• Waterfall Chasing

    I love waterfalls. I love being in the forest. Last week, we traveled to the Kentucky border to get the new puppy. We decided to make a day of it and find a really cool state park to hike. We watched as the forecast got colder and colder. Then, snow was forecasted. We didn’t care. We didn’t leave quite as early as planned, but we hit the trail and hiked three miles with flakes of snow falling.

    We went to Ferne Clyffe State Park, which is within Shawnee National Forest. Southern Illinois is really beautiful. I didn’t want to leave. I stacked a bunch of rocks to prop my phone up to get the above picture. It was worth it.

    The trail was rocky and slick from the rain and snow. I would say it was the most difficult one that we’ve done with the kids. We gained over three hundred feet in elevation, which isn’t the most we’ve gained. It is certainly more than we gain here in flat central IL.

    This trail definitely scratched my itch for adventure. I’ve been checking out so many travel books from the library in an effort to escape.

    I highly recommend visiting this area. We hiked the Waterfall trail and Hawk’s Cave Trail. The waterfall trail was not marked well at all. We actually ended up off course, but quickly realized it. Turns out, we were supposed to turn left and climb a rock wall to stay on our trail. I climbed to the top to make sure that it was, in fact, a trail. It was such a blast. Good shoes are also needed with the way the Waterfall trail is. It’s not a smooth dirt trail. It was a lot of rock and climbing.

    I hope you get out and explore. Nature is the best therapist.

  • Eczema Care with Gladskin

    ‘Tis the season for dry skin. You know the drill. The weather gets cooler, and our hands get drier. Not only are the cooler temperatures causing dry skin, but also the more frequent hand washing as germ season gets underway. Those of us with eczema prone skin are in for double the discomfort.

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    There are several members of my family that struggle with eczema. It has been a tough battle to get it under control so they aren’t miserable. Finding a cream that works best is a struggle. I have gone through so many creams and prescriptions to try and get my daughters some relief. So much money has gone down the drain. As a mother, I have been extremely frustrated and felt incredibly helpless. It was bad enough to see them uncomfortable when they were infants and toddlers. But now, as they have grown up, we have the added emotional aspect to it. It is embarrassing to them to have large, red, dry patches of skin that is always itchy. It’s hard to resist scratching it, which only draws more attention to it. We knew that something needed to change, and I was feeling desperate.

    Gladskin Eczema Cream is a first-of-its-kind cream, formulated with Micreobalance (a patented smart protein) that keeps bad bacteria in check to bring balance back to the skin microbiome. WHAT! I have never seen a product that works to restore your skin microbiome. Micreobalance is their star ingredient, and what makes it so different. By now, you all know how I feel about taking care of our microbiomes. Gladskin with Micreobalance rebalances the good and bad bacteria that naturally live on the skin as it moisturizes. This means that gladskin is leaving the good bacteria untouched while defending against the bad bacteria. This is music to my microbiome-loving ears.

    Using clean products on our skin has been the best way to manage eczema flares. Gladskin eczema cream has no fragrance, no drying alcohols, no parabens, no steroids, and no sulfates. I don’t know about you, but I personally want to avoid using steroid creams on my children whenever possible. Gladskin cream is dermatologist recommended and clinically tested. It’s safe for long term use. Other eczema products are either only aimed at managing symptoms after a flare or don’t take yours, or your child’s, health into account holistically. There are no withdrawal reactions when you stop using it.

    I love that there is a recommendation to store the product in your refrigerator so that it lasts longer. This is always a good sign of real ingredients as promised. The recommendation is that the product is good for three months from purchase if stored at room temperature, or until the date stamped on the package if kept in the fridge. Mine is stamped with 4/22, just so you get a clear picture of how long you know it is good for. The effects of a cool moisture cream on dry skin are so, so comforting.

