School :: Preschool + Kindergarten List for At Home Learning

This fall, I'm planning to have a more structured approach to teaching Everly (4) and Charlie (3) preschool and some beginning Kindergarten material for Everly. I did quite a bit with Everly last year in the Preschool Workbook, but it was a bit random and just happened when we remembered!  We have already used this a lot this summer and I highly recommend each of these.  I'll also share what kind of variety I realistically do with her in a typical day below.

How to Relax as a Mom and Why You Should

Time for unwinding, thinking and just daydreaming is so important as a mom. Why? Because, when you're a mom, it's "go time" ALL the time. It doesn't matter if the kids are sleeping or the laundry is already in - I guarantee you, there will always be something to get done and it truly never stops. Ever.  

Charlie :: 3 years

Charlie boy, I can hardly believe you are actually 3 years old. You will always be my Charlie boy and I love that your sweet personality hasn't changed one bit. You tell everyone you love them and especially your mommy, daddy and sisters. You are cuddly and give such sweet little kisses on the cheek! 

You are all about superheroes now, so we had a superhero birthday party! Lots of balloons, masks, and capes and of course Spiderman topped your cake. We played in the pool in the backyard with the family and your babysitter came, too. :)

The number of times you've heard Happy Birthday this week is partly due to Audrey learning the words. She loves singing to you and so does Everly. You also do such an amazing job blowing out your candles! While we ate cake and ice cream, we watched a video of your newborn photos and videos. Everly cried during the video multiple times this week, but she made it through just fine at the party. I won't even say how many times I teared up! :)

We were busy having fun, so we had to be sure we got a family picture before the day was over. Lots of giggles and laughs made it the best day.

Finished off with a walk before bedtime to enjoy some more fresh air. We loved every second of the day and are so happy you are our sweet boy! We love you, Charlie!

Amazon :: Friday Favorites

Here are the new things on my wishlist this week! I'm always looking for the best reviewed products and these are some fun ones!

Amazon :: Friday Favorites

Here is my Amazon favorites roundup for the week! This post contains affiliate links but all opinions are my own.

Amazon :: Friday Favorites

Here is my weekly roundup of my new Amazon finds! These all have amazing reviews and would make good Mother's Day gifts, too. 

Amazon :: Friday Favorites

SHOP THEM HERE

It's almost the weekend!!! So - here is a mix of some old and new favorites of mine from Amazon!
All of these have great reviews and lots of them, too! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather (if you're in Minnesota!).

Quarantine :: 5 Things I'm Doing At Home

This time at home as been an opportunity for growth for me. Sometimes I feel like the days fly by having young kids and I'm constantly "hanging on" for the ride. I've heard much wisdom on learning not to be fearful and anxious during this time, but to instead use it as an opportunity to grow. I'm taking that to heart!

My Favorite Homemade Sugar Cookies

When Everly turned one, I wanted to find a soft sugar cookie recipe and ultimately found this one. I ended up making the same ones for Charlie and Audrey's first birthday parties, too! These work really well as little favors to hand out at the end of the party. I had a number one cookie cutter, so that made these fun! A little icing on top and they are sooo good.

DEVOTIONAL // Day 5 // Uncertainty: A Time to Be Certain by Kaiti Myers

DAY FIVE

DEVOTIONAL // Day 4 // Uncertainty: A Time to Be Certain by Kaiti Myers

DAY FOUR

DEVOTIONAL // Day 3 // Uncertainty: A Time to Be Certain by Kaiti Myers

DAY THREE

DEVOTIONAL // Day 2 // Uncertainty: A Time to Be Certain by Kaiti Myers

 DAY TWO

DEVOTIONAL // Day 1 // Uncertainty: A Time to Be Certain by Kaiti Myers

Amazon Children's Book Deal :: Buy 2, Get 3

We looooove to read and being at home a lot more has actually give us a lot of time to go through our favorite books over and over. Here are some of my favorite books on Amazon right now!

Free Printable List for Kids

Here are some wonderful printables for kids that I've found online. Full credit goes to those who created these. I will keep updating. Enjoy!

