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Spring Break Activities for BIG Families PLUS GIVEAWAY

Looking for spring break activities for families? But what if you have a large family? Are you looking for things to do with all your kids without breaking the bank?

Spring Break Activities for Large Families

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DAY AT THE PARK – A cheap and easy spring break activity to do with your large family is to spend a day at a local park. You can pack a lunch, snacks, and drinks. You can make this easy kite out of a paperbag and streamers.

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HIKING – Take your big family on a hiking trip during spring break. Here are 7 great tips for hiking with kids.

CAMPING – You don’t have to spend a bundle to go camping with your large family. Here are some great camping tips you should check out!

kids-camping-tips-spring-break (2)Also, be sure and get a tent that has a tall height so you don’t have to slump over to walk inside, such as this 8-person family tent with a center height of over 6 feet!

GEOCACHING – Go on a treasure hunt with your kids during spring break! Geocaching is treasure hunting with a GPS.  Begin by going to geocaching.com to find where over 2 million small “treasures” (called geocaches). Find your location and then solve the clues to find the treasure!

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FAMILY PIZZA NIGHT – Make homemade pizza dough and have each kid in your family make their own pizzas! Let each child add as much of their favorite toppings to their own personal pizza. Great for those with picky eaters too.

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FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT – With no early school mornings, enjoy a family movie night together – complete with snacks and lots of popcorn.

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FAMILY ROADTRIP – There’s nothing that creates memories and true family bonding than a family roadtrip. Here are some great tips on how this family takes BIG trips on a small budget.  And check out these road trip tips for LARGE families!

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STAYCATION – You can have a fabulously fun spring break at home by planning a staycation where your large family completes a fun “bucket list” of things to do on spring break locally.

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Whatever activities you do with your kids during spring break, the important thing is that you have fun in your family bonding time!

Increasing the “family fun factor” helps build relationships: “Recent studies have found that the best predictor for good sibling relationships later in life is how much fun the kids have together when they’re young. The rate of conflict can even be high, as long as there’s plenty of fun to balance it out.” via  The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind {affiliate link}

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$500 SPRING GIVEAWAY

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Win one of THREE $500 cash prizes directly in your paypal account! This giveaway is open internationally. You must be 18+ years old to enter. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please see detailed terms and conditions below the giveaway for more info.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Easy Dr. Seuss Green Eggs and Ham Recipe

After searching for Dr. Seuss food ideas, I finally found the easiest Dr. Seuss green eggs and ham recipe!

You see Dr. Seuss’ birthday of March 2nd touches a special memory in my heart of the grandfather my children never met. Every year, I celebrate with my kids with a special edible Dr. Seuss food menu…because of their grandfather’s epic recipe fail of green chicken…

Check out this easy green eggs and ham recipe for a Dr. Seuss party

Making the green eggs was easy – white chocolate with green M&Ms – but I couldn’t think of any easy way to make the green ham. And then! Perusing the candy aisle at H-E-B I found the perfect green ham!!

The new Peeps Minis in Sour Watermelon flavor!

Just cut off the head & turn upside down! 

These Peeps look just like green ham for a Dr. Seuss party snack

Here’s my Dr. Seuss Green Eggs & Ham Recipe! (Note: the larger Mega M&Ms would probably look even better)

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Fabulous Valentine Box Ideas for Boys

Making Valentine’s Day boxes for boys isn’t the easiest task since boys aren’t usually into hearts and doilies, including my two boys. Here are some great ideas for your boys to make their own boyish Valentine boxes!

Check out these fabulous Valentines Day boxes for boys

Valentine Box Ideas for Boys

Army Tank Valentine Box for Boys

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Batman Batmobile Valentine Box for Boys

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Crocodile Valentine Box for Boys

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Firetruck Valentine Box for Boys

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iPhone/iPod/iPad Valentine Box for Boys

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Lego Valentine Boxes for Boys

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Minecraft Creeper Valentine Box for Boys

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Easy Monster Valentine Box for Boys

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Ninja Valentine Box for Boys

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Purple Minion Valentine Box for Boys

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Check out these other great ideas for Valentine’s Day boxes for boys!

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How to Make a Wonder Woman Costume + 88 Other DIY Costumes

If you’ve followed me for a while, you may realize that I just love Halloween costumes and dressing up. (Is that weird for a Christian?) Each year, our family has a theme for our Halloween costumes. Check out how our family has dressed through the years for Halloween costume idea for families or groups.

Last year, we dressed in Halloween costumes as a family of superheroes! Dad was Green Lantern, one son was Batman, the other Superman, and I dressed in an EASY DIY WONDER WOMAN COSTUME I put together!

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How do I look?

How to Make a Wonder Woman Costume

SUPPLIES: HEADBAND & CUFFS for Wonder Woman Costume

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I made the cuffs out of toilet paper rolls.

