Kathryn, Author at kathrynegly.com

3 In Faith/ Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

How to Find Joy in the Mess of Motherhood

As a mother, I’ve experienced the incredible joy and fulfillment of raising children, but also the intense challenges and stress that come with it. I try to keep the house picked up, but sometimes it feels like a hurricane has swept through. Breakfast dishes pile up, spills happen, and my sons love to make forts out of all our pillows and blankets. In those moments, I feel overwhelmed.

Some thoughts that run through my head are:

I’ll never have a clean house.
I’m depressed.
I can’t do this.

I give myself about 60 seconds to think this way, then I purposefully stop myself. When I choose to think different thoughts, my mood immediately changes.

I’ve learned that I have a choice in how I respond to the thoughts. I choose to focus on gratitude and joy instead of stress and negativity.

When I start to feel down, here are two things I’ve found that are helpful.

Scripture:

“I can’t do this” is replaced with: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
“I am depressed” is replaced with “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 ESV).

Gratitude:

Replace “I’ll never have a clean house!” with this thought: I have young children, but I will eventually have a clean house again and may even miss their messes. Messes means life is happening here.
Replace “Look at the messy kitchen!” with this thought: My children aren’t hungry. They have food to eat.
Replace “The living room is a mess!” with this though: My children are creative. They are playing together.

Feeling stressed is a choice. Joy and gratitude are choices too.

I’m choosing joy one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time.

Motherhood is a journey that requires us to let go of our own desires and priorities and focus on our children. It’s a tough but rewarding path, and we can choose to find joy even in the midst of messes and chaos.

If you’re struggling to find joy and gratitude as a mother, I encourage you to ask God for help. You can also start a gratitude journal and write down five things you’re thankful for each day. And don’t forget to involve your children in household chores! Even young children can help pick up toys or set the table, and older children can do more advanced tasks like laundry and cooking.

Remember, joy is a choice, and it’s one we have to make every day. Let’s choose wisely and embrace the challenges and joys of motherhood together.

Thanks for reading! If you found this post helpful, please consider subscribing for more tips and encouragement.

Want more on Motherhood?

Read this:

Finding Peace of Mind: Advice for Anxious Moms

October 25, 2018 By Kathryn

0 In Inspiration/ Marriage

6 simple ways to encourage your spouse

“Encourage one another…build each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Ted and I have celebrated over 20 years of marriage! Wow!

I remember SO clearly how absolutely excited I was to become Mrs. Ted Egly. I would talk endlessly, to anyone who would listen, about this amazing man. While we were dating, I would happily tell Ted how GOOD he looked, how well he spoke, how kind he was, how hard he worked, and what a great writer I thought he was.

Somehow, after getting married, I began to take things for granted instead of showing gratitude. It was easier to mention something that Ted was doing wrong, rather than tell him what he’s doing RIGHT! So, this post is for ME as much as it is for you. I needed a reminder to encourage my husband…and I thought maybe you could use one too.

It takes intentionality to pay attention to the good. However, if we LOOK for good we will FIND it. And the more we notice today, the more we will see tomorrow.

So, whether you’ve been married 20 years or 20 days, here are six simple ways to encourage your spouse!

1. Send a quick text

“I love you … thank you for working so hard for your family!”

2. Make a list

Make a list of the reasons you love your spouse – then share the list with them! I wrote a list here and shared it with Ted and with all of you!

3. Send a love letter or a card

Put in on their dest or mail to their work.

4. Leave a sticky note

Write a word of love or encouragement and put it in his car, on his computer or in his lunch bag.

5. Say THANK YOU!

Did your spouse do something that shouldn’t require a thanks? Thank them anyway! Everyone likes appreciation! I gladly accept a thanks for doing laundry or cooking dinner. So, thank your spouse for mowing, taking out the trash, or fixing something around the house.

6. Speak well of your spouse in front of others!

Highlight something your husband has done well. It means so much for you to praise them in front of others. And by the way, this also makes YOU look good. When you are talking about what an amazing guy your husband is, others see that you made a good choice for marrying such an upstanding guy!

