family

Life in an Instant: Family Love Hugs

by Stacy on January 29, 2012

Another week full of moments like these,

thanks to people like this!

There is nothing else like family! It has taken me a lifetime to create the one I’ve always dreamed of, but here they are in all their glory and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world! They mean everything to me.

As long as we’re talking family … let’s talk hugs!

Any other huggers out there? Tell me I’m not the only one! At least tell me you won’t mind when I wrap my arms around you the first time we meet.

Why do I hug? Well, because a good hug can improve the gloomiest of moods, put an end to the baddest of days and cure just about any other thing that ails you. It’s a way to let those you love know just how much you care about them, and a way to welcome the folks you want to know better in to your heart.

I tell my kids we each have a love tank. When we get tired and grumpy after a long day, that is our body telling us our tank is empty. Just like our stomachs need food, our love tank needs loving ~ hugs work especially well. Every night before bed we take turns filling up each other’s love tanks. We hold on to each other super tight, and usually end up squeezing and tickling each other until someone can’t take it anymore and sings out their tank is full.

Hard to end a night like that in a bad mood!
(Disclaimer: it happens, but not too often)

So tell me what was your favorite memory this week,
did you get any great hugs?

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Easter Lovely

by Stacy on April 4, 2010

“Easter is the demonstration of God
that life is essentially spiritual and timeless.”

~ Charles M. Crowe

[This collage is a collection of photos from Flickr, sadly the mosaic builder crashed before I could credit the original photographers. Thanks for looking, if one of these is your photo please let me know so I can give you credit ]

Here’s hoping your Easter was as laid back and peaceful as ours. I really couldn’t have asked for a better day, the kids were fabulous, the day wasn’t rushed and the food was delicious. I’ll go to bed this evening thankful for this special day and all that it means to us.

If you’ve never made a resurrection roll, I HIGHLY suggest you do so right away. Not only were these a nice way to share the story of Easter with my young children and toddlers but they tasted like homemade cinnamon rolls – on the table in less than 20 minutes! (And the kids made them even)

My healthified version of the carrot cake was a smashing success (if I do say so myself), but my icing recipe could still use some work though – I’ve never seen cream cheese icing go so horribly awry. I’ll share the carrot cake recipe with you very soon (promise) and keep my yucky icing recipe all to myself.

{No Picture Here – It was a cake only a Mom could love}

The Egg Hunt was a blast, but my 4 year old was a bit underwhelmed that the Easter Bunny put raisins and cereal in his eggs instead of more candy. (He did get a chocolate Easter bunny and some M&Ms in a few of the eggs). I salvaged the Easter Bunny’s reputation by having the kids dump their cranberries, assorted cereals and M&M’s into a bowl and showing them the Easter bunny really left them Easter Trail Mix. * This made it much more fun for them and I felt as if I succeeded in not turning Easter in to a sugary, sweet holiday *

Originally, I planned to fill the eggs with puzzle pieces but our eggs were too small to hold the pieces. Next year, though – there will be puzzle pieces in our eggs and Easter trail mix too (I love new traditions, especially ones you stumble on to by accident)

New to Us Traditions

Baking Carrot Cake & Leaving it out for the Easter Bunny
Making Resurrection Rolls for Easter breakfast
Easter Bunny Trail Mix
Puzzle pieces leading to the baskets and in the eggs

Did you start any new traditions in your home this year? I’m all Ears … get it

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A Year Ago Today

by Stacy on February 16, 2010

I can hardly believe an entire year has passed since I packed away my military uniforms and donned my full time mommy gear. A decision, my husband and I worked towards for three very long years before we could justifiably make me staying home full time with our children work for our family. Each and every one of those days leading up to that monumentus three year mark grew harder and harder for me to get up in the morning and force myself to go to work.

I know this is an issue each and every mother goes through when returning to the work place. I also know, each and every one of us has our own distinct set of circumstances, but I’m here to tell you if what you really want is to be with your children, the Mother Bear inside of you will find a way to make it work. Even if you are about to have your third child by the time you get there

All the saving we did, the sacrifices we made, the changes we’ve implemented. Each and every one of them …. was worth it. A million times over, a trillion times even.

Nothing could have prepared me for the rewarding, invigorating, awe-inspiring journey I was about to take and while I won’t claim to admit its all sunshine and roses, my memories are far more filled with special moments than dirty diapers or tantrums (today’s breakdown at the supermarket included).

I’d like to slowly let you in on my secrets, how we did it and why, in almost every aspect, we’re thriving now on a one income family and not sacrificing any of our wants for our children.

One of those, “If we can do it, Anyone can do it” type of feel good stories.

I hope you’ll find something in our story you can take with you and incorporate into your family’s way of life.

But for today, I thought I’d share a few of the reasons why I couldn’t imagine life any other way:

That Brotherly Bond

See what I mean?

The Three Musketeers

Afternoons of Puddle Jumpin’

