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9 Games To Play On Your Next Family Walk

Updated: Apr 13, 2021








Whenever I post our daily walks you guys want to know, "how the heck to do you guys walk over a mile in this cold weather??". My answer, a easy lunch or snack and games!! So here are 9 games we love to play when on our winter walks on the beach or in our new 'hood!


  1. Eye Spy. Most likely our most favorite on the road and walk game. We love throwing in some spelling or letter sounds into this as word study. Example: "Eye spy something red and the first letter sounds like mmmmm, M". You can also make a list and check them off as you SPY them!

  2. Follow the leader! Our absolute favorite game! Youngest to oldest take turns leading the group, making funny noises, hopping, jogging, walking like a penguin etc, the funnier the better".

  3. Draw out a map and let the kiddos lead the way. Bonus points if you pretend to be looking for treasure. This is Zoe's favorite, GF has an incredible memory so her maps are pretty dang accurate and she loves being in charge of the group... lol

  4. Stick collecting, in our case beach wood, pinecones and sea shells are also other favorites. We will use these in crafts but mainly keeps them super entertained and not thinking about the cold. Love watching how they imagine what they will do with it!

  5. Tell a story together. Each person takes a turn to add to a story. We LOVE doing this and it is hilarious.

  6. Act out an animal. The name explains it all and its hilarious. This animal walks like this, makes this noise, lives somewhere...

  7. Funny voice competition. Another one that doesn't take much to explain but is utterly hilarious to play.

  8. Counting game, pick a number, like 8 and then try spot 8 cars, then 8 people or 8 houses, 8 trees etc.

  9. Trace out letters. This one is perfect for the beach or anywhere there is dirt, take turns letting your littles write a letter or word!

There you have it, 9 games that if you play for 10 minutes each will keep you outside for an hour and a half!


Also for lunches I find little rolled up turkey, veggies, tortilla chips, fruit, dried fruit and our water bottles work best for eating on the go. These reusable bags and these bento boxes have proven to be our favs sustainable ways. Don't forget to pack a few wipes, and a treat (we love some chocolate chips inside our raspberries and a mint!).



I hope that you will get outside today and tag us on your adventure!!!


xoxo

Natalie




Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day During a Pandemic

Updated: Apr 13, 2021










1. Mail out classroom cards! I know this isn't feasible for everyone but we are doing them for Zoe's class, I know our girls LOVE mail so this will be a pleasant surprise. I am cutting out hearts, letting Zoe add things they love about each classmate and then decorate them.


2. Make and deliver cards for neighbors! We have a bunch of Halloween candy, and treats from our delivery person basket that we are going to leave for neighbors with a card. We did the for Christmas and they all loved them.


3. Set up a zoom party! Invite family or friends, put out crafting supplies, music and have everyone bring a treat for the kiddos to celebrate a day of love and friendship. And don't forget to plan a zoom game or two (this site has some other fun games!)


4. You could set up a indoor scavenger hunt, leaving love notes and clues for your littles.


5. Decorate Their Door. I didn't order Valentine's Day decor for the beach house, like I have done in the past but we have so much in storage that I decided to chill but I will be cutting out hearts and writing things I love about the girls and taping on strings to hang on their door. This is a cute way to just tape them on.


6. Craft it up! I have a ton pinned here and supplies here. & here. I love just putting out supplies and letting them just lead the activity. You can even put out some themed snacks, light some candles and make it special. We then gift said crafts and artwork to family, a very pleasant surprise in the mail!!


7. A special gift. I have been doing little Valentine's Day baskets since Z was 2, this year we have pj's a new book each, a couple bracelets, Maileg mice to add to their collection and Sarah silk scarfs that I have been holding onto. I have done a spacial treat, coloring book/fresh crayons, stickers, stamps, coupon book (think extra screen time, one on one date, craft supplies, etc. What you give will honestly depend on you and your child. Mine really love the SURPRISE, so some simple balloons, special heart shape pancakes with sprinkles and their little gifts will have them on cloud nine. What I hope they remember? Is how special they are to us!


This post shares a little more on how we approach this and many holidays with our girls. I will always believe that matching your surprises with your kiddos love languages ( I loved this book!) is the best "magic making". It isn't the things that they will remember but the feelings that all of it brought.



xoxo

Natalie


Review of Our Favorite Early Chapter Books With Zoe

Updated: Apr 13, 2021






Zoe has read the book she is holding twice, and when posing for this photo, (which by the way she completely set up and directed me!) she got super into the book and read most of it after this photo, it was so cute.


 

Happy weekend! Stopping in with a weekend post because when I posted that Zoe has been zipping through chapter books and that it's hard to keep up (thank goodness for Epic online books, amazon and book outlet!) so many of you reached out to ask for recommendations for your young reader! For reference Zoe just turned 7 and is in 2nd grade!


We have worked hard at getting her diverse books, and I love that some of these main characters look like her, which I never had growing up. My books were always a place I could just escape too, a whole different life brewed up in my head when I was reading and I'd stay up so late just to finish a book. Watching her be able to just get caught up in the story is my favorite thing to witness.


Sharing some favorite early reader chapter books with reviews from Zoe, in her own words she tells us why she loves them.


Mercy Watson Series, "funny and happy books, read them very fast"

My Weird School " hilarious and makes me laugh so hard "

Roald Dahl "funny and a little scary and I never want to stop reading them"

Never Girls (1-4) (5-8 ) (9-12) "love it because it's adventurous and it's about fairies"

Star Friends "I haven't finish it but I love books about friends"

Zoey Sassafras "she is kind of a scientist and cares for animals, funny and mysterious"

Keena Ford "really funny because she gets in trouble for lying to her teacher"

Julians World Series "i love it because it's hilarious, the stories are so good and it's about his brother and him"

Juana & Lucas "so fun, there is spanish words in this book which is great to learn"

Clubhouse Mysteries Series - this reminds me of magic treehouse books but different kids, I love anything that is a mystery or like an investigation"

Sofia Martinez Series - "she is always getting into trouble for mischief and that is funny"

Stella Diaz Series "she is spanish, which is really cool to read, funny too!"

Junie B Jones "funny is always into a lot of mischief, but just in a kid way"

Nancy Drew " mysterious, she is a real detective with a club, i read a book in one day"

Ivy & Bean "really funny, two best friends, they get into trouble and are hilarious"

Magic Tree House "brother and sister and they have real life stories and people but it's like magic and a mystery and so good. and a lot of books so you have a lot to read"

Unicorn Academy Series " i love these books, its really pretend but they are fun and its a pretty picture on the front"

Lola Levine Series " this was a good one too, I only read one of the series and I love that Lola is funny"

Miranda & Maude "love it because its about a princess. She is from another country and meets another girl who is different, and at first this girl is mean to Miranda but then they become friends"

Dory Fantasamagory _ "oh my god this one is so funny, like hilarious, Dory is a super mischievous, and I like to read it to my sister and my mom in the car"

A couple she has not read but on my list!


I love that the girls both love books but watching Zoe's reading completely soar since Kindergarten has been so incredible to witness. My recommendation is to find all kinds of books that they LOVE, even if it's about a subject (like a sport, or country or animal even) that they are very into, this will make reading fun and easy.


And also, for those that have younger kiddos, my advice is to read read read. Listen to books, read out loud, point to words in board books and let them "read" to you. This will instill a love for books in a way that can never be taught.


I try and read in front of the girls as much as I can, magazines or newspapers, audio books and books all count the same, because they all do follow your lead and do as they see!


xoxo

Natalie



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