Kids Night In Box: Day At The Farm

I love doing fun activities with my kids at home, but sometimes the thought of coming up with an idea or theme and then gathering all the materials together feels like more than I have time for as a busy mom of three kids.  So when I heard about the Kids Night In Box, I thought it would be a great solution and also a great opportunity for my kids to do something new and fun together as a family.

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You Are Doing Better Than You Think You Are

As mothers, we have a lot of responsibility placed on our shoulders.  At times, it is a burden we gladly carry.  Other times, the weight of it is heavy and it's all we can do to put one foot in front of the other.  I've laughed with my children and I've cried with them and over them and for them.  They are some of my greatest joys and present some of my greatest challenges.  Motherhood, it seems, is full of contradictions.  So it's understandable that as a mother, it can feel at times that we are stuck in this middle ground, where we're not sure if what we're doing is making a difference.  Mom guilt is real and it can cause us to question our methods, our abilities, our strength and endurance.  But I'm here to tell you that you are doing better than you think you are.

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Protecting Our Kids From Pornography

As parents, it's our responsibility to set boundaries and monitor our kids' activities.  By setting rules and limits for our kids, they know what is expected of them and they know when they've crossed the line.  It creates consistency and accountability.  But we can't be everywhere, with each child, all day, every day, tracking their behavior  And if your kids have electronics (cell phones, tablets, computers, etc), that is just one more device you have to try and monitor.  This might be manageable if you only have one or two kids, but you start adding more kids and more devices and it can become overwhelming and inevitably, things are going to slip through the cracks.   So how can we still be attentive parents and monitor our kids use of their devices without checking them multiple times a day?

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5 Reasons To Visit Pixar Pier

As you might have heard, Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure is getting a makeover this summer.  Starting June 23rd, guests who visit the Disneyland Resort will be able to enjoy Pixar Pier.  Here, you'll be able to experience thrills, laughter and memories with all of your favorite Pixar pals.  If you're not sure what Pixar Pier is all about, I'm here to give you the scoop!  I've partnered with my friends at Get Away Today to give you 5 reasons to visit Pixar Pier.  Keep reading for an exclusive promo code to use on your next Disneyland vacation package, just for Sunshine & Munchkins readers.

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3 Ways My Happy Baby Wrap Makes Me A Better Mom

I'll be honest: I never thought of myself as a "baby wearing mom".  I just figured I'd hold my babies or put them in the swing or bouncer if I needed to when I was at home and keep them in the car seat, cart or stroller when we were out.  But do you know what I've learned since having my first baby over six years ago?  That I am a baby wearing mom and when I use my wrap, I am a better mom because of it.

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7 Things To Pack To Make Your Hospital Stay More Comfortable

Whether your stay in the hospital is planned or unexpected, there are a few must-have items you should take with you to make your time there as comfortable as possible.  I've learned that while the hospital can supply you with the essentials, that doesn't mean what they provide is what you'd choose to use.

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Maternity Pictures and 38 Week Bumpdate

My husband and I were talking earlier this week about some of the things we were looking forward to with the arrival of our baby girl: seeing what she looks like, watching our other two kids interact with her, snuggling her and just having her here with us after such a long time of hoping and praying.  We also talked about some of the less fun parts: feeling like a zombie due to nighttime feedings, buying lots (and lots) of diapers and frequent changes in routines.  *wink*  I also shared with him how hard this last trimester has been for me with this baby.  I've been sick 5 different times (although it feels like one long, horrible cold stretching from Thanksgiving to now) and so the normal lack of sleep and discomfort that comes with pregnancy has just been exacerbated.  This has also meant that the kids and I haven't left the house as much so we've been dealing with a lot of cabin fever.  All this to say that while I'm very grateful to be pregnant, I'm also looking forward to bringing her into this world and getting back to my non-pregnant self.

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My Hospital Bag Packing List {Plus FREE Printable}

Being prepared when I leave my house, whether we're going to the store, the park or a play date, is something that makes me feel more confident and in control.  And when it comes to packing my hospital bag, I like to do it ahead of time so I'm not worrying about what I do or don't have when the time comes to leave for the hospital.  Even though I'm only about 37 weeks right now, many of the items I'll be bringing with me can be packed ahead of time.  Whether you're a first time mom or one whose done this a time or two, scroll through this list and see if there is something you might have forgotten to pack.  I'd love to hear what else you'd add!

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A Wish List Gift Guide for Baby #3

At almost 36 weeks, preparing for my third baby has been a different experience than with my other two kids, partially because my wish list is a lot different.  I already have all the bigger items, like a portable crib and double stroller, and a lot of the basics like a car seat and burp cloths.  But where I noticed a desire for new items were those things that would make my life as a mom of three kids easier.  My youngest is almost four which means that there are a lot of new products on the market and I definitely want to get my hands on them!  Today I'm sharing my baby #3 wish list and I'd love to hear what you think or what you'd add.

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5 Tips For When You're Sick and Pregnant

Being sick as a mom can be really draining on multiple levels: mentally, physically and emotionally.  Not to mention that we often need to keep up with all our regular responsibilities around the house, helping kids with school or other activities, meals and anything else that's on our plates.  Add in being pregnant and you might just be feeling like death warmed over.  This is exactly how I've been feeling up until the last few days or so.  I've been sick four different times since Thanksgiving and I've felt so run down and not a very fun or engaged mom and wife.  While the options for what we can do do help ourselves feel better are more limited when pregnant, there are some tried and true ways that can help you get back on your feet a little bit faster.

