100 Ways to Enjoy Your Summer and Keep Your Family Busy! 11-15

More Summertime ideas for the family!!

11. Need some kid craft inspiration?  Heather Swain's book Make These Toys is a fantastic book that will give you plenty of ideas for fun crafts made from everyday things.  

12.  How about the DRIVE-IN?  We LOVE going to the drive-in during the summer.  Find a local drive-in near you at www.drive-ins.com 

13.  Make some Homemade Ice Cream!  If you have an ice cream maker break out and make some YUMMY homemade ice cream for you 4th of July celebrations or just because.  

14.  Sidewalk Chalk Neighborhood Mural Contest! Have plenty of chalk for your 4th of July party!  We love doing sidewalk-chalk murals on 4th of July with all the neighbor kids.  It's a great tradition and brings everyone together.  Check out a previous blog post here.

15.  Lemonade Stands!  This is a SUMMER MUST!  Click Here

100 Ways to Enjoy Your Summer and Keep Your Family Busy! 6-10

Here are 5 more ideas for your summer bucket list!

6.  Car Wash Day - Let the kids wash the car...their bikes, big wheels, tricycle....if it's got wheels let it be washed!  My kids love a bucket of water, some bubbles and a rag.  They can spend hours washing all of their vehicles.

7. Service Project - Look around your neighborhood or community for opportunities to serve.  There are many ways that your children can serve right along with you.  Maybe the local animal shelter, picking up litter at your neighborhood park, our helping an elderly neighbor with yard work...there are 100's of ways to service.

8.  Cooking and Baking - Have some cooking and baking lessons in your very own kitchen.  Maybe your 4-year-old learns to make a PB&J sandwich or you 16-year-old gets to learn how to make pizza from scratch.  Whatever the ages, there are lots of items on the menu that will allow for a fun day in the kitchen.  

9.  Butterfly Farm - We tried this a long time ago and it was one of the highlights of our summer.  We purchased a butterfly kit and literally raised butterflies and then set them free later in the summer.  A great place to purchase is www.insectlore.com.  

10.  Indoor Fort - Some days are just meant to be indoors.  When temps hit in the 100's or the humidity is at a whopping 99%, life is just better inside with the AC.  My kids LOVE to make forts all over the house.  We pull all the sheets and blankets out, keep the lights off and enjoy a nice cool day in the forts. 

100 Ways to Enjoy Your Summer and Keep Your Family Busy! 1-5

I have to honestly admit, I'm more excited about summertime than my kids are this year.  I cannot wait for the break!  The alarms in our house start going off as early as 4:55am.  So I'm ready for some extra sleep-in time but more than that, I'm ready to have some fun with my kids.  Many of favorite memories of childhood are those of summertime, and I only have 2 more full summers with all 5 of my kids at home.   I intend to make these next two summers completely amazing and create a lifetime of memories...and do it all on a budget. 

For the next few weeks I'm going to share some of my favorite summertime traditions but also new ones that I've found and saved over the last year or so that I have been anxiously awaiting to try out. By the end of this blog series there should be at least 100 fun and wonderful ways to enjoy summer with your family and not spend an arm and a leg.  Because if you're like us, we don't do much long distance traveling in the summer.   First of all there are too many off us and second, we're homebodies and we love to enjoy our own backyard.  After all, we live in Florida, it's a beautiful backyard.  

1. Summer To-Do List - Before summer even gets started sit down and make a list of all the things you want to do this summer.  Everyone contributes to the list....let EVERYTHING get put on the list.  Even if Disneyland is out of the question for travel, add it to the list of that's what your 8 year old wants.  Take the time to explain to them later that although you won't be making a trip to Orlando, encourage them to be creative and use their imagination and that together you can plan a fun "Disney Day" at home.  No idea is too big or too small.

