What Season Are You In?

What season are you in, Mama?

Sunday evenings at our house look like dessert (in this case, homemade brownies a la mode) for 6, plus a toddler portion in a bowl alongside.

But now, instead of me making dessert, my oldest makes it, sometimes consulting me on technique, sometimes doing it all by himself.

There was a time when there was only two of us, and Sunday evenings looked like walks to a coffee shop, and chatting leisurely over a shared pastry.

And there was a time when Sunday evenings were so crowded with little ones and their needs that Sunday evenings looked like a slow cooker meal and store bought cookies after watching a cartoon about whatever Bible story we had heard at church that morning.

What season are you in, Mama? There’s good to found in all of them, and God has you in this season in which you find yourself today for a reason. But don’t let the ‘gram fool you…each season certainly has its challenges as well, and you’re not the only one to struggle.

While you see a pic of beautifully crafted desserts made by a teen, you don’t see that Mama didn’t get a bite of hers before her ice cream was completely melted, because a toddler also lives in this house, and there were messes to clean and tears to dry before Mama sat down with the rest of the family.

There’s always a backstory, isn’t there?

Whatever season you’re in, Mama, look around and be thankful for where you are…but also realize, on those days when you feel helpless and overwhelmed, that this time isn’t forever, and a new season is coming, just as surely as Spring is causing green to creep across all the trees and grass around us.

Hang tight in this season, Mama…in spite of the hard bits, there is surely beauty too.

Cheering you on through the changing seasons!

#Seasons

#ChangingSeasons

#Thankful

#Teens #Teenagers

#Toddlers

#TheDaysAreLong

#Dessert

#MindfulMotherhood

#IntentionalMotherhood

#MomTruth

Saturday Baking

Happy Saturday, Mama. On Saturdays I rise early and bake for breakfast; and I always double the recipe so that we can have a baked treat with our eggs and potatoes on Sunday morning.

Today was Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins—our absolute FAVORITE way to use up mushy, over ripe bananas. And because it’s Saturday, I swapped out the oil in the recipe for melted butter. That simple swap takes the simplest baking recipe to the next level of goodness.

And so on most Saturday mornings we light candles (candlestick holders from our wedding day 19 years ago), feast on baked treats and thank God for the weekend before heading off to whatever adventures the day holds.

Does your family have any weekend traditions?

#Routines

#Rhythms

#Saturdays

#SaturdayBaking

#BananaMuffins

#KidsInTheKitchen

#KidsCooking

#Breakfast

#BreakfastIdeas

#WhatsForBreakfast

#CandlelitBreakfast

Daily Disciplines for a Life Well-Lived

What are you working on this season, Mama? Sometimes, it’s less about the victories, and more about the daily disciplines. Whether it be writing cursive, learning the multiplication tables, having a daily time with the Lord or washing the dishes, there are some things that simply need to be practiced daily, whether we feel like it or not, whether we are motivated or not.

With some things, it’s in the daily repetitive doing, over and over again, that leads to the kind of life you want to live, the life that helps you look more like the Mama that you want to be. Multiplied over a number of days, weeks, months and years, those tiny practices add up to a life well lived.

What is that thing that you’re putting off today, Mama? Here’s some gentle encouragement to set your phone down, take a deep breath, and do it. And then set a time to do it again tomorrow. Your future self will thank you—and your present self will be proud of you too.

Cheering you on in the daily disciplines!

#Discipline

#DailyDiscipline

#Habits

#HabitBuilding

#Routines

#Goals

#IntentionalMotherhood

#IntentionalParenting

#MindfulMotherhood

#MomTruth

English Muffin Pizzas for the Win!

Need an easy meal that’s good for picky eaters? Need a meal that your kids can make themselves? Need a meal that you can keep the ingredients on hand to have ready whenever you need something quick and you’re tempted to order takeout?

