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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
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3 In Faith/ Family/ Motherhood/ My Journey

What I learned in going back to work after being a full-time mom

Facebook memories let me know that today would have been my one-year “anniversary” of working at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

Dr. Michelle Anthony is the Family Ministry Pastor at New Life, and in the summer of 2017, I asked her if we could meet so I could share some ideas on how to grow our volunteer team. At that meeting, she asked if I would go from being a volunteer to joining the staff.

 

As always, my first reaction was to say “no.”
 – I’m a mom with four kids, do I have enough ‘gas’ in my tank to do more?
 – I’ve been a full-time mom for 6 years, do I have marketable skills left?
 – With a church this size, will I have a voice?  Can I really make a difference?

 

I told her to give me a few days to pray about it and talk to Ted.

 

Ted encouraged me to go for it. It would be a part-time role, and he thought I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. I prayed and felt good…nervous…but good.

 

So, I said yes.

 

I’m SOO very glad I said yes! It was an HONOR to work with amazing people, being a part of helping kids know Jesus and grow in their relationship with him. I also loved having the chance to bring to fruition those ideas I shared with Michelle at our initial meeting.

 

Years ago, I was a children’s ministry director of a smaller church and wore a lot of hats – greeter, teacher, worship leader, curriculum writer, curriculum prep, shopper, event planner, event host, etc.

 

When working with a larger team at a mega-church, each of us could specialize in our gifts. I enjoyed the opportunity to focus on one service (Friday night), and one theme (volunteerism), while supporting others in the church in what they did. We all worked together with one mission.

 

I loved being a part of the New Life church staff. Some days I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do what I love!  Before I started, I was SO nervous; but 9 months later, when we found out we were moving, I mourned having to say good-bye!

New Life Family Ministry Team

Working again gave me confidence that the gifts God placed in me a long time ago did not disappear as a stay-at-home mom.

 

Mamas, the work you do at home is INCREDIBLY important. Stay engaged there. Be the best mama you can be for those children, cherishing the fact that you get to invest in them, mold their beliefs, and watch them grow!

 

Your time as a full-time mother is not causing your gifts to depreciate. Changing diapers and chasing after toddlers will NOT eliminate all your marketable skills. Your gifts will only grow stronger. Focus on the task of being a mom and a wife! Know that in the future, you will have opportunities and new ways to use your God-given gifts. God will EQUIP you to do whatever He calls you to do!

 

I’m so grateful to be home full-time again right now. Moving while Mommin’ is hard and all-consuming. The kids just started school, and I have 100 things on my to-do list. This blog post is NOT on that list…so I’m going to run now… thanks for reading my thoughts for today!
September 13, 2018 By
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4 In Minnesota/ Motherhood

LICE – Everything you need to know…and how to PREVENT it!

Recently I got something I never wanted. Something I’ve, somehow, avoided my entire life.

Lice.

Yes ….lice. Ew. Yuck. Ugh. Awful. (Insert all the bad words here)

If you just want to unsubscribe right now and never be friends, I get it. I wanted to unfriend myself when I discovered I had a community of bugs building a homestead on my scalp.

September is the time when lice spreads the fastest. Kids start school without even realizing they have lice – and share it with the class before they get treated. Kid’s put their heads, their jackets and backpacks right next to each other, and lice spreads.

I’d assumed that we’d be fine. I have boys. Boys have short hair and aren’t sharing hair brushes and hair accessories. I was raised in a family with four sisters and if I could avoid it then, I could avoid it forever!

But no. I was wrong.

Here are some “Facts vs. Fiction” about head lice:

Fiction: Boys with short hair don’t get lice.

Fact: Unless you are bald, you can get lice.

Fiction: You start itching immediately after getting lice.

Fact: It may be more than a month before you realize you have lice. You’ve probably shared it by then.

Fiction: I have an allergic reaction, not lice. I thought I had an allergic reaction to hair products. My scalp itched all over, and I felt tiny little bumps on the back of my neck.