  • toilet paper rolls
  • sparkle craft paper in gold
  • red felt
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun

I simply cut the toilet paper roll lengthwise and traced a pattern onto the sparkle paper. I then cut the sparkle paper and hot glued the paper onto the toilet paper roll.  I then cut a small star out of red felt and hot glued it on.

For the Wonder Woman headband, I used an old large soft but solid headband.  I used this pattern for Wonder Woman costume headband and cut out the sparkle paper. I hot-glued the sparkle paper onto the headband. I cut the red felt into a star and hot glued it onto the front of the Wonder Woman headband.

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 SUPPLIES for Wonder Woman Costume

I traced the Wonder Woman logo onto the yellow Duct Tape sheet using this Wonder Woman costume logo pattern. I placed on the front of the red shirt.

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For the shorts, I cut the stars out of the white Duct Tape sheet using the star punch. Because of the stickiness of the glue, cut out a few stars with folded foil to keep the punch from sticking. Place randomly on the blue shorts.

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 How to Make Boots for Wonder Woman Costume

Wear red baseball socks with red shoes, then put masking tape from the toes of the red shoes to the top of the socks. Then place masking tape around the top of the socks.  Official (kind of) Wonder Woman boots! 

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Check out our Halloween costumes for a family of superheroes!

Check out this family of superheroes! Great Halloween costume idea for family or group!

Along with how to make a Wonder Woman costume, I’m sharing 88+ more really awesome handmade costume ideas from talented bloggers everywhere!  Here are 80+ DIY Halloween costumes, including my WONDER WOMAN COSTUME!

Check out this handmade Halloween costume site, Really Awesome Costumes that has tons of easy ideas to craft up DIY Halloween costumes for everyone including your pets, family costumes, and even trunk or treat ideas!

 

101+ Handmade Halloween costumes at Creating Really Awesome Free Things

And now it’s time for tons more DIY Halloween costume inspiration! You can join in on the BLOG HOP! Click on the links below each collage to get the detailed instructions about how to make the costume pictured, just like mine above. Don’t forget to follow the Handmade Halloween Costumes Pinterest Board for even more DIY costume greatness!

88+ Handmade Halloween costumes at Creating Really Awesome Free Things

1. Handmade Baby Hamburger Costume

2. DIY Baby Game Boy Costume

3. DIY Minecraft Steve Costume

4. Football Brothers Halloween Costumes with DIY Pads and Onesie

5. Star Trek Halloween Costume for Kids

6. A Bee and Her Keeper

7. No Sew Magician Costume

8. Flint Lockwood Costume

9. Pinocchio

10. Marty McFly

11. Princess Wedding Dress Costume

12. Handmade Lalaloopsy Doll Costume

13. Homemade Toothless Costume

14. DIY Mermaid For Less Than $20 (No-Sew Option)

15. Easy Tinker Bell Costume

16. Mario and Luigi Go Kart Costumes

17. Dog The Bounty Hunter and Beth

18. Family Monsters University Costumes

19. Scooby Doo family costumes

20. DIY Storm Cloud Costume

 

88+ Handmade Halloween costumes at Creating Really Awesome Free Things

21. Cheap and Easy DIY Spider Costume

22. Easy Tin Man Costume

23. No Sew Bee Costume

24. Planet Halloween Costumes

25. DIY Cheshire Cat Costume

26. DIY Instagram Board

27. Elsa crown

28. Dog Collar Ruffles

29. DIY Pineapple Baby Costume

30. DIY Lego Movie Costume

31. Weeping Angel Costume

32. Disney Planes Costume: Dipper

33. Easy Pirate Costume

34. Easy Costume Idea – Renaissance Girl

35. 10 Minute Homemade Jellyfish Costume

36. DIY Cat Costume

37. Lucy And Ricky Costumes

38. Easy Frozen Costumes (Carrisa!!)

39. Easy Greek Goddess Costume

40. DIY Family Willy Wonka Costumes

101+ Handmade Halloween costumes at Creating Really Awesome Free Things

 

