Homeschooling 
Should we continue to teach our kids handwriting, especially cursive, in our digital age? Some think handwriting is as outdated for composition as the slide rule is for math. Others are eager to keep the art of handwriting alive. As a homeschooling parent, with all the things you could teach your child during the day — why spend time with handwriting? In honor of National Handwriting Day1 (yes, that is today — January 23), here are a few thoughts on handwriting... ...Read More
Foods One Pot Spicy Pork and Sweet Potato Stew
There’s nothing quite like a flavorful, filling stew at the end of a long day. Easy prep and short cook time elevate this pork and sweet potato stew to the next level for dinner options. Did I mention this recipe cooks in one pot? This one-pot spicy pork and sweet potato stew can be prepped, cooked, and on your dinner table in only 35 minutes! I don’t know about you, but this is dinner bliss for me. While I do love a good soup, a stew is a great alternative for dinner, all on its own. In case you weren’t already on board to try this tasty meal, let’s talk about the amazing ingredients. Pork tenderloin is ...Read More
14 Activities to Keep Preschoolers Busy While Homeschooling
Having a preschooler when you have older kids to homeschool can be a challenge! It becomes a juggling act when you throw a baby or two in the mix...yikes! When Cameron, my second-born, was almost 4 years old, he liked to push the limits with everything. Remember the time (before you had kids) you were in the grocery store and you saw that kid. You know. The one you turned your nose up at and confidently declared you'd never have a child that acted like that. That kid. Yep. That one was my second born. And yes, I remember naively declaring that I'd never have a child who acted like him *sigh*. Suffice it to say, ...Read More
9 Benefits of the Breastfeeding and Co-sleeping Relationship
Breastfeeding has been one of the most important parts of our "attachment parenting" journey for our son thus far, and I absolutely love being able to share about that experience with others—including our (sometimes controversial) breastfeeding and co-sleeping relationship. I strongly advocate for co-sleeping whenever it's possible to do safely, especially in the first year of life. A human infant (or any mammal baby for that matter) is not designed to leave the womb and be left alone to sleep. You may have heard some claim that a baby should be left alone to "self-soothe" or "self-comfort." These simply are not ...Read More
Teaching Kids About Seasons: an easy, educational activity
There are a lot of ways you can teach kids about the seasons of the year, but often we miss teaching them why there are seasons in the first place. What causes the changes in temperature and different weather patterns we see throughout the cycle of the year? This activity makes it easy to teach kids the why behind the seasonal changes. (Bear in mind, it takes about a year to complete this activity, but each step only takes you a minute or so to complete.) The goal of this activity is to show the different places on the horizon the sun rises throughout the course of a year. Teaching Kids About Seasons Activity ...Read More
Hearty Tuscan Sausage Potato Soup
Warm, flavorful soups are a great way to escape from the doldrums of dinner. This hearty Tuscan sausage potato soup is a great way to break free from the dinners you revisit week after week. If your family is anything like mine, you sometimes find yourself in a dinner rut. A dozen or so recipes make their way onto the meal prep list and stay on repeat for months at a time. While we lovingly prepare and enjoy these meals, we long for something different. Its true — variety is the spice of life. And you'll love adding this sausage potato soup to your dinner rotation during the cold days of winter! Far from bland, ...Read More
Teaching Preschool at Home on a Shoestring Budget!
With my first son, I spent a lot of time fretting about making sure he was prepared for school. I wanted to be sure he was prepared to excel at school. I read. I researched. And I even enrolled him in a Christian preschool that met 3 days a week for 3 hours. Fast forward many years and baby #5 entered the picture. I still want my littlest one to be prepared and well educated—I firmly believe a solid education serves our kids well. But I have no intentions on enrolling him in preschool. I'm confident this can be done (better) at home. In fact, I know, from experience, teaching preschool at home doesn't have to be ...Read More
Hearty, Gluten-Free Ground Beef Casserole
Serving a filling, delicious dinner to your family doesn’t always have to be an all-consuming event. This hearty, gluten-free ground beef casserole is the perfect dinner for those days when you need more time together than time spent preparing a meal. If you love meals that are put together easily and cook without constant stirring, this meal is for you! Who doesn’t need an easy dinner night once in a while? More satisfying, and healthier than a store-bought skillet meal, this casserole really utilizes your ground beef by taking minimal prep time, and only 30 minutes to bake! Eating a gluten-free diet can ...Read More
