The Genie in the Lamp and the Meaning of Life

While organizing interview responses today, I began considering the depth of human emotion and became, understandably, introspective.

The evil, and ever so tolerant, Jafar

To lighten the mood, I set seriousness aside and played dress-up with my daughters. Kaira transformed Kaine-dog into the evil Jafar and herself into Aladdin. Layna changed into a more devious version of Princess Jasmine, and working overtime, I switched on and off between the Sultan of Agrabah and...the genie in the lamp. After an hour of granting wishes, we flew our magic carpet to the family table for a snack break.

Aladdin and Jasmine, asking for wishes

While slicing up strawberries, I thought about the wishes Kaira had asked Genie Mom to grant- to play with her best friend, to visit a cave, to go roller skating. Her answers made me smile. Then I wondered what it would be like to interview a kid, a little pipsqueak with raw honesty and an innocent perspective.

Genie Mom's lame version of granting a wish to get Aladdin on roller skates.

So I mustered up the most complex question in the whole wide world and launched it at my 3-year-old daughter.

Kaira, pondering the meaning of life

Me: Hey Kai?
Kaira: Huh?
Me: What is the meaning of life?
Kaira: Tell me. What is it?
Me: No. I'm asking YOU. What is the meaning of life?
Kaira: Oh. (long pause) Love? Yeah. Love.

Wow.

And there you have it. I think I'm going to start interviewing children. Maybe next time, Kaira should play the all-powerful genie in the lamp. These kids sure have made all of my wishes come true.

Real People Feature: Bethany

Who are you?

I am Bethany- mother to Emelia and Alice, wife to Matty Lew, full-time graduate student, aspiring librarian, and lover of life. 

What is the best advice you've ever given or received and why?

The best advice that I ever received was "Do unto others as you want done to you." I think it is such a powerful message that you should treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. It takes the focus away from selfish desires and actions and helps you remember to be nice, courteous and polite to bring the focus to those around you. 

Ooooh! Bethany can make some pretty amazing CAKES, as well!

The best advice I have ever given would be to enjoy the little moments, because those little moments are what builds a lifetime. I think, in today's society, it's so easy to get wrapped up in drama, conflict, materialism, etc., and people don't often stop to enjoy those little moments. 

You know, like when you are driving in a car and you realize the sky is blue, the clouds are puffy, the air is crisp. A euphoric song comes on the radio, you look in your rearview mirror and see your daughters holding hands. At that moment, you are overwhelmed with joy and are so grateful for everything you have been given. It's those little moments that need to be enjoyed, acknowledged and remembered; those moments strung together create your life. 

What has been the greatest challenge in your life and why?

The greatest challenge has also been a blessing- my car accident. A year ago, my daughter and I were struck by a tractor trailer on the highway while driving home from a doctor's appointment. The driver was not paying attention and hit us straight on from the rear, buckling my car all the way to the back of my daughter's car seat. 

God was watching over us that day though, and we were able to walk away with only minor injuries. The worst thing was that I saw the whole thing coming and was unable to do anything about it due to traffic. Seeing a tractor trailer coming at you at a high speed throws a lot of thoughts into your head in a very short amount of time. My first thought was, "I am not ready to die."

At the time, I had been suffering from postpartum depression after the birth of our second daughter and had thoughts of negativity about myself and my worth being here on earth. In that split second during the accident, my postpartum vanished. Yes, I ended up having to go through months of therapy to be able to get into a car again, but I was able to come to terms with just how precious life is and just how important I am to my husband, daughters, family and friends. It was the hardest thing I have had to overcome so far, but it also helped me overcome other obstacles. 

What has been the greatest joy in your life and why?

My two girls have been the greatest joy in my life, hands down. They have taught me more than any school or education could teach- patience, unconditional love, happiness, selflessness, humor...I could go on and on. There is nothing better than a hug from them or to hear them say, "I love you." Their love is so innocent, and they make me want to be a better person.

