Moms at Home

Summertime is the perfect time for some fun family projects and activities and the 4th of July is a great time for some of this family fun. We have some great ideas from ZiggityZoom.com that the whole family can enjoy doing together.

Make a Star garland to decorate the backyard or picnic area where you will have your cookout or picnic. Tie the garland from tree to tree or posts. Let the kids help decorate some Patriotic cupcakes. Give each child a small cup of frosting, a plastic knife and some blueberries and raspberries. Or just give the kids some red candies and sprinkles for some festive cupcakes.

Even at a very early age, children like to emulate activities of both parents and their older siblings. We've all seen a two year-old try to sweep the floor or help mix cupcake batter. What better time to start nurturing this almost innate sense of family.

It is never too early to help your child develop a real sense of family responsibility. We all know kids in their teens, and even twenties, that feel a sense of 'entitlement' about everything. They act like everyone owes them and that they don't need to do their part in the family. If children are taught, as young children, that they are an integral part of the family and, as such, they have an important part in the family, then this will help them to develop a greater family bond.

As much as we all love the artwork our kids make at school and bring home to us, we all have the same question. "What should I do with all this artwork that is piling higher and higher?" Not only do we have art from school, but art done at home, as well. And by the time you add up all the Art from a couple of kids it can get downright mind-boggling.

So, here is a great solution that will become a wonderful keepsake of your child's art to hand them when they are older. Start your Art Scrapbook for each child by personalizing the front of the Scrapbook with their name and photo, then add fun embellishment with the word ART in big letters, either cut out or some of the fun fonts you can find at the craft stores. If you haven't looked lately, there are entire sections just for Scrapbooking supplies and papers in most stores these days. Not only the craft stores, but also at Target and Walmart.

Meal Time. Some of us may enjoy cooking, and others may despise it. Either way, getting our family fed can add stress to our day and take away time from other things we want or need to do.

There are some simple time management tips you can apply to the kitchen that can save you time making meals. I am going to give you 4 time management tips to help you make getting meals on the table faster and easier.

I encourage families to make their meals whenever possible because they are healthier, and do not cotain preservatives or additives and you know it is something your family likes.

1.When you make something, Make Double

If you are making cookie dough, pizza dough, lasagna, or some other meal, double the recipe and freeze the 2nd batch to use for another dinner or when you need to make cookies or pizza fast.