Nikki

Troop Zero’s Message of Empowerment on Prime Video

We frequently hold family movie night around here. I love when a family movie can both move me to tears and make me proud to be a girl. Troop Zero does both of those things. The movie comes to Amazon Prime Video starting January 17th, and you won’t want to miss it!

Troop Zero celebrates the quirky, a personality trait that, if we’re honest, we all have demonstrated at one time or another. The characters are far from “average”. The heroine, Christmas Flint, hopes to win the Birdies Scouts jamboree and have her recorded voice projected into space as part of the prize. Viola Davis, who plays Christmas’s father’s secretary/right-hand-woman Rayleen, is challenged with wrangle the ragtag pals into a formal troop. Thankfully, each troop member’s quirkiness makes them specially equipped for earning their own unique patch.

The Troop Zero Crew

It was Christmas’s idea to form a troop in the first place, in order to send her welcome message to space for the aliens to hear. She needed at least 4 members, so she enlisted a few other kids from school who, like her, didn’t really fit in. Her BFF Charlie was the obvious first choice, although his addition was highly controversial for the formerly girls-only scouts organization. Next to join were the aggressive Hell-No, her sidekick Smash, and a one-eyed evangelist named Anne-Claire. Together they sell cookies, earn badges, and camp out in the wilderness. They didn’t start out as friends, but through their hardship they learn to cling to each other for strength.

Why Your Family Should See Troop Zero

If you want a good laugh, you will get a kick out of this movie. It’s filled with one-line zingers and funny situations that will absolutely warm your heart. But even more than that, Troop Zero is an empowering movie. The message of resilience is an inspiration for kids, or even adults, to persevere until their big dreams become reality. Christmas wants to send a message into outer space so her mom, who passed away and lives among the stars, can hear her. Charlie would rather choreograph dances than catch a football. Everyone is afraid of Hell-No (and her fists), but in Troop Zero she lets down her guard, shows her empathetic side, and finds real friendship. Troop Zero is a place where kids can be who they are, without fear of judgement. I think we could use a little more of that in the world.

Special note for families with young children: Troop Zero is set in 1970’s Georgia. The culture and dialogue of the movie is true to the time period. That being said, there is some mild language. If your family has conservative values, I am sure you already preview anything that your kids watch.

Click here to download the entire Troop Zero activity packet and discussion guide, including the activities below and the crossword answers.

Free Printable Valentine’s Day Card – Looking Sharp

When it comes to Valentine’s Day cards, all I really want is something that’s easy to do. This year I created my own printable with a cute pair of sunglasses. It’s a great candy-free Valentine’s Day option. You can make it even more special and “punny” if you add a sharpened pencil to the card!

This easy and FREE printable Valentine's Day card is a great candy free alternative. Add decorative pencils to make it extra special!

The Year of Candy-Free Valentines

This year I wanted my kids to give out candy free Valentine’s Day cards. I was a teacher for a long time, so I know that the last thing any educator wants is a bunch of seven-year-olds all hopped up on sugar. I’ve seen some super cute Valentines on Pinterest with a play on words, so my goal was to create something like that.

These Valentines are about 3″ x 3.5″ in length and come with 4 printed t a page. They work best if you print them out in color on card stock paper, but I’ve also made them using standard copy paper. Here’s how to make your own “Looking Sharp” free printable Valentines Cards:

Looking Sharp Printable Valentine

Get the printable Valentine here. Print it onto heavyweight or card stock paper. On the back of each card, write the name of who your Valentine is to and from.

Tip: If you’re making Valentines with your small child (any age from pre-K to first grade), it’s MUCH easier on the teacher if the cards aren’t addressed to a specific child. If your child can’t read, then he has to have his teacher read every single name to him. From experience, it takes forever to pass them out this way.

Tutorial for the Looking Sharp printable Valentine's Day cards

Cut out each card and, using a standard single hole punch, make a hole at the corner of each sunglasses. The hole punch that I use in all my crafting has notches in the side so you can line up the hole punch with the right place on the paper.

Otherwise, guessing where the holes will be can make your cards look like this:

Bend the card into a rainbow shape and push the pencil through the two holes. The pencil makes the card it keep its rounded shape. At first I planned to make the cards with dollar store pencils but they kept breaking as I was sharpening them, so I ordered some cute Valentine’s Day pencils from Amazon instead. I think they will go pretty well with this card’s color pattern too!

printable Valentines with a pencil and no candy!

And there you have a pretty easy Valentine that you can make yourself!

