• family

    Cousins #WordlessWednesday

    Wordless Wednesday is a photo linkup. Last week we had the opportunity to get the kids together with their cousins. There’s something about being with your cousins that brings out the monkey in every child.

  • active family travel - Health - infertility - parenting - Parenting - special needs

    Hoping for Okay: Sending A Special Needs Child To Camp

    Sending kids with special needs to camp is never simple. You have to vet camps hard to find one that might be capable of handling your children. Oh I know most make mention of inclusive policies and such. But, I have seen how this works in practice sometimes and it doesn’t. So, forgive me while I hold my breath and pray that this camp works this time. This morning, I woke fingers crossed and holding my breath. Today I have both kids at camp. No fires to put out. No demands beyond work. No calls from the camp stating: “What…

  • family

    Business Blogging Part 2: Why Like Us on Facebook is Not a Social Media Strategy

    Like Us on Facebook is not a Social Media Strategy for Business. There’s a sweet little spa down around the corner from my house that I frequent from time to time. I enjoy it there. It’s quiet. The owner is calm and the atmosphere soothing. Business trickles in and out and it is never overbooked. When I get a paraffin pedicure I can relax because it is so quiet. Recently, I noticed their sign out front was changed to read: TRIPLE A Spa (not its name) Like Us on Facebook. I have driven by it daily and walked by it…

  • family - parenting

    Science Girl #WordlessWednesday Linky

    This is Payton. She loves science. She is also a trained observer and a very intense sensitive kid. She hollered the other night when we were putting dishes away from dinner. “Come quick! You have to see this!” Sometimes she drives us all the tiniest bit nutty with her dreamy creative side that means she is always drawing or reading when she should perhaps be listening or cleaning her room. This time it was worth it. The cicada seen here was shedding its exoskeleton right in front of our eyes. This morning it was gone.  This is a wordless wednesday…

  • parenting

    Learning Toys Summer -Spark Story Starters Review

    My kids are storytellers. Sometimes that’s good. Sometimes it leads to some confusion here at the Schuck casa. You know those moments when you go is that a real event or was that completely fictional? No matter. This is a review of a great summer vacation tool I have found to keep my girls engaged and creative. I won these Spark Story Starters one year ago and we played with them last summer a lot and we take them with us sometimes when we travel. We also pick them up randomly as I did on the weekend and use them…

  • FASD - Health - parenting

    One Good Thing Today #specialneeds

    If today were a golf game I would ask for a mulligan. Not that I know golf, or anything else much today. It is summer and I love the hot weather. I can’t get enough of it in fact. It is my favourite time of year. We had a fantastic weekend followed by one child’s birthday and a day to sleep in. Perfect, right? Not so today and yesterday. I have done two full summers now with scheduling my kids solidly almost every minute out of necessity. Their special needs, plus caring for my Mom and needing to be available…

  • active family travel - Parenting - parenting

    How Do You Measure Eleven?

    This was 11. This was 11. The year you grew maybe an inch in height. Not so much really compared to all the years that came before, but then again who really measures growth in inches? Eleven was the year you faced camp, for the first time on your own. A week with friends and it was glorious, or so I am told daily as the camp countdown begins another year. This was the year you finished grade six. The year I had to pull you out of school for two whole weeks because of a terrible fit between you…

  • family - Travel

    The Westin Trillium House Review

     Last week we were invited to take part in the Blue Mountain Family Blogger Retreat 2013. We stayed three days at the Westin Trillium House. While there, we tested out many of the great activities at Blue Mountain Resort, and some in Collingwood too.     The Scoop on the Resort Itself   I have so much to share with you that I am breaking it down into instalments. This is my review of the Westin Trillium House. Sharing some of the great activities in the Collingwood area soon.    Blue Mountain      For those of you who don’t know…

  • homes - parenting

    Organizing and Rubbermaid All Access Bin Review

    My Mom had a lot of collections. She collected dolls and angels and photos. When she passed away recently, many of her treasures came to me. There are a few special things I want to keep for my kids. As I mentioned, there are many beautiful collector dolls in great condition. My children are getting older, but I still don’t trust them not to break their grandma’s special cherished items. At the same time my storage space is at a premium. In fact it’s past capacity to overflowing here and we badly need a garage sale. I can’t keep half…

  • Health - parenting - Travel

    Dear Mom Camp Series: Five Ways to Prepare Your Special Needs Child For Camp

    The June instalment of Dear Mom #muskokawoods camp seriesHow do you Prepare Your Special Needs Child for Camp? Dear Mom: Just 29 days!!!! The countdown is on. I am going to pack my new swimsuit, sunscreen, a sketchbook, markers, shoes, a brush, no scratch that two swimsuits, Cutie, one blanket, my favourite Aeropostale sweater, one pair of jeans, seven books, underwear and a sleeping bag.  I love you and it’s so awesome to be going with Ainsley this year!! It’s going to be amaze balls! Love: Payton Alright, alright. Those of you who have been following this sponsored series in…