family

change in the air…

Melissa 3 Comments

Its been a crazy few weeks. A lot has happened.

The main change is my accepting a new job. I will still be working for my church part time, but I added a second part time job into the mix. Just because our lives weren’t nearly crazy enough, right??

Working 40 hours a week has been a bit of a challenge. We’ve missed the bus… I have forgotten to cook dinner… Laundry is piling up a bit. But I love it. I’m working in an office with women I truly enjoy being with, doing work I find actually fun (most of the time). I’m doing blogger outreach and social media management for some different brands.

I never imagined back when I started this blog what it would lead to.
I was a stay at home mom.
Then I started a little business.
Then that business grew.
Then the blog grew.
Then I started another blog.
Then that grew.
Then I started a part time job.
Now I am officially a full-time working mom.

I didn’t anticipate this, but I love it. My family is so supportive and so excited for me. My husband is amazing – he’s started cooking some dinners and is doing so much around the house and with the kids. I love that he is super excited for me!

I love when you suddenly stop and look at your life. Half of you wonders “How did I get here??” and the other half says, “Thank you God for putting me right here.”

So if the blog looks a little neglected at some points or any pictures taken in my house look like we should be on Hoarders, you’ll know why!

bird banding

Melissa

This weekend we went and watched bird banding, where we witnessed the capturing, handling and releasing wild birds. WE watched at the birds were identified, they determined their age by their feathers, they were weighed and measured… then we got to hold and handle them. It was an amazing experience – if you have the opportunity to do this with your kids, please do! When else can they do this?

releasing the birds…

Bird banding at Willistown Conservation Trust.

would you give a tween a cell phone?

Melissa 4 Comments

The past few weeks, I have been hosting events in my community sponsored by At&T. It has sparked some interesting conversations. Mainly, “When should kids get a cell phone?”

I don’t know about you, but my 9-year-old is already eyeing a cell phone. She thinks it would make a fabulous tenth birthday present. At first I was totally against it. And while I don’t think she’ll get one when she is ten, I think 11 (or middle school) is the perfect time.

Contact– As she gets more involved in activities after school and before school and sports and drama rehearsals and whathaveyou, I like the idea that she can contact me when she needs to get picked up or if her practices are running late. She could chat with Daddy when he travels, chat with her Aunties or Grandma. With features like AT&T’s Smart Limits, I can manage purchases, texting, data usage and time-of-day restrictions, block unwanted calls and texts, block calls to 411 directory assistance.

Learning Limits – This is a serious issue with a phone – or even internet access. Kids need to be taught what is appropriate online behavior – what kind of things do you say, what pictures can you post, etc. I feel like if we start early – 11 or 12 – our kids will (hopefully) be more open to our giving them input and sharing what they are up to. If they get a phone at 16, they will be in full “Hands Off Mom” mode and it will be harder to have these conversations.  I love that the Parental Controls are available for their cells as well as our home internet. We can help her learn safety early on.

Safety – If she has a phone, she can call or text me anytime, anywhere. If something is happening she is unsure about or worried about at a friend’s house, she can tell me. She can ask for help or have us come get her. With features like Family Finder, I can know where she is easily and keep track of her without constantly calling.

Responsibility – Having a phone is a huge responsibility. She’ll have to charge it, keep track of it, be safe with it. She’ll have to manage her budgeted texts and allowance for apps and downloads. It’s a great teaching tool. And we will so get the insurance for when she drops it in the pool or something  😉

I think she’ll be ready next year. What age are you thinking about getting phones for your kids?

Disclosure: I am proud to be part of an AT&T Family Safety Ambassador program. This is a compensated position

grand prix of baltimore

Melissa

Last weekend we made trek to Baltimore for the second time to see the Grand Prix. If you live within a reasonable distance of Baltimore, I cannot recommend this enough! It is so fun and super family friendly.

Every year, we stay at the Hilton Baltimore. The rates are very reasonable and we get free general admission passes to the entire race. Not to mention that we can watch the race go by right outside our room!

And it usually takes us two days to see everything – there are so many activities, displays and events!

We met drivers, like Arie Luyendyk Jr.(who was very nice),  got up close and personal with the cars and had so much fun in the Family Zone and Fun Zones.

And, of course, we watched lots of racing!

I mean, you really never know who what will happen at the Grand Prix of Baltimore! Maybe you’ll get to sit in Mario Andretti’s race car!


Maybe you’ll meet some Ravens cheerleaders, maybe you’ll even meet a superhero!
And of course, it’s all located in beautiful Baltimore! We spent tons of time at the Inner Harbor, one of our favorite spots on the East Coast.

Hope we’ll see you there next year!

american girl tea party

Melissa 2 Comments

It was all Gracie wanted. A real tea party with her friends and everyone’s American Girl dolls!

Everyone wore their party dresses and brought their American Girl dolls. We made matching bracelets for the girls and their dolls…

Then we did some flower arranging

And then we ate. And ate. And YUMMM!


It was a super day!

And for favors… a candy bar!!! YUM!