The Many Little Joys

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What no one tells you about the terrible twos

There’s no doubt that the “terrible twos” are challenging, but just like anything else in life, you make the choice as to whether you’re going to focus on the good or the bad.What No One Tells You About the Terrible Twos 1

The terrible twos.

Are you cringing yet?

You’ve been hearing about them since before you even thought about having kids of your own, but you’ve dreaded them all these years. That second birthday is looming ever closer, and you’re just waiting for your toddler to turn into the crazy, tantrum-throwing monster that everyone says is inevitable….

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Silly Songs Your Preschooler Will Love (and you won’t hate)

Music is a great way to help kids develop language, motor, and memory skills. Here are eight silly preschool songs that kids are sure to enjoy, and that will make you giggle right along with them.

Music is a great way to help kids develop language, motor, and memory skills. Here are eight silly songs that your preschooler is sure to enjoy, and that will make you giggle right along with them.We love music at our house. My boys may think I’m crazy when I’m rocking out to Disney songs or randomly burst into song while folding laundry, but they love a good song as much as I do. Little Man actually has a funny little tradition at bedtime of asking me to make up songs about the books we read. A lot of them are pretty lame, but he loves it….

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Favorite Banana Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins

These mini banana chocolate chip bran muffins are the perfect breakfast or morning snack food. They’re full of good-for-you ingredients and still taste delicious!Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins copy

Hi all. It’s Friday again. I was planning to have a fun campfire recipe to share with you all today, but I have a sick toddler who thwarted my campfire plans. Look forward to it soon though, because it’s a good one!

The good news though, is that now I get to share these amazing muffins with you today. It’s no secret that we love a good muffin around here. I’ve shared our favorite blueberry muffins before, and we regularly make these applesauce oat muffins, too. We keep a supply of homemade muffins in the freezer that we can pull out and thaw for a snack (with yogurt is our favorite combination) several times a week….

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Travel felt board: “Under the Sea” play set (free printable templates)

Travel felt boards are a great activity for kids stuck on a plane or in a car. This fun “Under the Sea” play set is a summery addition to the original felt board I shared previously. Enjoy!If you're traveling with kids, this travel felt board is a quick DIY craft that makes a great activity for kids stuck on a plane or in a car. It costs less than five dollars, takes less than an hour to make, and will save your sanity when you're on the go with little ones this summer!

Last month, I shared with you all a fun DIY project that’s perfect for traveling with kids this summer (or for restaurants, church, and any other time that you need your kiddos to be occupied and quiet). If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read more here….

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Fun sidewalk chalk games to play outside

Take your learning outside and try these fun sidewalk chalk games to play with kids.Take your learning outside and try these fun sidewalk chalk games to play with kids. Who knew you could teach your preschooler the alphabet, numbers, and so much more all with one simple piece of chalk?!It’s almost summer! Whether you have kids in school who will be home all day starting soon, or, like me, you just still have the two same little hoodlums to entertain all day, today’s post will give you some fun ideas to make summer a blast….

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8 sneaky ways to get picky eaters to eat healthy food

Kids are notoriously picky eaters, but you can use these tips to sneak healthy food into their meals without having a revolt at the dinner table.

assorted healthy food - sneaky ways to get picky eaters to eat healthy food

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

Kids are notoriously picky eaters. It’s normal. We know that. But what do we DO about it?

All of my boys have gone through phases of being picky eaters…my youngest would happily live off of cold cereal if I would let him, and he regularly declares his intense disgust at something he did like and ate happily just last week.

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Dinosaur Footprints: Preschool Measuring Activity

This simple preschool activity is a fun way to help your preschooler practice measuring and see how HUGE some of the dinosaurs were by making your own T-Rex footprint and comparing it to your family members’ feet.

This simple preschool activity is a fun way to help your preschooler practice measuring and see how HUGE some of the dinosaurs were by making your own T-Rex footprint and comparing it to your family members' feet.Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I will be paid a small commission on purchases made via those links; however, your cost will be the same.

Little boys and dinosaurs…they go together like peanut butter and jelly. And Little Man is hanging with the best of the dinosaur-lovers right now. He has requested a “dinosaur world” cake for his birthday next month and is constantly stomping around the house, roaring, and proclaiming himself to be a hungry T-Rex. That boy cracks me up….

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Growing Character: Teaching Life Lessons through Gardening

Gardening with kids is a fun way to help them develop qualities and learn skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.  

Gardening with kids is certainly an adventure, but it's so worth it to let them be a part of the experience of growing a garden. Here are 5 essential life lessons kids can learn through gardening.

Have you started planting a garden this year yet? We’ve got some little seedlings indoors, and I’m planning to head outside this week with Little Man to plant the garden in earnest. I figure digging into the earth and starting our garden for the year is a good way to celebrate Earth Day this week….

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White Chocolate Cranberry Granola Bites

These white chocolate cranberry granola bites are a tasty, protein and fiber-rich snack to keep on hand for hungry little hands (or big ones).

We go through a lot of snacks around here. And judging by the number of times they’ve told me “I’m hungry” this week (or, in Little Brother’s case, dragged me to the pantry with a pleading look on his face), I’m convinced my two little boys are going through growth spurts right now. Yesterday Little Man ate an entire burrito for his afternoon snack, and Little Brother had three helpings at dinner!

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