If you are having a hard time being “thankful” for your spouse…speak to them as if they are the person you WANT them to be. Jesus called Peter a “rock” even though he was about to deny even knowing him. Jesus saw in Peter what he would become. We can do for our spouse what Jesus did for Peter, and what Jesus does for us, as well!

One last note – the BEST time to do this is when you are mad at your spouse. If you are in the middle of a disagreement…take a minute to reflect on what you love about the person you married. It takes the ‘sting’ out of the argument and reminds you that YOU ARE ON THE SAME TEAM!

Words of encouragement have power. The power to build, strengthen, heal and inspire!

Encourage your spouse today!

Love, Kathryn

Two phenomenal marriage books I would recommend are:

Both give practical advice for strengthening and improving any marriage.

Thank you for reading and please consider subscribing!

October 22, 2018 By Kathryn

2 In Family/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week

Peek into our Midwest Week

This week in Minnesota is what dreams are made of – lots of sunshine and so much beauty all around!

Last Friday started with my Women’s Conference. The theme was “Be an Original” and the Key Note speakers were Lisa Bevere and Bob Goff. They were both phenomenal! I’ll share some of what I learned in another post. The music was awesome and the time with a bunch of great ladies was absolutely SOUL-FILLING!

Thank you, Ted, for holding down the fort so I could get away for 24 hours.

Ted got 4 boys to 3 different games at different times at 2 different parks!

Sunday was supposed to be our final day of soccer with SIX games… but it snowed for 4 straight hours and soccer was canceled. Yay! The boys played in the snow ALL.DAY.LONG.

I was okay with just staying in, watching the boys play from window, all while enjoying the warmth of my home – but my boys encouraged me to get outside. I’m so glad they did – it was glorious outside. Everything was white and pristine, and the weather was not too cold.

Monday was writing, cleaning and playing with Luke.

Ritter Farm

On Tuesday Luke and I explored a beautiful park called Ritter Farm. He wanted me to hold him during most of our hike, and that’s okay with me… I’m soaking up every minute of him being little and still wanting to be held because I know that he’ll turn 10 in 2.5 seconds. We collected bugs, climbed trees, and enjoyed all the pretty trees along the path.

Piggy back rides for the win!

Wednesday mornings I’ve been attending a women’s bible study called “Sisterhood” at River Valley Church – the same church that put on the women’s conference. I started this Bible study about six weeks ago, without really knowing anyone. I am slowly getting to know some really precious women – and have enjoyed incredible teaching by the women’s ministry team.

Thursday started a four day weekend for the boys for something called MEA. I don’t even know what that stands for except that it’s like a “Fall Break.”

We met some new friends at the cutest apple farm in our town called Applewood Orchard. We rode a hayride, found our way through a Hedge Maze, ate apple cider donuts, drank apple cider, then sampled and picked our own apples. This apple farm grows a variety of apples. The boys scouted out where to pick their favorite flavor during the hay ride. First, we pulled our wagon over to the SnowSweet Apples (George’s choice). Next, Clark insisted we go pick some Sweetango Apples on the OPPOSITE side of the Orchard. He told me he’d tasted them at school and that they are the best. He was absolutely correct. They were the vey best apples I’ve ever eaten in my life. So sweet they taste like candy. Have you tried them before?

We all LOVED this little pumpkin/apple farm and will definitely be back!

Thursday night we went to dinner at a local pizza place with Clark’s soccer team. There was something special about this group of kids and their families. We all enjoyed sitting together during practices and getting to know each other, then cheering on our kids during soccer games. We bonded during this season and am sad that we won’t be hanging out 3 times a week anymore. Our dinner together was a fun way to end the season – but I hope we can continue getting together.

How was your week? Did you get beautiful fall weather like us?

October 19, 2018 By Kathryn

4 In Book Review/ Saving money

What I’ve been Reading – Book Reviews and Recommendations!