10 Educational Resources for 2, 3 and 4 Year Olds

I absolutely LOVE education. I love being able to teach my kids something new and the whole process of learning has always fascinated me. Now that I'm a mom, I'm always on the lookout for good educational resources to help my kids understand the world around them. When they go to school, I want them to enjoy the experience of learning and feel confident in their classroom.

Frozen 2 is Here + Shop My Favorites

Frozen 2 is finally on DVD and all the parents who held off taking their kids to the theater can give themselves a pat on the back for waiting so...long...

We have been singing the Frozen 2 soundtrack for weeks (maybe months) at this point, so it will be really fun to actually know what the story line is all about. I have chosen a few of my favorites Frozen II things and you can shop them all here:

SHOP FROZEN II

Devotions: My Experience + Favorites

Before I had kids, I had the time to sit back with my Bible and journal in a comfy chair, taking my time doing devotions. Now, that just isn't my reality. I have struggled on and off with actually doing them, let alone being awake enough to understand what I'm actually reading!

I want to encourage you to take the time (whatever time you have and whenever you have it) right now. Don't wait. The days I have felt the least excited about the doing my devotions are the days I need them the most.

Having a close relationship with God only comes with spending time in His WORD, in prayer and listening to what He has for us. 

In a Bible study recently, I was really convicted about how much I let others around me influence me.  Sometimes it's good, even great. Sometimes it's biblical. But, I needed the reminder that I need to use the Bible as my source for truth, understanding and guidance. It needs to be studied, not just read. How can we guard against anything false if we don't actually know what the truth looks like??? And let me tell you, the world can be awfully convincing. Being swayed happens little by little, oftentimes without us noticing. So, I'm writing these things for me just as much as you. Let's open our Bibles, learn the truth and get fed spiritually!

Below, I've shared my favorite devotionals from the YouVersion app. These are the ones that have really impacted me and helped me grow in my faith.

Sale on Vacuum Cleaners - My Favorite Included!

Last year, we bought our first Dyson vacuum and it has made a huge difference in how often our floors get cleaned. We live in a 2 story home with a carpeted staircase and there were many times I'd have to lug up our huge, old vacuum cleaner or have a handheld die on me in the middle of the job.

My sister has the Dyson and after hearing her rave about how good it was, we decided to get one (or I did, I should say...). It was my husband's Christmas gift last year and he literally vacuums every day. It's amazing! I love finally having clean floors and having something cordless is so easy to move around (and no more kids tripping on the cord, or unplugging it!).

Find yours, HERE!

Fab Fit Fun // The SPRING box is here + $10 off code

It's TIME!!! The Fab Fit Fun Spring Box is full of amazing surprises and I'm telling you, this is a good one!

Over the last few years I've had some really awesome boxes and others I've skipped, but more recently, I've really enjoyed getting to try some new products (and not the tiny trial size ones that you can't even tell if you like in two uses).

Being a super busy mom and not taking the time to scroll through reviews these days (which I do love to do), means having products I actually like sent to me is a time saver. I also love that the items I have duplicates of (which has only happened maybe once or twice), I can add to a gift for one of my sisters or close friends. I have found some of my favorite beauty products that I use regularly from these boxes. 

Before you go clicking away to grab your box (because I'm sure you can't wait), use the code SPRINGLOVE for $10 off your box!

GET YOURS HERE

If you click the link above, I will receive a small commission from your purchase. Thank you so, so much!

Deal of the Day

This is such a good deal and available today only. These are amazing for keeping all of your digital apps in one place and awesome for road trips, waiting rooms, working out, etc. If you are on the fence about buying an iPad or something more expensive, this is a great option to give you a change to try this kind of thing out. This would be great to hand over to the kids for educational apps, too!

Grab yours:

My Cleaning Checklist For a Clean and Tidy Home (With a Free Printable Download!)

The fresh start of a new year has always been the time that I start to dive into more organized cleaning routines again. There are things I have ignored for a while that are finally getting attention and it feels SO good. (Like dusting ceilings!)