Category Archives: Printables

Dec 18 2012

Printable Christmas To-Do List

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Just for fun! 

I made this Christmas To Do List as kind of a Countdown to Christmas break!
It was originally a “menu” from Word, and I just changed it a little.  They have lots of fun templates!

We had some work to do today, then it’s off to Grandpa and Grandma’s tomorrow! 

Christmas To Do List

So, as we crossed off those stockings, the closer we got to fun! 

 

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Dec 17 2012

25 QUICK Ways to Love Your Kids Right Now

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I was feeling reflective the other night when I wrote this post called “Holding them Tighter” after the horrific school shooting.  Sometimes it is good to refocus our attention on the urgency of loving our children.  Everyone always says the moments are fleeting, and certainly life gives us stark reminders of that truth.  As I am examining my own parenting, I realize that I am often saying, “Just a minute.” or “Just let me finish this.”  And while it’s true that moms have many responsibilities and lots of work, I find the pressure never does stop, even after that “last” task. 

So sometimes we just have to stop. 

Just stop for a few seconds.  It’s amazing how literally a few seconds make a world of difference with your kids. 

Tonight was our Christmas program at church, and on the way into our house, it was only me and my oldest left outside.  I stole a moment with him and just told him how proud of him I was tonight, and how I love who he is.  I shared that I see his heart is tender for the things God cares about, and that I am loving being his mom.  And he gave me a big hug – like a real hug – brought on by love.  (And I of course cried… I’m a soft touch for tears)  But it was literally a 30 second exchange.  And I can squeeze that in.

So, I got to thinking… What else can we, as moms, do to love them right now, in the urgency of the fleeting moments?  And I came up with this (short) list of 25 things that we can do today that will be QUICK, but have the potential to create a sacred moment with our children…. Read on, Mamas, and let’s resolve to take even just a few seconds to love our children right now.

  1. Give them a gigantic – pick them off the floor- bear hug

  2. Make them a treat (hot cocoa is a quick seasonal favorite)

  3. Play pretend with them  (just START the game- and they’ll run with your idea)

  4. Look them in the eye and tell them one specific reason you love them

  5. Do a project they need your help to accomplish – like glue a toy back together *note to self*  :D

  6. Wrestle with them (this is a great way to show physical affection to boys)

  7. Put a note under their pillow (I draw pictures for my little one)

  8. Play a round of a card game

  9. Say a prayer of thanks for them (grab their hands and pray out loud)

  10. Snuggle in and read them a book

  11. Ask them their opinion on something meaningful

  12. Do a chore for them

  13. Set a date for a date ( we need to get better at this!)

  14. Help them write a letter to someone they love

  15. Color with them (maybe picture for daddy?)

  16. Compliment their appearance (boys too… they don’t get it as often!)

  17. Make a big fuss over something they show you

  18. Play catch

  19. Put their towel/pajamas in the dryer before they use them

  20. Do an easy art project together

  21. Have an impromptu dance party

  22. Teach them a new skill (taught my kids some tae kwon do moves… ain’t that smart?)

  23. Show them a funny you tube video

  24. Video tape them doing something amazing

  25. Give them a quarter for a kiss

Click for a Love Them Right Now printable list to hang where you’ll have a reminder! 

 There you go, grab a kid, get on the floor with them, try one of these ideas and love them right now!  ♥

 

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Dec 12 2012

Printable Santa Writing Paper

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I used this Santa Writing Paper to have my kids make lists of fun Christmas activities they want to do this season.  

You could use it for a lot of different prompts like…

1.  My trip to the North Pole

2.  The most surprising thing Santa ever saw in someone’s home

3.  Where the story of Santa came from

4.  A descriptive poem about Santa

5.  My theory on how Santa goes all around the world

Stuff like that…  Print it off and enjoy!

For those of you who know me, we don’t do a lot with Santa.  It’s just a fun pretend thing we play with sometimes.  ;)

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Nov 27 2012

Christmas Kick Off!

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We kicked off our Christmas celebration yesterday! 

We all made our Christmas lists to start our day. 

I let the kids use it for writing, too, since I’m cool like that. :)

Thought I’d share the template I made for them.  It’s right here:  Christmas Wish List for older kids who can write.

And this one is for drawing pictures for the little ones who can’t write!  Christmas Wish List for Young Kiddos!

Print them off, color them, and have fun wishing!  ♥

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Aug 4 2012

Making a Plan Before the Store

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We never gave planning much thought. 

We didn’t plan our meals out.

We never even took a list to the store.

We didn’t have it together…

Looking back, I recall the chaos.  It was ugly.  I would not even shop without my husband there to help.  The kids would run up and down the aisles, yell, slam into people, throw fits… not super fun.  We would stand there and try to figure out what we were going to eat, and what all those meals needed.  In the store.  I’m not kidding.  Then we would struggle our way through the store.  By the end, our kids were insane, and we despised each other.  Cashiers pitied us.  Why… did we do that?? 

Because I wasn’t on Pinterest yet.  LIFE CHANGING – I TELL YOU!   Now I see how having a plan BEFORE we get to the store absolutely makes all the difference in the world. 

There are lots of ideas for planning meals and shopping efficiently on Pinterest.  They are fascinating.  A lot of them are for those “Super Organizers”… not for me.  So after looking through them, I came up with my system, which is more reasonable for a person like me – you know… a cool person…

It has been working great, and it has saved us money, and it has made this chore fun for me – as it’s part of me caring for my family in a more efficient and thoughtful way.


So!  Here’s my process…

1.  I do not grocery shop until we are desperate.  I use up ALL of my food, until there is like one random packet of taco seasoning in the cupboard.  Then we aren’t wasting food.  So, we don’t have a set grocery day.  We go when we are out of food.  Plus, I have come up with some super creative meals with this strategy!  I’ll share them some day!  My sister, Joy wants credit for this tip… so here it is!!  JOY IS AMAZING (and thrifty!)  Love you!!

2.  I “shop” in my kitchen.  Inevitably, (I don’t even know how it happens) I do have bits and pieces of meals in my kitchen.  Like that taco seasoning, or garlic bread in the freezer, or a jar of soup.  So, I look at that stuff first, and see what meals I can use them for.  This saves us money.  If I already have stuff, then I have a cheaper meal.  And it means I have (somehow) stretched out a week’s worth of groceries.

3.  I grab my lists of meals.  (I’m always looking for new ideas!)

Click on the pink to get the PDF:  Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners

4.  I plan our meals for a week.  First with the meals I can make with what I already have, then with meals on my meal lists.  I use this Menu Planner… fill in the days of the week, fold in half, and sit down to make my store list.

    Click to get PDF:  Menu Planning Sheets

5.  I make my list.  I use this store list, by “category” to make shopping with 4 kids easier.

Click to get PDF:  Store List Template

HERE IS THE SINGLE MOST LIFE CHANGING THING ABOUT THIS PAGE!! 

Note the smiley faces down at the bottom.  I add the kids’ names to them. 

If they misbehave, I put an X on a smiley face.  At the end of the trip, if they have any smiley faces left, they get a treat.  I personally put a box of Little Debbie in my cart, and they can have one in the car – IF they have behaved!

Working hard for the chocolate!

My kids work REALLY hard to keep their smiley faces!

6.  I’m off!  I fold the menu page in half and hang it on the fridge to be used all week (then the next week, I’ll flip it over)  Stick my store list in my purse, (oh and take a pen!) and we’re off on a fun-filled adventure to the store… 

It’s amazing what a glimpse of having it together can do for a shopping trip!

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