What is one thing you have not done that you really want to do and why?

The one thing I have not done that I really want to do is travel to Germany. I am 100% German and have always longed to visit where my ancestors came from. I have not been able to travel there yet because life has just plain gotten in the way. When I taught in England, I thought I was going to get a chance to go, but the war had just started in Iraq. Americans were not very popular over there, and we were advised to stick to the UK. I will go someday though; you can count on it!

*****

Special thanks to Bethany for her open and heartwarming contribution. Now here's a girl who is definitely REAL people, friends...and she's REALLY amazing, for sure! And how about those adorable kiddos? Who can stand the cuteness?!? With a mama like Bethany, it's no wonder why their eyes are so bright.

Have any of you readers ever endured a car accident or PPD? How did it change your perspective?

Oktoberfest is actually in full swing right now in Munich! Anyone have good tales from the Deutschland to share? 

P.S. If you'd like to participate in a Real People Feature, send me a message at cally@frommyhearthtoyours.com or comment below. We'd love to hear from you.

Would You Like That Coffee Fresh...or Funky?

What is it with some people and their coffee?

When I was a child, I remember my grandmother constantly embarrassing me by interrogating restaurant servers in regards to the freshness of their coffee.

I'll have a cup of coffee, but it has to be fresh. Now tell me the truth, how long ago was it made? If it has been sitting around, then I don't want it. How about you make a nice fresh, piping hot pot back there for me, huh? Okay. That's all. 

Grandma got SERIOUS when it came to her coffee.

Photo Credit

But on the other end of the spectrum, I know plenty of great folks who will microwave coffee that has been sitting around all day. Their logic? Why let it go to waste?

So what's the deal? I figured it was high time I did a little homework to find out if there is an ideal time frame for drinking brewed coffee. I owed it to my grandma to uncover the truth, so I filled my mug and got down to it. Let the research begin...

OK, Grandma. This one is for YOU!

What did I learn? Shaking my humble head, if my grandma were still around to hear it, I'd pour her a FRESH cup of coffee and apologize for ever giving her slack about being so picky about her cup o' joe. Turns out, Grandma knew what she was talking about. Of course! Grandmas ALWAYS know what they're talking about, right?

Coffee Facts 101 from WinCo Foods confirms that brewed coffee maintains its freshness for 20 minutes if kept on a warmer but that, if stored in a thermal carafe, the brew will stay fresh for 60-90 minutes. Hmmm...that's up to three times longer. Maybe I should add a carafe to my Christmas list.

Dunkin' Donuts agrees. Their Coffee Brewing Tips states, "Never allow your coffee to sit on the burner for more than 20 minutes. Continued cooking will change the flavor and aroma attributes, resulting in burnt, bitter, or harsh flavors." They also advise, "Never reheat your coffee. Use a thermal carafe or insulated mug if you plan on holding your hot coffee for more than 20 minutes."

The Brewing Guide from Boyd Coffee Company follows suit and advises against reheating coffee.  They warn, "Reheating brewed coffee breaks down the components of the coffee and results in an undesirable flavor."

As part of their intensive training program, Starbucks employees are also instructed to never let coffee sit in the pot for more than 20 minutes.

And Trader Joe's is hummin' the same tune in Brewing the Perfect Cup, although they say you have a 30 minute window to drink up before the taste goes pffffffffllllttttt!

Photo Credit

So there you have it. After a 20-30 minute time period has elapsed on a warmer, the water in brewed coffee continues to evaporate, creating a bitterness that will only worsen over time. If you're un-phased by the funky taste, then bottoms up to ya! But, if you're a coffee connoisseur and crave a deliciously fresh cup to jump start your day, brew only as much as you intend to drink and savor the flavor before that 20-minute window closes on you.

