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2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

December 28, 2020 by Rachel 12 Comments

I know it’s a phrase we’ve seen and heard time and time again — there’s no way any of us saw 2020 going like this. While I still managed to hit some significant goals, the pandemic certainly forced my focus to be at home. And that’s not a bad thing. I’ve tried to pass that perspective on to my kids as well. Sure, we don’t see our friends. But we will! And no, we didn’t get to go on vacation as planned. But we will when it’s safe. And so I created this 2020 year in review printable for kids so that we can look at the bigger picture together.

2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

What I learned this year

I’ve always been a ‘busy’ person. I used to commit to too much and then feel completely drained. And when March hit, my busy-ness came to a full stop. I immediately leaned into it. Because, well, what other choice did I have?

Distance-learning

Who knew that remote learning and distance learning would be such an important part of our vocabulary in 2020?! I’m certain none of us had any idea. When schools went remote in the Spring, I was ready for it. I saw it coming and new that I just had to do what we could to get through until Summer.

Truthfully, distance learning at that point felt more like homeschooling on our schedule. I was grateful. Granted, my son was only in the first grade at the time. But still. And, most of the time, we made it through easily. Sure, we had ocassional hangups; but nothing major.

Being at Home

Ya know, this part of the pandemic didn’t quite bother me so much. I know I’m one of the lucky ones. I primarily work from home, but I did also take a leave of absence at my part-time gig (followed by a lay-off). We would go days and days without driving in the car. And then, suddenly, I would just need to get out. But without anywhere to go, the kids and I would just drive around.

But my husband worked from home for a couple of months and, honestly, it was nice having him around. The kids hated when he had to go back to the office (which, honestly, is just him and one other guy — distanced and masked).

And, after we decided to cancel our August vacation (in April), we made the decision to put some work into our house. We hired a local contractor to put up a very long privacy fence. Shortly thereafter, we hired him to also put in a deck for us. Hours and hours were spent tearing down and then building up a new playset for the kids. Next we built a new sandbox. And, finally, we installed a hot tub.

But we also had more meals at home. More movie nights weigh the kids. And many, many, more memories made.

2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

Why I’m grateful for 2020

I’ve never ever been a ‘roll with the punches’ kind of person. I like a clear, set plan. But, it turns out, when faced with a global pandemic, I learned to seriously just lean into taking this year for what it gave me.

Don’t get me wrong — I am straight up sad. I’m sad for the lives lost and those who have suffered. I’m even more sad for those on the frontlines who have had to deal with science deniers in the digital age. But I’m also happy that this year brought clarity — some of which was hard-fought. I have lost friends and acquaintances to differences in opinion; but I’ve also gained a whole heck of a lot.

I’ve gained the understanding that some people are only meant in your life for a season or a reason. Additionally, I’ve increased my appreciation for the basics: a roof over my head, food on the table, my family, and our health. I’ve also strengthened relationships with family and friends. And I do not discount that for a second.

2020 Year In Review Printable For Kids

Whether or not you leaned into this year; whether or not you felt this year was majorly disruptive or a much needed slowdown; take a moment to check in with your kids. Be sure to use this PDF Printable and ask your kids to fill it out (or help them).

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Filed Under: #MomLife, children, holidays, printables Tagged With: #MomLife, children, holidays, printables

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Craft with template

December 9, 2020 by Rachel 9 Comments

I don’t know about you, but my kids are getting really tired of plain old coloring and painting. Something about this holiday season has my kids just itching for bigger and better crafts. This paper strip Christmas tree craft is equal parts fun and creative! Basically, the perfect combination for antsy kids.

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Craft

It’s easy enough, thanks to the printable template, and requires very few supplies. You can even turn them into homemade Christmas cards for grandparents, aunts, and uncles. It’s the perfect little homemade surprise.

What you’ll need for this project

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Template
Cardstock – blue, green, brown
Paper – various shades of green and patterns
Glitter foam stars
Scissors
Glue stick

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Craft

That’s it!

