Category Archives: Play
Pro Kadima Invasion
Well, the game that was meant to be played while shuffling through powdery sand slathered in Panama Jack sunscreen has hit our living room. Pro Kadima is a ping-pongy game played with large wooden paddles and a hard foam ball. … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Family Activities, Home, Kids, Play, Random Fun
Tagged beach games, games, Panama Jack, ping pong, Pro Kadima, World Series
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Pippi Longstocking and Praise Dancing
I saw him twirling out of the corner of my eye. On the table, in socks, arms raised like a praise dancer. I opened my mouth to tell him to get off, but the words got stuck. Why not let … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play
Tagged baseball, Baseball card, Pippi Longstocking, praise dancing, Sports, United States
3 Comments
Ten Reasons I’ve Been MIA
It’s been awhile since I’ve gone ten days without a blog post! For you hangers-on, here are ten reasons for my absence: 1. We went to Florida for Spring Break, and in some comically-timed [or divinely ordained] sequence of events, … Continue reading
Posted in Art/Beautiful Things, Family, Family Activities, Food, God, gratitude, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Vacation
Tagged Florida, Recreation, Spring Break, Travel
4 Comments
OWL MOON Winner!
My, My! What astute readers have I! Last week Friday I shared a fun family idea and opened a contest to those of you who could correctly identify the name of the audio book our family listened to. All entrants … Continue reading
Posted in Book Lists, Book Review, Contest, Discoveries, Education, Family, Family Activities, Family Friday, FREE BOOK, Giveaway!, Home, Kids, Kids in School, Literature/Books, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Things I Love!, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged audio books, Blog Giveaway, Book Giveaway, Caldecott Award Winner, Contest, family activities, FREE BOOK, Hardware random number generator, Jane Yolen, Owl Moon
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Valentine’s Day Part 2: Hunting for Treasure
It’s probably the hibernating teacher within that brings me round to setting up riddles and scavenger hunts for my kids. Yes, after all these years of standing in slippers wiping butts and noses, there are moments when that alter-ego is … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Gifts, God, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Silly Lists, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged alter-ego, Bible, Bible verses, bingo, Classroom, Genesis, gift, Holiday, Home, John 3:16, Kids, look up 3:16, Opinions, Religion and Spirituality, Riddle, scavenger hunt, Spiritual Development, spiritual formation, teacher, the story of St. Valentine, valentine day
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Valentine’s Day Part 1: Spread Some Love
Don’t we all wish there was a fool-proof recipe or some sort of silicon mold that promised to shape our children into the caring, generous, love-filled humans we want them to be? Or perhaps some magic powder we could sprinkle … Continue reading
Posted in Compassion, CRAZY kids, Decor/Organizing, Discipline Issues, Education, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, God, gratitude, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Recipe/Kitchen Success!, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!
Tagged Awana, character education, compassion, cookies, Family Fun, Family Time, generosity, Home, kindness, Love Wins, sharing love, Spreading Love, teaching your kids, Valentine's Day
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Family Friday: Indoor Skeet Shooting
I have to give major props to my husband for this one–it’s totally his brain and creativity that adds so much color and life to our home. What can I say–he has a PhD. I guess you have to be … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Family Friday, Holidays, Kids, Marriage, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Things I Love!, Uncategorized
Tagged Balloon, chew, Christmas, Claire-Modern Family, cowboy, Family Fun, games, Guns, Kentucky, Luke-Modern Family, Modern Family, Nerf, Nerf Guns, Recreation, skeet shoot, Skeet shooting, Toy
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What Women Tell Me: Finding Freedom From The Secrets We Keep, by Anita Lustrea
“As a girl and young woman, I memorized hundreds of Scripture verses in vacation Bible school and in Sunday school. I grew up memorizing the hymn book. I didn’t, however, grow up understanding much about God’s grace and freedom.” [pg. … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, Discipline Issues, Discoveries, Faith, Family, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Holidays, Home, Kids, Kitchen/Culinary Woes, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Prayer, Seasons of Life, Social Justice, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, writing/work
Tagged Anita Lustrea, Bible, Christianity, Divine grace, God, Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio, Religion and Spirituality, secrets, Sunday school, theology, United States
3 Comments
Meet Rob and Kelly…
One thing I so appreciate about our family is that we try to be purposeful about planning special nights together where TV and telephones fall to the wayside, and imagination and teamwork grab the spotlight. They are nights when we … Continue reading
Posted in Contest, CRAZY kids, Education, Family, Holidays, Home, Kids, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Things I Love!
