Thinking out loud. It is a talent I hold dear. While driving my kids to school, I randomly share all the thoughts bubbling around up in my head. My kids find this weird. My thoughts range from reorganizing living room furniture to winterizing the yard and I tell them all about it. This morning for … More How Do You Do This Again?
The summer days are flying by. They are going swimmingly if I may say so. This week’s themes all had something to do with water. Five days of fun and excitment tested by the O’Brien crew and approved for your next adventure. Feed the Shark. Find details for this project at Toddler Approved. Make a … More Under the Sea
My 4th of July projects may seem a bit late and, I won’t argue, they are. Not because I procrastinated, but because this year, we celebrated a little differently. We started our holiday weekend off at a minor league Frederick Keys game. It was a great game including a three run home run and a … More Sensing a Celebration
Yep. It’s here and we are one day away from finishing the week! What have you enjoyed. What has driven you to your drink of choice the most? Start today with this yummy Smoothie recipe then jump into today’s fun with science projects and games that literally encourage your kids to run around the house. … More Thirsty Thursday
After spending three months learning from home, my husband and I signed our kids up for enrichment programs over the summer. Summer slide is a real thing and I can’t help but worry it will be worse given the situation this year. Thankfully, their teachers have been awesome, their school is going beyond the call … More Spelling 3’s
I read an article that explained our COVID-19 and the world’s response. It described it in two simple parts. The hammer and the dance. During the hammer phase, the hammer swings down. Shelter in place, lockdown orders, stores closing, social distancing are all enforced. This phase is shorter, but still unpleasant. Unfortunately, the dance comes … More Preparing for the Dance
Summer is in full swing. Kids are home from school trying to sneak in extra screen time and parents are begging them to get outside in the sun . . . typical Summer behavior. Before my kids get lost in the blue screen daze, I like to set some Summer ground rules. The sooner I … More You’ve Been Chopped
Every year we hear school district after school district finish their year. Summer starts for everyone before us and, man, it is tough to wait. Our school bells aren’t even ringing this year and that is super weird. When you have been home with your parents for three months, how can you get yourself pumped … More One for the Memory Books
Like many, I am desperately searching Pinterest for ideas to keep my kids engaged and me sane over the Summer of Quarantine. Camps closed every where, courts and playgrounds still wrapped in caution tape and my kids are DONE with computer classes. Like, we don’t talk about it, DONE! I am worried about the Summer … More Punch-a-Project
My youngest yelled at me today. He refused to participate in the lesson, told me he would never do it and said it was too hard. I could have gotten angry and, two weeks ago, I may have, but I did not yell – I hugged. I saw deeper than the anger to his broken … More Sadness Looks like Anger
Making it Up as They Grow 