Quarantine Homeschool Routine and Homemade Butter
Last month, if you would have told me we would be on a state lockdown with stay in place orders due to a pandemic I would have said you’ve been watching too much Walking Dead. I’d suggest you take a little break from the post-apocalyptic tv show binging. I never would have guessed this could all be real.
But here we are.
Day who knows what of quarantine...
Most days I wear the same sweatpants from the day before promising I’ll actually pull myself together and get dressed... only it rarely happens. My husband knows what this hot mess express looks like, bags and all. He’s already stuck with me so what’s the point of actual pants? Sweats will do in a pandemic.
My husband and I attempt to work from home with three rowdy boys and an almost 2 month old baby who’s decided she rules the house. Oh did I mention we’re supposed to be teaching our kids now too...
I send my kids to public school because I know I can’t hack it as a homeschool mom!
I tried. I blew it. I happily sent them to their school each day knowing full well teachers are my hero! Now it’s all on me. I have to entertain the kids, teach them so they don’t lose it all, and remind them they aren’t wild animals. I mean come on... is it that hard to throw the freaking granola bar wrappers away when you’re done???
After about a week of no routine I finally bought workbooks for all the kids. I thought letting them hack the summer routine now would be fine. Then I remembered that we’re rarely home in the summer. “Summer routine” while stuck at home was terrible. The worst. I decided homeschooling it was. The workbooks have worked out surprisingly well. It’s mainly review for the kids so they don’t complain about getting it done each day. We set a 30 minute timer and they get through with as many pages as they can. If they do their best work they get a sticker and damn do they want those stickers. I’ve decided I want my own sticker reward each day. If I make it until 5 without a glass of wine I get a sticker!
Once the workbooks are done it’s chore time. I write the kids chores on the fridge with a dry erase marker. Each kid has their own list they are in charge of. The lists have the basic things like get dressed, brush teeth, make your bed. They also have the kids weekly room assignment. We used to give the kids a single chore to get done each day, but that seem too easy. Now each kid is assigned a room during the week. They are responsible for keeping that room tidy. For example one kid gets the kitchen. That means they have to unload the dishwasher, sweep the floor, and wipe down the counters. They each have to tidy up their room about 1 to 2 times a day. We are a little looser with the kitchen over something like the dining room, but it works out really well. Obviously no kid wants the kitchen and they are so excited at the end of the week when it goes on to the next brother!
Read more about our chore lists here
Typically during this time, I am in my office on work phone calls or trying to get my list done. My schedule is pretty flexible for work, so I try to get everything done in the mornings. That way I’m not scrambling throughout the day trying to check off my to do list. Some days this works out really nicely. Other days I’m having zoom calls while rocking a baby and texting my children threats for the next one who knocks on my door or passes a note under the door asking to play video games. Somehow I’ve become less scary to them. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. Apparently they’ve learned all my threats are useless and I won’t follow through. One day I really will kick them out of the house and make them live off the land…
If my kids haven’t killed each other by this point, I send them outside for a little bit while I get my third or fourth glass of iced coffee. I feed the baby and make sure she’s all good to go and then call the kids back in to start reading. Our family absolutely loves reading. My oldest son is in second grade, but reads at a third-grade level. This by no means has anything to do with my parenting skills, it’s all him. He straight up loves to read and devours all books. My first grade son has followed in his brothers footsteps. He is a first grader reading at almost a second grade level!
I will admit, my husband and I are ridiculously proud that our kids love to read so much. As everything in the world seems to be upside down right now, one thing we try to do every day regardless of anything that’s happened is read together. Sometimes the kids go up to my husbands office and will read on his couch. Sometimes they hang upside down the couch, reading to themselves. Since they've been home from school we started reading together while curled up on the couch. The kids pass around Emelia like a little doll while I read to them. We decided to start a new book and while looking around I found my prized possession. I found a copy of Little House on the Prairie and our bookshelves.
Growing up I used to be obsessed with this book series. I was so obsessed that I even started waking up at 5:30, before the bus picked me up to watch it on Nick at Night. Let’s take a second to remember Nick at Night. Hands up if used to stay up as late as you could or wake up as early as you could to watch it! It used to be a badge of honor between my brother and I and who could stay up until 10 when Nick At Nite would come on.
I wasn’t sure what the kids would think, but they have already become obsessed. They love hearing about living off the land, hunting, and what it was like for the Ingles to live on the Prairie. We even got my husband in on the action. All five of us eagerly listen to each new chapter and talk about everything afterwards!
One of my friends saw how into the series we started getting and shared an activity to make her own butter. We just talked about it in the book and I knew the kids would love it. Plus if Ma can till the fields while Pa is injured in bed or make clothes for the entire family I can make some freaking butter with the kids!
Check out the recipe below! It was so easy! We modified it a bit and the kids danced around the house shaking up their little jars until they had butter! They couldn’t believe they made butter with their own two hands! We even made banana bread so they could try out their butter!
I loved seeing the kids do this activity because it brought the book to life for them. Like you all know, I’m truly far from a homeschool mom. My homeschool mom friends are hero’s in my eyes! If I can do this project with the kids, you can too!
ALSO, if you haven’t read The Little House On The Prairie series, now is the time! You can even buy the whole series on Apple TV for under $20. The first two episodes are slow but then it gets going.
[amd-yrecipe-recipe:47]
Emelia’s Birth Story!
After two weeks on bedrest, twice a week appointments to monitor the babies heart, and getting off bedrest, we officially got our induction date. My high-risk doctor said with the polyhydramnios I couldn’t go past 37 weeks and let me tell you I was not disappointed. I was more than ready to have this baby of mine.
I woke up on Valentine’s Day morning, kissed my boys goodbye as they were getting ready for school, and Joel and I packed up the car to head to the hospital. The whole morning was so surreal because I couldn’t believe I was getting induced after everything that was going on during the pregnancy. Then of course those super fun nerves start to set it. I know I somehow made it through three other labors, but this could be the one. This could be the one that makes the rest of them look like cake.
We pulled up to the hospital, of course with Starbucks in hand, and rode the elevator up to labor and delivery. Joel and I just kept looking at each other wondering how we finally made it to this point. The next few hours consisted of Joel driving me crazy trying to make me laugh, getting hooked up on Pitocin to start my labor, and basically just chatting it up with my Aunt and Joel. The pitocin definitely started up my contractions, but they were so mild we were just hanging out and chatting throughout them.
Then the moment of truth. I’ve had my water broken before and I hardly remember it. It was super easy, and not memorable in the slightest. I assumed this would be the same especially seeing as the doctors were so worried my water would break at any moment this whole third trimester. It’s the biggest reason that they ended up inducing me at 37 weeks. They didn’t want my water to break at home because of the complications with polyhydramnios. They wanted it to break at the hospital where they could monitor me and make sure nothing happened.
Instead of fully breaking my water, they had to do a small little prick to let it release the fluid slowly. You would think that would be easy. Oh no. It was like a freaking indestructible sac of water. My water would not break. It took them a good 2 minutes to break it. All while I’m covering my eyes saying the F word over and over and over in my breath. It hurt like a b...
Once it finally broke, I was so relieved. That part of the pain was done and now I could focus on labor. Then things went from 0 to 60. My mild contractions went from barely noticeable to excruciating within about 20 minutes. It was that moment I looked at my husband and said epidural time!