Fact: That’s what lice feels like – an allergic reaction. And they bite all over and leave tiny bumps.

Fiction: I can go to the walk-in clinic or a hairdresser for help.

Fact: The walk-in clinic and all hair dressers will ask you to leave … right away. (Keep reading for WHERE TO GO!)

Fiction: I can just use a special shampoo and they’ll all be gone.

Fact: I do keep lice removal shampoo on hand now, but you MUST have this special comb to remove ALL nits. The combs that come in the kits are useless! Combing out every nit is the key to getting rid of lice. The comb pictured here is something you should order and keep on hand:


Fiction: The term “nitpicking” comes from people who are picky.

Fact: The term “nitpicking” comes from tediously picking out little lice nits.

Fiction: Dirty people get lice.

Fact: Lice like clean hair.

Fiction: It will be easy to know if I have lice.

Fact: I couldn’t see anything in my hair. Nits look like a little speck of pepper and if you have dark hair or dark roots, they are camouflaged! I actually found a full-grown bug in my hair (almost threw up) googled what lice look like, and knew I was infected. This is a bug I found on my head, which meant I’d had it for a couple of weeks by this time.

Fiction: There is no way to prevent lice.

Fact: There are several things you can do to help prevent lice.

  1. Lice do not like mint.

I purchased little spray bottles and mint essential oil to make my own water/mint mixture (you can also buy it pre-made). Spray a little on your child’s hair and on their backpack before they leave for school or camp.

Mint Spray helps prevent lice

 

3 bottles for $1.97

Also, put a few drops of mint essential oil in any shampoo/conditioner that you use. (Or buy some shampoo that already contains mint.)

Lice prevention shampoo 

2. Tell your kids NOT to share hats, brushes, hair accessories and jackets/clothes.

3. Camp is where most kids get lice.

When going to overnight camp, you may have your kids wear a little cap to protect them. Comb their hair with the nit comb as soon as they get home!

4. Comb your child’s hair after their bath/shower every week with the nit comb to remove any nits.

Nit comb. No nits, no lice.

 

Fiction: Swimming or washing my hair will kill them or get them out.

Fact: Swimming and regular shampoo do not kill lice.  Lice create a sticky glue near your scalp that hold the little nits FIRMLY in place. Water and shampoo do not wash it out. It’s nearly impossible to get them out without a very sturdy steel comb (as seen above), or literally picking out each one, hair by hair (be a nit picker!).

Fiction: There’s no one who can help me with this.

Fact:  There are people who go to SCHOOL to learn how to remove lice! You can find a professional in most cities nationwide that will help you get rid of lice. I’m so grateful that I found a registered nurse who opened the Lice Studio to check for and remove lice.  If you are in the Minneapolis area, they can help you. If you are anywhere else, google “lice removal” plus the town/state where you are located.

Fiction: Lice live in carpet/beds/furniture for up to 30 days.

Fact: Lice that are not on the head die within 24 hours.

FACT: Typing this up is making my head itch. Is yours itching too?

If you do have lice here are some tips:

  • Use a sticky lint roller over fabric seats in the car and over car seats and couches to pick up any stray ‘nits.’
  • Put a sheet over fabric chairs and couches for 24 hours. Nits die in 24 hours.
  • Change sheets and pillowcases before bed. I changed their pillow sheet every night for 3 nights after treatment.
  • Put combs and brushes in the freezer overnight.
  • Re-comb hair every couple of nights for a week, then once week, then once a month.

That’s everything I know right now, but feel free to ask questions and I’ll try to find an answer!

September 11, 2018 By
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5 In Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Our visit to Minnehaha Falls and the Minnesota State Fair

Minnehaha Falls!

We ticked an item off our Minnesota bucket list with a visit to Minnehaha falls. You can park pretty close to the Falls and hike as much or as little as you want to. The stairs are steep and rugged…but besides that, this area is fun for all ages. The waterfall is BEAUTIFUL but my favorite part was a huge open swimming area! We didn’t bring towels or suits…so we did not “swim” but we did play in the water for a little while.  Minnehaha Falls reminded me of Colorado, with the interesting trails and rocks to climb.