    My daughters that battle eczema often get flares where their skin creases. The backs of their knees and the bends of their elbows are where we fight eczema the most often. One of my daughters has been in the midst of a flare. She will scratch her skin until she bleeds. We applied Gladskin eczema cream, and she exclaimed “it already looks better!” She felt relief immediately. If you have children that fight with eczema, or you fight with it yourself, you know that most creams burn very badly when applied to the dry and broken skin. That was not the case with this cream. There was no pain or discomfort, just blissful relief.

    We live on a homestead. I am HARD on my hands. They are in the garden, cleaning out chicken coops, and baking a lot of bread. I wash my hands frequently, and they show it. It’s like leather. It gets exceptionally dry and painful. This cream was a dream. It went on so thick and creamy. Even an hour later, my skin still felt moisturized, but not greasy or gross. It feels so luxurious, which is a real treat.

    You should apply the eczema cream at least twice per day on and around the eczema prone areas. Most people see results in the first few days, but it could take up to three weeks of daily application to see the results. Staying consistent will give you the best results. Man, that fits everything in life, doesn’t it?

    Gladskin can be used safely on the most sensitive skin– even your eyelids! It is proven safe and effective on children as young as three months old. Gladskin is non-toxic. It is formulated to work with the nature of you and/or your child’s skin, not against it. You can apply it as often as you like, and it can be used with your other products. Just apply it first and give it five minutes before you apply anything else. Basically, it is incredible, and I may be the new president of Gladskin’s fan club.

    Gladskin also has many other products that also support the microbiome-balancing work that Gladskin eczema cream does. These products also do not contain any harsh ingredients or preservatives that most cleansers contain. They are all non-drying products that leave your skin feeling clean without feeling dry or tight. You know that feeling. You MUST try the shampoo bar. My hair is below my waist. That’s over two feet of thick hair, if you don’t know. I LOVE the shampoo bar! I have been trying to find a shampoo that doesn’t dry my scalp, but still cleans my hair. I finally found it with Gladskin’s shampoo bar. Plus, I am not wasting another huge plastic container of shampoo. It’s a win all around.

    Head on over and get yourself some luxurious eczema cream, or try out a shampoo bar for yourself. You can save 10% on your order at gladskin.com when you enter the code GLADMOM10 at checkout. Code expires 3/31/22.

    **In some rare cases, first-time Gladskin users may see temporarily slightly increased eczema symptoms. Any discomfort should be mild and not last longer than the first 10 days. This is often a sign that the cream is beginning to work as it rebalances the skin’s microbiome. This is not something that we experienced, but something that I do feel you should be aware of.

  • Back to School Lunch Routine with Monster Pop!

    Back to School season is in full-swing. Whether you have already started, or will be starting after labor day, lunch packing is always a pain point for many families. I am here to share some back to school lunch packing tips. I know, I know. I am a homeschooling mom. What could I possibly teach you about packing a school lunch? Right?

    Here is the thing. I still do packed lunches for my kids every school day. It streamlines our time, and makes lunch time much less of a fight. This also makes everything easier for the days when we school on the go. We can pack up a lunch quickly, and be on our way. I like implementing systems that save us time on the boring things so that we have time for more fun. If it saves fights early in the morning, this is even better!

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    To make lunch packing easier, and save my sanity, we have four bins that the kids can choose from. The bins get pulled out every day, and they choose one item from each bin to go along with our main dish. The bin contents are sweet, salty, dairy, and fruit/veggie. Stainless steel water bottles full of water go along with lunch every day as well. Doing these bins has given them some control over their meals each day. This means they typically don’t fuss about lunch and will eat everything that they pack since they chose it. They also know that their sweet, which is usually a dessert type of side, must be eaten last.

    Here are some ideas for things to put in each bin.

    SWEET:
    raisins
    dried cranberries
    granola bars
    muffins
    banana chips
    granola
    fruit leather
    fruit snacks


    SALTY:
    chips
    almonds
    pretzels
    meat sticks
    crackers
    Monster Pop!**

    DAIRY:
    string cheese
    cheese wheel
    yogurt

    FRUIT/VEGGIE:
    applesauce pouches
    fruit cups
    carrot sticks
    celery sticks
    banana
    sliced apples (soak in 4 C water and 1 Tbsp lemon juice for 5 minutes to keep from browning)
    strawberries
    grapes
    snap peas
    blueberries
    pears
    cucumbers
    mandarin orange

    We do not do a bin for our main dish, but here are some ideas of what we love to do. Use a thermos to keep hot food hot.

