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22 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Giveaway/ Motherhood

20 More Fun Activities for your Kids

My post on 55 Summertime Activities for Kids has been a big hit with parents, so I wrote another post to give you MORE ideas for keeping your quarantined kids busy.

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1. Sports Action Figures

The Sports Action Figures inspire kids in creative, open-ended play of their favorite sport (while stuck inside). The sets can also be used for parents to teach their kids the rules of the game and introduce their kids to the sports they love. The sets can also be used as centerpieces for sports-themed birthday parties – or to decorate cakes and cupcakes! Coaches use the GUYS to go over positioning and strategy with their players!

The sets by KaskeyKids.com include: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Soccer and Basketball.

Click here for more info on the set.

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2. Mosaic Art

Keep your kids busy by tearing up different colors of construction paper, then gluing them onto a picture you draw or print!

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3. Handmade Greeting Cards

Everyone loves to get mail! Have your kids make a ‘Mother’s day’ or ‘Thinking of you’ Card!!!

Click here for verses you could include in the card.

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3. “Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Tube” May

toilet paper

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4. Mad libs

Your kids will practice reading, writing, and language arts with this fun activity!

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5. Learn to Draw

Whatever it is your kids would like to draw – an animal, flower, or character – there’s a youtube video to teach them how to draw.

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6. Practice your manners!

Kids don’t automatically know what it means to “Mind Your Manners.” Summer time is the perfect time to teach them! At the dinner table, talk about table etiquette. After dinner, practice how to meet new people, and how to make a great first impression. We WILL be getting back to normal soon. We WILL be shaking hands again one day.

Practice with your kids NOW so they can impress people with their top-notch manners LATER!

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7. Mystery Drawing

WooJr has TONS of fun and free printables for Kids. The “Mystery Grids” are fun for kids – they won’t know what they are coloring until it’s finished!

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8. Quick Draw with Google

Have you seen this free activity? My kids and I have had so much fun with this game! Click here to play!

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9. Battleship over zoom

Click here to print a Battleship sheet. Your kids can zoom chat with a friend or relative and play this game together.

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10. Hangman

This game has been around for over 100 years. Teach your kids how to play! Use their spelling or vocabulary words and call it “HOME SCHOOL!”

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11. Paper Airplane

There are Youtube videos to teach your kids how to make unique paper airplanes. Have your kids build one and see how far it goes!

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12. Gratitude Journal

A gratitude list or journal is EXTREMELY valuable in uncertain times. Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

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13. Self Portrait

Have your kids look in the mirror and do a self portrait! Be sure to have them write their name and age. It will be fun to look back on this when they are older. You could have them repeat this every year around their birthday to see how their drawings improve!

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14. Watercolor Painting

Have your kids PAINT their coloring books instead of coloring – or – give them a blank sheet of paper to paint!

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15. Friendship bracelets

Making friendship bracelets kept me busy for HOURS when I was young. Perhaps it will entertain your kids too! Purchase embroidery floss, then search youtube for instructions.

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16. Play in The Sprinkler

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17. Marshmallow cup toss

All you need are two cups, two kids and one marshmallow.

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18. Blow Painting

Drip some paint on paper or cardboard and have your kids use a straw to blow the paint and make a unique piece of art.

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19. Crayon Art

Use crayons and a blow dryer to create art!

Click this site for some REALLY cool crayon art ideas!

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20. Paint those nails!

I saw this on Facebook and HAD to share! What a cool idea.

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Thanks for reading and ENJOY your summer!

For 55 other activities for kids, click here!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase.  Thank you for your support in this way! 

April 24, 2020 By
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0 In 2020/ Family/ Inspiration/ Motherhood

Start with Hope. End with Hope. Jesus is our Hope.

One of my first memories includes listening to my mom and older sister read Psalm 91 together before bed. Hearing them quote this passage of Scripture brought comfort and peace to my little heart.

My mom also sang with us, prayed with us, and helped us memorize simple verses. I believe those were the building blocks for a foundation of faith that I still stand on today. 

As mothers – our days can be crazy and exhausting. Especially right now!! However, we can choose to start and end each day with HOPE. 

Choose one of these to begin and end each day:

  • A prayer 
  • An uplifting song
  • A Bible verse
  • A Bible story
  • Something for which you’re thankful

Each day:

  • Start with HOPE.
  • End with HOPE. 
  • Jesus is our HOPE! 
April 15, 2020 By
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5 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado/ Things to do in Minnesota

Summer Fun Unleashed: Beat Boredom with These 55 Kid-Approved Activities!

