Hidden Treasure

Kids get bored during the fall and winter months when it gets darker earlier, and it is raining and cold! You can challenge your young prospectors to search for treasure. Paint rocks with gold paint, and purchase a few fake precious gems. Hide them around the house and make a scavenger hunt, or map. Your kids will have a fun time searching for their hidden treasure.

Good behavior gets Gold!

To reward your kids for good behavior go to the dollar store and buy a package of plastic gold medals. When your kids behave exceptionally well at the grocery store, or do well in school, give them one of these medals. It has to be something that is rewarded right away so carry a medal in your purse with you if you plan to go to the store. The medal is a great way to reward your child, and it makes them feel very proud. Let your child put them on display for a few days!!

Rediculously Easy Spicy Chicken Torilla Soup

I love me some spice! Here is a fantastic Tortilla soup that you'll love!



Puree 2 seeded, soaked ancho chiles, 1 onion, 2 tomatoes and 2 garlic cloves; fry in oil. Add 6 cups chicken broth, 4 torn corn tortillas, some shredded cooked chicken and 1/2 cup cilantro; simmer until thick. Add salt; garnish with crisp tortilla strips, Mexican cheese, avocado, cilantro and lime juice.

Bada Bing! Done! Easy and delicious. May be a little too Spicy for the kiddos.

Adios!! ~ Katie

Collect small toys for special outings

I saw a great article in a magazine about how a Mom stores her kids little toys. You know the ones I am talking about... Happy Meal toys, birthday giveaway toys, etc. She keeps these items corralled in a plastic container. She has two boy containers and two girl containers which she fills with odd and end little trinkets and stashes away. Anytime she goes out to eat, goes to the Dr and has to bring the kids, or goes on long car trips she packs these containers. Since the kids haven't seen the toys in a long time, it is a new and exciting to them, and it can be a great way to entertain your child.

Summa, Summa, SUMMER-TIME

...my mouth is watering!

Push back bedtime

Once a week you should let one kid stay up 15 minutes past their bedtime with Mom and Dad. Each week it will rotate. The rest of the kids have to go to bed on time, no chatting, no interruptions. The kids who gets to stay up can choose how he/she wants to spend their time. My son likes to read a story just the three of us. My daughter likes to watch a show with us and snuggle. Each child is different, but the kids will look forward to this fun reward!

Twofer Tuesdays

Are your kids craving some one on one time with you? Every Tuesday evening you could have a Twofer Tuesday! The object is to get one on one time with each child individually. Tuesday evenings each family splits off. One parent and one child do one activity, while the other two do something else. The next week, each child goes with the other parent. This tradition guarantees each child some alone time with Mom or Dad. You will learn a lot about your child during this time, and it helps with competition between siblings!