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30 Things to Do This Spring With Free Spring Bucketlist Printable

things to do this spring

Spring is FINALLY here and while the temperatures in Michigan still keep slipping into the high 30’s, I think we will soon get some relief. Since next week is supposed to be significantly warmer, I knew I had to move quickly and take the list of things to do this spring out of my notebook and turn it into an actual printable.

I swear, in Michigan, we get 6 months of winter temperatures, 2 WEEKS of spring temperatures, and then the summer temperatures come in full force. It’s a little insane if you think about it.

We have already knocked out a few of the suggestions on the list, but I had only been keeping track in my notebook before creating the free printable. My kids were super excited to check things off the list when I printed it to hang up, though, so I’m glad I let them take over with the tracking!

Anyhow, without further ado, here is the list of 30 things to do this spring:

things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids

Things to Do This Spring

1. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.

Sylas (4) LOVES scavenger hunts. Any type of activity where he has a to search, hunt, or follow a map is right up his ally. Since spring brings on a whole new range of textures, sights, and smells, I thought a nature scavenger would be best. This gives the littles a chance to explore the fresh earth and all that it has to offer.

A quick Pinterest post led me to the perfect nature scavenger hunt. I planned on creating one myself, but since this one was so perfect, I didn’t bother.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

2. Fly a kite.

Spring is pretty breezy, which means it’s the perfect time to fly a kite. Find a spot that’s slightly higher than just a flat area of land, and the flight will soar so high.

We are lucky and have a park just minutes away from our house with a huge hill. My kids go to the top of the hill to fly their kites and from down below, it is pretty magical. When they do it, the kites rarely hit the ground, either, which is pretty awesome.

3. Play tag at the park.

It’s true that you can play tag at home without ever leaving the house, but it just isn’t as fun. By going to the park to play tag instead of doing it the usual way, you are allowing your children to play one of their favorite games in a totally new environment, and how cool will that be for them?!

4. Jump in puddles.

Make use of all the rain that spring brings with it, and have some fun jumping in those puddles. This is the perfect time to pull out the rainboots but, if you don’t have any or don’t feel like looking, just go barefoot!

5. Plant or tend a garden.

Believe it or not, kids LOVE to learn about the land we live on. This is the perfect way to allow them to learn, have fun, and do something productive. I have many flower gardens throughout our yard and half of them were planted by my kids over the last few years. It’s so much fun for the kids to see their hard work pay off when the plants grow into something beautiful.

You can plant flowers or vegetables. Kids tend to try new foods if they made them, so I’m thinking that if they were to plant and grow their own vegetables, they may be more likely to eat them? I’m not sure if that logic works but it’s worth a shot!

6. Have an ice cream bar.

On one of the warmer nights, set out the ingredients for an ice cream bar. This could include multiple flavors of ice cream, chocolate syrup, bananas, candy pieces, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cherries, whipped cream, and anything else that you enjoy on your ice cream. To make this one even more fun, you can take your kids to the store and let them choose their own toppings.

Ice cream bar

7. Go for a walk or hike.

This may be one of the easiest suggestions on the list, to be honest. This is because it’s free, easy, and there is no prep work involved. You can take a walk around your neighborhood, or you can venture out and find some good hiking trails in your area.

8. Have a game night.

My kids LOVE game night. We get out all the kid games and play them one after another until the kids get bored or I bribe them with a movie. Come on… as much as we love game night, you have to admit that we can only settle so many arguments before we’ve had enough.

Anyhow, we choose some yummy snacks (mostly store bought, but we also let the kids choose a few homemade options).

9. Feed the ducks.

This is something that I have never done before, which is pretty crazy if you think about it. I’m super excited to take my kids to do it. There is this super cute park in my city that is pretty popular for feeding ducks (and it has a super old train that kids love!), so I plan on going there.

Now that I think about it, though, I don’t even know what to feed ducks. Is it bread? I’ll have to google that in a minute.

10. Have a barbeque.

Make sure it’s kid friendly! Unless you don’t have kids, that is. Then make it 100% grown up friendly. Since I have kids, however, mine will have to be kid friendly.