Photo Credit

Oh, if my grandma were still around, I'd bet she'd be a spokeswoman for the Keurig single brew coffee makers. A fresh cup every time? Yeah, that sounds like her kind of heaven. I've held out on snagging one of my own for awhile now, but after learning a bit more about brew science, I think it might be time to take the plunge. Grandma would have wanted it that way. My taste buds want it that way.

From now on, Grandma, I'm brewing in your honor. Only fresh cups out here! Life is just too short to drink funky coffee.

Teaching Tots to Drink From a Cup

Aw, shucks. My pipsqueak is just getting so grown up lately. Lil' Layna May is in a "big girl" phase now and wants to be just like her older sister, Kaira. 

And you know what? I realized that it's time to use that to my advantage and have her big sister help me teach Layna to drink from a cup. 

Layna was so excited to try sipping from her cup every time. 

The weather has been perfect for an outdoor training session, so we headed out to the deck to get to practicing. My 17-month-old has been attempting to drink from standard cups for some time (you know...for some reason she's really into trying to drink her own bath water- ew!) but she needed a few pointers to master this skill. 

Layna's face in the cup technique needed some work.

When I caught Layna playing with a red Solo cup (I don't even want to THINK about what she'll be doing with Solo cups in 20 years), I figured this was the ideal time to fill er' up. 

I had Layna's big sister model proper drinking technique.

Noting that Layna was sticking her whole FACE inside the rim at first, I manually moved her cup into the proper drinking position and had her older sister demonstrate sipping at the same time.

After a manual correction, placing the bottom ridge into her mouth, Layna had much more success in sipping without spilling.

Obviously, I expected Layna to get wet during this lesson, so I started by pouring just one little sip into her cup. This way, she would learn to control the flow of the water and could practice developing her dexterity in handling the cup. The Solo cup was an ideal cup to start with because it was so lightweight and easy to for little hands to grip.

To prevent immediate SOAKING, pour one sip at a time to practice.

The practice session was a wonderful game for Layna. She couldn't wait to get the next refill and would say, "MORE!" again and again. I knew we were making progress.

Getting the hang of this!

After about 20 successful sips, I decided it was time to switch over to try using the heavier cups I use for Kaira. There was a learning curve here, because the weight of a stainless steel cup is substantially greater. Layna got a little wet with her first few sips, but after the third pour, she was a pro!

After basic skills are practiced, try using the cups you plan to use in your daily routine.

The excitement for practicing continued with the new cup, and Layna asked for refill after refill in her big kid cup as well. I think this girly has got this!

The weight of a heavier cup requires more concentration and dexterity.

And what better to celebrate than with a big kid toast?

Celebrate learning something new!

Kaira was proud to CHEERS it up with her sister, so I brought out her cup as well. I smiled so hard, my face hurt, watching them celebrate the mastery of Layna's new skill.

CHEERS, darlings!

Oh, they grow up so fast, don't they? I really enjoyed teaching Layna how to drink from her big girl cup on this sunny afternoon, and I know that having her older sister as a mentor helped to motivate and encourage this novice guzzler.

How old were your kids when you said goodbye to sippy cups, and what techniques did you use to make the switch? I can't wait to get those sippies out of this house for good!

Three cheers for the big girls!

Real People Feature: Holly Hundermark

Who are you? 

Who am I? I am an Auntie, a friend, a daughter, and a sister. My dad refers to me as "Punklish Kite" while my big sister calls me "Wollum" or "Wormie." However, to most people, I am Holly.

What is the best advice you've ever given or received and why?

The best advice I’ve received is to be true to myself and proud of my accomplishments. If I can’t accept who I am, then why would anyone else? 

The best advice I’ve ever given is to spend as much time as possible with the people you love. To me, my loved ones are everything. I find that many people who are in search of love are looking in the wrong places. If you can first find love and comfort within your family and friends, then the other “true” love will eventually find you.

What has been the greatest challenge in your life and why?

On the surface level, college has been the greatest challenge of my life. It is difficult to maintain decent grades with the stress of my future dwelling around me. 

