• family - Health - parenting

    Martial Arts and Kids #fitness #WordlessWednesday

      My girls kick butt. Well, I think they kick butt. Our girls have been taking martial arts for many years now. The daughter on the right hand side started when she was four years old. If you visit this blog often then you know that she has special needs. As a little person, she also had a hip that did not function well. An orthopaedic surgeon at one point indicated to me that she needed extra help with gross motor movements. After she was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a brain injury sustained from prenatal…

  • Back To School - family - Health - parenting - Parenting - special needs

    7 Steps – Preparing Your Child to be a High School Freshman

    So it;s time to prepare your child to become a high school freshman!! Wait, what. How did that happen? Oh believe me I know all too well how slippery time is. Wasn’t she just literally hopping on the bus for that first day of kindergarten. Is it possible that kids can grow this fast? How on earth can my older daughter be ready for high school? Well, she isn’t quite yet. But she’s going to be with these 7 Steps to Preparing Your Child to be a High School Freshman.  Okay so just yesterday you walked your son or daughter…

  • adoption and tweens - family - Health - Parenting - parenting - special needs

    YOU NEED this – Caregiver Kick Start #specialneeds

    There is nothing quite like attending a conference or a workshop and leaving feeling energized, validated and understood. You know that feeling, right? It’s like a giant sigh of relief and a reminder that this unique parenting is doable. But, then you leave that space and you return to your home. Maybe you maintain that zen approach for 3 days, or a week at most and something happens and you slide right back into that overwhelmed, exhausted state you were in before. How can you get back to that space where you are in control of your feelings and reactions?…

  • Health

    High Blood Pressure Facts You Need to Know

    Last year right around the time I left for a big trip with World Vision Canada I got a high blood pressure reading. It was the first time ever and I figured it was a one off. Away I went on the amazing trip, and when I returned, I had another reading done a few months later. Still, it was high. Fast forward two months after that high blood pressure reading. As I often do, I tackled the issue with diet and exercise and it came down a bit. I thought I was managing beautifully. But tackling this health issue…

  • family - parenting - Travel

    Graduation Trip Safety – Tips to Save Your Sanity

    Graduation Trip Safety – Tips to Save Your Sanity Your child is going on a graduation trip without you! AAAAHHH! Of course, you’re going to be nervous, but there are a few ways you can increase the safety factor and feel better about your child being out in the world without you. A Graduation Trip Doesn’t Have to Make Your Hair Fall Out You don’t want to be a nervous wreck while your child is off in the great big world on their graduation trip. You want to feel good about your child having a great time. You don’t want…

  • family - parenting

    Mother’s Day Word Search Printable

    It’s almost Mother’s Day – which means it’s time for my Mother’s Day Word Search Printable. May is a great month, isn’t it? The first real long weekend of the summer launches an amazing season. And right before that there’s Mother’s Day. If your Mom loves word searches then this is the one for her. If kids need something to do to keep them busy on Mother’s Day so mom gets a break then again, print out my Mother’s Day word search.   Mother’s Day Word Search You know that I love a good word search. I think some of…

  • family - parenting

    Mother’s Day Word Search Printable Activity Sheet

    If you hang around here often then you know that I like to share printables around special occasions. With Mother’s Day coming up I figured it would be a great time to share some love through a Mother’s Day Word Search. Dads: print this off and your kids can do them with Mom, or they can do this Mother’s Day Word Search when you are making Mom breakfast in bed. What are you doing this Mother’s Day? I suspect my day will be relaxing. Or, I hope, my day will be relaxing. I need a small break and I really need a…

  • family - parenting

    Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gifts That Mom Will Love

    Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gifts that Mom Will Love Mother’s Day is fast approaching. Have you thought about what you might like to give her to show you care? Most people opt for gift cards, flowers, or store bought cards. Those are all great choices, but why not give mom a handmade gift this year? These DIY Mother’s Day gifts are a great way to show mom just how much you care this year. You can also combine a thoughtful handcrafted present with a small store bought gift too. There are no limits to what you might do to help…

  • family - Food - Health

    25 Great Tasting Slow Cooker Recipes

    What do I love more than my slow cooker? My family actually. But that slow cooker comes close to number one on my list of favourite things in my kitchen. My slow cooker gets a crazy workout each week. It takes raw ingredients and fashions them into something while I am not even watching. That is kitchen magic. I rely on that thing so much especially during the winter months. I love my slow cooker. Maybe you are like me and you find that your slow cooker works beautifully, but you are tired of the same old slow cooker recipes.…

  • family - Health

    Allergy Symptoms – What to Look for in Children

    If you child seems down all the time, has upper respiratory issues, or has chronic stomach issues, they could have allergies. If you suspect your child may have allergies, here are some common allergy symptoms to look for. It’s important to document any suspected allergy symptoms to have a better idea of whether or not your child does, in fact, have allergies.   Allergy Symptoms There are different allergies that have various allergy symptoms to watch out for. While this list of symptoms is in no way a substitute for a visit to the doctor, it is a way to…