Most years I throw my kids' birthday parties, and I generally enjoy planning them, even when it gets a little stressful. For both of my older girls, I threw them surprise parties when they turned 10. I wanted to...
Growing up in California, my parents would pack us in the car and set off to San Francisco every spring break. In those days there were no iPads, Nintendo Switches, or smartphones. The only things I had to entertain...
You did it again. You let your house get messy. You had a busy weekend and things got out of control. You don’t regret the quality family time but now you feel like you’re drowning in housework and are...
All-day kindergarten has become a hot topic among parents recently. It’s no secret that most have a strong opinion on whether or not they will be sending their child to kindergarten for a full day versus a half-day. I...
One of the things I find most frustrating while raising my daughter is the expectation that kids need to give hugs to people they know.
"Your cousin is leaving, give him a hug!"
"Oh, look, it’s grandma! Give her a hug!"
It’s...
This is just a season
Whether it’s a tough phase of life or a beautiful one, there will be a time in the near future when things are different. There are good times and trying times to come—both of which...
Being a mother is always a balancing act. Are your kids eating enough? Are they spending too much time on game systems or plopped in front of the TV? Are they spoiled?
A couple of years ago, I started thinking...
From the moment we become mothers, constant exhaustion tends to become our new normal. From the newborn stage—with lack of sleep and hormonal chaos—to trying to keep up with our toddlers' energizer-bunny level of constant energy, motherhood is tiring!...
It’s finally summer in Idaho Falls and it’s time to talk about the Summer Slide that all teachers are dreading. Although summer is a treasured time for kids—getting to play all day, not having to wake up early, and...
Let’s kick off this Family Meals on a Budget - Breakfast series with some fun recipes that even kids will love. I have a fairly picky child, so some of these recipes are the go-to ones we use often....
In + Around East Idaho
Befriend the Bats
My family had the chance to do Bat Night at the zoo in Idaho Falls this year, something that we had been looking forward...
