Every Moment Counts...

I don't think I really had a clear understanding of just how busy mommy life can be. Between school, soccer, gymnastics and play dates we are constantly on the go. And that's just Savannah's schedule.

My husband works a lot and he's a full time grad student so his schedule keeps us pretty busy as well. When your family is busy it's easy to settle into a routine and go through the motions of the day.

This is why I make a big effort to make every moment count with my family. I find ways to make them all feel special. Sometimes it's difficult to remember to create moments when you're so busy living but I think it's what makes a family have a tight bond.

Here are a couple ways I try to make every moment count with my family:

Everyone gets a special birthday breakfast with a candle…

I celebrate my husband for all of his hard work…

Popcorn is nice but isn't this a better way to enjoy a movie?

And I take my littlest favorite person a daily walk...

Family time is so important to me. I think that anytime you can spend time with you family it is time well spent. We also attend soccer practice once a week as a family, eat nightly family dinners and we have bedtime story readings every night. Right now we're reading the Junie B. series. 

Are you busy like us and looking for ways to get family time in? Try these suggestions…

*Attend practices and rehearsals together as a family. Your children will love the support.

*Read together at night before bed. Start a series with your kids that you all can enjoy.

*Have dinner as a family as much as you can. Turn the TV off and talk to each other.

*Go for walks together. Do a scavenger hunt or play "eye spy".

*If you can, take a vacation or go away for a weekend to connect.

As you know I am an Army Wife so it brings me much pleasure to tell you all about how Mrs. Fields is partnering with the USO to help all families make the most of every moment together. 

"Mrs. Fields is a proud supporter of the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), and "Mrs. Fields Moments" builds on the Organization's "Every Moment Counts" campaign, which helps all families – military and otherwise – make the most of every moment together. To help spread the news, Mrs. Fields has launched a contest that will send one lucky family to National Harbor in our nation’s capital."

Here's how you can enter…

1. Take a family selfie of your Mrs. Fields Moment

2. Share the photo on the Mrs. Fields Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #mrsfieldsmoments

3. Share as many moments as you'd like between Sept. 10 and Nov. 2, 2014

The winning Family will receive…

Grand Prize

Round-trip airfare for four to Washington, D.C.

Two night accommodations in downtown National Harbor

Dining gift certificates to downtown National Harbor

Four tickets to ride the Capital Wheel

Remember to share as many Mrs. Fields Moments as you can until the contest entry period is up! I would love to see one of the families that read this blog win! Washington, D.C. was our very first duty station and it holds a very special place in my heart. Good luck to you all and make sure you designate time each week for  quality family time!

How are you spending time with your family weekly? Tell me in the comments...

I am participating in this campaign as a member of The Niche Parent Network & Conference in partnership with Mrs. Fields. All opinions are my own.

Preschool at Home: Establishing a Routine for Learning

Whew. Hello. I feel like I have been neglecting the blog a lot lately. A while ago I talked about simplifying our schedule by taking a couple weeks to quiet my life and regroup. That's where I've been the past couple weeks. Quieting our routine so that I can get a good understanding of what can stay and what can go.

The weather here has been beautiful. Hello Spring. We've been hanging out at the playground a lot. Once the triple digits hit in a couple months it'll be hard to get out to play so I'm trying to let Savannah soak up sun while she can...


It has been really great enjoying them. Taking the time to worry less and play more has been a huge sense of relief for me. It also gave me the time to determine exactly what I want our schedule to be going forward. It's hard to revise your schedule/routine when you're always doing something or going somewhere. While all of her activities were on Spring Break last week I took that opportunity to really figure out what's going to work best for us.


I discovered a lot. Mainly that we were not getting nearly as much playtime in as I thought. Don't get me wrong we were going to play dates, classes and dance but my little family wasn't getting much play time together. We were playing with everyone else but each other, LOL!

As Savannah approaches the age of four and BabyM turns one I want us to settle into what I think is going to be the routine that works for us. It's a 50/50 learn and play routine. The best of both worlds. In the mornings we'll do all of our learning and development. When the baby goes down for his nap Sav and I normally eat lunch. Once he's up, we'll play together until it's time to make dinner. We can go to a playground or play some of her board games. Whatever she wants.

handwriting practice. she's getting better. we've got to work on that backwards N though.

During my little hiatus I also figured out exactly what our learning goals are going to be. I know what I want to teach them. I'll share my goals for learning in a different post. So far our new schedule has been working out really well. I still have some fine tuning to do with grocery shopping and housework. It's a work in progress but at least I can say we are progressing.
Have you changed your family schedule lately? Have any plans to?