2. MOVIE TIME -Check your local movie theaters for their Summertime Movie schedule.  Many play FREE movies all summer long.  It's a great time to head in for the cool AC and if you have little ones you have to tow along they'll blend right on in with all the noise. ;o)

3. Camps & YMCA's - If your family enjoys camps whether it's week long sports camps or outdoor adventures through your local YMCA, plan for those now.  Many camps are already open and some are filling quickly.  YMCA's offer great adventures for reasonable prices.  Check your local churches for vacation bible schools and even local ranches and farms for horse camps.

4. Grow Something - Plant a garden or a few veggies in pots or even a flower.  Have each child be in charge of their plant.  Maybe even plant sunflowers. By the end of summer they'll be a few feet tall and will last into the fall.  I remember growing them one year in a square shape, which made the coolest fort ever!

5. New Skills - Find out what new skills your children want to learn.  Pottery?  Cake decorating?  Basketball? Fishing?  Make plans now to sign up for a class at a local studio or community college....or teach them yourself or find a friend that knows the skill and ask them if they want to trade off teaching the kids new skills.

Wordless Wednesday

BEST RIDE EVER! Aerosmith roller coaster @ Disney Hollywood Studios!

For more Wordless Wednesday Visit www.5minutesformom.com

A Breath of Fresh Air....

Have you had one of those quiet moments where you sit back, relax and take a good look around, a deep breath of fresh air, and think....wow....it really doesn't get any better than this?  

If you have, tell me about it....because I haven't had a moment of sitting back and looking around for a long time...and the only deep breath of fresh air I've had is from gasping for air as i force myself to finish my 6 am workouts before the crew takes over my life.

I've been neck deep in life....and can I just say....it really doesn't get any better than this.  

I sometimes used to have this habit of thinking to myself.....when the kids are older I won't have to sit and do homework with them anymore, they'll be able to do it all by themselves, or when they're all in school I'll have time go to the market alone (alone, is that really possible) and actually remember to use my coupons, or when the older ones are off to college I won't have to drive 100 miles round trip to soccer and worry about who's using their cell phone too much.

Funny thing...I want all of it...every crazy chaotic moment of it to be my life....I don't want this part of our family to change.....just yet.  I want to keep spending hours at the kitchen table doing homework with all of my kids....i want to keep taking my toddlers to the grocery store and push the big race car shopping carts around as we clear isles and make huge obnoxious scenes...i want to keep driving with my girls up and down the freeway so we can just be together.

My breath of fresh air comes when my 3 yr old twins will, without fail, ask to brush their teeth 8 times a day and want to change their clothes just as many times....or when my 7 yr old begs me to please jump in the pool and swim with him even though I just took a shower and did my hair for the first time in 3 days....or when my 14 yr old text me from school, yes ME, of all people, to thank me for helping her study for her test that she got an A, or when my 16 yr old talks to me for over 50 miles about her friends, life, interest and spiritual experiences.

That is fresh air.  Life is constantly happening and I'm not going to miss one crazy moment of it....which is why I've been MIA here in the blog world.  I've attempted to start posting probably 20 times, but something always seems to pull me away.  But I think, maybe, hopefully, once again, I can get back to blogging just a little bit.  My extended family has been drilling me about doing a blog so they can keep up with the family.  So we'll see...hopefully I can get back on track and get back to the fun blabbing and chatting that we do around here in the blog world.  But I can't promise anything spectacular or exciting....

Writing Your Love Story

With Valentine's Day knocking on the door, L♥ve is in the air. What a prefect time to reflect, write and share your Love Story. Many people never take the time to write down the details of a love story. We all have a love story....some are fairytale-like and others...well, let's just say lessons can be learned. 

Take the time to sit down write a few words in your journal or "type" them up and tell about how you met, your first kiss, when you knew "he" was the one. Or how about the first time your eyes met? The first time your boyfriend met your parents? Your first date?  Or even your first KISS?  You can't help but have those sweet feelings flood your heart again and put a smile on your face. 