    MAIN DISH:
    sandwich
    pizza kits (flour tortilla wedges, sauce, cheese, pepperoni)
    bagel pizza
    crackers, cheese, deli meat
    mac and cheese
    hot dog
    chicken nuggets
    pita and hummus
    hard boiled eggs
    tuna salad and crackers
    pinwheels (tortilla, deli meat, lettuce, and cream cheese rolled and sliced)


    Monster Pop has been gracious enough to sponsor this post alongside Moms Meet. Monster Pop Big-Time Butter Popcorn has been such a fun snack to incorporate into our salty snack bin! It is made with only four ingredients– popcorn, sunflower oil, clarified butter, and sea salt. Hooray for a cleaned up kids snack! Plus, the packaging is the cutest ever. I know that I am not the only one who is a sucker for good branding. Monster Pop is also gluten free, Non-GMO, and kosher. It does not contain any trans fat, added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial ingredients. It is so important to fuel our kids with healthy and real ingredients. Kids’ brains function better when fed real food. Reaching for Monster Pop makes this easy. It retails for $16 for 16 half-ounce bags, $15 for three sharing-sized bags, or $27 for six sharing-sized bags.

    The big-time butter flavor is delicious. If you aren’t a fan of butter popcorn, be sure to pick up their cheeseriffic cheese flavor. It’s so yummy, and my personal favorite. Each flavor has it’s own personal monster. Bud is your pal on Big-Time butter while Cas is your friend on Cheeseriffic Cheese. What kid doesn’t love a cute monster?

    Not only is Monster Pop super fun for your school lunches, but it would be so cute to pass out on Halloween and even at a Halloween Party, if you celebrate! You can grab them for on-the-go snacking– going to football practice, dance class, gymnastics, and during baseball games. Pull it out for after school playdates! When my middle daughter turned two, we had a monster themed birthday party for her. Monster Pop would have been such a cute addition to her party! I told you that I’m a sucker for good branding. There are so many fun ideas that you can do with Monster Pop.

    You can buy Monster Pop Big-Time Butter and other flavors online at monsterpopshop.com. Be sure to use the code MOMSMEET25 to get 25% off of your purchase! This code is valid until 10/31/21.

    **Monster Pop Big-Time Butter and Cheeserific Cheese flavors contain dairy. Please be aware of this if you have food allergies in your home or classroom.

    If you have any great ideas to add to this lunch setup, please share them in the comments! I’m always looking for ways to shake things up.









    Other sources:
    lunch boxes
    pink bins (similar)
    clear fridge bins (similar)

  • WayFare Plant Based Pudding

    We are a hiking and exploring family! Often, we will pack up a picnic lunch to keep in the cooler in our vehicle and eat after we’ve completed a long hike. But, picnic lunches can be boring and repetitive. We always pack sandwiches, chips, fruits, and veggies to keep it simple. Oh, and water. Lots and lots of water. Sometimes, simple ends up being boring. If we are going to continue doing this so often, I need to get more creative and pack something fun. On our last picnic, we brought along WayFare plant based pudding. It was a fun addition to our typically predictable meals.

    When we aren’t out hiking, we are working on the homestead. There are a lot of animals to feed and care for. Plus, a really big garden to weed and water. The kids play outdoors most hours of the day. I want to fuel their bodies with healthy foods that will help them grow and maintain excellent health. I don’t just feed them good foods, but I explain to them why we do so and what makes each food healthy. Thankfully, they have always enjoyed learning more about nutrition and food. I don’t bore them yet.