(Books listed below have affiliate links. If you choose to purchase one, I will earn a small commission without any extra cost to you.)

You guys….I’m SOOOO excited about discovering the free audio book app called HOOPLA!!!

Have you heard of it?

If you download the Hoopla App and plug in your library card info, you can check out FIVE free audiobooks every month! I have a list a mile long of books that I want to read but don’t get enough time to SIT and READ! NOW I can listen to FIVE audiobooks each month! I’m so happy about this! Some people “binge watch” on Netflix … well, I ‘binge listen” on my Hoopla app. I listen in the car, while I’m doing housework, out on a walk or run, or whenever I can squeeze in a couple of minutes to LISTEN! I LOVE IT!

Here’s what I’ve been reading and listening to:

Girl, wash your face by Rachel Hollis

This book has been on my “To READ” list and when I got the Hoopla App, it was the first book I downloaded. The audiobook is read by the author herself. Rachel Hollis tells about her life in an honest yet uplifting, funny way. It’s her memoir about a small town girl who became a wife, mom to 4 kids, writer, speaker, and media mogul! Really enjoyed this! 4.5 out of 5 stars

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Two people said this book was their favorite, so I decided to check it out and WOW, it was fascinating! It was a true story about a family who lived for a year off of what they could grow or buy locally. I learned so much about the food we eat. I’m so glad I read (by read I mean “listened to”) this and it’s slowly changing the way I buy and eat food. 5 out of 5 stars – I HIGHLY recommend you ‘listen to’ or read this as well!

Mother & Son: The Respect Effect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Did you know that if men had to choose between love and respect, 3 out of 4 would choose respect?!

I grew up in a household of full of women, so feeling ‘loved’ took precedence over feeling ‘respected.’ Now that I’m in a household full of men, I thought it would be a good idea to learn a little more about the ‘respect’ effect!

This book helped me understand the “language” men speak, as well as how they think. The book teaches moms how to speak in a way that boys will listen.

For instance, one simple thing I learned is to, when appropriate, switch out the word “love” for “respect.” Instead of saying, “I love how you…” say “I respect how you…”

Dr. Eggerichs also takes us back to the basics of our role as mothers with the word GUIDE.

G – Give

Give so a child’s basic needs are met.

U – Understand

Understand our children so they are not provoked or exasperated.

I – Instruct

Instruct our children so they can know and apply God’s wisdom.

D – Discipline

Discipline, so your child can correct wrong choices.

E – Encourage

Encourage, so your child can courageously develop God-given gifts.

S- Supplicate/pray

Supplicate and pray so your child can experience God‘s touch.

The book shares tons of real-life scenarios so that we can learn how to apply information presented in this book! I really enjoyed it and would recommend it for boymoms.

Conversations with a Billionaire , by Ted Egly – I wrote my thoughts on this book here. I highly recommend it.

An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones – Expectations were very high for this Oprah’s Book Club selection, but I didn’t love it. It tells the story about a married couple, Roy and Celestial. They have been married for about a year and a half when Roy gets falsely accused of a crime and goes to prison. They write letters and continue to make their marriage work as a lawyer tries to get the charges dropped. Roy ends up getting released after serving 5 years and he is excited to get back home to his wife and attempt to put his life back together. However, things don’t go as planned. This book shows how lives are impacted from injustice in our justice system and how time can change everything. Well written and interesting, but not a favorite. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah – I had to skip over many pages to get through this LONG and sad story…I kept waiting for something good to happen. It follows the life of a girl and parents. The father had been in the Vietnam War and came home with PTSD. You see how that negatively impacts his life and the lives of his wife and daughter. It’s really well written, but I don’t like to read really sad stories, so if you are like me, I wouldn’t recommend it.

What’s God Really Like? Unique insight into His fascinating personality, By SJ Hill

This summer, during a visit to Indiana, my Uncle Steve (SJ Hill) gave me a copy of his newest book. The title was intriguing and I was looking forward to seeing what this book was about. I’m not finished yet, but I’m REALLY enjoying it! Every page makes me smile. It’s a refreshing and uplifting book.