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🌞☀️ Summer Fun Alert! 🌞☀️ Are you ready to banish those dreaded words, “I’m bored,” from your kids’ vocabulary this summer? 🎉 I’ve put together the ultimate list of activities guaranteed to keep young minds engaged, bodies moving, and creativity flowing all season long! From outdoor adventures to indoor escapades, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. Let’s dive in and make this summer the most memorable one yet! 🚀

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Note: I put this list together during the 2020 lock down and it came in handy when my son and got Covid and had to spend two weeks in quarantine. When we were finally ‘free” he said:

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“Mom, I’m sad that quarantine is done. We made so many memories.”

Luke, age 7

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Thankfully, the lockdown is long gone, but this list remains incredibly useful for those moments when boredom strikes and you’re in need of some inspiration! Plus, it’s an added bonus that you’ll make ‘so many memories’ along the way!!

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1. Draw a Picture and/or write a letter

Paul

Set out Pencils, markers, water color, or crayons and blank paper or coloring books.

Draw pictures and write letters to family and friends!

Click here to purchase a “How to Draw” book on Amazon.

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2. Read a book

  • Go to the library and allow your kids to explore!
  • Find books that will pique your child’s curiosity.
  • Most early readers (and pre-readers) enjoy comic-strip style books. 
  • Set a timer so your kids know that it’s “reading time.”
  • Ask an older child to read to a younger child  – or –
  • Read a few pages of a chapter book to your kids. The “Who Was” series is great!
  • My 12 year old son and I recently finished Front Desk and he LOVED it and kept asking me to read more.
  • We read Little House on the Prairie in 2020 and laughed at how similar the “little house life” and “quarantine life” are!

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3. Tell/ write a story

  • My fourth grade teacher once gave us the title “The Entire City Lends a Hand” and had the class each write their own story. Read a rendition of that here.
  • Give your kids a title and let them write! 
  • Title ideas: The first day of school! Best Vacation Ever, If I were President, Undersea Adventure, You Won’t Believe what Happened! 

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4. Make a book

Buy blank books from amazon or use a notebook you have on hand.

Have your kids write a little each day about what they are doing during the summer. (It will be interesting to look back on these journals in the future!)

Another option: Have your kids write 1 thing they are grateful for each day. 

Be sure to have them add the date and their name.

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5. Start a Gratitude Journal

Thinking about our blessings and what we are grateful for is extremely helpful in building resiliency! I researched journals a few months ago and decided to purchase this simple one for George. I’ve loved watching him open this up (without prompting), and write what he’s grateful for!

Research suggests that keeping a gratitude journal can boost your health and happiness.

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6. HOME EC – Cook together 

Making pancakes with Paul
cook
George making his favorite treat!
  • My boys love helping make any type of dessert. But they are also good “sous” chefs – peeling potatoes and carrots, etc.
  • Teaching kids how to cook builds confidence in them and is a huge help once they know what to do.
  • Here is an easy recipe for – Personal Pizzas

Here’s a post about the benefits of cooking together

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7. Balloon games

  • It’s crazy how much joy a simple balloon can bring.
  • Blow up balloons and work together to keep them from touching the ground.
  • Use a string/rope/crepe paper across the living room and play “tennis” or “volleyball.”
  • Use a tennis racket outside with a balloon.
  • My son’s love this balloon rocket from amazon!

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8. Go Park Hopping!

George cooling off on the hot day
George on the zip line

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9. Clean together

My sister’s daughters (ages 4 and 7) – She says the girls enjoy the tactile nature of finding the clips, reading them, and then putting them in the container when completed.
  • There are so many benefits to giving your kids household chores and teaching them to clean! 
  • Some bigger things we are working on together – the basement, baseboards, and cleaning our cars.
  • Smaller things the kids can do – a junk drawer, the pantry, baseboards, wiping lower cabinets, all door handles, appliance handles, pulling weeds, folding and putting away laundry, bathroom, bedroom, their closet, and loading/unloading dishwasher.
  • I offered my kids a quarter to whoever could wipe down the baseboards and bring me back the dirtiest wet wipe.

Click here for a “chore chart” idea!

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10. Dino Dig

My boys love uncovering a treasure, your kid will too!

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11. Make some homemade gifts

Friendship bracelets are back! (Thank you T.Swift)

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12. Play Hide and Seek

Take turns hiding – or – Hide a stuffed animal. Say “hotter/colder” when they are getting closer or further.