On a personal level, the greatest challenges in my life have been to see people I love in sickness and pain. As I get older, it gets a little easier to overcome these issues rather than go into shutdown mode. Everyday I see a bit more strength in myself with dealing with such issues.

What has been the greatest joy in your life and why?

Without a doubt, the greatest joy in my life has been from my nieces. They teach me about a different type of love that comes naturally. They also allow me to develop into my more mature and responsible “adult” years. 

On a sillier note, I find extreme joy in dogs/puppies. Nothing cheers me up faster than seeing a dog walking down the street or sitting in my lap!

What is the one thing you have not done that you really want to do and why?

The one thing I haven’t done but would like to do is study abroad for a semester. I wish I were gutsier and willing to expose myself to another country and a new culture. It would be especially interesting to be in a school environment, and it would be an eye opening experience! 

I also wish I had a bit more crazy in my soul. If that were the case, I would do something nuts, like jump out of a plane! 

Although I doubt either of these things will be a part of my future, I will make an effort to travel to more exotic places. That way I can see the world for what it is as a whole. 

*****

Thank you, Holly, for being the first contributor to the Real People Feature! I keep picturing you with my 90 lb. Rottweiler sitting in your lap, and I can't help but smile. 

Have any of you readers ever studied abroad or been skydiving? What were your experiences like? 

Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?

P.S. If you'd like to participate in a Real People Feature, send me a message at cally@frommyhearthtoyours.com or comment below. We'd love to hear from you.

Calling All Bold People!

I find people incredibly interesting.

I'm THAT girl. You know- the one who ends up talking to strangers in line, in waiting rooms and on airplanes. People are such characters, and I find myself learning so much from every unique personality.

It's too easy to get comfortable sticking with what we KNOW. Don't you want to learn about something new? About someONE new?

People who know me well will tell you that I'm always, and I mean always, asking questions. I can't help it; I'm genuinely curious to know more about the people I meet and share time with. So now, I'm asking you, yes YOU, if you'd be brave enough to put yourself out there- to answer a few questions about your life experiences.

We've read enough about political candidates, Brad and Angelina and our local high school all-stars. Let's hear about you, a real person with a fresh perspective.

We can learn from you by reading your responses to 5 questions.

1. Who are you?
2. What is the best advice you've ever given or received and why?
3. What has been the greatest challenge in your life and why?
4. What has been the greatest joy in your life and why?
5. What is one thing you have not done that you really want to do and why?

If you're nearby and comfortable in front of a camera, I'll snap a snazzy photo to add a picture to your words. If you already have a photo that captures the essence of YOU, send it along and I'll use your personal selection.

I'm looking for REAL people to share their stories. Are you brave enough to put yourself out there? Who knows what you might learn about yourself along the way? Only one way to find out!

If you're interested, comment below this post or send me a message at cally@frommyhearthtoyours.com to get the ball rolling. We can't wait to learn more about you in a Real People Feature! You can do it! Tell your story!

"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him." -Aldous Huxley

Sassafras Smells Sweet

Oh, it's the perfect time of year for hiking! We've been out several times each week this September and have been discovering so many woodsy wonders out here in eastern PA. 

Lovely young sassafras shrub

Last week, we stumbled upon some beautiful young sassafras in a forest adjacent to a lake. The leaves on the shrub we found had three lobes and were still green, but lobe shape can vary and the color will change to yellow, orange and red as autumn progresses.  

After conducting my research, I learned that sassafras has many uses. The orange wood is excellent for making buckets, barrels, crossties, and furniture, and the oil is used in many perfumes and soaps.

Sassafras smells like Fruit Loops cereal! 

It's no wonder why sassafras oil is used in fragrances. The leaves smell almost exactly like Fruit Loops cereal! They have a pleasant, light and sweet, aroma that can certainly help in making a positive identification.

Many people use sassafras oil to make tea and to add flavor to root beer. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that safrole, a poisonous chemical in the oil, is carcinogenic and should not be used for human consumption. To learn more about side effects of sassafras and safrole consumption, check out this important information from WebMD.