We also found an abandoned railroad track and a ‘secret garden’ across the street from the Falls.

Minnesota State Fair

We also visited the Minnesota State Fair. Minnesotans truly love their fair. As I asked locals what should go on my Minnesota Bucket List, many people recommended the Fair. I decided to check it out and see for myself if it lives up to the notoriety. Here are my thoughts …

Pros:

  • Really Good food! I tried the elote corn and a frozen mojito-like drink. Both were amazing. I wanted to get the fried pickles but it was in a crowded area and since my kids were tired … I decided I’d pass. We were happy to find a stand that had icees for $1! Score for my wallet!

  • Time with friends! We met some friends at the fair and enjoyed being with them – eating, exploring and catching up.
  • The Fair Map: Don’t forget to ask for a map when you get to the ticket booth. Since this was my first time at the fair, I had NO IDEA where to go or what to do. The map was very helpful!
  • Dairy Barn – Look for the butter carving and try the ice cream! Delicious!!!
  • Random entertainment: You may see a parade, street entertainers, a butter carving, or even a live birth – who knows what will happen at the fair!

We watched a parade and fun street performer!

  • SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO!!! There are hundreds of booths, barns, and exhibits to explore. Our favorite was the “Miracle of Birth” center. It was filled with adorable baby animals. We watched chicks pecking their way out of their eggs!

Cons:

  • Parking: Crazy and expensive! We waited in a line that was over two miles to get into the parking lot (cost: $14). Others recommend taking the shuttle (cost $5 per person); or parking in the nearby neighborhoods to avoid some of the traffic going in and out (cost $20).
  • Crowds: I went on a Wednesday, so it wasn’t even the busiest day, but there were parts of the fair that were just a sea of people. Thankfully, I only took two of my boys. It’s hard to just ”relax and have fun” in the scene pictured below:

The Wednesday crowd

  • LOTS of walking: If you have kids – bring a stroller or a wagon, or plan on giving some piggyback rides. My eight year old did fine, my 6-year-old did a lot of complaining that his feet hurt.
  • The cost: You can easily drop $100 without even knowing where your money went. BRING LOTS OF CASH!!! Most places are CASH ONLY!
    • Entrance fee: $10-15 per person
    • Parking: $14 minimum
    • Ear of corn: $7
    • Rides: $5 per person, per ride
    • Drinks: $5 and up

I told the boys we may wait a couple years before I’ve worked up enough energy (and saved up enough money!) to go back with them.

If you love the fair, tell me what you love about it!

River Valley Church

One morning, I walked into Caribou Coffee and saw some ladies chatting. They had their Bibles with them and were leaving at the same time as me, so I asked them if they belonged to a local church. They said they all went to River Valley Church and invited me to come! This is the church that had been recommended to us before we moved here, and a place I had already planned to visit. One of the ladies I met used to live in Colorado Springs and we discovered we had mutual friends (thanks to Facebook)!

We visited the church and the kids LOVED it! They come home with little study guides, asking if I could read the Bible with them. They are counting down the days until we go back.

September 6, 2018 By
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4 In Family/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Our “FREE” trampoline that cost us $150

I was out running when I noticed a mini-trampoline sitting by the side of the road with someone’s trash. I went home and got my car, loaded it in the back of my van, and brought it home.

My boys were delighted.

They carried it to the backyard and let the neighbors know: “WE GOT A TRAMPOLINE!”

The kids came over and LINED UP to take a turn!!

Note: There is a FULL-SIZE trampoline that they can all jump on TOGETHER right next door, but Clark had everyone excited about this LITTLE trampoline. So, that day, they all jumped, one-by-one.

(I REALLY wish I had taken a picture of them LINED UP while ONE kid jumped.)