I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely terrified of the epidural. I’d love to say I was super brave and that’s why I had two natural childbirths, but it was purely because epidurals scare the crap out of me. When the anesthesiologist came in I thought I was going to cry. I let him know that I was terrified and made a joke that epidurals are scarier than labor for me. He was the sweetest and kindest man ever. He explained to me that it’s like geometry and walked me through exactly what was gonna happen and what I needed to do. He somehow calmed me down within seconds. Before he gave me the epidural, Joel asked if he could pray. I felt myself calming down, but I still definitely held onto Joel‘s hands for dear life. He jokes that he has arthritis in both hands now, but mom‘s who have been in labor before, do we care? Nope. Unless you’ve pushed a baby out of your vagina, no pain of yours that your wife inflicts on you during labor matters. Sorry babe.
The epidural was heavenly. It kicked in so fast and what was excruciating contractions went down to pressure. I was able to rest and labor peacefully and calmly.
We did have one scary moment. Apparently with an epidural you can experience a moment where your blood pressure drops. My blood pressure dropped very low and all the sudden I felt terrible. I thought I was going to pass out, while having a heart attack, and could hardly see. The whole ordeal only lasted for about two minutes, but it was terrible. I didn’t even realize that was a possibility. The nurses quickly came in and gave me medicine because Emelia’s heart rate dropped as well. The nurses were phenomenal and it was all taken care of very quickly.
You guys, let’s take a moment and think about this. The doctors and nurses throughout my entire pregnancy warned me of all the crazy complications that could happen during my labor. They talked about the fact the cord could come out first and hurt Emelia, I could bleed out, and all sorts of other scary things. Not to mention preterm labor which we experience firsthand. Out of all the possible complications we hardly experienced any of them. I still can’t believe my labor went as smoothly as it did. Other than that quick two minute ordeal my labor was a breeze.
A few hours after that, the nurses came in because they notice how close my contractions were getting. They checked and it was baby time. Two pushes later and welcome to the world Miss Emelia Jane.
When they laid her on my stomach, I looked at her in complete disbelief. How did I just make this little girl? How do I have a daughter?
I just sat there holding her and cried. I was so grateful in that moment for the journey God brought us on to have this little girl, that He kept her safe the entire time, and that I now have this beautiful baby girl in my arms. I looked up at Joel to see if he was experiencing the exact same thing I was, an oh man… The strong man I love had tear filled eyes and was just staring at his daughter. It was the most precious moment to experience together, meeting our little girl.
Our little Emelia Jane.
As you can imagine, we are all completely obsessed with her. She’s already showing us how feisty she is and I love it!
How To Put Your Own Multicultural Stamp On Thanksgiving
How To Put Your Own Multicultural Stamp On Thanksgiving
I’ve always wondered why I love fall so much. Everything about it gets me so excited, and the same thing started happening for my kids. The more I think about it, I realize fall is the beginning of the holiday season. The second those leaves start changing and the weather cools down, you start to enter into the holiday season. We kick it off with Halloween and go straight into Thanksgiving and Christmas.The holidays look different for all of us, but it typically means family gets together from all around the world, we eat until our heart's desire, and countless family traditions.As a multiracial family, we also blend family traditions. There are so many ways our holiday traditions are unique, and we love finding ways to bring them all into our own growing family. Which means our Christmas and Thanksgiving don’t look the same as a lot of yours. I love that! I love that we can all put our own stamp on the holidays.What do the holidays look like in your family?
Here is a typical Thanksgiving in our family.
It’s all about the food!
What does a typical Thanksgiving meal look like for you? It’s probably turkey and mashed potatoes with some green bean casserole on the side… My mouth is already watering!If we visit my in-laws for the holidays, my mother-in-law makes her famous lemon pepper turkey, my uncle makes the creamiest mashed potatoes you’ve ever had, and all the cousins get together to make delicious sides and desserts! I’m not gonna lie; all of that makes me crave a typical American Thanksgiving meal, but it typically doesn’t show up for our Thanksgiving at home.If we stay home for the holidays, our Thanksgiving feast tends to be mostly Indian food. My husband is not a huge fan of traditional American Thanksgiving food. Not to mention, we are all completely obsessed with Indian food. Over the years, a tradition has formed. Now, when we are home for the holidays, my husband will spend hours preparing and making lamb biryani. Seriously, so amazing and worth every minute, he puts into it. I will whip up a few other things to go with it. We usually have eggplant curry and raita.Don’t worry, I didn’t forget the dessert. Even though we end up with an Indian feast, the kids and I still make our favorite pies. Last year we made a chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, and an apple crisp. There may only be five of us currently, but you can’t ever have enough pie. Like, for real... It's not even possible!
(Lamb Biryani Recipe)
We go around the table and share what we're thankful for.
This is one of the family traditions that both mine and my husband's families do every year. We were more than happy to carry on the same tradition with our kids.Before we eat or after, we all go around and ask everyone what they’re thankful for that year. It’s so fun to hear the kids reminisce over there year and hear how they were blessed. It’s also just as funny when the four-year-old says he’s just thankful for the food, and that’s it!
All the games we can fit in.
Usually, during Thanksgiving day, everyone is busy in the kitchen or watching football. And our family, we have both of those things, and we fit in as many games as we possibly can. Our family is seriously obsessed with board games and card games. I don’t think we could ever get enough of them. We will play games as the entire family and sneak in a few rounds of Settlers of Catan while the kids go outside and play basketball.
(Favorite family games amazon list)
Sometimes we get really brave and adding some new traditions for the first time.
It’s typically something we heard a friend of ours does each year or even have found on Pinterest. Sometimes they work out incredibly well, and we talk about doing it again and other times… Well, let’s just say it ends up a big fail.For example, one year, we decided to go and do a 5k On Thanksgiving day. I love all of you out there who can do that and then come home and still have a blast in today. My husband and I, on the other hand, end up stupid tired and end up skipping Thanksgiving entirely. Let’s just say we’ve decided in the future to only do 5k’s before or after the holidaysWhat do the holidays look like in your family?
How have you and your significant other been able to blend family traditions to put your own stamp on the holidays?
Cinnamon Ornaments Recipe
Christmas isn't complete without adorable handmade cinnamon ornaments. Add in adorable little helpers and some cinnamon and you've got a party!
Christmas Eve Traditions
Growing up, Christmas Eve was one of the most special nights of the year. My family would all go to my grandparents house and my grandma would spoil us all rotten with delicious food and amazing company. It was the evening we all looked forward to all year long.I always knew I wanted to carry on my grandmother's holiday traditions with my own family.I wanted them to see when they were so special to all of us growing up and to be able to start a few of our own. One tradition they love is decorating ornaments on Christmas Eve.As a little girl I always knew it was Christmas Eve by the smell of cinnamon. My grandmother's kitchen would be filled with the smell of cinnamon and she baked our ornaments. I don't know if she knew just how much I loved waiting at the table for them to be done. I loved watching her mix the ingredients together, roll out the dough, and then eagerly wait for them to be done.When they cooled we would all take turns decorating them. Parents sat down with their kids and wrestled over the best ones. When they finished, they would write their names and the year on their ornament, and put it on the tree.You could look at any of our Christmas trees and see dozens of ornaments from over the years. They fill our homes with the smell of cinnamon and remind us of how much fun we had making them.