That means hotdogs, hamburgers, and lots of kid friendly side dishes. I’ll probably do this one with a bunch of the other outside, at home ones while the food is cooking. No one says you can’t combine multiple ideas from the list at one time. 😉

11. Spend time star gazing.

Honestly, I feel like I don’t spend enough time simply enjoying the outdoors, especially at night time. Instead, I go inside the minute the sun is gone, preferring the bright warmth of my home.

This spring I plan on changing that and enjoying nature a little more. Disconnecting for a while and spending calming time with my kids while learning about our world sounds so peaceful. I also have a star gazing book I’ve been dying to put to use, so this will be the perfect time for that.

12. Blow bubbles.

Kids love, love, love to blow bubbles. All ages. Take some time to do this WITH them, and they’ll love it even more.

13. Draw with sidewalk chalk.

This is the perfect time to practice letters, numbers, sight words, name recognition, and art. The possibilities with sidewalk chalk are limitless. You can also pull out some classic sidewalk chalk games such as tic tac toe and hopscotch. Another fun idea is to draw lines on the ground and have your kids walk on them.

14. Have a picnic.

Kick off your shoes, settle back on a blanket, and unpack your picnic basket. Kids love to have picnics, and it is the perfect time to simply talk and unwind with your littles.

15. Read books outside.

So this probably won’t go as planned, but I envision all of us sitting calmly, relaxing while reading books outside. My kids will probably run around instead, but it gives me a good excuse to read outside and maybe, just maybe, my kids will join me for a little while.

things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids

16. Play hide and seek outside.

Face it, everyone in your house knows all of the hiding places inside. It isn’t even fun anymore when you already know where to look. Take the game outside now that the weather is nice!! Set a few ground rules to ensure that everyone remembers to be safe, pair a grown up or big kid with the toddlers, and search for new hiding places!!

17. Watch the sunset.

Is there anything more relaxing and breathtaking than a sunset? End one of your perfect spring days this way, and invite your kids to enjoy it, too.

18. Have a movie night.

Make it complete with popcorn, movie theater candy, and a yummy drink. Let loose a little and let your kids have a fun night laughing at their favorite movie with you and their siblings. It’ll be a night they’ll remember for years to come.

19. Make a spring craft.

I never need an excuse to make crafts, and if you give me an excuse, I may go a little bit crazy. Spring is the best time to do crafts because you can get a little bit messier than normal by moving craft time outside.

Paint a little more, use nature-inspired items on crafts, and maybe even incorporate some ice cubes or squirt guns. Luckily, Pinterest has TONS of options to choose from, and if you follow me on Pinterest I have a board already dedicated to it.

20. Play catch.

Baseball, football, whatever kind of ball you’ve got… just get outside and play catch. So many memories and bonding moments can happen during these seemingly little moments.

21. Paint rocks outside.

Go on an adventure and find your own rocks to paint! This will make them even more special. When you’re done you can save them or head out and hide them around town for others to find later.

22. Run barefoot in the grass.

My kids have already done this a million times this spring, so I think I can cross it off now.

23. Look for shapes in the clouds.

This is another time to lay back, unwind, and give your kids a chance to talk to you. Even better, it may just be a good time to laugh and be silly with them.

24. Shaving cream play outside.

Wear play clothes (or work clothes if you’re an adult), and get messy with shaving cream. I intend to work on letters, numbers, and sight words with my kids, but I know it’ll eventually turn into kids being covered in shaving cream. If it’s warm enough, you can just use a hose to clean off.

25. Have a bonfire.

In the spring, the evenings can be pretty chilly, so after the sun sets, light a fire and put on a hoodie to stay warm. Make it an even better night by roasting some marshmallows and making s’mores.

26. Go to yard sales.

Yard sale signs are the first indicator that spring is here. Stop by a few and let your kids grab a couple toys that may or may not break by the end of the day. You might get lucky and find some super cute home décor, a new patio set, or something even better.

27. Have a toy car carwash.

Get some hot wheels cars dirty and let your kids clean them with toothbrushes, soap, and water. If your kids are anything like my kids, they LOVE water play. Add in some cars and soap and it’s going to be the best day ever.

28. Watch a sports game.

This should be easy to do if you just hit up your local sports field on a Saturday morning. You’ll likely find soccer, baseball, tennis, or track this time of year.

If you have kids in spring sports, you’ve likely already watched a sports game or two this year. I’m in your boat, and I’ve written a post about how to survive spring sports season.