A Chic Thanksgiving: The Recap

Well. Well. Well. It is Monday night and I honestly don't think I have fully recovered from Thanksgiving. Talk about tired. Girl, I am tie-yurd. I had a great time cooking dinner and hosting Thanksgiving this year. We even had our guests over again to eat leftovers. Here are pics of some of my dishes. 

sweet potato pie with streusel topping

squash casserole 

turkey stuffed with lemon, garlic and onion. marinated over night. it was delicious.

cornbread stuffing

mac n cheese

sweet potatoes. ran out of time to do the casserole.

fried corn

chewy cake

green beans

Sav after dinner…

Sorry I didn't get pics of the banana pudding or potato salad. It was all so yummy and we had a great dinner. How was your Thanksgiving?

Video Diary 11222013 Featuring The Husband

I thought it would be fun to do one of the husband tag videos. We actually filmed one a few weeks ago but something happened with the audio. Our video and audio wasn't in sync so I had to find new questions and try it again. I hope you all enjoy this video. I'm pretty sure my husband really wanted to be watching football. He seemed really sad when he found out I couldn't fix the first one that we did, LOL! Anyway, here it is. And of course, the babies make cameo appearances…

And apparently my husband feels that I need to answer twenty questions (which just reminded me of that 50 Cent song) so I guess we'll be filming another one with me in the hot seat. 

Do you have any questions you'd like to see me answer?

Trunk or Treat 2013

Like most kids, Savannah enjoys Yo Gabba Gabba. The first time we watched it I thought it was a little weird. She seemed to really enjoy the songs and dancing with them so the show slowly grew on me. So. This year I thought it would be fun if we all dressed up as Yo Gabba Gabba characters. 

Savannah was the cutest little Foofa and my husband made DJ Lance look good! He was a big hit with all the kids at the Trunk or Treat this year. 

How cute were they?

If you aren't familiar with the show I was Plex the robot.

Baby M was in the stroller sleeping during the photo session. He woke up once Savannah and I started making the rounds. Savannah's BFF and her Mom joined us and the girls had a blast! I didn't get permission to post her BFF here but she was the CUTEST little dragonfly!

And here is Baby M once we were back at home. I couldn't find a Yo Gabba Gabba costume in an infant size. I looked every where online and didn't have any luck. I was able to find him a Yo Gabba Gabba shirt from The Children's Place so he still fit the theme!

We had tons of fun. This is such a great alternative to trick or treating. My husband was a volunteer for the trunk or treat through the Audie Murphy club. Savannah has other parties to attend all next week so I'll be getting all the bang for my buck with her costume. 

Fall Family Photos 2013

As promised here are some of the images from our Fall family photo shoot. I am in love with these pictures. If you are in the San Antonio area and need a good family photographer I highly recommend Crystal Claire Photography. She is great with kids and I really feel like we got a lot for our money.

I love that Baby M was yawning and checking out the sites! As Kevin Hart would say, "We look good as a unit!" LOL! 

And one with my love...

And one of the littles...

There were so many great shots from our session. Pretty sure that file has been open on our computer since we got our pictures back. I had the hardest time trying to find something for all of us to wear. I'm really happy with the outcome. How often does your family have pictures made? 

Hello September...

I can not believe it is already September. This is a very fun month for our family. I spent the majority of Labor Day weekend laying in bed fighting sinus pressure and shopping online. I got some great deals! Very excited about getting all those shipments this week. 

All of Savannah's activities start back up this month and I could not be more excited. It is going to feel so good to have a scheduled activity every day. We'll be out and about Tuesday thru Thursday. On Mondays and Fridays we'll do more "Preschool at Home" activities, run errands, clean and do whatever else the house needs. Savannah will also be turning three in a couple weeks. This year she wanted a trip to the beach for her birthday so we'll be having a family party/getaway. I'm not even mad or sad about her not wanting a party. That's one less thing for me to plan...

We'll probably at least have cake and ice cream with her girlfriends though, but that's it.

I've been trying to gather things for our beach trip and plan my outfits. I found a cute outfit on Pinterest that seemed really easy and comfy. Since it was repinned over 200 times I decided to recreate the look. Cute, right? Can't wait to share my finished look!

I also want to try something different with my hair. I'm not sure if I want to put in some marley twists or if I should invest in a good flat iron and wear my hair straight or blown out. I would really love to do the twists but from the reviews I've read they don't really last that long. We'll see.

I'm so ready for this much needed break. My husband's birthday is at the end of the month so we'll be celebrating all month long. As I've said before Fall is my favorite season. I'm looking forward to this season and all the changes that will come with it!

Summer Vacation Tips for the Family

5 Tips for a Summer Vacation Every Family Can Enjoy

Between the planning, packing, and getting everyone else ready, family vacations can get a little stressful before the trip even begins. However, with the right preparations, every family trip can be smooth sailing and stress free. The key, as in all matters of motherhood, is to plan ahead, but not over-plan so much that you have to hand out a daily newsletter.  

