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Summer School

Summer School

by | Jun 20, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

Are you looking for fun activities to do with your children to encourage continued learning throughout the summer?

Look no further!

Below are 10 simple activities that will encourage your child to continue learning throughout the summer without them even realizing they are learning.

ABC

1. Puzzles: Start with hiding 4 letters in a sensory bin or around the room then have your child search for the letters missing and place them in the correct order.  Have fun with it and don’t be afraid to be silly.

2. Get Outside: Go to a park and lay the letters on the ground and have them hop, skip, or jump to each letter

3. Nature: Line sticks or leaves in the shape of letters or sight words.

4. Whack a Letter/Sight Word: This is one of my favorite games. Lay about 6 or 8 letters or sight words on the floor or on a coffee table. Have one person read letter/sight word and the other person has to whack (either with their hand or a fly swatter- the dollar tree has fun ones with flowers glued on).

5. Matching: Upper to Lowercase letters. The other day I wrote all the uppercase and lowercase letters with a highlighter and had the kindergartner trace them. We then cut the letters out so she could match the upper and lowercase letters and put them in ABC order.

Literacy

6. Make your own book: Allow for this to be an encouraging process. Have your child draw pictures first, remind them to add details to their pictures. Then when writing the story make sure to add details to their story. Don’t worry about punctuation or spelling in their first DIY book. We want to encourage imagination and completion. If they continue to write more books you can encourage the next steps of grammar.

7. Pen-Pals: Have a relative or friend send cards in the mail to your children and have your children respond. It can be as simple as a drawing with a parent writing the note or a whole page written by your child. What a great way to stay connected too!

123

8. Nature: Count seashells or make them into Patterns.

9. Gross Motor: Kick or bounce a ball back in forth while counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, etc.

10. DIY: Make you’re own board game.

Media

EPIC: Reads books to them or allows them to read a wide variety of books.

ABC MOUSE: Helps kids learn ABC’s, sight words, sounds, etc.

Khan Academy Kids: Songs, ABC’s, 123’s

Freebies

I hope you enjoyed the ideas above and maybe sparked a new idea or reminded you of an old one.  Do you have a favorite school activity that makes learning fun?  Share them with us in the comment section below!

Also, do not forget to download the freebies too, a total of 9 pages!  They are a packet of sight words to make it easy to use wherever needed.  To use while waiting in the car, for whack a word, chalk work, hop scotch sight words, etc.  Be as creative as your mind will let you.  Let us know how you plan to use them and let us share ideas with other Momma’s!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Download your Free Printable

 

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Summer Fun

Summer Fun

by | May 16, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

Summer Time

Many have ended the school year, some are just about done and some still have young ones that are not in school, where the only separation or change to summer is the clothing options we now provide our children.

Winter time can be hard. We had to get creative some days to challenge our brains, emotional, educational, sensory, and spiritual growth.

 

Now, that it is getting warmer and more activities can be held outdoors, it has been helpful to get out and about. When my children’s “buckets” (Have you read this book?) are full of outdoor exploring and creating and catching then there’s no time for arguing with each other. Also, when children can get out and enjoy nature and each other there is so much growth and development that occurs.

Celebrate!

We feel like we can accomplish so much this summer but I know, that if I do not plan out what activities we want to do this summer, then we will get stuck in our little routine and miss out on all the fun we could have had. Therefore, I created a bucket list. I will attach it at the bottom as well if you want to join in the fun but otherwise, feel free to make your own (also attached). Let us know what you added and maybe we can add it to our list too.

Don’t forget that summer is also about letting go of some of the pressure and structure you had throughout this school year. Celebrating all you have accomplished this past year through all the back and forth of literally everything.

Bucket List

So, as you’re brainstorming some ideas you want to do with your family, I will share with you a few of ours:

Butterfly cycle Have you ever done this at home? It is one of the most amazing things you get to witness. This kit sends you caterpillars and a net to allow you to observe their metamorphosis into the chrysalis, rest, and release as a butterfly. This kit has everything you need to teach your little ones about the life cycle, observing, being still and quiet and the purpose of rest, and how change can be beautiful. Any other thoughts on what you would share with your children while observing please let us know in the comments.