Cinnamon Ornaments Recipe
Ingredients:
1 C Cinnamon1 C ApplesauceString*Optional* Glitter
Directions:
Pre-heat your oven to 250 degrees.Combine the cinnamon and applesauce in a small bowl.When your ingredients are completely mixed together, sprinkle cinnamon on a cutting board and roll out your dough. Your dough should be about 1/2 inch thick.Pick out a few of your favorite cookies cutters and cut out your ornaments. Be sure to poke a hole at the top so you can attach string to it later. Lay down a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread out your ornaments.Cook your ornaments for 2-3 hours until they're hard. Or you can leave then out overnight until they dry completely.Now they're ready for decorating!
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Halloween Adventures and tornado warnings!
If you're anything like our family, you're still experiencing a Halloween sugar overload! I swear it's one of so many reasons why we had kids! I couldn't wait to have little kids to sneak candy from! The problem is they're becoming obsessed and know when daddy and I take certain pieces!This year Halloween took a bit of a turn...Instead of trick or treating, we ended up staying home with rain, thunderstorms, and tornado warnings! The kids were upset at first and then realized we could have an epic Halloween party of our own!
We made delicious fizzy worm drinks, pumpkin pizzas, and all the sweets you could want! The best part of a Pinterest recipe... You spend all the time making it only to find out your kids think it's disgusting! Oh well. The kids hated the pizzas but they filled up on their fair share of treats! I guess we'll call that a win!I always do my best in these videos to keep all the best parts to show you. This week I even left in some tattling and brother bonding at it's finest... You can see by my face that I wasn't even surprised!Take a look at this week's vlog and share your Halloween adventures in the comments! Don't forget to subscribe so you can keep up with each week's vlog!
First Pregnancy Verses Fourth Pregnancy!
I’ve been around the block before with this whole pregnancy thing. As most of you know, this is my fourth pregnancy. It’s my fourth time dealing with morning sickness, fourth time feeling the baby kick, fourth time feeling exhausted, and fourth time having no clue what I am doing…Granted, I will say I find myself looking things up on Google a little less. But let’s be honest. Mama to mama, we all Google the sh*t out of stuff. You start feeling the baby kick a lot more – you look up while you’re baby is moving so much. You feel like your baby isn't kicking as much as normal – you Google why your baby isn’t moving as much. You start craving sweet things – you start googling if it means you’re having a boy.Google is the guidebook for all things, and we all know it. Even fourth time mamas. I still can't believe how different this pregnancy is the fourth time around. I knew it would be different because it’s been a little while. My youngest will officially be five years older when his baby sister is born. Five years doesn’t seem like very long, but apparently, my body thinks otherwise.I can’t tell if this pregnancy is in a league of its own because I’m having a girl for the first time or because I’m officially in my 30s. According to my son, "Mom, you're not a young chick anymore." Let me tell you, this pregnancy is kicking my tail. I feel the same way now at 20 weeks that I did at the end of all three of my other pregnancies. @#$#
Let’s take a second and talk about the new things that have come along with this pregnancy.
First of all, it started off completely different.
I had always had a touch of morning sickness, but nothing could have prepared me for the level of morning sickness I would have with this baby girl. I even lost 7 pounds in my first trimester because I was so sick. Thankfully the morning sickness calms down after the first trimester. I still have bouts of it if I’m not careful and don’t eat or drink enough, but it’s much easier to maintain now.
You start showing like week two!
I have always showed pretty early, but the more pregnancies I've had, the crazier it got! I'm 20 weeks pregnant and people are shocked when I tell them how long I still have to go. First of all, thanks... I hate the shocked look! Makes me want to smack them upside their surprised little head! I haven't gained an insane amount yet, but it just pops out! I guess my body really knows what it's doing!
Everything hurts.
Round ligament pain. What the heck is that? I have never experienced this pain, but my stomach feels like it’s going to burst at any moment. I know it’s truly growing all the time, so why wouldn’t I experience some discomfort, but I have never noticed how uncomfortable it is to become a humongous pregnant woman.Then there’s also the super fun tailbone pain. I look like an idiot sitting as far on my side as possible because I don’t want any contact with a chair in my tailbone. Even my couch at home drives my tailbone crazy.
If you've had more than one pregnancy, you also notice that you tend to put things off more and more.
When I was pregnant with my first son, I couldn't wait to buy everything, get the room ready, and make sure everything was 100% ready for that baby to get here. The second pregnancy and on is a different story. Instead of worrying about getting it done as fast as possible, you put it off until the last moment. I know I’m only 20 weeks, but I just now got my very first baby items. I’m sure I will go crazy because it’s my very first girl and who doesn’t to buy all the adorable girl things at Target… I’m pretty sure everything else is going to have to wait, though. I think you just get so busy with your life and the kids you currently have, that you know everything else can get done when it needs to.Do you want to know what I’m looking forward to probably the most? Obviously, next to meeting my baby girl for the first time…
I can’t wait to spend time in the hospital.
I know some of you have your babies at home and some at hospitals. I think their are amazing benefits to both! In the past, I usually hated being in the hospital. I got out of the hospital as soon as I could to come home and rest in my own house; however, it’s starting to look like a vacation to me now. Going to a hospital without laundry, dishes, mediating three boys, and making dinner… I think I’ll take a hospital suit for all that. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve never done the whole hospital food thing. I send my husband out 1 million times to fetch coffee and all the takeout my heart could desire.On top of all the new changes this pregnancy has brought with it, there’s also a new very special thing I’m able to do this around. My kids are very close together. They are all about two years apart. Which means they’ve all been too young to understand what it meant when I was pregnant truly. They understood a little bit so they could feel the baby kick, but that was it.
My kids understand I’m pregnant.
They all understand the fact that I am carrying their baby sister, and they can't wait to meet her. My youngest Lucas is a little on the fence on this whole thing, but he’s warming up to it every day. Every day the boys come up to me, rub my belly, and talk to their baby sister. They've even been telling me all the things I have to do when she’s born. They told me I need to make a bottle for them so they can feed her at least once a night so I can sleep and are currently in negotiations over changing it for us. I think I can win them over with a little bribery, but they aren’t so sure. Needless to say, this pregnancy is a whole different beast. There are some parts that are similar to my other pregnancies, but in general, it’s so different. I’m really curious to hear your stories. For those of you that I’ve had more than one pregnancy, did you notice a difference? What were some of the things that were difference in your pregnancies?
Movies For The Whole Family With Diverse Characters!
My kids love a good movie! Between family Friday’s and road trips, we’re always looking for new ones!I’ve always tried to be intentional in choosing movies with diverse main characters and breaking the mold that only white kids can lead the movie. Only a white kid can save the day. Nope, me and my brown boys don’t believe that. We know kids of all ethnic backgrounds can do what they set their minds to.It may seem like a simple thing, but surrounding your kids with diverse media is crucial. It helps us to breakdown stereotypes and teaches our kids that diversity is normal. The world is made up of so many different cultures and we should celebrate this as a family every day!As my boys get older, they’re even on the hunt for diverse movies too! We’ve made a great list over the years!Here are our favorites!
Movies For The Whole Family With Diverse Characters
1. Cinderella w Brandi2. Belle3. The Greatest Showman4. Anna and the King5. Bride and Prejudice6. Bend it like Beckham
7. Pocahontas8. Annie9. A Wrinkle in Time10. Home11. The Karate Kid12. Black Panther
13. Akeelah and the Bee14. Moana15. Are We There Yet16. Dr. Dolittle17. Princess and the Frog18. Jungle Book
19. Coco20. Book of Life21. Zapped22. My Babysitters a Vampire23. Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse24. Aladdin
Don’t see your favorites here? Tell me in the comments! We’d love to check it out!