Breathing in, Breathing out: Keeping a writer’s notebook, by Ralph Fletcher

My Aunt Michelle sent me this book for my birthday and I read it over the summer but forgot to talk about it! I LOVED it! It’s based on the idea that if you want to be a good writer, you need to have an opportunity to “Breathe in” your ideas, thoughts, quotes, stories, observations, lists, etc. Then, you can “Breathe out” what you’ve captured into a blog post, article, book, etc.

If you are a writer, I HIGHLY recommend you read this book. My aunt had underlined portions and made notes, so I enjoyed that as well! I find it fun to read books ‘second hand.’

Have you read any of these books or plan to read one! Leave me a comment by clicking on the little box by the TITLE of this post! Thanks for reading what I’ve been reading!

October 16, 2018 By Kathryn

2 In Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our week – Fall is Here!

Fallelujah!!

There’s always a little dread in my heart when Fall arrives. It means I will soon be FUH-REEZING. But this fall I’m living in the moment, LOVING all the GORGEOUS fall colors and enjoying every sip of my pumpkin spice lattes!

Visit to Minneapolis

Our kids got their first trip to the Big City! Ted had to grab something from his office on Saturday, so we all went along. The boys loved exploring the SKYWAYS. Have you heard about the Minneapolis Skyway system? It’s 13 MILES of enclosed walkways. You can live your entire life in Minneapolis and never have to go outside. There are coffee shops, nail salons, restaurants, grocery stores and pharmacies on along the Skyway!

We parked and walked from the Target Center where the Timberwolves play, past a donut shop, to Ted’s office. The boys begged for a donut and we promised them one after lunch. We ate lunch at an amazing place called Roti Modern Mediterranean.

On our way out, we walked past the donut shop again…and it was CLOSED! So, Ted found another place a couple of miles away that was still open – GLAM DOLL DONUTS. The donuts were GLAM! They looked delicious but were quite pricey and did NOT taste as amazing as they looked. But, it was fun to check this cute 50s style diner/donut shop!

Backyard Jackpot

Ted was playing in the backyard with the boys and George accidentally kicked his balls into this “nature preserve” space behind our house. He commented that it smelled SO good back there. Ted went to look at what he was talking about and discovered MINT! Lots and lots of MINT!

Computer CRASH

I purchased my Mac about 7 years ago and it’s been VERY well loved…by me AND our four sons. Last week I went to turn it on and the screen was completely black. I made an appt at Apple and hoped they could just push a button or charge me for a new light bulb. But know, they wanted about $600 to fix it. Sooo, I’m currently using Ted’s computer.

It was NO FUN losing my computer like that. They WILL be able to get all my stuff off the old computer (for $100)…but I need to get a new one first.

Birthday party

Our neighbor, Ellie, Clark and George all have birthdays close together so we did a joint party at Lifetime Gym. The kids all loved the Rock Climbing wall and group games.

Next up:

I’m going to a Women’s Conference this weekend where I’ll get see and hear from Lisa Bevere and BOB GOFF!! I’m so excited! I did try calling Bob but it went to his voicemail and his voice mailbox is fulll….so maybe I can meet him and talk to him in real life!

What have you been up to? Leave me a comment by clicking that tiny “comment box” beside the title!

October 12, 2018 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review

A peek into “Conversations with a Billionaire”

Before I start a new book, sometimes I’ll just skim it or read a few pages to see if it’s worth my time or money! If you are like ME, you are in luck. I’m giving you a little glimpse into my husband’s book, Conversations with a Billionaire.

I read the ‘rough draft’ of each chapter at least once as he was writing the book. I did some editing and gave feedback.

However, reading the published book from front to back was amazing! The book is truly inspiring. I underlined sections, put STARS, wrote notes. I loved it. I’m sure part of the love for this book is because the author is my husband and I am proud of him, but mostly I loved it because it’s just that GOOD. FULL of great stories, inspiration, and truth.

