Response to: “Can we start a big thread to talk about books?”I had a boy (6) who was sick of the regular books. We were both way done with everything we had. I asked him to write his own. He has a collection of books that we love to read together now. He drew the pictures too! Way better than mainstream.
Response to: “What is the best/most fun hotels you've ever stayed at with your kids?”We loved the great wolf lodge! It wasn’t so big I was stressed about losing them, but big enough my 5 kiddos all had something they could do & love! The rooms were so fun, like little cabins & the entire place & everything inside was themed. 3 years later they still beg to go back!
Response to: “Favorite pumpkin recipes?”Soup Gnocchi I really love to juice it, warm it up & add cinnamon. Always muffins & cookies
Response to: “Salads...”Pick your favorite Veggie(s). Add your favorite protein & cheese Then add seeds, nuts, something for crunch. Almost any salad is great with mayo & sourcream. I like to add ranch or taco seasoning to step it up. Broccoli, peas, bacon & cheddar. Cukes, tomato, chicken & feta (great with flavored olive oil & basalmic vinegar). Corn, bell peppers, cotija, cilantro +on smoked pork is awesome. Cabbage, chestnuts, almonds, chicken. Endless options! Add pasta to make them go farther, spinach hides almost anywhere, hemp seeds hide well too for picky eaters!
Response to: “Trying to get a handle on laundry....how do you keep it under control without it controlling you?”We have 7 in our family- everyone is assigned a day. They each have their own basket so I don’t have to sort, and I’m only getting after one kid a day to put things away. Don’t take the load out of the dryer until you can fold it, otherwise it piles on the couch, or bed, or floor… I had 4 under 4, and it’s rough. When they were small I never folded anything. Just getting it back into a drawer was a win, and good enough! I don’t sort kids colors, except white church shirts go with my whites. Use cold water & colors don’t bleed!
Response to: “Favorite sunscreen (for you, not the kids) that won't make you go blind temporarily?”I’ve used rodan & fields & liked it quite well.
Response to: “What advice would you give yourself as a first-time parent?”Write everything down. You’ll forget the funny little things. On hard days you need to have a reminder for yourself on the awesome peices of life.
Response to: “What’s your go-to dinner recipe when you need a quick, healthy meal?”German pancakes are a staple at our house! They are so quick, feed a crowd, customizable to everyone’s likes, and has an awesome amount of protein! We have chickens & they use a ton of eggs to help us rotate when we need to as well!
Response to: “Please give me your best tips on helping with reading for 2nd/3rd grade”Try reading things besides books. We did a lot of word searches for a while that helped with spelling & learning to love reading. Reading recipes, instructions, how-to-anything helps them link reading with more likeable things. I also like putting subtitles on if they watch a show, I think they follow along sometimes.
Response to: “Let’s talk Santa. How long did your kids keep believing?”When my kids questioned I told them that anyone can be a santa if they want to do kind things secret. I let them start helping to fill stocking & it’s their favorite! They were probably around 9.
Is there anything you've given up minimized or banned from your home to make the house run smoother?9 answers