Author: Erin

An Open Letter to the Soon-To-Be First Grade Teachers of My Twins

An Open Letter to the Soon-To-Be First Grade Teachers of My Twins

Dear First Grade Teachers, The summer is drawing to an all-too-soon close and soon I’ll be handing my twins, my Super Kids, my babies, over to two of you. I’m thrilled for them to learn and make friends, but like every parent my kids are a 

Mess-Free Nature Shake Paintings for Toddlers

Mess-Free Nature Shake Paintings for Toddlers

Nature Shake Paintings are perfect for a lot of kids and situations. They are perfect for… Kids who are active. Kids who like to collect rocks. Times when you are outside. Times when you are inside. Times when you don’t have a ton of time. 

A Weekend in Long Beach NY with Kids

A Weekend in Long Beach NY with Kids

My kids spent a week digging in clean, white sand and squealing over blue, salty waves. It was relaxing and fun. Where, you ask, is this little slice of delightful beach life? Long Island. Wait…what? Like the Long Island that holds Queens and Brooklyn? Yup. That 

Playful Preschool Math Ideas for Learning Shapes, Counting, Patterning and More

Playful Preschool Math Ideas for Learning Shapes, Counting, Patterning and More

I have this vivid math memory of getting quizzed on multiplication on the playground in elementary school. In third grade I was sick a lot (well every year I was, but that’s another story) and was behind on our weekly quizzes. We were doing our 8s. 

How to Help Your Toddler Overcome a Fear of Open Water

How to Help Your Toddler Overcome a Fear of Open Water

The ocean is one of those parenting things for me. You know those things you absolutely adore that you cannot wait to share with your kids? That favorite book you read as a child. That favorite ice cream spot. That favorite summer vacation spot. The 

Easy Light Table Ideas for Infants and Toddlers

Easy Light Table Ideas for Infants and Toddlers

My kids have been quietly playing for over an hour in the next room. Every now and then I peek into the room, but every time I see the same thing. Two bodies. Carefully building. Quiet conversation. Concentration on their faces that are being lit 

Essential Tips for Surviving Camping with Toddlers

Essential Tips for Surviving Camping with Toddlers

“You’re going camping with your kids?!?” If you have ever considered the idea of camping with toddlers out loud around other people, you are probably familiar with this response. Camping with young children can seem daunting. I know that I was nervous before our first trip and 

3 Simple Steps to Reset When Family Travel Goes Wrong

3 Simple Steps to Reset When Family Travel Goes Wrong

The flight attendant was giving me one of those “get your *%#+ together crazy mama” looks as I re-boarded the plane clutching my daughter’s kindle in hand. affiliate links are included in this post. It has been one of those days. You know the kind 

Easy Directions for a DIY Bug Jar

Easy Directions for a DIY Bug Jar

The screen door slams and little feet patter into the kitchen. “Mama, look what I found?” The screen door. The patter. The uncontrollable enthusiasm. The sweet sweaty faces. The expectation. These are the things that scream summer to me. affiliate links are included below “Look!” 

A Weekend in Chattanooga TN with Kids

A Weekend in Chattanooga TN with Kids

The blue bridge stretches above me as I get my first glimpses of Chattanooga and the surrounding hills. My kids have of course sprinted ahead, but I’m still taking in the lovely green, the flowing river, and the steam boats. Chattanooga was the one place