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Name: Sheet Pan Pancakes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups boxed pancake mix; 2 cups of water; 2 Tablespoons of Vanilla

Sheet Pan Pancakes

January 5, 2021 by Rachel 10 Comments

My kids have always been picky eaters. Once they find something they absolutely love, they stick to it. Big time. My eldest loves a bowl of cereal, but that has been an acquired taste. In my 8+ years as a mom, I’ve tried to feed my kids every breakfast food imaginable. But the one thing they always seem to want? Pancakes. And pancakes just so happen to be my least favorite breakfast food to make. Mostly because three kids times three pancakes each means I am standing at the stovetop over a pan for nearly an hour (to make sure there are enough for my husband and I, as well as leftovers). It can be downright daunting! So I got creative. These easy weekday (or weekend) morning sheet pan pancakes are the perfect way to make pancakes for a crowd!

Getting creative and innovative

Listen, every mom has had moments of being at home with their kids at some point in their motherhood journey. But this pandemic took it to a whole other level! Suddenly our kids — and, who am I kidding, we! — are eating 24/7. Grocery deliveries and BJ’s Drive Up orders are now happening twice weekly. It’s basically insanity. And during insanity comes ingenuity. Is that the saying? Probably (most definitely) not, but let’s roll with it.

Who would have thought that something as simple as foregoing the griddle could be so life-changing? Okay, perhaps life-changing is a bit dramatic. But morning changing? Totally and completely accurate.

What you’ll need

This recipe is beyond easy peasy. Just grab your favorite pancake mix, water, and some vanilla, and you are good to go! Oh — and a sheet pan. Any old sheet pan will do! Just be sure you grease it (we prefer avocado oil or coconut oil).

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Yield: 12 servings

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups boxed pancake mix
2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons of Vanilla

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP ONE -

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

STEP TWO -

Mix together your pancake mix, water, and vanilla.

STEP THREE -

On a lightly greased sheet pan, pour in your pancake mix.

STEP FOUR -

Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

STEP FIVE -

Allow it to cool before cutting into it.

STEP 6 -

Cut into 12 servings. Top with butter, syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and/or more! ENJOY!

Weekday Morning Sheet Pan Pancakes

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Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

November 27, 2020 by Rachel 5 Comments

So many friends are asking me about homeschooling these days. The pandemic seems like the perfect time to start homeschooling. If you’ve been on the fence about homeschooling for a while, now is the time to give it a try. Your risk is low and the benefits of homeschooling during COVID19 are many!

Why You Should Try Homeschooling During COVID19

When the pandemic first became a thing, we had just enjoyed a nice bonfire with friends. The next day the entire United States suddenly realized that COVID19 was real and present danger. The realization literally hit us overnight, didn’t it? Parents and schools everywhere started grappling with the question – what do we do now? And for many of us, at least some of the answers to that question have been dictated by our state and local governments. Schools went virtual, sports seasons were canceled, graduation was a drive-thru event, and working parents have had to wrestle through massive shake-ups in child care.

As Fall approached, the reality that COVID19 is not going away any time soon sat in. Schools started virtually in the Fall, and for many of us, that’s not going to change for a while. Virtual school is a challenge even with training, but mass training staff has proven too much for many school districts. So far, virtual schooling has been a disappointment for many.

Homeschooling During COVID19 is on the rise.

In the meantime, homeschool enrollment across the United States continues to rise. Parents have watched their peers homeschooling for several decades now. It’s starting to sink in among the general public that homeschooling is neither fringe, nor weird, nor ineffective. In fact, homeschool education has proven to be just the opposite. More mainstream than ever, homeschooled students are excelling in colleges and in their social lives in spite of the prejudices faced in the past.

So why is now a good time to try homeschooling?

Homeschoolers Face Less Prejudice During COVID19

Well, let’s start with prejudice. With so many new homeschool families in the United States, prejudice from friends and neighbors is becoming a thing of the past. In most cases, you can begin homeschooling today with the support of your family and friends because they’ve been experiencing Covid19 school and have been wondering about homeschooling themselves. Now’s your chance for a no-judgment beginning.

You Can Start Homeschooling Slowly During COVID19

Another great reason to start homeschooling during COVID19, you can take a “soft start”, and still know that your child is getting more than they were last week in virtual school. Now, I know that many local schools are doing okay with virtual school, but not all. And furthermore, I am aware that many teachers are working like crazy to figure this thing out. I get it.

But, I also know first hand the power of having one-on-one time to teach your kids, reading and writing, and arithmetic. Life can’t stop during COVID19 and neither should education. With homeschooling, you can make the next year count in a big way.