Easy and Fun Printable Valentine's Day card candy free

Free Printable Weekly Habit Tracker

It’s goal-setting time of year again! Hooray! The first few weeks of January are like the achiever’s starting line. We are totally on fire for what’s ahead. If you saw my resolutions post from last week, it’s probably obvious that keeping track of all those goals and new habits might be a bit of a challenge. Using a habit tracker has already helped me stay on top of my goals, and start making those new habits part of my regular routine.

After the New Year, I made a list each morning to remind me of the new things I wanted to make sure I accomplished. The lists were good, but they didn’t look very pretty. What I needed was a habit tracker. There are apps for your phone that help you track habits, but I am more of a pencil and paper kind of planner. This printable habit tracker fits 2 weeks worth of joyous goal recording and checking-off-ability (a word I just made up).

Some Tips for Using a Habit Tracker

My best advice for habit tracking would be this:

Don’t let a failed week (or two) cause you to give up on your goals altogether. If you fall behind, that’s ok! No need to throw in the towel. You can start again. It’s your life, you get to make the rules. 😉

Find a tracking and reward system that works for you. Some people are motivated by good things, like checking off items on a list or celebrating when a goal is met. Other people are motivated by the impending doom of what could happen if the goal is not met, like how not being prepared for a presentation by the deadline could result in your standing in front of a large audience who are judging you on their insides because you have nothing good to say. Figure out if you’re more likely to meet a goal that rewards you or causes you grief of not met, and plan accordingly.

Print out this weekly habit tracker, clip it into your favorite “Goal Digger” notebook, and press the nitrous button on your path to success. I wish you all the best in meeting your goals, my friends.

Trusting My Teen Driver to the Open Road

Last week I was thrown into the scary world of “parent of teen driver” before I was mentally prepared for it. Logan has always been pretty independent, and he is super responsible. Even more so than me sometimes, ha! I never dreamed the day would come when I was worried for his safety while he was out on his own.

He went out early in the morning to meet a friend at Starbucks. No big deal, right? Starbucks is low-key, and who gets into mayhem before 10 am anyway? It was winter break and I had 3 kids ripping my house apart, so we headed to the park. I didn’t have a care in the world. Until the drive home.

As we were coming back into town from the park, we watched as a firetruck went from just driving along like everyone else, to lights flashing, siren blaring, and headed in the direction of where we live.

My first thought was, Oh my gosh my kid is on the road right now.

My heart rate increasing, I took a peek at my PulsePoint app to reassure myself that the emergency couldn’t possibly be in the same place as Logan (don’t worry, John was driving 😉 That was no help, because there were multiple incidents occurring around town.

All I could think about was the countless times I had gotten myself in a pickle when I had lied to my parents about where I was and who I was with. To be fair, Logan makes waayyyy better choices than I did at his age. Unfortunately, I’ve had far too much experience in getting away with something I wasn’t supposed to do. I have a hard time feeling like I can fully trust my own teen.

It’s not just my teen driver I worry about. The road is full of knuckleheads texting and driving or maybe even driving while under the influence. I have a teen driver who pays close attention to the road, but who knows what the people in the cars around him are doing.

I sent him a text and he didn’t respond. We got home and he wasn’t there. This wasn’t necessarily a concern because he was supposed to go back to his dad’s house anyway.

And still I was worried…

It felt so helpless but I knew I had to just trust him. Logan knows to wear a seat belt, follow the traffic laws and be a courteous driver. If anything happens to him while he’s driving, I don’t know what I’d be feeling. But I do know that harping on him because I’m feeling paranoid is not the answer. I took deep breaths and tried not to worry for him, and waited until I heard back.

In the end, everything was fine. But you knew that, right? And I guess in my heart I knew he was ok too. He hadn’t responded to my text because he was driving (good job, son!). When he got to his dad’s house he checked in to let me know he was there. Whew. All the crises I had made up in my head were averted.

Moving forward, I can’t rely on my “I have a good kid who makes good choices” plan like before because I will lose my sanity. My new strategy includes a parent/teen driving contract that holds us both accountable for being safe, responsible drivers. AAA, Geico, and other insurance agencies have free printable teen/parent driving contracts that are pretty good. I decided to go with this one from Varsity Driving Academy. Even though I know we could both easily choose to break our part of the contract, I still think it’s a good idea. A teen driver contract sets clear expectations for the new driver. It also holds the parent accountable for modeling the same good driving habits.