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13. Play bean bag games

  • Toss back and forth
  • Toss in buckets, pans, or boxes
  • Play “keep away!”
  • For bean bag toddler games, CLICK HERE.

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14. Scavenger hunt

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15. Puzzles

  • Do a Puzzle together
  • Puzzle races: 1. Time your kids and see how fast they can put a small puzzle together. 2. If you have two 50-100 piece puzzles, race to see who can put them together faster.
  • Optional Money-saving tip: Trade puzzles with your neighbors or buy some used ones! Dollar store sells some too!
  • Get a new puzzle from Amazon, or trade with friends.

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16. Paint by Sticker

This sticker book has over 5000 5-star reviews! I got this for my son for Christmas and I see why it has so many positive reviews. We love it! The pictures turn out so pretty you could frame them!

Before…
During…
After

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17. Sidewalk chalk

  • Lay down and trace each other – then decorate with clothes, faces, etc.
  • Write a verse or word of encouragement for passers-by
  • Use tape and color in the spaces like stained glass (pictured above)
  • Color rocks around your house

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18. Create an Indoor or outdoor Obstacle course

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19. Have a Spa Day!

Facials, paint nails, do hair, etc.

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20. Spot It

This is a fun game for kids ages 4 and up!

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21. Don’t Eat Pete Game

Click here for instructions

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22. Play games with a Jump Rope

  • Do competitions to see who can go the longest without tripping. It’s great exercize and FUN!
  • I definitely recommend you purchase the segmented jump ropes (pictured above). We bought several so we could all jump rope together.

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23. Build with legos or megablocks

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24. Do a craft together

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25. Memorize a poem or verse together.

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26. Build an arcade game out of boxes.

Clark created a game called “Hit It” – Targets for Nerf Guns

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27. Play with Cheerios

  • Allow your kids to string Cheerios or Fruit Loops for an edible necklace
  • Stack cheerios on Spaghetti noodles
  • With older kids – turn this into a race!

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28. Play a board game  

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29. Spike Ball

spike ball
  • My son Clark just got this game for his 11th birthday. My boys love it. It’s best for ages 8 and up.
  • When it’s too cold to play outside, this game can be played in a living room or basement.

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30. Play charades or download the HEADS UP app

  • Even little ones can play this game. Whisper what you want them to “act” out and let the sibling(s) guess.
  • The Heads Up app is lots of fun.

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31. Build a fort

  • Put blankets over your dining table – or
  • Use boxes, or pillows and blankets.
  • Read a story in the fort!
  • “Go on a Bear Hunt“
  • Decorate with Christmas lights!

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32. Create or Buy Kinetic Sand or Play Doh

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33. Exercise! 

  • Follow a youtube exercise video
  • Family Bootcamp
  • Run around your house for 5 or more minutes. I don’t know about your kids – but my kids NEED to burn energy in a healthy way or they start getting mischievous!
  • If we are outside, I challenge my kids to a foot race so that we can BOTH burn energy and get exercise.

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34. Play some backyard games

  1. Duck Duck Goose 
  2. Balloon Bounce – Kids lay down (or sit down) and have to work together to keep balloon(s) in the air. 
  3. Red Rover, Red Rover
  4. Red Light, Green Light
  5. Tag

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35. Have a unique conversation

conversation starters

Has months of summer left you with nothing else to talk about than how bored you are? Then you NEED this set of cards.

Each card asks interesting questions for your family to answer or discuss. My kids ask for us to pull the cards out whenever we sit down to eat. One time my kids were eating alone and my oldest son pulled the questions out to ask his little brothers. I LOVED listening to their conversation!

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36. Have a “What’s in the Box?” Challenge

what's in the box
  • Cut holes a in box
  • Choose an item to put inside
  • Allow someone to reach their hand inside the box and “guess” what it is.
  • Take turns finding items to hide, then guessing “What’s in the Box?”

Click here to watch the Egly boys’ challenge. They’d love for you to subscribe to their channel.

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37. Homemade Tap Shoes

Sorry parents, this one’s noisy! It’s so easy, though, and will keep your kids busy.

Simply tape coins to the bottom of your child’s shoe. Voila, homemade tap shoes.

Get them to come up with a tap-dancing routine, rehearse it and record their final performance (bring your own earmuffs).

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38. Look at old photos

Take out your photo albums or pull up pictures on your computer and enjoy!