Homeschooling During COVID19 will Save You Time.

Homeschooling is going to save you time. You’ve already realized that keeping your child focused on a screen, and on track with assignments is way harder than it should be. You may be working from home, or managing your child’s virtual school experience after a long day at work. Either way, homeschooling will help. What takes eight hours a day in public school will only take about three hours a day at home (for elementary school).

You and your child can spend less time in front of a screen and more time experiencing life together. Taking walks, exploring parks, cooking, and playing games are all great ways to spend time at home after school work is done.

Experience Incredible Homeschool Support during the pandemic.

Support for homeschooling is off the charts right now. If you choose to start homeschooling during the pandemic, you are going to find that local homeschool support groups, homeschool publishers, and homeschool organizations across the country are ramped up to help you. You can find local, state, and national social media groups to help with any homeschool challenge you face, from legal requirements to special needs homeschooling. The homeschool support atmosphere has always been incredible and has only gotten better as so many new families join the movement.

Provide Your Kids with a COVID19 Emotional Safety Net through Homeschooling

Homeschooling provides many opportunities for you to reassure your kids that everything is going to be okay. As kids see COVID19 dragging on and on, they cannot help but worry. Kids might not be communicating their fears, but fear is there lurking. One of my kids spent most of the morning frustrated and sad today. He was unable to really explain why everything was just so hard. The emotions of pandemic life were getting to him. Instead of having to sit in front of a screen visible to his friends with tears running down his cheeks, he was able to sit next to me on the couch and talk it out.

We were able to take breaks – long breaks – and give him room to breathe and process emotions. We aren’t going to get around to his science lesson today until after supper, and you know what? That’s okay because as the homeschool mom I set the pace. And today the pace was all about dealing with big emotions because progress can come later. Reassurance for his precious worried heart is more important in the long run.

As many families across the United States are learning, homeschooling is a great way to manage the education of your kids during this pandemic.

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Children’s Books Every Child Should Read

October 11, 2020 by Rachel 18 Comments

Children’s books are extremely important. They impart wisdom and knowledge and promote a love for stories and reading. Reading to your kids is just as important, and some of these books are best read allowed. Many of them make excellent bedtime stories. Most of the children’s books below are classics, although some are nearly forgotten. Each of these books is a must buy, in my opinion, for every child, though some are difficult to come by.

Children's Books Every Child Should Read

Mother Goose

The great introductory book for all children is Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. They notoriously make no sense and sometimes don’t even make a proper rhyme. This collection contains especially beautiful artwork featuring creative reimaginings of the original context or subject of each poem. It also makes for a storytime session that you can lengthen or shorten to suit your interests.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

This is one compact bit of learning material for a child and it’s beautifully told. Metamorphosis, counting, says of the week, and nutrition is all covered in one very simple narrative. The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other books by Eric Carle are imagination fueled and full of fun for the youngest book lovers.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Oh, what a fun way to learn the alphabet. Not just the letters, but their shapes, too. This book works brilliantly to entertain little ones when read aloud with plenty of excitement. Especially when it comes to reciting the title.

Goodnight Moon

No nursery should be without this book. It’s a wonderful way to lull your little ones to sleep. Not only is the story very calming, but it teaches kids a good way to soothe themselves by naming and saying good night to all the things around them.

This classic crack up of a story is so relatable and a lot of fun for kids to see what this mouse gets into next. It’s a really good introduction to association, logic, and chains of reasoning, besides being absolutely hilarious.

Sam and the Firefly

This wholesome story about a pair of new friends has a lot of good in it. It teaches much about play and morality. What’s fun for Gus is not what’s good for others and becomes downright dangerous. Sam tries to stop Gus from doing bad things, but he’s unsuccessful. Gus has to learn the error of his ways, and Sam rescues him in time to become a hero. It’s a simple story, but good, and in the meantime, it teaches a bit about spelling and opposites.

Never Play Music Right Next to The Zoo

This is an enjoyable book creatively authored by the actor John Lithgow. It’s all about a boy who gets bored at a concert which just so happens to be right next to the city zoo. A dream sequence unfolds of animals escaping and taking over the orchestra.

Where the Wild Things Are

Every child has the capacity to be king of all wild things. The journey of Max is so wonderful because it’s all about kids learning to gain control of themselves. When they are wild, they become isolated, and they must work through what they are feeling, but then when they come back home, they’ll find (like Max) that their supper is waiting for them (and it will still be hot).

Out of the Nursery, Into the Night

This lovely book of illustrations has some poems to it. They are nicely matched together, and the whole book makes a lovely bedtime story. Each poem and illustration features a particularly unique teddy bear come to life the way they are in a child’s mind.