After the first day, the newness and “excitement” wore off, and the little trampoline doesn’t get used very much. My plan was to bring it in the basement to use on rainy days or during the long Minnesota winter. However, Ted noticed that a couple of the springs were missing and warned me that someone would probably get hurt jumping on it. He asked me to set it out with the trash when it came last week.

Unfortunately, I forgot.

About two hours after the trash was taken, Clark was jumping on the little trampoline.

He was trying to complete a JUMP – SPIN – NINJA Kick.

The jump was high… the spin was good……the kick, great…

BUT THE LANDING…bad.

He landed on the side of his foot.

It hurt so bad he came in and laid on the couch. He wouldn’t play or even walk on it.

Clark doesn’t complain very much. So, after a couple hours of him laying on the couch and refusing to put pressure on it,  I decided to take him to Urgent Care to get an X-ray.

Thankfully, there was no broken bone, but the doctor said that she thought it was a sprained ankle and he should stay off of it for up to two weeks!

Telling Clark to stay off of his feet is like telling a bird not to fly.

We paid for the urgent care visit and for crutches.

Total: Almost $150

(I never should have picked up that FREE trampoline!)

It is now sitting out by the trash, a little too late.

We prayed for him that night for Clark to have a quick healing and miraculously, 24 hours later, his foot was feeling all better. We made him stay off of it for nearly 3 days – just to make sure he didn’t re -injure it. By Sunday, he was 100% back to himself.

You may (or may not) have noticed a DONATE button on the right side of my blog. I’m now accepting any and all donations from those who enjoy the blog and want to give to the #boymom fund.

Boymom fund includes: 

  • Keeping 4 (constantly hungry) boys fed, plus
  • all the doctor visits,
  • coffee for mom to keep up with it all!

Thanks for reading, and for all the love and support!

 

September 4, 2018 By
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3 In Faith/ Motherhood/ My Journey/ Raising boys/ Traveling

Feeling overwhelmed? Read this!

Lately as I’m approaching my bed to sleep at night, a wave of fear sweeps over me. I’m afraid to lay down in the dark because that is when the thoughts begin…thoughts of –

  • things I’ve done wrong and should have done differently.
  • thoughts of something bad happening to my kids
  • thoughts of them getting hurt or dying

Negative, painful, fearful thoughts were weighing me down, making my chest ache. I felt like I was suffocating. I could barely breathe, let alone sleep.

I know I can do something about this. I didn’t need to hold on to these fears and anxieties. I needed to purposely, actively, STOP the bad thoughts filling my mind.

The Bible tells us to:

“Cast ALL your ANXIETY on Him because He CARES for YOU!” I Peter 5:7

I began to pray over my worries and stresses. I prayed Psalm 91 for my children: “… With LONG LIFE with I satisfy him…”

Prayer allowed me to cast my anxiety on HIM. I was literally handing my worry and fear to God.

After just a couple of minutes of prayer, I honestly felt God take the heavy burden off me and carry it for me.

I “saw” (not literally, but in my mind) Him take the “backpack” that was weighing me down and place it on His shoulder!!!

Suddenly, the weight was lifted.

The fears and anxieties were replaced with joy and peace!

I could breathe. I could smile. I could rest!

Friends, give Christ your burden. Your fear. Your anxiety. Your negative thoughts. He wants to carry the load for you! Hand it over to Him in prayer.

The following Scriptures have helped me tremendously. Feel free to print these out and lay them beside your bed. Try to memorize one or two so that you can repeat them when you are feeling anxious or afraid:

Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;  he delivered me from all my fears.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You can also read Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 for further encouragement!

Do you have a favorite scripture, a quote, a book or something that has helped you when you are faced with fears and anxiety? Please share!

Another suggestion is to fall asleep to the sound of music. I love to play this song just before I go to sleep:

August 21, 2018 By
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2 In Memories/ Motherhood/ Raising boys

Who’s the teacher here?