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39. Build a Marble Maze / Labrynth

Your kids can use an empty box.

Glue straws to the bottom to create a maze.

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40. Card Games

Playing “Garbage”
RataTat Cat – fun family card game!

Play “War” with the classic deck of cards.

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41. Play “Minute to Win It”

Flick it!

Click here for 10 fun games to play with your family

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42. Practice an instrument

Piano, keyboard, xylophone, harmonica, recorder or drums…make it a family band. Look on Youtube for free lessons.

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43. Blow bubbles

bubbles

Make some bubbles using dish washing soap, water, and sugar (for consistency).

Or check out these “bubble gloves” on amazon.

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44. Make a flip motion animation book

Kids can learn how to make a flipbook animation in less than 5 minutes. All you need is a pen and a stack of notecards, paper, or a sticky note pad. This video is a great and very quick tutorial.

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45.  Play Simon Says or Follow The Leader

  • Have each child take a turn being the leader
  • Walk all around your house 
  • Do jumps, turns, stop to hug dad, etc.

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46. Ice excavating

Place some toys in a bowl of water and Freeze. Let the kids dig them out.

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47. Build a volcano

Click here for instructions

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48. Make Ice Cream

If you have milk and sugar, your kids can make their own ice cream! Click here for the recipe!

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49. Nerf guns

Shoot at targets – I made some targets with construction paper and held them in place with play doh.

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50. Jokes

Get a joke book from Amazon, or search for kid’s jokes on the internet and entertain each other!

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51. Create Salt Dough Figures

salt dough recipe
salt dough
sAlt dough
Salt dough ornaments

Click here for instructions

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52. Play “Would you Rather?”

Click here for questions!

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53. Create “Ramp Races”

A really fun and simple activity that can act as a physics lesson and opportunity for an experiment. Make a simple ramp using cardboard or a piece of wood, and roll different objects down: measure how far they go, how fast they roll, or hold races between different kinds of balls to see which wins!

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54. Leaf or Texture rubbings

Find leaves, grass, and other flat-ish items and put them under paper. Color over them.

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55. Take an aimless drive.

  • Listen to a podcast or the radio.
  • Go through the drive through for ice cream or dinner.

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CLICK HERE FOR 20 more ideas

Bonus Idea: Create a “I’m Bored” Jar:

  • Print the 55 options listed above, cut apart each idea, and put them in a container. If your kids say ‘I’m Bored’ – have them pull a paper from the jar and complete that activity.
  • It’s OKAY for your kids to be bored and figure it out too! Boredom leads to creativity! Clark was bored when he created his own Cardboard Arcade!
  • Boredom leads to new inventions. I look forward to what will be thought up during this quarantine!

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Do you have an idea? Leave a comment!

Please subscribe so you don’t miss a post!

*I am an Amazon Affiliate, so I make a small percentage off of Amazon links I share if you click through and purchase, without any additional cost to you.  Thank you for your support in this way! 

March 22, 2020 By
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0 In 2020/ Faith/ Family/ Inspiration

13 questions with The Voice Contestant Jon Mullins

Jon Mullins is married to my cousin Whitney, and on NBC’s reality singing show called The Voice.

Jon and Whitney’s wedding day. I lived with Whitney, her sister Courtney and my aunt and uncle through college. This family is very dear to my heart!

Jon’s audition was March 9th, 2020 and I’ve included it at the end of this post! (I’ve also included his incredible new single.)

Blake Shelton said that it was his GREATEST day of his coaching career on The Voice when he got Jon Mullins on his team!

Kelly Clarkson said that Jon’s voice gave her chills. His voice fills a room and he should be on Broadway.

Nick Jonas wants to “snatch him up” if he get the opportunity! (Update – he DID get the opportunity and was good on his word! Jon spent some time on #teamnick.

Here is my recent conversation with Jon:

ME: Jon, one thing I’ve always admired about you is your love for people. When you are in a room, you are not on your phone. You are engaged and interested in every person in the room – whether it’s our 90-year-old grandpa or our 5-year-old niece. As a parent, I’d love to see my kids engage the way YOU do.

Question 1: Where does your love for people come from, and how can parents cultivate it in their children?

Jon: I’ve always been outgoing. As a 4 yr old…I’d be at family gatherings, walking around, talking to everyone.

My parents cultivated it by not trying to hold me back. 

Both of my parents are caring and engaging with people, and I’ve learned from watching them.

Little Jon with his sister

QUESTION 2: When did you first realize you had a gift for singing?