29. Go for a drive and find a new park.

I’m pretty sure that we’ve already played at every park near me, so this may take a trip to a nearby city. I love to explore and I know that my kids do, too, so I think it’ll be fun!! This may just have to be our picnic day.

30. Collect plants and other items to make into artwork.

You can make a collage, a picture frame, letters or a name, or anything else that you little artists come up with. Let them choose their own materials and follow their own ideas. It’ll be fun for everyone, and it is the perfect time to teach them (show them) about trial and error.

things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids

Things to Do This Spring Bucket List – Free Printable

My kids always LOVE to check items off of a list. They likely get this trait from their list-loving mother, but I’d say she isn’t that bad. 😉

Since we all agree that lists are awesome, I tend to create bucket list printables for every occasion. To thank you for reading my blog, I’m giving the printables away for FREE. Feel free to download and print the spring bucket list printable so that you never forget the 30 things to do this spring, and please send it along to a friend who may like one, as well!!

Okay, I may have gone a bit crazy and created three different printables, but I couldn’t help myself. Choose whichever one you like best!!! The link for each one is below the corresponding picture, just click where it says “Spring bucket list”.

things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids
1. Spring bucket list
things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids
2. Spring bucket list
things to do this spring, spring bucket list, things to do with kids
3. Spring bucket list

Final Thoughts On Spring Bucket List – 30 Things to Do This Spring

Spring is finally here, and you have to get moving if you want to do all of the spring-inspired activities! Spring doesn’t last long, unfortunately.

What are some of your ideas for things to do this spring? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Categories
Big Kid Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers

Cell phone contract for teens

Kids are becoming technology savvy at such a young age, and it is inevitable that they will someday have a cell phone. Even if a cell phone doesn’t have data service, preteens and teenagers use apps that do all the same things (and more!) as a phone that has data. A WiFi connection is the only requirement for connecting with people from all over the globe, so I came up with a cell phone contract to help keep them safe online.

Preteens and teenagers oftentimes have the mindset that the bad things that happen in the world won’t happen to them. Even if they understand the risks, sometimes they make mistakes without thinking things through.

With all of the dangers in the online world, it is important to keep our kids as safe as possible. The first step to this is talking to them about what is allowed and what isn’t. This gives them the opportunity to understand the expectations and to ask questions.

Cell phone contract for teens, cell phone safety, cell phone for preteen, cell phone for teenagers, how to be safe online

My Solution? A Cell Phone Contract For Preteens and Teenagers.

My kids are responsible for paying for their own data each month. The phones are usually gifts and we cover any insurance costs, but the data must be paid by them.

Neither of them has a job, but we have a detailed chore chart that has each chore listed and how much they will be paid to do it. At the end of the week, I pay them. They can earn as much or as a little as they want, and it is entirely up to them if they want data. Chances are, they do, so it isn’t an issue for us.

I created two versions of the cell phone contract for preteens and teenagers so that I could share them with you. One contract has a bullet point for paying for their own data and one does not.

Cell Phone Contract Printable, Cell phone contract for teens, cell phone safety, cell phone for preteen, cell phone for teenagers, how to be safe online, free printable, printable for teenagers
Cell phone contract printable

  • Cell phone contract for teens

What Happens If They Break The Contract?

My kids (14 and 11 years old) understand that if they break the cell phone contract they will be punished. Having a cell phone is a HUGE privilege, so the phone is taken away anytime they fail to follow the contract.

The first time they break the contract they lose their cell phone for one week. For each additional offence, one week is added. My teenager broke 3 rules at one time, so she lost her cell phone for 3 weeks.

If she breaks any of those 3 rules again, her time without a phone will be doubled. If she broke a different rule next time it would only be a one-week punishment because she hadn’t broken that one before. Does that make sense?

I know that kids will slip up, so this is a huge learning experience for them and myself. Each time they get their phone back we go over the contract again.

Final Thoughts

Online safety is important to me, and it is so important for our children to understand the dangers. I want to be up front and clear about what is expected of them when they are on the internet and interacting with others. Not only do I want them to be safe, I want them to be respectful, as well.