• Tip 1: A family travels on its belly.  The key to avoiding cranky kids (and parents) is to make sure everyone is eating frequently and eating the right things.  Plan ahead by packing portable snacks like pretzels and fruit.  This will help avoid some impulse buys and too many sugary snacks along the way. Even if you have to take stops and grab something on-the-go you should still make healthy fast food decisions to avoid the repercussions later!

• Tip 2: The next key to a successful family vacation in making sure everyone gets enough rest.  This may mean paying a little bit more, but it is more than worth it in the end.  Typical family destinations, such as many Orlando hotels, are rife with family-friendly packages (including quiet hours policies!)  However, if you are traveling more off the beaten path, be sure to pick lodging that is not too low-budget.  While the cost may seem too good to resist while you are planning, it is all for naught if your room faces the pool bar someplace with no quiet hours.

• Tip 3: Don’t forget the hand sanitizer.  What mom worth her weight would travel without it?  You bought it and packed it, now don’t forget to use it.  Did you know airplanes don’t get a real thorough cleaning until their last stop of the day?  If your flight leaves at 4:00pm, then that plane has been a sort of germ incubator all day.  Don’t be paranoid, but be prepared.

• Tip 4: All the good done for our spirits while we are on vacation can be undone so easily with a bad “reentry” into real life.  Consider coming home a day earlier.  Let the whole family rest, sleep well and eat a couple normal meals before having to get back to school and work.

• Tip 5: Finally, remember to take some grown-up time.  Take turns with the kids to give each other some alone time or get a bottle of wine and some plastic glasses to enjoy on the hotel balcony after the kids pass out.  

So, after all the prep work is done, remember the most important rule of family vacations: slow down and enjoy the time together!  (That and use lots of sunscreen.  That’s one of the most important rules too, of course.)  

*This post was written by Kendra, former Orbitz Director of Communications and promoted into full time position in the care of Motherhood.

30 Things: Describe a Typical Day For You...

A typical day for me is going to sound pretty boring. However, since I am pretty sure most Moms that stay at home have the same type of day I will try not to feel bad when I read every one else's post for this prompt. So. A typical day for Savannah and I goes a little something like this...

(Assuming that the day is completely free of Doctor's appointments)

7:00AM - Savannah wakes up. We head downstairs for breakfast. I turn the TV on nick jr. and we listen to Little Bill while we both make breakfast. She likes to help me cook. We sit and eat and talk about what we're going to do that day.

8:00AM- The kitchen is clean from breakfast and we head back upstairs to get dressed. She brushes her teeth then we pick out her clothes. I get in the shower while she plays with toys and watches Team Umizoomi on my bed. It normally takes me about forty minutes to get us both dressed. (depending on where we're headed)

9:00AM- We are headed to a play date, play group, dance, library or park. 

12:00PM - We arrive back at home for lunch (unless lunch was part of the outing. in that case we're still out riding around and soaking up the summer)

1:00PM - The kitchen is clean from lunch. Now it's time for an indoor quiet activity. She normally paints, colors, creates something with Play Doh or plays with a doll. This is her independent play time. During this time I clean, start a load of laundry and begin to cook dinner. 

2:00PM - We finish cooking dinner together. At this point in the day we normally head to her room and read a couple books before I start doing some teaching. Lately, we've been working on her numbers so we'll sing number songs or read books that reinforce counting. For some reason she can identify numbers but she just doesn't like to count. I'm pretty sure she got that from me.

3:30PM - I fold and put away clothes and do any prep that needs to be done for the next day. We clean up the toys and books in her room and we head back downstairs.

4:30PM - My husband gets home from work. He changes out of his uniform while Savannah gives him a play by play of what happened today. I start setting the table while my husband gives me a play by play of what happened to him today.

5:00PM - We eat dinner and I tell my husband my version of what happened that day. There's a lot of talking at dinner.

6:30PM - My husband packs his lunch for work the next day and he cleans the kitchen. Savannah and I head upstairs for bath time. 

7:00PM - I turn on nick jr. and Savannah gets her TV time before bedtime. I take a shower and get ready for bed. By 7:45 (8:00 at the latest) Savannah is asleep. My husband puts her in her bed. 

8:00PM I enjoy some TV and time with my husband before falling asleep around ten. 

See. Nothing too glamourous but it is a typical day for us.

I'm linking up with a hop today. Join the fun if you're a blogger!

The San Antonio Zoo

Yesterday we had a family date at the zoo. I had heard great things about the San Antonio Zoo and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. The zoo had ample parking and they offered a military discount.  Children two and under are free so our little morning out only costs twenty bucks. Yes!