Picture of Luke chasing bunnies taken by Courtney Freeman in Colorado Springs

 

As a former teacher and a mother to four, I often want to teach my children. There are so many things I want them to learn and to know. However, I am surprised at how much I can learn from THEM and how much they can teach me!
 
For instance, they teach me about LOVE. I love them because they are my children – not because of what they do, but because of who they are. This is how God loves YOU and me. We don’t need to do or be anything to be completely loved by Him!
 
They also teach me to enjoy the small things. The frog jumping through the grass, the ants on the sidewalk.
They taught me how much FUN backyard games can be. I can’t stop laughing during a game of Tag or Sharks and Minnows! It’s exhausting but it’s so.much.FUN!
They teach me to slow down. Little steps will eventually get you to where you need to go. 
They teach me to look forward with anticipation and not behind (with regret or sadness). When I told my kids that we were moving, they didn’t wallow in what we were leaving behind, they were excited about a new adventure! They were looking forward to meeting new friends and wanted to know all about the state that we would call “home!” They said goodbye cheerfully and waited with anticipation to make Minnesota their new home. Since arriving, they’ve been ‘all in!’
I’m thankful for what I’m learning from them each day. My goal is to stay engaged and to keep learning from them. Hopefully, they learn a few things from me (and Ted) too.
What have your children taught you? Leave me a comment! 
July 25, 2018 By
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0 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Family/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado

A PEEK into our WEEK: Breckenridge, hiking, time with friends, and racing!

Our Fourth of July

We took some red, white and blue pictures in Colorado Springs, but spent the 4th in Breckenridge! The boys loved the Parade and playing in the huge pile of snow that’s still on Peak 8. Ted and I enjoyed getting one last visit to Breckenridge before our move. We always enjoy the drive there – you never know what wildlife you’ll see. We stopped to watch some Buffalo roam on this trip.

 

Spent time with a childhood friend

Becky, a childhood friend, and two of her kids came to visit from Broomfield, CO. It was so fun having them spend 24 hours with us!

We hiked and explored, cooked together, and enjoyed catching up. We’re both Indiana girls and been friends all of our lives. I’ve enjoyed spending more time with her since we moved to Colorado.

Overdrive Raceway

The #eglyboys have been begging me to take them to Overdrive Raceway! We finally made it there, and they LOVED it! Clark drove as fast as he could – speeding around corners and weaving in and out between other drivers. George was slow and steady; cautiously driving around corners, and leading Paul “safely” around the track.

 

Hiking

We explored the Starsmore Nature Center and hiked in Cheyenne Canyon with friends. There are all kinds of trails you can follow in Cheyenne Canyon. However, Clark remembered one specific hike from a field trip and insisted we follow him. He promised us it would be beautiful! Somehow, he found the right trail, we followed him up a narrow passageway and from the top, we had an incredible 360 degree view of mountains and The Broadmoor! He makes an amazing tour guide for an 8-year-old.

The trail Clark insisted we follow.

 

One of my favorite things to do in Colorado is hiking and exploring with my boys!

 

Admiring the view!

That was our final ‘regular’ week in Colorado.…now we are packing and wrapping things up at home before we head to Minnesota! What did you do this week? Leave me a comment!

July 11, 2018 By
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0 In Making money/ Motherhood/ Moving/ Peek into our Week/ Review/ Things to do in Colorado

Six Tips for a Successful Garage Sale  

1. Gather stuff to sell!

  • Keep a bin/box in each level (or closet) of your house. Add items in the bin the minute you want to get rid of it.
  • Go through your storage area(s) – what haven’t you used that you can get rid of?
  • Go through your drawers and closets – what haven’t you worn that you can sell?
  • Go through bookshelves in your house – pull out any books you or your kids no longer read.
  • You can also ask friends to help by giving you stuff they want to get rid of, allowing you to sell those items.