A lot of the other activities on our bucket list cost little to no money:

– drive with the windows down

– have a picnic (This could be anywhere: a park, backyard, mountain, with friends)

– same with camping (could be anywhere…even inside your house)

– roast marshmallows

– get ice cream

– hike

– swim, etc.

Make the Memories

These are not only about the activities and the excitement about accomplishing them but ultimately it is about making memories as a family. Things that you and your children can look back on and remember the “good ole day”. Take pictures and actually print them out, put them in a little book, and put it on the bookshelf so they can get it off and remember the fun.

One more thing, don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the activities with your family. This is one I’m finally starting to get better at. I would rather prepare everything (towels, snacks, etc) or just sit and watch everyone else having fun.

The other week we opened up our water-slide. My husband was SUPER excited about this and so was my eldest daughter. But when the water starting flowing and sprinkling in the air my daughter got nervous (I and the girls aren’t the biggest fans of getting our faces wet). I realized I had to step up and be the example. I’m sure it wasn’t pretty but I did it.  And you know what? It was fun!

It was great to be reminded to step into the fun and it also helped my daughter feel braver to try it again and again.

I encourage you this summer to create a list, make memories with your family, grow together, and STEP INTO THE FUN.

Freebies

Below you will find FREE Printables for your Summer Adventures.   A prescripted bucket list, one you can fill out yourself, and a weekly schedule to help you stay a little organized this summer either with dinner, activities, or anything you need it to be.   Hope you enjoy it!

Download Free Printable’s

* Bucket List
* Blank Bucket List
* Weekly Schedule

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

National Park Week

National Park Week

by | Apr 18, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

This week is National Park Week.

To search National Parks near you go to:

Click to search for National Park near me

This week entry fees to certain national parks are waived.

I want to encourage you to visit a National Park near you this week or simply go on a walk outside, on a trail path or to a park with your children.

For some this may be an easy request.  For others it may seem a little estranged.  So, I want to give some ideas on what you can do while out and about in nature and why it is important.

Quality Time

Being outside together you will be spending quality time. The more quiet time allotted allows children to open up. When we are constantly filling our quiet time with music, podcasts, TV, video games it  can make the child feel like there is no time to talk about deep and serious things that may be bothering them in their heart and on their mind.

When we make room for quiet times we open up the conversation for deeper connection.

Maybe there isn’t anything they want to talk about, but still sharing quiet moments staring into God’s amazing creation can also create a deeper connection between you and your children.

Vitamin D

We get vitamin D from the sun which is a vital vitamin for our mental health, bone growth and energy.  Click to learn about about Vitamin D benefits

Concerns?

If you have concerns about bugs and ticks you can go prepared. Here are some Tips and Tricks and links to items we use to give us confidence when heading outdoors.

Clothes: Pull hair back, wear a hat, wear light colored pants/shorts, high socks, and closed toe shoes. If wearing pants, tuck them into your socks.
Bug spray: Natural Bug Repellent
Sunscreen: Badger Sunscreen
Tick Remover:Tick Removal Card

Topics to talk about when outdoors

Need ideas on what to talk about when outdoors? Hear are a few below:

Creation: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Gen 1:1

Talk about creation and how God created all of things; beautiful things that work so beautifully together. It is so complicated but yet so simplistic.

Continue to talk about the days of creation:

  1. Heaven and earth
  2. Sky and sea
  3. Grass, plants, flowers and trees
  4. Sun, moon and stars
  5. Fish and birds
  6. Animals and man
  7. God rested

See if you can spot all of the things that God created.

Senses:

  • What do you smell?
  • What do you see?
  • What can you touch?
  • What can you hear?
  • What can you taste? (Safely if you know what is edible in the wild- otherwise bring snacks and water or skip)

Songs:

Pray:

Ask everyone what they want to pray for and if they want to say their own prayer?

Thank God for being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow a strong constant.

Pray for their school, their friends, their choices, that they feel the love that surrounds them, etc.

Will you do it?

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy a day in nature this week, even if it’s not a day at a national park. Enjoy the time in God’s creation with your children and marvel at his beautiful creation.