Tagged Family Challenge, Family Time, Saturday Nights at Home, Wii
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“What’s Included” In Mexico
Next month my husband and I are leaving the mess in the kitchen, turning on our heels, locking the doors, and escaping into the wild blue yonder together. Along with some of our best friends and our new friend, the … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Rants, Vacation
Tagged Cancún, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cozumel, Florida, Mexico, Punta Sur, Riviera Maya, vacation
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A Slow Unraveling
This fall my kitchen windows have seen more than just leaves changing color outside; they have stood witness to exhausting and unwelcome changes happening within our walls, around our table, in our kitchen. It’s taken me a more than a … Continue reading
Posted in Chores/Duties/Jobs, CRAZY kids, Family, Following Jesus, God, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Rants, Seasons of Life
Tagged BSF, BUSY FAMILY, calendars/schedules, College and University, College football, Help!, parisian tourist, preschool, rocket football, school, subway, Time
7 Comments
Bittersweet, by Shauna Niequist
What a delight to have been offered the opportunity to review Shauna Niequist’s latest book, Bittersweet, released last month by Zondervan. Stitched together with threads of the poetic and honest writing we devoured in Cold Tangerines, Shauna’s voice again rings … Continue reading
The Lure of Summer
My blogging aspirations for the summer have, quite obviously, fallen flat, dying the pathetic death that comes with goals left unattended. The weight of summer presses in on my heart and I am drawn, again and again, away from this … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Family, Food, Friends, God, gratitude, Home, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Silly Lists, Summer
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The Gift of Sand and Water
Anyone who knows me well can attest to the hold that the beach seems to have on me. The sound of pounding water, birds overhead, toes in sand, sun on shoulders, salty air — it’s almost too much. Living … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Education, Gifts, gratitude, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Things I Love!, Vacation
Tagged beach, Florida, Island, Sea Turtles, skim board
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Egg Cartons, Baby Chicks, and FREE Fun
My husband calls me a recycling maniac. I prefer to consider myself a “wise recycler” or “earth-conscious mother.” I’ll leave the title “maniac” to the kids, little angels though they are At any rate, I’ve been in the habit of … Continue reading
Posted in crafts, Discoveries, Family, Holidays, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!
Tagged Chicks, crafts, creativity, Easter, Egg-carton chicks, eggs, farms, Kids, Organic, re-using egg cartons, Spring
7 Comments
Yoga With Kids is Soooo [NOT] Relaxing…
Yoga. The word, even to non-practicers, seems to evoke a sense of calm and relaxation. It conjures up images of super-fit Californians poured into black yoga pants, lean muscles taught and glistening on some Pacific cliff overlooking the gorgeous, sparkling … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Education, Family, Fitness, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Tagged Bob Harper, by Poppy, California, calm, focus, football, Plank Position, serenity, The Biggest Loser, Triangle Pose, Weight Loss Yoga DVD, yoga, Yoga is Yummy
4 Comments
Ice Tunnels and Secret Caves
As the snow continues to threaten and temps stay frosty, cabin fever can set in and cause temporary insanity. To combat mental decline, we planned an adventure to Lake Michigan this weekend [free fun!] and the kids are already asking … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Family, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Thngs I Love!, Travel
Tagged beach, caves, Frozen water, ice tunnels, Lake Michigan, Little House on the Prairie, snow
2 Comments
Crazy for Brains
I lay there with one eye open, watching the TV move in blurry sequence. By now two kids warmed the sheets next to me so I could “rest my eyes.” Whatever cartoon Nick Jr. was peddling at that hour of … Continue reading
Posted in CRAZY kids, Discoveries, Music, Play, Random Fun
Tagged gnomes, I Feel Crazy, Laurie Berkner, Nick Jr., So I Jump in the Soup, TV
3 Comments
Thin Places: a memoir, by Mary DeMuth
“The Celts define a thin place as a place where heaven and the physical world collide, one of those serendipitous territories where eternity and the mundane meet. Thin describes the membrane between the two worlds, like a piece of vellum, … Continue reading
From “Pure Pleasure”
This coming February I will be taking part in a blog tour for Gary Thomas’ latest book, the phenomenal Pure Pleasure. When I was invited to do the review, the title intrigued me [subtitled: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About … Continue reading
Posted in Discoveries, Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following Jesus, Food, Friends, Gifts, God, gratitude, Home, Literature/Books, Marriage, Matters of the Heart, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Music, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged "Pure Pleasure", Book, Christmas, FREE BOOK, Gary Thomas, James 1:17, piety, pleasure, sex, Zondervan Publishers