 

2. Gather supplies!

  • Ask neighbors if you can borrow card tables.
  • Get change – lots of ones, fives and quarters
  • Buy price stickers and signs (Dollar Tree!)
  • Buy a fanny pack or some sort of wallet you can keep ATTACHED to you.
  • Buy lemonade, water bottles, pop and snacks for shoppers – my kids love to sell these and do really well with it.

 

3. Advertise!

  • Put an ad in garagesalefinder.com
  • Put an ad on craigslist
  • If it’s a neighborhood sale, let the coordinator know that you are participating so they include your house on the map.

 

4. Price your items!

  • PLEASE sell your items CHEAP! Remember, you want to GET RID OF EVERYTHING! It doesn’t matter if you paid $60 for those boots, list them for $5.

 

How to price clothes to SELL :

Take a piece of printer paper, and write/type:

  • Buy 1 item, pay $2
  • Buy 3 items, pay $5
  • Buy 10 items, pay $10

Leave several of these “pricing sheets” around your clothes!

This forces people to look through your stuff and BUY MORE so they can SAVE more – which means you will SELL MORE and MAKE MORE MONEY!

How to Price Books:

  • One book 25cents, 10 books for $1!

My kids have their own little table and love to sell drinks and snacks to hungry, thirsty, or just plain KIND customers!

How to price Snacks and drinks:

  •  50cents each

Optional last day – mark everything down by 50%. I LOVE it when I go to a sale and the owner says “Everything’s half price!” I always find stuff to buy!

Optional last hour – everything is 25 cents!!!

 

5: Prepare!

I leave cars parked outside my garage a few nights before the sale so I can start setting up.

The night before or morning of the sale, I go place “GARAGE SALE” signs out – pointing people the way to my house.

The Crazy Garage Sale Lady!

Morning of sale –  prepare your “FANNY PACK” that you WEAR ALL DAY!

  • lots of ones/fives/quarters
  • extra price stickers
  • a sharpie
  • your phone

Set most of your stuff out on your driveway so people who are driving by can SEE IT! The more they can see at first glance, the more they will want to stop and shop.

Start early – I was outside working at 6am for any early birds that wanted to stop by. The sale started at 8.

 

6. Negotiate and SELL!

If people ask if you will take $5 for an item you are selling for $10…always works with them. Remember – YOU WANT TO SELL EVERYTHING! You DON’T want to pack it up and donate it. And please, DO NOT bring it back inside your house!

 

Extra tips:

  • My neighborhood has a ONE DAY sale. I did this last year, and the day was fairly busy, but it’s hard to justify doing all this work for a ONE DAY SALE. This year I decided to open on Thursday, Friday and SATURDAY!
  • I didn’t do a LOT of pricing until the night before and morning of the sale. I DID have the price sheets written out that I mentioned earlier.
  • The morning of the sale (starting at 6 AM), I priced items as I set them on tables or placed them along my driveway.
  • OfferUp – Are you familiar with this app? I love it. It’s free to use and you can sell your stuff in three easy steps. Take a pic, describe your item, price it. I had several items from my garage sale listed on the app. When someone sent me a message about something they wanted, I told them I was having a garage sale, gave them my address and asked them to come by. Every person that came to pick up their item, bought even MORE items from my sale!

Thursday I had customers start arriving at 8 AM and slowed down by noon. I closed about 12:30 so I could do some things with my boys.

On Friday, customers starting arriving at 8 AM and slowed down by noon again. I closed at 12:30.

On Saturday, customers started arriving by 7 AM. This was my busiest day because the entire neighborhood had a sale. But again, it slowed way down after noon so I just started pricing everything WAY down. If someone picked something up, I’d say – “Take it for a quarter!”

Overall, it was a fairly successful sale. I made over $200 and the boys made almost $75 in snack and drink sales!!! Clark is always the rockstar salesperson. He stays and sells from the beginning til the very end.

With a few things that didn’t sell – I did three things.

1 – Packed a box for goodwill.

2 – Packed a box for a friend that could use some boy clothes.

3 – Packed the rest and gave to a friend who is having a sale NEXT weekend to raise money for a trip she wants to take!