Don’t forget to allow time for pausing in your walk to permit close exploration of their surroundings.   Take your time, enjoy the process and praise the Lord of all creation.

Let us know in the comments where you will be going this week!  We’d also love to see pictures of your adventures.  If you follow us on Instagram don’t forget to tag us! 

Download your free printable

Fruit of the Spirit Necklace

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Traveling With Kids

Traveling With Kids

by | Mar 21, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

Preparation

Traveling with children can be a little overwhelming to prepare for.

Personally, I enjoy traveling with our children. I think it is because while growing up, every summer we used to do a lot of traveling around the United States.

I have a lot of fond memories built spending quality time with my family. My hope is after you read through this post you will feel prepared and excited to travel with your children too.

Questions

When preparing for the trip here are some things to think about:

  • How long the trip will take?
  • How many stops you will be making? I try to estimate 2-3 hour stretches.
  • Do we want to pack our food and snacks or buy on the way?
  • Do we need to make stops that have grass to picnic lunch and let the kids run?

After asking these questions, I zoom in on the map and look at exits around those miles and time patches that have variety of gas and food options we would want to stop at.  I look for grassy options where we can picnic lunch and let the girls run around and get energy out.

Packing

When packing for trips, I recently started using packing cubes which has been very helpful with the girls clothes not getting thrown around in the luggage.

Although this does not eliminate it completely it certainly does help. Packing cubes are not necessarily a necessity. You could also use ziplock bags to do the trick.

Here’s how I organize it:

Cube 1: I pack pajama’s with underwear folded in as one. We usually do bath before bed so it made sense to keep the underwear with the PJ’s. I pack both girls’ pajama’s in one cube so I only have to take one thing out before bed.

Cube 2: I pack a top, bottom, and socks folded as one for my oldest child. I pack some pant options, shorts (weather permitting), and pack either a jacket or sweatshirt for evenings.

Cube 3: I pack a top, bottom, and socks folded in as one for my younger child. I pack the same items but a few extra because she still gets very dirty and some extras in case of an accident.

Currently, I only have 3 cubes but so far this has been very handy. I imagine as the girls get older I’ll have to get more cubes to compensate the size of their clothes.

Also, I have seen people use the ziplock bags for each outfit of the day and then they vacuum it shut to save space.

With swimming suits, towels, and gear I have a large bag I put it all in to keep it all together.

Snacks

***If feeding while driving, always monitor and make sure they are bite size appropriate for your child’s age. Make sure your child is quickly accessible in the event they choke.***

Some of our favorite travel snacks are:

  • Siete Chips
  • Popcorn
  • Bananas
  • Beef Sticks or bites
  • Carrots
  • PB&Honey (place in freezer and then ready to eat)
  • Clementines
  • Apples
  • Made Good Bars or bites
  • Pretzels
  • Venison bars
  • Once upon a farm pouch or Mamma Chia Pouch
  • Trail Mix
  • Banana bread
  • Dried Mango
  • That’s It or LARA bars
  • Reusable Water Bottles and a big jug of water to refill.
  • We also do a surprise drink like the apple juice drinks with the character heads.  They don’t drink juice except or orange juice so this is a special treat.   We also try to only give them this drink within the next hour of a stop because it sometimes makes them have to go sooner.  Sometimes we purchase these ahead or sometimes we let them pick which one they want out at the gas station.

Activities

We do not have a DVD player in the car nor do we have tablets for the kids. Maybe if they’re older it’d be a different story but our 3 and 5 year olds’ are fine looking out the window, cuddling a stuffed animal, snacking or doing an activity in their seat.

We take breaks, we get out and run in the grass and have a picnic when needed.

When traveling with kids with no TV, tablet or phone here are some activities to do in the car to keep the children busy:

  • Wrap up little items or fidgets they can open like a gift. E.g. Poppers, something soft, something squishy, hard toy, slinky, etc.
  • I Spy (Letters, Numbers, Colors, Signs) See Freebie Print out below
  • Memorize a bible verse (use tricks like hand motions or making it in to a song)
  • LCD Drawing Pad
  • Magic marker pack
  • Coloring book
  • Water WOW! books by Melissa and Doug
  • Purchase a new or pack their favorite stuffed animal or toy.  If it’s a new toy save it for when you start your trip so the excitement stays strong and doesn’t diminish.
  • Sing along to your favorite songs or movies soundtracks.
  • Books and CD Books. It’s always fun to pack a new book or hit up the library before you go.