The Rabbit Listened

This is another wonderful tale about a small boy who must deal with emotions. In this case, the child has great potential as a builder with blocks, but his grand vision is destroyed. In the aftermath of the tumbled down blocks, the boy is met by several animals who tell him how he ought to feel. When their advice fails, they give up on him. All except one rabbit, who is willing to listen while the boy deals with his feelings in his own time.

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub

This one will make you kid laugh, and again, it’s got such wonderful illustrations. In this story a page must get King Bidgood out of the bathtub, but he is having no luck. The king tries to do everything from the tub from battling ships to a masquerade ball.

Daniel O’Rourke: An Irish Tale

This surreal picture book tells of a young man who has an evening out at a party and then falls asleep under a Pooka tower. The Pooka visits on him a strange adventure with details tied to the events of the night. Is Daniel dreaming?

Jumanji

Another strange adventure. This book features a mysterious board game with mystical powers. Whoever plays the game, gets sucked into its reality and its reality spills out of the box in the form of dangerous vines, stampeding rhinos, and a mad hunter. The players must complete the game for everything to return to normal—life before pause buttons.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

This book says it all. It’s maybe not the best for children with a lot of anxiety, although maybe they can relate. It’s all about everything that can go wrong and does. It also explores the idea that maybe people have it better somewhere else, which of course, they don’t.

Aesop’s Favorites

A collection of Aesop’s Fables. These short, interesting narratives make excellent digestible pellets of wisdom that kids can understand. Like Mother Goose Rhymes, it is a sort of introduction, but to broader concepts rather than just silly nonsensical rhymes (really, some of the rhymes are even just the same word).

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an excellent return to nonsense, once a child can understand what nonsense is. It’s a great children’s book, but it’s one that kids of all ages, even adults, can study to their heart’s content.

Saint George and the Dragon

The story of Saint George and the Dragon is very popular in Western Europe. It’s an archetypal story full of themes and characters used throughout the ages. This version of the story is ornate and very classically illustrated, which lends a nice touch to the 13th-century tale of the dragon-slaying knight.

Gulliver’s Travels

This classic children’s book may slip below your radar, but it’s a remarkable adventure that bears some similarities to Alice in Wonderland. Allusions to both stories appear in very early cartoons by Walt Disney. Gulliver’s Travels maintained popularity over the decades until the box office flop starring Jack Black. However, the original story, rife with satire, still sparks the imagination.

Charlotte’s Web

This childhood favorite is a must. The story is such a great way to explore themes of friendship and sacrifice. Fun fact, Charlotte’s Web was banned in Kansas as recently as 2006.

The Secret Garden

This children’s story offers a more robust narrative with themes of renewal and redemption. The lives of a group of children begin to grow and flourish in the presence of the garden, leading to healing and reconciliation, particularly between father and son.

Wind in the Willows

This classic tale is yet another must-own for children. The novel is perfect for bedtime stories, which is precisely how the adventures within it were originally intended to be read. This book features the notorious Mr. Toad as well as his friends Mole, Rat, and Badger.

Story of King Arthur

The story of King Arthur should be timeless, and it should be read aloud to every child. This version of the stories of King Arthur is for just that. The book goes beyond the Sword and the Stone to give the full reach of the legend.

Treasure Island

This swashbuckling Adventure brilliantly tells of the adventures and dangers of pirate life through the eyes of Jim Hawkins. The coming of age tale is single-handedly responsible for how we have come to view pirates in the present day. Originally published as a serial in a children’s magazine, this 19th-century classic still has everything for young readers.

The Jungle Book

Another 19th century coming of age story, the Jungle Book tells the extravagant tale of a boy raised by wolves and taught the law of the jungle by a bear and a panther. There is a lot of insight to be found in this valuable piece of children’s literature.

Beatrix Potter Ultimate Collection

Children’s books frequently become a series of excellent stories. If they are not all compiled in one volume, they tend to make up a collection of full-fledged books. The Peter Rabbit books are one such collection, and you can get them all right here.

Mary Poppins Set

Mary Poppins also came as a set of books, which you can own as a collection. There are four books in all, including Mary Poppins Comes Back, Mary Poppins Opens the Door, and Mary Poppins in the Park.

Hans Christian Anderson’s Complete Fairy Tales

There are so many children’s stories by Hans Christian Anderson. The Little Mermaid, The Ice Queen, Thumbelina, and The Emperor’s New Clothes are just a small sampling. Why not own them all in one complete volume?