I’m sure I’ll have plenty more opportunities to worry about my kids in the years to come. Every time they grow, I have to learn to adapt to their independence. I’ll accept the challenge gladly. Because being Mom to these 4 cuties is the best gift I could have asked for.

Last week I was thrown into the scary world of “parent of teen driver” before I was mentally prepared for it. Now I have a strategy!

100+ New Year’s Resolutions for 2020

Committing to New Year’s Resolutions can be stressful. For me, just the thought of being able to take on any new habit for the next 365 days makes my head spin. This year I started by thinking about some cool stuff that I would be proud to say at the end of 2020, “Yeah. I did that!” Instead of having a high-pressure “resolutions” mindset, I came up with a list of new things to try in 2020.

One of my goals for 2020 is to get better at thinking long. I sure do love to celebrate, so this year I’m going to take on a challenge or two that I can give a real big hooray about in 12 months once they’re completed.

A friend of mine completed a 52-hike challenge in 2019, going on one hike a week. A cool aspect of this challenge is that you can “bank” hikes if you do more than one in a week. That way if there’s a busy week at work or a week of bad weather you don’t have to give up the challenge over a missed week.

This got me thinking that, if I could use the same tactic and credit myself a few extras for a later date, what personal challenges could I complete in 2020? So I started coming up with ideas and compiled a list of 100+ New Year’s Resolutions, that are more like new things to try in 2020. Obviously I’m not going to do them all. I have a few that I’m particularly leaning towards, but I thought I’d share the whole list to maybe inspire you as well.

100+ New Year’s Resolutions for 2020

Health and Wellness New Year’s Resolutions

Take a yoga class every week in 2020

Cut sugar from your diet

Go for a 20-minute walk every day

Grow your own herbs

Take the 52-hike challenge

Go organic

Drink enough water each day

Make a weekly meal plan

Spend time outside every day

Go to the gym once a week

Make a sleep goal

Get weekly massages

Take a daily vitamin

Go gluten-free

Run in a race a month

Eat an apple a day

Train for and complete a Mud Run

Personal Growth New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Write in a journal every day for a year

Don’t complain

Use kind words

Repeat daily positive affirmations

Read for 20 minutes a day

Hug and kiss your kids every day (this is harder as they get older!)

Make a personal connection with a different Facebook or Instagram friend each week.

Take the 365-Day Happiness Challenge

Meditate every day for a year

Write down your weekly goals

Stop comparing

Read the morning paper

Begin each day with a to-do list

Finish each day by writing something kind, positive, or cheerful about each of your kids

Send a kind text to someone every day

Donate monthly to an organization that you feel strongly about

Don’t gossip

Write in a gratitude journal every day for a year

Stop trying to be perfect

Be more environmentally conscious

Write a letter to someone every week

Create a box of memories for the year. Kind of like a time capsule!

Write thank-you notes for all gifts

Resolutions to Improve your Finances in 2020

Take the 52-week money saving challenge

Do a 12-month budget challenge

Eat out no more than once a week

Start a side hustle

Join a couponing Facebook group and start clipping!

Save your coins all year and cash them in in December (hello, Christmas money!)

Check out The Budget Mom’s 12 months of savings. There is a different thing you do each month to save money. Each month is a different challenge!

Save for a trip and pay for it in cash

Bring your lunch to work every day

Use the envelope system

Things to Learn in 2020

Learn a new language

Learn a new word every day

Learn to quilt

Read a book a week in 2020

Take a class

Learn to sew

Learn to code

Learn to play an instrument

Learn to do hand lettering

Digital things to try in 2020

Take a Photo every day

Start a Facebook group

Use an app like 1SE to document 1 second of every day in video

Make a video or vlog every day

Write a blog post every day for a year – like a digital diary!

Turn off technology (phone, computer, TV) for an hour a day

New Things to Try in 2020 Around the House

Organize your home in 52 weeks

Cook with a new food each week

Keep your room clean

Alternatively, if you have kids, be ok with the mess

Schedule weekly “me time”

Hold a weekly family meeting

Try a new Pinterest project each week

Take a decluttering challenge

Cook as a family one night a week

Keep a plant alive for a year (you laugh, but this is impossible for some of us! *cough* *me*)

Fun Things to Try in 2020

Volunteer an hour a week

Take your dog for a walk in a new place every week

Date your spouse every week in 2020. Check out Friday We’re in Love and Intentional by Grace for inspiration

Watch one award-winning movie a week

Go to a concert a month

Choose a word to live by this year

Each month, have a “Mommy and Me” date with each of your kids

Write weekly notes of encouragement and appreciation to friends and family

Complete 365 random acts of kindness

Take yourself on a date once a week

Make every birthday present you give

Visit a different museum each month

Write a bucket list of weekend adventures, then go do them!