Something fun to do is have your hubby answer the same questions and create a "He said, She said" version of your love story. My hubby and I did this...Oh, it was fun!!! And let's just say we both remember our Love Story VERY differently...but I so remember the day we met in 4th grade.... his adorable perm, checkered Vans, and gray parachute pants with safety pins all the way up his calves.......beautiful....just beautiful!

Take time to remember why, how, where, and who you fell in love with....  

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
--Mignon McLaughlin

My WORD for 2010

At the end of 2008 I had stumbled on this great idea of having a WORD to define you and move you through the upcoming year.   The first time I saw it was at Ali Edwards's Blog.  Once again, I've been in deep thought about "MY" word.  Last year my word was PEACE.  Looking back, I'm so pleased and proud of myself  becuase I truely found the PEACE I was looking for.  It's funny though, it came in so many different ways, none of which I expected.

This is a little bit of what Ali's blog says:

The idea behind the one little word concept is to give yourself something to focus on throughout the year. "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."
 
Also from that same newsletter:

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.

Once again, I found myself pulling between 2 different WORDS....

But after much thought my word for 2010 is Hope.

There are many things I Hope for.  They're important and wonderful things.  I know that by having Faith (which was the other word I was pulled between) and Hope that those things I want most in life will happen.  Hope is a belief and feeling that what is wanted can be had and will turn out for the best.  

We also did this as a family last night and I was so impressed with the words my family picked.  My husband is foucsed on "POSITIVE".  My 16-yr-old's word is "DISCIPLINE".  My 14-yr-old picked "INNER-STRENGH".  My sweet 7 year-old son picked "RESPECT".  And of course my little twins picked "SPARKLE" and "HAPPY".  

Need some help with words?? Check out Ali's List here.

12 Days of Christmas

Previously Posted 12/2/08

Sunday, Dec. 13 is the day start the 12 Days of Christmas if you want it to end on Christmas Eve, and Monday, December 14th will begin the 12 Days of Christmas if want to end on Christmas.

Hopefully have read one of my old posts from last year about how as a child my family was given the "The 12 Days a Christmas".  You can see how this simple and sweet project can not only change the holiday season for another family, but also your own.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to prep this project and get your family excited about the secret Santa project they'll be doing. 

I was bouncing around the internet a few days ago and came across this adorable kit with download-able printouts and directions. It's called 12 Days of Christmas Kit by Sandy. For $2.85, I'm thinking it's money well spent. What I love about this one is the ideas and gifts are homemade and inexpensive. I don't need to remind everyone that money is tight, so leaving boxes of $20 bills probably won't be happening any time soon....these gifts are cute, usable, eatable, and easy to find. With the printouts (very cute!!) the gifts look adorable!

....I must confess....I'm happy that money is tight for everyone, including our family. I'm happy that we're being forced to remember why we celebrate this beautiful season. Maybe we should see it as a tender mercy and a blessing in disguise. Immersing your family in service and holiday projects, starting family traditions, keeping old traditions will remind us and keep us focused on Christmas...

Sorry....back to the 12-days....

So if you can spend the $2.96, go download her cute kit! It has a letter for the first night, all the tags and poems, pictures of ideas, and the gifts are easy and cute! If not...here are some cute ideas!! These are ones that I have done, friends have done, had done to my own family, etc.....

TIP: Wal-mart, Dollar Stores, Dollar Section in Target have everything you need if you need to go out and buy something.

"Anything" items could be as simple as bubbles for kids, microwave popcorn, candy, homemade cookies & treats, ornaments, crafts, nativity pictures, holiday wrapping supplies, fruit, mini puzzles, games, eggnog and dollar mugs, cocoa, homemade greeting cards or stationary....