English Muffin Pizzas to the rescue! My six year old made these almost completely on her own the other day. I opened the muffins for her (I always keep a pack or two in the freezer so I have them when we need them.) I opened the can of sauce, and she spooned it into each muffin and then spread it out. I put a bit of garlic powder and oregano on each one, then I gave her a bowl of shredded mozzarella (something I keep stocked in our fridge) and she put the cheese on. Popped the tray in a 450 degree oven for 5 minutes, added a tossed salad and some sliced fruit, and it was a pretty healthy (and REALLY EASY) dinner that everyone loved, from the toddler to the teen.

English Muffin Pizzas

◦ ~1-2 Packages English Muffins (our family of 7 needs 2 packages)

◦ ~1 can Tomato Sauce

◦ ~1 Bag Mozzarella Cheese

◦ ~Garlic Powder/Oregano

Slice open English Muffins. Spread Tomato Sauce on each opened half. Sprinkle Garlic and Oregano to taste. Add Mozzarella Cheese on top of each muffin half. Bake at 450 degrees for 5 mins. Serve with salad and sliced fruit.

#EnglishMuffinPizzas

#KidsInTheKitchen

#KidsCook

#KidsCooking

#PickyEaters

#WhatsForDinner

#DinnerIdeas

#SupperIdeas

#WholeFoods

#EasyMeal

#SimpleMeal

#CheaterMeal

#FamilyDinner

Celebrating Kids’ Birthdays

Let’s talk birthdays, Mama.

I used to do it all. The big celebration for each child. A themed party, complete with food, games, activities or art, and of course, goodie bags.

Those were fun years…and my kids still talk about some of their favorite parties: the Ninja Warrior one, the Painting Canvas one, the Olympics one, the Lego one, the Musical Instruments one.

Lately though, we’ve scaled back. And you know what? My kids are just as happy with the simple celebration that we’ve continued, year in and year out since they were tiny.

On their birthday, the birthday child:

◦ ~Picks a simple Birthday Breakfast (usually muffins or coffee cake)

◦ ~Picks the Birthday Dinner (they’ve requested everything from shrimp & lobster on the grill to pancakes and even grilled cheese)

◦ ~Picks the Birthday Dessert (a homemade cake, pie or even sundaes with favorite toppings)

◦ ~Receives a few simple gifts from Mom & Dad and their siblings

◦ ~Has the wall behind the kitchen table “decorated” with birthday coloring pages colored by their siblings

◦ Siblings pitch in and do the birthday child’s chores (obviously, the littlest don’t have many chores, but the older ones LOVE this)

◦ Read “The Birthday Book”, a book about birthdays that we’ve had for years and that Dad reads aloud at bedtime on the night of the child’s birthday

Party or no, we’ve done this for all our kids’ birthdays since they were toddlers. Kids thrive on routine, and our kids eagerly anticipate their birthday and celebrating it as a family together. It’s not a huge celebration—but it’s ENOUGH, and they truly love every part of their special day. They talk about celebrating birthdays together when they’re grown up, and how they’ll cook favorite meals for each other.

Will I ever host a big birthday party again? I’m sure at some point I will. But definitely not every year—our kids are more than content with our simple celebration that centers on them (and it’s easier for Mama too).

All this to say…whatever you do for your kids’ birthdays is enough…don’t let the ‘Gram fool you into believing that you have to blow your budget or do something over the top to show your love. It’s the quiet, consistent rhythms and routines that you build, day to day and year to year that your kids will remember—whether it’s waking them up a certain way on their birthday, or that special ice cream place you take them to every year.

How do you celebrate your kids’ birthdays?

#Birthday

#BirthdayCelebration

#BirthdayPartyIdeas

#BirthdayParty

#SimpleBirthday

#SimpleCelebration

#SimpleLiving

#SlowDown

#DebtFreeLifestyle

#IntentionalMotherhood

#MomTruth

#MomOfMany

Tweens & Teens

Celebrating my second oldest turning 12 today—he’s 10

years older than the “baby” and it’s hard to believe how quickly the years have passed. It seems such a short time ago that he was the one sleepily snuggled on my lap, and suddenly, I blinked and he’s almost a teen.