    Heart disease and diabetes run heavily in my family. I have always been aware of the genetics that are chasing me, and now my daughters. I’ve studied and researched the best ways to care for our bodies. I also wonder if it is the habits that get passed from generation to generation that have the most impact. Either way, I want to teach my kids healthy habits so that they have a solid foundation for health when they are adults. They know that treats are just that– a treat. Treats are something to enjoy every now and then, while still choosing the best options. They are not something to be consumed in excess. WayFare pudding was a yummy treat for everyone to enjoy. It is a treat to have a small cup of pudding with our meals.

    Look at those sweet faces. Gosh, I love them.

    I received this product, WayFare Pudding, for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    WayFare puddings are free from the top 10 allergens. If you are new to the food allergy world as I was, you may not know what the top 10 allergens are. They are Dairy, Wheat/Gluten, Eggs, Tree Nuts*, Peanuts, Shellfish, Fish, Soy, Sesame, and Mustard. *Highly refined coconut oil is used in their foods. The process used makes it virtually free of allergenic proteins.* Harper, my youngest, was born with a dairy allergy. It was horrible. I had to completely give up dairy while breastfeeding, and the tiniest amount would make her be violently ill. Back then, finding dairy free options was really difficult. Finding tasty and healthy dairy free options was nearly impossible. While she has mostly grown out of the allergy, she still gets an upset tummy if she has too much dairy in her diet. I am still very careful with her because I don’t want her in pain. Also, dairy irritates the lining of her intestines, so damage could be done internally that I’m unaware of. I am so thankful to have found a pudding treat that is safe for her.

    WayFare pudding comes in three flavors– chocolate, butterscotch, and vanilla. We all tried every flavor, and all three were completely delicious. At first, everyone wanted to try chocolate or butterscotch. Vanilla is usually boring, you know. The chocolate was in the lead ahead of butterscotch, though I was in the minority loving butterscotch the most. When the kids didn’t have any other option, they gave the vanilla try. Wow! Vanilla was the favorite! It tastes just like cake batter. You really cannot beat cake batter flavored anything, in my opinion. I almost hid the rest of the vanilla to keep for myself. Almost.

    WayFare puddings are plant based. I’ll be honest. I’m usually completely turned off by seeing the phrase “plant based” because the product is usually fully of unhealthy ingredients. That is NOT the case with WayFare, and I am so happy. Their base is organic butter beans and organic oats. How they made butter beans into something that tastes so delicious is completely beyond me.

    WayFare pudding is certified organic, kosher, vegan, and gluten free. It checks off many boxes that consumers are looking for. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was telling my dairy free coworker about this pudding. WayFare was only shipping to 36 states. I just saw the announcement on their instagram page that they are officially shipping nation wide!! This package was shipped to me, where the temperatures have been miserably hot, and the pudding was still plenty cold. If you would prefer not to have it shipped, you can check out their store locator to find a store near you that sells WayFare. It is typically sold at Wegmans, Lucky’s Save Mart, Mom’s Market, Festival Foods, Woodman’s, and Tony’s Fresh Market.

    WayFare started when their family faced some terrible diagnoses. They decided to switch to a plant-based diet to heal, and saw their health issues reverse. They developed their own ultra-green, zero-waste, sustainable food manufacturing system. How incredible is that? You can read more of their story here. I love stories of people taking control of their health and healing. Knowing that they built this great company as the result of all of that is just even more incredible. Thank you, WayFare for making such a yummy treat and sharing it with the rest of us.

    You can go to wayfarefoods.com to place your own order for the most delicious pudding on the planet. Seriously, get the vanilla. I have a special code to share with you where you can get 20% off any product. You can use the code shareWF20 for your discount on any product that is good through April 26, 2022. Be sure to check out the many other products (cheese, dips, cream cheeses, sour cream, etc. ) that WayFare has to offer while you are there.