How To Get You Picky Eaters To EAT!
Have you ever sat at a restaurant and I heard a kid losing their minds because their parents are trying to get them to try something new? Have you been that parent with a screaming child trying to convince them just to have one bite?I always promised I would never allow myself to have picky eaters. I thought somehow I could convince my children to do whatever I said.Let’s take a minute and laugh at Kid free, naïve Brittany. She had no clue what was coming to her.Three kids later and I realized picky eaters happen to the best of us. My kids have always grown up with an array of food choices.Typically, my husband and I make quite a few international dishes. One night we will have spaghetti, and the next will have chicken curry. My husband and I love food, and we are always up for trying new things. However, we found ourselves making the kids milder version of those things to get them to eat it. Problem number one.Then we would look at ourselves baffle trying to figure out why they were eating the salad we made for dinner one night. We had created monsters. Picky eating little monsters.Now, our kids eat crazy things like marrow curry, devour tongue curry, and try just about anything.What the heck did we do? How did we take our three picky eaters and get them to experience culture through food? Let me share a few of our tips.
The one-bite rule:
Our kids are expected to try everything at least once. They may not like it, they may never want us to make it again, but they are expected to try at least one bite.One of the biggest reasons kids refuse to try new things is the fear of it. They have no idea what it’s going to taste like so they opt-out. You know we’ve all done it. We’ve all looked in something that looked wild and said quotations no thanks I’m good. QuotationsOur kids do the exact same thing. Help your kids to realize that one bite will not kill them. They will be pleasantly surprised a lot of the time and find new things that they absolutely love.
Lead by example:
Are you a picky eater yourself? I can guarantee if your kids watch you were picky eating antics, they will follow suit. Show your kids that you are willing to try everything, and they will be more adventurous as well.One thing my family and I do when we go out to dinner is always try something new. My husband is a big foodie, so he is always looking for the most exotic thing on the menu. Most of the time, we love it; however, we’ve had those unfortunate moments where we realize something is absolutely disgusting. Either way, it doesn’t matter because we’ve tried something new and it’s made a very fun memory with her kids.
Don’t avoid foods:
For the longest time, I avoided making my kids salad. I love salads, and my husband hates them. I always avoided making them for my family because I assumed they wouldn’t like it. Which means I create a family didn’t like salad.For the longest time, I avoided making my kids salad. I love salads, and my husband hates them. I always avoided making them for my family because I assumed they wouldn’t like it. Which means I create a family didn’t like salad.My aunts and I were making dinner one night and decided to make taco salad. It’s delicious, and they basically have the same thing in a burrito all the time. They were so upset when I told them we were having a salad for dinner. They couldn’t believe I would actually torture them like that. Then they saw their cousins eating it and decided to try.My youngest realized he absolutely loves salads. My other two are not obsessed like I am, but they eat it every time I make it for dinner.If you avoid foods because you think your kids may not like it, you’re only cementing that truth into reality.
Go on adventurous family outings:
The next time you and your family are going to go out for dinner, look for a cuisine you haven’t tried before. Maybe it’s Ethiopian. Maybe it’s Indian. Or maybe it’s Greek. Find something new and make it a family adventure.You may even find a new family favorite!
Start now:
Start your adventurous eating habits tonight for dinner! Try a new recipe that you’ve never tried before and tell your kids they better get ready for an adventure. Need an idea? Try out almond chicken curry.
How to care for biracial skin in the summer
Are you raising biracial children? Are you looking for ways to take care of biracial skin this summer? If so, I am here to help!All three of my boys have different skin types. One of my sons has what's considered "normal skin" and my other two kids have eczema. Even amongst the two with eczema, they vary in severity. It makes it tricky to find out what works best for all of them.I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to find the best skin care products for my biracial kids. Below are a few things that have worked for all of them!
How To Care For Biracial Skin This Summer
Less is more (space out baths)
Having a son with eczema has taught me that less is more. I used to think I needed to give him a bath every day to help with his breakouts. Instead of helping, it was only making it worse.I went to our family doctor, and she told me that daily baths aren't the right move. During the summer, space out your kid's baths with soap.Chlorine in pools can be tough on kid's skin. When they're finished swimming, you can rinse them off and put lotion on right away instead of a bath.
Moisturize
Summer activities tend to dry out kid's skin very fast. Get in the routine of lathering them up with lotion every day. This can be after the pool and before bed or any other routine that works for your family.We've tried quite a few lotions for our kids. We use Eucerin every day for all three boys. It's great for all of their skin types and does a great job trapping in all of the moisture!We also have Cortizone Eczema for my oldest, who suffers from eczema. It does have a smallamount of steroids in it, so I try only to use it for breakouts. I'd rather not use steroids, but for anyone with a child who suffers from eczema knows, you do what you have to do.
Go natural where you can
In addition to all of the great lotions out there, you can also try natural remedies. If you're looking for a natural moisturizer, you can use coconut oil. I love using it because it makes my boys smell amazing!I love it because it's natural AND has antibacterial properties. Which means it's just as good for my kids with normal skin types as it is for my son with eczema! I love anything that works for all of them!
Sunscreen
One of the biggest misconceptions is biracial kids don't need sunscreen... Whether your kids have a darker complexion or not, they still need sunscreen. It protects them from harmful UV rays while they're outside playing all summer.You can grab a sunscreen stick for their face and either the spray or lotion for the rest of their body. I love using the spray because it's way faster. Not to mention, it's easier to corral three boys and spray them than to wipe them all down one by one!
Troubleshooting
If your child is still dealing with skin issues after trying all of these tips, here are a few troubleshooting options.
Oatmeal Bath
If my son's skin gets too aggravated, I will blend up oatmeal to a fine powder. Then we sprinkle it into his bath. It's very mellow and soothing for skin.
Avoid Scented Soaps
When dealing with skin issues, it's best to avoid scented anything, especially soaps. Try to use unscented or even Johnson and Johnson's baby soap.
Diet
Oftentimes, diet can also be a source is skin irritation. Take a look at what your child is eating, and you can attempt to eliminate things like dairy for 30 days and see if it helps. Dairy was a trigger for my son.
Consult Your Family Doctor
The most important thing to do if your child is having skin issues is to consult their doctor. They may recommend the same things as above, or they may provide a stronger lotion/ointment.How do you care for your biracial child's skin all summer?
Hacks To Save Money This Summer With The Kids
Well, guys, we did it. Another school year and another start to a new summer. The feelings are everywhere. Some of us are super excited to be done with early morning, and others of us are terrified trying to figure out how we’re gonna make it through the whole summer.I’m here to help. I’m still new to the summer break game as my kids are pretty young. However, I’ve learned a few things over the last few years that have made my summers way better. Today I’m gonna tell you a few hacks our family uses to save money during the summer and still have a blast doing it.I’ll give you one hint to start out with… Keep it simple. I think as parents, we tend to over complicate things. We think we have to make up these big extravagant plans for the whole family to keep them busy during the summer. The thing is they just wanna have fun. They don’t care if you spent hundreds of dollars on some big vacation or take a day trip to your local beach.Think through one big thing to do with the kids, A handful of medium-sized things, and a ton of free things. Then you can take some time to think through what you’re going to do and when you’ll do it.You can do this. You can make it through an entire summer and save money, earning extra cool points with your kids because they’ll have a blast, and you will be stress-free… OK, maybe not be stress-free, but it’s more stress-free than you were last summer.
