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family fun

You Say Staycation, We Say Best Spring Break Ever

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There was a glorious time in the human existence when there was no such word as staycation. Words like this put a cutesy bow on something that would otherwise be construed by the general population as boring. Therefore, we try and make chilling at home sound more extreme, than it is.

There are a whole host of these words, all of them causing me to judge millenials for having to make everything epic.

Snowmageddon. It’s a weather system.

Bromance. Two guys are friends.

RomCom. Gag me.

Glamping. Camping with all your shit. Otherwise known as camping with any sane person.

These cutesy combo words, I think get to me not only because they are so cutesy but because as a writer of words, I have a bit of angst about not inventing my own yet.

The kids and Brian were both off at the same time for Spring Break. This hardly ever happens. We probably should have gone somewhere, done something, planned an epic adventure (epventure?). We did think about it. We talked about tackling a big home project. We thought about maybe taking a few day trips or perhaps staying a few nights somewhere.

 

In the end, however, it just seemed better to relax in our home. So that is what we did.

This is something that I don’t think as a family we have ever done together for an extended period of time. I take that back, we did do that, but our kids don’t remember any part of it. It was like we were transported to the time when we had newborns in the house, and the only things on the agenda for the day were to shower, eat, and take care of the kids.

 

We were happy to just be present, in our home with no plans on the calendar, no alarm clocks, no schedules.

We ate out, played cards, went to the park, slept late, watched movies, took naps, put together puzzles, did crafts, read books, colored. The only thing that dictated what we did was the weather. Every minute of it was relaxing and glorious, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

 

The memories made, the conversations had, the laughs, the giggles, the snuggles were all moments I will hold onto forever. These kids aren’t getting any younger, and they aren’t going to want to hang out with Mom and Dad at home for much longer, either. So, I was grateful for this time spent altogether.

 

I am sure that it sounds pretty lame to people who spent their time away somewhere warm, or traveling seeing sights, or even organizing and executing some awesome project. However, to us it was just what we needed.

 

We aren’t ashamed of spending most of the last 10 days playing cards in our jammies.

You say Staycation, we say Best Spring Break ever.

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The Best/Worst Time of the Year

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This time of year, I always have such mixed emotions. My love of school/office supplies, organization, school, and new beginnings always of course makes my heart all a flutter with possibilities with what is to come with the upcoming school year. Then, my heart is aching a teeny bit too. No more flying by the seat of our pants to take trips to the zoo, no more sweaty heads learning to ride two wheels, no more popsicles on the front porch for lunch, or running through the sprinklers.

 

This year brings an extra whole set of mixed emotions though. This year, my youngest is heading off to school a few mornings a week. I know it isn’t much, but for the first time since becoming a mother six years ago, I will be alone for a few mornings a week.

When I tell other mothers this, they all give me this mischievous smile as if to say, “I know what you’ll be doing.” I want to ask them, “What? What should I do?”

Will the laundry get done? Will the house be cleaner? Will I exercise during this time? Perhaps a pedicure? Shower? Write? What? What is your secret? Why are you winking at me!?

Maybe all of those things will get accomplished. I am sure I will be a little more productive during this time, but what I think those Moms are really saying with their winky eyes is that: I will ecstatic to be by myself for once.

That’s where the mixed emotions come to play. You see, I actually enjoy being home with my kids. While I would say it is the most difficult job I’ve ever had, I am not so quick to kick them out at the end of every summer, and I am especially not so quick to get my youngest out the door to school. Especially not at a time in their lives when we all truly enjoy each other’s company so much (Two Words: Teen Years).

However, I am so proud of my kids’ independence, their love of school, and cannot wait to see all they accomplish this year. There is a kind of growing that happens through school that I love to see. The relationships they are forming with their teachers and friends makes me happy and proud. The sense of accomplishment they feel each day, or the discussions we have each night at dinner about all they are learning are all things I love about sending them out into the big wide world.

So, this is the time of year when I am having a complete internal struggle. I am completely re-organizing the house, buying school supplies, and taking on projects to get ready for the beginning of the school year, while still trying to soak up every last bit of summer by running through the sprinklers.

 

It is a very confusing time, but I look at it this way: You cannot get that awesome smiley tight hug from your kids coming off the bus at the end of the school day because they missed you so much, unless you send them off in the first place.

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Hi Honey, We’re Home!

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The saying, “I need a vacation from my vacation,” most definitely was created by a parent. I would be willing to bet it was more specifically coined by a parent who had just taken a road trip. While I could use a good nap and a foot massage from all the walking we did, I have to say I am already looking forward to another family vacation, but not for the reasons you may think.

