The first time we ordered caterpillars with the intent of studying their metamorphosis, I was almost at the end of my second pregnancy (we used a kit like THIS). I ordered them within a day or two of moving into our new home, and they arrived about a week later. It seemed a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of life in our new house.… Continue reading
life
Preparing for another Road Trip
In just over a week, we are heading out on our second road trip of the summer. While our first summer road trip (see HERE) took us to points west, this time we will drive east: driving from Colorado to Michigan. We’re all excited to visit our Michigan family, and spending two weeks on the shore of Lake Michigan will be a lovely bonus.… Continue reading
Life: When Chaos Descends
Every once in a while, I feel like chaos simply descends upon our house. We’re all going through life, fairly normal and happy and in a routine of sorts, and then, one day, seemingly from out of nowhere: chaos. This week it was ushered in by the conjunction of two things. First, my 2 year old is both teething and has a nasty cold.… Continue reading
Get Moving: Go Fly a Kite
We’ve been trying for weeks to go kite flying. We’ve had our kite ready to go. We’ve had several afternoon playdates scheduled with friends at an open park that would be great for kite flying. We’ve even practiced running the kite around our yard (though not too much – we have far too many trees to be a good yard for flying a kite).… Continue reading
Preparing for a Family Road Trip
This week we’re heading out to California to visit my family. For us, that means a family road trip over the course of which we’ll drive about 2500 miles.
Many people recommend making lots of stops along the way in order to break up the trip for kids. We actually find that tackling the drive in one long day with lots of bathroom and stretch-our-legs breaks but no touristy stops works well for us.… Continue reading
Simplify Saturday: Learn to Pack Light
I used to pride myself on being a light packer. I could head on a weekend trip carrying only my regular day-pack backpack (a school-style pack I carried everywhere). I could pack for a month-long trip in a single, carry-on sized suitcase. I could have my bag ready for a trip of almost any length within a half-an-hour for a spontaneous trip.… Continue reading
Gender Stereotyping in Boys Clothing
My boys wear used clothing almost exclusively. I haven’t bought them any new outfits; the only new items I’ve bought are underwear, socks, and shoes. Everything else they wear now or have worn is either used or has been a gift. We’ve been fortunate enough to receive a great many clothes as hand-me-downs from family and friends. My boys have also received, especially when they were babies, gifts of new clothes.… Continue reading
Life: The Hazards of Balloon Launching
My boys received a package of rocket balloons as a gift from a dear friend. These balloons launch fast and fly high. My boys love them.
We spent a beautiful afternoon outside learning about aerodynamics, the force of propulsion, using power to push an object forward, creating and controlling thrust, and what happens when air moves from a high pressure to a low pressure environment, all in a fun, hands-on manner.… Continue reading
Teaching Kids to Work by Working Together Around the House
My boys love to help out around the house. I think kids instinctively want to contribute to a family, and to love to engage in tasks where their efforts are valued. In order to encourage these sorts of behaviors, my husband and I try to have the boys work beside us whenever we can.
When I cook, I try to find simple tasks for my boys that are appropriate for their skill and coordination levels.… Continue reading
Water on the Go with a Reusable Water Bottle
With warmer weather approaching, this typically means more time outside. It also means more time sweating, and more times when you’re likely to feel thirsty while you’re out and about. We carry our water bottles with us year round, wherever we go. But this becomes especially important in the summer time.
Why should you carry a reusable water bottle too?
- It reduces waste.