What do you do to make sure your children understand and practice online safety? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂

  • Cell phone contract for teens
  • Cell phone contract for teens
  • Cell phone contract for teens
  • Cell phone contract for teens
  • Cell phone contract for teens
  • Cell phone contract for teens
Categories
Marriage Printables

30 Day Marriage Challenge: 30 Days to a Stronger Marriage

30 day marriage challenge

A marriage can never be too strong, so I have created this 30 Day Marriage Challenge for ALL couples… ones who are at a good place in their relationship and those in a marriage that needs a little work. You don’t have to be in a bad place in your relationship to strive to make the marriage stronger.

I created this 30 Day Marriage Challenge to be a better, more attentive, intentional, loving, thoughtful wife. Will you join me in this challenge? If you want to be a better wife or husband, download the free printable and start tomorrow! It doesn’t matter what day you start on, as long as you start with day one and cross the days off as you go on.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

30 Day Marriage Challenge

1. Write a love letter to your partner. 

In the letter, tell your spouse whatever you want them to hear. Tell them how much you love them, what you love about them, where you want your relationship to go, your hopes for the future, etc. Just speak from your heart. If there are specific issues within your marriage, you can even write about those, too. Try to keep the letter positive, even when addressing issues. You can read the letter I wrote to my husband HERE.

2. Make your partner’s favorite meal.

Does your husband or wife like breakfast or dinner better? Maybe they prefer brunch? Whatever it is, cook their favorite meal for them! Do the prep work, the cooking, and the cleanup. Let them know you are thinking of them and want them to enjoy their meal without any effort on their part.

3. Clean the house on day three of the marriage challenge.

Everyone loves a clean house, but sometimes, it’s just hard to get it cleaned (especially when you have kids) and keep it that way. For me, this means stressing about how messy the house is but never getting the time to clean the house. I’m sure it’s the same way for my husband. For this challenge, clean the home for your partner. Don’t make them do any of the work, and let them enjoy having a clean house (even if it’s just for a day). They will feel less stressed as they settle in to relax. 

4. Plan a date night out. 

Take care of all the details for a successful date night. If you’re on a budget, search for free options in your area. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a fun night or evening out. Just make sure you plan something that your spouse will enjoy. Don’t forget to make a plan for a babysitter, if needed, too.

5. Tell your partner how you feel about them. 

Don’t just say, “I love you,” to your partner. Go in-depth and pour your heart out. The goal is to make sure your spouse knows how important they are to you.

6. Thank your partner for all they do. 

Does your husband or wife work hard to provide for your family? Is your partner a stay-at-home parent who handles raising the kids and running the house? Does your spouse work super hard to update the home or keep everything maintained? Whatever your husband or wife does for the family, let them know how grateful you are. You can tell them by saying it aloud, or you can do something special like make them a card or buy a small gift.

7. Turn off electronics for the night. 

Give your spouse your undivided attention by turning off all electronics. When you don’t have the distraction of electronics, it will help you focus your attention on them without occasionally looking down to check your text messages or Twitter feed. It’ll stop the chime of your phone from interrupting a conversation or cuddle session, too.

30 day marriage challenge

8. Tell your partner three things you love about them. 

I always appreciate hearing what my husband loves about me, so I assume he would feel the same way. You can make your partner’s day by telling them the things you love about them. On day number eight of the marriage challenge, spend some time thinking of meaningful things you could mention.

9. Wake up early and have coffee together on day nine of the marraige challenge. 

Sometimes early mornings are the only time my husband and I have together. I’m often tempted to sleep in while he gets ready for work and heads out, but it’s always a good time for bonding when I wake up early with him. Having a cup of coffee together in the morning makes both of our days better.

Love coffee? Check out this coffee subscription box that I love!

10. Compliment your spouse.  

I think many spouses forget to compliment their partner. We become so accustomed to seeing that person every day that we sometimes take them for granted. If your husband looks especially good today, tell him. Likewise, if your wife’s hair looks great, let her know. Whatever it is, tell your spouse when they look good.

11. Get dressed up for your partner.

You don’t have to go as far as a suit and tie or fancy dress (unless your situation calls for that), but look good for them! Put on an outfit you know they love on you, do your hair, and wait for them to get home for the day. They’ll be thrilled to walk in the house to their partner looking put-together for no reason at all, and you’ll feel good about yourself, too.