We drove to Washington D.C. with a stopover in Columbus, Ohio as it is about halfway. Breaking up the drive into two days was perfect for the little ones and for us parents too. Also, there were some tips and tricks I learned along the way that really helped keep everyone happy on such a long car ride. I will share all our tips and tricks (like headphones) in an upcoming post.
Once we were in the D.C. area we stayed in Bethesda, MD and were easily able to navigate our way around the area using DC’s public transit, The Metro. Also, with a little help from some locals and our GPS systems on our phones we managed to see some amazing sites.
On our first day in DC we headed out to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum near the Dulles Airport. Washington D.C. has two air and space museums, one is in the downtown area, and then there is the one near the Dulles Airport. Brian and I had seen the one downtown when we were younger, and had done a little research about them both ahead of time, and after reading about all the planes, the control tower, and that the space shuttle, Discovery, was there, we decided the kids might have more to see here.
On our second day, we took the Metro to The National Zoo. We love visiting the zoo in our own hometown and are frequent visitors, so we were excited to see a new one in a new city. The kids were thrilled to see the Pandas. Our favorite animals to see the new lion cubs, and the otters.
On our third day, we packed in a lot of sightseeing, but we were able to do it easily via a bus tour of Washington D.C. The kids were able to take in all of the sights and learn so much.
Day four we headed to Baltimore for a tour of Oriole Park and Camden Yards, a stop at Charm City Cakes (for me), and to take a picture of Pimlico Racecourse where the Preakness is run (my kids have a thing for horses).
While we are glad to be home, the memories made on this trip are going to last us all a lifetime. Watching the kids so filled with wonder and awe the entire trip was, as a parent, amazing to see. Yes, I am exhausted and I would love another vacation, but not because I’m tired, because we had so much fun!If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Working Together: Kid Benches

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When Brian or I are working on a household project, the kids definitely have their interest peaked. They want to be involved, and while that is not always possible, we do the best we can creating projects for them.

A few months ago, Brian was working on a home repair and the kids were “helping.” Brian said the idea just came to him. He grabbed a few pieces of wood, and he made benches with the boys. He said it took all of 10 minutes and the boys got to use screw drivers so that that made them very happy.

 

Last week, when I doing a paint project in the garage, we decided it was time for the kids to paint the benches they made with Brian. I just got out some paint smocks, brushes, and poster paints (Note: While they don’t have the best coverage Crayola Poster Paints are kids safe, no odor, and washable.)





This project was great because it used up some scrap wood we had on hand, the kids were able to create something themselves, we were all able to work together and be involved, oh and I had time to finish painting the garbage picked dresser (reveal soon, I promise).

 

Sometimes, people ask how am I able to do these projects when I have three little kids, and I have to say the main reason is because Brian is incredibly supportive, but the other reason is, we try to include the kids with their own projects at the same time.

 

I have even been known to bring out the dreaded Play-Doh when I am working on a craft. That way we are all at the table doing something fun together.

Isn’t that what this is all about anyway? To be together.

 

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Autumn is Near: So Much for the Lazy Days of Summer

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I mentioned how busy we were this summer, and while I sometimes dream about laying back and kicking my feet up, I must say this summer has been such an awesome opportunity for my kids to be doing and trying all kinds of new things. I am really grateful that they are able to have these experiences like I did (many moons ago).

I have loved every minute of watching them grow, learn, and develop life long skills. While my kids are just being introduced to these activities, I feel like we have already seen the benefits to being a part of them.

We started the summer with swim lessons. This was my children’s first experience with swim lessons, and I have to say they have taken to the water pretty nicely considering they were all a bit tentative in the beginning.

 

 

Then, my daughter was enrolled in a beginner to ballet class. I was amazed at how not only how my daughter followed directions and danced her little heart out but how all the little dancers in this class hung on the teacher’s every word.

 

Next up, was soccer camp. Watching the boys was amazing. I could not believe how much they had improved from last year, and how they were not nearly as timid with introducing themselves to their camp mates.

 

We also tried a t-ball clinic, which basically taught the kids the rules of the game and some fundamentals like running the bases, fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting.

 

With all of these organized activities, I also tried to make a conscious effort to make time for some other summer fun such as running through the sprinkler, going to a few movies, and hitting the bowling alley.

 

Now that school has started we are glad that used up every bit of summer.

HAPPY NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!!

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Last Day of School is Drawing Near…

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… and to be honest I have mixed emotions. They boys absolutely loved school, their teachers, their friends, and everything that comes along with it. I am of course a little sad because it means my munchkins will not be little for much longer, but I am also excited for the carefree days of summer ahead.

We do have a few activities planned for the summer such as soccer camp, t-ball, swim lessons, and intro to ballet, but for the most part we will probably spend most of our time out in the sprinkler or coloring pictures.
On the first day of school, I of course took photos galore, and I didn’t want the last week of school to be any different. I even let Caroline in on the fun. As a little tribute to this school year, I added my favorite quotes from the kids.
This is one of those things that Caroline says that I will have to remind her of when she is in her teens.
Russell’s teacher informed us that a few weeks ago in some frustration, asked if he could make an announcement to the class. He really wanted to go outside and everyone seemed to be acting up. He gave everyone a little pep talk.
George said this to me a few months ago, and my heart just melted.

 

HAPPY HAPPY SUMMER!

