Search Results for: outside on a sunny day

Ready to Play Outside

After a taste of good outdoor playing weather last Saturday, we have again been plunged into the cold grayness of winter. Tomorrow should be the end of that for a while, so I am looking forward to spending more time outside like we did the other day. While I welcome the opportunity to spend more time playing outside with the kids, I also know that the shift away from spending so much time inside means that I may have to make some adjustments to the way that I do things. For example, the boys may want to go outside right … Continue reading →

Sunny Days are Here Again

  Today I finally got my wish for weather that was warm enough so that the boys could be outside for more than an hour at a time. I knew this morning when I woke up that it was possible that today could be the day that I had been waiting for. The sun was shining and the sky was cloudless, ith a color that was the most beautifully perfect shade of blue. By the time that we were done eating breakfast and sending my husband off to work, the morning chill had worn off and it was time to go … Continue reading →

Today was a Great Day

Some days, I am so exhausted by the time that the boys go to bed that it is a wonder that I have any brain power left to write blog posts, do dishes, or do any of the other things that I do in between the time that they go to bed and my own bed time. Parenting small children requires a great deal of physical and mental energy, and some days require more than others. For the past few days it felt like it took enormous amounts of energy just to get through the day with everyone being fed, … Continue reading →

Affordable Holiday Fun

For most American families, Labor Day weekend is the last hurrah of the summer. It’s a time set aside for picnics, parties and last-minute back-to-school shopping. Of course, the latter is no fun and the two former options can be pricey if you aren’t careful. So, what can you do to make the last long weekend of summer memorable if you don’t have money to burn? Here are some ideas: Dress-Up: This idea is perfect for young kids who enjoy imaginary play. Collect clothes from around the house that can double as uniforms. You can help your children celebrate the … Continue reading →

The Sunny Side

If someone told me that I’d be dragging a water table outside for my swimsuit clad kid to play with on March 18th I would have likely thought he or she was still wasted from St. Patrick’s Day. After all, we live in the Frozen Tundra that is northern Wisconsin, where it snows in June. Experiencing 80-degree temps in March is beyond the luck of the Irish; it’s downright dreamy. And by dreamy I mean hello global warming, where have you been all my life? Our neighbor flew to Los Angeles early this morning only to find that the southern … Continue reading →

If the Weather outside is frightful…

It is that time of year again. The weather can do some crazy things, and that’s even more true if you live in an area that is prone to drastic weather changes. We actually have days here that may be sunny and a nice, warm 75 degrees but drop more than 40-50 degrees by late that night. That’s a big difference in a 24 hour period! Sometimes, it’s even more extreme. Have you ever had the air conditioning on during the day and the heat running at night? I try to avoid such uses of energy, but there have been … Continue reading →

Bringing in the outside

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My girl ran to the first dandelion to appear in our front yard this spring and promptly yanked it out. No, she was not weeding for me that was just a pleasant byproduct of her excitement for springtime. She carried that little yellow symbol of both April and a messy yard all the way to the market and back home again, even though the time spent in the hot car while we shopped made the weed a limp and sad shell of what it once was. When we arrived home, I ran around our side yard, which was covered in … Continue reading →

Are You Ready For Sunny Days?

I don’t know about you, but we’ve had some WEIRD weather the last few weeks here in New Jersey. A little over a week ago, it snowed. Seriously! Monday, it was sunny and in the 80s. Over the weekend, we had a pair of gorgeous days with blue skies and highs in the 70s — just warm enough to wake up my spring fever! As soon as I saw the forecast and caught a breath of fresh air, I was ready to spend the day outside. I got out the deck chairs, I grabbed a book and a bottle of … Continue reading →

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day to you and your family! Whereas many Earth Day activities have been taking place around our area (and the rest of the nation) for the past few days-—today is the official day set forth by the federal government to embrace our environment and protect our planet. This year our family has decided to do our part in our own home. Now that my daughter is old enough (she just turned 3) to understand how she can contribute to aiding the environment we made a pact to make this Earth Day one we will (hopefully) remember for years … Continue reading →

Winter Car Care Tips—“Hooray! My Car Started Today!”

I cheered when my car started this morning. I couldn’t help it. The mercury has not hit ZERO in days. We have been sitting at about –10 degrees Fahrenheit for the last three days. When I went to start my car this morning it was –18 (with the windchill it was –39) and we don’t have an attached garage. My trusty Nissan sputtered, moaned and coughed a bit, but then roared like a champ after about 30 minutes (that’s how long I let it run before I put my child in it and ventured away from home… and believe me … Continue reading →