Here’s a little peek into a section of Conversations with a Billionaire, by Ted Egly:

Because…YOU are worth it

… Imagine if I were handing you a one hundred dollar bill. Would you take it? I’m sure you would. But first, let me illustrate an invaluable principle.

I am going to crumple the bill up. Do you still want it? I’m sure you do!

Well, next I take that $100 and drop it on the ground and begin to grind it into the floor with my shoe. Now with it all crumpled and dirty, I hold it out to you. Do you still want it? I’m suspecting that you do!

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth one hundred dollars.

Here’s the beautiful reality. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value, especially in the eyes of the Divine. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless to Him.

Our desire for approval can truly be met only by receiving God’s acceptance and approval of us.

In the ancient text etched by the apostle Paul, these inspiring words were written, “YOU are God’s masterpiece.” Our desire for approval can truly be met only by receiving God’s acceptance and approval of us.

No Spare Parts

I believe your life is a gift. You are on purpose. You have divine significance. You matter in life.

Years ago, when my first son, George, was born, we purchased a closet cabinet from IKEA for his clothes. When we got it home and opened up the box – we spread the various parts all over the floor. There were screws, bolts, nails, plugs, wood, and more! I quickly realized that I was in way over my head. Reading through the directions and reviewing the diagrams, I noticed at the top were the three worst words ever written in the existence of man: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

Those three words strike fear into dads all around the world – even to this day.

As I finished putting the cabinet together, I found that I had several pieces left (three screws, four nails, three washers, and an acrylic piece that said “important” on it). I had a bunch of spare parts left over!

Here’s the deal.

There was a voice in my soul, in that moment, whispering oh so gently, as I stared at the many spare parts. (May you not forget this truth.) The still small voice said,

“YOU are not a spare part. The people you come in contact with every day are not spare parts. You have a purpose. You have a destiny.”

May you never forget that you are on purpose. You have significance. You matter. You are not a spare part.

– Excerpt from Conversations with a Billionaire by Ted Egly –

________________________________________________________________________________

Isn’t that beautiful! I loved it and hope you do too! If there is someone you know who could benefit from this message, would you send this blog post to them? Also, we’d love for you to pick up a copy of his book by clicking here!

The book has received all 5-star reviews on Amazon, and here are some of the comments:

Inspired as soon as I started to read, could not put it down. – Anonymous

This book made a difference in my life. I just absolutely loved it. From the first page, I felt like this book was written for me. It was like someone looked into my brain and heart and addressed the worries, the gremlins, the fears inside me. I loved the way the book went back and forth between short insights into the Billionaire’s life, the author’s own experiences, and his suggestions for how to live a better life by making small adjustments into how I approach life. After I read the last page and closed the book, I felt freer and hopeful. Like I could tackle more and BE more in my life and for those I love. Since reading it the first time, I find myself picking it up, opening to a random page, reading for a few moments and being inspired. I hope you give this book a try – I promise you’ll be grateful you did. – Corey

This book is dynamic! A fantastic book filled with great life insights and thought provoking questions that lead me to seriously evaluate where I’m at today personally, professionally and spiritually. It’s forced me to get intentional about where I go from here and how I intend to get there. Dreaming and hoping isn’t enough. A call to action is paramount. And this book lays out the case for just how important that call is for each and everyone of us! I can’t help but feel empowered as I come away from reading this book. I have a destiny in life and it’s largely determined by me! The author layed out a compelling case challenging me to get started down my path to growth, learning and difference-making. The pages breathed life into my dreams and aspirations. It’s my time to act. Thank you Ted! –Mark

A thought-provoking look at the ways we can change our mindset and be inspired toward growth. I loved it. Reading the billionaire’s perspective intertwined with author’s own experiences on things like resiliency, community and bravery are what make this book uplifting and truly special. – Catherine

Loved it! Inspirational from start to finish! The positive energy created by Ted’s book has motivated me to make changes in both my personal and professional life. Time to get moving! – Dan