Jon: At 14 years old I became curious about singing. My choir teacher asked me to audition for an Acapella group and I made it. That’s when I discovered that maybe I could sing.

QUESTION 3: You play several instruments. When did you start playing and how often did you practice?

Jon: I began playing the trumpet as an 11 year old. Once I got that thing, I never put it down. I’d play all.the.time. Even sitting on the toilet.

I got my 1st guitar at 14 and took 3 months of guitar lessons and was hooked.

I’d practice at least four hours a day.

I’d fall asleep with a guitar in my hands. 

QUESTION 4: How can parents motivate their kids in music?  Or help develop a passion for it? 

Jon: If your child is showing interest in an instrument, even drums, or any musical aspect, ENCOURAGE it! 

I wish I would have started lessons before 11.

If you can’t afford lessons, ask a family friend to give you lessons. (You can also find lessons on youtube now!)

My parents never got annoyed by my constant playing and singing. Or if they did, they didn’t mention it. They always encouraged it.

QUESTION 5: You are an extremely talented, powerful singer. Kelly Clarkson said your voice fills up the room. Are you 100% talent…or do you still have to work at it?

Jon: First of all, thank you for saying that.

A singer’s vocal technique is ALWAYS a work in progress. Every popular music artist you can think of (Justin Bieber, Usher, etc) STILL has a vocal coach traveling with them and teaching them how to use their ‘instrument.’

I am ALWAYS a student of my ‘instrument’ (my voice). I’m always learning about how to use it properly so I don’t lose it. 

QUESTION 6: Can you tell me a little about your faith?

Jon: Since I was young, my parents attended church. It was fun to me. I grew up in church. At about 5 years old, I felt a tugging on my soul. I talked to my dad about it and I prayed and invited Christ into my life at that young age.

My relationship with God has grown from there.

I am depending on God through this whole thing. Asking for peace and trusting HIM along the way. I’m asking that He open doors that should be open, and close the ones that need to be closed.

Also, if you saw me on stage with my hand raised, it’s because I’ve been a worship leader in the past, and I just start raising my hands when I sing.

I’ve gotten a feedback about my audition – that it was almost like a worship experience. My prayer is that people will see God through me.

QUESTION 7: How did you get on The Voice? 

Jon: A friend of mine was in the audition process. They told the producer to reach out to me and they did.

I was REALLY hesident. I’d been on American Idol in 2010 and wasn’t excited about doing any more reality TV.

I had a conversation with Whitney, my wife. She said, “If God opened this door, walk through it. Maybe this is a good time to step out in faith.”

Then, I was at an eye appointment and there was a sign in the waiting room that said: 

The biggest mistake you can make is a being afraid of making a mistake. 

So, I felt like God gave me a LITERAL sign.

QUESTION 8: What was it like singing to the backs of four chairs and knowing that in those chairs sat Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Nick Jonas?

Jon: I went into the whole situation determined not to concentrate on the chairs. I focused on the meaning of the song! Because of this journey I’ve taken with my wife, the song had SO much meaning to me.

So, I told myself ‘Don’t focus on the chairs – focus on the message!‘

If you focus on the chairs, only nerves will come through! 

QUESTION 9: What would you say has been your favorite moment in the competition so far?

Jon: Can I say two? 

First, I’ve loved getting to know and grow close with the other artists. We all text and hang out, outside of the show. It’s now a family. 

My other favorite MOMENTS … when I was able to step on that stage and sing that song about my experience. And then…

the HUG from BLAKE SHELTON! 

When Blake said, “This is the best day of my coaching career,” I nearly fainted.

Question 10: If you look down the road, 5 years from now, what do you hope to be doing? 

Jon: Maybe with a kid!?

I’ll still be living in Nashville. 

Touring and playing – music is in my blood, so I’ll still be writing and singing!

Whitney still continuing her successful Lularoe business. Click here to find her stuff!

QUESTION 11: Speaking of Whitney, how is she doing?

Jon: She’s about 85 percent.

About 4 years ago, she fell and hit her head in the front. She damaged the part of her brain that controls important cognitive skills like emotional expression, problem solving, memory, language and anxiety.

After the fall she started having severe panic attacks. Agoraphobia …anxiety…

It’s getting better but she still gets occasional anxiety and panic attacks.

QUESTION 12: How can we pray for you?

Jon: Pray for Whitney – complete healing for her and peace through this process

That God continues to open and shut the doors for us.