 

Tips and Tricks

The first thing has to be the BEST item we have ever purchased for the car. It has helped us NOT only on road trips but also when we are out and about going to the grocery store, hikes or the playground.

  • It’s an OXO travel potty– It folds up and comes with very absorbant bags. It is perfect for traveling when your kids have to potty and you have to pull of the side of the road or because there is NO WAY you will take them in to that gas station bathroom.
  • Own backpacks– I pack them each a mini backpack bag with their activities in it. It also holds a pair of socks and a change of clothes if needed. I make sure they have a blanket nearby if they get cold.
  • Quick Shoes– If your children are anything like one of mine, their shoes and socks will be off in a matter of seconds. So when traveling I always make sure they have quick and easy shoes they can throw on with or without socks so it makes getting in and out of the car easier.
  • Easy Access– Make sure all snacks and water are easily accessible
  • Drive Early- If you are trying to get a longer stretch of time in driving I highly suggest you wake up early to leave.   It takes a little while for our kids to wind down and fall back asleep but more than likely they will sleep a little longer and you can get at least an extra 2 hours of drive time.
  • Be flexible– So many things can pop up when traveling. They can be frustrating and make it hard to enjoy the trip or you can decide to make the best of it. Just remember the most important thing is you get there safe.

Thanks for sticking with me! I hope this was helpful in sparking ideas for your next trip with kids.

We’d love to hear about how you travel with kids.  What tips and tricks do you have?  Please share them below in the comments!

Download your free printable

Road Signs “I SPY”

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Legacy of Love

Legacy of Love

by | Feb 21, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

Proverbs 13:22

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

What does Legacy Mean?

When looking up the definition of legacy, a lot of money and property came up. For me when I think of legacy, it is all the other stuff left behind. It’s how you made people feel. It’s what was done for them and to them. It’s the moments of generosity shown in love and the advice given.

Update

I recently had my Grandmother, whom I referred to as Grammie, pass away. I think about all the things she left behind. How she treated people and made them feel.

So many people shared with me how, when they were new to the church and visiting for the first time she was the first person to go up and say “hello”.

How simple, YET so monumental in their memory.

What is most important?

It is soooooo very easy, ESPECIALLY with young children to miss an opportunity to meet someone new visiting the church. To make an impact in their lives forever.  I encourage you (along with myself) to also, like my Grammie, get up and meet new visitors.  To talk to people who may need someone to show interest in their lives and to let them know they are important and welcome here.

Forever with me

I am thankful I have the pictures and memories of time spent together, advice and love she’s given that will forever with me.

She used to love going to the bluegrass festivals with my grandfather when younger.

So, my husband and I enjoyed taking her in the later years. Even if we just went for the food and sat in the car mostly just to eat and hear the music.

One of my favorite memories was taking her to Loretta Lynn Concert.  Someone she loved to listen to growing up.   I was so excited to buy these tickets for her and she could have said “no” because she felt uncomfortable or it would have been too many inconveniences, but she said “yes”. 

It created a memory I will cherish with her forever.  I am so thankful she said, “yes”.

Emotion

How do you make people feel when you’re around you?

The emotion when around my Grammie was of feeling special, seen and heard with the attentiveness she gave when visiting her.

Physical

What will you physically leave behind?

Some will leave a house, items in the home, or money.   Some will leave a lot of “stuff” that is meaningless.

What I will forever have from my Grammie are the handmade clothes, blankets and stuffed animals she created.  The ones that came from her heart.  Things I can hold, smile and appreciate.

Other ideas

Maybe you are not creative in that way.  Maybe you love to cook and you can make food for your loved ones.  Or write our handwritten recipes and create a book for them.

Possibly, it is recording your voice and reading to them or even calling to leave a voice message they can hold on to for when they need to hear your voice.

It also very well could be a painting, music, a book, a letter or encouragement, etc.    What do you like to do?  Do it and make it a permanent object.  Your loved ones will be thankful you did.

