Pretty much every year of my adult life I’ve attended at least one holiday gathering where there was a white elephant gift exchange. Though the specific details vary, most of these have involved the exchange of silly, strange, or humorous gifts. I often scramble around the house a day or two before a white elephant gift exchange in an … [Read more...] about 26 White Elephant Gifts from Around the House
7 Ways to Keep Babies and Toddlers Out of Christmas Trees
Young kids love the bright lights and shiny ornaments on Christmas trees as much as we do. Unfortunately, they don’t want to appreciate these by gazing at them like we do—they want to touch and perhaps even taste them! This is first and foremost a safety issue, but it’s also a frustration for parents who want to decorate for … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Keep Babies and Toddlers Out of Christmas Trees
Convertible Car Seats that are Suitable for Newborns
Two weeks ago I shared 4 reasons to skip the infant car seat in favor of a convertible one. As I noted in that post, not all convertible car seats are suitable for newborns. However, a great number of convertible car seats are perfect for newborns. How can you tell which are suitable and which aren’t? I’ll share the answer to this … [Read more...] about Convertible Car Seats that are Suitable for Newborns
Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Help?
A few months ago, when I was nearing the end of my third pregnancy, a friend from church asked if I needed help with anything. I didn’t give any thought to her question before I responded that we were doing fine and didn’t need any help. I thought about her question later that day, though, and realized that I actually did need help. … [Read more...] about Why Do We Have Such a Hard Time Accepting Help?
Autumn Snack Mix
My hands have been a little full recently, so I haven’t been doing a lot of baking. However, I still want to enjoy some delicious fall flavors. I came up with the idea for this snack mix when I was brainstorming snack ideas for my kids. They enjoyed it as much as I’d hoped! It’s not just for kids, though. Its complex mixture of flavors … [Read more...] about Autumn Snack Mix
4 Reasons to Skip the Infant Car Seat
When you’re purchasing a car seat for a baby, you have two options available to you: A rear-facing infant car seat or a rear-facing convertible car seat that is designed for use with infants. Typically, infant car seats work for babies for a maximum of one year (this will depend on the height and weight limits of a given seat, though there is … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons to Skip the Infant Car Seat
4 Things to Remember When It’s Hard to Give Thanks
Though I really try to be grateful throughout the year, I benefit from the heightened focus we place on gratitude during the weeks preceding Thanksgiving. I find it easy to be grateful during most Novembers, but there are years when it is exceedingly difficult because of the events that have taken place that year. What should we do … [Read more...] about 4 Things to Remember When It’s Hard to Give Thanks
You Walk More Quickly When You Face Forward
My girls and I walked a lot this past August and September. I was trying to stay upright and active as my third child’s due date approached, so we went on a walk every day that we could. My almost 4-year-old could walk at a brisk pace quite easily, but my 2-year-old struggled. Until the end of the summer, she had been riding in a stroller for … [Read more...] about You Walk More Quickly When You Face Forward