Pray that the right people come into our path! 

QUESTION 13: Where can people find you and follow you?

Jon: The HUB for me is JonMullins.com

Other places:

@jonmullinsofficial on insta and facebook

You can listen to me on youtube here – JonMullinsMusic

Twitter: @jonmullinsmusic

Jon, we are so proud of you! Keep up the good work!

https://youtu.be/FnSese9QCU4


Check out Jon Mullins amazing new release here:

March 15, 2020 By
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3 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Don’t Eat Pete!

Here’s a fun and easy game to play with your children or grandchildren.

It’s also an activity I leave out for the babysitter.

What you need:

Any small snacks (cereal, candy, tiny crackers, peanuts, raisins)

1 piece of paper and a writing utensil

To do:

  1. On a sheet of white paper, draw a large grid – nine squares.
  2. Put a number on each square.
  3. Put a small snack on each square.
  4. Have ONE person leave the room.
  5. Have another person choose which square is “Pete.”
  6. Ask the person who left the room to come back. He or she eats one snack at a time. When they grab the snack that is “Pete,” everyone screams:

“DON’T EAT PETE!”

Their turn is over.

Repeat as many times as your kids are interested!

Parenting tip:

Are you having a hard time getting your kids to eat certain foods? Cut it into SMALL pieces and use it on the game board.

You can turn this game into LUNCH!

  1. Cover the game board with a piece of plastic wrap.
  2. Cut up small pieces of a protein of your choice, fruits, and vegetables.
  3. Play!

Interested in more games for kids?

Click here for a WOULD YOU RATHER game!

Click here for many more ideas!

February 23, 2020 By
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3 In 2020/ Family/ Free stuff/ Games/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

Would you Rather?

Here’s a fun game to get your kids talking! My boys love this game and ask me to play when we are having dinner together or driving.

Because this game needs NO SUPPLIES, you can play during dinner, on a walk, or anytime you want to engage with your kids.

Would you rather….

Be Superman or Batman?

Eat Pizza or Hotdogs?

Ride a roller coaster or a water slide?

Go to Target or Walmart?

Laugh or cry?

Jump high or run fast?

Have summer all year or winter all year?

Be really smart or really funny?

Drive a truck or a sports car?

Go back in time or go to the future?

Be able to fly or be invisible?

Have ONE great friend or 20 pretty good friends?

Be in the Mountains or at the Beach?

Take a ride in a speed boat or helicopter?

Go Skydiving or Swim with Sharks?

Build a Sand Castle or Play in the Waves?

Go Skiing or Ride a bike?

Watch a Movie or Read a Book?

Go Rock climbing or Swimming?

Own a Cat or a Dog?

Write a Story or a Draw picture?

Clean the Bathroom or Vacuum the carpet?

Ice Skate or Roller Skate?

Drink Pop or Water?

Play Inside or Outside?

Take a Shower or Bath?

Take a trip to Australia or Italy?

Go Fishing or Make slime?

Play a Video game or Board game?

Have more time or more money?

VOTE WITH YOUR FEET:

If you’d like to play this game with more than one child, call it: VOTE WITH YOUR FEET! Kids have to vote for which one they’d rather do by WALKING to one side of the room! This gets kids moving and allows them to see that they have something in common with another person.

Click here for lots of game ideas for kids!

Give us another ‘Would You Rather?’ Add a comment below!

Please subscribe!

February 7, 2020 By
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0 In 2020/ Family/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our winter weeks

The winter of 2019 was so cold we didn’t get to spend a lot of time outside. 2020 has started much more MILD and we’re all happy about that. “Mild” in Minnesota means the temperature is a “warm” 30 degrees.

Here are some fun things we’ve been doing this winter:

Skiing

Luke learned to ski! I signed him up for a 90 minute class, and 6 hours later…he still didn’t want to stop skiing!

George and Clark joined the Ski Club at school. Once a week they go directly from school to the ski hill with their classmates.

  • Luke learning to ski and LOVING it!
  • Clark and Paul about to begin
  • George and Clark
I was just there for the hot chocolate! 🙂

Sledding

We found a huge sledding hill near our home!

  • Clark’s “homemade” sled…it didn’t work that well
  • George’s new sled – Christmas gift from his Grandma and Papa Chris
  • Luke

Shoveling

George and Clark are earning extra money by shoveling for neighbors.

Christmas

Christmas was a fun family day with just the 6 of us. We made pancakes and played lots of games.


