Chalkboard Quotes: Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today

A few years back, right after we moved into this house, my sweet mother-in-law gave us this frame. It was another color and didn’t have anything behind it. We debated between using it to hang wreaths or other stuff in it or get a large picture printed for it. But I had wanted a bigContinueContinue reading “Chalkboard Quotes: Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today”

Adventures with Four: Family Cruise Vacation Packing- Part 2: Plan Your Days and Organize to Avoid Overpacking

If you read my first post on packing for a family cruise vacation, you’ll know that overpacking isn’t worth it. Now, we can talk about how to avoid overpacking. It all starts with planning. Here’s a few things to consider as you start the planning process: What is your schedule? What kind of excursions, ifContinueContinue reading “Adventures with Four: Family Cruise Vacation Packing- Part 2: Plan Your Days and Organize to Avoid Overpacking”

Blueberry Crumble Pie with Shortbread Crust

I love blueberries….any way you fix them. Growing up, my Grammy made a lot of blueberry muffins, blueberry cobblers, and, occasionally, a blueberry pie. For quite a few summers in a row, one of my Uncle Mo’s good friends provided a steady supply of fresh blueberries.  Grammy always froze them and we had (almost) freshContinueContinue reading “Blueberry Crumble Pie with Shortbread Crust”

Adventures with Four: Roadtrip to See Grandad at the Blowin’ O

My Grandad (my dad’s dad) is my last living grandparent. He’s had a couple of strokes in the last year or so and has had a rough time in general since my Granny has passed. It’s to be expected when you’ve lived a good, long life and lost your wife of 65 years. Currently, he’sContinueContinue reading “Adventures with Four: Roadtrip to See Grandad at the Blowin’ O”

Adventures with Four: Family Cruise Vacation Packing- Part 1: Why not to Overpack

We just got back from a wonderful (and a little exhausting) family cruise vacation.  You can see highlights at my previous post.  If you’ve ever packed for a cruise, you know how easy it is to overpack. This is the first cruise that I can say that I actually didn’t overpack- for me or theContinueContinue reading “Adventures with Four: Family Cruise Vacation Packing- Part 1: Why not to Overpack”

Photo Friday: Family Cruise Vacation 2018 Highlights

As I write this today, I’m recovering (and doing loads and loads of laundry) from our family vacation.  It was fantastic and exhausting.  We started out last Friday roadtripping down to Galveston with the littles (stay tuned for a post on road trips with toddlers), followed by an afternoon at Schlitterbahn in Galveston.  Saturday, weContinueContinue reading “Photo Friday: Family Cruise Vacation 2018 Highlights”

Photo Friday: Independence Day 2018

We celebrated Independence Day this year with a shrimp boil at Aunt Haley’s House with the Graves family, minus Will and Anna, who were at Joe Daddy’s house for the holiday. Aunt Haley had a sprinkler going, fully loaded bubble guns, and poppers (since we’re in a burn ban, plus two year olds and realContinueContinue reading “Photo Friday: Independence Day 2018”

Sprinkler Saturday

What do you do when it’s hot outside and you need to keep the troops entertained??? Go outside and play in the sprinkler!!! And Garen got out his fancy lenses to capture a few quick photos. I think they turned out pretty cool, don’t you?!?

Mommy Review Monday: Care.com for Finding Childcare

I have excellent babysitters/nannies that help us out.  And, with four kids and both of us traveling for work, boy, do we need it?!?  When I tell people that we have great sitters they typically ask me how I found them.  It’s hard to find good help from word-of-mouth.  If you hear about someone who’sContinueContinue reading “Mommy Review Monday: Care.com for Finding Childcare”