LOVE those leaves!

Isn't this a gorgeous plant? I just love the unique shapes of the leaves and the delightful fragrance.

It's always important to carefully research any plant you or your children handle in the wild. Feel free to seek out, touch and smell sassafras leaves without fear, but it would be wise to avoid consumption/use of pure safrole oil. (Don't worry. You would not be exposed to pure safrole by simply handling sassafras, so you and your wee ones can safely explore this lovely plant.)

So challenge yourselves and young hikers to seek out and identify some sassafras this season. We've found it thriving in the woods on several recent adventures.

Plus, just saying the WORD sassafras is fun.
Sassafrass sassafras sassafras!

Savor stealthily seeking sassafras scents this season! Yeah. Say that 5 times as fast as you can. Enjoy the hunt!

***
For more info, check out-
Sassafras overview
Complete sassafras information

BUG OUT! Assassin/Wheel Bugs

Top three most painful experiences of my life?

1. Natural childbirth
2. Injection into space between broken bone
3. Wheel bug bite

It's time to learn about one nasty assassin, my friends. Allow me to introduce you.

Young wheel bug climbing across a flower on my deck. Notice that this immature bug has not yet formed the "wheel" on its back.

Wheel bugs (Arilus cristatus) are grouped with other insects known as assassins. The latin word cristatus means "crested" and these insects are named for the obvious wheel or cog shaped armor on the backs of adults.

Mature wheel bug on my MAILBOX! Note the cog-like "wheel" on its back.

While casually hangin' on my deck on a sunny, spring afternoon, I simply placed my hand around the arm rail of my chair and EXPLETIVE! EXPLETIVE! EXPLETIVE! I experienced an agonizing, electric pain that I pray you, my dear readers, will never know. I had been pierced by a teeny little baby, bright red and black with no visible wheel. Imagine what the bigguns can do...

Nymph Wheel Bug hiding under my banister

I'd seen these insects creeping around for years, but never paid much attention other than noting that they looked a bit like a spider at first glance. Nowadays, I can assure you, I'm always keeping a bulging eye out.

Now I LOVE learning about insects and arachnids, (Catch up if you've missed my previous stories about the praying mantis, painted lady butterflies, stink bugs and pine sawyer beetles) but nothing compares to these bad boys. Wheel bugs are in a whole new league of mean.

Much like the praying mantis, wheel bugs are known to turn cannibal, often after mating. Nymphs will also chow down on each other during vicious outbursts of teenage angst- bug style.

Young nymph wheel bug stalking a fly on my deck this spring

Thought the praying mantis' affinity for decapitation was brutal to the max? Think again. The wheel bug jabs its freakishly massive syringe-like beak into its victim, instantly injecting it with saliva that literally causes its prey's insides to turn to goo! Then, like a kid with a milkshake straw, the wheel bug slurps up all the innards and goes on its way. Yipes. 

So glad I was paying attention before I opened my mailbox.

Never seen a wheel bug? Oh, they're there, all over the United States. These stealthy hunters camouflage themselves to blend in with their environment and try to avoid humans. These nasty mama jamas don't want to come into contact with us, but if you accidentally place your hand into a garden or onto a fence where a wheel bug was scoping out caterpillars, you are at risk for a monster pierce.

I, very carefully, captured the wheel bug on our mailbox. Here she is under the magnifying glass lid.  Here you can see her wings on top of her back.

You'll find nymphs (like this one) in the spring and adults in the fall.

And oh...if the Fates are working against you and you do find yourself in wheel bug agony, I extend my deepest condolences. Check out this resource for more information about the wheel bug, pierce prevention and first aid treatment.

I managed to snag the scary creepster hanging out on my mailbox this September. Because mature wheel bugs do fly, I was very careful (and rather stealthy if I do say so) in my collection. This bug, however, was NOT one I allowed my daughters to handle in the jar. I held the jar throughout all our observations to prevent accidental escape.