Get Water For The Kids
During the summer, this mama gets a little tired. I love to go out and grab an iced coffee on my way out to the park with the kids. The problem is everyone wants something as well. That could end up being about five bucks a kid. No thanks. Instead, I get the kids a grande water and have a little lemonade squeeze containers. All you need to do is put a couple squeezes into bigger water, and voilà, you have a minute. That right there saves me $15.Keep your freezer stocked: how many times do you have to hear from the kids, “I’m hungry. Can we stop for a snack?” Doesn’t matter if they just ate lunch or just snacking on tons of food, those kids are going to get hungry the second you leave the door. This is why I stock my freezer with sandwiches. On the way out the door at the kids just need to grab a sandwich on the go.About once or twice a week take an hour and whip up as many peanut butter and jelly or lunch meat and cheese sandwiches that you can. Put them each in a small sandwich baggie and pop it in the freezer. I like to keep mine on the top shelf of our freezer because my kids know right where to look for them.
Make a snack box
This one is very similar to freeze. Kids are constantly hungry and love to question you all day long on what they can have to eat. It ends up driving me completely bonkers. Instead of the guessing game, my kids know exactly what they could have for snacks each day.How do we do that?I have a box in my pantry full of snacks they can have. I even put one in my fridge. If my kids get hungry and want to snack, all they have to do is take a look in one of the snack boxes. You can have rules like two fridge snacks and one pantry snack a day or anything else that meets your fancy. I like to change things up every time I fill it up. My pantry snack box has things like crackers, granola bars, pre-popped popcorn, pretzels, or homemade trail mix. My fridge snack box has things like string cheese, applesauce, different kinds of fruit, and yogurt.
Meal plan
I know I know this one is always easier said than done. In fact, I am actually the worst of us. However, I will say every time I sit down and meal plan, I end up saving a ton of money. During the summer I even cheap By purchasing some pre-made meals like lasagna or pizzas. Another favorite of mine is to make two of every meal. When I make something for dinner, I’ll make enough for that night plus enough to freeze. I learned that from The blog fun cheap or free. Jordan page is fantastic at that, and I’ve been doing my best to do that on my own as well.Take your kids to the dollar movies: most towns have summer movies going on. They can range anywhere from 1 to 3 dollars and trust me they are worth it. Most of the movies are ones that have been out for a while, but the kids don’t care. They get to go out with their siblings and maybe even a few friends to see a movie in the theaters. Not to mention it’s a theater full of kids so nobody there expects them to be quiet. So I may have my oldest use it Siri wants to watch everything in the movie while my younger kids are talking to each other and giggling about the movie the whole time. Guess what… No one cares. Their kids are doing the exact same things.
Schedule play dates
Most of the time, your kids will be just as happy to go out somewhere crazy as they would be to have their friends over. You can have the kids over and put on a projector movie or take them to a local Splash Pad. Kids just like the change of routine, and they miss seeing their friends like they did in school all day. Ask your kids if you people that they want to see you during the summer and make it happen. You’ll gain extra cool points, and you even get some adult time with the mamas. Then you can talk about how your kids are driving you crazy over some coffee or sangria.
What are your summer money saving hacks?
Our Multiethnic Family's Christmas Bucket List
Since I was a little girl, Christmas has been my favorite holiday. The freshly fallen snow, cinnamon ornaments on the tree, Christmas music to drown out the Christmas Story movie, and snowmen all bring me to a very happy place. It reminds me of growing up and spending holidays with my family in Washington. I don't know what it is, but it just makes everything better.Now that my kids are getting older, they're beginning to get the Christmas fever like momma! They can't wait until we pull all the decorations out of storage and get our tree. They run around trying to find their favorite ornaments before their brothers so they can be the ones to put them up on the tree.My husband and I sit back and let them go wild. It doesn't matter that all of the ornaments are on one side of the tree and clustered together on the bottom. The look on their faces when they step back and admire their work makes our lopsided tree look like a magical piece of art.
And...
If we're going, to be honest with each other, I put up the breakable ornaments as soon as they go to bed.My husband used to be a Grinch during the holidays. He ner4 understood why his wife became an eggnog drunk crazy person during December. He just sat back and watched.Not anymore!!!Something happened to him after we had kids. Our Christmas craze somehow rubbed off on him. Now, he's the one begging us to get our tree the day after Thanksgiving! I happily oblige and carefully convince him we need more decorations each year.
Every year around Christmas, our house looks like an elf puked Christmas cheer all over, and it couldn't make me happier.
The more our family has gotten into the holiday spirit, the more we try to cram in. We make a bit list of all the things we want to do and see how many we can check off our list.
Here is our Christmas Bucket List this year!
Watch Christmas Movies.
I don't think anything beats a good Christmas movie with a glass of hot cocoa. My boys and I live for it!This year we want to watch the classics like Santa Clause, The Polar Express, The Christmas Story, Snow Day, and so many more! We search through all the new holiday movies on Netflix and watch them all!Then we get distracted and start watching Bollywood family movies. I know they aren't usually Christmas themed, but come on... They're amazing! My oldest son is now old enough to watch them and read the English subtitles. Needless to say, I'm about to have a Bollywood movie marathon with him!
AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT.
Our Elf On The Shelf lives wherever I can discretely throw him. The end. My boys still think he's the best thing in the world. I secretly hope my kids lose interest in the eld so I can toss him, but I'm pretty sure they'll keep it going until they're old enough to dangle him from precarious spots on their own.IN FACT...
This should be the new family tradition! Hide the Elf from the parents.
Who's with me?!
Convince my husband to put up Christmas lights.
As many of you know, hanging up Christmas lights is a huge task. My husband will buy us a tree, help us decorate inside, and even watch a few Christmas movies, but Christmas lights...He put them up two years ago, and it took him all weekend. Then during the move to North Carolina, we left all 3 BOXES of lights in Chicago. Since then the simple mention of Christmas lights brings an odd twitch to his eye.This year I plan on convincing, bribing, tricking, or even threatening to get said lights up on the house.Wish me luck.
Get a Christmas tree... CHECK
Pull the Christmas decorations out of storage and let the kids help set them up... Three broken ornaments and a wrestling match over the candy cane decorations... CHECK
Make jello salad.
Ok, this is probably the one Christmas tradition that is mine and mine alone. Growing up my family would make a yummy jello salad every year. It is amazing!When I was pregnant with Luke a few years ago, I made four jello salads in a two-week span. Don't judge. I'd blame the baby, but I probably would have done it anyway.The bad thing is my husband and ALL THREE OF MY BOYS hate it! They beg me not to make it and I just scoff. Like they could keep me from jello salad!
Go and look at Christmas lights with the kids.
My husband and I like to look up a fun neighborhood nearby and then we take the kids, with hot cocoa in hand, to check them out. We' have found neighborhoods that do fun Disney themes, have lights to "dance" around to music, and then the super-rich elaborately decorated houses.So fun!
Put together the kid's Christmas Eve box.
This is hands down, my favorite tradition every year. My grandma started this with my mom and aunts years ago. Every Christmas eve, we would open up a box with Christmas jammies! It was the only gift we could open before Christmas and then we'd all get into them and watch Christmas movies.Over the years, my hubby and I have tweaked it a bit. Now we add in slippers, a Christmas movie, and holiday-themed treats to go with the movie. I even put one together for Joel and I!
