Category: Family Life
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Super Quick Mom Tip: Getting the table cleared quickly after mealtime
One night after dinner my husband came up with a brilliant way to get the dinner table cleared of dishes and the like. Click over to see why my kids LOVE to clear the table… and have some fun of your own! Do you have a Super Quick Mom Tip for me to share? If…
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Super Quick Mom Tip: Getting kids to get things DONE quickly
I think Kristin might have a great idea here for encouraging/ challenging her kids to get stuff done RIGHT AWAY without nagging. And I just might try it on myself, too. Swing over to The Solomon Story and check it out. Then tell me… has this idea worked for you? Do you have a Super…
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Super Quick Mom Tip: Baby Boy Tip
Amy’s tip totally makes me giggle… and it is essential if you are a mom to a baby boy. It’ll be a laundry and sanity-saver. I promise. So go click on over to Amy’s Finer Things and see how pointing it down will help. You’ll thank us both. Do you have a Super Quick Mom…
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Teaching and practicing alphabetical order
My friend Joy homeschools her three children and she has some fantastic teaching tricks up her sleeve that I plan to use when the time is right with my own (not homeschooled) children. She has a way of making learning lots of fun. Earlier this week she shared How to Teach Alphabetical (ABC) Order without…
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Super Quick Mom Tip: Taming Glitter
Now that it is nearly Valentine season, my daughter is in full crafting mode. She is cutting hearts, writing messages (as best a sweet 4-year-old can) and, of course, delighting in all of the glitter she can use. And I am making excellent use of an old cookie sheet/ jelly roll pan: (This is an…
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How do you celebrate good grades?
Yesterday was report card day over here and I want my boys to know how proud we are of their efforts in school. Tonight, of course, we will be celebrating with them. Nothing huge, but something to let them know that their efforts have been rewarded. As I’ve been trying to decide what to do,…
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Rotating Children’s Chores
My friend Connie, who blogs over at Smockity Frocks, is not only a riot, but she has like a bajillion fantastic ideas when it comes to family and kid stuff. Plus, you might remember her from my OOPS! Flourless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie almost-debacle Anyhow… This week she shared a fantastic and revolutionary idea for…
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Free Picky Eater Ebook
Do you have some picky eaters in your house? My sister-in-law, a military wife and homeschooling mom of seven who also blogs at The Happy Housewife, (and is a Bible in 90 Days graduate) has come across a few picky eaters in her kitchen and has found some great solutions that she wants to share…
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Why host a foreign exchange student?
Sure there are lots of really good, respectable reasons to host a foreign exchange student. Today, though, I have a few others… An extra child in the family means an extra birthday party and birthday cake. (Ya gotta celebrate her birthday, too!) It will definitely motivate you to clear out that extra bedroom that has…
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Preparing for a cross-cultural experience
As you read this, it is quite possible I am at the airport with my family, armed with chocolate chip cookies, greeting and welcoming the newest member of our family. You might have already read a bit about us hosting another foreign exchange student this year and we are all quite excited to meet her.…
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Using a shared journal to open teen communication
I have not been a parent of a teen for long and, unlike most parents, I didn’t get to make way into it day by day. It happened in just one day. And it is about to happen again. You see, my husband and I were foreign exchange parents last year and are about to…
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What says “America!” to you?
You might have read that our family is about to host a foreign exchange student from Germany. On Friday I asked readers to share their advice for rearing teens. (And I’m still up for more advice if you’d like to click over and share.) Now, I’m gathering your opinions on what is American. I know…
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Our family is growing again. Internationally. And I could use your teen advice!
The last time I used a headline like that (leaving out the international part) I heard there were a lot of whispers and confusion. So let’s just get this right out there: No, I am not pregnant. And no, we are not adopting. Well not exactly… Our family is preparing to welcome a German teenager…
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What to send to summer camp?
Later this summer my oldest son will be going away to sleepaway camp for his first time. I am so very excited for him, as I LOVED summer camp growing up and really couldn’t get enough of it! (Yes, my home life was fine, too. I just really enjoyed summer camp… girls camp, church camp,…
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Games for teen parties?
This is where I seek your advice… This weekend we are hosting a farewell party for our Danish daughter/ foreign exchange student. So here’s my question for you… Should we plan organized games? Which ones? Or should we just set up a volleyball net, set out the Bocce balls and leave it up to them…