The Chronicles of Narnia

This set is more than the sum of its parts. You can’t buy just one of these books. They all go together. However, each story does stand alone. Many of the stories feature different children, though they are connected to each other in the big picture.

The Chronicles of Prydain

Another excellent fantasy series. The Black Cauldron is the best known of the set, but the whole grouping of Prydain stories is gripping and imaginative. The last book in the series “The High King” earned a Newbery Award.

Harry Potter Box Set

Every Harry Potter book could have been on this list separately, but it makes more sense to count them all together here. Especially since you can buy them all together, here.

Making the most of Quarantine Halloween

September 28, 2020 by Rachel 21 Comments

Twenty-twenty will forever go down as the worst phrase of our generation. As a mom of young kids, one of the worst things ever is knowing that my kids know that something is going on. I mean, my 7 year old and my 4 year old both keep saying “…when COVID-19 is over, can we….?” And it absolutely breaks my heart. But we’re all doing the absolute best that we can given the circumstances. So I have made it my personal mission to let my kids know that Covid doesn’t have to stop the fun. And that’s why I’m making the most of quarantine Halloween!

Trick-or-no-treat?

Our city is still very much on the fence regarding trick-or-treating. But I am not. Our neighborhood gets really busy — which we have always welcomed. But this year I am less than thrilled about the potential for kids coming and going and pushing around. With a heavy heart we decided against traditional trick-or-treating this year. And, honestly, I think that’s what’s best. My kids will have another Halloween and trick-or-treat. But, Covid is a wildcard. And I couldn’t live with myself if something happened.

So what should we do?!

There are so many ways to make the most of Halloween. Kids don’t really care about trick-or-treating. Heck! My kids usually only last 15 minutes! But they do love celebrations — and candy! So that’s what we will do.

How we’re celebrating

We will still dress up. I will admit — I don’t like how much adults ‘love’ Halloween. I’ve always hated the idea of adult Halloween parties. But I will dress up this year for my kids. We will have a big at-home party! My kids and I will be setting up the most perfect candy charcuterie board for Halloween.

What you need for a candy charcuterie board

Assorted candies
Small containers
Large cutting board or platter

Candies may include:

Twizzlers
M&Ms
Candy Corn
Candy Pumpkins
Jelly Slugs
Halloween Pez
Bloody Bites
Spooky Lips Lollipops
Assorted snack size candies, wrapped or unwrapped

Choose a board or serving dishes for the charcuterie board.
Place loose ingredients (small candies, loose candies, etc.) into bowls or individual dishes. Place those bowls on the board or buffet first.
Arrange other candies around the bowls.
Add assorted tongs or Halloween decorations.

Tell me this…

How are you planning on making this the BEST Halloween ever for your kids?!

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9 Fun Things To Do With Your Kids at Home

August 30, 2020 by Rachel 12 Comments

Whether by choice or by circumstance, staying at home with our kids is something that we’ve all been tasked with lately! At the beginning of this pandemic, I felt excited to finally get a chance to slow down and just ‘be’ with my kids. But two weeks turned into 6 months and we’re all getting a little tired of the humdrum of staying at home. If you’re out of ideas and need a refresh, I’ve got the perfect list for you! Here are 9 fun things to do with your kids at home!

Take a Virtual Museum Tour

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t experience art and culture! Services like Google Arts and Culture offer virtual museum tours! Your kids can enjoy artwork from all over the world in the comfort of your home. How cool is that?!

Try a card game!

A simple deck of cards can offer so much of happy hour spending with time is remarkable. There are nearly 40 different card games that can be played at home. A light and casual game of UNO or go-fish is a great way to keep busy, learn, and have fun!

Read a new book.

If your family is anything like mine, then you might find yourself with several bookshelves full of kids books. Sitting down to actually read eacho f them? That’s another story. Each day ask each of your kids to pick out a short story to read. Then pile up and got through each book in a cozy corner or on the couch. Their imaginations will lead them to incredible places! If you prefer, there options for digital downloads from your library or on the Kindle store!

Have a Lego building contest

LEGO is, by far, one of the top building games for kids. We have thousands of LEGOs on hand from our seven-year-old. But the great thing about LEGOs is that kids (and grownups!) of all ages can enjoy them.

For this, pick a theme — like, “house,” “car,” or “airplane.” And set a timer. Everyone builds their own version of the theme and at the end you vote on who’s is the best!

Do a puzzle

Puzzles are extremely useful for growing your kid’s mental health. This indoor fun activity offers a great way of learning and engaging. Plus, doing puzzles together will undoubtedly build problem solving and logic skills!

If you’re looking for a fun puzzle, I recommend heading to Puzzle Huddle. This business is minority owned and focused on including diversity in their puzzles. My son is obsessed with their “future engineer” puzzle.

