My kids love the mud. They love jumping in it. They love squishing their hands in it. Simply put, they love getting dirty (once upon a time my oldest hated it, but that's another story). So when we set out to make a new raised garden bed, they wanted to get involved. The only problem? We didn't want them stomping down any new plants. That's one of the reasons we decided to make them their … [Read more...]
How to Throw a Disney-Themed Backyard Picnic
We may not be able to travel to Disney World right now, but we can bring the magical world of Disney to our backyard. Hopefully it will also help cast a spell on meal time too. Because, I don't know about you, but I am tired of answering the question: what's for dinner? That's one reason that I'm moving as many meals as I can from the dining room table to the backyard for a picnic. (This is a … [Read more...]
5 Board Games Preschoolers Love
My three-year-old's attention span is, shall we say, limited. He tends to flit from activity to activity unless it's something he really loves. Thankfully, he currently loves board games. I love that he loves them. Not only are they a way for me to have quality time with him, but board games also teach him a ton too. (Not that he realizes that!) Many games for preschoolers are great for … [Read more...]
What I Hope My Kids Know: I’m Doing the Best I Can
Last night, before I was asleep, my 3-year-old climbed into my bed, crying. He's never been a great sleeper. I turned off the light, gathered him up in my arms, and laid there with him as he fell back into sleep. I was so exhausted, but as is normal lately, I was already having a hard time falling asleep. So I watched him in the dark. I watched his breathing slowly get longer and deeper. And I … [Read more...]
Little Miss’s Birthday Reminded Me to Focus on What We Can Do Instead of What We Can’t
I dreaded telling little miss that we had to cancel her birthday plans, including her party. A week ago, we sat together on her bed as I reminded her about why we were staying home, and I broke the news that we had delay her party. She teared up, briefly upset, but then she looked at me and asked, "I still get a birthday, right?" "Of course!" I told her. "You get to spend the day of your real … [Read more...]
