Life is full of surprises, some of them are amazing and some of them are challenging. Becoming a Grandma is firmly in my amazing category but there are definitely a few things I’ve learned in the last few months that highlight the differences between being a parent and being a grandparent. I fully expect this journey to be a roller coaster of epic proportions! Here are just a few things I’ve learned so far! 5 Things I’ve Learned Since becoming a Grandma Baby’s are a LOT of Work You would think since I still have young kids of my own that I would have rememberedRead More →

Kids books and reading

My oldest daughter loves reading! Her taste in books tends to vary but they all seem to involve animals to some degree. The desire to read might have been born from a desire to play video games but it’s quickly shifted into a love of the stories themselves. The current favorite kids books are Warrior Cats and Wings of Fire but I’m pretty positive that this series will quickly climb the list to join them. When I was offered the chance to review Tigeropolis I asked if the author would be willing to answer some questions from my daughter as well. I thought this wouldRead More →

preparing for summer break fun

When you’re a kid summer is a time of fun and relaxation. No school and no worries! It kind of goes in the opposite direction once you become a parent! Of course, it’s fun to have our children home with us more often but it can also bring its own challenges. Especially for parents who work and families who follow a strict budget. Preparing for summer break ahead of time can mean the difference between a fun-filled summer or a couple of months of stress. Not quite sure how you’re going to manage this summer? Then these tips are for you! Preparing for Summer Break,Read More →

whole family active homework breaks

Not every child enjoys school, and that’s okay. I remember having years I loved my classes, teachers and schoolwork and years that I’d rather forget about! As a parent, it’s important to let your children spread their wings and learn to be responsible. But! You can also help your child excel at school. We all want to ensure that our children do their very best so they live up to their potential. Studies suggest those children whose parents engage with their education generally do better than those who don’t! This year’s school year might be ending but it’s never to early to start setting upRead More →

How Mother’s Day is celebrated seems to vary widely between families! For most it’s not a major holiday, we don’t spend months planning for it or decorate our houses top to bottom as we do for Halloween or Christmas. But that doesn’t mean it has to go by unnoticed either! While families with older children might opt for a nice dinner out and some people are content with flowers and a card I have found my favorite Mother’s Day activities usually involve just spending some quality time with my kids. They are, after all, the entire reason I get to celebrate Mother’s Day as somethingRead More →

Traveling with Kids,

With spring here and summer fast approaching car trips are looming on the horizon for a lot of families. While our family doesn’t take many long vacations we do head off on a lot of day trips! The beach, the zoo, hiking, visiting family and friends who live farther away. You name it and we tend to try and pack it into a summer road trip. It didn’t take us long as a young family to learn that traveling with kids can be a challenge! Kids get bored, have accidents and seem to be bottomless pits when it comes to food. All of these thingsRead More →

Tigeropolis a great wildlife conservation book for kids

I have always been an avid reader. For as long as I can remember my favorite way to relax has been reading a good book. There is something soothing about leaving the real world behind and immersing yourself in a well written story. Of course I wanted to share this love with my children as they grew! Although getting them interested in reading was a challenge in the beginning I am happy to say that my oldest is now an huge bookworm and my youngest? Well, she’s getting there! Getting my kids to enjoy reading is due in large part to books like Tigeropolis: CaughtRead More →

Christmas Decorations set up following our Family Christmas Traditions

Family Christmas traditions are so interesting. I didn’t really think about it until I was married and had children of my own. Growing up my family celebrated Christmas, in the same way, every year, there were small traditions and larger ones but that’s just the way it was done! When I got married, however, it soon became apparent that my husband had grown up with different traditions and thoughts about the holidays. We had to learn how to blend our family traditions and once we had kids we found ourselves creating our own little way of doing things. When our children grow older and start theirRead More →

Getting into the Christmas Spirit with Netflix

I love Christmas! I love the decorations, the crafts and the act of giving gifts. Most importantly, however, I love seeing my kids as they get more and more excited about the approaching holiday. Every family has their own traditions and yearly adventures when it comes to Christmas. For my family, a large part of the season revolves around watching Christmas movies. We love getting into the Christmas Spirit by watching the various tales, both new and old. It’s a great excuse for cozy blankets, hot chocolate and family bonding time. Since our family unplugged from cable a few years ago we have been dependantRead More →

your summer of almost free family fun, beach picture

Summer is the perfect time to get outside, soak up the rays, live life to the fullest and stay out later than normal (say, 9:15 instead of 9:00 – crazy right?). The issue is, while summer is meant to be a time of fun-filled family adventure, it’s also a constant reminder that you could be having way more fun if you had a bank balance that allowed it. We all stare wistfully at the vacation pictures our friends post on the various social media outlets. But, Don’t worry, this can be your summer of almost free fun! If you’re like our family, you’re already wonderingRead More →