It’s really true, Mama, the days are long but the years ARE so very short—and yet, I am so enjoying my big kids and the season they’re in. They are fascinating, funny, actually helpful, thoughtful, considerate, and simply really fun people to hang out with.

While I am still loving the “baby” snuggles (perhaps all the more as I see that season slowly coming to a close), I’m so grateful for the tweens and teens in our family as well. They are an unexpected gift that we continue to unwrap as the years pass.

What’s been an unexpected joy of yours as your kids grow older?

#TheDaysAreLongButTheYearsAreShort

#Seasons

#MomTruth

#MindfulMotherhood

#IntentionalMotherhood

#IntentionalParenting

Look for the Gems

A city park—even a less than desirable one—can be just as fun a place to play as a beautiful natural outdoor setting. Look for the gems around you, Mama, and be content where He’s called you. In being thankful for the good gifts from His hand, you’re also teaching your little ones to be thankful.

He sees you, and He’s called you to this place for this season of life. He didn’t make a mistake, and He hasn’t forgotten you.

What about your neighborhood are you thankful for?

#Contentment

#Thankful

#Grateful

#Seasons

#ForSuchATimeAsThis

#CityPlayground

#Playground

#UrbanJungle

#1000HoursOutside

Rough Day Reset

Hi Mama,

Don’t let the picture fool you. It was a gulp down the coffee cold after it was almost spilled several times type of morning around here. Have you had one of those days?

Our morning time of reading together was punctuated by screaming and crying. Lunchtime was chaotic. And naptime was a battle. But the littlest is (finally!) sleeping now, and I’m hoping to gather my thoughts for a few moments, take some time to read something inspiring, and get ready for a reset this afternoon. I think we will take snack outside and allow everyone to get out their energy in the fresh air and sunshine. And sunshine does Mama’s heart good as well.

Just because the day begins on q challenging note doesn’t mean it has to end that way.

How do you reset (both yourself and your kid(s) in the midst of a not-so-great day?

#Phew

#Reset

#MomTruth

#MomMoment

#RoughDay

#IntentionalMotherhood

#IntentionalParenting

#Coffee

#1000HoursOutside

Snowy Saturday

It’s a windy, snowy, stormy Saturday here in the Northeast, Mama, and we are sorting socks, straightening art supplies and dreaming of all things Spring.

We started our day making waffles, and the kids are playing games while the littlest one naps. We will probably do some Spring Art together (3 crayon or marker challenge?) later this afternoon.

What does your Saturday look like?

#Saturdays

#Winter

#ReadyForSpring

#SortingSocks

#Waffles

#SaturdayBreakfast

#WhatsForBreakfast

#KidsInTheKitchen

#KidsArt

#FamilyFun

#FamilyTime

#3MarkerChallenge

#Crayola

Friday Tidy

On Fridays, we tidy as a family.

“Friday Tidy” is what we call it, and we take an hour or two as a family to get the house “ready for weekend fun”. It’s been almost two years that we’ve had this routine, and the kids (though they still complain from time to time—they’re kids!) have come to expect it and accept it, and willingly participate.

We work together to quickly pick up, vacuum and dust the main living areas of our home, and then each week we have a different “focus area” that we declutter and do a deeper clean of together. When we finish we celebrate with a fun lunch (today was homemade deli sandwiches) and then play and relax together, knowing that our home is ready for whatever weekend plans we may have.

How do you do chores together as a family?

#FridayTidy

#Rhythms

#Routines

#LargeFamilyLogistics

#KidsChores

#Chores

#Housekeeping

#Homekeeping

#Housecleaning

#CleanItTogether

#ManyHandsMakeLightWork