Can you see the stinging beak on this bugger?!?

Interestingly, we observed a pungent, foul odor escaping from the collection jar as soon as we had our wheel bug in captivity. I learned that, much like stink bugs, the wheel bug emits one hardcore STANK from its anus when threatened. Ugh. Clearly, you just don't want to mess with these guys.

Underside of the wheel bug I captured...after it released its STINK BOMB

But...don't go squishin' them, for Pete's sake! I know. I know. It's not ideal knowing they're out there, hunting gooey innard Slurpees. I most certainly do not enjoy constantly scanning our deck and property to make sure none of us surprise a wheel bug again.

Please know, however, that these creatures cause no harm to the environment and are actually considered beneficial predators. Try your darndest to observe them from a safe distance, learn about them and leave them to carry on with their disgusting biz. Different strokes for different folks, right?

Yeah. She looks beastly, but she's definitely equipped to assassinate all your garden pests!

Totally fascinating creatures though, don't ya think? The wheel bug may have one brutal bite, but the benefits of their existence most definitely outweigh the risk of an accidental sting.

Wanna learn more? Who can blame you? Here are a few more captivating sites I uncovered in my research. 

Amazing photo of an nymph wheel bug taking a bee as its prey.
For professional images of nymph wheel bugs, check this out.
Here's an awesome article on assassins and their behaviors and some absolutely SLAMMIN' photos.

Any cool stories or experiences with wheel bugs? I'd love to hear them! Always an open forum.
Be on the lookout! So much to see...

Kid Camper Training 101

My husband and I LOVE to go camping. Before we had kids, we spent over a month driving across the country, sleeping under the stars in our tent every night. We've made countless road trips together to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at its purest. 

But after children began filling our lives with new sights and sounds...well, our overnight camping adventures were put on hold for awhile.

Now that our oldest daughter is almost 4, full of smirk-worthy, head shakin' personality and is actually kind of helpful from time to time (knocking on wood with fingers and toes crossed), we decided it was time to start breaking in the next generation! 

Because we've learned that kids are a little wary about anything new, we decided that it would be wise to let Kaira develop a clear idea of what to expect for our camping adventure so that she could have an active role in the experience. 

We started by talking about camping and, as a family, worked together to create a list of materials we would need. Once we had our list prepared, I pulled out our tent and allowed both of my girls to explore the contents on their own before we put it together for a dry run. 

Kaira discovers the tiny hammock for holding items inside the tent.

A word of caution. If you happen to have a wily, rambunctious 1-year-old involved in this activity, wait until you have another adult around to help supervise. Several people have asked me why I don't have more pictures of my younger daughter, Layna, in my blog. Well...in this phase, the little nut moves so FAST that it's hard to snap a clear photo of her before she tries to eat a handful of dirt, swan dives off the deck or rips out a handful of her sister's hair. Couldn't love her more, but MAN, kid! Tent poles and 1-year-olds are not a good combination. Trust me.

Oh, tent poles and my youngest daughter were such a horrible pairing.

After allowing the girls to examine and remove the contents of the tent bag, I had them (COUGH) help me set up the frame to support the structure. 

As soon as I had the tent standing, I let my helpers hop inside to explore.

Kaira, mesmerized by the hanging cup holder.

My eldest quickly found a place to store her sparkly shoes. Well all right, girlfriend!

I'll keep my princess shoes safe here.

And then I encouraged the girls to take ownership of the tent, to make it feel comfortable. Kaira ran inside and gathered a cup of water to hang from the holder and her two favorite stuffed animals to make it feel like home.

Getting used to the tent

Hanging refreshements

"Ladue Babies are going to LOVE camping!"

Now that Kaira felt safe in her home away from home, we had to get packing. I let her pick out her books and magazines for the trip, a few stuffed animals to make the tent feel like her bed at home and most of her own clothes. In another attempt to give her ownership and a sense of control of the experience, I also had my lil' camper physically pack her own bag. 