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Third Trimester Bumpdate + New Year, New Baby Giveaway

I realized the other day that I am almost exactly 2 months out from my due and I have yet to do any kind of pregnancy update on the blog beyond a few mentions here and there.  It's hard to believe that it's coming up so quickly!  So I thought with the new year, it would be a fun time to share a little bit with you about my pregnancy and also let you know about an amazing giveaway that I'm doing with some other pregnant mama blogger friends.

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Why Christmas Cards Are Important {Plus Our Family Pictures!}

It wasn't until my husband and I got married that I sent out my first Christmas card.  Even then, it was just a picture of the two of us with the words Merry Christmas and a short note about wishing the receiver the best in the coming year.  It was nothing fancy and I felt a little silly sending it out, but the flood of Christmas cards we got in return honestly filled my heart with happiness.  There is something about going out to your mailbox and opening it up to find mail that isn't an ad, bill or junk mail that can put a smile on your face.

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Gift Guide: Men

If you ask my husband, he thinks that guys are really easy to buy for.  I tend to disagree.  When it comes to trying to figure out what to get him for a gift (whether it's Christmas, birthday, Father's Day, anniversary), it usually takes a lot of thinking on my part to come up with a gift I think he'd really like.  Thinking back on the types of gifts I give him, I realized they generally fall into three categories: practical, interest-based and sentimental.

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5 Ways To Give Service (When You Don't Know How To Help)

I've felt a little overwhelmed lately with how many disasters, both natural and man-made, have plagued our world in recent years.  I feel like every time I open a news website or scroll through my Facebook feed, there is always something else that has happened: earthquakes, mass shootings, hurricanes, flooding, kidnappings, beatings, car accidents, bombings and the list goes on.  I'd like to think that maybe I just wasn't as aware of them when I was growing up because access to technology was so much more limited.  But I'm scared and I'm sad, because I think the truth is that those things are becoming more frequent, as much as I want to believe otherwise.  So many faces and names and tragedies and hardships that it's easy to feel helpless, or even like what little I could possibly do doesn't matter.  What can I do when I feel like the world is falling apart?  How can I help others?

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5 Ways To Be More Mindful

With all of the things that occupy my mind day to day, it can be so hard to find the time to step back and be mindful of ourselves.  As a mom and wife, the needs of others are constantly coming first.  A lot of the time I don't mind this, especially since I recognize that my kids literally could not survive without someone to take care of them.  And my husband obviously could survive without me, but serving him by maintaining a clean home and having dinner on the table are ways that I show my love.  But after a long day of demands on my time and energy, I often don't feel like I have a lot left in me for myself.

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How To Make Disneyland Affordable For Your Family

One of the biggest problems I run into when it comes to planning and booking a vacation is how I'm going to pay for it all upfront and still get the best deal.  How many times have you been browsing deal sites or get an email about a great vacation package only to realize that you have to put down a huge deposit or pay in full in order to lock in the price?  In most cases, this isn't a realistic or affordable option.  If you're anything like me, I like to research the heck out of everything when it comes to planning and booking a vacation, but in the search for the best deal, sometimes I actually miss out on it thinking there might be something better along the way.  BUT, I've got some great news for you and it's called the Layaway Lock-In Program by Get Away Today.  My friend Lexi works there and has offered to share the details on this amazing program.  Read below to find out more!

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3 Ways To Raise Happy Kids

Before starting college, I had some ideas about what I'd like to study, but it wasn't until a couple years in that I found what I wanted to commit to: marriage and family studies.  I knew that what I was learning could be applied to both my current and my future relationships, especially my future family.  Growing up, I would say that I was generally a happy kid.  I got along with my parents, I had good friends, did well in school, was involved in extracurricular activities and active in church.  But if you had asked me then how I became that way--happy--I don't know that I would have been able to nail it down.  However, through my coursework, and now through practical application (aka parenting), I've seen three ways parents can raise happy kids: building connections, setting limits and encouraging independence.

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Hiking In Pioneer Park In St. George, UT

Last summer, my family and I did a big family vacation with my husband's parents and all his siblings and their kids to St. George, Utah.  With kids ranging in age from 17 to 2, finding an activity that everyone would enjoy was a bit of a challenge, but ultimately we decided on hiking.  St. George and the surrounding area is famous for its beautiful and unique red rock formations.  I've visited St. George more times than I can count, but hadn't spent much time hiking the trails found all around the city.  However, we did find an awesome little place called Pioneer Park.  We had so much fun that we visited two days in a row and it was a real hit with everyone in the family.

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May In Numbers

Whoosh!  Did you hear that?  It was the sound of May rushing past! *wink*  But seriously, I feel like I just wrote last months summary.  A lot of fun things happened in May, but most of them happened in single digits.

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7 Tips for Hiking with Kids

This last week we went hiking as part of our Memorial Day activities.  We live close to the mountains and there are a lot of canyons and hiking trails to choose from, so we are always finding fun new places to explore.  My kids especially love hiking and it is one of mine and my husband's favorite activities as well so we do a lot of it.  With this being the case, I've learned a few tips along the way that have helped make hiking a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

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