Day 1 ♥ A partridge in a pear tree: One of ANYTHING, one pear, one basket of pears, dove ornament.
Day 2 ♥ 2 turtle doves: Two of ANYTHING, Dove candies or chocolate turtle candies,
Day 3 ♥ 3 french hens: Three of ANYTHING, anything "French", chicken noodle soup (hen is a chicken ;O), 3 Dozen cookies or treats of any kind.
Day 4 ♥ 4 calling birds: Four of ANYTHING, 4 bags of goodies, "calling" cards.
Day 5 ♥ 5 golden rings: Five of ANYTHING, donuts (my fav), ring pops
Day 6 ♥ 6 geese a laying: Six of ANYTHING, Easter eggs filled with treats, Fixings for omelets, 6 pack of soda or favorite drinks
Day 7 ♥ 7 swans a swimming: Seven of ANYTHING, Bubble bath and bath toys, Ugly Duckling Storybook
Day 8 ♥ 8 maids a milking: Eight of ANYTHING, milk maid caramels, Ice cream toppings, chocolate milk, cow print items, cow ornament...pretty much anything milk or cows!
Day 9 ♥ 9 ladies waiting: Nine of ANYTHING, Ladyfinger cookies, box of art supplies for kids
Day 10 ♥ 10 lords a leaping: Ten of ANYTHING, frog items, I heard this one represents the 10 commandments?? I stick with Ten of Anything...but let me know if you think of something creative!
Day 11 ♥ 11 pipers piping: Eleven of ANYTHING, Christmas CD (download and make it or buy it)
Day 12 ♥ 12 drummers drumming: Twelve of ANYTHING, drum ornament, drummer boy "something", ice cream drumsticks.

So here's a list to get the creative juices flowing! Start getting your items and ideas together now. I like to start on the 13th so our last delivery is on Christmas Eve. If you know the family will be traveling or leaving town, start earlier or finish when they return. Organize and start now because the days will fly by quickly. Plus its fun to get the hubby and kids excited about it. Be sure to sit down this week or by Saturday and plan out your gifts, pick a family or two and prep to begin Sunday or Monday. This is good time to "make" some homemade ornaments or crafts that you'd like to give as well. Please pass on your ideas and share them with us all!

Thanksgiving Tradition - Family Trivia

This traditions requires a little prep work...like today or tomorrow, but it's so worth it and so much fun!  We have to celebrate our holidays without the warmth and loveable chaos that most families do becuase we live 2000 miles away from everyone, but we did this in the past with our extended family and it was the highlight of the day! 

Send out a questionnaire to everyone that will be attending Thanksgiving together...even those who may not attend in person.  Plan questions so that they answers will reveal funny tidbits of your family history that not everyone has heard before.  Make sure everyone brings their answered questions to Thanskgiving so you can have yourselves a Family Trivia game! 

Need some question help?  www.families.com has a great list of questoins and ideas!!  See below -

Family: These questions should be about family members, alive or deceased, their accomplishments, favorite things, or birthplaces. Second cousins and great greats can be included in the harder questions.

History: Look at your children's history homework for ideas. Also consider questions about historical places you've visited on vacation, like the Alamo, or history about your state. Family history can also be incorporated.

Science: Again, your children's homework will help here. Consider questions from museum exhibits you've attended or movies you've seen. How about kitchen science? Garage science? Computer science? Questions about favorite family animal shows would also be appropriate.

Literature: Books you've read together, or favorite childhood books are wonderful sources for literature questions. Who wrote a favorite book? Who are the main characters? Movies are also a good source of questions. For instance, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a movie, but it's also a book. Questions about the story, sequels, or C.S. Lewis would be appropriate.

Art: Have you and your kids

visited an art museum? Have you read art books? How about that print in the living room? If it's famous, questions about the artist would be great. Questions about colors and color mixing, different media, and even book illustrators will work well.

Geography: Vacations! Questions like, "How many states do we cross to get to Florida?" and "Which states do we cross to get to Florida?" will be customized just for your family. Have you worked a country or world puzzle together? Use questions about the puzzle. Even questions about your city's streets are appropriate: "Main street runs in which two directions?"