Visit one new place in town each week

Use a different scent in your diffuser each month

Do something creative every day

Read with your kids every night

Host a monthly dinner party or gathering

Set aside one night a week for family fun

Jump in every puddle you see, all year

Make a playlist of songs for each month

Faith-Based Resolutions for 2020

Pray for 15 minutes a day

Tithe monthly

Read your Bible every day in 2020 (I was *so close* to finishing this! I missed just a few days)

Volunteer in your church

Learn a new Bible verse every day in 2020

Go to church every week

Learn a new worship song every week – bonus if you can play it on an instrument!

Read the whole Bible in one year

Attend a Bible study or home group

Take the 2020 Christian Challenge and get daily scripture, reflection questions, and monthly prayer prompts

Frozen 2 Printable Coloring Pages and Activities

The long-awaited Frozen sequel is finally almost here! To get in the Arendelle mood, how about some Frozen 2 Printable coloring pages and activities? I don’t know about you, but I have been looking forward to this movie ever since the release of Frozen Fever in 2015. Boy, did that short get my hopes up for more Anna and Elsa!

From the Studio:

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I promise not to spoil it for you. We’re heading out to catch the screening in San Diego this week, but I haven’t told the girls yet. They will be over the moon excited! If you follow us on Instagram you are sure to catch some of the behind-the-scenes movie day fun in our stories. Meanwhile, let’s see some cool pics of the royal sisters and their friends! This post has all the Frozen 2 printable coloring pages I could get my hands on, plus some bonus activities.

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Today is the big day! It’s the Frozen 2 theater release day! Yippee!!! • We were so grateful to experience a #hosted screening of Frozen 2 last week. The girls still don’t really understand how movies work, because they’ve only seen a few in-theater. First, they were super frustrated that they couldn’t go right home and watch the movie on TV. They couldn’t WAIT to see it again! Also, when we first saw the movie, the soundtrack still hadn’t been released to the public so they had to wait a few days to hear all their favorite Frozen 2 songs again. All is well now though, because the soundtrack is available everywhere and we have Into the Unknown playing on repeat. ? • My favorite song was Show Yourself, but Kristoff’s adorable Lost in the Woods is a close second. • Do Disney movies make you cry? I swear I always say I’m not going to cry during a Disney movie but they always get me. This one hit me twice, ?? but the second time was in a good way.?? No spoilers though! When you see the movie you’ll know what I mean ? • I posted a bunch of Frozen 2 printables and activities on the blog. You should check them out! The link is in my bio. And tell me if you saw the movie: what was your favorite song?
A post shared by Nikki | Simply Sweet Days (@simply_sweet_days) on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:15pm PST

Frozen II Printable Activity pages

How cute is this little Frozen 2 printable maze? Take care as you help Kristoff and Sven find Anna in the Enchanted Forest! Click here to download the pdf file.

Bookmarks

Your kids (and even you!) will love saving their place with these fun printable Frozen 2 bookmarks!

Frozen 2 Memory Card Game

This one takes a little more prep to put together but it’s totally worth it! It would be a fun game to have out at your next Frozen 2 birthday party or playdate. The file is too big to load as a picture so click here to download the memory card game.

Frozen 2 Spot the Difference Game

This printable is for the eagle-eye observer. My kids get a kick out of trying to be the first one to notice the differences. Click here for the pdf version of the game.

Frozen 2 Printable Coloring Pages

This bundle of Frozen 2 coloring pages contains some beautiful and easy-to-color artwork, perfect for kids and adults! Lieutenant Mattias joins the cast in Frozen 2 as an Arendelle military leader who, along with his troop, have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest for 30 years. If that doesn’t pique your curiosity about the movie, I don’t know what will! The movie opens in theaters on November 22 but you should get your tickets NOW because they’ve been on sale for a while already. No pressure 🙂

Click here for the Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Sven printable

Click here for the Anna and Elsa printable

Click here for the Kristoff and Sven printable

Click here for the Olaf Printable

Click here for the Bruni printable

Click here fir the Nokk printable

Click here for the Lieutenant Mattias printable

These Frozen II pages are totally free. You better believe we’re going to be printing out a bunch of copies to keep the cousins entertained during the holidays! Be sure and save the files to your computer so you can print them out again and again.

Check out these other free Disney printables and activities!