  • Dream Big with PACT Pajamas

    As a mom, I always want to do the best for my child. I want to use the best and safest products for them. When my second daughter was an infant, we discovered that she had eczema. My youngest was later diagnosed with it as well. I started researching the best ways to help their skin stay smooth and comfortable. I didn’t want to just treat eczema when it came up, I wanted to avoid it rearing it’s miserable head at any point. Some of the biggest tips were to eliminate dairy, use lotions without any added fragrances and completely clean ingredients, and use organic cotton pajamas. **This is not medical advice, just what I found in my research.**

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    Needless to say, when this package showed up at my door, I was thrilled. Pact sent their Dream Big Pajamas for us to try out! I have heard about the PACT brand for quite a few years, but had never taken the plunge on purchasing anything. I have filled up many a shopping cart on Pact’s website. I got an adorable set of Pact Dream Big Pajamas for one of my children for this blog post. I loved them so much that I bought more for the rest of my children almost immediately. They had to be matching, of course. This combination is Rainbows and Tea Rose.

    Not only are the prints on these adorable, but they are also so soft. One of my children declared that they wanted their pillows to be made out of these pajamas, so that tells you how soft they are! Since we spend so much time in our pajamas, it is important that they are comfortable and free from anything that can further irritate eczema. Most children spend approximately half of the 24 hours of their day in pajamas. Being a homeschool family, my kids often don’t change out of their pajamas when we start school. Comfy Cozies forever!

    I feel good knowing that what is against their skin, the largest organ, is not harmful to them.

    That post-pool hair life.

    We know that the Dream Big Pajamas are incredible. But, let’s learn more about the Pact brand, shall we? Pact is a fair trade certified company– meaning that the producers in developing countries are paid a fair wage. I know that it is a big buzzword (buzz phrase?) at the moment, but it is so important to support companies such as Pact who are doing such great work.

    PACT is the Earth’s Favorite Clothing company. The cotton used is also GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton– free from toxic chemicals. (Did you know that traditional kids pajamas are sprayed with a toxic flame-retardant that is incredibly harmful? Please don’t just take my word for it, do the research.) Anything that you put on your skin will be absorbed into your bloodstream. That includes any chemicals that are used in clothing and pajama production. I love that Pact is free from this toxicity. They also use 91% less water than conventional cotton production. This helps to save the earth’s most valuable resource– water. Pact is so environmentally friendly, and I love that. We were only given one beautiful earth, and everyone should do their part to take care of it.

    Dream Big Pajamas are so soft. Have I mentioned that already? You know how stiff and uncomfortable most pajamas like this are. They have snug fit with a pull on waistband and banded cuffs at the wrists and ankles. Dream Big Pajamas have a tag free design, which makes them even more comfortable. No itchy tags to bother your children– especially those who are sensitive to sensory stimuli. They are available in sizes 18 months to 10. For reference, my oldest (in pink) typically wears a size 12 and is wearing the 10. My middle daughter is also wearing a 10, which is her usual size. My youngest is wearing a 7, and typically wears a 6. I prefer to give them some growing room, but these do seem to run a bit big. The fabric is pre-washed and shrink resistant. We’ve been wearing and washing them for a month, and have had no shrinking or pilling. These are quality pajamas.

    They typically retail for $30, but you can currently get 20% off your first purchase with the code MomsMeet20 until December 31, 2021. You can purchase them at wearpact.com. This code is only valid on first time purchases and is not valid on any sale items or in combination with any other discount.

    Pact makes clothing, pajamas, and underwear for children, babies, men, and women. They even have some bedding. Pact has a “fit happens guarantee” and will take care of you if you aren’t happy with your purchase. (You will be!) I CANNOT recommend these pajamas enough.