Sports & Liesure: This is a topic your entire family will love because it can be so personal. How many years has Suzie taken ballet? What was her first performance? Johnny plays soccer, but does anyone know the score to his last game? What sport did Mom play in fifth grade? Dad won first chair in the high school jazz band playing which instrument? If Jenny could play any instrument in the world, what would it be? What was the first song June and Henry danced to at their wedding reception? 

Image from -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lapstrake/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Holidays In Hand with Jessica Sprague

Don't miss out on this wonderful FREE class given by Jessica Sprague... Holidays In Hand.

The FINAL class of 2009 began this morning, but there's still time to toss your hat into the ring!  

FREE registration will end tonight at 11:59pm, so go claim a spot!

This class will help you capture the hopes, memories and wonderment of the holidays.  This class helps us focus on what's important during the holidays.

We'll be making a great project to help you tell your holiday stories both past and present.  This class is for EVERYONE. Since you don't have to know Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, grab a friend to join you in class!
Registration is easy and free!

• Go to JessicaSprague.com.
• Copy this code by highlighting it and typing Ctrl-C (Cmd-c on your Mac): HIHFREE2009

I'm Back....

I'm back...

Life has gotten chaotic-busy in wonderful ways and blogging was taking a backseat. I'm here now...in and out...still busy, but hoping to keep up on my all my blogging. I have so many saved posts and ideas. I haven't even had time to try and post one up. But hopefully in a day or two I'll be moving along.

I do have some great holiday giveaways planned...I owe that to you! I can't wait to give some presents away! ♥

I did finish the pettiskirt...

Go me! It was HARD! I'm not going to lie....tedious! But she was so cute as our little Autumn Fairy.

Homecoming was a blast...we had 20 kids over for a candlelight dinner. My girl is growing up! Makes me happy-sad...

Genealogy has become a big hobby for me lately...I could go on and on about that! What an amazing experience that has been... Found my long lost family that had been forgotten.

So much more has been happening in our little world, but with all the craziness I have managed to be creative and create...which has probably kept me SANE! I'll share some of my fun with you soon....

Tuesday Tradition #46 - Homemade Halloween Fun!

Somewhere a long time ago, a few city and states ago, I was over at a friends house for a little Halloween party. Sometimes entertaining 3 and 4 yr. olds can be quite a task. But she pulled out this adorable homemade Halloween memory game and the kids played it for over an hour!

Take Halloween pictures from the past years, as far back as you want, and print out 2 - 2x2 squares of each picture. Mount them on card stock, Halloween style if you want, and cut those out into squares. You should have 2 of every picture. That's it!

Place the squares picture side down, in nice even rows, and take turns picking 2 cards at a time while trying to make a match. Whoever has the most pairs at the end of the game, WINS! My little ones LOVE this game. I'm putting together my family's Halloween Memory game today and I'm sure we'll get lots of use out of this easy, cheap, homemade game!

Enjoy!

Autumn Apple Vases

I saw this picture and I just made me smile...

We've had a rough week in our family, yet again, another death has come upon us. I was breaking from all the chaos when I spotted this picture. Made me smile and feel a twinge of excitement that my favorite time of year is fast approaching.

There is something about autumn and the holidays that jolts me back into warming up the home and preparing for lots of celebration. As a wife and mother, it's a pleasure to have the responsibility of nurturing my family and providing a home of warmth where we can all feel happy and comfortable.

To get instructions on how to create this adorable autumn apple arrangement visit Home Made Simple and see all of their seasonal arrangements and this adorable apple vase idea!

picture from Home Made Simple

Did you know today is Constitution Day?

Today is a beautiful day. Many people don't even KNOW that today is Constitution Day. On this day in 1787, all 12 state delegations approved the Constitution. 39 delegates signed it of the 42 that were present, and the Convention formally adjourned.

As a family, we have decided that it's time to REALLY REALLY know our Constitution and the beautiful promises and blessings that will be bestowed upon this country if we uphold and honor this document and the men who made this possible.

