Oh, friends. If I had a dime for every time my kids talked about slime, I'd be a rich woman. Fluffy slime. Floam slime. Glitter slime. Galaxy slime. Butter slime. Iceburg slime. Clear slime. Not. Even. Kidding. You name the slime, my kids have made it. Though we may be in the midst of a slime craze right now, little did my kids realize that we made slime way before it was even cool. That's how much of a trend-setter their mom is. Cooler than cool and they don't even realize … [Read more...]
july 4th activities for kids & families
July 4th is almost here!! We're thrilled to get into the kitchen and make one of our most favorite holiday treats ever--our July 4th flag cake! But along with baking one of our favorite sweets, we've also thrown in some fun learning along the way--the girls and I spent the weekend in Philadelphia for the Digital Family Summit and had the opportunity not only to learn a ton and hang out with our friends, but we also got to see THE Liberty Bell up close and personal. It was a blast, and … [Read more...]
kid-friendly july 4th treat: flag cake
One of our favorite summertime traditions involves sweets (big surprise). Every year for as long as I can remember, the kids and I have made a July 4th flag cake. It’s simple. It’s sweet. And it’s so pretty, it’s hard to take. It's a 100% kid-friendly July 4th treat: the traditional flag cake. All you need is a boxed cake mix, cool whip, strawberries, and blueberries, and you’re ready to rock and roll. Here’s the skinny. . . Traditional July 4th Flag Cake: Though there’s … [Read more...]
make this summer rock: Smart Summer Challenge 2017!
I can't believe it! I really and truly cannot believe it! We made it through another school year, my friends. We. Did. It. Woooo-hooooooo! Next up? Summer. I'm over the moon thrilled and elated that summer is right around the corner! This year, I've got something so cool planned. So totally awesome and fabulous, I can't stand it. I've just finished up--after months of drafts!--the plans for our Smart Summer Challenge 2017. And it's going to rock. Totally, 110%, completely … [Read more...]
easy, engaging fun for kids: tabletop surprises
This summer is literally moving at the speed of light. I can't even believe we're nine weeks in. It's insane. And it has been so much fun--I really just don't want it to end. This past week was particularly fun because we were able to check off some serious back-to-school shopping, and the kids crafted and created their little hearts out. Here's the skinny. . . Easy, Engaging Fun for Kids--Tabletop Surprises: Monday: Taking a new approach to the ole school supply … [Read more...]
soap experiments: easy backyard summer fun
Friends--now that swim and dive season is over, we're doing a whole lot more free bird play, lazy mornings, and long afternoons at the pool. It's been great, and I am so thankful. But each and every day we try to do something where there's some sneaky learning involved. Something a little more focused or directed. Something that allows my crew to use their brains and let their imaginations run wild. One day last week, we had the pleasure of having … [Read more...]
learn to make cookies or cupcakes: online courses from Craftsy
I never would have imagined these courses could be quite so fun, but they are. This summer, Maddy, Owen, Cora, and I have been exploring the crazy insane range of online classes that Craftsy offers. We love them. The videos are clear, they're comprehensive, and they're fun. Online classes are a super idea for the summer--or any time--and the format of many of the courses really works well for upper elementary aged children. So one of the things I'm going to surprise the kids … [Read more...]
birdwatching math puzzles: super challenging and tricky
This summer as we usually do, I'm trying each week to include some new and exciting math fun. In the form of puzzles or chocolate challenges or number games or just a new spin on old school problem-solving, any way we can pull in Especially this year we've loved the challenging puzzles created by Erich Friedman. These puzzles, you guys, are tough. This week we tried the Birdwatching Puzzles. Here's the skinny. . . Birdwatching Math Puzzles--Super Challenging and Tricky: The … [Read more...]
need something fun and unplugged for kids?
Friends. We're rocking and rolling this summer. We're doing just about everything we can to keep ourselves smiling and sane in between 50 thousand swim and dive meets. And though it's so fun, just about every year we hit a wall come mid July. Before we know it, though, summer swim and dive will be over, and we'll (sob!) be getting ready for a new school year. So like we do every summer, we're playing with some tabletop surprises so that Maddy, Owen, and Cora can find their own time … [Read more...]
color puzzles: fun math and logic for kids
Sometimes it's hard for me to find cool ways of sneaking some math into our day, but recently we've been on a puzzle kick. Puzzles are a super way of getting your brain moving in clever and creative ways, allowing you to stretch those critical thinking skills. Math is so much more than just number recognition and basic facts. Math is actually the study of numbers, equations, functions, and geometric shapes and their relationships. And there's a whole lot when it comes to their … [Read more...]
outdoor adventures for the whole family: Shenandoah Valley
My crew is always up for a little adventure, especially when it's outdoors. So when Trekaroo invited us to visit and explore the Shenandoah Valley this spring, you better believe I was ready to pack my bags. But I will be totally honest when I say that my family's initial reaction was not the same as mine. When I told my husband and kids that we were going to the Shenandoah Valley for a quick weekend trip, they were a bit skeptical: I mean, how fun can it really be? We're not … [Read more...]
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