This is such an inspirational and helpful book. There is no one more qualified than Ted to write a book about leadership and personal growth. The lessons he shares are not only valuable for professionals but also for anyone raising a family in our world today. I especially like the challenges he presents in Chapter 8. Everyone can benefit from those. This book is practical and easy to read. – Pamela

Don’t read this book…. Unless you are ready to change your life and your world! There were so many times while reading this book that I recognized and reflected on my inaction and invisibility; my life of monotony and compliance. I’ve gotten to mid-life and see the repetition of my days. Waiting for retirement and THEN I will FULLY LIVE!! HA!! And like an electric currant in my seat, this book has moved me to action!! I don’t want to live another day without making a difference in the life of others or in my own life!! It doesn’t take much effort to express words of gratitude or encouragement to others… and yet as simple as those actions might be, how often do we neglect the opportunities to validate others?
Bringing together the life reflections of a billionaire and the voice of many sage guides, the author gracefully shares his own wisdom in this powerful, quick read. This book is different. This book calls you into motion, into action to do something … anything that moves you toward a more authentic, exhilarating, lived future.
Conversations with a Billionaire led to conversations with myself. As I consider my future…. Where to live, what work to pursue, where do I want to be? What do I want to do? I see those around me who have taken bold, courageous steps leading to days filled with learning new cultures and experiencing new adventures. I look at them with envy, yet what’s holding me back from taking the leap and no longer living vicariously, but living my own dream! I was made for more than the life I am currently living… and so were you!! – Happijep

Have you read it? If so, leave a comment. If not, click here to get one or to give one as a gift!

October 9, 2018 By Kathryn

1 In Raising boys/ Saving money/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Best day to visit Mall of America (with kids) is ….

TUESDAY!

Tuesday is the BEST day to visit Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America.

First of all, no crowds (except in December).

Second – Toddler Tuesday

This name is deceiving. It’s not just for “Toddlers” … it’s open for anyone!

Nearly every Tuesday throughout the year, there is a special performance or activity for children in the Rotunda. There are also discounts on food and entertainment. Click here for the schedule of events.

I took my boys (ages 11, 9, 6, and 4) to Nickelodeon Universe on a Tuesday and they all got the special wristbands that cost $14.99 each, which includes unlimited use of 16 rides for 5 hours! Plus, parents with little ones can ride along for free! I got to be a “chaperone” for my four year old on nearly every ride.

Here are some pictures and information on what’s included with this wristband:

1. Pineapple Popper (Jumpy Castle)…all four of my boys LOVED it! It was in their top five favorite attractions. BRING SOCKS! You must be wearing socks or you CAN NOT jump!

Pineapple Popper – Super fun for all four boys!

2-3. Crazy Cars and Rugrats Reptarmobiles: We ALL loved the bumper cars! There are two different “bumper car” rides. The Crazy Cars are larger “two-person” bumper cars that are faster and more fun for the bigger kids – and adults! (Adults ride free on the large bumper cars if you have little ones). The Rugrats Reptarmobiles are smaller, slower, one person bumper cars. Luke preferred the small one because he could drive! My boys all rode both of these rides over and over.

Luke's favorite ride!

4. Back at the Barnyard Hayride – A small roller coaster that’s moves pretty fast around the track and just has a “little” drop – everyone enjoyed this!

5. Swiper’s Sweepers – My boys called this the “cars that drift” and thought the ride was awesome – they wanted to ride it over and over!

6. Diego’s Rescue Rider – fun for the kids

7. Big rigs – Semi trucks that go around the track. Luke liked this the most because he thought he was really driving!

8. Train (aka: La Aventura De Azul) – All four of my boys rode this, but Luke was the only one who liked it – because #tooslow.