Start the Elf On The Shelf Shenanigan
The only thing I dread during the holidays is the f*&^*&^ Elf On The Shelf. My boys NEVER let us forget him. I always forget until I get the kids up for school and end up crazily running around trying to find a new spot for him to hide.Every year, I see the Pinterest parents putting together elaborate scenes with their eld, and I just laugh.
Somehow find a killer non-dairy, white hot chocolate cocoa recipe.
Hot cocoa is one of the biggest Christmas staples, but it brings up a bit of a problem in our house. My oldest and I are allergic to chocolate and recently discovered we can't have dairy.I refuse to give up hot cocoa, so I'm on the hunt for a non-dairy, white hot cocoa!If you know of one, please let me know!
Whip up a fusion feast fit for our multiethnic family!
Food is a big part of the holidays. Everyone is always thinking up what to make, pulling out family recipes, and eating way more than you thought possible.Our little family does the same thing, but with a twist. We make a BIG dinner on Christmas Eve! We make roast chicken, veggies, mashed potatoes... Oh yeah! We also make up Indian food to go with it! We make mine and my husband's childhood favorites! This year, we're even going to try our hand at biryani!
What are your family's holiday traditions?
How To Feed A Big Family On A Budget
I remember finding out I was having my third little boy. We had been so excited to be pregnant again and just assumed it would be a girl. I mean statistics had to be on our side after two boys... right?My husband was out of town traveling for work and I couldn't wait for him to get back to hear the results of the ultrasound. I asked the ultrasound tech to write it on a piece of paper for me so I could FaceTime Joel and find out together.He was so excited when I called him. He couldn't wait to hear what I was about to tell him.I slowly opened the envelope, giving myself two full seconds before I could look at the paper. When I looked down, I couldn't believe what I was reading.BOY.Don't get me wrong. I would have been happy for a boy or a girl, I just couldn't believe it. I was so convinced the little baby growing inside of my belly was a boy. It hadn't even occurred to us that we could be having a boy. We even had a girl name picked out!I started to think maybe they were wrong. Maybe her little arm or foot was between her legs....Well, a few months later, I was greeted with one of the most beautiful little boys. They were right! It's funny to think back on because I can't imagine my little family any other way than it is now. I absolutely love having all boys! I love the chaos, the sword fighting, and even their wiggly nature.There is one thing, however, that everyone warned me about. It was always at the front of their minds when I told them I had three boys...
THEY'RE GOING TO EAT YOU OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME...
It was always in my mind, but they ease you into it first. When they were little, they were just little scavengers. They would see Joel and I eating, then sneak over to pick things off our plates. Then they started asking for snacks. Then they wanted seconds on meals...I've watched our grocery budget slowly get higher... and higher... and higher...Here's the deal. There's no way my kids were going to start eating less, so I knew I needed to do something. If I didn't, I was going to end up with three kids in high school and a grocery bill the size of my house payment!After enough complaining, my friends started telling me their tricks and tips for feeding their big families!
How To Feed A Big Family On A Budget
Meal plan.
Meal planning has been all the rage for years... but have you ever jumped on the bandwagon? I didn't until I started seeing our groceries fly off the pantry shelves, freezer, and fridge. Now, I'm seeing just how necessary it is.Necessary or not, meal planning can be HARD!If you don't do it right, it becomes a bigger pain in the a*$ than the grocery bill itself! This is why you need to start small. Write down a list of meals for the week. Then do your best to keep with it.I typically write ours on our fridge. Then the kids and hubby can look at it in the morning and see if it sounds good. Most of the time they start switching meals around, but it still works! The main goal behind meal planning is to use what you have at home instead of going to the store for last minute little trips. I don't know about you but those last minute trips get us every time!
------START MEAL PLANNING BY MAKING ALMOND CHICKEN CURRY ------
Buy in bulk.
Take a look around the house for a week or so and make a list of things you go through quickly. This might be paper goods, meat, bread, milk, etc. Then start buying those items in bulk at the beginning of the month.Now, rule number one when buying in bulk is to stick with things you KNOW you go through fast. Otherwise, you'll become a mild hoarder and have an endless trove of mustard and cheese instead of what you really need.We get most of our bulk items from Costco. It tends to be cheaper than anywhere else and the quality is great. You can also price check to other stores like Walmart and see which ones are cheaper.
Make freezer meals.
One of my favorite tricks in our house it to make a double batch for dinner. I make one for the day of and another portion to throw in a tin foil pan to keep for later. You're already going through the work of making one so why not throw in a few more ingredients to make more.These are amazing for busy school nights or end of the paycheck nights! It helps make your groceries last and takes some of the extra work out of it.
-----START PREPARING FREEZER MEALS AND MAKE PAV BHAJI-----
Prepare your own individual school snacks.
There was a brief time in my kid's life where I completely got rid of snacks. I was over this routine of spending hours in the kitchen making dinner and then being greeted with kids who weren't hungry.Over. It.Then I went "overboard mom" and got rid of all the snacks in the house. I decided it was better for the kids not to have them and eat all of their meals. The problem was we started sports and school. Snacks became a necessity once again.The problem with kid's snacks are they're freaking expensive! They make us believe pre-portioned snacks are worth the extra cost. Nope. We started buying snacks in bulk and them splitting them up into little snack bags ourselves. Way cheaper!
Shop online when you can.
I'm not sure if your kids are like mine, but the second they walk into a grocery store the "I want's" and the "Can't I have's" start up! They don't stop until they decide to give up the demands for the whining.All of this went away when I discovered online grocery! More and more grocery stores are offering the ability to order your groceries online and either pick up in front of the store or have them deliver it to you.Watch out for the hidden prices and fees. Some places offer it for free and others charge a pretty hefty price. Walmart grocery online pick up is free, but they charge for delivery. Costco offers a free delivery service through Insta-cart which is heavenly!Look around and see what your local grocery stores offer.
Get organized.
As you buy in bulk, you can start to lose track of what you have. Do your best to keep your freezer, fridge, and pantry organized. You can develop a system so you know where to look as well as clean it out often.I like to keep a freezer list. If you have a deep freezer like we do, it's hard to know what's at the very bottom. Keep an up to date list to help you figure out the best meal plan.
DON'T SHOP HUNGRY.
Last, but not least... This is the most important rule of all. Do not ever go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You'll end up coming home with french bread, cinnamon toast crunch, donuts, and ice cream.While it might be nice the night you get home, shopping hungry always ends badly. Eat a big meal, make your meal plan, and then go shopping. This way you stick to your budget and your bank will thank you!
How do you keep up with your big family and keep costs down?
How To Keep Up With Your Family's Laundry
Laundry...
Laundry has been my least favorite chore around the house since I was in high school. I would do anything to get out of doing it, but somehow my mom always made it MY chore.Now, I have three kids, one husband, and two dogs... this means I have A LOT of laundry to do each week. I always had great intentions to get it done right as I took it out of the dryer, but life would happen and it would end up tossed onto a couch or into my black hole of a closet.My whole family knew about the black hole in the closet. If they needed more clean clothes, they would begrudgingly walk to the closet. They knew they had a HUGE pile of clothes to look through and tried to do it quickly.I'd love to say it only lasted for a week, but... it was much longer than that. It was the one chore I just couldn't keep up with!Some weeks were better than others, but overall it was just overwhelming.Then this summer happened. I decided enough was enough and I wanted to get a handle on laundry. If I can become an EX LAUNDRY PROCRASTINATOR then you can too!
If you're trying to keep up with laundry for your whole family, follow these simple steps.
Purge!