  • Addi’s Birthday Interview- NINE

    1. What is your favorite color?  pink
    2. What is your favorite toy?  I’d say it’s either Joss or the homemade bed that Mimi and Papa made me.
    3. What is your favorite fruit?  apple
    4. What is your favorite tv show or movie? hmm… I don’t really know
    5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  I like having the homemade pizza lunchables that you make.
    6. What is your favorite game? hmm… I like the shopkins world vacation game and Clue.
    7. What is your favorite snack?  hmm… the frosted animal crackers
    8. What is your favorite animal? I like elephants, llamas, and unicorns.
    9. What is your favorite song?   hmm… I like the Taylor Swift songs. When you first introduced us to them, I really liked it.
    10. What is your favorite book?  I have a lot of favorite books, so I can’t really name all of them. Whats the first one that came to mind? Unicorn Academy
    11. Who is your best friend?   I’d say Rilyn. I hang out with her a lot.
    12. What is your favorite cereal?   The crunchy fruit ones. I don’t remember what they’re called. (berry colossal crunch)
    13. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  I like camping and hanging out by a fire.
    14. What is your favorite drink?  milk
    15. What is your favorite holiday?   I like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
    16. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?   I like to take fluffy.
    17. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?   I like the chocolate chip waffles.
    18. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Hmm… fried chicken and cracklin’ cornbread.
    19. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I have no idea. I’ve been trying to figure that out for a long time, but I have no idea.
    20. What makes you feel happy?  My family

    Oh, Addi. My sweet old-soul. She loves all things Laura Ingalls Wilder. She loves learning and exploring. She loves Jesus. She has big emotions and loves so hard. She also hates to have her hair brushed, and asked if that has always been the case when she looked through all of the pictures. I’m so thankful that God chose me to be her mama.

  • Gut Connection™ Kids

    I am really excited, because I get to share something fun with you today! We are all looking into ways to take better care of our bodies this year. My kids have been using Gut Connection Kids by Country Life for about a month now, and we are all loving it. It is a prebiotic, which I like to say is the red carpet being rolled out. A prebiotic helps to stimulate the growth of good bacteria in your gut. It is great to take alongside your regular probiotic, or on it’s own.

    I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

    I am a firm believer that most of our overall health is tied to the health of our gut. If you’ve been around this blog for any amount of time, you probably already know that. Study the microbiome and you will be amazed.

    Gut Connection Kids has specifically formulated prebiotics to meet your needs. There is digestive balance, cognitive balance, immune balance, and sleep balance to choose from. You can focus on one area, or mix them up to focus on multiple

    I am all about helping boost cognitive function in my kiddos. Hello, homeschooling! We immediately opened up that package and got to trying them out. My kids were especially excited that these prebiotics were elephant shaped. We went on a short camping trip recently, and took the immune boost prebiotic with us. While we were still incredibly cautious, we appreciated the extra boost. Every kid needs a digestive boost every now and then. I’m so thankful there are so many options. My kids have all said that they like the flavor of these. They describe them as sour. My six year old would eat them like candy if I let her. (Don’t let your kids eat them like candy..)

    The sleep balance may be my favorite. Anything that helps my daughters get a good night of sleep is alright in my book. This can be blended with milk for a chocolate drink before bed. Or, you can make it into a treat as a smoothie. Here is a fun recipe for you to try!

    Here are some facts about Gut Connection Kids:

    •Gut Connection Kids by Country Life is a scientifically formulated
    range of supplements that connects the gut to individual health
    issues that matter.


    • Gut Connection Kids by Country Life is one of the first children’s
    formulas containing clinically studied Epicor® Whole Food
    Fermentate prebiotic shown to support immune and gut health “Δ

    This whole food fermentate prebiotic is balanced with clinically researched ingredients for your overall health. • All products contain Epicor® yeast fermentate which reinforces the immune system’s first line of defense and provides FAST ACTING (within 2 hours) immune support!

    Each product also includes clinically studied functional ingredients
    to support a growing child’s unique needs.


    • These products are intended for children aged 4–12. However,
    adults can also take this product by following the directions for the
    9–12 year old dosage.

    ∆Based on results from a study using a dynamic model representing GI digestion.
    *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
    This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

    We are all huge fans of Country Life vitamins in this house, and Gut Connection Kids prebiotics are no exception!

    You can purchase your own at countrylifevitamins.com or at momsmeet.link/countrylifeshop and use the code MOMS20 at checkout for 20% off!