Earth Day, Goodwill and a Puzzle

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A few months ago, we made our way to Goodwill to look for lamps. While we were unsuccessful with the lamps, we did find some puzzles and books. We were able to find a book of Nursery Rhymes for Caroline, The Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies for George, and this awesome 3D Globe Puzzle for Russell.

Yesterday, I was trying to find something to do for Earth Day with the kids, when Russell suggested we do the earth puzzle since we hadn’t tried it yet. ‘What a great idea!’ I thought. I mean what better way to celebrate Earth Day than with a reused puzzle of the Earth. Russell is a genius.

While I realized that this puzzle was kind of difficult for the age range of my kids (540 pieces), they were extremely helpful by taking the pieces out, flipping them all over, and then they sorted the puzzle by the numbers printed on the back of each piece into groups. (NOTE: If you’ve never done a 3D Puzzle before, they are often numbered as they must be put together in a certain order so they do not collapse).

My favorite part of doing the puzzle was talking about Earth Day with the kids. When George asked about it, I said that it is a day where we celebrate our planet. We then talked about things that we could do help keep the Earth happy and healthy. This activity was perfect for opening up the conversation. Which I will say doing any kind of simple with my kids lends it self to conversation.

We started after lunch, and worked on it all afternoon taking breaks to play outside and take naps. We were able to finish before bedtime.

They were so excited.

What did you do with your family mark Earth Day?

Happy 4th!

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Last week was my George’s 4th Birthday! When your kids’ birthdays fall around holidays like my kids, a lot of celebrating happens. We celebrated a little bit with all of our extended families on Easter Sunday, but on his actual birthday, we tried to make the day special.

He started the day wearing his favorite baseball jersey he got from Nana. After school we played lot of baseball in the yard and colored some pictures. When Daddy got home we had George’s favorite dinner of all George’s favorites: chicken nuggets, grapes, carrots, and cucumbers.
His wonderful Godmother dropped off some allergen free red velvet cupcakes and as you can see, he couldn’t have been more thrilled.
Next up, was present time. For those of you that know George, you know he LOVES anything equestrian. We have books, toys, movies, and clothing. So he received lots of gifts with this kind of theme.

 

Russell, however, decided to go against the grain, and buy George a limited edition Lighting McQueen. That too was a hit!
I cannot believe George is four. When he was born, I remembering feeling scared about going from one child to two in such a short span of time, but we quickly fell into a wonderful routine. Russell loves playing with his baby brother, and Caroline calls him her Georgie. We cannot imagine our family without this wonderful, rambunctious, cuddly, considerate, smart, and hilarious boy.
Happy 4th, Georgie Boy!

A Day of Firsts: SNOW DAY!

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Yesterday, we got anywhere from 5 to 8 inches of snow.

We had a day of firsts. Since starting pre-school, this was the boys first official SNOW DAY! Since getting a new snow blower, this was Brian’s first real chance to use it. Since Caroline has been born, it was the first time she was actually able to play in the snow.

The snow day got called for everyone (Brian included), the night before. When we woke up there was no snow on the ground yet, so I ran to a new grocery store in town to check it out. When I walked out of the store, the snow was falling hard.

Brian made this ruler for the kids to see how much snow was falling throughout the day.

By mid-afternoon it looked like this.

While the kids were napping, I went outside and watched it the snow fall. It was so quiet.

 

 

Next, we bundled up the munchkins.

We played in the snow.

 

 

Then, they took hot baths and drank hot cocoa in their warm jammies. I loved having everyone home with nothing to do except play in the snow and snuggle on the couch. Why can’t every day be a SNOW DAY?!

 

Baby, It’s Finally Cold Outside: Snow Cream

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In my neck of the woods, we have had kind of a mild winter (which I’ve been thankful for) However, there hasn’t been much of an opportunity for the munchkins to play in piles of snow as most of the time our yard just looks like a muddy mess.

This past week, we got a few inches of good, heavy, packing snow. The kids were thrilled.

By the time the snow stopped falling, it was dark outside, and too late to play in the snow. However, I remembered I had seen recipes all over the internet for how to make snow cream, and thought it might be a good way to hold them over until we could play in the snow the next day. When they heard the words snow cream, they forgot all about playing in the snow before bed.

The first order of business was for Brian to bring in a huge container of snow.

Hold ’em over til tomorrow Snow Cream

2 zip lock bags (one large and one small I used a 1 quart bag and a snack size)
1/2 cup cream
1 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups snow
2 Tbs Kosher salt

In the larger bag, put snow and salt. In the smaller bag, mix cream, sugar, and vanilla and seal as tightly.

Place the smaller bag in the larger bag filled with snow and seal tightly.

Finally, squish the bags all around for 20 minutes or until an soft ice cream consistency is formed. *NOTE: You may want to wrap towels around the bags so little fingers don’t get too cold while squishing.

 

Finally, enjoy!

Ours was a little liquidy, the kids used spoons and straws. But there were no complaints.