We have promised each other the following -

1. We will each read and learn about the Constitution

2. We will educate our family and learn about Good Government

3. Show gratitude for our liberty

4. Teach others about America

I found this quote and it gave me chills...we have a lot of work to do as parents.

"A primary object...should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing...than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"

-George Washington

Tuesday Tradition - Handwritten Letters?

Email, text, cell phone, instant message, PM.......and the list goes on.

I've realized that my children are learning to communicate without emotion. They're falling into a trap of non-verbal communication and it's scaring me. All those things are so convenient, and I personally love them too. They're faster, easier and get the job done. But this past weekend I realized that my daughters (pre-teen and teen) haven't hand written a letter to anyone in their family in a few years.

I remember as a youth writing my grandparents, they would write me back...writing my cousins and getting cute decorated notes back in the mail. There is something to be said about the excitement that stirs when we look in the mailbox and see a letter from a family member, a friend across the country or a pen pal. (Do people still pen pal?)

I was going through some keepsake boxes and realized I had an entire shoebox filled with handwritten letters from my cousins, grandparents, and friends that were sent to me during my childhood. I stopped and read those letters for about 2 hours and realized that my children have no shoe boxes full of letters. They have email accounts that are used for quick writes, dumb jokes and few funky surveys.

Where are those emails going to be in 20 years? Not in a shoebox.

The advice and stories that I have in that shoebox is priceless. It's a treasure box full of support, love, direction, advice, congratulations.....I can't even list them all. I pulled them out and shared them with my kids and they were captivated by these letters. They loved to see "great-grandma's" beautiful handwriting and the stories and emotion that flowed onto the paper.

There is something special, something different about a handwritten letter. I've read somewhere about the positive impact personally handwriting a letter can benefit a child, a mother, a father. One of our family "traditions" that we try to do each month is write HAND WRITTEN letters to family. No texting, emailing, or pm'ing...a real handwritten letter. I hope that we can start a family tradition with all of our extended family and bring back the beauty of swapping stories and memories through the mail.

PS. A very amazing wonderful friend of mine has started a new blog called "Incredible Women". This week she is highlighting one my heroes and one of THE most incredible women I have ever met....

Finding Hope - 9/11

This is a must see video. Finding Hope through the tragedy of 9/11, remembering not only those who were lost, but those who survived.

A Tradition of Welcoming Myself Back...

I'm officially welcoming myself back into the world...life has been a roller coaster these past few months, but oddly enough I always feel blessed through the ups and the downs.

Today we headed back to school with schedules and commitments in full swing...and I feel refreshed and ready to make this year amazing! Life has been good to our family. On Sunday I took some time to reflect on our summer and the time that we were able to spend together....it was wonderful, rewarding and a turning point for our family. Something sweet happened this summer, not sure what it was....but I'll take it!

My kids seem like they've rooted themselves a little deeper as Christians and as leaders. I'm excited to see how they dance with the music this year.....

For me the start of school is like a second Spring Cleaning...time to tackle some projects and find order and schedule again...but also time to make sure I'm taking care of myself and my family in the ways that matter. I always make sure I write in my journal on the first day back to school...I love to record my goals and hopes and dreams for myself, my kids, my hubby and our family as a whole. I especially love reading the entries from years past...I always take the time to write about each of my children individually. It's a great place to record my deepest thoughts and love for them. Someday I hope they find it....and maybe get a glimpse of just how much they were loved.

Take the time today to write in your journal today....

Sharing Your Life Stories...

I have to share this list with you...someone emailed this to me and I thought it was perfect to share with you all!!

"I'm a totally ordinary person," you shrug. "I'm not famous. I haven't done anything important. In fact nothing really outstanding has ever happened to me. Why would I want to share my life story with anyone, and, for that matter, why would I want to listen to or read the life stories of other ordinary people? And why on earth would I want to write my life story? It's so boring! Memoirs are for celebrities."

