A Family Advent Children’s Book Series Review ~ Jotham’s Journey

by Ginny November 27, 2012 | 11 Comments

Last year in my 12 Days of Christmas Planning series, I highlighted one of my favorite children’s book series in my Celebrating Advent post. I thought it was worth revisiting this year and sharing a short review for those of you who are unfamiliar with the series. These books are highly worth the purchase! I only recommend products and purchases to my readers that I believe in wholeheartely, and these are at the top of my “all-time-favorite-children’s-books” list. A few years ago, my friend’s family came over for dinner at the end of November. She gave me an early Christmas [...]

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Our Mother’s Day

by Ginny May 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

The other day I posted about what I really want for Mother’s Day. I thought about all the cute gifts kids usually make for their moms and I got a bit sentimental thinking about the real “gifts” of our special day. So, instead of offering you more ideas for Mother’s Day gift giving, I thought I would share how I am spending the day with my family. We live far away from our extended family and don’t often get to celebrate holidays together. So my hubby and I have had to create new traditions, change old ones and plan ways [...]

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What I Want for Mother’s Day

by Ginny May 4, 2012 | 4 Comments

With Mother’s Day approaching, I have been evaluating the post idea I had originally planned to publish. I was planning a post on sharing Mother’s Day gift ideas. However, I started thinking more about Mother’s Day and realized while it’s definitely nice to receive gifts and be shown appreciation, I pondered what I really wanted for Mother’s Day. So, I decided to change the focus a bit. I kept coming up with ideas that were geared toward presents children could make for or give to their mother. Sounds normal, right? Well, this year, I want something different. I’m still going [...]

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Get Better Bin

by Ginny January 23, 2012 | 25 Comments

A few years ago, my husband took a new job as a pastor 600 miles from our home. We packed up our family and moved to a new city, far away from our families and all of our friends. I was almost 7 months pregnant with our fourth child. We moved into our house, started homeschooling, and began preparing for our new arrival in the midst of unpacking, painting, and getting new carpeting. It was a whirlwind! Our daughter was born in November, entering us into one of the coldest and snowiest winters anyone could remember for a long time. [...]

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Mini Ice Pack for Little “Boo-Boos”

by Ginny January 20, 2012 | 5 Comments

Want a quick and easy way to appease your toddlers and little ones when they get a bump? Years ago I came across this idea {I have no idea now where I learned about it}, but it has come in so handy with my kiddos. Simply freeze a condiment packet and you have an instant mini ice pack! I keep a few in the freezer, just in case we need one. They are flexible, not too cold, and begin to defrost quickly. Normally, by the time it thaws, the kids are off and playing again, mended and happy. Just toss [...]

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If You Give a Mom a Muffin

by Ginny January 10, 2012 | 2 Comments

My friend sent this to me this morning and I had to share it with you. I love it. I really love it. Has this happened to you, too? IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN If you give a mom a muffin, she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She’ll pour herself some. Her three year-old will come and spill the coffee. Mom will wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She’ll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry into the washer, she’ll trip over shoes and bump [...]

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Tooth Fairy Printables

by Ginny January 3, 2012 | 16 Comments

When I was a kid we had the cutest little Tooth Fairy pillow. My brothers and I loved using that pillow! Whenever we lost a tooth, we would carefully tuck our little baby tooth in the pocket and hide it under our pillow in hopes that the Tooth Fairy would come and leave us some money in exchange for the tooth. (Have you noticed how inflation has hit the Tooth Fairy industry, too?) When my husband and I had kids, we had fun reminiscing and discussing things from our childhoods. He told me how they had a Tooth Fairy envelope. [...]

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Limiting TV Time with Tokens

by Ginny October 24, 2011 | 10 Comments

Do your children love to watch endless hours of TV or have trouble turning off the video game? Does it drive you crazy having to say “no” for the thousandth time each day? Here is an idea for limiting your children’s television/computer/gaming time that has worked very well for my family. I have used this method for 8 years now and it still works great! I made some “tokens” that we use to monitor how much time they spend playing with electronics. Children love having the opportunity to make their own choices. I wasn’t sure how well it would work [...]

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Grape Juice is Good, Just Not on the Ceiling!

by Ginny September 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

You know how every once in a while (hopefully!) you have one of those days where it seems like everything goes wrong, where you just shouldn’t have gotten out of bed? Well, recently I had one of those days!! My husband loves grapes. He has brought up the idea of having a grape vine in our backyard for years. I like grapes, so I thought it would be okay until the other day. My sweet hubby took the kids (and gave me an afternoon to myself!) to go to a friend’s house to pick grapes from their beautiful vine that [...]

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Are We There Yet? Adding Fun to the Journey

by Ginny August 11, 2011 | 3 Comments

We live far from our families – eleven hours to be specific. Each year, we try to make at least one trip “home”. We pack everything in the family van and begin the journey. What should take eleven hours, easily could take us fifteen or sixteen hours with all the potty breaks and food stops. Ugh. A friend gave me an idea that I adapted a little. I was surprised how well it worked and how much my children have looked forward to it when we have a long drive planned. Create a paper chain like those that children use [...]

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