41. DIY No Sew Maleficent Costume

42. No Sew Pineapple Halloween Costume

43. Graveyard Bean Bag Toss: Trunk or Treat Car Costume

44. DIY Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costumes

45. DIY Raccoon Costume with Printable Mask

46. Easy WildStyle Lego Movie Costume

47. Simple Hello Kitty Costume

48. No Sew Minnie Mouse Costume

49. DIY Inspector Gadget and Penny Costumes

50. DIY Frozen Elsa Dress Baby Edition

51. Fairy Princess Dog Costume

52. DIY Hashtag Halloween Costume

53. Toddler or Baby Egg Costume

54. Easy No Sew Olaf Costume

55. DIY Baymax Costume

56. DIY Tooth Fairy Costume

57. Baby Short Stack Pancake Costume

58. Elephant and Piggie Halloween Costumes

59. Instagram Halloween Costume

60. Peter Pan & Mr. Smee Halloween Costume

88+ Handmade Halloween costumes at ReallyAwesomeCostumes.com

61. Wildstyle Costume from the Lego Movie

62. Fred and Wilma Couples Costume

63. Viking Family Costumes

64. DIY Cruella de Vil Costume for a child

65. Disney Frozen Olaf Halloween Treat Bucket

66. How to Make a Minecraft Steve Head

67. DIY Harry Potter Costume

68. DIY Duck Dynasty Costumes

69. No Sew Cupcake Baker Halloween Costume

70. DIY Skunk Mask

71. Ghostbusters Proton Pack DIY

72. Frozen Anna Costume Tutorial

73. Candy Corn Costume

74. Paw Patrol Halloween Costume

75. No Sew Toothless Dragon Costume

76. DIY Robot Costume

77. Wonder Woman Costume

78. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Costume

79. Thrifted Gentleman Spy DIY Halloween Costume

80. DIY Boy Garden Gnome Costume

81. Group Costume: Bob Ross, Happy Tree, & Squirrel

82. DIY Blues Brothers Costumes

83. Snow White Costume

84. Peacock Princess Costume

85. Scarecrow Costume

86. Easy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume

87. Handmade Teddy Bear Costume

88. Princess Elsa and the Spy Kid

89. DIY Baby Koala costume

What handmade costume ideas did you love the most?! Be sure to click over to get the costume instructions, pin the costume, and let them know you love it!

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Could Your Child’s Behavior Actually Be Sensory Processing Disorder?

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What does Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) look like?

As a parent, I have seen a child who can be so fun and so smart turn into someone I don’t know or understand at the blink of an eye. I have watched as he cries because his socks “don’t like his feet”. I have endured yelling, screaming and fits all because something didn’t go as planned.

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Could your child’s behavior issues actually be sensory processing disorder (SPD)?

Have you ever wondered if your child’s behavior is truly a behavior issue or could it really be something else? Many times it is hard to tell if a behavior is truly a behavior or if your child is reacting to sensory problems in their body!

So is your child’s behavior a behavior issue or sensory?  If sensory relates to the sensation or physical senses and a definition of behavior is the way in which a person acts in response to a particular “stimulus” (or sensation), then YES, behaviors can happen because of sensory problems.

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What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory integration is “the central nervous system translating information into action”. Basically, it means that the behavior we exhibit is linked to neurological processes in our brain.
    • In layman’s terms: Everything we feel or experience, from wind on our face to driving a car is processed in our brain. If a child has an unusual response, then their brain isn’t processing what they feel or experience accurately.
Through meaningful sensory activities and a child’s inherent motivation, the child is able to make adaptive responses. This allows them to have more organized behaviors.
    • In layman’s terms: When a kid wants to participate in sensory play (to them it is just play), they adjust how they are playing based on what they are experiencing/feeling.

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How Can You Have Sensory Integration as Sensory Play?

Whether children are hypersensitive (over sensitive), hyposensitive, or neurotypical children with no sensory issues – sensory play is beneficial to every child to help them to understand the world around them.

Sensory play is often thought of just as messy play, and although lots of sensory play ideas can be messy – it is not just all about messy play but any play involving the senses.

  • Touch which can be exploring textures
  • Taste
  • Sight which could be exploring colors and light
  • Sound
  • Smell

It helps with creativity, problem solving, and supports their brain development!

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What Are Sensory Play Activities?

Go on a Sound Walk

Play in the Dirt

Play in the Mud

Create Sensory Bins

Sensory bins are a great way for children to learn using all 5 senses at once. Child development theorist Jean Piaget described the way children learn by calling them “little scientists“. Through sensory play and sensory bins children are using the scientific method and are also building pre-math skills, fine motor skills, language skills, imaginative play, and much much more. Not only that but sensory bins are so visually appealing and fun!

Most sensory bins have a base which is usually made with rice or another sensory material. Next you add other items including scooping materials such as spoons, measuring cups, etc for scooping and pouring. Add other items.

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If you are interested in learning more about sensory processing disorder, I highly recommend reading The Out-of-Sync Child and The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder.

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10 DIY Halloween Costumes for Families

Are you searching for easy DIY Halloween costumes for your family? Here are some cute Halloween costume ideas for groups!