12. Talk about your favorite memories together.

Spend some time reminiscing with your spouse. Talk about all of your favorite memories that involve the two of you together. For my husband and I, these talks go back to the beginning of our relationship. We love talking about the things we did before we had kids, and it reminds us of who we were when it was just the two of us. 

13. Give your partner a massage.

Everyone likes a massage, and the physical contact will make you feel closer to one another. Who knows, maybe they’ll return the favor. Want to make it even more special? Use massage oils! You can find them with essential oils or scents that help with relaxation, like lavender massage oil. **click the link for the one I use.**

14. Kiss your partner first thing after work. 

I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my husband works a full-time job. I’m always happy to see him when he gets home from work, but lots of times I’m in the middle of changing a diaper, breaking up a toddler fight, cleaning a mess, doing dishes, or cooking dinner. I’ll shout out, “Hey babe!” and continue doing what I’m doing while he gets settled. It isn’t until he comes to me that I kiss him some days. With this challenge, I’m going to kiss him the minute he walks through the door. Making it a priority means I’ll stop whatever I’m doing, greet him at the door, and give him a big kiss.

15. Praise your spouse. Marriage Challenge Day 15 

Did your spouse fix something around the house or make the kitchen look amazing? Did they help you wash the kid’s stroller that you’ve planned to do? Are they playing a game with the kids? Praise them for it. 

Adults appreciate praise just as much as kids do, but adults don’t give it to one another as often. Tell your spouse when you think they did a good job. 

16. Send flirty text messages throughout the day. 

My husband and I used to do this often when we were first dating/living together. Not so much anymore, though. Now we (or I) send messages like, “OMG, WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?! THESE KIDS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!” There’s nothing flirty about that, and it’s probably making him dread the moment he walks in the door. For day 16, I will make it a point to send him flirty text messages instead and avoid the negative texts.

17. Bake your partner’s favorite dessert.

If you can’t bake or don’t have the time, you can buy your partner’s favorite dessert. It’s all about the thought here and letting your spouse know you’re thinking of them. Go out of your way to put a smile on their face.

18. Plan a movie night and watch your spouse’s favorite movie.

Yes, watch their favorite movie even if you hate it. Prepare your spouse’s favorite movie snacks, get comfortable, and settle in for a night of your partner’s favorite movie.

19. Pack your spouse a lunch and slip a love note inside.

Just a short, cute little message to let them know you are thinking of them, even if it just says I love you.

20. Give your spouse two hours of alone time.

During these two hours, they get to do whatever they want. Take the kids (if you have kids) and get them out of the house.

21. Create a playlist of your special songs. 

Remember the song you first danced to when you were dating? Or the song you used to listen to in the car while driving around? Add those to the playlist! Add your wedding songs and whatever other songs are meaningful to your relationship. Ours aren’t all love songs, so don’t feel like the whole playlist must be mushy, slow songs.

22. Take over a task you know your spouse doesn’t like. 

If your husband or wife is in the middle of doing dishes and you know they hate that chore, take over. Tell them to go sit down and let you do it for them because what better way to show that you care about the things they like or don’t like? If my husband did this for me, he would be taking over bathing the babies, for sure.

23. Surprise your spouse with their favorite treat or drink. 

My husband LOVES Slurpees from 7-11, so I’ll be making a trip to 7-11 for a Slurpee on day 23 of the marriage challenge. I might pick up a Snickers bar, too. The treat and drink don’t have to be anything fancy, just something you know your spouse will appreciate and enjoy.

24. Spend time just kissing.

That’s it. Nothing complicated here. Cuddle up on the couch or lie in bed just kissing.

25. Take cute or silly selfies together.

You don’t even have to post them to social media if you don’t want to. Just have some fun and be silly together. You’ll find yourself laughing by the time you’re finished, and you’ll have a couple of new pictures with your spouse.

26. Plan a successful date night in for this marriage challenge. 

Come up with a fun idea for the two of you to do at home. It can be whatever you and your spouse like to do together. If you need date night ideas, check out my Date Night Ideas post.

27. Learn about your partner’s love language. 

I talk about learning love languages in my post: 11 Ways to Keep the Spark Alive in Your Marriage. It is essential to know your spouse’s love language to make sure you show love to them in the way they interpret and understand it best.