Packin' up to go!

A few nights before we left for the actual camping trip, our friends invited us over for a bonfire. This was a perfect opportunity to practice camping, roast some marshmallows and address any questions or concerns that might arise when we'd be out in the woods for real.

The Practice Round helped Kaira feel extra confident in her role on the upcoming escapade. 

When the big day came, Kaira was right at home and couldn't wait to show our friends and her little boyfriend all she had learned! With a solid foundation of knowledge in place, she immediately became excited to help set up the tent as we had at home. We busted out familiar sports equipment to enjoy some leisure time around the campsite before settling down to start making dinner.

Tossing the lacrosse ball while settling in

Having roasted marshmallows during our practice round of Camping 101, Kaira was totally confident in carefully and effectively cooking her own dogs on the campfire. She was so proud of herself, and rightfully so!

Firin' up some nitrate-free hotdogs for chow time!

And after dinner, we busted out the obligatory marshmallow dessert. Oh yeah, these lucky buggers got multi-colored Peeps to make a rainbow of S'mores sticky delight. Mmmm...gooey hands mixed with melted chocolate and dirt. Completely awesome! No really. That's what camping is all about. I've never been happier to see my kid dirty and diggin' it. 

As the sun sunk below the mountain ridge backdrop and the sugar ran its course through our wee ones, it was time to get these stinkers tented up for the night. We tried to keep the routine as similar to our home process as possible to prevent Kaira from plotting to find ways to try to hang with the adults into the later hours. We brushed teeth, said our goodnights as her adorable little boyfriend headed to his separate tent (dern tootin'), snuggled in our tent and read one of the stories Kai had selected. After some high-fives and smooches, I left my bold camper with a flashlight so that she could read in the tent until she fell asleep.

Reading stories before bedtime in the tent. The flashlight, stuffed animals and reading material we brought from home made Kaira feel safe and comfortable in this unfamiliar setting.

And the night went wonderfully. The kids nodded off shortly after we put them to bed, and we adults were able to hang out until we, too, were ready to conk.

Much to our supreme yahoo whee yeah thank the heavens joy, the kids slept in until about 8:30! Oh yes. So very yes yes yes. Everyone woke up in good spirits, ready for a delicious breakfast.

Survived the night for sure and feelin' fine!

Once we adults had a spot of caffeine to get jump started, we conned the kids into assisting us in tearing down camp while the eggs were cooking. They earned their due rewards. And yeah, maybe they did have another marshmallow with breakfast, but come on...we were camping!

Feeding our little helpers

After we had cleaned up breakfast and all our gear, we managed to sneak in a nice hike through the woods before heading home. This adventure was such a wonderful experience for everyone, and we can't wait to enjoy overnight camps again and again. We were so happy that everything went so smoothly and thankful that the preparations we made before heading out into the woods helped Kaira feel more confident in this new setting. This kid had a total blast!

Be sure to bring chairs for the kiddos. They'll appreciate it!

Aristotle said, "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." So help teach those kiddos about the outdoors. Pack up and head out this season. There's OH so much to discover! Happy camping!

If you're gearing up to go, here's a little checklist to help you prepare your new campers.

-Talk about camping and safety. Show pictures. Read books. Answer questions.
-As a family, make a list of materials you will need.
-Show kids camping gear to teach them about how it is used/set-up.
-Try a practice campout in the backyard.
-Let children choose items to bring along to help them feel comfortable.
-Be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray that is safe for children.
-Pack child-sized chairs and an air mattress for comfort.
-Make sure kids have their own water bottles and plenty of water for the entire trip.
-Try to adhere to your typical bedtime routine.
-Make sure kids have a flashlight in their tents so that they have light when needed.
-Let children help engage in the experience by giving them appropriate jobs on the campsite.
-Have FUN and enjoy teaching the wee ones to love and respect nature!