This post has all the Frozen 2 printable coloring pages I could get my hands on, plus some bonus activities.

Pack an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox on Amazon Prime

As we start planning for the holidays, I start to get excited about our annual traditions. Setting up the advent tree, breakfast with Santa, and getting all our decorations out of storage are just a few things on my agenda for the next week. The thing I’m most looking forward to is when we get together and pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

What is an Operation Christmas Child shoebox?

Operation Christmas Child is a really cool ministry by Samaritan’s Purse. The organization delivers shoeboxes of Christmas toys to kids all over the world. The kids don’t have to do or say anything to get the box of gifts. However, Samaritan’s Purse if happy to share the gospel with the children who want to hear it! Many of these kids live in third world countries, so this is an incredible treat for them.

Click here for my mega list of Operation Christmas Child Shoebox items on Amazon Prime!

What goes in a shoebox?

Because the shoeboxes have to go through customs, there are certain things you can’t send. Candy/chocolate, toothpaste, and liquids/lotions are on the list of things to avoid. Each box should have one item that stands out from the rest, called a “wow” item, and the rest of the space can be filled with personal care items, clothing, craft stuff, and school supplies.

This is our 4th year packing an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, and the one problem I always have is that I don’t have time to go shopping. Well, friends, this year I’m making things a little easier on myself and packing my shoebox with gifts from Amazon Prime. That way I don’t have to go to multiple stores to find just the right stuff. Since I was already adding toys and things to my cart online, I thought I’d share some ideas so you can pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox using Amazon Prime as well! I put a ton of ideas in this mega list.

“Wow” Items for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox on Amazon Prime

Suggested “wow” items are a doll, a stuffed animal, a soccer ball with a manual pump, a small musical instrument, or a backpack.

Personal items for an Operation Christmas Child shoebox on Amazon Prime

Kids just love getting new personal items. Some things you can pack in a shoebox are a comb, hairbrush, toothbrush, washcloth, bar soap, cute bandaids, plastic containers such as a water bottle or plate, blanket, lip balm, and solar-powered flashlight. Older kids might enjoy a compact mirror, nail clipper and file, or deodorant. Or you might consider adding some fun accessories like sunglasses, hair bows, or a wristwatch.

School supplies that can go in a shoebox

Send your shoebox with some fun school supplies, like pens or colored pencils and a sharpener. Or tuck a combination of school stuff into a pencil case. Add a notebook, some tape or a glue stick and scissors, and you’ve got a mini school kit!

Other fun ideas for your shoebox

It’s so much fun to play with brand-new craft stuff and to imagine all the things that are just waiting to be created with them! It’s easy to find craft supplies for an Operation Christmas Child box on Amazon Prime. You can also add puzzles, a jump rope, playdough, binoculars, a kaleidoscope, or marbles (for older kids).

Being a part of Operation Christmas Child is so important to me. It’s an opportunity to spread joy to kids all over the world. If you made it this far, I want you to know that I’m praying for you and the child who receives your shoebox. Be sure and check out my mega list of ideas for packing a shoebox on Amazon Prime! I put a ton of things on it besides what is mentioned on this page, for kids of all ages. It took hours because I was looking for things that were both good quality and low cost. Basically, I did the hard work for you!

As I was building the list I felt drawn to sending our box to a teen/preteen child. Maybe I’m just feeling extra sentimental about my own oldest child who is on the brink of adulthood. In the end, I let the kids decide who to send the box to and they chose a boy age 2-4. I picked out most of our gift items from this list, adding a washcloth and a single bar of soap from Target, which are impossible to find on Amazon in single-use sizes! Thank you for blessing children in need around the world.

Cracker-Crumb Breaded Chicken

This is a tasty version of breaded chicken that our whole family loves. It’s easy, no-fuss, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

When I first moved out of my parents’ house, I knew how to cook 2 thing: Spaghetti and Shake ‘N Bake chicken. I thought I was pretty hot stuff for knowing those recipes down pat, too. Now, many years later (not gonna say how many), I’ve modified the Shake ‘N Bake recipe a bit. The crackers give it a sweet, buttery flavor, while the garlic salt and pepper give it some zippy seasoning.

We’ve got one picky eater in the family, and even she loves this cracker crumb breaded chicken recipe. It’s got a very kid-friendly flavor and is so easy to make! Pair it with some brown rice and steamed veggies and dinner is served!

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 sleeve (about 1 ½ cups) of crushed buttery snack crackers
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.

Place cracker crumbs in a large Ziploc bag with garlic salt and pepper.