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Wizard of Oz Halloween costumes for family

Muppets Halloween costumes for family

Family of Superhero Halloween costumes

DIY Pirate Halloween Costume Ideas for Family

Easy DIY Care Bears Family Costumes for Halloween

DIY Family CandyLand Halloween Costumes for Family

Easy DIY Mario Cart Family Halloween Costumes

Football Themed Family Halloween costumes

Easy DIY Cops and Robbers Halloween Costumes for Family

Batman, Robin, Joker & Catwoman Halloween Costumes for Family

Check out all this other Halloween fun!

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10 Great Valentine Box Ideas for Boys

It’s not easy coming up with Valentine box ideas for boys.  If your boys are like mine, they just don’t get into the lovey-dovey hugs & kisses idea of Valentine’s Day.  My boys just want the CANDY!!! So getting my boys excited about making a Valentine’s Day box (without hearts & doilies) takes some searching and a bit of creativity.

Last year, I created an easy monster Valentine box for my boy (shown below) that he was proud to bring to school.

For this year, I searched the Internet and Pinterest to create this collection of the Valentine box ideas for boys.

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My boys each picked one of these ideas for a Valentine’s Day box.

Follow me on Instagram to find out which Valentine box I will be making for my boys this year.

10 Valentine Box Ideas for Boys

Robot Valentine Box – My son recently made a robot for a school project from an old cereal box, so a robot was on our list for possible Valentine box ideas.   Simply cover your box in foil and let your boy decorate!

Shark Valentine Box – This Valentine box idea creates a shark from an old baby formula can, gray wrapping paper, and craft foam.

Lego Valentine Box – This easy craft uses an old shoe box, plastic Solo cups, and spray paint to create an easy Valentine box for a boy that loves Legos.

Batman Valentine Box – This crafter created this Valentine box of the Caped Cruisader for her boy. She also has a cute Valentine bookmark printable available for download.

Angry Birds Valentine Box – This easy Valentine box used felt & a hat box. This boy actually sewed it together! But personally, I’m a hot glue kind of mom.

Dinosaur Valentine Box – Now this Valentine box is a labor of love constructed with a shoebox, cardboard, tape, construction paper, acrylic paint, markers and stickers.

Pirate Ship Valentine Box – This Valentine box was created into a pirate ship by painting a shoebox brown and adding sails, ocean waves, and fish using craft foam.

Ninja Turtles Valentine Box – This easy craft simply used construction paper, crayons and markers to create an awesomely quick Valentine box for boys.

Despicable Me Minions Valentine Box – After watching Despicable Me recently, my boys love this Valentine box using an old tissue box, paint, and craft foam.

Easy Monster Valentine Box for Boys

I created this simple monster Valentine box for my boy last year.

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The supplies included an old shoebox, orange felt, construction paper (for the teeth), wiggly eyes, fun fur (for the eyebrows), old egg carton (for the eyeballs, not shown), scissors, and my ever-faithful hot glue gun.

monster-boys-valentine-box-suppliesAnd my boy (the photographer) took this photo while I was creating his Valentine box (on a Saturday morning while I was still in pajamas no less). You craft in pajamas too, don’t you?

monster-boys-valentine-box-diyWhich of these Valentine ideas for boys are you going to make?

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Best Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Active Kids

What are the best stocking stuffer ideas for active kids (with ADHD)?

These stocking stuffer ideas for active kids (with ADHD) were compiled by my hyperactive boy and I. “Mom, oh, I want that…and that…and that, too!” Many of these items are sensory-rich toys that children with special needs, such as autism, would enjoy.

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Stretchy Flying Frogs $12.171beststockingstuffer

Punch Balloons $7.99 for 4

2beststockingstufferI absolutely LOVED these as a child. Because these balloons are so large, even young ones can have fun punching these without much coordination.

Harmonica or other musical instrument $7.99

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Bubble Popper Fidget Spinners $9.99 for 4

Stretchy String $10.99 for 2

5beststockingstufferThis plastic rope stretches from 12 inches to over 10 feet then back to its original size! This sensory toy is a great fidget toy for active kids like mine. Stretchy string is also quite popular with autistic children. (Note: after my boys began using these to snap each other, I’m not recommending these as highly anymore)

Play-Doh $5.99 for 15

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Flashing Bumpy Rings $7.99 for 12

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No-Spill Bubbles (Fubbles) $9.99

All kids love playing with bubbles.  Watching bubbles form and float, then fall, burst and disappear engages the senses. But they can be messy for young kids that spill. Check out this bubble container that doesn’t spill!

Squishy Ball Yoyo Toy $14.99 for 12

Squeezable Soft Foam Shooter $22.99 for 4

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What are your best stocking stuffer ideas for active or special needs kids?

Also, check out these top toys for active boys (& girls).

FTC Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links for Amazon, which means when you click on a link and purchase, I receive a very small commission (at no additional cost to you). Amazon then gives that commission to me as an Amazon gift card so I can purchase from Amazon. See how nicely that works for Amazon?

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