Fair questions. Here are a few possible answers. At least 55 reasons why you might consider reflecting on, sharing, and even writing your life stories and listening to the experiences of other people. You may have--or find--additional reasons…

1. You'll learn something from reflecting and from remembering.
2. You'll learn something from telling, both orally and in print.
3. You'll learn something from hearing and/or reading the life stories of others.
4. You'll practice listening skills, boost empathy, deepen relationships.
5. You may experience some cathartic pain, which is often good for the soul.
6. You may heal old wounds--or soothe current pains.
7. You'll deepen appreciation for your life characters--family, friends, coworkers.
8. Those who hear or read your stories will better understand the real you.
9. You'll recapture memories and experiences you assumed were lost.
10. You'll trace and uncover some important threads through your life story.
11. You'll reveal something of what's important to you, what you deeply value.
12. You'll share--and spread--vital values, through what you tell (and don't).
13. Life review may reveal patterns, connections, hidden insights.
14. You'll more deeply appreciate your own heritage, culture, ethnicity, roots.
15. You'll understand, appreciate, and connect with people different from you.
16. You'll find you have a special gift to give that only you can give.
17. You may bring genealogy to life, humanize and honor your ancestors.
18. You will clarify the cultural context, history, and settings that impact your life.
19. You may clarify family and ancestors' cultural context, history, and settings.
20. You'll more deeply connect with your past and your people, living and dead.
21. Paradoxically, You'll more deeply connect with others' past and people.
22. You'll have a good excuse for a healthy cry or two, and lots of laughs.
23. You'll have a great time, enjoying the exploration and the sharing.
24. You'll get a powerful educational tool to share across the table or across time.
25. Your struggles and triumphs, however small, may inspire others.
26. You may inspire yourself.
27. You may surprise the spouse, child, kin, or friend who "know you well."
28. You may increase others' understanding of "people like you."
29. You may prove that there is no one exactly like you.
30. You may wonder at the miracle of our common humanity.
31. You may have a precious written gift (whether book or one-page memento)
32. You can leave a valuable legacy, before it's too late!
33. You can make photo albums and scrapbooks far more meaningful and fun.
34. Brief stories can add meaning and value to heirlooms or artifacts.
35. Your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will learn "real" history.
36. Family may see you as more than merely Mom, Dad, Gram, Aunt, or Uncle…
37. Family may come to understand their own rich connections and contexts.
38. Family may get a kick out of making fun of you and the "olden days."
39. You may answer some questions that have been nagging you.
40. You may raise questions to spend the rest of your life answering.
41. Past experience may suggest how to best live your future, however long.
42. Your past could help others learn how they might best live their future.
43. Your mistakes may help others avoid some of theirs.
44. "Mistakes," "losses" re-examined may turn out to be blessings in disguise.
45. Opening your senses and imagination will enrich and enhance each day.
46. You'll build, enhance, deepen relationships with folks living and dead
47. You'll build, enhance, deepen relationships with folks known and unknown.
48. If you write it or have it written, you'll have interesting reading.
49. All your life, you can continue learning from rereading. And write more!
50. If you write it or have it written, you may achieve a sort of immortality.
51. You'll illuminate your perspective on culture, religion, places, people, life.
52. You can show appreciation for those who have enriched your life.
53. What you know, care about, feel, and think won't die with you.
54. You may grow spiritually, feel more kinship with humanity, a oneness.
55. You'll discover you aren't so ordinary after all! (Who is??)
    

Mama's Champion

Photograph by Ryan

I've been a little neglectful of my blog the last few weeks....but it's because I'm the luckiest mom in the world! I have great kids....all of them are just incredible. So far all are athletes (thank goodness) and have let me live vicariously through them.

So today I'm going to dote on my second born... Cooper!

She's quite the stud and I absolutely 100% LOVE LOVE LOVE watching her play sports. Right now, we've been neck deep in her softball and I can't begin to tell you how much fun I HAVE been having...Yes, I have been having the fun!