Get rid of it all! Okay, maybe not all the clothes, but get skim down for everyone. Do your kids really need 20 shirts? Nope. Go through and get rid of clothes with stains, clothes they don't wear, and then throw a few more in the bag.
Put clothes in storage.
Separate all your clothes into seasons. Only keep out the clothes your kids are actually wearing all the time. Then you can put the rest in a plastic tub and store it for later.
Create a laundry system.
Find a system to make it all easier. I ordered a laundry hamper that separates all my laundry. I separate whites, my and my husband's darks, towels, my kid's darks, and bedding. This helps me to keep up with it all and actually wash everything.
Teach the kids to fold their own laundry.
As clothes come out of the dryer I like to separate them for my kids. I put each kid's pile on their bed. Then they get to take care of it. Depending on their age they can fold, hang up, or simply put in their drawer. It gives them a sense of independence and also helps momma out!
Do laundry the same day every week.
Create a schedule for yourself. Whether it be towels on Monday, kid's clothes on Wednesday... Find a routine that works out well for you and be consistent. Put it on your fridge or in your phone. Just do it.
Don't wait.
We've all forgotten about the clothes in the washer and ended up running it again... or maybe for a third time.. Stop the cycle!*Ha. Did you catch the pun? Mom joke? It's okay still proud!*The second the washer is done, put it in the dryer, then fold it right away!
Episode 6: Celebrating International Adoption With Tiffany
Meet Tiffany!
Today we're chatting with Tiffany Bluhm! She is a wife, momma, Bible teacher, writer extraordinaire. I have been reading her blog and listening to her on podcasts for years now!After we recorded today's episode, we even realized our lives have collided in real life! A few years ago, my husband was at the She Speak's conference working, and Tiffany just so happened to attend. She was able to see my husband teaching at the conference and she had no idea that he was my husband until I mentioned where he worked. Not to mention, she currently lives in Seattle which is only a few hours away from where I grew up in the Pacific North West.A bit of background on Tiffany and her family... Tiffany is an East Indian women who is married to her wonderful husband. Together they are raising a beautiful multiethnic family with their two little boys. I love seeing how transparent they are as a family and it has been a huge encouragement to my family.
Today, Tiffany is sharing her family's story in adopting their little boy Jericho.
As an adopted woman herself, she had a heart for adoption. However, her and her husband had no idea how quickly they'd throw themselves into the process until it began. She knew she had to be 25 years old to adopt internationally... So what did they do? She and her husband filled out all the paperwork and sent it off on her 25th birthday!They pursued adoption in Uganda, and the process ended up taking them two years! Two years of waiting to bring their little boy home. They had originally set out to adopt two little ones, but complications prevented them from adopting one of the children.Tiffany and her husband spent four months in Uganda getting to know Jericho before they were able to bring him home. Jericho hit it off right away with his new family; however, the concept of daddy was foreign. Jericho ended up calling him uncle for a while at first because that's what he knew.One thing you need to know about Tiffany and her husband is they didn't walk into the adoption process blindly. Her background is in social justice, and she understood that adoption wasn't all rainbows and butterflies.
"Adoption is born our of loss, and there's no getting around that."
As a family, Tiffany and her husband walked alongside Jericho. They started the family mantra early on, "Family for the long haul." They wanted Jericho to know they were with him for the good and hard times.Shortly after arriving home, they put Jericho in trauma counseling. Tiffany knew how vital counseling would be for her son because he had strong memories growing up in Uganda and now creating a new home in the US.
This year the Bluhm's celebrated their 5th adoption anniversary with Jericho!
Over the last five years, they have learned what it means to be a strong family. This means talking... a lot! They talk about it all from Jericho noticing the last of diversity in books he reads to the diversity in his own family. They've walked through some difficult seasons a family, but they do it together.Tiffany says adoption has been the best decision of her entire life after marrying her husband. She knew it wouldn't always be easy, but also knew it would change her family for the better. She has grown as a person and has seen the blessing adoption has had on her life and family.Raising a multiethnic family means you will face unique challenges. Jericho is learning how to stand up against stereotypes and what he can do as a leader. He has a big heart to lead and that means he has a HUGE opportunity to make a change around him.
Challenge:
Tiffany's challenge for all of you is to research people who have been adopted and learn about them as a family. Did you know Superman was adopted!?
Head over and follow Tiffany today!
Switching From Nap Time To Quiet Time
Nap time used to be a special time in our home. It used to be my moment of sanity where I could take my first deep breath all day. Then my kids started to get older. Nap time started to change for each of them.My oldest went from a two hour nap to sitting in bed the whole time, begging to come out.My husband and I had to figure out what to do. I hoped Liam would just fall asleep, but no. Instead, his constant asking to get up would keep his brothers up. Then it hit us. Nap time had to change. The days of all three kids sleeping at the same time were over.We sat the boys down one night and told them nap times were changing and explained what they would look like.The younger two kept their nap times the same. They laid down while listening to an audible book and then could get up when it was over.
Momma Secret...
They never stayed awake until the book was done. They usually fell asleep about ten minutes in and I turned off their book when I could hear their snoring begin.The big change was for Liam. Instead of taking a nap he transitioned to quiet time.Liam lays down the same time his brothers do. Then he sets an hour timer. During quiet time he reads for 30 minutes and then he can play a video game on his iPad or keep reading until the timer goes off.Quiet time hasn't been as hard of a transition as I thought. Granted his brothers weren't thrilled about the idea, but they adjusted. Liam may be too old for a nap, but he still needs time during the day to calm down. It also gives momma sometime to herself.Are you about to transition to quiet time in your own home?
Here are a few ideas that you can start to implement with your own quiet time.
Separate your kids so your "quiet timer" can have a space to themselves. This can be on the couch, in a guest room, or even at the kitchen table. Then you can choose what their options are during quiet time.
Reading Time.
Give your kiddo a few picture books to read in bed or get them started on a new chapter book.
Coloring Books.
Have a stash of coloring books in their quiet space so they can pick one and quietly color.
Listen to a book.
Our kids love listening to books. You can get them started on a fun Podcast or let them listen to an Audible book.
Arts and Crafts.
Do you have a crafter on your hand? Get out the craft supplies and let them put their creative juices to work.
Pretend Play.
Let your kiddo play with their favorite action figures or quiet toys.What does quiet time look like in your home?
Momma's Quick Tip: How To Make Your Mornings Easier With Kids
I'm not sure about you guys, but mornings in our home can get a little Dr. Seuess... I mean kids sliding down banisters, dogs eating kid's forgotten breakfasts, half-naked kids, and exhausted parents. It gets crazy. You'd think summers would have made it a bit easier and my kids would be sleeping in.... but no. They are still waking up at the crack of dawn.This is exactly why I've tried to find a solution this summer. I have no desire for the craziness to continue into our new school year when we have even less time in the mornings. Nope.I need it better now.I did it. I found out a little trick that has been helping our mornings go much smoother! I taught my kids an independent routine in the mornings. It sounds simple enough, right?Here's what it looks like.
As soon as my kids roll out of the bed in the morning, they go to their chore charts. Here is where we got ours --> Chore Chart. Then my oldest helps everyone read the first step.
Make Beds.
The first thing they need to do is make their beds. It's one less thing to do later and it teaches them a great habit. Sometimes the little one needs help and they know everyone's beds need to be made. Instead of letting him fend for himself, they help each other.
Eat Breakfast.
