At a recent scout meeting, we were talking about what it means to be a good citizen. We’ve had discussions on this topic in the past, but I wanted to give them an example that the scouts could really understand, so we played a little game. I divided the kids into four teams, and whispered […]
2018 Back to School Sales Tax Holidays
Summer is here, and back to school sales are back. In order to lighten the impact on our finances, many states offer tax-free holidays on school supplies, clothing, and sometimes more. We have created a list of participating states, and their sales tax holiday information. Check your state, and start saving! —————- Alabama Note: Not […]
Good sports
Our youngest son plays on a soccer team that is blessed with two AMAZING coaches. These two dads give it their all, teaching skills and sportsmanship — I wouldn’t say they are easy on the kids, but they coach in a way that really brings out the best in every member of the team. They encourage teamwork above everything else — […]
Top 10 Tips for Traveling with Kids
Summer is almost here, and for many of us, that means hitting the road (or the skies) and going on vacation. Remember those carefree days B.C. (before children) when you could grab your keys and a cup of coffee, and jump in the car with no particular destination in mind? Well, those days are long gone! Now that you have kids, […]
Play that funky music, Alexa
Our family recently entered the Brave New World as we welcomed a new guest into our home. After helping out a family member with a big favor, we were surprised to receive an Amazon Echo in return — a device that I might never have bought myself, but I certainly wasn’t going to turn down a free one! After convincing Funology Mom that […]
When did bowling become so cool?
Bowling alleys sure have changed since I was a kid. They used to be smoke-filled, sticky places that smelled like beer and cautionary tales. The bowling alley is where you went to find a guy who knew a guy, if you know what I mean. Well, those days are long gone — today’s bowling alleys sport trendy names like […]
Digging for fossils is a messy task
Spring break has arrived and since we’re sticking around the house for a stay-cation, Funology Mom and I have lined up some fun activities for the boys to keep them occupied while we try to get some work done. We ordered a couple of Smithsonian Diggin’ Up Dinosaurs T-Rex kits that looked like they would keep […]
Heads down, thumbs up, it’s time to play Seven up!
Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a young boy in grade school and my classmates and I loved indoor recess. When it rained, we cheered, because those drenching skies meant we weren’t going out to the blacktop for recess, no, we were going to play the rare and wonderful game of Heads Up, Seven Up. Oh, […]
It’s National Read A Roadmap Day!
In this age of Google Maps and GPS-enabled cars, the basic skill of reading a map might seem unnecessary, but the reality is that you have to be able to read a map, or how will you ever get to Starbucks after the solar flares knock out our satellites?!? Kids love to read maps — maps lead […]
Don’t be THIS guy
I had the good fortune to attend my child’s recorder concert this morning and was one proud papa when I saw him walk into the cafeteria to take his place onstage with his classmates. Every seat in the audience was filled, and I made sure to find a seat right in the middle, ensuring a good view. Once the […]