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
BOO! I know, these pictures are scary, but I wanted to share in the festivities tonight by going 80′s punk: my own tribute to Cyndi Lauper. ‘Cause, haven’t you heard? Moms in the ‘burbs just wanna have fun! fishnets + … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Holidays, Kids, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life
Tagged 1980's music, Boo, cozy, Cyndi Lauper, Halloween, harvest, pumpkins, punk, Reformation Day
4 Comments
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Yesterday I got to go along with my nearly-4-year-old on his preschool field trip to a local farm. We visit this farm nearly every year, and I have to say, God’s lovely autumn creativity is rivaled only by the delicious … Continue reading
Four More Days
One of the great joys, and simultaneous “pinch-me’s” of my days, is a more fervent awareness of the slipping away. Time slipping away. Childhood…slipping. Days, seasons…slipping. It sounds depressing, I know, but actually I feel joyful that God has given … Continue reading
Posted in Family, gratitude, Growing Pains, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Seasons of Life
Tagged Berenstein Bears, boys, Changes, Children, Chocolate Milk, Family, God, Kids, kisses, Love, Motherhood, Seasons of Life, snuggling
7 Comments
You’ve Got a Friend
Our youngest doesn’t see being 3 as a handicap, but truth be told, at his young age he has already experienced age discrimination. I know. The Law Offices of Sam Bernstein are about to be put on speed dial, trust … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life
Tagged age discrimination, American Girl, Carole King, dirt bike, handicap, preschool, quad, Sam Bernstein, Tony Hawk, TurboTears, vocabulary
5 Comments
Daisy Chain
Last spring I was privileged to hear Mary DeMuth speak at a Christian Writer’s Conference. In a room full of other brothers and sisters, alike in our love for the Lord yet quite possibly different in our perceptions of faith, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Family, Friends, Heartbreak, Home, Kids, Literature/Books, Nature/Outdoors, Play
Tagged A Slow Burn, Christian Bookstore, Daisy Chain, Defiance, Francine Rivers, guilt, Harper Lee, Hope, Love, Mary DeMuth, redemption, remorse, sequel, suspense, Texas, Texas Trilogy, trilogy, Zondervan Publishers
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Medieval War Games
Well, they did it again. Made a game out of wood and jumping and self-inflicted wounds. Little did the feudal lords of the middle ages know that their catapulting weaponry would be such a hit in the backyards of the … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Play, Random Fun, Summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Bill Nye the Science Guy, Biology, catapult, Children, Family, Friendship, Kids, Lever, Midieval Times, Midieval Weapons, Pulley, Screw, Simple Machines, tools, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wedge
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Come On Over!
Friends! I’m excited to announce that I’ve been asked to do some blogging for West Michigan’s own kids’ TV show, Come On Over! Supported by the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, this show has already won numerous Michigan Emmy Awards and … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Come On Over, critics, Emmy Awards, Fun!, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, imagination, Neighbors, team, West Michigan
3 Comments
Arctic Dog Mushing On Labor Day
Leave it up to the neighborhood kids, my own included, to create a game that is so wonderfully ridiculous I can’t help but document it for you. Yesterday’s game had me laughing so hard the residual giggles followed me indoors … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Nature/Outdoors, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun, Seasons of Life, Summer, Uncategorized, Vehicles
Tagged Beef Chunks, Children, Family, Friends, Friendship, Fun!, Indian Summer, Jerky, Kids, Labor Day, Mushing, Neighbors, Nome, Salmon, Sled-dog racing, snow
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Teaching Kids About Friends
When I was in grade school I was teased mercilessly. I remember, shortly after having moved to a new school in the 5th grade, crying in bed at night and having to confess to my mom that I just didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Faith, Family, Friends, Home, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Play, Seasons of Life, Uncategorized
Tagged betrayal, bullies, Changes, Children, Disappointment, Faith, Family, Friends, Friendship, God, Jesus, Kids, Seasons of Life, Spiritual Development
3 Comments
[Homemade] Tents Make Good Neighbors
There was a moment today–one of those stop-you-in-your-tracks illuminations–that made me so grateful for the gifts in my life. Not only do I have clean water, access to food and electricity, a smog-free blue sky above me, and the love … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Friends, Home, Kids, Motherhood/Mommy Duties, Neighbors, Play, Random Fun
Tagged British Accent, Children, Corona, dolls, forts, Friends, Friendship, Fun!, girls, Giving/Sharing/Generosity, horses, Neighbors, tents, velour blankets
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