 

Are there any tips YOU would suggest for a successful sale? Leave me a comment!

 

 

June 3, 2018 By
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0 In Colorado Springs/ Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado

80+ ideas for Summertime fun!

My kids love electronics – playing on the iPad, my phone, or computer. We didn’t have those options when I was a kid – but I do remember when Nintendo came out and I loved it. Mario Brothers sucked me in – I didn’t want to stop until I’d beat the dragon and WON the game. That’s how felt with just ONE game. Now our kids have endless games to choose from on their multiple electronic devices.

Recently I asked George to go play outside and found him like this…

That is NOT what I had in mind!

Here are 80 ideas to get your kids off those devices.

Instead:

    • playing real games,

    • exploring,

    • discovering,

    • learning and

    • using their imaginations

  • all while having tons of fun!!!!

  • Make and play with playdough – Click here for a recipe. We like to make a batch and then I give my boys ideas things to make: a snake, a snowman, a fidget spinner!

  • Free Draw – Set out Pencils, markers or crayons and blank paper – Set the timer for 15 minutes and encourage everyone to sit and draw. I’m amazed at some of the things they will come up with. If they don’t know what to draw, set a stuffed animal on the table or pull out a favorite book and ask their favorite page!

  • Read a book – When my oldest son says he’s bored, I’ll hand him a book to read to his little brother. I try to keep lots of interesting books around that peek their curiosity. It might be a book about a state we are visiting, or a comic-strip style book. I also like to read a few pages of a chapter book to my kids each day. The “Who Was” series is great! Or…
  • Create a “I’m Bored” Jar – If your kids say ‘I’m Bored’ – they have to pull a paper from the jar. Each paper lists a chore or activity.
  • Tell stories – Give them a title and let them create the story.

  • Make a book – at the beginning of last summer I gave each of my boys a blank book. Nearly every day I had them draw a picture or write a few words about what they/we did that day. It’s now a “Summer of 2017” memory book. This summer I’m going to do the same and make it a “Gratitude” journal. Each day they can draw a picture and write one thing they are grateful for. You can make a book by folding white paper together and stapling it…or purchasing a pre-made on amazon.

  • Play Tag – everyone will have fun and get some exercise, too!


  • Cook together – my boys love helping make any type of dessert. But they are also good “sous” chefs – peeling potatoes and carrots, etc. Last summer I taught George had to make some basics for his brothers – things like mac and cheese and grilled cheese. This summer I’ll be adding a few things to George’s list and including the younger ones as well. It’s not easy, but it build confidence in them and is a huge help once they know what to do. Other ideas of things to make with your kids: Pancakes and Personal Pizzas

  • Balloon games –  Blow up balloons and work together to keep them from touching the ground. Or, use a tennis racket outside with balloons.

  • Take a bike ride
  • Turn up fun music and have a Dance party
  • Fill a plastic tub with water, measuring cups and other toys
  • Wash the car together
  • Play Hide and Seek
  • Do a Puzzle together

  • Park Hop! We go park-hopping in the summer and try out as many as we can.
  • Create an obstacle course in your yard or around your house.
  • Backyard games – Soccer, sharks and minnows, kickball, catch

  • Turn on the Sprinklers and play in the water or find a splash park around town

  • Jump Rope – we 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.

  • Have a Lemonade stand 
  • Write a letter to a friend or relative

  • Play a card game or a board game  – Memory/Skipbo/Uno/Go Fish/Chess/Checkers – Last summer George and I played endless rounds of Skipbo. (I forgot how much I love that game.) The boys received “No Stress Chess” as a Christmas gift. This set helps you learn how to play chess. Now my boys love the game!
  • Tickle tackle – I stay in the middle of the room and on my knees. My boys try to run past me without getting “tickled and tackled!”
  • Play charades – even little ones can play this. Whisper what you want them to “act” out and let the sibling(s) guess what they are doing.