Dip chicken breasts in egg, then shake (1 at a time) in the Ziploc bag of cracker crumbs. Arrange breaded chicken in a greased baking dish and bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°. Serve it with your favorite sauce or by itself-it’s got enough flavor to stand on its own 😉

Seriously, how easy is that? I hope you enjoy this recipe, and don’t forget to check back for more family-friendly meals!

What Mommies Do

The sweet smell of a baby’s hair, the softness of their little cheeks, and big belly laughs are my favorite memories of my little ones. As the days turn to years and those little ones grow up, my love for them remains the same.

Our littlest still has some maturing to do. His preschool teacher is helping him to write his name and solve problems by himself. But at night he still wears a pull-up to bed, and sometimes needs help to dress himself. We’re taking things day by day, one load of bedding at a time.

It was while I was washing his sheets one day that I realized how literally everything I do for my children springs from a heart overflowing with love for them. Because that’s what Mommies do for their kids. I am 100% not nearly as thoughtful and considerate towards other adults. You’d never see me sacrifice as much for one of my neighbors. But because I love these tiny humans with every bone in my body, I give all I have without complaint.

What do Mommies do for their precious children? Well here’s what I’ve done recently:

What Mommies Do

-Re-stuff a teddy bear after all his fluff came out in the washer, and then sew its tattered fur back together.

-Scour the house to find a 5-inch plastic Wonder Woman action figure that by no standards qualifies as a bedtime toy, but that nonetheless must be taken to bed each night.

-I consistently stay up late in the evening to wash dishes or fold laundry just so I can spend more time with my kids while they’re awake.

-Sneak into their room at night, and swap a tooth for money in true Indiana Jones-style.

-Stand in shin-deep water at the beach to teach them how to ride a boogie board even though I’d rather be flaked out on a towel reading People magazine.

-I have to wear sunglasses on the first day of school every year to hide the inevitable tears (mine, not theirs ). Oh, how they grow up so fast. Every new grade at school is a reminder that the years are racing by.

-Peek in on them while they’re sleeping. I mean, could I really get away with that if they weren’t my own babies?

-Read, read, and read again the same scribbled-on, taped-up book about a hungry caterpillar.

-Show kindness to people who don’t deserve it. Because darn if our kids don’t imitate our behaviors, especially our worst ones. The best way to raise a kind human is to be one.

Yes that is my oldest and he’s SO much taller than me!

But here’s the thing, friend. While I can’t stress enough the importance of making wonderful memories with your children, there are some things that Mommies just shouldn’t do. One of the biggest destroyers of our joy in this season of motherhood is when we get swallowed up in raising our children… And we lose sight of what used to make us feel alive.

I love my four babies tremendously, but I’ve found that they will still love me just as much if I

-Go to a friend’s house for a spa night. A cute little foot spa and peel-off face mask are all the pampering I need.

-Take up a hobby that they can’t be a part of, like playing the guitar or learning hand lettering.

-Keep a tight budget but not so tight that I have to wear the same 2 hole-y bras over and over every day.

-Let them play in the Kids Club while I work out at the gym.

Because let’s face it. The years are short. But when these little birds fly, will I even know what to do with myself? I can’t let who I am become swallowed up in my kids. My identity has to stay me, the girl who loves hiking and rock climbing and snowboarding… plus the mom that loves her kids.

On Instagram, I shed light on the need for moms keep sight of who they are. I know I can’t be the person I was before kids, but I can still bring that same fire and energy and passion to things that light me up inside. Use the hashtag #MomPlusJoy as you share your photos on Instagram.

Live well, friend.

Nikki

Now We Are 7

Last year I thought I’d write a blog post all about the adventures the girls would have when they turned 6, and I’d title it “Now We Are 6” like the A. A. Milne book. But that didn’t happen. Instead, this year I’ll look back at six full years of raising twins. We have all grown so much in such a short amount of time. So now we are 7. 7 years of enjoying life and the blessings that come with raising twins.

We like to dress up fancy.

We mostly get into mischief together.

We don’t like to sleep alone.

We are best friends.

This weekend my little unexpected dizygotes rounded out their sixth year of life on this earth. And what a fine six years we have had! I look forward to many more adventures with these silly bugs. Happy birthday, babies.

Love, Mommy.

Check out these other posts on raising twins:
When I was Expecting Twins I wondered…
Raising Adventurous Children
A Mom can Always Tell Her Twins Apart
Advice from a Twin Mom (Who’s Been There)

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