9. Ghost Blaster – I’m not a fan of ‘ghost’ anything, but my 9 and 11-year-old LOVED shooting the “bad guys” (ghosts). This was their favorite ride because they got to use guns and earn points for each thing they shot. I wish they’d switch this up to something less creepy because it did make my little guys a little scared. Legoland in the Chicago suburbs has a similar ride called “Kingdom Quest” where you are challenged to shoot the ‘non-creepy’ lego villians in order to save the princess . The one at LegoLand is better, but they both have the same concept – and are super fun for those 6 and up. I even had fun shooting!

10. Ferris Wheel (aka: el Circulo de Cielo) – We all enjoyed this. It’s fun to see the mall from the top of the Ferris Wheel. You get great view!

11. Carousel/Merry-go-round – Classic ride. Only my little guys wanted to ride this.

12. Rock bottom Plunge – Mixed reviews from my 3 oldest. I think they are still a little young to enjoy this! However, I’m a grown adult and don’t like the dropping rides!

Paul’s face … I’m not sure he’s liking it!

Paul smiling at the end!

13. Blue’s Skidoo – Simple kids ride that goes around and up and down. Fun for the younger kiddos!

14. Adventure Bay Playground – this is not a ride, but an open play area similar to what you find for free at many malls. My four year old enjoyed this play area.

15. Bubble Guppy Bubbler – My kids LOVED this ride but I hated it. Next time, I’ll let them ride alone. The ride goes up and has spins and I got so sick that I almost threw up. Don’t ride it if (or your children) don’t like spinning, get nauseous easily, just after eating, or you have a weak stomach.

16. Wonder Pets FlyBoat – This ride lifts you 20 feet, then bounces you up and down until you make a soft landing. My kids enjoyed this one. It’s much more kid-friendly than the ‘rock bottom plunge.’

Overall, the wristband was well worth the cost. We all had SO MUCH FUN!

Here are other things to look for:

Special performances for kids! Every Tuesday, there is some sort of “show” and activities for kids in the Mall’s Rotunda.

The characters are out to say ‘Hi,’ pose for pictures and give high-fives!

Home Plate! Did you know that before Mall of America, there was a baseball field on this property? Mall of America is built on the site of the former Metropolitan Stadium. Try to find HOME PLATE somewhere in Nickelodeon Universe. Clark found it!

Metrodome

The Mall of America coupon book – This can be found at any Information Counter in the mall. The book is similar to an “Entertainment Book” and filled with valuable coupons for the Mall – including shops, food and attractions!

Includes more than 200 coupons for the mall!

Use this coupon and the coupon book will only cost $4.95!

Parking: Parking is FREE and each parking lot section has a different name. Take a picture of where you park, as well as the first store you see when you walk into the mall. After shopping for several hours, it’s easy to forget which door you came into and what lot your car is in!

Click here to read my FLYOVER AMERICA review!

Click here to read my Minnesota Bucket List!

Click here to read my review of the Crayola Experience!

Have you been to Mall of America? Leave a comment with what you like about it!

October 7, 2018 By Kathryn

0 In Making money/ Saving money

Ebates = Free money for YOU!

As you know, I always like to share EASY ways to earn/save money!

Ebates.com is one EASY way to do that!

If you do ANY shopping online, I recommend you give Ebates a try – they give you CASH BACK for nearly everything you buy online. PLUS – you will give you $10 just for signing up and trying it out.

It works like this….if you are purchasing something online FIRST go to ebates.com …

Type in the name of the website where you’d like to shop (Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens, eBay, Gap, etc.)

Click SHOP NOW!

A percentage of your purchase will then be deposited in your “ebate” account. Once a quarter they will either send you check, deposit it in your PayPal account, or let you spend it at an online store!

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October 2, 2018 By Kathryn

7 In Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

15 ways to BOND with your BOYS!

I’m a mom with four boys – that’s ONE mom and FOUR boys. I’m completely #outnumbered.

Since my sons are only young once, I want to make memories with them! One way we do this is by spending one-on-one time with each of them. If I have $20 to spend – I’d rather buy a MEMORY rather than a TOY! I treasure these memories, and my boys always get excited when it’s their turn for a “date with mom!”

