My husband and I did NOT grow up camping like some people. We also rarely went on family vacations. I did not want that to be the case with my children. We cannot afford to go on vacations away with our current budget, so we bought a tent last Summer to camp in the backyard. The big kids stayed out but the entire family has not.
…
Does Summer sneak up on you and then you realize you just aren’t ready? Kids are out of school or have little homeschool work to do and then BOREDOM sets in. Unless you have a pool in your backyard or you live at a Summer Camp what are you to do? Check out these great ways to prepare for Summer BEFORE Summer is here!
1. Summer Wishlist- ask your kids to write down things they would like to do, learn, and places to go or explore over the Summer. Often we forget about simple things like flying kites, camping in the backyard, spending the week at Grandma’s house, visiting a local park. Ask your kids what they would like to do and try to help them accomplish those things this Summer!
2. Bucket List- I always mean to make one or create one. Last year I even printed out some freebies and NEVER got to laminating and using them. Super sad I know. This year I resolve to be on top of Summer and get some ideas going and then be more prepared to welcome baby #4 in August!
Good Work Academy’s Summer Bucket List– another homeschool family’s list!
A to Z Summer Bucket List
3. Plant a Garden or Visit a Farmer’s Market– get your veggies and flowers into the ground ASAP! You will be able to enjoy your bounty by the end of Summer! Try a new salad or grill recipe once your produce is ready to pick.
4. Schedule- create a daily or weekly schedule or routine. This will help you keep up with chores and household tasks while still enjoying an activity packed summer! Make sure to clean out your car of all trash and winter items. Re-stock your vehicle with beach towels, sunglasses, and camp chairs in order to enjoy an impromptu splash park adventure or Summer music concert in the park!
5. Monthly Calendar-This helps to accomplish all the trips to the library fro Summer reading club and all those free concerts in the park. I use a free template from and will also try using a google calendar to share with hubby, sister, and grandma’s this year.
6. Create a Summer Scrapbook-
7. Summer Reading Program- if your local library doesn’t have an awesome program or you live to far to go frequently or will be super pregnant like me then create your own!
8. Register for CAMPS and SCHOLARHSHIPS NOW! The early bird usually get the worm. most organizations have a limited number of scholarships to hand out and some are based on merit as well as need! Even if a program does specifically offer or state that they offer scholarships often it’s just a matter of asking.
9. Kids Bowl Free– Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first ever Kids Bowl Freeprogram. This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.
Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free games a day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations.
10. Collect new Summer recipes– get a jump start on grilling, fishing, and the hot weather by printing some new recipes that are perfect for Summer. Try some cool frozen treats, smoothie, frozen coffee, or homemade fruit salad recipes.
Linking up with:
I’ve got another Tommy Nelson book review and giveaway for you! Gotta love these great spiritually inspiring selections:) More to come over the next couple weeks. (Got a little behind in my reviews with my pregnancy and am making up for lost time:)
DESCRIPTION:
The LullaBible is a great gift for first-time mommies, baptisms, or dedications.
This precious book and CD is a must-have for every nursery. Because each of the lullabies delivers a message of God’s love from the Bible, little ones can fall asleep listening to the comforting assurance of God’s promises.
Beautifully illustrated, the LullaBible is a timeless treasury of stories and verses for parents and children to share. Recommended for ages 0-4. Depicts sweet, pastel illustrations for a child’s first steps toward spiritual growth.
REVIEW:
I saw this as an option for review and jumped at the chance since Big Red is not yet 3 yrs. old and baby #4 is on the way! I know this Bible and CD will be a great bonding activity for both littles. Lil’ Red loves music and I knew the songs would be wonderful. (We own another Bible with songs also created by Stephen Elkins and really enjoyed it!)
This is not just a Bible but a keepsake journal for mom’t to add their thoughts and memories. What a great way to remember the life of your baby or young child while they are still little. It is too precious a time NOT to record at least some of those moments that you share with your young child.
Would you like to view some of the pages inside? Check out this wonderful full-color preview!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received this book(s) free of charge from Thomas Nelson as part of their Tommy Mommy Review Program. All opinions are my own honest views along with the provided description that was provided as part of the program. Something2offer is not responsible for shipment of winning item(s).
For the past 7 ½ years of being a birth doula, I get the same reaction every time I answer the question, “What do you do?”. The word doula comes from the Greek, meaning female servent or caregiver. A birth doula is a woman who offers continuous physical and emotional support to a woman and her family before labor, during labor and after birth. Birth doula’s are not midwives. Doula’s do not do anything ‘medical’ for the woman or baby.