  • The boys playing Hungry Hippo
  • Clark got a new jersey and signed card from Don Beebe
  • RataTat Cat – fun family game!
  • Luke, Paul and Ted playing Yeti in my Spaghetti

A Visit from Family

My sister and her family came to visit from Indiana. We got to go out to dinner, swimming, sledding, and visited Mall of America. This is their second annual trip to Minnesota. They come up and spend the New Year with us – and we spend 4th of July with them in Indiana.

  • Fun Day at MOA
  • Date night at Colita

Basketball

George, Clark and Paul are finishing their first season of basketball and they’ve loved it. We were all surprised how much fun this sport it. They’ve enjoyed playing, and the rest of us have enjoyed watching them play

Winter is for watching Movies:

Little Women – A friend invited me to go see this with her. It’s nominated for a bunch of Oscars and now I know why – it’s an INCREDIBLE movie! Watch it!

Where’d you Go, Bernadette? I really enjoyed the book and thought the movie was fantastic! (Get it from Redbox or the library)

Something we have NOT enjoyed this winter: The FLU 🙁

It started with Paul, jumped to Luke, and then to Ted. Thankfully, I only had one rough night! We are all better now!

He had the flu, so I probably shouldn’t be this close…but look at him. You’d hold him too, wouldn’t you?

What have you been up to this winter?

Click here to read my Minnesota Bucket List!

Click here to read How Not to Hate Winter!

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January 28, 2020 By
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0 In 2019/ Family/ Minnesota/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

We toured the US – without leaving our state!

Minnesota is a beautiful place, but I’d like to see what the rest of the country looks like too! How about you?

With four young boys in tow – we don’t get to see as much of the world as we’d like to. However, at Mall of America, you can see the most beautiful parts of the U.S. when you experience FlyOver America.

Our family of six visited this attraction during Christmas vacation and we LOVED it! It was an incredibly unique way for all of us to see parts of our great country that we have not seen before.

Each picture on this wall is a location that you fly over during your ride!

It’s a 4D/Virtual reality ride that makes you feel like your soaring through the open air (yet seated) with a giant screen and 180 degree views! The seats move up and down and sway to the side.

When you fly over the pine trees, you feel the wind in your face and SMELL PINE!

When you fly over the ocean towards Hawaii – you get spritzed with WATER!

During the holiday season, your trip also takes you to the North Pole. If you have children, visiting in November and December will be extra fun because there are “elves” that pop up throughout your travels. My boys got excited when they’d spot an elf. If the adventure wasn’t entertaining enough, adding silly elves certainly keeps kids engaged!

Here’s what I heard from my boys as we walked out of the FlyOver attraction:

George, Age 12: It was really cool! It gave me good memories.

Clark, Age 10: That was so good! I liked the blowing wind, smelling stuff, and splashes of water.

Paul, Age 8: I liked finding the elves and seeing them do funny things.

Luke, Age 5: That was SO fun! Can we do it again?!

And Ted, parent: Better than I expected.

Tickets are $19.99 for adults and $15.99 for children (12 and under). Discounts can be found online.

It’s absolutely worth a visit and will delight EVERY age group. You must be 40 inches to ride (which is about 4 years old).

For insight into the Best Day to Go to Mall of America with kids – click here.

For a peek into the Crayola Experience, click here.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for a future post that will include 30 things to do at Mall Of America besides SHOP! Subscribe so you don’t miss that one!

January 12, 2020 By
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2 In 2019/ Christmas/ Family

Fun & Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Do you have children that look forward to the Elf showing up each year?

My children LOVE this tradition.

If you aren’t familiar with it, the Elf comes each Christmas season to hang out and watch to see if your children should be on the “naughty” or “nice” list. He flies to the North Pole at night to report to Santa how your children are doing. He comes back each morning and hides in a different place in your home.

My children have enjoyed this children’s cartoon about the Elf. This would be a fun gift the Elf brings your children.

After my boys go to bed at night, I find a place to hide our Elf. I used to have to set a reminder on my phone so I didn’t forget. Thankfully, I now have helpers named George and Clark, who love to stay up and find creative things for the Elf to do!

I am not a HUGE fan of the Elf, but my kids love it so much I can’t stop. My older boys get excited about finding creative things for the Elf to do, and my younger boys are excited to wake up in the morning and search the house to find our Elf.

If you are new to this tradition, I would recommend you start just ONE WEEK before Christmas and use the SIMPLE ideas listed below.

Our elf now comes on December 1 because I have helpers to hide him.

