There’s a shelf in the nursery that holds all of our baby-proof board books. I believe early literacy starts here. Sturdy books for tiny hands.

While we still have 3 weeks until our kids go back to school, most kindergarteners in our area start next week!! To all the mamas cherishing these last few days with their sweet 5 year olds: I’m sobbing right alongside you!

Every year for Father’s Day I love to create a homemade card with my boys. Two years ago, we created a golf themed card, last year we created a fishing themed card, and this year we went with a grilling theme! I always include the boys’ handprints, and it’s really sweet to see them grow each year!

I fell in love with Usborne Books & More when a friend hosted an Usborne book party. When my oldest was turning 3, we were unable to host a traditional birthday party due to Covid quarantines. Instead, I hosted an Usborne book party on Facebook through a friend who had just become a consultant. It was so fun because as my friends purchased books for their own family, we earned credit to purchase books for Mills’ birthday. I also created a wish list, so some friends also bought books to send to Mills as a birthday gift! We added dozens of books to our home library that year!

When filling an Easter basket, I always include a book, a learning activity, summer shoes, water toys, and candy. I might also include pajamas, a bathing suit, a game, or a new toy. Having these categories in mind always makes it easier when I’m rounding up items for my boys’ Easter baskets each year. As I’m considering these categories, I also try to purchase items that reflect Spring and Summer. Whether it’s a book about oceans or toys for playing outside, I use our Easter basket as a way to get our home eager and ready for all of our Spring and Summer activities. This year, I’m buying for my almost 5 year old, 2 1/2 year old, and 7 month old. Below, I’ve rounded up ideas for babies, 5 year olds, and all the years in between!

We have 3 little boys who contribute quite a mess to our home. Sticky fingerprints on doorknobs, tomato sauce on kitchen cabinets, and Skittle stains on the couch. I remember the first time I noticed the dirty handprints beneath the bathroom light switch and along the stairway wall. Sweet little hands that were jumping to reach the switch or using the wall to balance as they carefully walked down the stairs. These kind of messes immediately make me smile. I’m grateful that tiny children live in my home. You can find a basketball in every room of our house, magnets cover the refrigerator, and the playroom is hardly ever tidy.

I am hopeful that one day I will truly enjoy cooking, but in this season of life (with tiny children running around while I prepare dinner) it’s just not my favorite. Which is why I am so grateful for our slow cooker. We received it as a wedding gift, but it took several years for us to begin using it. Now, we use it weekly. We’re always trying new recipes, but below I’ve shared 8 of our tried and true favorites!

We moved into our first house when Mills was just 2 weeks old. I didn’t finish decorating his nursery until he was 3 months old. I had little design experience and a very tight budget. All of that to say, I never really loved it. And I didn’t make many changes when Saylor was born. So when we found out I was pregnant with James, I was eager to do a little redecorating. Knowing that this isn’t our forever home and that babies only use the nursery for a short season, I didn’t see value in spending a significant amount of time and money on the updates. But a a few simple changes made a huge difference!