So what exactly do doula’s do? When I meet with a family, I usually will do a little experiment to show just how valuable support both physically and emotionally are when one is in pain. I will give one of the expectant parents (usually dad first ) an ice cube. I will ask them to hold it in his hands for one full minute. During this time, we do not talk or offer any advice or support at all. Then we do it again, this time offering words of encouragement and physical support such as rubbing shoulders, etc. Dads are usually amazed at the difference having support makes! There is less pain and the time goes by much faster! Having a birth doula is not having pain medication but it can ease some of the pain and discomfort of labor, simply by offering words of encouragement and physical support.
One of the ways a doula will help during labor is to encourage mom to move and listen to her body. A woman’s body was made to give birth. By moving and changing position often, (every 30-40 min), will help the baby move down and help the cervix to dilate. With a little (or sometimes a lot) of encouragement, mom will get on her hands and knees or onto the birth ball or rocking chair while laboring. Doula’s will offer both mom and dad reassurance, that what is happening is normal and to be expected during labor. A women’s fear of labor can actually inhibit labor from progressing. This fear can stem from a past labor and birth experience. It could come from not understanding labor and birth and being afraid of the pain. Sometimes fear comes from past experiences such as physical or sexual abuse. A doula will help the woman work through her fears before labor and then work to remind her during labor, that all that is happening is normal and not to be feared. A doula will also be able to provide information to the parents so they can made informed decisions during labor.
Do birth doula’s leave dad out of the picture? NO! We are a team! Dad is a very important part of that team! A laboring mother wants him close by. As women, we expect that after taking a birth class, that dad to be will be able to bring to mind, all that he has learned/heard about in class and be able to implement it at the right time during labor and birth. As much as dad wants to be able to alleviate the pain of childbirth, he cannot. Having a doula to help gently remind him of what to do is a great help. As a birth doula, having dad there and take an active role in the labor process is a big help. If a woman needs counter pressure on her back, having 2 sets of hands is a must! It gets very tiring for one person to keep that up for the duration of labor or until the baby decides to get in the right position. Sometimes dad does not know what position to have mom get in to get the baby to rotate or move down. Mom’s want dad nearby. They are a comfort to them.
Research has shown that having a doula reduces the length of labor, the cesarean rate, the need for Pitocin, need for pain medication and the need for medical interventions such as forceps. Having continues support in labor, compliments care and also reduces the cost of obstetrical care.
You are in charge of your own labor and birth. A doula is there to help facilitate those goals that you have set. Even if you want an epidural, a doula can help with continuous emotional support and even some physical support. There are still many things you can do with an epidural in place to help move the baby down while remaining in bed.
Doulas are trained professionals that are certified through many different groups… a few are, DONA, ALICE and CAPPA. They are trained to understand the physiology of birth and emotional needs of a mother in labor. Depending on the area you live, a doula can cost between $400-$800…sometimes more in areas like CA or NY.
Having a birth doula does not take the pain of labor away, but it can greatly reduce the pain. Physical touch is stronger than the pain receptors in our brain. By using massage or gentle touching or even water, the amount of pain you feel can be reduced.
I am the wife to Jeff (been married for 23 years this June) and the mom to 5 girls and one boy. I have been homeschooling for the past 10 years. I graduated from MSU with a degree in special education for the hearing impaired. I received my doula certification in 2006 and my doula services are called Labor of Love for anyone in Miami Valley Ohio area.
Linking Up with:
REVIEW:
Since I had already purchased the Jesus Calling for adults last year I jumped on the chance to check out the Jesus Calling for Kids version. This version is a hardcover book that is recommended for ages 5-10. We are really out of habit for devotions and Bible reading and I thought having something similar for both mom and kids might help keep us all on track!
We love that it has a gentle voice and great ways to connect to your child’s heart. Short easy reads help to make daily readings go a little faster for little ones and are great for independent readers.
The hardcover is very sturdy and will take lots of wear before falling apart!
DESCRIPTION:
Devotions written as if Jesus is speaking directly to a child’s heart.
Based on her original Jesus Calling, this version has been adapted in a language and fashion that kids and tweens can relate to their everyday lives.
After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down what she believed He was saying to her through Scripture. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her devotionals. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers, and now young readers, with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.
Not sure if this would be right for your kids? Well, Tommy Nelson has an awesome preview for you to check this book out!
Disclosure: I received this book(s) free of charge from Thomas Nelson as part of their Tommy Mommy Review Program. All opinions are my own honest views along with the provided description that was provided as part of the program. Something2offer is not responsible for shipment of winning item(s).