Found George’s favorite hamburger spot in Minnesota – Portillo’s

All dressed up for our ‘date!’

Me and Luke exploring together

Here are some suggestions for connecting with your son:

Take him out for food – just the two of you! Let him pick his favorite spot for ice cream, lunch or dinner – have some questions or ideas for conversation planned in advance. My boys love the ‘would you rather‘ questions.
Go shooting at a local gun range.
Hang out at Buffalo Wild Wings and watch a ball game.
If you have a membership at a gym, work out together.
Go fishing (make sure you have a license, if needed).
Hike together.
Go camping. Help them pack and prepare.
Work on a simple project together – whether it’s building a lego set, cleaning out the car, building a fort in the living room or putting together something you’ve purchased from Ikea – do it together!
Go for a bike ride.
Cook a meal together. Have them choose the menu; you can buy the ingredients.
Play with remote controlled cars.
Go to a local go-kart racetrack.
Play their favorite video game with them.
Play a card game, board game, or backyard game together – my boys still love Tag, soccer, and sharks & minnows.
Play a sport together – basketball, wrestling or hockey – my kids LOVE competing against my husband or me!

Here are some questions you could ask to get to know your child better:

Read this post next. A powerful tool to use with your kids: CLICK HERE!

September 23, 2018 By Kathryn

2 In Family/ Marriage/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our week(s) – Back to school

Back-to-School:

First day of school!

The boys started 5th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade, and preschool! They weren’t looking forward to going back (who wants summer to end?), but they are doing great! They have good teachers and are meeting new friends. Luke loves his new preschool. It’s only 2.5 hours, 3 mornings a week…so it goes by REALLY fast (for both of us!)

Weekend on the lake:

Some friends invited us to join them at their cabin on a lake in Wisconsin and I was surprised at how relaxing and soul-filling it was to get away for a couple of days. I got a glimpse of why so many locals have “cabins on the lake!” It was Clark’s 9th birthday. He and his brothers fished, swam, went tubing, and made s’mores by the fire, and ended the night with sparklers!

My favorite part was watching the sunset on the lake…it was one of the prettiest things I’ve seen in a long time! I was surprised at how much Paul loved it too. The sunset lit up the lake with vibrant color and Paul exclaimed, “Mom! Do you see this? It’s BEAUTIFUL!!!! The lake is orange!”

Then, at night, George and I went back to the dock and stared up at the sky. There were more stars than he had ever seen in his life. He thought it was AMAZING! (So did I!) We could even see the milky way!!!

Time with my dad (aka Poppy) at Mall of America:

My dad came in for a short visit. We had dinner together on Monday night, then went to Mall of America on Tuesday. Tuesday is the BEST day to go…I’ll tell you why in a future post! He celebrated his grandson’s birthdays with rides and lunch…then we took him to the airport.

George’s birthday:

Somehow, our oldest son is now 11! He didn’t want a cake but asked for DONUTS and Portillo’s or Chipotle. Well, he got all of that.

A new Chipotle just opened in our town last weekend and it’s been crazy busy. I told George we could try to go on his birthday, but it may be too busy. We show up (on a Friday night at 6) and there is only one person in line ahead of us! George looks at me and says, “Mom, God answered my prayer. I asked him to make the line short so we could have dinner here and he answered my prayer!!” As soon as we ordered, the line was OUT THE DOOR and didn’t stop the entire time we were there!

Sunday Ted took him out for some father/son time at his other favorite restaurant – Portillo’s.

He also got a new Lego set that he’d been wanting for a long time. I thought it would take him a month to put together, but he finished in two days. He’ll gladly tell you all about it if you ask him.

Date Night:

Ted and I got to sneak away for a couple of hours and have dinner at Maynard’s on Lake Minnetonka! It was a perfect night to sit outside by the lake, eating, chatting and watching the boats.

That’s what we’ve been up to! What’s your week been like? Leave me a comment!

September 17, 2018 By Kathryn

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