I learned an amazing recipe from the Free Cheap Or Fun blogger herself. She taught her kids to make scrambled eggs in the microwave and it's a hit in our house! My oldest gets all the coffee mugs ready and makes his brothers eggs in the morning.He sprays the mug, cracks two eggs, whisks until his heart is content, and then pops it in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Done.They love eggs so this fills their little tummies until I get up and make them pancakes or oatmeal.
Brush Teeth.
After breakfast, they all saunter upstairs to brush their teeth. Yes, I have to put that on their charts otherwise all their teeth would fall out of their little heads. They always try and skip brushing their teeth. This way they have to get it done to be done with chores for the day.
Clean Room.
It doesn't matter how often they clean their room, it's always a mess. I love having them start off their day with a clean room. I feel like it starts our day off smoothly and with the least amount of stress.By cleaning it often, it makes cleaning it up throughout the day much easier! Instead of an entire day's worth of mess, it's just a few hours.
Extra Chores.
This is the time for each kiddo to do their special chore. Some of these chores change each week to keep it exciting. Yes, my kids are still at the point that they're excited about chores and I plan to live it up as long as humanly possible.If you're trying to figure out what chores to give your kids, you can head over here for age-appropriate chore lists ---> Chore List.Once all the chores are done for the morning, my boys can watch a show. It's a great motivator because what child doesn't want to watch morning cartoons. Instead of watching it all morning, I make my kids earn it.By the time the whole house is awake and getting started for the day, we have a calm and peaceful home. I need all the peace and calm I can find with three boys. I've found by starting this routine, we've all started our day happier and there's been less fighting.The kids work together to finish up so they can watch their morning show. Obviously, some days are better than others. I simply remind them they all need to finish their chores to be done. It pushes them to encourage each other and offer to help when the little one needs a bit of a push.
Episode 4: Embrace The Chaos
Join us for our first episode in our new series... Coffee and Chai!
Along with our interviews, Joel and I thought it would be fun to start a series where we just chat! We're going to answer your questions, show you a little glimpse into our lives, and maybe even let you know how crazy we are!Get yourself a cup of coffee or chai and join us this week as we talk about what it looks like to raise three boys under seven years old.
Products and links we mentioned:
Paul Tripp Parenting Bookhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JdcLE2NGCo
Challenge:
Embrace the chaos in your life!
What To Expect When Coming To Our Boy Filled Home
If you come over to our house be ready for.....
A full on Nerf gun battle.
You better be able to hold your own because they can smell weakness. You also have to have eyes in the back of your head so you can see when they switch out the nice nerf bullets for sharp and hard items. True story.
The kids to take it to far.
If you give in and play with our kids be ready for them to take it to far or never want to stop. You’re working them up so you better expect it! Be the boss and find your voice when you’re done.
Non stop snacking.
Little boys are never full. They snack all day long and it only gets worse as they get bigger. Even if you come to our house for dinner, you're going to see our kids eat fist, second, and third dinner. All little boys have an inner hobbit that they have to feed.
Huge imaginations.
There isn't anything like a little boy's imagination. It's never ending and it can take you to places you never imagined. You will get to see our kids turning their forks into planes, their bedrooms into lava filled caves, and the couch into a boat that's taking them to safety. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
A lot of noise.
It’s never quiet in our home. Our kids have one voice inside and outside. We remind them about five dozen times a day but even their whispers are freaking loud. If it does get quiet you better run because they’re getting into something!
Bathroom mysteries.
Okay, it's not really a mystery. Boys simply don't flush. It doesn't matter that I've asked them hundreds of times. It doesn't matter that it's disgusting. They're simply in such a hurry that they "don't have time" to flush the toilet when they're finished using it.
Best friends.
Our kids don’t just like having people over. They love it. If you play your cards right you’ll become auntie and uncle status before you know it and they’ll become your little buddy. They’ll have your back forever and never forget all the times you played with them.
To sum it up, you will never get bored when you come to our house...
60+ Things To Do This Summer With The Whole Family
The summer is officially here! Alarm clocks are getting hidden away, bedtimes are extended, and parents everywhere are feeling a little frantic. It's because now, we as parents are responsible to fill our children's schedules with all of the fun adventures they've been looking forward to. We can't look to teachers for the next few months...It's all on us.Our kids are going to wake up every morning and the first thing they're going to ask is, "What are we doing today?"Don't worry, I'm here to help. I have put together a list of fun activities to keep your family busy this summer! My friends and I put this list together because we were tired of racking our brains every day last summer, trying to think about what we could possibly do that wouldn't mean spending all of our money each day.Summers can get expensive! If you're not careful, you can end up spending a few times your house payment on a few months of adventures for the family! Instead, why not save up for one big trip or activity and then fill your summer with cheap, family-friendly summer activities?
Summer Activities For Parents!
Whip up your own Mango Black Tea Lemonade at home.Try a new cuisine on the grill.Choose a DIY project to work on for your home.Create an epic slip n slide in your backyard.Take family pictures. Invite your friends over for a BBQ.Host a wine tasting.Go camping.Plan fun date nights for you and your spouse.Read a book.Get a makeover and try a new hairstyle.Go to the movies.Get a tattoo. (It's okay to live a little.)Host a game night with your friends.Do a scavenger hunt around your town with a group of friends.Try a new hobby.
Family Friendly Summer Activities!
Fidgit spinner challenges.Glow stick tag.Build wooden race car tracks.Campout inside.Find out what melts in the sun. Play Shoot and Splash with Nerf Guns!Get your race cars muddy and then have a car wash. Build a bird feeder. Have your kids paint with ice cubes.Make a backyard obstacle course.Play a fun game of balloon pinatas!Make your own rock tic tac toe game.Make your own chalk.Do a DIY sprinkler relay!Have your kids try their hands at chalk art. Play glow in the dark bowling!Read a book as a family then watch the movie!Help your kids build a marble run!Freeze your own dinosaur eggs. Try making a stick raft.Make up your own minute to win it games. Put a water blob in the backyard!Build a tin-foil river.Play water balloon tennis.Write your own book.Make rainbow popsicles.Whip up a batch of banana pops. Have a paint war!Throw a late night, glow in the dark movie night outside.Play a color scavenger hunt.Try water balloon baseball.Make homemade play-dough.Create your own fairy garden.Make bird feeders!Freeze your treasure!Paint with DIY foam chalk paint!Sit inside an air fort.Do science experiments!Adopt a pet rock.
Parent Hacks For The Summer!
Have summer essentials packs in the car.Make a summer reading log.Put together boredom buster jar.Put up a family schedule on the fridge.Have the kids use popsicle drip cups.
Don't forget to head over to my Instagram so you can keep up on our summer adventures!
Episode 2: Becky's Global Journey
The Almost Indian Family | Episode 2: Becky's Global Journey
Today, we're chatting with Becky from Kid World Citizen. She is a Spanish teacher turned world traveler with her multiethnic family. She and her family travel the world, learning about new cultures. She also helps teachers and parents who want to teach their own families about the world around them.Becky's love for the world comes across the entire episode as she shares how her family has been able to blend four cultures into one unique family. She jokes that her family has been called the United Nations family and I can definitely see why! She's answering your questions on adoption and world travel, sharing a glimpse into their big move to Mexico, and all the funny stories in between.Challenge: Make a family calendar with all of the cultural traditions that your family wants to do throughout the year. Don't forget to tag #TheAlmostIndianFamily as you take on the challenge! Becky and I can't wait to see what traditions your family chooses!
Follow Becky along on her journey by heading over to her blog and social media channels.
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