Using a template

Using this printable template makes this craft a cinch! You can save and print this at home or take it to a print center (and grab some cardstock while you’re there!).

PRINTABLE TEMPLATE

How to make this special tree

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Craft

Paper Strip Christmas Tree Craft

Materials

  • Paper Strip Christmas Tree Template
  • Cardstock - blue, green, brown
  • Paper - various shades of green and patterns
  • Glitter foam stars
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

Notes

Begin by downloading the template.

You will need two squares the size provided. One in a blue shade, the other green.

From the blue cardstock, also carefully cut out the Christmas tree from inside the square.

Now, cut a bunch of thin strips from the different kinds of paper.

Position the strips in randomly across the green square. Make sure to use different shades of green and patterns, too. This is a great way to use up any scraps. Leave a bit of the green from underneath showing, too.

Then, apply glue around the blue cardstock with the cut out tree. And position over the strips.

Place a foam star on top.

Finally, use the rectangle from the template to cut a rectangle from the brown cardstock.

And glue in place for the trunk.

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Filed Under: #MomLife, children, Christmas, crafty, kids crafts Tagged With: #MomLife, children, Christmas, crafty, kids crafts

Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

November 29, 2020 by Rachel 13 Comments

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Before I became a mom, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday of the year. But there’s something extra magical that comes from being a mom during Christmastime. It’s now my absolute favorite holiday season. Between wrapping gifts, decorating the tree, and watching Christmas movies with hot cocoa, it’s simply magical. And despite 2020’s challenges, this year did bring us something fabulous — hot cocoa bombs. And that’s why I am sharing this super easy and yummy hot cocoa bombs recipe!

Because, why not?

For a lot of people, this year has been THE worst. Don’t get me wrong, this has not been ‘the worst’ for me. Extremely challenging and totally not at all what I expected. But also I’m leaning into the things that I can. And if that means making my kids super happy by making hot cocoa bombs, well, so be it!

Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

Also? They’re like super freaking easy to make. So why the heck not?!

What you’ll need to make hot cocoa bombs

You don’t need much to make some bomb hot cocoa bombs (see what I did there? šŸ˜› ). Besides semi-sweet chocolate chips, vegetable oil, hot cocoa powder, and marshmallows, you’ll need a mold like this one. Oh! And be sure you have milk on hand!

Oh, and enough freezer space to fit the molds while they cool!

Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

How to make Hot Cocoa Bombs of your own

Yield: 6 cocoa bombs

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Hot Cocoa Bombs
Prep Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ bag (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • 6 Tablespoons of hot chocolate powder (more or less depending on your preference)
  • approximately 24 mini marshmallows (more or less depending on your preference)

Instructions

  1. Melt your chocolate chips and oil in a medium sized bowl in the microwave for 30 second intervals until completely melted. 
  2. Add your chocolate to the hot cocoa bomb mold. Make sure every part of the circle is covered in chocolate. Also try to make the chocolate coating thick as it could break the thinner the layer of chocolate is.
     
  3. Freeze your mold and chocolate. 
  4. Once the chocolate has hardened, remove from the mold.
  5. Fill one half of the mold with your marshmallows and hot chocolate powder. 
  6. Warm a small plate in the microwave for 30 seconds. Take the other half of the bomb and twist your hand from left to right. The chocolate will start to melt on the edges. 
  7. Place the two rounds together. The round that was melted on the edge will act as a sealant and melt the chocolate together to form a round ball (bomb) shape. 
  8. Place in your favorite mug, pour hot milk over it, watch the magic happen, and enjoy!
    Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe
© Rachel

I’m absolutely OBSESSED with these! And so are my kids. To be honest, I’m not even that big of a fan of hot cocoa. But something about these hot cocoa bombs is just magical.

Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

I hope that you’ll find that these bring some joy to your life this year!

Hot Cocoa Bombs Recipe

Tell me — what’s your favorite way to begin the holiday season?!