  • Go on an adventure – with four boys, there is always “one” who doesn’t want to do what I have planned. So I’ve learned to tell them we are going on an ‘adventure’ – this might be as simple as a hike, but it gets everyone out of the house!
  • Build a fort – with boxes, or pillows and blankets. Read a story in the fort! Or “Go on a Bear Hunt.”
  • Paper dolls are fun to create, color and decorate, and then to play with in pretend worlds. Print up a set for free. Or purchase this design kit – something I loved when I was a kid!
  • Exercise! It’s easy to be fit with these ABC moving games in the link.
  • Take dominos, playing cards or stones and create a path for their cars and trains.
  • Be a rainmaker. Fill a cup with water and top with shaving cream. Drip food dye onto the top of the fluff and watch it rain through to the water.
  • Play with sidewalk chalk on your driveway – trace each other, then draw clothes, a face, etc.
  • Make a ping-pong ball or marble roller coaster. You can make this one from cardboard tubes and magnets on your fridge or tape on a door.
  • Rube Goldberg machines are fascinating! Look around your house and see what you can use to create your own giant machine.
  • Simple play ideas are the best! Line a set of stairs with open boxes and drive your cars down them.
  • Melt Ice with salt – It’s cold and fascinating! Fill cups with colored water, freeze them, and watch the ice mix and melt as you add salt to the blocks.
  • Build a tent or make one – Tape ends of a tarp together and add a fan, the result is fun!
  • Have a balancing battle – Stack a book on your head and walk around an obstacle. Try it again with a pencil on your nose. Or holding a basket on a ball.
  • Mix oil and water together with whisks. Watch how the globs stay separate. Add a couple eye droppers and food dye for an afternoon of play.
  • DIY marble maze –  Your kids can make them with an empty cereal box, straws and glue! Swap to solve the maze puzzles.
  • Garden – Plant some seeds in your backyard and watch them grow.
  • Practice an instrument – Piano, keyboard, xylophone, harmonica, recorder or drums…make it a family band.
  • Blow bubbles –  Make some bubbles using dish washing soap, water, and sugar (for consistency).

  • Visit a Vacation Bible school – There’s one going on each week in your town. Some are free and they teach your kids awesome life (and eternal) lessons.
  • Have a picnic – Instead of eating lunch at your kitchen table for the umpteenth time, breakout the picnic basket and blanket.

  • Volunteer. Find a local person or organization in need (it could be your older neighbor). Offer to help out for an afternoon.

  • Go fishing. Find an ocean, lake, river, pond, or puddle and start fishing. Borrow equipment or spend a little money to rent it from the bait shop.
  • Have a parade (or at least see one).Find a Memorial Day, Independence Day, or any other day parade to attend. Or, start one yourself and lead the way.
  • Ice excavating – freeze some little things in a bowl of ice and let the kids dig them out

  • Race on Plasma cars – This is the best toy we’ve every owned. We’ve had one for ten years and it gets used constantly – rain or shine. My son received this as a gift from his grandparents when he turned 1 and he’s still using it almost 10 years later! We now own three because it’s still their favorite ride on toy. They all want to ride it and the neighbors love to borrow them too!

  • Go to all the indoor playgrounds at McDonald’s, Chick Fill A or any others you have in your town!

  • Visit the pet store

  • Nerf guns – have a battle or shoot at targets

  • Go to the zoo
  • Get a joke book from the library or Amazon and tell each other jokes!
  • Visit the library and participate in the summer reading program!

  • Sponge Bullseye – Draw rings on the driveway, get water balloons or wet sponges, stand back and try to throw it in the target.
  • Play Simon Says
  • Fly a kite
  • Throw a frisbee or go to frisbee park!

Luke at the Bear Creek Nature Center

  • Do shadow drawings as seen below:

If you are in Colorado Springs, CLICK HERE for 20 additional ideas of FREE Things to do around town!

I hope this inspires you to get out and play!

What is your favorite summer time activity? Leave me a comment!

May 22, 2018 By
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