28. Ask your spouse what you can do for them. 

Simply ask what they need help with on day 28. This simple question can lighten their load so much. Plus, it’ll make them happy knowing they can count on you.

29. Lay in bed and talk.

When was the last time you did this? Just lay there, pretend you don’t have anything to do, and enjoy each other’s company. Talk about all the things you don’t usually have time for.

30. Work on a project together. 

This project could be big or small. Whatever you want. All that matters is that you work on it together.

**Download 30 Day Marriage Challenge FREE PRINTABLE here**

30 Day Marriage Challenge

So what do you think? Are you going to join me in this marriage challenge? I hope you do! Let me know in the comments, and we can work to hold one another accountable!

Categories
Big kid fun Family Activities Our Family Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Family Camping Trip – What to Pack

Before this summer I had never taken my kid’s on a family camping trip. Call me a bad mom or whatever, but I was terrified of taking 3 littles camping!

Well, we finally did it and I definitely don’t regret it. I would do some things differently and pack differently, but we will definitely be doing it again SOON.

It was so much fun and the kids loved it, so I took note during the process of things I needed that I didn’t think to pack, things I packed but didn’t need, and things that would have been nice to have.

Now I’m giving you the opportunity to learn from my mistakes!! I’ve put together a list of what you should pack for a family camping trip. I even included a section dedicated to packing for a toddler, a teenager, and a big kid. You’re welcome. 😉

family camping trip, what to pack when camping with kids, camping with toddlers, camping with teenagers

What to Pack for a Camping Trip

Bedding/Misc.

Tent (if needed)
Sleeping Bag/Blanket
Pillow
Sheets if staying in a cabin
Flashlights (flashlight tag anyone?!)
Glowsticks
Backpack
First aid kit
Cell phone & Chargers
Garbage bags
Clorox Wipes
Citronella Candle
A book
Lawn chairs
Beer bottle opener/corkscrew
Cash
Any necessary medication
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Bikes
Games (board/card)
Chairs
Bluetooth Speaker
Kayak/Canoe
Fishing poles

Clothing

Raincoat/jacket
Swimsuit
Tennis shoes
Clothes (2 outfits/day for everyone, more for younger children)

  • Shorts/t-shirts
  • Pants/Long sleeve shirts

Hats
Extra socks
Sweatshirt/sweatpants (in case it gets chilly at night and you want to be comfy)
Underwear (duh)
PJ’s
Flipflops
Extra shoes for everyone

Personal

Shampoo/Conditioner
Soap
Deodorant
Toilet Paper (You never know!)
Toothbrush/paste
Shower Bag
Hand Sanitizer
Lotion
Lip balm
Towels and washcloths
Bag for dirty laundry
Hair ties
Brush/Comb

Cooking

Camping dinners
Pre-prepped breakfast meals
Wine
Beer
Water
Gatorade (if you’re feeling nice)
Coffee/Creamer
Favorite snacks
S’mores ingredients
Condiments
Coolers/Ice
Firewood (Sometimes you have to buy this right at the campground)
Lighter
Plastic utensils
Paper plates
Napkins
Plastic cups
Tablecloths
Paper Towels
Grilling/Fire utensils
Foil
Skewers
Resealable Plastic Bags

Toddler Specifics

Toddler-sized chairs
Blocks
Lots of extra clothes (3 per day if your child is extra messy or the weather isn’t cooperating)
Sand/Beach toys
Life Jackets
Teddy bear/baby doll, favorite blankets
Baby wipes

Big Kid/Teenager Specifics

Football, baseball, volleyball, other sports equipment
Water toys

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

What would you add to this list? Have you ever forgotten something essential on a camping trip? Tell me about it in the comments! 🙂

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Our Family Printables Weekend Wrap-Up

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Monday!!

I hope everyone had a good weekend. We tried to just relax as much as possible because last week was such a long, busy week for us.

Relaxing when you have five kids is a little different than relaxing with no kids, however, so we still stayed a little busy.

Friday we had doctors appointments for the kids, but after that, it was pretty chill.

Saturday morning we hung out at home and spent time together. Later we dropped Peyton off to spend time with his mama and then went to the train station in our town to take pictures before Nevaeh’s 8th grade formal. The train station is beautiful so it was a good spot for pictures.

