure. It is a blessing to be able to travel with our family. We have created many amazing family memories on the road together.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
We are back into the normal school and work schedule again. It was great getting a chance to see my parents this past weekend and celebrate my nephews birthday. It is going to be a fun week with a couple extra kiddos around!
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 9)Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
Plan one special Activity with the FamilyPlay a board gameLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesVolunteer One Day at Girls SchoolPrepare for Upcoming Visitors- Finish the girls Bookshelf
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week – didn’t stay on top of it with everything going on this week
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – getting closer and taking notes along the way (has a lot of good information, some of which I have implemented and seems to be going well)
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming billsWork on Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – went over budget again this week as we prepared for company
- Payoff the Van – making payments
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 3)
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Play a board game
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Take care of, play, and enjoy extra time with the little ones staying with us this week
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
- Work on Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
- Send out the Alms & Legs Meeting Reminder
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Little Town On The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A couple weeks ago I finished reading Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls. It is the seventh book in the Little House series. It is hard to believe we are flying through this series and before long we’ll be done. The girls loved these books so much I am already thinking about if I should do another series or something similar next.
Now that the long winter of blizzards is over the Ingalls family is heading back out to the homestead to work the land. Laura got a new job, attended some fun parties in town, and began to spend time with Almanzo Wilder. She continues to study hard for the teacher’s test so she can help Pa and Ma keep Mary in school. Mary is going to college for the blind. Even though Laura is fifteen years old she past the test and receives her teaching certificate early.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
We had a wonderful Spring Break with the girls. Last week Jake had to work for a few days in the Charleston so we went with him. It was nice to hang out together with family and create new memories. This week we are back to the normal schedule with school back in full swing.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – almost finished, started reading it this past weekend
Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family– rode at home and took our bikes & skates to Charleston to ride as wellGo on a picnic with the kids– had a picnic with the girls at the Easter Egg Hunt & while in CharlestonPlay in the park together– played several parks in Charleston with the girlsVisit a Museum– went to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Plan one special Activity with the Family– spent time together in Charleston doing special activities including the Cooper River Bridge Kids Run on Friday!
Go on a family walk– took walk through Battery ParkGet together with Family and/or Friends– had some family and friends overPlay a board game– played several games with the girlsGo on a special road trip– went to CharlestonSlumber partyGo out to dinner one evening– went out to eat while in CharlestonWatch a movie or TV show together one evening– since we finished reading the Little House on the Prairie books we introduced the girls to the TV show, they were sooo excited!
Personal Goals
Exercise at least 5 days this week– lots of bike riding, walking, and even a mile jog in the Kids Run
Drink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week – since we were traveling most of the week I didn’t plan out the menu
Pay all upcoming billsStart Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
Groceries $40 for 4- Payoff the Van – made another payment
- Pay medical bills in full – got one of the bills paid off, working on the other ones now
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 9)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Play a board game
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
- Attend After School Activities
- Volunteer One Day at Girls School
- Prepare for Upcoming Visitors
- Finish the girls Bookshelf
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
- Work on Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro
The girls have had the Learning About Manners Picnic Basket Game by Noodleboro (Playskool) for several years now. They love it! It is a unique game with a picnic blanket board, a picnic basket, games pieces, a story they can read, and a cd to listen too. Many times as we are setting up the game someone will read the story and after playing the game the girls like to listen to the cd. It is a cute game about using your manners, being kind, and polite.
- Colorful with neat game pieces (how many games come with a cool picnic basket)
- Book to read during story time with fun character who are learning their manners
- Audio CD with more about the story and songs regarding using manners
- Easy to play (recommended for ages 4 and up)
- 2 to 4 Players
- Object of the game – use your manners and be the first to collect all the items you need at your picnic!
- Learning Benefits – social skills (say “please” and “thank you”), taking turns, listening, reading, and more
We love games! We have found that playing games is beneficial for many reasons. It gives us quality time together as a family. The kids learn that they will not always win (which is not always an easy lesson to learn), but the game can still be fun even if you are not the victor in every game. It provides opportunities for us to talk and create memories together. Games teach and help our kids practice a variety of useful skills like following directions, reading, writing, counting, taking turns, and more.
Silly Clown Snack
Clown snack
The girls love it when they get simple silly snacks. One weekend evening recently we were especially busy, by the time we got home it was already bed time so while they jump into the shower I made a quick supper for them to eat. They gobbled up this silly “clown” as they named it.
Even though it only took me a few minutes to put something together it is somehow more special when it is shaped differently. Plus it seems like they eat a little better when their food is a little entertaining because they are so busy looking and talking about it before they know it the food is gone. Included in this snack is one hotdog, one hotdog bun, ketchup, mustard, one cherry tomato, two pringles chips, and one purple green bean cut in half.