Here are some ideas for your Elf on the Shelf Tradition!

1. Place him in a large Mason Jar with a note that says, “Show me around!”

2. Choo Choo Train Ride

3. Or a SHOE SHOE Train Ride!

4. Playing card games

5. Leave a love note

6. Just Hangin’ Out

7. Candy Cane Hide-and-Seek

Hide candy canes around the house!

8. Make happy faces on the fruit

9. Countdown-to-Christmas Paper Chain

10. Elf is peeking out of your child’s stocking

Optional: Leave a note to your child about what the Elf has noticed: A Good Thing and Something your child could work on.

11. Put him in your Christmas tree by his favorite ornament

12. Hide him inside cups.

Children have to search the cups to find him. My kids were happy he was in a cup so they could hold the cup and walk around with him. (No touching the Elf)

13. Reading a Christmas story to his friend.

14. 3 cheers for hot chocolate!

Optional: Leave hot chocolate out for your kids!

15. Just Chillin’

Just wrap a scarf around a picture or chair and put the elf inside!

16. Army men are protecting our home and they think the Elf is an INTRUDER!

I just taped that poor Elf to the wall.

17. Zip lining

This takes a little more work, but it’s always a favorite. Tie a string across a room and attach your elf to the string. Zip Line!

These were just some simple and silly ideas for you! Do you have a fun Elf prank? Leave a comment!

Last year we added a “Shepherd on the Search” to our family. My kids call him the “Christian Elf.” (LOL!) I like how the “Shepherd” keeps Jesus at the center of Christmas. The Shepherd goes on ADVENTures – keeping “advent” the center of the Holiday season. Click here for some excellent ideas for how to use the Shepherd!

Want some easy ways to save and even MAKE money this Christmas season? Click here!

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December 5, 2019 By
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0 In 2019/ Family/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota

Getting Creative at Crayola

The boys and I spent the day at the Crayola Experience at the Mall of America and wanted to give you a peek inside!

Because the kids were out of school, it was a little bit crowded. However, there are SO many different activities to do inside, it never felt “OVERLY” crowded.

I honestly wasn’t sure how my four boys (ages 5 to 12) would do at the Crayola Experience. They aren’t really into ‘crafting’ and ‘coloring.’ However, I was surprised by how much fun we all had. It was actually ‘soul-filling’ to spend the day creating, painting, crafting and coloring. Bonus – there was no prep work or clean up involved!

Here are some of our favorite things from the day:

Crayons with our own names!
Creating coloring pages of ourselves!!

Each of us got modeling dough. I forgot how relaxing it is to be creative with play dough.

  • George working on his Silly Selfie
  • George’s Silly Selfie
We created our own puzzles!
  • Wax painting

    The boys loved decorating a paper car – then seeing it come to life on the big screen!

    • Clark’s car
    • Clark created, then watched his car come to life!
    A crayon “mimicking” Luke’s movement
    Paul playing!

    All the boys enjoyed the 2-story playground. If I had season passes, I’d let them play and burn some energy every time we came to the mall.

    We took a break to go eat at Chick Fil A in the food court, but since our passes were good all day, we came back to continue our fun.

    We watched a live show about how crayons are made, painted with watercolors, created creatures that “danced,” colored mini ‘pets’ that we got to bring home…and more!

    At first I thought the admission price was a little high. However, once we had the “Crayola Experience,” the price seemed fair. The admission price includes all of the activities and stations, the play area, the live show, the ‘mini-pet,’ a crayon that you create, and modeling dough.

    The regular admission price is $17.99. You can save on the admission price through:

    With a season pass, you can stop in any time for an entire year to create and play. It also includes other perks as well, which you can read about by clicking here.

    Parking Tips:

    Parking is free at Mall of America. I recommend parking in the EAST lot. Take a picture of your spot so that you can find your car at the end of the busy day!

    Another tip: Because the mall is so big, it’s easy to forget which door you entered. When I walk into the mall, I take a picture of the first store I see. When it’s time to leave at the end of the day, I use the mall directory to find the quickest way back to that store, which will lead me to where I parked!

    Thanks for reading about our day! We hope you get to experience the fun at Crayola too!

    Other posts you might enjoy (just click to read):

    The Best Day to visit Nickelodeon Universe!

    My favorite things to do in Lakeville, MN

    My Minnesota Bucket List

    A Peek inside the Mill City Museum

    How to Not Hate Winter

    October 23, 2019 By
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