Hidden Gem: Dagg Park Spray Ground in North Kansas City

If you're looking for a fun place to take your kids this summer, check out Dagg Park! Located in North Kansas City, we hit this park at least once a week during the summer. The "Spray Ground" is a great alternative to going to the pool because I, for one, do not love taking my...

Road tripping with the kids to the Land of Lincoln (Springfield, Illinois)

I was in the eighth grade when we had to memorize “The Gettysburg Address” and I quickly fell in love with learning about President Abraham Lincoln. We visited Gettysburg several years ago on a larger road trip with the kids and wished we had planned more time there. It is rather for us to be...

How do we help our children find “the good life?” Read more books!

I recently took a week off from social media. One of my main goals with that extra free time was to get my nose back in a book again. Reading daily, not just tweets and articles, but back to my list of unread classics. Sadly, my time spent reading has decreased dramatically with the increase...

Pinterest Hit or Miss: s’mores with a twist

S’mores ... summer yum and fun, sitting around a campfire, enjoying the stars and lightning bugs. But there’s more you can do with your graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows. In our next Pinterest "Hit" or "Miss," we found a few s'mores variations to try, especially when you’re not near a campfire or fire pit....

You don’t have to go to the Wizarding World for Butterbeer

We've been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida twice (and we're planning another trip for this December). And I have to admit, of all the rides, attractions and other excitement the park offers, the frozen butterbeer is my favorite. Yes, I'm willing to spend $100+ just to get my butterbeer fix. Well,...

Hunter’s story: the effects of bipolar in children on the family

{Note: I wrote this for a college assignment in 2010 when Hunter was 11 years old. But I continue to share his story to give a voice to others like him and their families.} Tears roll down his cheeks like steady raindrops sliding down a window during a spring thunderstorm. “I HATE YOU, DAD, I...

Hidden Gem: Kansas City Northern Railroad

We hit up a local gem this morning, the Kansas City Northern Railroad. Our kids love this place and beg to go ride the train every week during the open season. I don't really see the allure unless you're a huge train lover like Sheldon Cooper.  But we go quite often during the summer months...

Pinterest Hit or Miss: summertime activities

School’s been out for a few weeks now and you’ve probably heard your kids say “I’m bored” about 2,581 times. We tried out some new and easy ideas to keep the kids entertained and enjoying their summer break in our Pinterest "Hit" or "Miss" series. We gathered up a few guinea pigs: Jacki's daughter, Hannah,...

‘I am still worth the full 20 dollars’ … the case for packing Comfort Kits on your next road trip

As we're gearing up for our next family road trip, I was reminded that I need to make some new comfort kits to keep in the car. It's something we started doing last year on our two-week summer trip to California, so we could help someone if they needed it along our way. It didn’t...