The Best Part of a Legacy

The best part of a legacy is sharing your faith with others and your children and your children grow up to continue to pass it down to their children. Thus, creating a whole new generation to go out in to all the world sharing the gospel of Christ.

I am so thankful my Grammie raised my father up in the church to meet my mother who together shared the gospel with me and my siblings.

That is a legacy of love that will continue to grow and will one day allow us to all meet up again.

Do You Have a Legacy?

What legacy are you choosing to leave to your children and grandchildren? A legacy doesn’t just happen the day we pass, it is the daily choices we make and invest in the people around us.

Download your free printable

Proverbs 31

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Ready, Reset, Go!

Ready, Reset, Go!

by | Jan 17, 2022 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

It’s January, the beginning of the year and is usually the time when people make changes to old habits and create new positive ones.

I know for me I have been looking at making intentional choices with my faith, food, family, and finances. A lot of these changes are super simple but for a while have been a challenge to me. I hope you find encouragement while reading this to keep growing by making simple intentional changes in your life as well. Ready? Reset- GO!

Faith

My sister in law invited myself, my mother and my other sister in law to read through the New Testament together. I have been using an app to help read through to keep track of what to read next and bonus, it correlates with their podcast that gives background insight to what you’re reading. What I love about it, is it also has the ability to be audio so you can listen to it all if need be. I love listening to it while in the kitchen washing dishes or cooking dinner.

Thus far, I believe this addition has added to my ability to be productive and has shifted my mindset from being overwhelmed and anxious- to clear and calm. I would see messes all over the house and it would make me anxious thinking of all the things I need to clean up. Or hearing my children argue sometimes would make me overwhelmed and struggle to help them solve in a calm way.

Since making this mind shift, I can now clean and pick items off the floor easily and when hearing my children argue I am able to help them process their emotions in a calm and present way.

Food

My first simple goal for the past few months has been to try and drink water first thing. I know, that sounds so silly like it’d be the easiest thing. But for me, it has been a challenge. We had a pretty exhausting life when my second child was born and I’ve struggled to come out of the habits I created to survive. They definitely served me in the moment, but are not beneficial to me in the long run.

I have finally made that a habit and I can definitely feel the difference. I sometimes don’t even feel the need to drink my coffee, which is a major plus for me. I also try and keep my water bottle with me throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Another goal we are trying to hit is to cook at home all month, eat healthier and save money. Think ahead, pack snacks, bring water or pack a lunch when out.

Finances

Budget life. Oof. We have done the Dave Ramsey program and loved it but we have slacked lately. With inflation and all of the other unexpected expenses coming up we wanted to get better at our spending habits.

I have been trying to find all the extra ways to save money, like using the FETCH and IBOTTA app that turns receipts into gift cards. This month, I really wanted to get a certain gift for my nephew on amazon but it was more than we allotted for so I used $10 from my FETCH app to use toward the amazon purchase. It took the gift amount down to what we could afford this month.

Some great budget people I follow are:

The Budget Mom

Dave Ramsey

https://funcheaporfree.com/

Family

I want easy living. I don’t want to NOT play with my children because I feel like I have to clean. I want quick clean ups, quick meals, one on one time with my children, intentional conversations and quality time. In this area of growth I am still working on finding out what systems work for our family.

Toys- Some systems that have worked thus far are going through toys. Taking out toys they don’t play with, organizing by genre, then rotating toys and only putting out as much as I want to pick up.

Clean- Just do it right then. I am queen of letting things sit because “I’ll do it later”. Yet, have you also heard the saying, “stuff attracts stuff”. So things just start accumulating and growing, becoming more and more overwhelming.

When I’m giving my girls a bath I start cleaning the toilet, sink and floor. If I have to be stuck in there I might as well clean it.

Rest- Allowing myself to rest. Actually lay down in my bed, not on the couch watching TV or surfing my phone but quiet rest.

Help me out, I want to hear about the systems you have in place to keep things running at your house. Please share in the comments below!

Don’t forget to check out the freebie! This has helped me create a visual for budgeting the whole year out of all the unexpected expenses that pop up! Hope they help you too!

Download your free printable

Monthly Bill Tracker

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Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.