From the category archives:

Tips

Grocery Store Games

My girls are actually at an age where they can be really helpful at the grocery store, but I have not forgotten the days of needing ample entertainment to make it through the store! When I Spy is getting old, maybe one of these games will be a welcome addition on your next shopping trip.
Grocery [...]

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The Marble Jar

Did you make any family resolutions for 2010? The marble jar is a great way to visually track progress toward a family goal!
{Originally published May 2008}

We are very lucky to have pretty easy-going, cooperative kids. However, there are always little things we are working on, like potty training, sharing toys, cleaning up, or getting [...]

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Kid-Made Centerpieces

Meet our new centerpiece basket:

The girls enjoy creating little table centerpieces for dinner each night. They are so proud of their lovely creations! After a few days of trying to meet their requests for vases, fabric, bowls, etc. during dinner prep, I decided to put a bunch of goodies in basket. I went around the [...]

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Thankful

Today, I am thankful for these two precious girls – for reminding me that we should play as hard as we work.
Have a playful weekend – see you back here on Monday!

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Gift Ideas for Kids

I am always looking for simple birthday gift ideas for the girls’ friends. I love our gifts to have a handmade touch, and I like the gift to be useful and open-ended. We often do theme gifts, and the girls love gathering a few special things to tuck inside a bag or bucket for their [...]

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Our Top 10 Play Things

Here’s the things that are keeping the girls busy lately:

Art supplies, especially stickers
Playsilks & pieces of fabric
Small animals
Chapter books; How-to-draw books
Dress-up clothes
Music (often combined with playsilks and/or dress-up clothes)
Letter writing and delivering
Puzzles
Board games
Each other

What are your kiddos really into right now?

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Making Clean-Up Time More Fun!

Hello there! I can tell it's the New Year, 'cause I've got cleaning and organizing on my mind. Every night, before bath and bedtime stuff, the girls clean up their playroom and bedroom (with some Mommy and Daddy help usually…). Since it is part of our routine, there is usually no fuss about it. Sometimes, [...]

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Idea Cards and The Junk Box

Hello there! We are fully relishing our winter break around here – there have been a lot of pajama days! While the girls are enjoying all their new goodies, I have been busy sorting, rearranging, and tidying toys, clothes, art supplies, etc. It always feels so good to freshen things up.
I tend [...]

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Collections

My girls love to collect and gather. There is always a pile of sticks and rocks at my front door. There’s usually a bucket of little animals traveling from the house to the car and back again. They each began focusing on collecting a certain item – buttons for Natalie, rocks for Delaney. Collections need [...]

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Activities for Traveling

Planning a holiday road trip this year? Heading out on a plane with your little ones? I received an e-mail (Hi Hannah!) asking what kinds of activities we bring to keep the kiddos busy while traveling. Here’s some of our favorites:

pipe cleaners and beads
new music and/or audio books (from iTunes or the library)
clipboards
plain paper
coloring book [...]

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