When we got done there we took Nevaeh and her date (her boyfriend, but Chris doesn’t like me to say that) to the dance.

When Nevaeh got home Chris, Nevaeh, and I watched YouTube videos of Conan O’Brien and Kevin Hart driving around with different people in the car… it was pretty hilarious.

Sunday we went to the Rose Parade. Chris wasn’t thrilled but he’s a team player so came along anyhow. He actually ended up enjoying himself, so that was a bonus. LOL. Liam LOVED all the cars and trucks. He wouldn’t stop saying “ca” and when there were no cars that he could see he would say, “all gone!” and get squirmy again until the next wave of vehicles came. It was adorable. Sylas liked the firetrucks and police cars, and Josie liked the horses. I think she liked the horses, it was really the only thing she paid attention to other than the candy being thrown her way. She didn’t want to talk about anything but the candy after we left. I think candy being thrown at parades should be banned… lol. I’m totally kidding but my kids brought home SO MUCH candy.

Watching a parade is on our Summer Bucket List so the kids were excited to put a check mark next to it afterward. If you want a copy of our Summer Bucket List or if you want a template to write your own list, click on the link and download my free printables. There are 5 of them so you have a few to choose from, plus a few blank ones if you would rather create your own.

After that we came home and while the kids napped and I worked on my blog a big, Chris went to pick up some mulch for me. I didn’t get it put down yet… I’m sure that won’t happen until next weekend at least. I tend to get nothing done in the yard during the week LOL

We went to pizza night, I had good wine, and then we went home to relax before the week started again.

My kids didn’t nap all weekend it seemed like. Even Liam’s naps were shorter than normal. I seriously ended my weekend wishing for a babysitter so I could have a couple minutes to myself without anyone interrupting. LOL. I live for nap time.

Tell me about your weekend in the comments! I’d love to hear about it. 🙂

 

Categories
Big kid fun Family Activities Our Family Printables Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Summer Bucket List Free Printable

Hey everyone!! Summer is so close I can feel it. I want my family to have the BEST summer ever. I say that every year and then lose momentum halfway through the season. I’m trying to avoid doing that this year so I created a Summer Bucket List. Creating it inspired me to create a printable (five, really) for everyone to create their own summer bucket list. My kids and husband have their own idea of what would make this summer perfect so I made a couple different versions for them to write their list out on. I bet my husband is going to write, “a whole day of doing nothing”. 😉

Summer Bucket List Blank

Summer Bucket List Clipart

Summer Bucket List Kids

Summer Bucket List Blank Sunset

Summer Bucket List Sunset

I created one version for the littles with fewer lines and more space in between each line. This is for the littles who are just learning to write and still write pretty large or the littles who may not have as many ideas as older kids and adults. I created two different versions for older kids/teenagers and adults. Then, I created a printable of my own bucket list and if you love all of my bucket list activities, you can download that one instead.

For the toddlers, I plan on asking them to “write” their own list and then going back and asking them what each line says. When they tell me, I’ll write it in for them, next to their own writing.

There are actually a bunch of other activities I want to do that wouldn’t fit on the list, so I may print myself another blank one and make a second page.

I’m so excited to share these with you! What are you going to put on your Summer Bucket List?

Categories
Meal Plan Printables

Meal Plan with Printable

So, before I began meal planning, we would have nothing in the house for dinner. I’m not even kidding. Chris or I would be running to the store on our lunch breaks or after work to pick up something quick to cook. Since this is how we did it, we rarely had anything new and exciting for dinner. We were just grabbing simple things that we could grab and go. OR, even worse, we were just grabbing fast food on our way home. It was awful. We were spending way more money than we should have been, wasting time, and not really enjoying our meals.

Once I began meal planning, things changed. We hardly ever eat fast food anymore and we all enjoy dinner more. I plan dinners for two weeks, do my grocery shopping during the weekend, and then we are all set for the next two weeks.