  • Favorite Family Games

    We are a board-game playing family. Do you play games? I feel like board games are dying out in many homes, and it makes me so sad. We have two areas that we keep our games, and they are pretty full!

    UNO– obviously. Our youngest is 6, and can mostly play this without help now. We have taught our children that there is no mercy in UNO. haha! We also just bought the waterproof version for when we camp.

    Spot It!– There are so many ways to play this game and so many versions to choose from!!

    Rack-O — This one is an oldie but a goodie.

    Clue— another classic! The kids love playing this, and so do we!!

    Monopoly, Jr.— This one is fun because it is much easier for the kids to play. It’s still tons of fun, but doesn’t take one hundred years to finish a game.

    Yahtzee — Our older girls can play this really well. They haven’t quite figured out the strategy, but they have tons of fun with it.

    Battleship— This is one that the kids love, and that Scott and I will play by ourselves. We bough the original version off of ebay. It felt wrong to have anything but the blue and red boards.

    I hope everyone dusts off an old game and plays it this weekend!

  • A Weekend of Adventure

    I LOVE the weekends that Scott has off. We always try to make the most of having two full days in a row together.

    Addi had written a letter to Scott asking if we could go camping this weekend. (She likes to write letters to us and put them in various places through the house.) We checked the weather forecast, and it was going to be hot days with really cool nights. Since it cools off fairly quickly in the evenings, we decided to go for it.

    I set the tent up by myself while Scott was at work– not bragging, just a testament to how wonderful this tent is. Since we didn’t have rain in the forecast, we left the cover off. It was so nice to look up and see the stars above us.

    We like to play games in the tent before bed. Spot It, UNO, and go fish have been our go-to’s so far. I’m a huge fan of waterproof games. It is much less frustrating when a drink spills on them or a mother accidentally sprays a garden hose on them. You know, the normal stuff.

    We went for a hike, but mostly got distracted with playing in the river. We tracked down the big sunflower field that everyone locally has been talking about. We roasted s’mores and ate burgers and hot dogs. We read stories and snuggled in for the cool nights.

    Adventures don’t require a lot of planning, or even any extra money. Just decide that it’s going to be done and do it. These kids are growing at a lightening fast rate, and I don’t want to miss it. I’m exhausted and my back aches from two nights on an air mattress. But, my heart is so very full.

    **I also should note that our kids aren’t always cheery and excited for hikes and things like that. One of the days, I could tell everyone was grumpy. I shouted “TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY!!!” and one of my sweet children mumbled under her breath “no, it’s not”. But, guess who had fun anyway. Drag them along and bring a snack.

  • An Interview With TEN Year Old Chloe

    1. What is your favorite color?   purple and blue
    2. What is your favorite toy?  I think it might be Buttra. (A butterfly of hers)
    3. What is your favorite fruit?  strawberry
    4. What is your favorite tv show or movie? LEGO Ninjago
    5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  I think it’s lasagna.
    6. What is your favorite game? UNO
    7. What is your favorite snack?  hmmm… goldfish
    8. What is your favorite animal? rabbit
    9. What is your favorite song?   Taylor Swift songs
    10. What is your favorite book?  I think it might be Coco the Cupcake Fairy.
    11. Who is your best friend?   Lillian and Maddison
    12. What is your favorite cereal?   honey nut cheerios
    13. What is your favorite thing to do outside?  play with our chickens
    14. What is your favorite drink?  sweet tea
    15. What is your favorite holiday?   Thanksgiving and Christmas
    16. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?   my snuggle buddies and my new projector
    17. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?   cereal
    18. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  lasagna
    19. What do you want to be when you grow up?  I want to run a clothes store and be a builder and a lot of other things like an astronaut, too.
    20. What makes you feel happy?  my family

    This beautiful girl made me a mama ten years ago, and I still can’t believe how grown she is. She loves science and history. She loves big. I’m so thankful that she shows grace as I navigate the parenting waters. She goes into the uncharted territory right alongside me with each passing year. Chloe is so excited to get her ears pierced this year. Chloe girl, I love you more than you will ever know.