And All-Together Family Outings

That’s what my dreams are made of

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5 Things I love about Christmas

by Stacy on November 24, 2009

1. Start the countdown! – I purchased many of my current Christmas decorations on my very 1st Christmas away from home. These decorations aren’t necessarily heirloom material, but I still love them as much as I did the day I found them. One of my all-time favorites is a small ceramic penguin with a countdown dial on his belly to help keep track of the days till Christmas. It’s my families version of the advent calendar and instead of a gift at the end of each day, we celebrate by turning down that dial and then finding joy in a family event that follows. It might be sharing a cup of hot cocoa, baking a batch of cookies, making a handmade ornament, or wrapping a gift for Dad but with each new day – my children know they’ll be an sharing in an activity that involves their hands, their heads and their heart.
2. Lighting the Way - Perhaps, my absolute favorite thing about the holiday season as a child was Twinkle Lights. There’s just something magical about these little bright beauties that transformed the neighborhoods and places I’d seen a hundred times before into a Winter Wonderland. Even as an adult, I can’t get enough – neighborhoods that band together to make the holidays more special through the eyes of a child, the wonder of a trip to the zoo blanketed with twinkling lights. Even surrounding myself with lights in my home {as a child, I always asked for my own strand to plug in near my bed} and more often than not, my parents would wake to find me asleep under the tree basking in its warm glow. I started sharing this tradition with my children early, my first born son was born with a mild case of jaundice just days before Christmas. I’d like to think, that in some magical way, it was all the time we spent snuggling under our tree that led to his speedy recovery. This year, I’ll have my first opportunity to take them to see the lights at the zoo. Honestly, I’m not sure who’s more excited.

3. Christmas Classics – I have a confession to make – I’m a Christmas music and movie junkie. I could play them all year long and never get tired of them. For everyone else’s sake, I am usually quite good about waiting till an appropriate time to begin but fortunately for me, my husband shares my passion for Christmas movies. Christmas movies play almost constantly in our house and we look forward to sharing this tradition with our children all year long.

4. Decorating the Tree – I’ve always had this vision of how a family was supposed to decorate the tree. The carols that would be playing, the gorgeous photos that would be taken, the hot chocolate that would be consumed, the popcorn that would be strung and the perfect tree that was to be the final outcome. Many years, three small children and a grouch of a husband later, I’m happy to announce I have given up on this June Cleaver image of Christmas and have instead embraced the version I have instead. In fact, watching my kids outfit themselves in stockings, tinsel and garland might be my favorite Christmas memory yet. The jingle of bells as they run back and forth from our storage totes to the tree finding just the right (albeit, very low) branch to hang the ornaments on. It’s these memories I hope I’ll remember when they’re older.

5. A Pajama Party – There’s not a whole lot of sleeping going on in any house on Christmas Eve. So much excitement left over from the day’s events, the undoubtable sugar overload and the anticipation of what’s to come all seem to combat sleepiness. Instead of fighting the fact that no one will be sleeping, I say relish it. Give everyone a new set of holiday pajamas, dance around the house, curl up on the couch and read Twas the Night Before Christmas – whatever it takes to finally wear them down enough to place a plate of cookies out for Santa and maybe even a tall glass of milk. Then off to bed they go – those chubby cheeked, squishy thighed cherubs that will be grown before you know it. After you’ve made your final preparations for Santa’s visit – take a moment to peek in on them – sound asleep just like angels all in their new pajamas. Ahh, now that’s Christmas heaven.

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Family Time – Snow White Movie Night

by Stacy on November 2, 2009

Halloween may be over, but chances are your child is still craving a little dress up time and imaginative play. What better way to give in to their desires, than with a themed movie night that is bound to be fun for your whole family!

I’m starting a new KSW series, I’ll call - Family Movie Nights – it’s kind of fitting that our first movie in the series is known as The One That Started Them All, the first animated feature film in America, ~*~*~ Snow White ~*~*~. From time to time, KSW will feature fun ideas for family togetherness that will not only help bring your family closer but also build lasting memories you will cherish for years to come.

Make an evening at home a little more interesting by inserting a few fun activities and creative treats into the mix. Personalize the experience for your kids but Keep it Simple by focusing on these three areas – Create, Eat & Watch

CREATE

The Snow White Crown is perfect for your little princess and adds some flair to your existing dress-up collection

The adorable felt broom works for boys or girls and will look super cute in your child’s play room

What could be more fun than creating your own version of the seven dwarves with recycled toilet paper rolls- I can almost hear them now, Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it’s off to work we go

Have your kids color these FREE Snow White Coloring pages and use them as placemats

EAT

Anything made from apples or in miniature {cause of the dwarves} will work but I’m loving the idea of serving a crisp juicy apple, alongside a few of these witch hat cookies. My family made these for Halloween, they’re the perfect cookie project for toddlers.

Or take the apple theme a step further: Set up DIY Candy Apple assembly area with a few containers of chocolate, caramel, and nuts and let the kids do the rest.

You could even whip up seven easy pies

WATCH

The brand-new Diamond Collection includes a Blu-Ray, high-definition version of the movie, a DVD copy of the film, and several bonus features not included on the 2001 DVD. KSW was given a promotional copy for review and was super impressed by the color quality of this picture.

Why We Love It: We love a movie with a message and this one has quite a few. There’s the obvious lessons for the kids – Don’t Accept Gifts from Strangers and What’s on the inside is even more beautiful than what’s on the outside, but there’s even a message behind the scenes in Snow White. You see, this movie is a true testament to the phrase Triumph over Adversity. You see, Walt Disney met quite a bit of resistance from friends, family and business partners while trying to produce this film. Despite even his wife’s pleas to halt production, Disney followed his heart and mortgaged his home to complete the film. And we’re so thrilled he did!

Why Diamond Edition You Ask? It’s like getting 2 movies for the price of one – If you’re like me than you have a stack of movies suitable for your children to take on long trips or to frineds and Grandma’s house. Then, you have your Disney Classics tucked away for safe keeping gathering dust on your shelf and being reserved for special occasions. Well, not anymore … You get one version, the Blu-Ray as a keepsake copy for your home and another DVD version that you can take with you wherever you go. Keep the Blu- Ray version in your home for family nights and carry the normal DVD version with you in the car, to a friends house, on a plane, whatever – whenever – whereever.

This is Disney’s first release in the “Diamond Collection” series of movies, get your copy from Amazon for just $19.99 & FREE shipping with Amazon Prime

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