When I meal plan for breakfast and lunch it’s pretty simple and honestly, we hardly ever have what is actually on the plan for these meals. I only put it on the plan so I know what food to buy and have an idea of what options we have. We always have eggs, bread, ingredients for pancakes, bagels, lunch meat, frozen pizza (on days we need a quick lunch), PB&J, on hand anyway so we stick with this most times. On the weekends our breakfasts get a little fancier because we have more time. During the week Chris, Peyton, and Nevaeh have to leave for work and school pretty early so we do quick stuff. My toddlers are so easy when it comes to breakfast… Sylas always wants Honey Bunches of Oats (in our house these are known as Honey and Boats since Sylas couldn’t say the whole thing when he first started eating them a couple years ago) and a banana, and JoJo always wants eggs, toast, milk, and a banana. Liam eats whatever is put in front of him, so it varies.

Anyhow… back to my meal plan.

So, the way that I do it is super simple.

  • Make a list of the meals you plan to have. Don’t bother writing the ingredients out just yet. Simply make a list of however many meals you are planning for. I do two weeks at a time, so 14 meals. We do eat leftovers once a week, but I still put “leftovers” on the list just so I don’t get confused thinking I missed two days.
  • Plan for events and late nights. If you have big kids who have sporting events or school activities, make sure you think about that when you are planning your meals. You will want to plan a crockpot meal or a leftover night on those nights. Peyton has baseball on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we normally do a crockpot meal on Tuesdays and leftovers on Thursdays.
  • Write the ingredients for one meal at a time. I don’t look at all the meals that include one pound of chicken and then write, “3 pounds of chicken” on my list. I only look at one meal at a time and write out the ingredients for only that meal. It seems tedious, but I find that I stay more organized and don’t miss ingredients or add too many of a certain thing to the grocery list. I do this on a piece of scrap paper or on the back of the printable (included below) and add the ingredients to the grocery list on my printable later.
  • Check your pantry. Sometimes I forget what I have on hand and I hate wasting money. Nothing irritates me more than buying something and then discovering the exact ingredient is already in my pantry at home. I learned my lesson quickly here. Once my list is finished, I go through my cupboards and pantry and cross any items off the list that I already have.
  • Re-write the ingredients in an organized way. So now that you have all the ingredients written out separately and you crossed off any items you already have, it’s time to organize. The way that I do this is by imagining my grocery store and starting in the back of the store. Anything that is in the back, I put at the beginning of my list. I go through all the individualized ingredient lists for meals and THEN I combine all the ingredients. This is where the “3 pounds of chicken” gets written instead of “1 pound of chicken”. I visually work my way to the front of the store, writing my list in the order that I will shop. This organized list gets written on the printable.
  • Check your meal plan each night. Don’t mess up your meal plan and be stuck with fast food for dinner because you forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer!! Can you tell we eat a lot of chicken? It’s been my example every time. LOL. But seriously, this has happened to me more times than I’d like to admit. I start getting my ingredients out to make dinner only to realize I never took the frozen meat out of the freezer the night before. UGH. Then I have to do the “call of shame” to my husband and tell him we have nothing for dinner. Oops.

 

I didn’t get a picture of my Meal Plan list filled out before I tossed it (I clearly wasn’t thinking), but I’ll share a list of the dinners I have planned for the next two weeks.

Mon: Slow Cooker Potato Soup – This is the best potato soup recipe I have EVER tried and I have tried a bunch of them. I do leave the bacon out, however.
Tues: Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells – When I made this before, I thought it has too much spinach so I am going to put less spinach this time.
Wed: 30-min Garlic Parmesan Pasta With Crispy Chicken
Thurs: Leftovers
Fri: Tacos
Sat: Taco Stuffed Potatoes
Sun: Pizza
Mon: Stuffing Topped Pork Chops
Tues: Chicken Enchilada Soup
Wed: Corn Chowder
Thurs: Leftovers
Fri: Ham and Turkey Club Sliders
Sat: Chicken Fried Rice – One of my husband’s FAVORITE recipes. He takes the leftovers to work with him every time.
Sun: Pizza

 

Every recipe for this current meal plan we have tried before and loved EXCEPT the corn chowder. That is the only recipe we haven’t tried yet. For the Taco Stuffed Potatoes, we use taco leftovers from the day before. We have also tried it with chicken tacos and it is just as delicious (if not MORE delicious).

 

Meal Plan Printable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meal Plan Printable in color

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meal Plan Printable Vaeh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell me what is on your meal plan for the week! I’d like to see your yummy ideas. Oh, and tell me which version of the Meal Plan printable you downloaded. I couldn’t decide which one was the cutest!