I packed frozen bottle water and juice boxes in my bag along with some fruit. When Savannah got hungry or thirsty I reached into my bag of goodies. This kept us from being tempted by all the concession stands and restaurants. I'm always looking for ways to save money or make outings as enjoyable as possible for less money. We ended up going to lunch at Chick Fil-A after the zoo. I got the new Asian salad and it was amazing. You have to try it if you haven't already. 

Here are some pics from our visit. Overall, I was pleased with the San Antonio Zoo. Since we were there so early some of the animals were asleep but since Sav was still happy their being asleep didn't bother me. I'm always torn about the zoo. Apart of me likes taking her to see the animals but then another part of me always feels bad for the animals. Has anyone else ever noticed how sad animals look at the zoo sometimes?

aren't they twins?

Oh. And apparently when you go to the zoo as pregnant as I am you get lots of stares. People crack me up. 

30 Things: 5 Things That Make Me Happy Right Now

Right now the five things that are making me most happy are...

1. Knowing that we'll meet my baby boy soon!

2. Doing fun Summer activities with Savannah. 

today at the splash pad

3. Super ice cold bottled water.

4. TV dates with my husband.

5. Peace and quiet.

What are YOU happy about right now? Share in the comments!

Guest Post: Cheaper by the Family

Cheaper by the family

One vs many 

Having a family to pay for isn’t always as expensive as you might initially presume. If you really think about it, there’s a huge amount of discount available if you aren’t going at it alone. Carrying the full burden of a mortgage, holidays and bills all adds up and single people spend more than  £250,000 over the course of their life than those who are a couple or family. 

In fact, there are heaps of occasions to note that charge more for singles than the 2 point 4 children package. Think about food; buy one get one free and bulk-buying etc are all specifically catered for a larger household. If you are the only one in your house, these offers would generally leave you with too much produce that you struggle to consume before the best by date. 

Holiday for, more than one...

This theory translates to the holiday option too. As many people are opting to stay on our own soil for their vacation getaways, there is an infinite amount of money to be saved, if you’re not going alone... 

There are the obvious savings like shared petrol expenses, kids go, or eat free options that are cropping up everywhere, family railcards and bulk ticket buying for all those activities, admissions and adventures. In fact, in this day and age, having a family is almost a money saving incentive! At least parents are being helped by the public, if from nowhere else. 

Here’s to having a family

As one of the top British holiday destinations, Blackpool has so much to offer for families of all ages. There’s Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Tower Dungeons, The Pleasure Beach, The Illuminations, Sea Life and much, much more. As even more of an incentive to go on holiday and save a fortune with your family, the AN in Blackpool as of the 2^nd May 2013 have just launched Blackpool Resort Passes specifically designed for families to give discount access to some of  Blackpool’s top attractions. There’s heaps of add on options to enable you and your family the best catered package for the activities, travel and entertainment you require. 

You may be thinking what’s the catch and what about accommodation, that’s always expensive right? Wrong. You’re not going to believe your luck when we tell you that you even save money by having a family to bed and board. There are very cheap hotels in Blackpool from Travelodge which have family rooms for the same price as a double, unbelievable right!

 It’s definitely not looking good for all the singles out there, but it’s starting to sound like the universe is taking the side of the more the merrier and congratulating you for your family, enabling you to have and enjoy the cheap summer holiday that you all deserve. Who would have thought that having a family would actually save you money and allow you to go on holiday for a bargain and a half.

The Terrible Whose (Twos)

Whew. This past week has been very eye opening. Up to this point we have totally avoided any terrible two type behavior. In fact, I don't even call it the terrible twos. I call it the terrible whose because I would like to know whose child this is. Whose child is this because my little Savannah doesn't have her sass turned on all the time.

Don't get me wrong she is definitely sassy and has her moments like most children but the frequency of these moments of sass has been increasing over the week. I can not take it. I've heard a lot of people say that they never experienced the terrible twos. Lately I've heard people say they had a terrible third year. Since we're only a few months away from Savannah's third birthday I can only wonder if that's where we're headed. 

Since we're only in the beginning stages I haven't seen a full on tantrum yet. Right now I've just been hearing a lot of "No!", "Why?" and "Why not?". I have to admit sometimes it makes me chuckle. However,  it's only cute or funny for so long. I have got to nip this new level of sass in the bud. It's hard because I feel like she inherited this attitude. That's no excuse though. 

I'm starting to figure out how to deal with it. I don't want her behavior to get too out of hand. I know some people will say "She'll grow out of it." or "All kids go through this.". I honestly can't wait for her to ride this wave out. She needs to know what is and what isn't acceptable behavior. If I don't teach her that than who will? How have you dealt with behavior changes with your small child?