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When the weather’s nice, one of my family’s favorite ways to spend time together is on a trail. That’s not entirely true. My husband and I love to hike, and my kids are happy as long as we have the right supplies. My children want snacks, my daughter a journal, and we must have a […]
The trees burst with color and seed, sprinkling down red, yellow, and pinecone confetti. All things pumpkin fill the senses. Plastic bag ghosts and pipe cleaner spiders decorate our home. A green witch on a bamboo stick cackles in the garden. Mums replace sunflowers. Whether fall is almost here or has already arrived, the world […]
One of the best places to learn is outside. Whether kids are doing homework, exploring, or just taking it all in, decent weather and a good place to sit are all you need to create a perfect classroom. Our family heads outside whenever we can. We play games, relax and spend time as a family. […]
Spring is one of our favorite times to pull out the craft bins. Plants and critters inspire us, and to be perfectly honest, I like messy things to happen outside as much as possible. The woods and yard also offer all sorts of free materials. There are no directions or rules. Nature crafts invite us […]
One of the things I love about leading creative writing circles and classes actually happens before class when I create the agenda we’ll follow to inspire reflection, truth-telling, and storytelling. My classes always include writing prompts. These prompts, usually created around a theme, author, or genre, may emerge thanks to a poem or a specific […]
Homeschoolers, I am so excited to share all the things about uHandy mobile microscopes with you! uHandy mobile microscopes are the homeschooling tools I’ve needed for our science units but didn’t know existed. Turns out, not only are they do these amazing tools exist, they are super easy to use, affordable, and uHandy’s mobile microscope […]
Is there anything better than the smell of a campfire, a hike in the woods, creek stomping or star gazing? My answer- Nothing better! I love the smell of burning wood, the crunch of acorns under our shoes, the hundreds of times my children have yelled out, “Mom, you have to see this!” Much of […]
Let me begin by saying it was REALLY hard to leave the magical island of Assateague. Only the promise that we’d return next year, for a much longer stay, allowed us to somewhat reluctantly head home. Having never been to Assateague Island, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew we’d be staying at a […]
Our favorite part of our home is our backyard. Playing backyard games makes it even better! As soon as it gets warm enough, the hammock is strung between the cedar trees, the fairy garden gets a makeover, and we start recreating where we’ll pretty much be living for the next several months. This year we’re […]
How do frogs breathe underwater? How much water does a tree drink in a day? Why do hedgehogs curl up in a ball? What would happen if we cut down all the trees? Children ask great questions! They are explorers. They smell the flowers, spot teeny tiny bugs, stop to watch bunnies, butterflies, and deer, […]
Our family takes a vacation twice a year. Sometimes we visit family. Sometimes our vacation is a long weekend just a couple hours away. Camping, long road trips, overseas travel, I love our time together and a break from our routine. Travel is one of our family’s top priorities. I didn’t always love our […]
My husband and I have decided Idaho is one of the most beautiful places we’ve traveled. Jagged mountains, rolling hills, forests of evergreens- beauty is around each winding pass. Rivers snake through the mountains. Crystal clear lakes are the perfect spots to swim. Idaho is an outdoor lovers place to be. Travel with kids to Southwest […]
This summer my family is visiting my parents in Southwestern Idaho. This is the second time in three years we’ve headed to see them. Both times we’ve been in genuine awe of Idaho’s beauty. It really is one of the prettiest places we’ve ever traveled! On our more recent trip, my parents took us into […]
Our family vacation to Idaho begins in just a few days. We’re heading west to see my folks and sister, to check out Craters of the Moon National Park, Sawtooth National Forest, Redfish Lake, and all the things Eagle and Boise have to offer. We’re excited! In preparation for the long plane and car rides, […]
Have you been to South Dakota? It is a special place for my family. Not only does it hold the plants, animals and material culture my husband has spent the last decade studying, two of our best family vacations were spent in South Dakota’s hills. Why? Every drive is scenic. Sunsets and storms roll in […]
