Hooray! Summer vacation is here! For about a year, I’ve been counting down the months (now days, whoo!) to travel to our family’s favorite beach- Topsail Island, North Carolina. This year is sure to be my most stressful adventurous yet, as I will be hauling TWO kiddos (ages two and nine months) and myself to […]
Photography has always been a hobby of mine, so when my kiddos were born, I wanted to make sure we had professional pictures taken regularly. Though I don’t love the process of coordinating all our outfits, deciding on the best location/time, and attempting to make my hair/makeup look put together while chasing my children around […]
Summer is in full swing around here, and consequently, we are outside (and back inside…and outside again) ALL. DAY. LONG. I love this season of daily pool trips, sprinklers, mowing, and more…but it all involves a revolving door and the constant dropping and grabbing of stuff inside the entries to our home. Tips and tricks […]
If given the opportunity, I think my two boys would spend a majority of their summer in our basement watching YouTube Kids or playing Minecraft. If I don’t suggest something else for them to do, they will likely continue on with the screens without realizing how much time they’ve been on it. I can’t get […]
I am sure you’ve heard of the High Trestle Trail, but have you been on it? It’s a perfect family outing anytime the weather is nice, all ages can enjoy it and it doesn’t matter if you don’t bike. Walking, biking and yes, even horseback riding happen along the trestle. Stretching from Ankeny to Woodward, […]
When it was time to potty train our oldest son Jack, I had only heard horror stories about the long, drawn-out process of potty training. Friends talked about their kiddos struggling for months and months to get the hang of the potty while they were stuck cleaning up tons of messes, washing loads and loads of […]
Des Moines pools open June 2! If you’re heading to one of the Des Moines Area pools to cool off, here are some tips to give you that extra push into the deep end. Refuel If you’re staying for a long trip to the pool, pack waterproof sunscreen and snacks for break time, if the pool allows […]
It’s almost summer and that means lots of time in and around the water. If your kids don’t know how to swim, that can make for one nervous mom! My kids don’t have to be the next Michael Phelps but they do need to know what to do if they fall in the water. So, […]
Ever since my kids were little, my friends called me the “Activity Mom”. When my oldest was a baby, I started doing activities with him and eventually started a blog to share my ideas with others. I’ve often had moms tell me they feel guilty that they don’t do as many activities as I do. […]
Hospitals, doctors, insurance, and all things medical are far from my forte, and well outside my comfort level, but after two trips to Blank Children’s Hospital’s ER and a full day at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital this past month, I’ve learned a few things about what to expect. Now that we are all […]
