C'est la Vie: Bickering and Quarreling (AKA. the waking hours)

I've seen more than a handful of Facebook posts from my mom friends sharing about how tough summer break has been. Kids are home and days are suddenly full of discord... not exactly the summer "break" we were all hoping for. Although, it does feel like it will break you.

I've tried several different tactics so far in the hope of creating peace. They have "tickets" for ALONE TIME that they can cash in each day. I've tried using a reward system: for every hour they can go without fighting, they can earn a small prize. And then I started realizing that just keeping them from arguing was becoming my full time summer job! I knew I needed help.

The National Center for Biblical Parenting has many great resources. You can even sign up for their free e-newsletter that sends parenting tips right to your inbox. Here is their recommendation on Sibling Conflict and a book that could be helpful too!

Being a parent is just another reminder of how much I need a God who is loving and patient with me - because I need all the love and patience I can muster to be a parent.

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Mom Spot: Progressive Pioneer

Here is another blog I've come across in recent weeks. She has gorgeous pictures and her post yesterday was truly fantastic.

"Maine is pretty rainy in the spring. And I lived in Oregon for awhile and it defines rainy. So, a little rain rarely puts me in a gray mood. In fact, this rainy, rainy spring we've been having here in Utah has actually made me feel quite cheerful! Each rainy day has felt like something of a celebration."

Click HERE to read the entire post - you have to see the photographs! You'll also find all kinds of topics on sustainable and simple living. Enjoy!

Butterfly Pavilion

Of all the child-focused exhibits I wish I could visit weekly, Butterfly Pavilion is number one. I could spend hours in the rainforest-like room where butterflies dance through the air, lush vegetation sprawls from every corner, and a delightful assortment of other tropical animals make their home. You can meet Rosie, the resident tarantula and stroke a horseshoe crab as a wonderful side-light to your Pavilion trip. (Is there a child's birthday in your future? The Butterfly Pavilion is available for parties!)

The Sunset Stroll, a monthly event, gives you a more exclusive tour where you will see activities not seen during the daylight hours. A reservation is necessary. The Butterfly Pavilion is open seven days a week and summer is a great time to go! Schools are mostly finished with their field trips and you can walk the outdoor nature trail. Everyday, new butterflies are released between 12:30 and 3:30pm, and there are great spots to have lunch, so plan to make a day of it!

Fun Fa…

Make a Difference: Black Stallion Literacy Program

Although it's hard to pin down our very favorite summer activity, one would have to be our afternoon with the Black Stallion Literacy Project. I was unfamiliar with the program until it was brought to the HoneyBear Tree Preschool at our church and my children attended with other children from the community. The Black Stallion Literacy Project (BSLP) is a program that is well represented around the front range in Colorado, but extends across the country from it's roots in Florida.

Born of a family heritage in 1999, BSLP has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of children across the nation. The purpose and goal of the organization is clear on their website:

"The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation is an innovative partnership of educators, businesses, volunteers, education foundations, and staff members focused on promoting literacy through the winning combination of live horses and books by Walter Farley. The program is based on the classic books of Walter Farley an…

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