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Filed Under: children, easy recipes, holidays, recipes Tagged With: children, easy recipes, holidays, recipes

Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

November 17, 2020 by Rachel 10 Comments

The holiday season is going to be… different. My kids are still my number one priority when it comes to celebrating the holiday season. We will be staying at home this Thanksgiving and celebrating with just the five of us. In the meantime, I’m trying to think of fun and creative ways to keep my kids busy while we’re prepping our big Thanksgiving meal. And what better way to play than by making a Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey craft!?

Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

What you’ll need to make a Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey

For this project you’ll need the following items:

  • Wood clothespins
  • Tissue paper – assorted colors
  • Cardstock – brown, yellow, red
  • Googly eyes, medium size
  • 2ā€ circle punch
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

How to put together your Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey

  • Begin by using the 2ā€ circle punch to make a circle from the brown cardstock.
  • Adhere googly eyes.
  • Fold a piece of yellow cardstock in half and cut in a triangle for the beak. Also cut a petal shape for the snood from the red cardstock.
  • Glue the snood to the beak and glue both in place. Set aside.
  • Cut or tear 4 different colored strips of tissue paper. Red, orange, yellow, and green are good for Thanksgiving turkeys, but purple and blue are fun, too.
  • Crinkle each up a bit. You can form the feathers any number of ways, but we found to place one wrinkled strip one on top of the other in the center, forming like a tissue paper pie.
  • And fold up. But you could always just gather them up randomly, too.
  • Then clip all the tissue paper in the clothespin.
  • Glue the face to the top of the clothespin.
Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

What age is this craft appropriate for?

This craft is appropriate for kids of all ages! My oldest is 8 and I will have him help me to cut apart the pieces of tissue paper into smallish pieces. My daughters, ages 4 and 2, will need some guidance, but there Turkey’s will turn out very age appropriate.

Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

I definitely suggest that if you have little ones that you prep this a bit. Cut out the tissue paper ahead of time and also use the circle punch to cut through the cardstock during your prep.

Be sure to print this and save for later

Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

Materials

  • Wood clothespins
  • Tissue paper - assorted colors
  • Cardstock - brown, yellow, red
  • Googly eyes, medium size
  • 2ā€ circle punch
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick

Instructions

    Begin by using the 2” circle punch to make a circle from the brown cardstock.

    Adhere googly eyes.

    Fold a piece of yellow cardstock in half and cut in a triangle for the beak. Also cut a petal shape for the snood from the red cardstock.

    Glue the snood to the beak and glue both in place. Set aside.

    Cut or tear 4 different colored strips of tissue paper. Red, orange, yellow, and green are good for Thanksgiving turkeys, but purple and blue are fun, too.

    Crinkle each up a bit. You can form the feathers any number of ways, but we found to place one wrinkled strip one on top of the other in the center, forming like a tissue paper pie.

    And fold up. But you could always just gather them up randomly, too.

    Then clip all the tissue paper in the clothespin.

    Glue the face to the top of the clothespin.

    Clothespin Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

© Rachel
Category: crafty

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Filed Under: #MomLife, children, crafty, creative, holidays Tagged With: #MomLife, children, crafty, creative, holidays

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.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

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.

Filed Under: back-to-school, books, children, family, family fun ideas, homeschool, parenting Tagged With: back-to-school, books, children, family, family fun ideas, homeschool

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 treat

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.

Making the most of Quarantine Halloween

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.

Making the most of Quarantine Halloween

What you need for a candy charcuterie board

Assorted candies
Small containers
Large cutting board or platter

Charcuterie Board

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

  1. Choose a board or serving dishes for the charcuterie board.
  2. Place loose ingredients (small candies, loose candies, etc.) into bowls or individual dishes. Place those bowls on the board or buffet first.
  3. Arrange other candies around the bowls.
  4. 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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Filed Under: #MomLife, children, crafty, creative, desserts, family, Halloween, mommyhood, parenthood, parenting, tips + tricks Tagged With: #MomLife, children, crafty, creative, desserts, family friendly, halloween, holidays, motherhood, parenthood, tips + tricks

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