12 Ideas for Fun Summer Days at Home

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Marilyn — 1 Comment ↓

Fun Summer Days at Home

When my kids were young, I liked to try to do some fun things that weren’t a part of our normal school year- to make summer days more fun. These are simple, inexpensive or free ideas that really just let kids be kids. There’s no need to get fancy or expensive. Kids’ imaginations are the best toy, when encouraged to be used, and simple fun is usually the most fun!

So- before summer bids farewell for another year, here are some simple, yet fun ideas you can enjoy with your kids.

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Ideas for Road Trip Fun in the Car

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Summertime is here, and it’s time for vacation or fun day trips!

I just took a few of my grand kids to the lake last week (about an hour away) and I heard the age-old question from one of them, “When will we be there? Are we there yet? How much longer?”

Time drags for little guys when they are all excited to be somewhere and yet we just keep driving.

Here are some fun in the car suggestions for things that have worked for us over the years to keep little ones occupied and excited (and to help you keep your sanity!!)

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Little Brownie Bird Nests

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Marilyn — 1 Comment ↓

Need an idea of how to use up leftover Easter candy?

Lauren was over today and I was looking for something special to do with her. She loves to bake.

I had a bag of Cadbury eggs leftover from Easter, and this was a fun way to use them.

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Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Rods

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

‘Tis the season for so many wonderful things. Every day in December seems to bring about some sort of special activity, festive sounds, nostalgic feelings, or sweet treats to eat! It really is a special time of the year.

Some of my grandkids were with me last week, so we decided to make these yummy chocolate-dipped pretzels.

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Acorn Cookies

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here’s a cute, fall treat that your kids will enjoy making!

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
48 milk chocolate kisses
48 Nutter Butter Bites

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Summertime Snacks From A to Z

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Marilyn — 2 Comments ↓

Kids are always up for a snack, aren’t they?!

It’s a good idea to have plenty on hand for hungry bellies throughout the summer!

Sometimes it’s hard to think up something new or different for snack time. You know there are plenty of options, but your mind goes blank when you are trying to make up your grocery list. (or does that only happen to me?!)

So, let’s have a little fun with it- Snack Ideas from A to Z to give you a little inspiration!

Ants on a Log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)

Banana Smoothie (1/2 cup sliced banana, 1/4 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of ice blended until smooth)

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Go Fly a Kite Cupcakes

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Marilyn — 1 Comment ↓

Spring is here again, and the weather is beginning to warm up. (YAY!!)

Go to a park, fly a kite; then, come home and make these fun cupcakes together- just for fun and just because time with your little ones is so short!

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Winter Donut Time

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here’s a fun activity to do as a family or with friends on cold winter nights.

We love to set aside a cold night to put a fire in the fireplace, and then have Dad make donuts. This is something he learned to do as a kid!

We just use canned biscuits (you can make your own donuts for a healthier option and we’ve done that too, but this is easy and quick). It has become our tradition now to do it with some of the grand kids every year, (especially during the Christmas season) but it’s great fun on any cold winter night!

Kids can help out by cutting the donuts, and also coating them after they are fried!

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1 Corinthians 13 Valentine’s Day Treats

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Kids can so easily get the wrong impression of what true love is all about. So, we have used Valentine’s Day each year to focus on what God’ Word says about the real meaning of love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Each year I try to come up with a little different way to take the opportunity to teach the kids about what God says love should look like in everyday life.

I Corinthians 13: 4-8 tells us “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails”

So, one way to incorporate these traits of love into our Valentines’s Day observance, is with these Rice Krispie Hearts:

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Fall Fun Rice Krispie Treats

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Marilyn — No Comments ↓

Here is a fun activity to do with small children to celebrate fall! (tastes good, too!) I made these today with 2 of my grandchildren, and they had a blast making them. It’s even easy enough for even toddlers to help with!

We made two batches, one red and one orange.

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Marilyn is wife to Rick, Mom to 14 children, Nana to 19 grandchildren (and counting!) and homeschooler for 37 years.

She and her husband own Character Concepts which they started for the purpose of helping others raise children with a strong, godly character and Biblical worldview.

They have developed character curriculum from preschool through high school, based on what they found worked when teaching their own 14 children over the years.

Her passion is to help young moms raise kids of character and enjoy the journey!