Raising Multiples
The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Heading to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
While we were in Charleston over Spring Break we made a trip to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. We haven’t been there before so the girls were very excited. We headed out first thing Wednesday morning to downtown Charleston so we could be there when it opened to go exploring. The girls had a blast playing in all the rooms from being creative in the art room to checking out all the nooks and crannies in the castle, splashing around in the water wise room, experimenting with golf balls using Newton’s Laws, steering the pirate ship, shopping for groceries, and all the neat games outside too.
We had only been there for a little while and McCown Bridges came to welcome us as well as let us know about the upcoming events. If you are in the Charleston area and want a fun place to take the kids you should check out the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry! Here are some of the highlights of our trip to the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.
Karlie having fun exploring the castle room!
Brina and Karlie having fun
Brina and Karlie at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
What things happen in Spring?
Walking the plank
Brina steering the pirate ship
Our little Karlie pirate!
One of Karlie’s paintings. Both girls loved hanging out and doing several crafts & paintings in the art room
Brina really liked the art room and the colored rice
Travel & Vacation: Nighttime Fun at Walt Disney World
Still going strong!
The girls were still going strong after a full day at Disney! We had just watched the Electrical Parade & Firework Show and the girls still wanted to do some more. So we decided to keep on going and we ended up staying until midnight when the park closed! They had a blast, but crashed immediately after they got into the van. For more posts about our Disney adventure you can go to Walt Disney World or Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade or Walt Disney World (part 2) or Disney’s Electrical Parade & Firework Show posts.
Karlie riding the train, it was a quieter ride after going on Space Mountain
Brina going for another ride on the train
Someone’s having fun!
Pull harder!
Hanging out in Eeyore’s house
One more ride on the carousel, this time at night!
Travel & Vacation: Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL – Part 2)
Enjoying a funny show at Disney
We had a blast taking the girls to Walt Disney World for the first time. Thankful for a great time with both family and friends. There were a lot of fun rides and shows as well as a walk through the Swiss Family Robinson tree house which we finished reading to the girls awhile ago. You can read more about our trip in the Walt Disney World or Rides & Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade posts.
Getting a lift to the next activity
Riding the big carousel
Karlie checking everything out and loving it!
Exploring the Swiss Family Robinson tree house
All the kids checking out the cool items in the Swiss Family Robinson tree house.
Daddy & Karlie in a Honeypot
Awesome family behind us in their honeypot!
Having fun at Disney
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
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.
Heart Reflections: His Perfect Timing
We read a little bit in the book of Esther with the girls recently. Esther’s words “for such a time as this” not only struck a cord in my heart but in the girls hearts as well. Have you ever thought about how you have been placed on this earth at this exact time for a specific reason? During our recent devotional with the girls they asked the question “Why did God chose for me to live today not many years ago or sometime in the future?”
What a great question, right!? One that I have actually thought about a lot over the past few years myself too. God knew us even before we were born (how cool is that)! 🙂 He chose for us to live today, during this time, and at this very moment for a special reason. The problem is often times we don’t always realize or know what that really means for us. We get so caught up in the daily obligations of life itself we forget that its the little “daily” stuff that can really have a life long impact on the lives of others. Take our kids for example…feeding their bodies, teaching their minds, and shepherding their hearts now can make a positive impact on many future generations to come. Will we mess up? Yes! That is normal, however, it is important that they know we love them, we make mistakes, and that our hearts aren’t perfect either which is why we need Jesus’ grace, love, wisdom, and forgiveness just as much as anyone else.
We have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world, starting with the people around us. Are we taking the time to share his love, kindness, mercy, goodness and grace to those people we interact with daily as well as those we may only have 1 opportunity to touch their lives? I am thankful He has allowed me to live today…to have a spouse who loves me, to have these children keep me on my toes, friends who challenge me to do better, extended family who want to be a part of my life, a blog to reach out to people I may never meet in person, and so many more amazing blessings in my life. Are our lives reflecting Him through our words, thoughts, and actions so that we have many opportunities to make a positive eternal impact? If not, what do I need to do to change?
The girls are really thinking lately. We went from Jesus to John the Baptist to (Carmel Hair Coats, Esther, Baptism, Life, Death, Salvation, Sharing the Good News, Extended Family, Heaven, Praying, what is a Pastor, Faith and maybe even a couple more thrown in there along the way…). Quite the discussions lately, but I am thankful for their desire to learn and grow. I pray that Jake and I will have wisdom we need to answer the questions in a way that will only strengthen their faith and make a positive impact on their lives and hearts. One of the best parts about reading through a variety of devotional books with them is that it really seems to initiate some good conversations.
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.
Chalk Drawings
Chalk Saturn
Our kids love playing outside! 🙂 Now that the weather is starting to get warmer they are beginning to enjoy some fun Spring time activities like riding their bikes, scooters, roller skating, chalk drawings and more. You can tell at least one of the kids still loves anything related to space from looking at her chalk pictures. Thankful for warm weather and time to have fun with the kids!
Colorful chalk sun
Everyone loves rainbows
And hearts…
Our family