Put together a dessert board

When we’re all stuck at home 24/7, meals can get boring. Whether you still have Summer weather or dipping into cooler temperatures, a s’mores board is always a good option. We put together a s’mores board with traditional offerings like graham crackers and marshmallows. But it also includes rolos, peanut butter cups, oreos, ritz crackers, and even strawberries! Everyone gets an option with indoor s’mores!

If you can’t make it outdoors for your s’mores, try wrapping them in foil and sticking them in the oven! The kids will still have a blast and will remember these moments forever.

Paint with your kids

Painting is so fun for everyone! Creating amazing art using vibrant colors is an awesome way to spend time with your kids. You can even try out some marshmallows, popcorns or slices of bread to try out food painting activities at home. Check out these edible food paints for more ideas!

Make some homemade Play Dough

I used to be the kind of mom that was anti-play dough. It just seemed messy. And my naivete as a new mom meant that I hated the colors mixing. But I learned, fast, that you should throw your cares out the window! And always buy Play Dough when it’s on sale.

So if you already have some, great! Everyone play together. But if you don’t, this is the perfect time to try making it yourself. Make bright colors, add in some sensory items, and play the day away. If you need a good homemade Play Dough recipe, head here.

Try a science experiment

Home-based science experiments like glitter slime and exploding volcanoes are so fun. But there are also loads of other experiments where you can try out of homemade supplies. Just hop on YouTube for hundreds of videos to try out kid-friendly science projects. What a great way to have fun with your kids while getting some STEM learning in, right?!

Tell me — what’s your favorite thing to do with your kids at home?!

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Work at Home Mom Summer Survival Guide

July 23, 2020 by Rachel 28 Comments

Are you a mom who works from home? Wondering how on earth you’re going to get any work done with the kids at home all summer? Believe it or not you can actually keep your business going this summer, even with the kids at home. Check out our work at home mom summer survival guide!

Be Flexible

How willing or able are you to adjust your normal work at home day to meet the ever-changing demands of tireless children? It can be done!

Adjust your day to take account of everyone being home. If you’re a night owl, work late, after the kids are in bed. If you’re not, start setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier each day and starting work before everyone gets up. After two weeks you’ll be up a whole 3 hours earlier than usual and will get tons of work done before the day even starts.

Combine this with getting slack with kids bedtimes and you could get more time in the morning before they wake up. Then you can be free for most of the day to play with them, do crafts or hang out in the backyard.

Military Planning = Key To Survival

Draw up a schedule that shows when you have help over the summer, whether from your partner, family or a babysitter. If your work demands that you are available at certain times carve those out first when you set your schedule. Try to get your help to cover those hours, or plan meetings for the times you do have someone available.

Schedule in your work time, then schedule in time for fun. Make a daily nature walk a part of your routine, or a daily family pool time, whatever you know your kids will love. Print the schedule out with color-coded time blocks so the kids can see at a glance when your work time ends and the fun time begins.

Say Yes to Help

Playdate? Yes. Local youth program? Yes. Grandma helping out? Yes.

Say yes to everything. It doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your kids. Say that again: It doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your kids.

If your business and your sanity are going to survive a summer with kids at home you need to have time to get work done. Grabbing whatever help you can and putting family time or mom time into the schedule too means everyone gets what they want.

And a happy mom bringing in some bucks is going to be a better playmate than a grumpy one who can’t work and is struggling to pay the bills.

Separate Work and Home

If you have a home office and can shut the door on work and walk away, great. If not, make sure your downtime with your kids is screen-free. Put your phone in another room on silent, put your laptop away.

Having a mom playing while keeping half an eye on a screen is no fun at all, so make the break and be in either work mode or kids mode, never both at the same time.

Get Your Supplies Together

Hit the Dollar Store or Target and get together a great crafts basket. Add some different types of paper and card stock or some scrapbooks and let older kids loose. Some glitter, pompoms and a glue stick will keep them entertained for ages.

Add some old magazines, fabric scraps and a pile of junk form your recycling bin. Then issue some challenges: build a robot, the most beautiful bird or their dream bedroom for example. They’ll love it and you have guaranteed peace for an hour or two.

Be Realistic

Finally, cut yourself some slack. Come to terms with the fact that you may not be as productive during the summer and schedule your work to make the best possible use of your time.

You can easily catch up in September, and you’ll have some precious family memories to look back on when you do. Time with your kids will pass all too soon, and summer vacation is just one part of your WAHM life.

Hopefully this work at home summer survival guide will only be needed this year (and maybe next). But we will get through it together!