Last year her softball team won the Florida State Little League softball championship in a cakewalk! From districts, sections, to state, they out scored their opponents somewhere in the ballpark of 70 runs to 5. It was incredible. We're talking 12 year old's hitting the ball out of the park kind of stuff!

This year, her team is back at it again. However, there's a little more excitement added to the package...this year, they can advance out of state to the Southern Regionals (West Virginia) and then to the World Series (Portland, Oregon). For the past 2 years these girls have played year round together in the hopes of making it to the '09 World Series. They have practiced HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS...played in oodles of tournaments and have managed to stay friends...best friends through it all.

Districts Champions - Done

Section Champions - Done

Florida State Champions - Heading out Thursday

I'll be enjoying this once in a lifetime opportunity so if I'm MIA, that's why! I can't miss a second of this amazing moment. But I'll try and keep y'all updated and keep your fingers crossed they make it through as the State Champions!!

Jump Start Summer & Another GIVEAWAY!

Don't miss My BIG Celebration Giveaway!!! Click here for another one!



Are YOU are driving your kids nuts??? Come on....are you driving them nuts yet??

I push mine outdoors and we have lots to do, most days, but once in awhile it's nice to come in the house, shut down the shades, crank up the A/C and let them veg.
My little Z-man has found his veg... it's this!

Jump Start online has been his new little passion...or should I say obsession...and a good one I might add! Before school got out, every day he'd come home and say, "Mom! Can I PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE play the cool jumping game!! Please...." I gave him 20 minutes after school each day to play some Jump Start....and I was so impressed with what he learned in that short period of time.

Here's a list of a few of our favorites features!

• EASY to navigate - He had NO trouble at all using www.jumpstart.com and CD game "3D Virtual World - Legend of Grizzly McGuffin"
• Creating his own avatar - "Jumpees"...he LOVED this part!
• The games are educational, but fun! As he enjoyed playing "video games" and didn't even realize he was learning so much....actually, I take that back. He did realize it. He called me over to the computer about every 26 seconds to show me a new word he could spell or a math problem he solved.
  
• Another great feature is it's personalized for each child and it's creative, bright, and let's them use their imagination....it allows them to create and think.
• Progress Reports! Yes, I get his progress reports emailed to me that show me what he's learned and completed....oh, yeah, and they have a Parent section...oh and a blog!
  
• He loves AdventureLand!! They can explore and are given missions. Here are a few screen shots of his adventures...

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...Jump Start has created a great online World and CD program for kids! I give it 2 thumbs up....and so does Z-man!!!

you can't hear him right now....but he's asking to get on and play as I type....

Sonia, over at Jump Start has offered a lucky reader a 3-month membership to www.jumpstart.com! A free upgrade to use and take advantage of the entire site!! Perfect for the summer months! It's a great tool to keep your kid's minds thinking and not forgetting everything they learned over the past 9 months of school....it's so much better than a "workbook"....and who wants to sit down and do a workbook during the summer?? NOT ME!

Here are the entry rules:

• For one entry just leave me a comment
  

• For 5 Entries: Visit www.jumpstart.com. (click the link and scroll down) They have HUGE list of skills that Jump Start helps kids with...Just leave a comment and let us know which skills your kids could use some help and/or refreshing on.
  
• For 5 Extra Entries: Follow my blog
• For 5 More Entries: Follow me on Twitter @cherishbound176 and Tweet about it. Please leave tweet URL in comment
  

Please leave separate comments for each entry (just 4 separate comments...you don't have to do 16 comments), and you must leave your email or have your email in your blogger profile or a new winner will be selected. Giveaway runs until, Sunday, July 26 @ 11:59pm. Open to anyone who can get online!

And I also saw that they're going to have Jump Start For the Wii soon! Hopefully they'll let me review that one too! {WINK-WINK}!!